JP3080467B2 - Beverage brewing equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a beverage extraction device for extracting a beverage with boiling water.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A coffee maker is generally known as this kind of beverage brewing apparatus. In this conventional coffee maker, a paper filter is set in a coffee extraction container, a required amount of coffee powder is stored in the paper filter, and in this state, water drawn from a water tank is heated by a heater and boiled. Then, the hot water is pushed up through the hot water pipe by the boiling pressure and dropped intermittently into the coffee extracting container, and the hot water is permeated into the coffee powder to extract the coffee.

[0003]

However, in such a configuration, it can be applied only to coffee extraction. For example, even if tea leaves are stored in a coffee extraction container and tea is to be extracted, the flavor of the coffee is not improved. It is difficult to extract good black tea.

[0004] In the extraction of black tea, it is important to soak the leaves of the black tea in a sufficient amount of stored hot water for a sufficient time. When immersed in tea, the tea leaves convect with the boiling water to open the shrunken leaves, and the extract components are sufficiently eluted to give a delicious and delicious black tea.

In a coffee maker, hot water is intermittently dropped from a hot water pipe into a coffee extraction container, and a constantly open extraction hole is formed at the bottom of the coffee extraction container. Even if black tea leaves are stored in the container, the tea leaves are not soaked in a sufficient amount of boiling water for a sufficient time, and therefore, it is not possible to extract savory black tea. The same applies to the case where green tea such as bancha is to be extracted.

The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and an object of the present invention is to extract tasty and tasty coffee and tea water such as tea as required and without error. The present invention is to provide a beverage extraction device that can perform the following.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an extracting unit, a tank for boiling hot water, and a tap for discharging hot water in the tank toward the extracting unit. A tapping valve for opening and closing the tapping port, a tea extracting container and a coffee extracting container which can be alternatively disposed in the extracting section, an outlet provided at a lower portion of the tea extracting container, A discharge valve that opens and closes, an extraction hole provided at a lower portion of the coffee extraction container, and a determination unit that determines which of the tea extraction container and the coffee extraction container is provided for the extraction unit. When a tea extraction container is provided in the extraction unit, the tapping valve is opened in a state where the tapping hole is continuously opened based on the information of the determination means, and the coffee extraction container is set in the extraction unit. Is installed, the judgment means Is obtained as the tap hole is provided with a control means for opening and closing the pouring valve state alternately repeating closed and opened on the basis of the distribution.

[0008]

For example, in the case of extracting black tea, a required amount of black tea leaves are stored in a tea extraction container, and the tea extraction container is set in the extraction section. According to the set, it is determined by the determining means that the tea extracting container is disposed in the extracting section, and the tapping valve is controlled by the control means based on the information of the determining means so that the tapping hole is continuously opened. With this control, the hot water in the tank continuously flows out of the tap hole, and the hot water flows into the tea extraction container. At this time, the outlet at the lower part of the tea extraction container is closed by the discharge valve, so that the hot water flowing into the tea extraction container is stored in the tea extraction container, and the leaves of the black tea are immersed in the hot water. .

[0009] The boiling water stored in the tea extraction container flows by causing convection, and the leaves of the black tea also flow according to the convection of the boiling water. It opens widely, the extract components are effectively eluted, and a savory black tea is produced in the tea extraction container. Thereafter, the discharge valve of the tea extraction container is opened, and the black tea in the tea extraction container can be taken out from the discharge port.

When coffee is extracted, a coffee extraction container is set in the extraction section instead of the tea extraction container.
Put a paper filter in the coffee extraction container in advance,
A required amount of coffee powder is stored in the paper filter.

In the case where the coffee extraction container is replaced with the tea extraction container in the extraction section as described above, the replacement is judged by the judging means, and the control means based on the information of this judging means, and the tap hole is set by the control means. The tapping valve is controlled to open and close alternately so that the hot water in the tank flows out intermittently from the tap. That is, the flow rate of the hot water is regulated, the regulated hot water drops in the coffee extraction container, and the hot water penetrates into the coffee powder, whereby the coffee powder is sufficiently steamed with an appropriate amount of hot water, Foaming occurs on the upper surface, and tasty and delicious coffee is extracted, and the coffee flows out of the extraction hole sequentially with the dripping of hot water.

[0012]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an apparatus main body, and a tank 2 for water heating is provided on the upper part of the apparatus main body 1. The hot water tank 2 has a metal hot plate 3 at the bottom, a hot water heater 4 is embedded in the hot plate 3, and a tap hole 5 is formed at the center of the hot plate 3. A lid plate 6 is provided on the upper surface of the tank 2, and a part of the lid plate 6 is provided with an opening / closing flap 6a.
The opening / closing flap 6a is opened to supply water into the tank 2. A steam passage 7 is formed on the lower surface side of the peripheral edge of the cover plate 6, and a steam sensor 8 is provided so as to protrude into the steam passage 7. A temperature sensor 9 is attached to the lower surface of the hot plate 3.

A partition plate 10 is provided below the tank 2, an outlet 11 is formed in the partition plate 10, and a guide pipe 12 is provided between the outlet 11 and the tap 5 of the tank 2. A tapping valve 14 is provided in the guide tube 12 so as to face the tapping port 5. The tapping valve 14 is vertically movably supported, and is elastically urged upward through a spring 15 so as to normally close the tapping port 5.

A solenoid 17 is connected to the tapping valve 14 via an interlocking rod 16, and the operation of the solenoid 17 causes the tapping valve 14 to be pulled downward against the spring 15.
Thereby, the tap hole 5 is opened.

At a lower portion of the apparatus main body 1, a heat retaining plate 19 having a heat retaining heater 18 is provided.
A bottle 20 is placed on the bottle 9 and a portion between the bottle 20 and the partition plate 10 is an extraction portion 1a. In the state of FIG. 1, a tea extraction container 21 is provided in the extraction portion 1a. The tea extraction container 21 is detachably supported via a support member (not shown). The tea extraction container 21 is taken out of the extraction unit 1a through the opening 1b on the front surface of the apparatus body 1, and the tea extraction container 21 is removed. As shown in FIG. 2, a coffee brewing container 22 is provided in the brewing unit 1a in place of the brewing 21 and can be supported via the support member.

Describing the tea extraction container 21, the tea extraction container 21 has a discharge port 25 at the bottom, and a discharge valve 26 is provided at the discharge port 25. The discharge valve 26 is vertically movably supported, and a spring 27
Is elastically urged downward by the
5 is configured to be normally closed.

An interlocking rod 28 is attached to the lower part of the tea extraction container 21 via a pivot pin 29 so as to be vertically rotatable. One end of the interlocking rod 28 is connected to the discharge valve 26 and the other end. The portion extends to the back of the apparatus main body 1. An operation pin 30 is provided at the back of the apparatus main body 1 so as to be vertically movable, and a solenoid 31 is connected to the operation pin 30. The other end of the interlocking rod 28 is
And the other end of the interlocking rod 28 is pushed down via the operating pin 30 in response to the operation of the solenoid 31, whereby the discharge valve 26 rises against the spring 27, The outlet 25 is opened.

Further, a detection pin 32 is provided at the back of the apparatus body 1 in parallel with the operation pin 30 so as to be vertically movable. The detection pin 32 is elastically urged downward via a spring 33, and a detection switch 34 is provided above the detection pin 32. The other end of the interlocking rod 28 abuts on the lower end of the detection pin 32, and the detection pin 32 is pushed upward against the spring 33 by this abutment.
Is pressed, and the detection switch 34 is turned on by this pressing operation, whereby it is detected that the tea extraction container 21 is disposed in the extraction section 1a of the apparatus main body 1.

A dome-shaped filter 25a is provided at the inner bottom of the tea extraction container 21 so as to cover the outlet 25, and a cover 35 is detachably provided at an opening at the upper end of the tea extraction container 21. A plurality of through holes 36 are formed in the peripheral portion of the cover 35.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, the coffee extraction container 22 has a substantially triangular cross section, and has a plurality of extraction holes 38 (only one is shown) at the lower end. A cover plate 39 is detachably provided at the opening at the upper end of the coffee extraction container 22, and a surrounding wall 40 is integrally formed at the center of the upper surface of the cover plate 39, and a cover is formed inside the surrounding wall 40. A plurality of through holes 41 are formed in the plate 39.

An operation panel 50 is provided on the front surface of the apparatus main body 1, and a control circuit section 52 having a microcomputer 51 as control means is provided inside the operation panel 50. A selection switch 53, a start switch 54, and the like are provided on the front of the operation panel 50.

FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the electric circuit. The microcomputer 51 has a built-in timer 55, and the input port of the microcomputer 51 has a steam sensor 8, a temperature sensor 9, a detection switch 34, and a selection switch 53. , The start switch 54 is connected,
The hot water heater 4 is connected to the output port via the heater control circuit 56, and the heat retention heater 18 is connected to the output port via the heater control circuit 57.
The solenoid 17 is connected via a solenoid drive circuit 58 and the solenoid 31 is connected via a solenoid drive circuit 59, respectively. Next, the operation will be described. First, the case of extracting black tea will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

The tank 2 contains a required amount of water corresponding to the amount of extraction, for example, 5 cups of water.
1 stores a required amount of black tea leaves according to the amount of extraction, and sets the tea extraction container 21 in the extraction section 1a of the apparatus main body 1 as shown in FIG.

When the tea extraction container 21 is set in the extraction section 1a, the end of the interlocking rod 28 contacts the detection pin 32, and the contact switch turns on the detection switch 34, thereby distributing the tea extraction container 21 to the extraction section 1a. Is detected, the signal is input to the microcomputer 51, and the tea extraction mode is set based on the input. In addition, the user operates the selection switch 53 of the operation panel 50 to set the type of tea leaves, and turns on the start switch 54 in this state.

In response to such an operation, the timer 55 of the microcomputer 51 is set to input information on the time for storing hot water in the tea extraction container 2. When the start switch 54 is turned on, the water heater 4 and the warming heater 18 are energized under the control of the microcomputer 51, and the water in the tank 2 is heated by the water heater 4.

When the temperature of the water in the tank 2 rises and boils as hot water, the steam flows through the steam passage 7 and contacts the steam sensor 8, whereby the boiling of the hot water is detected. Is input to the microcomputer 51, and in response to the input, the timer 55 starts counting, and the solenoid 17 is driven to operate.

The operation of the solenoid 17 lowers the tapping valve 14 to open the tapping port 5, and this state is maintained continuously. By opening the tap 5, high-temperature hot water in the tank 2 flows out of the tap 5 sequentially, and the hot water flows through the guide tube 12, the outlet 11, the through holes 36,.
Through the tea extraction container 21. At this time, the discharge port 25 at the bottom of the tea extraction container 21 is closed by the discharge valve 26. Therefore, the boiling water flowing into the tea extraction container 21 is stored in the tea extraction container 21, and the tea water is contained in the boiling water. The leaves are soaked.

When almost all of the hot water in the tank 2 flows out, the temperature of the hot plate 3 rises rapidly, and this temperature rise is detected by the temperature sensor 9. Then, a signal of this detection is input to the microcomputer 51, and based on the signal, the energization of the water heater 4 is cut off.

The hot water stored in the tea extraction container 21 flows by causing convection, and the leaves of the black tea also flow in response to the convection of the hot water, so that the leaves of the black tea are sufficiently soaked and shrunk. Greatly opens, the extract component is effectively eluted, and a savory black tea is produced in the tea extraction container 21.

When the hot water is sufficiently stored in the tea extraction container 21 and a predetermined time set by the timer set has elapsed,
When the timer 55 completes the time counting operation, the solenoid 31 is driven and operated by the control of the microcomputer 51 in response thereto.

The discharge valve 26 is pushed upward by the operation of the solenoid 31, and the discharge port 25 is opened. By this opening, the black tea in the tea extraction container 21 flows out from the discharge port 25, and the black tea is stored in the bottle 20. Then, the extraction is completed, and the black tea stored in the bottle 20 is kept warm by the warming heater 18.

Thus, the leaves of the black tea can be sufficiently immersed in a sufficient amount of boiling water in the tea extraction container 21,
Therefore, the leaves of the black tea are sufficiently wide open, so that a delicious black tea with a good flavor can always be obtained. Although the above description is for the case of extracting black tea, it is also possible to extract various types of green tea, oolong tea, and the like in a process substantially similar to such a black tea extraction process. Next, a case of extracting coffee will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.

In the case of coffee extraction, the tea extraction container 21 is taken out of the extraction unit 1a of the apparatus main body 1, and the coffee extraction container 22 is replaced with the coffee extraction container 22 as shown in FIG. set. When the tea extraction container 21 is taken out from the extraction part 1a, the detection pin 32
The pressing force of the detection switch 34 on the operator 34a is released by this movement, and the detection switch 34 is turned off, thereby detecting that the tea extraction container 21 has been taken out, and the signal thereof is output. Is input to the microcomputer 51, and the coffee extraction mode is set based on the input.

A paper filter 48 is laid beforehand in the coffee extraction container 22 which is set in the extraction section 1a in place of the tea extraction container 21, and a required amount of coffee powder corresponding to the extraction amount is stored in the paper filter 48. In addition, the tank 2 stores a required amount of water corresponding to the extraction amount, for example, 5 cups of water.

In such a state, the user turns on the start switch 54. In response to this, the heater 51 and the heater 18 are energized under the control of the microcomputer 51, and the water in the tank 2 is boiled by the heater 4, which is detected by the steam sensor 8. , The timer 55 starts the time counting operation, and the solenoid 17 is driven to operate. The drive time of the solenoid 17 is controlled to 1 to 2 seconds, and after this drive, the drive of the solenoid 17 is cut off for 30 to 40 seconds.

The operation of the solenoid 17 lowers the tapping valve 14 to open the tapping port 5, and the hot water in the tank 2 flows out of the tapping port 5, and the hot water flows into the cover plate 39 of the coffee extraction container 22. Drops into the coffee extraction container 22 through the through holes 41. However, since the driving time of the solenoid 17 is 1 to 2 seconds, the amount of hot water flowing out from the outlet 5 is regulated to a small amount, and a small amount of hot water drops into the coffee extraction container 22. During a period of 30 to 40 seconds in which the operation of the solenoid 17 is stopped and the tap hole 5 is kept closed, the hot water dropped into the coffee extraction container 22 sufficiently penetrates into the coffee powder, Is steamed.

Thereafter, the solenoid 17 is driven again for 2 to 3 seconds to open the tap hole 5, and the hot water is dropped into the coffee extraction container 22 by this opening. Thereafter, the tap hole 5 is closed and the hot water is dropped. Stops and the tap hole 5 is closed
Hold for 0-30 seconds. At the time when the closing time (20 to 30 seconds) of the tap hole 5 has elapsed, the temperature sensor 9
If there is no detection of rapid temperature rise of the hot plate 3 due to
The steps of opening the tap hole 5 for 2 to 3 seconds and closing it for 20 to 30 seconds are repeatedly repeated.

As the tapping holes 5 are alternately opened and closed in this manner, hot water is dropped intermittently into the coffee extraction container 22, whereby foaming is generated on the upper surface of the coffee powder, and a delicious and delicious coffee is sequentially produced. The coffee is extracted, flows out of the extraction holes 38, is sequentially stored in the bottle 20, and is kept warm by the warm heater 18. In addition, 49 shown in FIG. 2 is a heat retention cover covered with an opening at the upper end of the bottle 20.

When almost all of the hot water in the tank 2 flows out, the temperature of the hot plate 3 rises rapidly, and this temperature rise is detected by the temperature sensor 9. Then, a signal of this detection is input to the microcomputer 51, and based on the signal, the time counting operation of the timer 55 ends, and the water heater 4
Is turned off, and the extraction is completed.

In the above embodiment, whether or not the tea extraction container is provided in the extraction unit is determined based on the operation of the detection switch which is turned on and off in accordance with the operation of inserting and removing the tea extraction container with respect to the extraction unit of the apparatus main body. It is determined whether or not the coffee extraction container is provided.However, a detection switch that is turned on and off in accordance with the operation of inserting and removing the coffee extraction container with respect to the extraction unit is provided. When judging whether a container is provided or a tea extraction container is provided, or a detection switch which is turned on / off in accordance with the insertion / removal operation of the tea extraction container, and which is turned on / off in response to the insertion / removal operation of the coffee extraction container A detection switch is provided individually on the apparatus main body, and the operation of these detection switches determines whether a tea extraction container or a coffee extraction container is disposed in the extraction unit. The configuration of the determination means is not limited to a mechanical case using a detection switch, but may be an optical case using a photo interrupter, or a magnetic case using a proximity switch. It does not matter.

[0042]

As described above, according to the present invention, coffee and tea liquor such as black tea can be extracted as needed, and at the time of coffee extraction, hot water is intermittently dropped onto coffee powder to obtain a flavor. When extracting tea liquor such as black tea, tea leaves can be immersed in a sufficient amount of boiling water for a sufficient time to obtain a savory and delicious tea liquor. And coffee extraction mode to extract coffee,
Switching to the tea extraction mode for extracting black tea or the like is automatically performed based on the information of the determination means, and therefore, there is an advantage that it is possible to prevent inconvenience such as erroneous extraction being performed with an incorrect mode setting. is there.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a beverage brewing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a state when black tea is extracted.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a state when coffee is extracted.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electric circuit of the beverage extraction device.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing steps when tea is extracted by the beverage extraction device.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing steps when coffee is extracted by the beverage extraction device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1a ... Extraction unit 2 ... Tank 5 ... Hot water outlet 14 ... Hot water outlet 21 ... Tea extraction container 22 ... Coffee extraction container 25 ... Discharge port 26 ... Discharge valve 38 ... Extraction hole 34 ... Detection switch (judgment means) 51 ... Microcomputer ( Control means)

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-61-45711 (JP, A) JP-A-1-141613 (JP, A) JP-A-5-199936 (JP, A) JP-A-5-199936 JP 137653 (JP, A) JP-A-3-212235 (JP, A) JP-A 55-99432 (JP, U) JP-U 2-17531 (JP, Y2) Table 6-510682 (JP, A) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A47J 31/00-31/60

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An extraction unit, a tank for boiling hot water, and a tap for discharging hot water in the tank toward the extraction unit.
A tapping valve that opens and closes the tapping port, a tea extraction container and a coffee extraction container that can be alternatively arranged in the extraction section, a discharge port provided at a lower portion of the tea extraction container, A discharge valve that opens and closes, an extraction hole provided at a lower portion of the coffee extraction container, and a determination unit that determines which of the tea extraction container and the coffee extraction container is provided for the extraction unit, When a tea extraction container is disposed in the extraction unit, the tapping valve is opened in a state where the tapping port is continuously opened based on the information of the determination means,
Control means for opening and closing the tapping valve in a state where the tapping port alternately opens and closes based on the information of the determining means when the coffee extracting container is disposed in the extracting section. Beverage brewing device characterized.