JPH0137134B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a coffee maker equipped with a mill mechanism for grinding coffee beans housed in a case, and a drip mechanism for supplying hot water into the case to extract coffee liquid. The purpose of this is to have a memory section that stores a plurality of drip patterns and an operation button for selecting the drip pattern stored in this memory section. By providing a control device for operating the drip mechanism, it is possible to select a coffee manufacturing course from among a plurality of coffee manufacturing courses that automatically provides a coffee liquid with a desired taste and strength. Our goal is to provide the best coffee making equipment possible.

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

First, the overall structure of the coffee maker will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. Reference numeral 1 denotes a container body, which includes a mill mechanism 2 for crushing coffee beans, a drip mechanism 3 for dripping hot water into the crushed coffee powder to produce coffee liquid, and a container, such as a bottle 4, for storing the generated coffee liquid. As will be described in detail below, a motor storage section 5 and a bottle mounting section 6 are formed on both left and right sides of the lower half of the container 1, and furthermore, a motor storage section 5 and a bottle mounting section 6 are formed on both left and right sides of the upper half. A case mounting portion 7 and a water storage tank 8 are formed in the case mounting portion 7 and the water storage tank 8, respectively. Reference numeral 9 denotes a heating plate provided in close contact with the bottom surface of the bottle placement section 6, on which an electric heater such as a sheathed heater 10 and a heating pipe 11 are placed.
One end of this heating pipe 11 is extended upward and connected to a water outlet (not shown) of the water storage tank 8 to form a water supply pipe 12, and the other end is extended to the upper part of the case mounting part 7. A hot water supply pipe 13 is provided. Reference numeral 14 denotes a case attached to the case attachment part 7, which is common to both the mill mechanism 2 and the drip mechanism 3 described above;
A drive shaft 16 is rotatably and watertightly inserted into a shaft cylinder portion 15 formed at the center of the bottom wall 14a of the drive shaft 4. A cutter 17 for crushing coffee beans is attached to the upper end of the drive shaft 16, and a joint 1 is attached to the lower end.
8 is attached, and this joint 18 is connected to a joint 20 of a motor 19 disposed within the motor storage portion 5. Reference numeral 21 denotes a filter for filtration, which is installed in the case 14 by a frame-shaped filter support 22 and a watertight member 23, and is positioned below the cutter 17, so as to receive the coffee powder crushed by the cutter 17. It's getting old. 24 is the bottom wall 1 of the case 14
The extraction port 4a faces the top opening of the bottle 4 removably placed on the bottle placement portion 6 from above. Reference numeral 25 denotes a lid detachably attached to the opening on the upper surface of the case 14, and has an annular wall 25a standing approximately in the center thereof, and a pouring hole 25b located inside the wall 25a. is formed. The hot water supply port 13a, which is the tip of the hot water pipe 13, is arranged to face the inside of the wall portion 25a from above. 26 is a lid that forms part of the vessel body 1;
This is detachably attached to the upper opening of the water storage tank 8. Reference numeral 27 denotes an operation panel attached to the body, which includes a digital display 2.
8. Hour push button 29, minute push button 30, clock push button 3
1. Push button 32 for timer, push button 33 for mill, push button 34 for small capacity (1 to 4 cups), large capacity (5 to 8 cups)
(cup) push button 35, strong push button 36, regular push button 37, memory read push button 38, multiple selection push buttons 39 ₁ , 39 ₂ , 39 ₃ ,
...39 ₉ , 39 ₀ , a start push button 40 and a stop push button 41 are attached.

Next, the schematic electrical configuration will be described according to FIG. Reference numeral 42 denotes a power plug connected to a power outlet (not shown), and power wires 43 and 44 are connected to both terminals thereof, respectively. 45
is a DC power supply circuit connected between the power supply lines 43 and 44, and the future DC power supply is a control circuit 46, which will be described later, and includes a microcomputer, a drive circuit, etc.
It is beginning to be given to 47, 48, and 49 are a motor relay, a heater relay, and a capacity switching relay, respectively, and these have excitation coils 47a, 48a, and 49a that are energized by the control device 46 as described later. It has normally open contacts 47b, 48b and 49b. A series circuit of the motor 19 and the normally open contact 47b and the sheathed heater 1 are connected between the power lines 43 and 44.
0, normally open contact 48b and diode 5 with the polarity shown
The normally open contact 49b is connected in parallel to the diode 50. In this case, the sheathed heater 10 is set to have a heat generating capacity of 800 watts, for example, and therefore, when energized through the diode 50, it has a heat generating capacity of 400 watts. Note that the control device 46 includes various push buttons shown in FIG.
In addition, there is a temporary storage section 51 having a mode area (indicated by subscripts a, b, and c) capable of storing three modes, and the selection push buttons 39 ₁ , 39 ₂ , . . .
A plurality of storage units 52 ₁ , 52 ₂ , . . . 5 each having three mode areas (indicated by subscripts a, b, and c) corresponding to 39 ₀ and storing three modes, respectively.
₂₀ (see FIGS. 4 and 5), and further includes a counter, a signal generation circuit, etc. as described later.

Next, the operation of this embodiment having the above configuration will be explained with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6.

First, the storage units 52 ₁ , 52 ₂ . . . of the control device 46
The case of storing various information in ₅₂₀ will be described with reference to FIG. When pressing the mill push button 33 and then pressing the minute push button 30, the mill counter 53 (see FIG. 5) displays "1", "2", and "3" at intervals of, for example, 1 second during this pressing operation. ", . . ., the mill time is set in seconds, and the set mill time is displayed on the minute unit display section of the display 28. Then, when the desired mill time is reached, when the pressing operation of the portion push button 30 is stopped, the mill time at that time is finally set in the mill counter 53, and the set mill time is stored in the first mode area of the temporary storage section 51. 51a. Further, when one of the small capacity push button 34 and the large capacity push button 35 is pressed to select a small capacity or a large capacity, the selected capacity is stored in the second mode area 51b of the temporary storage section 51. remembered,
When either the strong drip pattern or the regular drip pattern is selected by pressing either the strong push button 36 or the regular push button 37, the selected drip pattern is stored in the third mode of the temporary storage section 51. It is stored in area 51c.
After performing such an operation, the memory read push button 38 is pressed, and then the selection push button 39 ₁ is pressed.
When pressed, the first, second, and third mode areas 51a, 51b, and 5 of the temporary storage section 51 are pressed.
The mill time, capacity and drip pattern respectively stored in 1c are read out, and the first, second and third mode areas 52 ₁ a, 52 ₁ b and 52 ₁ of the storage unit 52 ₁ corresponding to the selection push button 39 ₁ are read out. It is written and stored in c. Thereafter, press the mill push button 33, the minute push button 30, the small volume push button 34, or the large volume push button 35 in the same manner.
In addition, by pressing the strong push button 36 or the regular push button 37, the temporary storage section 51 is
Each time the desired mill time, capacity, and drip pattern are stored in the mode areas 51a, 51b, and 51c, the memory read push button 38 is pressed, and the selection push buttons ₃₉₂ , ₃₉₃ , . . . ₃₉₀ are pressed in sequence. For example, the storage units 52 ₂ ,
...52 ₀ mode area 52 ₂ a, ...52 ₀ a, 5
The mill time, capacity and drip pattern are stored in 2 ₂ b, . . . 52 ₀ b and 52 ₂ c, . . . 52 ₀ c, respectively.

Now, like this, the storage units 52 ₁ , 52 ₂ , ... 5
A case in which coffee is manufactured based on the mill time, capacity, and drip pattern information stored in ₂₀ will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. First, a desired amount of water for 1 to 8 cups (for 1 to 8 people) is poured into the water storage tank 8, and a corresponding amount of coffee beans is stored in the case 14. After that, when one of the selection push buttons 39 ₁ , 39 ₂ , . . . 39 ₀ is selected, for example, the selection push button 39 ₁ is pressed,
The storage unit 52 ₁ corresponding to this is selected. Then, when the start push button 40 is pressed, the control device 46 enters the mill stroke _A , and in this mill stroke _A , the mill time ( For example, 13 seconds) is set in the mill counter 53, and the mill counter 53 starts counting the mill time and also gives an ON command signal to the signal generation circuit 54, which in turn sends the motor relay 47 The excitation coil 47a is energized to operate the motor relay 47. As a result, the normally open contact of the motor relay 47 is turned on and the motor 19 of the mill mechanism 2 is energized, and the cutter 17 is rotationally driven by the motor 19 to grind (mill) the coffee beans in the case 14. Start. Thereafter, the mill counter 53 is set to the mill time (for example, 13
When the mill counter 53 finishes counting the number of seconds (seconds), the mill counter 53 gives an off command signal to the signal generating circuit 54, and the signal generating circuit 54 turns off the excitation coil 47a of the motor relay 47. As a result, the normally open contact 47b of the motor relay 47 is turned off to cut off the power to the motor 19, and the milling stroke A ends, and the control device 46 shifts to the next dripping stroke B. In this drip process B, first, an on/off command signal is given to the signal generating circuit 55 according to the capacity stored in the second mode area 52 ₁ b of the selected storage section 52 ₁ , For example, when the storage capacity is large, an on command signal is given, and when it is small, an off command signal is given. and,
When the signal generation circuit 55 receives the ON command generation signal, it energizes the excitation coil 49b of the capacity switching relay 49, operates the capacity switching relay 49, and turns on the normally open contact 49b. and when an off command signal is given,
The excitation coil 49b of the capacity switching relay 49 is cut off, the capacity switching relay 49 is reset, and the normally open contact 49b is turned off. still,
Here, the storage unit 52 ₁
It is assumed that a large capacity is stored in the second mode region 52 ₂ b of , and therefore the capacity switching relay 49 is activated to short-circuit the diode 50 by turning on its normally open contact 49b. Furthermore, when moving to the above-mentioned drip process B, the _third
The sheathed heater 10 is controlled as follows based on the drip pattern stored in the mode area 52 ₁ c. For example, when the drip pattern stored in the third mode area 52 ₁ c is the regular drip pattern shown in FIG.
starts counting operation with the start of the drip process B and continuously gives an ON command signal to the signal generating circuit 57, and the signal generating circuit 57 continuously energizes the excitation coil 48a to turn on the heater relay 48. The normally open contact 48b is turned on continuously. As a result, the sheathed heater 10 is energized and generates heat with a large capacity of 800 watts. and,
When the sheathed heater 10 generates heat, the heating plate 9 is heated, thereby preheating the bottle 4 placed on the bottle placement section 6 and at the same time heating the heating pipe 11 supplied from the water storage tank 8 through the water supply pipe 12.
It heats the water inside to produce hot water. The hot water generated as described above rises in the hot water supply pipe 13 due to its boiling pressure and passes through the hot water supply port 13a to the lid 2.
The molten metal is supplied to the inside of the wall portion 25a at 5, and dripped into the case 14 from the pouring hole 25b. Furthermore, the hot water supplied into the case 14 passes through the coffee powder and the filter 21 and is extracted as coffee liquid.
This extracted coffee liquid is passed through the extraction port 24 of the case 14.
It flows out and falls into the bottle 4 and is stored there. In this way, when the sheathed heater 10 is continuously energized based on the regular drip pattern, hot water is continuously supplied into the case 14 and coffee liquid is extracted, the coffee liquid has a normal concentration. So-called regular coffee is obtained. Thereafter, when all the water in the water storage tank 8 is consumed, the drip process B ends. Further, when the drip pattern stored in the third mode area 52 ₁ c is the strong drip pattern shown in FIG. The on-command signal is now given to the signal generating circuit 57.
At 7, the excitation coil 48a is energized to operate the heater relay 48, and the sheathed heater 10 is energized and generates heat at 800 watts in the same manner as described above, and hot water is supplied into the case 14. Ru. After that, the pattern counter 51 is
When a count operation of ta (for example, 1 minute) is performed, the pattern counter 51 comes to give an off command signal to the signal generation circuit 57, and the signal generation circuit 57
The excitation coil 48a of the heater relay 48 is cut off and the normally open contact 48b is turned off.
Therefore, the sheathed heater 10 is cut off and the case 14
Stop supplying hot water to the inside. As a result, the hot water supplied into the case 14 by energizing the sheathed heater 10 for a certain period of time ta permeates the entire area of the coffee powder in the case 14 and moistens the entire coffee powder, and the hot water is removed from the coffee liquid. Extraction of coffee extract is promoted. After that, the pattern counter 56 counts tb for a certain period of time.
(for example, 1 minute), the pattern counter 56 comes to give the ON command signal to the signal generation circuit 57 again, and the signal generation circuit 57
7 operates the heater relay 48 to turn on its normally open contact 48b, and the sheathed heater 10 is energized to resume hot water supply into the case 14. After that, the pattern counter 56 continuously generates an ON command signal to turn on the normally open contact 48b of the heater relay 48, and therefore, hot water is continuously supplied into the case 14, and the coffee liquid is poured into the case 14. is extracted. In this way, if the entire coffee powder is moistened based on the strong drip pattern to promote the extraction of the coffee extract, and then the coffee liquid is extracted by continuously supplying hot water, the coffee liquid will be as described above. It has a higher concentration than regular coffee, and so-called strong coffee can be obtained. Thereafter, when all the water in the water storage tank 8 is consumed, the drip process B ends. When the drip process B based on the regular drip pattern or the strong drip pattern is completed, the control device 4
6 moves to the next heat retention process C, and the sheathed heater 10
The bottle 4 is heated via the heating plate 9, and the coffee liquid in the bottle 4 is kept warm.
In addition, in the above drip process B, the storage section 52 ₁
When the memory in the second mode region 52 ₁ b has a small capacity, the signal generating circuit 55 disconnects the excitation coil 49a, returns the capacity switching relay 49, and turns off its normally open contact 49b. Therefore, the sheathed heater 10 is energized through the diode 50 in series and generates heat at 400 watts, so the sheathed heater 10 has a small capacity (1 to 4 cups).
When the cup is large or small, it generates heat at 400 watts, and when the capacity is large (5 to 8 cups), it generates heat at 800 watts, and the time required for drip process B is controlled to be approximately constant regardless of whether the capacity is large or small. It is something.

The above is a case where the storage unit 52 ₁ is selected by pressing the selection push button 39 ₁ , but the storage unit 52 _{1 is selected by pressing the selection button 39 2} , ... 39 ₀ . The same is true when one of sections 52 _{2 ,} . Drip process B is performed based on the capacity and drip pattern.

By the way, in the control device 46, the mill time, volume, and drip pattern are controlled by pressing the mill push button 33, the minute push button 30, the small volume push button 34 or the large volume push button 35, and the strong push button 36 or the regular push button 37. Temporary storage unit 51
When _the start push button 40 is pressed after the start _{button 40} is stored, the mill stroke A and Drip process B is now being executed.

Further, the control device 46 is equipped with a timer counter (not shown), and when the timer push button 32 is pressed, the minute push button 30 is pressed.
By pressing , the time in minutes can be set as desired, and by pressing the hour push button 29, the time in hours can be set as desired. The set time is displayed on the minute display section and the hour display section of the display 28, respectively. Then, when the start push button 40 is pressed, or when one of the selection push buttons ₃₉₁ , 392, . . . ₃₉₀ is pressed and then the start push button 40 is pressed, the timer counter is set. When the time counting operation (timekeeping operation) starts, and then the timer counter ends the timekeeping operation for the set time, the stored information in the temporary storage section 51 or the storage sections 52 ₁ , 52 ₂ , . . .
The milling process A and the dripping process B are performed based on the stored information in the selected storage section of ₅₂₀ .

In addition, in the control device 46, the clock push button 31
When pressed, a clock counter (not shown) is set and the clock is displayed on the display 28. In this case, the minutes and hours can be adjusted using the minute push button 30 and the hour push button. This is done by pressing 39, respectively.

In this way, according to this embodiment, the selection push button 39
₁ , 39 ₂ , ... 39 ₀ by pressing one of the memory units 52 ₁ , 5 .
Milling process A and dripping process B are automatically performed based on the milling time, capacity, and drip pattern stored in one of the memory units selected from 2 ₂ , ...52 ₀ . It is possible to select a coffee production course to obtain regular or strong coffee liquid, and it is extremely convenient because there is no need to select and set the mill time, capacity, and drip pattern each time you want to obtain coffee liquid.

Moreover, according to this embodiment, the mill push button 33,
Memory read is performed each time the mill time, capacity, and drip pattern are stored in the temporary storage section 51 as desired by pressing the minute push button 30, the small capacity push button 34, the large capacity push button 35, the strong push button 36, or the regular push button 37. By pressing the selection push button 38 and then pressing the selection _push button _{39 1} , _{39 2 , .} It is convenient for the user to set the desired coffee production course, and the operation is simple.

In the above embodiment, the storage units 52 ₁ , 52 ₂ , . . .
Although the user is allowed to arbitrarily store information in ₅₂₀ , for example, the manufacturer may store the information in advance.

In addition, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings, and may be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit, for example, the heat generation capacity may be selected as necessary. Of course, it can be carried out as well.

As explained above, the present invention includes a mill mechanism for grinding coffee beans, a memory section for storing a plurality of drip patterns, and an operating section for selecting the stored drip pattern. Since a control device is provided which operates the drip mechanism based on the drip pattern stored in the memory unit after the mill mechanism is operated, the coffee liquid having the desired taste and strength can be produced from among a plurality of coffee production courses. It is possible to select a coffee manufacturing course that automatically obtains the desired results, and the selection operation is simple.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view, FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the operation panel, FIG. 3 is an electrical configuration diagram, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are operation explanatory diagrams. , FIGS. 6a and 6b are diagrams showing the drip pattern. In the drawing, 2 is a mill mechanism, 3 is a drip mechanism, 1
0 is a sheathed heater, 17 is a cutter, 27 is an operation panel, 36 is a strong push button, 37 is a regular push button, 39 ₁ , 39 ₂ , 39 ₀ is a selection push button (operation unit), 46 is a control device, 51 is a temporary storage unit;
52 ₁ , 52 ₂ , . . . 52 ₀ indicate storage units.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. The above-mentioned device is equipped with a mill mechanism for crushing coffee beans, a drip mechanism for supplying hot water to extract coffee liquid, a storage section for storing a plurality of drip patterns, and an operation section for selecting the stored drip patterns. and a control device for operating the drip mechanism based on the selected drip pattern after operating the mill mechanism.