JPH04312417A - Coffee percolator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make the coffee liquid extracting time constant regardless of the water quantity by providing a water quantity detecting means detecting the water quantity in a water container and a duty ratio calculating means calculating the excitation duty ratio, detecting the water quantity in the water container, and calculating the excitation duty ratio to a heating means. CONSTITUTION:A duty ratio calculating means calculating the excitation duty ratio to a heating means 3 based on the output of a water quantity detecting means 15 detecting the water quantity of the water stored in a water container 1 is provided, when a start switch 13 is operated, the water quantity detection by the water quantity detecting means 15 is started, the excitation to the heating means 3 is controlled by a heating control means 12 at the duty ratio calculated by the duty ratio calculating means 16 based on the detected water quantity, thus the coffee liquid extracting time can be made constant regardless of the water quantity stored in the water container 1.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a coffee brewer which has a coffee bean grinding function and which extracts coffee liquid and keeps it warm.

0002

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In recent years, there has been a demand for coffee brewers that grind coffee beans, extract coffee liquid from the ground coffee powder, and keep it warm, capable of extracting a more delicious coffee liquid.

Conventionally, this type of coffee brewer generally had a configuration as shown in FIG. The configuration will be explained below.

As shown in FIG. 6, the water container 1 is a container that stores water and is detachable from the main body, and the water pipe 2 comes out from the bottom of the water container 1, passes through the inside of the heating means 3, and extends to the top of the water container 1. Alternatively, it is a water pipe connecting the coffee liquid extraction chamber 4. The heating means 3 heat the glass container 5 containing the water introduced into the water tube 2 and the extracted coffee liquid. A grinding means 7 installed in a grinding chamber 6 for grinding coffee beans is driven by a motor 8, and a motor control means 9 controls energization of the motor 8. The coffee beans ground by the grinding means 7 are sent to the extraction chamber 4 through a porous filter 10 that allows powder of a predetermined size or smaller to pass through. The waterway switching valve 11 switches the waterway through which water heated by the heating means 3 is sent to the water container 1 or the extraction chamber 4. The heating control means 12 controls the supply of electricity to the heating means 3. Start switch 13
is a switch for instructing the start of operation of the main body, and the control means 14 receives the output of the start switch 13 and controls the operation pattern of the heating means 3 and the motor 8. When the start switch 13 is operated, the motor control means 9 starts energizing the motor 8 based on the output from the control means 14, and the coffee beans are ground for a predetermined period of time.
0 through which the extraction chamber 4 is accumulated. When the grinding of coffee beans is completed, the heating control means 12 is controlled by the output of the control means 14.
starts supplying electricity to the heating means 3, and the water in the water pipe 2 is heated. In the extraction chamber 4, water heated by a heating means 3 is dripped onto the stored coffee powder through a water pipe 2 to extract coffee liquid. The extracted coffee liquid was stored in a glass container 5 and kept warm by heating means 3.

[0005]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In such a conventional coffee brewer, when extracting coffee liquid, the heating means 3 is continuously energized, and the extraction time is adjusted according to the amount of water stored in the water container 1. The problem was that the coffee tasted bad because it could not be controlled.

The present invention solves the above problems, and provides a water amount detection means for detecting the amount of water contained in a water container in a coffee boiler that has a coffee bean grinding function and extracts coffee liquid and keeps it warm. The first objective is to make it possible to always complete the extraction of coffee liquid in a fixed amount of time regardless of the amount of water. A second object of the present invention is to provide a water amount detection means that accurately detects the amount of water contained in a water container with a simple configuration. Furthermore, a third objective is to enable coffee to be extracted even when the water amount cannot be detected by the water amount detection means.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above-mentioned first object, the present invention provides a water container for storing water, and a heater for heating the water introduced from the water container to supply hot water to a storage chamber. a heating control means for controlling energization of the heating means; a pulverizing means for pulverizing coffee beans; a motor for driving the pulverizing means; a motor control means for controlling energization of the motor; a porous filter for discharging the coffee powder that has been ground to a predetermined size or less by the grinding means, and a storage chamber for collecting the coffee powder discharged from the grinding chamber. an extraction chamber for extracting coffee liquid using hot water supplied by the water container; a water amount detection means for detecting the amount of water contained in the water container; and an energization duty ratio to the heating means based on the output of the water amount detection means. and a duty ratio calculation means for calculating, and the heating control means controls the heating means during extraction of coffee liquid based on the duty ratio calculated by the duty ratio calculation means based on the output of the water amount detection means. This is the first means of solving problems.

[0008] Furthermore, in order to achieve the above second objective,
The water amount detection means includes a temperature sensing element attached to the water tube at the bottom of the water container, a first predetermined temperature at which time measurement is started, a second predetermined temperature at which time measurement is ended, and a temperature sensing element attached to the water pipe at the bottom of the water container. temperature comparison means for comparing the output with the first predetermined temperature and the second predetermined temperature; a timekeeping means for measuring time based on the output of the temperature comparison means; A second clock that measures a predetermined time from
Comparison of temperatures is started after a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of heating until the temperature sensing element reaches a second predetermined temperature from the first predetermined temperature based on the output of the temperature comparison means. The second problem-solving means is to detect the amount of water based on the time required.

Furthermore, in order to achieve the third object, in addition to the second problem-solving means, if the output of the temperature sensing element is higher than the first predetermined temperature when heating is started, A third means for solving the problem is that the heating means is continuously energized during coffee liquid extraction.

0010

[Operation] According to the first solution described above, the present invention can determine the amount of water contained in the water container, and from the amount of water, the duty ratio calculating means determines and controls the duty ratio of energization to the heating means. This allows the coffee liquid extraction time to be constant regardless of the amount of water.

Furthermore, according to the second solution, the water amount detection means can be realized with a simple configuration using a temperature-sensitive element, and stable water amount detection can be performed.

Furthermore, according to the third solution, coffee can be extracted even if the temperature of the water contained in the water container is high and the water amount cannot be detected successfully by the water amount detecting means using a temperature sensing element.

[0013]

[Embodiment] An embodiment of the first problem solving means will be described below with reference to FIG. Note that components having the same configuration as those of the conventional example are given the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 1, the water amount detection means 15 is a detection means for determining the amount of water V contained in the water container 1.
The duty ratio calculation means 16 uses the output V of the water amount detection means 15.
is input, and the energization duty ratio τ of the heating means 3 is calculated so that the coffee extraction time is constant. Control means 1
Reference numeral 7 controls the heating control means 12 and the motor control means 9 by inputting the start switch 13 and the output of the duty ratio calculation means, and when brewing coffee, heating is performed at the energization duty ratio τ determined by the duty ratio calculation means 16. The heating control means 12 is controlled so that the means 3 is energized.

In the above configuration, the operation will be explained according to the procedure of the flowchart shown in FIG. 2. First, in step 101, when the start switch 13 is operated, in step 102, the heating control means 12 starts energizing the heating means 3. Proceed to step 103. In step 103, the water amount V contained in the water container 1 is determined by the water amount detection means 15, and the process proceeds to step 104. In step 104, the energization duty ratio τ required to keep the extraction time constant is calculated from the water amount V determined in step 103. In step 105, the heating means 3 is energized at the energization duty ratio τ calculated in step 104, and in step 106, the extraction is completed.

[0016] As a result, when extracting coffee, the time from the start of extraction to the completion of extraction can be made constant regardless of the amount of water.

Next, an embodiment of the second problem solving means will be described with reference to FIG. Components having the same configuration as those in the embodiment of the first problem-solving means described above are given the same reference numerals and explanations will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 3, the temperature comparison means 18 compares the output of the temperature sensing element 19 attached to the water pipe at the bottom of the water container 1 with a first predetermined temperature at which time measurement is to be started and a second predetermined temperature at which time measurement is to be terminated. The timer means 20 measures time based on the output of the temperature comparison means 18. The second timer 21 measures a predetermined time T2 after the heating means 3 starts heating. The water amount calculation means 22 calculates the amount of water V in the water container 1 from the time T1 determined by the timer means 20.
This is what we seek.

In the above configuration, the operation will be explained according to the procedure of the flowchart shown in FIG. The process then proceeds to step 202. At step 202, heating by the heating means 3 is started, and the process proceeds to step 203. In step 203, the second timer 21 starts counting (resets) the time T2, and the process proceeds to step 204. In step 204, the timer 21 measures the time T2, and in step 2
Proceed to 05. In step 205, the measured time T2 is compared with a predetermined time Tw from the start of heating until the start of the water amount detection operation, and if T2≧Tw, the process proceeds to step 206, and if T2<Tw, If so, step 2
The process returns to 05, and the time measurement of time T2 by the time measurement means 21 is repeated. In step 206, the temperature K of the water at the bottom of the water container 1 is detected by the temperature sensing element 19, and the process proceeds to step 207. In step 207, the detected water temperature K is compared with a first predetermined temperature θ1. If K≧θ1, the process proceeds to step 208, and if K<θ1, the process returns to step 206 to detect the water temperature K. In step 208, the timer 20 starts counting (resets) the time T1, and the process proceeds to step 209. In step 209, the temperature sensing element 19 detects the water temperature K at the bottom of the water container 1, and in step 2
Proceed to step 10. In step 210, the detected water temperature K is compared with a second predetermined temperature θ2 at which the timekeeping ends. If K≧θ2, the process proceeds to step 211, and if K<θ2, the process returns to step 209 to detect the water temperature K. repeat. In step 211, the timer 20 measures the time T1, and the process proceeds to step 212. In step 212, the water amount V in the water container 1 is calculated from the time T1 determined by the water amount calculation means 22.

As a result, the temperature detected by the temperature sensing element 19 becomes the first temperature.
The amount of water contained in the water container 1 can be detected from the time taken to reach the second predetermined temperature from the predetermined temperature.

Next, the operation of the third embodiment of the problem solving means will be explained according to the flowchart shown in FIG. Components having the same configuration as the embodiment of the second problem-solving means described above are given the same reference numerals and explanations will be omitted.

First, in step 301, the water channel is switched to the circulation side using the water channel switching means 11 so that the water in the water pipe 2 returns to the water container 1, and the process proceeds to step 302. Step 3
In step 02, heating by the heating means 3 is started, and step 20
Proceed to step 3. In step 303, the temperature sensing element 19 detects the water temperature K at the bottom of the water container 1, and the process proceeds to step 304. In step 304, the detected water temperature K is compared with a first predetermined temperature θ1. If K≧θ1, the process proceeds to step 305, and if K<θ1, the process proceeds to step 306. In step 305, the energization duty ratio determined by the duty ratio calculating means 16 is set to τ=1 (continuous energization). In step 306, the water amount V is detected by the same operation as in step 203 and subsequent steps in FIG. 4, and in step 307, the energization duty ratio τ is calculated.

As a result, the water container 1 when heating starts
If the temperature of the water contained therein is higher than the first predetermined temperature, the energization duty ratio determined by the duty ratio calculation means 16 is set to 1, and coffee liquid can be extracted.

[0024]

As is clear from the above description of the embodiments, according to the present invention, the amount of water contained in the water container can be detected by the water amount detection means, and the duty ratio calculation means can be used to adjust the duty to the heating means. By calculating and controlling the ratio, the coffee liquid extraction time can be made constant regardless of the amount of water.

[0025] Furthermore, by installing a temperature sensing element in the water pipe directly below the water container and measuring the time of temperature rise between two points,
The water amount detection means can be configured with a simple configuration.

Furthermore, even if the temperature of the water contained in the water container is higher than a predetermined temperature and the amount of water cannot be detected successfully, coffee liquid can be extracted by setting the duty ratio to 1.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a coffee maker according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0028]

[Figure 2] Operation flowchart of the coffee brewer

0
029]

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a coffee maker according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0030]

[Figure 4] Operation flowchart of the coffee brewer

0
031]

FIG. 5: Operation flowchart of the coffee brewer according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

[0032]

[Figure 6] Block diagram of a conventional coffee brewer

003
3]

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Water container 2 Water pipe 3 Heating means 12 Heating control means 13 Start switch 15 Water amount detection means 16 Duty ratio calculation means 17 Control means

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A water container containing water, heating means for heating water introduced from the water container to supply hot water, heating control means for controlling electricity supply to the heating means, and grinding coffee beans. a pulverizing means for pulverizing the pulverizing means, a motor for driving the pulverizing means, a motor control means for controlling energization of the motor, a pulverizing chamber in which the pulverizing means is installed, a porous filter for discharging the coffee powder discharged from the grinding chamber; an extraction chamber for collecting the coffee powder discharged from the grinding chamber and extracting coffee liquid using hot water; water amount detection means for detecting water amount; and duty ratio calculation means for calculating a duty ratio of energization to the heating means based on the output of the water amount detection means; A coffee brewer that controls the heating means during extraction of coffee liquid based on the duty ratio calculated by the ratio calculation means. 2. The water amount detection means includes a temperature sensing element attached to the water tube at the bottom of the water container and the heating means, a first predetermined temperature at which time measurement for water amount detection is started, and a first predetermined temperature at which time measurement for water amount detection is terminated. a second predetermined temperature; temperature comparison means for comparing the output of the temperature sensing element with the first predetermined temperature and the second predetermined temperature; and timekeeping based on the output of the temperature comparison means. The heating means comprises a timer, a second timer that measures a predetermined time after the heating means starts heating, and a water amount calculation means that calculates the amount of water based on the output of the timer. 2. The coffee brewer according to claim 1, wherein the temperature comparison means starts comparing the temperatures after a predetermined time has elapsed, and the amount of water is detected from the time required for the temperature to reach the second predetermined temperature from the first predetermined temperature. vessel. 3. The coffee brewer according to claim 2, wherein if the output of the temperature sensing element is higher than the first predetermined temperature when heating is started, the heating means is continuously energized during coffee liquid extraction.