JP6865381B2 - Beverage supply device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a beverage supply device that extracts coffee liquid by pressurizing hot water to coffee raw material powder.

In recent years, drip coffee and pressure extraction coffee (espresso) are generally provided in restaurants and cafes. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an extraction unit capable of producing both an American coffee beverage and an espresso coffee beverage.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-179364

The conventional beverage supply device including Patent Document 1 generally has, for example, an extraction chamber for accommodating ground coffee beans and a lid for sealing the extraction chamber. Then, the extraction chamber or the lid is driven by a driving device such as a motor so that the extraction chamber can be pressurized. The extraction chamber is connected to a hot water supply pipe that supplies hot water to the extraction chamber, an extraction pipe that provides the extracted coffee liquid to the user, and a drain pipe that drains the waste liquid after extraction. Further, each pipe connected to the extraction room is provided with a valve.

When coffee is extracted in such a beverage supply device, the ground coffee beans are stored in the extraction room and sealed by a lid. Then, hot water is introduced from the hot water supply pipe. At this point, the valve of the drain pipe is closed, and the coffee liquid extracted in the brewing chamber is provided to the beverage container outside the brewing pipe.

Here, if the extraction pipe is clogged during extraction, the pressure in the extraction chamber rises because the liquid cannot pass through the extraction pipe and the drain pipe even though the hot water continues to be supplied from the hot water supply pipe as described above. As a result, the liquid may leak from the extraction room or the hot water supply pipe may flow back. In order to prevent such a situation, the beverage supply device is generally provided with a flow rate sensor in the hot water supply pipe so that the hot water supply can be stopped when there is an abnormality in the flow rate.

However, when the extraction tube is clogged during extraction and the pressure in the extraction chamber rises, the motor is reversed by the pressure in the extraction chamber, and the extraction chamber or the lid may move in the direction of expanding the volume of the extraction chamber. If this happens, the beverage supply device becomes uncontrollable and the drive device is overloaded, so countermeasures are sought.

An object of the present invention is to provide a beverage supply device capable of dealing with a clogged extraction tube during extraction before it becomes uncontrollable.

The beverage supply device of the present invention has a cylinder for accommodating coffee bean powder, a coffee liquid pipe for delivering coffee liquid extracted by supplying hot water into the cylinder, and the coffee liquid while moving in the cylinder. The water-permeable piston that accumulates the coffee slag after extraction and the water-permeable piston when the coffee liquid pipe is clogged by the sensor, compared to the case where the coffee liquid pipe is not clogged. The coffee slag is provided with a control unit that controls the process of removing water from the coffee slag for a long period of time.

According to the present invention, even if the extraction tube is clogged at the time of extraction, it can be dealt with before it becomes uncontrollable.

Perspective view of the external structure of the beverage supply device according to the embodiment of the present invention. Perspective view of the beverage supply mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention. Side view of the beverage supply mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention The figure which showed the flow of hot water in the beverage supply mechanism which concerns on embodiment of this invention. Perspective view of the coffee brewing unit according to the embodiment of the present invention Functional block diagram which shows each functional part of the beverage supply apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. Operation explanatory view of coffee supply operation which concerns on embodiment of this invention Operation explanatory view of coffee supply operation which concerns on embodiment of this invention Operation explanatory view of coffee supply operation which concerns on embodiment of this invention Operation explanatory view of coffee supply operation which concerns on embodiment of this invention Operation explanatory view of coffee supply operation which concerns on embodiment of this invention The figure which shows the operation of the main part related to coffee extraction of the beverage supply apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure for demonstrating the operation of the main part when the coffee liquid supply passage is clogged in the coffee liquid extraction operation of the beverage supply apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, the beverage supply device according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

[External structure of beverage supply device 100]
First, the external structure of the beverage supply device 100 will be described. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a beverage supply device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the beverage supply device 100 includes a housing 1, a front door 2, a touch panel 3, a coffee nozzle 4, a milk nozzle 5, a hot water nozzle 6, and a beverage container support base 7.

The housing 1 holds a beverage supply mechanism 10 described later inside, and has a front door 2, a touch panel 3, a coffee nozzle 4, a milk nozzle 5, a hot water nozzle 6, and a beverage container support 7 attached to the front surface. It is a case member to be used.

The front door 2 is attached to the front surface of the housing 1 so as to be openable and closable, and is normally closed and locked so that the user cannot open and close it. The front door 2 is opened, for example, during maintenance so that the administrator of the beverage supply device 100 can access the beverage supply mechanism 10 housed inside the beverage supply device 100 from the front portion of the housing 1.

The touch panel 3 is an operation reception unit that displays beverage options, messages, and the like to the user of the beverage supply device 100, and accepts a beverage selection operation and a discharge instruction operation by the user.

The coffee nozzle 4 is a nozzle for providing coffee produced by the beverage supply mechanism 10 to a beverage container placed on a beverage container support base, which will be described later. The milk nozzle 5 is a nozzle for supplying foamed milk or steamed milk to a beverage container. The coffee nozzle 4 and the milk nozzle 5 are arranged close to each other so that coffee and milk can be mixed in a beverage container to supply a milk-coffee mixed beverage such as latte or cappuccino. Has been done. Further, the hot water nozzle 6 is a nozzle for providing only hot water to a beverage container for a user who uses a tea bag or the like.

The beverage container support base 7 is a table for placing a beverage container that receives the beverage (or hot water) discharged from each of the nozzles.

[Beverage supply mechanism 10]
Next, the beverage supply mechanism 10 will be described.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the beverage supply mechanism 10, and FIG. 3 is a side view of the beverage supply mechanism 10. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the beverage supply mechanism 10 includes a hot water tank 11, a hot water pump 12, a canister 13, a mill 14, a coffee ground receiving unit 15, and a coffee extracting unit 30.

The hot water tank 11 is a tank capable of storing several liters of hot water, and is provided inside with a heater (not shown) for heating and retaining the stored drinking water at, for example, 97 ° C. The hot water pump 12 provided near the bottom of the hot water tank 11 is a pump that pressurizes and discharges the hot water in the hot water tank 11.

The canister 13 is a container for storing roasted coffee beans used for coffee production. A coffee bean acquisition port (not shown) is opened in the lower part of the canister 13, and coffee beans are supplied from the acquisition port according to the operation of the mill 14.

The mill 14 grinds the coffee beans supplied from the canister 13 to a suitable particle size. By being crushed by the mill 14, hot water easily permeates the coffee beans, and suitable coffee extraction is performed.

The coffee beans (ground beans) crushed by the mill 14 are put into the coffee extraction unit 30, which will be described later. The details of the coffee extraction operation by the coffee extraction unit 30 will be described later.

The coffee residue receiving unit 15 stores the residue of the ground beans used for extracting the coffee liquid by the coffee extraction unit 30. The coffee grounds 15 is configured so that it can be pulled out forward with the front door 2 open, and the stored coffee grounds can be removed.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the flow of hot water in the beverage supply mechanism 10. As shown in FIG. 4, one end of a hot water supply pipe 24 in which a hot water filter 21, a flow rate sensor 22, and a hot water supply valve 23 are sequentially arranged is connected to the discharge port of the hot water pump 12. The other end of the hot water supply pipe 24 is connected to a hot water supply port 313 provided in the cylinder unit 31 of the coffee extraction unit 30, which will be described later. In the present embodiment, a connector 24A is provided at the other end of the hot water supply pipe 24, thereby connecting to the hot water supply port 313.

A drain pipe 25 located between the hot water supply valve 23 and the coffee extraction unit 30 and branching from the hot water supply pipe 24 via a shunt 29 is connected to the hot water supply pipe 24. A drain valve 26 is provided in the drain pipe 25. Further, the coffee liquid pipe 27 is connected to the coffee liquid extraction unit 37B provided on the cap 37 of the coffee extraction unit 30, which will be described later. The coffee liquid pipe 27 is provided with an extraction valve 28.

The shunt 29 is provided with a pressure sensor 291 for monitoring the pressure in the cylinder 311 (see FIG. 5 and the like described later) to which the hot water supply pipe is connected. The pressure sensor 291 may be arranged at any position as long as the pressure in the cylinder 311 can be monitored. For example, the hot water supply pipe 24 from the hot water supply valve 23 to the hot water supply port 313 of the cylinder unit 31 via the diversion device 29. It may be arranged at a predetermined position, a predetermined position in the cylinder 311 or the like.

The hot water filter 21 is a filter that removes impurities and the like of hot water supplied from the hot water tank 11 to the coffee extraction unit 30 via the hot water pump 12. The flow rate sensor 22 measures the amount of hot water supplied from the hot water tank 11 to the coffee brewing unit 30. The hot water supply valve 23 is a solenoid valve that is opened and closed under the control of the control unit 50 of the beverage supply device 100, which will be described later. The operation of the hot water supply valve 23 will be described in detail later. The hot water supply pipe 24 is a pipe portion that forms a flow path for hot water from the hot water tank 11 to the coffee extraction unit 30.

The drain pipe 25 is a piping unit for controlling the discharge of residual liquid or the like in the coffee extraction unit 30 or the coffee liquid pipe 27 described later to the outside. The drain valve 26 is a solenoid valve that is opened and closed under the control of the control unit 50, like the hot water supply valve 23 described above. The operation of the drain valve 26 will be described in detail later.

The coffee liquid pipe 27 is a pipe unit for guiding the coffee liquid extracted by the coffee extraction unit 30 to the coffee nozzle 4 described above. The extraction valve 28 is a solenoid valve that is opened and closed under the control of the control unit 50, like the hot water supply valve 23 and the drain valve 26 described above. The operation of the extraction valve 28 will be described in detail later.

[Coffee extraction unit 30]
Next, the coffee brewing unit 30 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the coffee brewing unit 30. The coffee extraction unit 30 extracts the coffee liquor by passing hot water through the ground beans supplied from the mill 14.

The coffee brewing unit 30 includes a cylinder unit 31, an elevating unit 32, an elevating shaft 33, a motor 34, a pulley 35, a frame portion 36, a cap 37, and a wiper 38.

The cylinder unit 31 includes a cylinder 311 having an open upper surface and a water-permeable piston 312 that can move up and down in the cylinder 311. The above-mentioned hot water supply port 313 is arranged on the bottom side surface of the cylinder 311, and the connector 24A of the hot water supply pipe 24 is removably connected to the hot water supply port 313.

The piston 312 is composed of a disk-shaped member and a rod-shaped member substantially equal to the inner diameter of the cylinder 311. The rod-shaped member is fitted into a hole formed in the center of the lower surface of the cylinder 311 and extends downward of the cylinder 311. .. On the upper surface of the piston 312, for example, a mesh filter for straining coffee liquid is arranged.

The elevating unit 32 holds the cylinder unit 31 described above, and moves up and down together with the cylinder unit 31 in the vertical direction.

The elevating shaft 33 is a shaft portion that supports the elevating portion 32, and the elevating portion 32 moves up and down along the elevating shaft 33.

The motor 34 is a driving means for rotationally driving the elevating shaft 33, and in the present embodiment, for example, a motor with an electromagnetic brake. Further, as the motor 34 of the present embodiment, it is preferable to use a brushless motor. The motor 34, which is a brushless motor, has a rotor position detection sensor (Hall element) 341 (see FIG. 6 described later) that detects the position of the rotor, and the rotation of the motor generated by the rotor position detection sensor 341. A pulse signal having a frequency proportional to the number (FG (Frequency Generator) signal: an example of the operation signal of the present invention) is output.

The pulley 35 is connected to the upper end of the elevating shaft 33 and transmits the rotation of the motor to the elevating shaft 33. The elevating shaft 33, the motor 34, and the pulley 35 described above are each held by the frame portion 36.

As shown in FIG. 5, for example, the frame portion 36 is composed of an upper surface portion 36A, a lower surface portion 36B, and at least one pillar portion 36C connecting them. Both ends of the elevating shaft 33 are connected to the upper surface portion 36A and the lower surface portion 36B, respectively. The pulley 35 is connected to the upper surface portion 36A side of the elevating shaft 33, and the motor 34 is arranged in the vicinity thereof.

With such a configuration, when the motor 34 rotates in the normal direction, the elevating shaft 33 rotates to raise the elevating portion 32, and the cylinder unit 31 held by the elevating portion 32 also rises. On the contrary, when the motor 34 is reversed, the elevating part 32 and the cylinder unit 31 are lowered.

The cap 37 is a columnar member provided above the cylinder unit 31 on the upper surface portion 36A of the frame portion 36. The lower end of the cap 37 has substantially the same diameter as the upper surface opening of the cylinder 311, and the lower end of the cap 37 is fitted into the cylinder 311 by raising the cylinder unit 31. That is, when the cylinder unit 31 rises together with the elevating portion 32, the opening of the cylinder 311 is closed by the cap 37. Therefore, by raising the cylinder unit 31, the cylinder 311 can be sealed. Here, the coffee liquor can be extracted by enclosing the coffee beans ground by the above-mentioned mill 14 in the cylinder 311 with a cap 37 and introducing hot water from the hot water supply port 313.

Further, an extraction port 37A (see FIG. 7 and the like) for leading out the coffee liquid extracted in the cylinder 311 is formed on the lower surface of the cap 37, that is, the surface fitted in the cylinder 311. The extraction port 37A is formed so as to communicate with an extraction path (not shown) formed by penetrating the inside of the cap 37 up and down, and the other end of the extraction path is exposed on the upper surface of the cap 37 to take out coffee liquid. Form 37B. The coffee liquid pipe 27 described above is connected to the coffee liquid extraction unit 37B.

As described above, the cylinder unit 31 moves up and down together with the elevating part 32, and a sensor for detecting the position of the cylinder unit 31 is appropriately arranged in the frame part 36. As shown in FIG. 5, the position detection sensor includes an upper limit position detection sensor 41, a hot water addition position detection sensor 42, a coffee bean addition position detection sensor 43, and a lower limit position detection sensor 44 in this order from the top. Each position detection sensor is, for example, an optical sensor (not shown) composed of a pair of light emitting elements and a light receiving element, and position detection is performed by blocking the light emitted by the light emitting element as the elevating unit 32 moves up and down.

The upper limit position detection sensor 41 is a sensor that detects the upper limit position of the cylinder unit 31. The hot water pouring position detection sensor 42 is a sensor for detecting the position of the cylinder unit 31 for pouring hot water into the cylinder 311. The coffee bean charging position detection sensor 43 is a sensor for detecting the position of the cylinder unit 31 for charging ground coffee beans into the cylinder 311. The lower limit position detection sensor 44 is a sensor that detects the lower limit position of the cylinder unit 31.

The wiper 38 is fixed at a position slightly above the upper end of the cylinder 311 and moves up and down together with the cylinder unit 31 and the elevating part 32. When the cylinder unit 31 reaches a predetermined height, the wiper 38 performs a wipe operation of splashing the coffee ground after extracting the coffee liquid with the fixed position as a fulcrum. The bounced coffee grounds are stored in the coffee grounds 15 as described above.

[Control unit 50]
Next, the control unit 50 of the beverage supply device 100 will be described. FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram showing each functional unit of the beverage supply device 100. The control unit 50 is composed of, for example, a general-purpose microcontroller.

On the input side of the control unit 50, there are a touch panel 3, a flow rate sensor 22, a pressure sensor 291 and a rotor position detection sensor 341, an upper limit position detection sensor 41, a hot water pouring position detection sensor 42, a coffee bean pouring position detection sensor 43, and a lower limit position detection. The sensor 44 and the like are connected. A hot water pump 12, a mill 14, a hot water supply valve 23, a drain valve 26, an extraction valve 28, a motor 34, and the like are connected to the output side.

The control unit 50 operates the coffee supply in the beverage supply device 100 by controlling the output side based on the information input from the input side. Hereinafter, the details of the coffee supply operation in the beverage supply device 100 will be described.

[Coffee supply operation of beverage supply device 100]
7 to 11 are operation explanatory views of the coffee supply operation in the beverage supply device 100. Further, FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the main part of the beverage supply device 100 related to coffee extraction. Hereinafter, the coffee supply operation in the beverage supply device 100 will be described with reference to these figures.

First, the cylinder unit 31 (and the elevating part 32) is in the standby position before starting a series of coffee supply operations. The standby position is the position of the cylinder unit 31 after the piston position return operation, which will be described later, in the previous coffee supply operation is completed. In the standby position, as shown in "Standby" in FIG. 12, the cap 37 is completely fitted in the cylinder 311. The state in which the cylinder unit 31 is in the standby position is hereinafter referred to as a standby state. In the standby state, the piston 312 of the cylinder unit 31 is located at the inner bottom of the cylinder 311. The control unit 50 stops the hot water pump 12, closes all of the hot water supply valve 23, the drain valve 26, and the extraction valve 28, and waits until there is a coffee extraction request operation via the touch panel 3.

(A) Coffee bean feeding operation When the user performs a coffee extraction request operation via the touch panel 3 in the above standby state, the control unit 50 is a motor as shown in "Descent" to "Powder receiver" in FIG. The elevating part 32 is lowered by controlling 34 to bring the powder receiving state. As shown in the “powder receiver” of FIGS. 7 and 12, in the powder receiving state, the cap 37 is completely separated from the upper surface of the cylinder 311 and the upper part of the cylinder 311 is opened so that the ground beans (powder) can be charged. It has become like.

On the other hand, the control unit 50 drives the blade portion (not shown) of the mill 14 to grind the coffee beans housed in the canister 13 in response to the coffee extraction request operation to obtain ground beans. The coffee beans ground in the mill 14 are put into a cylinder 311 having an open top.

(B) Coffee liquid extraction operation When such a coffee bean feeding operation is completed, the control unit 50 then executes a coffee liquid extraction operation. In the coffee liquor extraction operation, first, as shown in "tamping (compression)" of FIGS. 8 and 12, the control unit 50 rotates the motor 34 in the normal direction to raise the cylinder unit 31 (cylinder 311 and piston 312). As a result, the lower end of the cap 37 is pushed into the opening on the upper surface of the cylinder 311. The ground beans thrown into the cylinder 311 are sandwiched between the piston 312 located at the inner bottom and the cap 37, and are confined and compressed. This compression of ground beans is called tamping. In the tamping operation, the control unit 50 closes the hot water supply valve 23 and the extraction valve 28 shown in FIG. 6 and opens the drain valve 26.

As shown in FIG. 8, when the cylinder 311 and the piston 312 are fitted in the tamping operation, the hot water charging position detection sensor 42 detects that the cylinder unit 31 has reached a position where hot water can be charged. When the tamping operation is completed, as shown in “Extraction” in FIGS. 8 and 12, the control unit 50 operates the hot water pump 12 to pressurize the hot water, closes the drain valve 26, opens the hot water supply valve 23, and opens the hot water valve 23. Pressurized hot water is supplied from the tank 11 into the cylinder 311. Here, the control unit 50 detects the supply amount of hot water with the flow rate sensor 22, and first supplies a small amount of hot water into the cylinder 311 to steam the ground beans. When the steaming is finished, the control unit 50 supplies a predetermined amount of hot water, for example, a cup of coffee, into the cylinder 311 again, and when the supply is finished, the hot water pump 12 is stopped and the hot water supply valve 23 is closed.

By the above operation, the pressurized hot water is introduced into the cylinder 311 sealed by the cap 37, so that the pressure in the cylinder 311 rises and the hot water permeates into the tissue of the ground beans. The result is a strong coffee liquor, i.e. espresso. The control unit 50 opens the extraction valve 28 at the start of extraction. The extracted coffee liquid passes through the inside of the cap 37 from the extraction port 37A formed on the lower surface of the cap 37, and is discharged from the coffee nozzle 4 via the coffee liquid pipe 27 connected to the coffee liquid extraction portion 37B. To. As a result, the coffee liquid is supplied to the beverage container placed below the coffee nozzle 4 on the beverage container support base 7. At this time, the milk supply unit (not shown) may supply the foamed milk or the steamed milk from the milk nozzle 5 at the same time as the coffee liquid, so that the milk / coffee mixed beverage can be provided.

(C) Coffee ground disposal operation When the coffee liquid extraction operation is completed, the beverage supply device 100 executes the coffee ground disposal operation. First, as shown in the “residual pressure purge” of FIG. 12, the control unit 50 maintains the hot water supply valve 23 in a closed state, opens the drain valve 26, and closes the extraction valve 28. Then, the pressure in the pressurized cylinder 311 is released. When the pressure inside the cylinder 311 becomes normal, the control unit 50 reverses the motor 34 to lower the cylinder unit 31 (cylinder 311 and piston 312), as shown in “suction” in FIGS. 9 and 12. At this time, the control unit 50 closes the hot water supply valve 23 and the drain valve 26, and opens the extraction valve 28. Then, since the volume of the space in the cylinder 311 increases as the cylinder unit 31 descends, the inside of the cylinder 311 becomes a negative pressure, and the inside of the pipe from the extraction port 37A to the coffee liquid extraction portion 37B and the inside of the coffee liquid pipe 27. The coffee liquid remaining in the cylinder 311 can be sucked into the cylinder 311.

When the control unit 50 further lowers the cylinder unit 31 (cylinder 311 and piston 312), as shown in FIG. 9, the lower end of the piston 312 located at the lowermost end of the cylinder unit 31 becomes the lower surface 36B of the frame 36. Contact. When the control unit 50 still continues the descending operation, the lower end portion of the piston 312 is pressed against the lower surface portion 36B, and the piston 312 rises in the cylinder 311.

As a result, the coffee grounds remaining in the cylinder 311 rise while being collected by the upper surface of the piston 312. When the cylinder unit 31 is further lowered to the lower limit position, the lower limit position detection sensor 44 detects the position. In response to the detection by the lower limit position detection sensor 44, the control unit 50 stops driving the motor 34 and stops the lowering of the elevating unit 32. In this state, as shown in "Separation" of FIG. 12, the coffee grounds collected on the upper surface of the piston 312 are pushed up to the outside of the cylinder 311 so as to be located above the edge of the upper surface opening of the cylinder 311. Become.

Here, since the hot water supply valve 23 and the drain valve 26 are closed as described above, when the piston 312 rises in the cylinder 311, a negative pressure is generated between the upper end portion of the piston 312 and the inner bottom portion of the cylinder 311. Become. Then, as described above, since the piston 312 has water permeability, the water contained in the coffee grounds collected on the upper surface of the piston 312 is drawn into the cylinder 311 through the piston 312. In FIG. 12, the drawn water is shown as the residual liquid. As a result, the water content in the coffee grounds can be reduced. Therefore, in the subsequent coffee grounds removal operation, the coffee grounds containing water stick to the upper surface of the piston 312 and cannot be sufficiently removed. It can be eliminated and the coffee grounds can be preferably removed.

When the cylinder unit 31 descends to the lower limit position, the control unit 50 then rotates the motor 34 in the normal direction and raises the cylinder unit 31 again, as shown in FIG. When the cylinder unit 31 reaches a predetermined height position, the wiper 38 operates in conjunction with the raising and lowering operation of the cylinder unit 31. The wiper 38 is located slightly above the upper end of the cylinder 311 as described above, and when the wiper 38 performs a wipe operation, the coffee grounds pushed up to the outside of the cylinder 311 by the piston 312 are wiped off by the wiper 38. It is broken and removed. Here, the removed coffee grounds are received in the coffee grounds receiving portion 15 described above.

(D) Piston position return operation After the coffee grounds are discarded, the control unit 50 continues to raise the elevating unit 32 to execute the piston position return operation. In the piston position return operation, the control unit 50 rotates the motor 34 in the normal direction until the upper limit position detection sensor 41 detects that the cylinder unit 31 is in the upper limit position, as shown in FIG. The detection that the cylinder unit 31 is in the upper limit position means that the cap 37 is fitted to the innermost part of the cylinder 311. At that time, the piston 312 pushed up to the uppermost part of the cylinder 311 in the above-mentioned coffee ground disposal operation abuts on the lower surface of the cap 37, and is pushed down to the inner bottom part of the cylinder 311 by further raising the cylinder unit 31. ..

In this process, the control unit 50 opens the drain valve 26, as shown in the “waste liquid” of FIG. As a result, the water sucked into the space between the inner bottom of the cylinder 311 and the piston 312 in the coffee slag disposal operation is smoothly discharged to the outside from the drain pipe 25 via the drain valve 26.

Then, when the position of the piston 312 is pushed down to the inner bottom of the cylinder 311, that is, in the standby state described above, the control unit 50 stops the rotation of the motor 34 and stops the rotation of the motor 34, and the hot water supply valve 23, the drain valve 26, and the extraction valve 28. Close all valves and wait until the next coffee brew operation is accepted.

The coffee supply operation of the beverage supply device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described above. The coffee supply operation described above assumes a case where each part is suitable and operates without delay. However, in the coffee liquid extraction operation described above, any one of the routes from the coffee liquid extraction portion 37B of the piston 312 to the coffee nozzle 4 via the coffee liquid pipe 27 (hereinafter referred to as a coffee liquid supply path). May cause a problem of clogging. The operation of the beverage supply device 100 in such a case will be described in detail below.

[Operation when the coffee liquid supply path is clogged]
As shown in “Extraction” in FIG. 12, the drain valve 26 is in a closed state during the coffee liquid extraction operation. Therefore, when the coffee liquid supply path is clogged, the coffee liquid cannot pass through the drain pipe 25 and the coffee liquid pipe 27 even though the hot water is continuously supplied from the hot water supply pipe 24, so that the pressure in the cylinder 311 rises. As a result, the coffee liquid may leak from the seal portion of the cylinder 311 and the cap 37.

In order to prevent such a situation, the control unit 50 monitors the flow rate of hot water flowing through the hot water supply pipe 24 by the flow rate sensor 22. When the control unit 50 detects an abnormality such as the flow of hot water stopped with the hot water supply valve 23 open, or the flow rate continues to be lower than the flow rate during normal coffee liquid extraction operation for a predetermined time or longer. The hot water supply valve 23 is closed and the hot water pump 12 is stopped.

Further, the control unit 50 monitors the pressure sensor 291 during the coffee liquor extraction operation. When the pressure in the cylinder 311 detected by the pressure sensor 291 becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value higher than that of the normal coffee liquor extraction operation and the state continues for a predetermined time or longer, the control unit 50 closes the hot water supply valve 23. , Stop the hot water pump 12.

Further, the control unit 50 monitors the FG signal output from the rotor position detection sensor 341 of the motor 34. Since the FG signal is a signal output from the rotor position detection sensor 341 as the motor 34 rotates, the FG signal should not be detected during the coffee extraction operation in which the motor 34 is stopped so as not to raise or lower the elevating unit 32. Is. That is, if the control unit 50 detects the FG signal during the coffee brewing operation, it means that the motor 34 has started to reverse due to the pressure in the cylinder 311. Therefore, when the control unit 50 detects the FG signal while the motor 34 is stopped, it determines that an abnormality, that is, a blockage in the coffee liquid supply path has been detected, closes the hot water supply valve 23, and closes the hot water pump 12. stop.

In this way, the control unit 50 monitors the supply amount of hot water by the flow rate sensor 22, monitors the pressure in the cylinder 311 by the pressure sensor 291 and the FG signal output from the rotor position detection sensor 341 during the coffee liquid extraction operation. Monitor. As a result, the beverage supply device 100 according to the present embodiment can suitably detect the occurrence of clogging of the coffee liquid supply path during the coffee liquid extraction operation. In the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the amount of hot water supplied, the pressure in the cylinder 311, and the FG signal are monitored at the same time, but for example, an abnormality is detected by monitoring only one of them. You may.

[Operation after detecting coffee liquid supply path clogging]
As described above, when the clogging of the coffee liquid supply path is detected, the beverage supply device 100 cannot normally supply the coffee liquid, so that it is necessary to wait until, for example, maintenance by an administrator or the like is received. Therefore, the beverage supply device 100 notifies that clogging has occurred by, for example, a notification unit (not shown).

However, since the coffee extraction unit 30 is stopped in the middle of the coffee liquid extraction operation, the inside of the cylinder 311 is filled with the coffee liquid being extracted, which makes maintenance difficult. Therefore, in order to facilitate maintenance, the beverage supply device 100 performs the following operations.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the main part of the beverage supply device 100 when the coffee liquid supply path is clogged in the coffee liquid extraction operation. As shown in the “drainage” of FIG. 13, for example, when the FG signal is detected in the stopped state of the motor 34 during the “extraction”, the beverage supply device 100 executes the drainage operation.

(E) Drainage operation When the coffee liquid supply path is clogged in the coffee liquid extraction operation, the inside of the cylinder 311 is filled with the coffee liquid being extracted, and the pressure is high. Therefore, as shown in "drainage" in FIG. 13, the control unit 50 closes the hot water supply valve 23, opens the drain valve 26, discharges the coffee liquid in the cylinder 311 to the outside, and lowers the pressure in the cylinder 311.

(C') Coffee ground disposal operation When the above-mentioned drainage operation is completed, the coffee grounds containing water are left in the cylinder 311. Therefore, the beverage supply device 100 executes the coffee ground disposal operation. However, the pressure in the cylinder 311 has already been released by opening the drain valve 26 in the drainage operation described above. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 13, the beverage supply device 100 performs the same operation as the coffee ground disposal operation from “suction” to “waste liquid” shown in FIG. 12 to remove the coffee grounds and to remove the residual liquid. Drain and do.

However, in the "suction" operation shown in FIG. 12 described above, the extraction valve 28 is in an open state, but in the "suction" operation of FIG. 13, the inside of the cylinder 311 is sealed because the coffee liquid supply path is clogged. Therefore, a large force is required to lower the elevating unit 32. In such a case, for example, the drain valve 26 may be opened so that the pressure inside the cylinder 311 is the same as that outside.

Further, in the "separation" operation shown in FIG. 13, it is desirable that the lowering speed of the elevating portion 32 by the motor 34 is slower than the "separation" operation shown in FIG. 12 described above. As a result, the time for removing water from the coffee grounds through the water-permeable piston 312 becomes long, and more water can be removed from the coffee grounds.

As described above, according to the beverage supply device 100 of the embodiment of the present invention, the cylinder 311 for accommodating the coffee bean powder, the hot water pump 12 for pressurizing and supplying hot water into the cylinder 311, and the cylinder 311 The coffee liquid pipe 27 that sends out the extracted coffee liquid, the drain valve 26 provided in the drain pipe 25 for discharging the residual liquid in the cylinder 311, and the coffee liquid pipe 27 that is clogged when the coffee liquid is extracted. A control unit 50 that stops the pressurized supply of hot water by the hot water pump 12 and opens the drain valve 26 when it is detected is provided.

Further, according to the beverage supply device 100 of the embodiment of the present invention, a cap 37 for closing the opening of the cylinder 311 and a motor 34 for moving the cylinder 311 so that the cap 37 closes the opening are further provided. , The control unit 50 detects the clogging of the coffee liquid pipe 27 based on the signal indicating the rotation of the motor 34 at the time of extracting the coffee liquid. As a result, the pressure in the cylinder 311 becomes larger than the brake pressure of the motor 34, and the cylinder 311 moves in the direction of increasing the volume, so that the pressure in the cylinder 311 drops and the hot water supply is continued. Can be prevented.

Further, according to the beverage supply device 100 of the embodiment of the present invention, the pressure sensor 291 for detecting the internal pressure of the cylinder 311 is further provided, and the control unit 50 further includes the internal pressure detected by the pressure sensor 291 at the time of extracting the coffee liquid. The clogging of the coffee liquid pipe 27 is detected based on the above. As a result, the beverage supply device 100 can detect the clogging of the coffee liquid supply path based on the pressure abnormality in the cylinder 311.

Further, according to the beverage supply device 100 of the embodiment of the present invention, the flow rate sensor 22 for detecting the flow rate of the hot water supplied into the cylinder 311 is further provided, and the control unit 50 is a flow rate sensor at the time of extracting the coffee liquid. The clogging of the coffee liquid pipe 27 is detected based on the flow rate detected by 22. Thereby, the beverage supply device 100 can detect the clogging of the coffee liquid supply path based on the abnormality of the hot water supply amount.

Further, according to the beverage supply device 100 of the embodiment of the present invention, the control unit further includes a water-permeable piston 312 that moves in the cylinder 311 and accumulates the coffee slag after extraction of the coffee liquid in the upper part. 50 slows down the speed at which the cylinder 311 is moved with respect to the piston 312 in which the coffee slag is accumulated in the upper part when the clogging of the coffee liquid pipe 27 is detected, as compared with the case where the clogging of the coffee liquid pipe 27 is not detected. As a result, even when a large amount of coffee liquid is left in the cylinder 311, the elevating portion 32 descends for a long time in the coffee grounds disposal operation, so that water can be sufficiently removed from the coffee grounds.

The above-described embodiment is an example of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto. In the above-described embodiment, the beverage supply device 100 produces a strong coffee liquid, that is, espresso by compressing the coffee beans and supplying hot water under pressure. However, the present invention can also be applied to a beverage supply device that pressurizes hot water at a low pressure to supply drip-flavored coffee. The present invention can also be applied to a beverage supply device capable of producing a plurality of types of coffee beverages, such as drip-flavored coffee, American coffee, and high-pressure extraction espresso, by controlling the pressurization of hot water with a hot water pump.

The disclosures of the specifications, drawings and abstracts contained in the Japanese application of Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-008661 filed on January 20, 2015 are all incorporated herein by reference.

The present invention is suitable for a beverage supply device that extracts coffee liquid by introducing hot water into a container containing coffee bean powder.

100 Beverage supply device 1 Housing 2 Front door 3 Touch panel 4 Coffee nozzle 5 Milk nozzle 6 Hot water nozzle 7 Beverage container support 10 Beverage supply mechanism 11 Hot water tank 12 Hot water pump 13 Canister 14 Mill 15 Coffee slag receiver 21 Hot water Filter 22 Flow sensor 23 Hot water supply valve 24 Hot water supply pipe 24A connector 25 Drain pipe 26 Drain valve 27 Coffee liquid pipe 28 Extraction valve 29 Divider 291 Pressure sensor 30 Coffee extraction unit 31 Cylinder unit 311 Cylinder 312 Piston 313 Hot water supply port 32 Lifting part 33 Shaft 34 Motor 341 Rotor position detection sensor 35 Pulley 36 Frame part 36A Top part 36B Bottom part 36C Pillar part 37 Cap 37A Extraction port 37B Coffee liquid extraction part 38 Wiper 41 Upper limit position detection sensor 42 Hot water pouring position detection sensor 43 Coffee bean pouring position Detection sensor 44 Lower limit position detection sensor 50 Control unit

Claims (4)

A cylinder for storing coffee bean powder and
A coffee liquid pipe that delivers the coffee liquid extracted by supplying hot water into the cylinder, and
A water-permeable piston that moves in the cylinder and accumulates coffee grounds after extraction of the coffee liquid at the top.
When the clogging of the coffee liquid pipe is detected by the sensor, the process of removing water from the coffee grounds through the water-permeable piston is controlled for a longer period of time than when the clogging of the coffee liquid pipe is not detected. A beverage supply device including a control unit. When the clogged coffee liquid pipe is detected by the sensor, the control unit slows down the speed at which the cylinder moves with respect to the piston as compared with the case where the clogged coffee liquid pipe is not detected. The beverage supply device according to claim 1, which controls. When the clogged coffee liquid pipe is detected by the sensor, the control unit removes water from the coffee slag outside the cylinder for a longer period of time than when the clogged coffee liquid pipe is not detected. The beverage supply device according to claim 1 or 2, which pushes up to. The control unit stops the supply of the hot water and opens the drain valve for discharging the residual liquid in the cylinder when the clogging of the coffee liquid pipe is detected by the sensor. The beverage supply device according to any one of 3 to 3.

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