JP3903963B2 - Beverage extraction apparatus and beverage extraction method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a beverage extraction apparatus and a beverage extraction method for extracting a beverage by filtering a mixture of a powder raw material and hot water through a filter, and for example, a beverage extraction apparatus and a beverage extraction method applied to a cup-type vending machine It is about.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As shown in FIG. 8, the beverage extracted from the mixture of the powder raw material G and hot water, which is connected to the filter block 53 and charged into the extraction block 55, is constituted by the cylinder 52 and the filter block 53. The storage container 54 to be stored and the air sucked through the storage container 54 when the air pump 64 is driven in the stirring process are supplied to the extraction container 55 as stirring air, while the storage container 54 is driven when the air pump 64 is driven in the extraction process. There is known a beverage extraction device 51 including fluid circuit constituting means that constitutes a fluid circuit so that the beverage in the extraction container 55 is sucked into the storage container 55 by bringing the beverage into a negative pressure state (for example, Patent Literature 1). 1).
[0003]
The beverage extraction device 51 discharges air sucked by the air pump 64 via the storage container 54 to the filter block 53, and stirs the powder raw material G and hot water H charged in the extraction container 55 into a uniform mixture. Later, the storage container 54 is sealed, and the air pump 64 sucks the air in the storage container 54 and extracts the beverage from the mixture to the storage container 54.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-9-75222
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, after the powder raw material G and hot water H are agitated, the storage container 54 is sealed again, and the air pump 64 sucks the air in the storage container 54 to extract the beverage from the mixture into the storage container 54. It took time to start beverage extraction later. Since this time is a waiting time for the user, it is desirable to shorten this time as much as possible.
[0006]
An object of this invention is to provide the drink extraction apparatus and drink extraction method which can extract a drink in a short time in view of the said situation.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a beverage extraction apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention is driven by an extraction container into which powdered raw materials and hot water are charged, a storage container for storing a beverage extracted from the extraction container, and An air pump that sucks air from the storage container, and when the air pump is driven in the stirring process, the air sucked through the storage container is supplied as stirring air to the extraction container, while it is stored when the air pump is driven in the extraction process. Fluid circuit constituting means for constituting a fluid circuit so that the beverage in the extraction container is sucked into the storage container by bringing the container into a negative pressure state, and the fluid circuit constituting means is used when driving the air pump in the stirring step. It is characterized by blocking the inflow of air from the outside to the storage container.
[0008]
Further, the beverage extraction method according to claim 2 of the present invention is a method of charging the powdered raw material and hot water into the extraction container, while discharging air from the sealed storage container to make the internal pressure of the storage container negative, It has the process of stirring a powder raw material and hot water with the discharged air, and the process of extracting a drink to the said storage container by the negative pressure of the said storage container.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Exemplary embodiments of a beverage extraction device according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIGS. 1-6 is a conceptual diagram which shows the structure of the drink extraction apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention, Comprising: FIG. 1 shows a standby state, FIG. 2 shows the injection | throwing-in state of a raw material, FIG. FIG. 4 shows a beverage extraction state, FIG. 5 shows a beverage sales state, and FIG. 6 shows a return state.
[0010]
A beverage extraction apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention extracts, for example, a coffee beverage, and includes a cylinder 2, a filter block 3, and a storage container 4 as shown in FIG. . The cylinder 2 is in close contact with the filter block 3 to constitute the extraction container 5 and is a substantially cylindrical member. The inlet 2a is used for charging the powder raw material G in which coffee beverage beans are ground and hot water H into the upper portion. Is formed.
[0011]
The cylinder 2 can be moved up and down by a cylinder motor 6. The cylinder 2 is lowered to closely contact the filter block 3 to form the extraction container 5, and is lifted away from the filter block 3.
[0012]
Above the cylinder 2, a shooter (not shown) and a hot water tank (not shown) are arranged, and a powder material obtained by grinding coffee beverage beans from the shooter (not shown) into the extraction container 5. G is supplied, and hot water is supplied from the hot water tank to the extraction container 5.
[0013]
The filter block 3 is in close contact with the cylinder 2 and forms a space for extracting the coffee beverage inside the cylinder 2, while separating the coffee beverage and the raw material residue from which the coffee beverage has been extracted, and is wound in a roll shape. A filter 7 and a filter feed motor 8 that winds the filter 7 and moves the filter 7 are provided.
[0014]
The filter 7 is a paper belt-like filter, wound in a roll shape, and fed out between the cylinder 2 and the filter block 3. The filter 7 filters the mixture of the powder raw material G and hot water H input from the input port 2a, and extracts a coffee drink.
[0015]
Below the filter block 3, a bucket 9 is disposed. The waste bucket 9 collects the raw material waste after extraction of the coffee beverage from the mixture of the powder raw material G and hot water H together with the filter 7.
[0016]
A discharge circuit 10 is disposed below the filter block 3. The discharge circuit 10 is for discharging the hot water H that has washed the extraction container 5 to the waste bucket 9, and has a discharge valve 11. The discharge valve 11 closes the discharge circuit 10 simultaneously with the lowering of the cylinder 2 and opens the discharge circuit 10 simultaneously with the upward movement of the cylinder 2.
[0017]
The storage container 4 temporarily stores the coffee beverage extracted in the extraction container 5 and has a pressure resistant structure. The upper part of the storage container 4 and the filter block 3 are connected by an extraction circuit 12. The extraction circuit 12 has an extraction pinch 13 that opens and closes the extraction circuit 12.
[0018]
An air pump 14 is disposed in the storage container 4. The air pump 14 makes the storage container 4 have a negative pressure. The suction port of the air pump 14 is connected to the upper part of the storage container 4, and the discharge port of the air pump 14 is connected to the filter via the stirring circuit 15. Connected to the bottom of block 3. The stirring circuit 15 includes a stirring pinch 16 that opens and closes the stirring circuit 15.
[0019]
A sales circuit 17 is connected to the lower portion of the storage container 4. The sales circuit 17 pours the coffee beverage stored in the storage container 4 into the cup C, and has a sales pinch 18 that opens and closes the sales circuit 17.
[0020]
The stirring circuit 15 also has a discharge circuit 19 that opens the storage container 4 to the atmosphere. The discharge circuit 19 has a discharge pinch 20 that opens and closes the discharge circuit 19.
[0021]
Here, the extraction circuit 12, the stirring circuit 15, the sales circuit 17 and the discharge circuit 19 are made of a synthetic resin having flexibility, and the extraction pinch 13, the stirring pinch 16, the sales pinch 18 and the discharge pinch 20 are The extraction circuit 12, the stirring circuit 15, the sales circuit 17, and the discharge circuit 19 are closed by pressing the extraction circuit 12, the stirring circuit 15, the sales circuit 17, and the discharge circuit 19, respectively. Specifically, each pinch 13, 16, 18, 20 is provided with a cam (not shown) that presses each circuit 12, 15, 17, 19 at a predetermined timing, and this pin is driven by a pinch motor 21. By appropriately rotating, the extraction circuit 12, the stirring circuit 15, the sales circuit 17, and the discharge circuit 19 are switched between an open state and a closed state.
[0022]
The operation of the beverage extraction device 1 configured as described above will be described. First, when extracting a coffee beverage, the cylinder motor 6 is driven to lower the cylinder 2 and close the discharge valve 11. When the cylinder 2 descends, as shown in FIG. 2, the cylinder 2 comes into close contact with the filter block 3 via the filter 7, and a space for extracting coffee beverage is formed inside the cylinder 2. Next, the extraction circuit 12, the stirring circuit 15, the sales circuit 17, and the discharge circuit 19 are closed by the extraction pinch 13, the stirring pinch 16, the sales pinch 18, and the discharge pinch 20. And while supplying the powder raw material G of a coffee drink from a shooter (not shown), the hot water H is inject | poured from a hot water tank (not shown).
[0023]
When the injection of the hot water H is finished, the stirring circuit 15 is opened by the stirring pinch 16 and the air pump 14 is operated as shown in FIG. The air discharged from the storage container 4 by the air pump 14 is pumped to the filter block 3 through the stirring circuit 15 and blown into the extraction container 5 through the filter 7. For this reason, while the pressure in the storage container 4 becomes a negative pressure, the powder raw material G and the hot water H in the extraction container 5 are uniformly stirred by the blown air, and the powder raw material G and the hot water H are uniformly mixed. .
[0024]
Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 4, a predetermined amount of hot water H (additional hot water) is poured into the extraction container 5 while the air pump 14 is operated. Then, the stirring circuit 15 is closed by the stirring pinch 16, the extraction circuit 12 is opened by the extraction pinch 13, and the discharge circuit 19 is opened by the discharge pinch 20. Then, since the inside of the storage container 4 has a negative pressure, the extraction circuit 12 is opened, and at the same time, the mixture of the powder raw material G and hot water H in the cylinder is filtered by the filter 7, and the extracted coffee beverage is extracted from the extraction circuit 12. Is sucked through and flows into the storage container 4.
[0025]
In this way, when all of the coffee beverage extracted from the mixture of the powder raw material G and hot water H in the cylinder flows into the storage container 4, air is drawn from the extraction container 5 to the storage container 4. And if air is drawn in, the air pump 14 will be stopped.
[0026]
Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the stirring circuit 15 and the sales circuit 17 are opened by the stirring pinch 16 and the sales pinch 18. As a result, the storage container 4 communicates with the atmosphere, and the coffee beverage that has flowed into the storage container 4 flows down from the sales circuit 17 to the cup C. In the cup C, the dropped coffee drink is added with an additive such as milk or sugar from a canister (not shown), and sold from a vending machine sales outlet or the like.
[0027]
On the other hand, when all the coffee beverages that have flowed into the storage container 4 flow down to the cup C, the cylinder 2 is raised and the discharge valve 11 is opened. When the cylinder 2 is raised, the cylinder 2 and the filter block 3 are separated from each other. Therefore, the filter feed motor 8 is activated, the filter 7 is fed, and the raw material waste is discarded in the bucket 9 to prepare for the next coffee beverage extraction.
[0028]
In the beverage extraction device described above, the pressure change of the storage container 4 during beverage extraction is as shown in FIG. FIG. 7 shows the pressure change of the storage container, the solid line L shows the pressure change of the storage container 4 of the beverage extraction device 1 according to the present embodiment, and the wavy line N shows the beverage extraction according to the conventional technique. It shows the pressure change of the container.
[0029]
The pressure of the storage container 4 of the beverage extraction device 1 according to the present embodiment is the same as the positive pressure in the standby state, that is, the atmospheric pressure, but when the stirring of the powder raw material G and hot water H is started, the storage container 4 The pressure gradually decreases and shifts from positive pressure to negative pressure. When the stirring is finished and extraction of the coffee beverage is started, the coffee beverage immediately starts to flow into the storage container 4. At this time, the pressure in the storage container 4 gradually increases, air blows at the point O, and the inflow of the coffee beverage is completed. Thereafter, the pressure in the storage container 4 shifts to a positive pressure (atmospheric pressure), the extraction of the coffee beverage is completed, and the coffee beverage can be sold.
[0030]
On the other hand, the pressure of the storage container of the beverage extraction device according to the prior art is the same as the positive pressure in the standby state and when the powder raw material and hot water are stirred, that is, the atmospheric pressure, and when the beverage extraction starts, the pressure gradually decreases Then, when the negative pressure is reached, the coffee beverage flows into the storage container. The pressure in the storage container further decreases, air blows at the point P, and the inflow of the beverage is completed. Thereafter, the pressure of the storage container shifts to a positive pressure (atmospheric pressure), the beverage extraction is completed, and the beverage can be sold.
[0031]
Therefore, the beverage extraction apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is a time from the start of coffee beverage extraction to the completion of sales of coffee drinks, more specifically, a powder raw material, as compared with the beverage extraction apparatus according to the prior art. Since the time from the end of the stirring of G and hot water H until the coffee beverage starts to flow into the storage container 4 can be shortened, the time to wait for the user can be shortened.
[0032]
Furthermore, since the coffee beverage is extracted from the mixture of the powder raw material G and hot water H in the extraction container 5 consisting of the cylinder 2 and the filter block 3 by negative pressure, the flavor is rich and the transparency is suppressed. A high coffee beverage can be extracted.
[0033]
In addition, although the drink extracting device 1 concerning the said embodiment demonstrated what fixed the filter block 3 and comprised the cylinder 2 so that raising / lowering was possible, it fixed the cylinder 2 and comprised the filter block 3 so that raising / lowering was possible. It may be a thing.
[0034]
Moreover, although the drink extracting device 1 which concerns on the said embodiment demonstrated what opens and closes when the extraction circuit 12, the stirring circuit 15, the sales circuit 17, and the discharge circuit 19 pinch a cam, the extraction circuit 12, stirring Solenoid valves may be used as opening / closing means for the circuit 15, the sales circuit 17, and the discharge circuit 19.
[0035]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the beverage extraction device according to claim 1 of the present invention, the fluid circuit constituting means blocks the inflow of air from the outside to the storage container when the air pump is driven in the stirring step. Therefore, the internal pressure of the storage container becomes a negative pressure, and after the powder raw material and hot water are stirred to form a mixture, the extraction of the beverage can be started immediately. Furthermore, since the beverage is extracted under a negative pressure, a beverage having a high flavor and high transparency can be extracted.
[0036]
Further, according to the beverage extraction method according to claim 2 of the present invention, the powder raw material and hot water are stirred by the discharged air while the internal pressure of the storage container is made negative, so the powder raw material and hot water are stirred. After making the mixture, the beverage extraction can begin immediately. Furthermore, since the beverage is extracted under a negative pressure, a beverage having a high flavor and high transparency can be extracted.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a beverage extraction device according to an embodiment of the present invention and shows a standby state.
FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of a beverage brewing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which raw materials are charged.
FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of a beverage brewing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a stirring state of raw materials.
FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of a beverage extraction device according to an embodiment of the present invention and shows a beverage extraction state.
FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram of a beverage extraction apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and shows a beverage sales state.
FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram of a beverage extraction device according to an embodiment of the present invention and shows a return state.
7 is a view showing a change in pressure of the storage container shown in FIGS. 1 to 6; FIG.
FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram of a beverage extraction apparatus according to a conventional technique, showing a stirring state of raw materials.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Beverage extraction apparatus 2 Cylinder 2a Input port 3 Filter block 4 Storage container 5 Extraction container 6 Cylinder motor 7 Filter 8 Filter feed motor 9 Casket 10 Discharge circuit 11 Discharge valve 12 Extraction circuit 13 Extraction pinch 14 Air pump 15 Stirring circuit 16 Stirring pinch 17 Sales circuit 18 Sales pinch 19 Release circuit 20 Release pinch 21 Pinch motor G Powder raw material H Hot water C Cup

Claims (2)

An extraction container into which powder raw material and hot water are charged;
A storage container for storing a beverage extracted from the extraction container;
An air pump that draws air from the storage container when driven, and
When the air pump is driven in the agitation process, the air sucked through the storage container is supplied to the extraction container as agitation air. On the other hand, when the air pump is driven in the extraction process, the storage container is brought into a negative pressure state so that the beverage in the extraction container Fluid circuit constituting means for constituting a fluid circuit so as to suck into the storage container,
The fluid circuit constituting means is configured to block the inflow of air from the outside to the storage container when the air pump is driven in the stirring step. Adding a powder raw material and hot water to an extraction container;
While discharging air from the sealed storage container and making the internal pressure of the storage container negative, stirring the powder raw material and hot water with the discharged air;
And a step of extracting the beverage into the storage container by the negative pressure of the storage container.

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