JPH0544026U - Coffee extractor - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Objective] The present invention relates to a coffee extraction device having a function of roasting green coffee beans in the device and a function of crushing roasted coffee beans. The purpose is to extract. [Composition] Roasting part P1 for roasting green beans
And a crushing unit P2 for crushing the coffee beans roasted in the roasting unit P1, and a conveying unit for connecting the roasting units P1 and P2 to convey the roasted coffee beans to the crushing unit P2. P
3 and a coffee extraction part P4 for extracting coffee by supplying hot water to the coffee beans crushed by the crushing part P2
In the coffee extraction device including: a roasting state management means P5 that manages the roasting state of the coffee beans in the roasting section P1 and a conveying section P3 after the roasting of the coffee beans is completed. And a transfer section control means P6 for controlling the transfer section P3 to transfer the coffee beans roasted in the roasting section P1 to the crushing section P2.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a coffee brewing apparatus, and more particularly to a coffee brewing apparatus having a function of roasting raw coffee beans and a function of crushing roasted coffee beans in the apparatus.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 Conventionally, when raw coffee beans are put into the device, the coffee beans are roasted in the roasting section, the roasted coffee beans are then ground in the grinding section, and the ground coffee beans are heated in the extraction section. There is known a coffee brewing device that automatically performs a series of steps for pouring and brewing coffee.

In order to extract highly flavored coffee, it is important to control the roasting time and the amount of coffee beans to add roasted coffee beans from the roasting section to the crushing section. That is, when the roasting time is long, the degree of carbonization generated in the coffee beans increases and the extracted flavor decreases. In addition, if the roasting time is short, the roasting will not be sufficiently performed, and the flavor of the extracted coffee will be deteriorated. Further, if the amount of coffee beans added to the crushing section is not appropriate, the desired coffee flavor cannot be obtained.

[0004]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, in the above-mentioned conventional coffee brewing apparatus, the roasting section is controlled and the transport section is managed by a mechanical timer operation. Therefore, the roasting time management and the transport section of the roasting section are controlled. There was a problem that the drive control could not be performed accurately, and the coffee with high flavor could not be extracted.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a coffee extraction device that can extract coffee with high flavor.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 FIG. 1 shows the principle of the present invention. In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the present invention, a roasting part P1 for roasting coffee beans in a raw bean state by heating compressed air blown by a blower means by a heating means, and the roasting part P1 A crushing part P2 for crushing the roasted coffee beans, and a transporting part P3 for communicating the roasting part P1 with the crushing part P2 and transporting the roasted coffee beans to the crushing part P2 by the compressed air. A coffee extraction unit P4 for extracting hot coffee by supplying hot water to the coffee beans crushed in the crushing unit P2, wherein the coffee beans in a green state in the roasting unit P1 Roasting state management means P5 for managing the roasting state of the coffee beans, and the conveyor P3 is driven after the roasting of the coffee beans is completed to convey the coffee beans roasted in the roasting section P1 to the crushing section P2. Control the transport section P3 It is characterized in that provided a transport unit control hand stage P6 that.

[0007]

[Action]

 In the coffee extraction device configured as described above, since the roasting state management means P6 manages the roasting state of green coffee beans, the green coffee beans can be roasted in the best condition. Therefore, coffee with high flavor can be extracted. Further, by controlling the transporting section P3 by the transporting section control means P5, the amount of the roasted coffee beans to be transported to the crushing section P2 can be determined with high accuracy, and also by this. The flavor of coffee can be improved.

[0008]

【Example】

 3 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of a coffee brewing apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a main part of FIG.

The coffee brewing apparatus 1 is generally configured by integrally providing a brewing section 2, a crushing section 3 corresponding to the crushing section 70, a hot water supply means, a conveying section 14 and the like (not shown) in the brewing apparatus main body 1a. ing. An operation panel 4 is provided on the front of the extraction device body 1a. Reference numeral 5 denotes a cartridge tank which is filled in and used for extracting coffee and which is detachable from the brewing apparatus main body 1a.

The roasting unit 2 includes a lid 6, a roasting tube 7 made of heat-resistant glass corresponding to the roasting case 69, a lower part 9 of the substantially mortar-shaped roasting case, and a roasting tube corresponding to the blow-up pipe 65. 8, a roasting net 10, a hot air blower 11 corresponding to the heated air blowing mechanism 61, and the like. The hot air fan 11 includes a heater 11a, a fan motor 11b, and a fan 11c.

The lid 6 is openable and closable, and raw coffee beans are put into the roasting case lower part 9 from the upper part of the roasting cylinder 7. On the other hand, at the lower end of the roasting pipe 8, valve mechanisms 1 and 13 corresponding to the circulation valve opened and closed by the solenoid 27 are arranged, and further, the conveying unit 14 corresponds to the conveying valve. The valve mechanisms 2 and 16 are provided. Further, a fixed amount outflow mechanism of coffee beans, which will be described later, is formed in the lower part of the lower part 9 of the roasting case.

The fan motor 11b drives the fan 11c, and sends compressed air of a predetermined pressure to the lower portion 9 of the roasting case via the heater 11a and the roasting net 10. The heater 11a is a nichrome coil heater and heats the compressed air sent from the fan 11c to a temperature suitable for roasting. The roasting net 10 is provided with a large number of holes of a predetermined diameter so that the compressed coffee from the fan 11c can be roasted without the raw coffee beans introduced into the lower part 9 of the roasting case entering the inside of the hot air blower 11. It is configured so that it can be fed to the lower end of the lower part 9 of the roasting case.

The operations of the heater 11a and the fan motor 11b are controlled by a microcomputer 23 corresponding to the control means arranged on the control circuit board 15 arranged near the operation panel 4 on the front of the extraction apparatus main body 1a. There is. By this microcomputer 23, when both the heater 11a and the fan motor 11b operate, the fan 11c rotates to send compressed hot air, and when only the fan motor 11b operates, compressed air is sent. The microcomputer 23 also collectively controls other electrical components provided in the extraction device body 1a.

A measuring chamber 18 is provided below the roasting unit 2. Further, the measuring chamber 18 and the crushing unit 3 are communicated with each other by the transfer unit 14. The transport unit 14 is opened / closed by valve mechanisms 2 and 16 whose opening / closing is controlled by a micro computer 23. The other end of the transport unit 14 has an opening 14 a above the crushing unit 3.

The crushing unit 3 crushes the roasted coffee beans by rotating the crushing cutter 17.

Hot water heated by the hot water supply means is dropped on the ground coffee beans in the grinding unit 3 to extract coffee.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control circuit applied to one embodiment of the present invention.

The control board 15 is provided with the microcomputer 23 as described above. Data for setting the desired amount of coffee is input to the microcomputer 23 by operating the keys on the operation panel 4. In response to the input data, the microcomputer 23 drives the solenoids 27-29 and the like by the drive circuits 24-26 and the like. Solenoids B and 27 drive the valve mechanisms 1 and 13 to open and close. Solenoids C and 28 drive the valve mechanisms 2 and 16 to open and close. Further, the solenoids A and 29 drive a measuring cylinder 30 of a coffee bean constant flow-out mechanism described later.

Next, the process of coffee extraction in the coffee extraction device 1 having the above configuration will be described in order.

First, the lid 6 is opened and, for example, raw coffee beans necessary for extraction of 12 cups of coffee, which is the maximum capacity of the coffee extracting apparatus 1 of this embodiment, are put into the lower portion 9 of the roasting case, and the lid 6 is opened. Close. Next, the roasting time of coffee beans, the amount of coffee to be extracted, the mode to be executed (roasting, cooling, crushing, extraction, heat retention) and the like are set by inputting from the operation panel 4.

The coffee extraction device 1 of this embodiment is configured so that a maximum of 12 cups of coffee can be roasted and extracted.

6 and 7 show a roasting management function and a transporting part control function in which the roasting state tube means P5 and the transporting part control means P6 of the extraction apparatus 1 of this embodiment are realized by the microcomputer 23. FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 show time charts relating to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, respectively.

When the extraction device 1 is started, a timer for counting a start time in the microcomputer 23 is started by the microcomputer 23 in step S1 (hereinafter “step” is omitted) S1 in FIG. When the relays 1 and 31 and the relays 2 and 32 are excited, the heater 11a and the fan motor 11b are driven, and the solenoid A is intermittent (in this embodiment, 0.5 seconds on, 1.5 seconds off). When the measuring cylinder 30 is driven up and down, it is closed for 0.5 seconds and opened for 1.5 seconds (hereinafter referred to as "intermittent open / closed state"). The roasting management function is executed.By moving the measuring tube 30 up and down and repeating opening and closing as described above, it is blown up by the roasting pipe 8 and dropped to the lower part 9 of the roasting case. It is prevented that the ground coffee beans 50 are clogged and clogged in the measuring cylinder 30.

With this roasting management function, the compressed hot air generated by the fan motor 11b and the heater 11a is blown into the weighing chamber 18 at the lower end of the lower part 9 of the roasting case through the roasting ridge 10. The hot compressed air blows up inside the roasting pipe 8 as shown in the drawing, and then circulates along the roasting cylinder 7 to the bottom of the lower part 9 of the roasting case. As a result, the raw coffee beans are roasted while circulating in the roasting section 2.

The surface of raw coffee beans is covered with a thin skin, and the coffee beans roasted in the state where the thin skin is attached are ground and extracted as they are, so that the flavor is deteriorated. However, when roasted with compressed hot air as in the present application, the thin skin on the coffee bean surface is completely peeled off.

In S2, it is confirmed whether or not the timing operation of the timer for counting the roasting time of the microcomputer 23 is continuing. If the timing operation is continuing, the process returns to S2 again, and the predetermined time has passed. If the timing operation is completed, the process proceeds to S3.

When the roasting section 2 blows the compressed hot air for a predetermined time to complete the roasting of the coffee beans, the relays 1 and 31 are deenergized and the heater 11a is stopped by proceeding to S3. The lower portion 9 of the roasting case is in a cooling state in which the roasted coffee beans are cooled by the cooling function in which only the air is blown by the fan 11c. During this cooling state, the measuring cylinder 30 is opened and closed intermittently as in the roasted state, and the coffee beans 50 are cooled while being circulated as in the roasted state.

As described above, the roasting of coffee beans is controlled by the roasting state control means configured as software of the microcomputer 23. Therefore, unlike the control by the conventional mechanical timer, the roasting time management is performed. Can be done accurately. Therefore, it is possible to surely prevent the coffee beans from being over-roasted or insufficiently roasted, and it is possible to roast the coffee beans in a green state in the best condition. Coffee with high flavor can be extracted.

Here, a mechanism for quantitatively discharging coffee beans will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 5, those parts that are the same as those corresponding parts in FIG. 4 are designated by the same reference numerals, and a description thereof will be omitted. In the cylindrical portion 9a corresponding to the outflow hole 62 at the bottom of the lower portion 9 of the roasting case, a measuring cylinder 30 corresponding to the cylindrical valve body 67 is arranged. The measuring cylinder 30 has a cylindrical shape with openings at the top and bottom. A measuring lever 30a having a lower end connected to the solenoids A and 29 is fixed to the measuring cylinder 30, and is driven so as to move upward in FIG. 5 by the excitation of the solenoids A and 29.

In FIG. 5, the solid line indicates the lower limit position corresponding to the outflow state of the measuring cylinder 30, and the broken line indicates the upper limit position corresponding to the closed state. At the upper limit position, the entire length of the measuring tube 30 is fitted inside the cylindrical portion 9a of the lower part 9 of the roasting case, and at the upper limit position, only the lower end portion of the measuring tube 30 is fitted into the cylindrical portion 9a, and the upper end portion of the measuring tube 30 is fitted. The configuration is such that the tip end portion of the plug body 41 described below is inserted.

A stopper 41 is fixed to the upper portion of the cylindrical portion 9 a on the outer peripheral surface of the roasting pipe 8 via a support rod 42. As shown in the figure, the plug body 41 has a conical tip and a barren shape. The stopper 41 is arranged so that the measuring cylinder 30 is inserted into the central portion of the upper end opening of the measuring cylinder 30 at the upper limit position to form a valve mechanism. Therefore, when the measuring cylinder 30 is at the upper limit position, the state corresponding to the closed state in which the coffee beans in the lower portion 9 of the roasting case are prevented from flowing into the measuring cylinder 30, and when the measuring cylinder 30 is at the lower limit position, The coffee beans in the lower part 9 of the brewing case flow into the measuring tube 30 and drop into the lower measuring chamber 18 as it is, that is, in a state corresponding to the outflow state in which the coffee beans flow out from the cylindrical portion 9a to the measuring chamber 18. Has been done.

FIG. 10 shows the state where the measuring cylinder 30 is at the lower limit position during the above-mentioned roast state and cooling state of FIG. In this state, the coffee beans 50 in the lower part 9 of the roasting case pass through the gap between the upper end opening of the measuring tube 30 at the lower limit position and the stopper 41, and from the cylindrical portion 9a to the measuring chamber via the inner part of the measuring tube 30. It flows to 18. Compressed hot air or compressed air is blown in the direction of arrow A by operating the fan motor 11b of the hot air blower 11 with respect to the coffee beans 50 flowing out into the measuring chamber 18. Due to this air flow, the coffee beans 50 in the measuring chamber 18 pass over the valve body surface of the valve mechanism 13 in the open state corresponding to the circulation position, and are directly passed from the inlet 8a at the lower end of the roasting pipe 8 to the roasting pipe 8. It is introduced and further blown up to the upper part of the cylindrical portion 9a through the roasting pipe 8 and returned into the roasting cylinder 7 from the discharge port 8b at the upper end of the roasting pipe 8.

At this time, when the coffee beans 50 are circulated, the plug 41 is substantially streamlined so that the coffee beans 50 are less likely to interfere with the circulation of the coffee beans 50. Further, when the measuring cylinder 30 is in the lower position, it overlaps with the inner wall surface of the cylindrical portion 9a, so by sliding down the inner wall surface of the mortar-shaped lower portion 9 of the roasting case, the central portion of the cylindrical portion 9a, that is, the measuring cylinder 30 It does not hinder the coffee beans 50 that fall diagonally toward the center.

Here, the open state of the valve mechanism 13 refers to a state in which the introduction port 8a of the roasting pipe 8 is opened, that is, a downward displacement position, and a closed state corresponding to the closed position means a roasting state. The state in which the inlet 8a of the decoction pipe 8 is closed, that is, the upward displacement position is referred to.

The open state of the valve mechanism 16 corresponding to the carrying state is a state in which the carrying section 14 communicating with the crushing section 3 is opened, that is, an upward displacement position, and a closed state corresponding to the closed state. Means a state in which the transport unit 14 is closed, that is, a downward displacement position.

Further, the coffee beans 50 discharged from the discharge port 8b of the roasting pipe 8 again fall naturally from the inside of the roasting cylinder 7 to the lower part 9 of the roasting case, and the gap between the measuring cylinder 30 and the plug 41 is formed. To flow into the measuring cylinder 30 and flow out from the cylindrical portion 9a into the measuring chamber 18. In this way, the circulation is repeated.

Next, in S4, the cooling state is maintained for 4 minutes and 59.7 seconds, and then in S5, a buzzer for status notification is sounded, and then the process proceeds to S6. The excitation of the relays 2 and 32 and the solenoids A and 29 is released.

Next, the fixed amount outflow transfer function shown in FIG. 7 is executed. In S7, the relays 2 and 32 and the solenoids A and 29 are excited again. That is, the fan motor 11b is driven, the measuring cylinder 30 is set to the upper limit position, and the blow-off function is executed. At this time, the gap between the opening at the upper end of the measuring tube 30 and the plug 41 is narrowed to a width smaller than the outer shape of the coffee beans 50, so that the coffee beans 50 in the lower portion 9 of the roasting case are placed in the measuring tube 30. Inflow is prevented.

FIG. 11 shows this state. Therefore, the coffee beans 50 in the lower portion 9 of the roasting case do not flow out from the cylindrical portion 9a, and the coffee beans 50 that have already flowed into the measuring chamber 18 in the cooling state are blown in the A direction by the drive of the fan motor 11b. As a result, it is blown off and returned to the lower part 9 of the roasting case through the roasting pipe 8. In this state, the process proceeds to S8 and is maintained for 5 seconds, and all the roasted coffee beans 50 are collected in the lower part 9 of the roasting case.

Next, in S9, the excitation of the relays 2 and 32 is released, and the fan motor 11b is stopped. Further, the solenoid A is intermittently turned on / off and the measuring cylinder 30 is brought into an intermittent open / closed state. Further, the solenoids B and 27 are excited, the valve mechanisms 1 and 13 are closed, and the constant amount outflow function is executed.

FIG. 12 shows a state in which the measuring cylinder 30 is at the lower limit position during the execution of the fixed amount outflow function. That is, the coffee beans 50 gradually flow into the measuring tube 30 through the space between the opening at the upper end of the measuring tube 30 and the plug 41, and further flow out into the measuring chamber 18 from the cylindrical portion 9a. Become. In this state, the process proceeds to S10 and is maintained for 10 seconds, and the coffee beans 50 in the lower portion 9 of the roasting case flow out from the cylindrical portion 9a into the measuring chamber 18 through the gap between the measuring cylinder 30 and the plug 41. Here, in the state of FIG. 12, since the valve mechanisms 13 and 16 are both closed, the coffee beans 50 flowing into the measuring chamber 18 from the measuring cylinder 30 flow out to the roasting pipe 8 or the conveying section 14. Never. That is, the weighing chamber 18 has the function of a container whose periphery is closed, and therefore the error in weighing can be reduced. In this embodiment, coffee beans 50 corresponding to four cups of coffee are flown into the measuring chamber 18 during this period.

In S11, the excitation of the solenoids B and 27 is maintained, and the relays 2 and 32, the solenoids A and 29, and the solenoids C and 28 are excited. Therefore, the fan motor 11b is driven, the metering cylinder 30 is set to the upper limit position, the valve mechanism 13 is closed, and the valve mechanisms 2 and 16 are opened to perform the fixed quantity transport function.

FIG. 13 shows this state. In this state, the coffee beans 50 that have flowed out to the measuring chamber 18 due to the above-mentioned fixed amount outflow state are transferred to the crushing unit 3 via the transfer unit 14 that is communicated by the valve mechanism 16. In this state, the process proceeds to S12 and is maintained for 5 seconds, and all the coffee beans 50 corresponding to the four cups of coffee that have flowed out in the fixed amount outflow state are conveyed to the crushing section 3 via the conveying section 14.

In this way, by performing the fixed amount outflow transfer function including the fixed amount outflow function and the fixed amount transfer function, a constant outflow transfer state is realized, and in the case of the present embodiment, 12 cups of coffee in the lower portion 9 of the roasting case. Among the coffee beans 50 corresponding to, the coffee beans 50 corresponding to four cups of coffee are conveyed to the crushing unit 3.

According to the preset amount of coffee to be extracted (hereinafter, abbreviated as “set coffee amount”), if the set coffee amount is 4 cups, the coffee beans 50 will be used in the next step from S12. The milling function of is executed. If the set coffee amount is 8 cups, the process returns from S12 to S9, the above-mentioned fixed amount dispensing function of FIG. 12 is executed, and another 4 cups of coffee are drained, and the process proceeds to S10 and is maintained for 10 seconds. , S11, the above-mentioned fixed quantity conveying function is executed, the coffee beans 50 are conveyed to the crushing unit 3, and after waiting for 5 seconds in S12, the next milling function is executed.

That is, by repeating the constant flow-out transport function twice in total, the coffee beans 50 corresponding to 4 cups of coffee are twice, that is, the coffee beans 50 corresponding to 8 cups of coffee are measured chamber 18. After shifting from the crushing section 3 to the crushing section 3, the crushing function is executed.

Further, if the set coffee amount is 12 cups, the above-mentioned fixed amount outflow conveyance function is repeated a total of 3 times, so that coffee beans 50 corresponding to coffee are 3 times in 4 cups. And the coffee beans 50 are conveyed to the crushing unit 3 for 12 cups. The time chart of FIG. 9 shows the case where the number of repetitions is two, that is, the set coffee amount is eight cups.

By such control being performed by the microcomputer 23, coffee beans 50 in an amount corresponding to the coffee extraction amount set on the operation control panel 4 in advance are provided from the roasting unit 2 to the crushing unit 3. The fixed amount outflow conveyance function of being conveyed to the roasting section 2 is performed, and the coffee beans 50 left in the roasting section 2 without being conveyed are stored in the roasting section 2 as they are.

The roasted coffee beans for the desired number of people thus conveyed to the crushing unit 3 are crushed by the rotation of the crushing cutter 17 by the execution of the next milling function. When hot water is dropped onto the crushed coffee beans 50, coffee is extracted and a desired amount of coffee is stored in the pot 22.

It should be noted that, although the drip type coffee brewing apparatus has been described in the above embodiment, it is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to a siphon type or other type of coffee brewing apparatus.

[0052]

[Effect of the device]

 As described above, according to the configuration of the roasting unit of the present invention, since the roasting state management means manages the roasting state of the coffee beans in the green bean state, the coffee beans in the green bean state are roasted in the best state. It can be roasted, and thus coffee with high flavor can be extracted. In addition, by controlling the transfer section by the transfer section control means, it is possible to transfer the roasted coffee beans to the crushing section with a predetermined amount of high accuracy, which also improves the flavor of the extracted coffee. Can be made

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a principle view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a fixed amount outflow mechanism of a coffee brewing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the operation of the coffee brewing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the operation of the coffee brewing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a time chart of FIG.

9 is a diagram showing a time chart of FIG. 7. FIG.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a roasted state and a cooled state of FIG.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a blown-off state of FIG. 5;

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a quantitative outflow state of FIG.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a fixed amount transport state of FIG. 5;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 100 coffee extractor 2 roasting unit 3 crushing unit 7 roasting cylinder (roasting case) 8 roasting pipe (blowing pipe) 8a introduction port 8b discharge port 9 roasting case lower part (roasting case) 9a cylindrical part ( Outflow hole 11 Hot air blower (heated air blowing mechanism) 11a Heater 11b Fan motor 11c Fan 13 Valve mechanism 1 (circulation valve) 16 Valve mechanism 2 (conveyance valve) 18 Measuring chamber 23 Microcomputer (control means) 30 Measuring cylinder (cylindrical cylinder) Valve body) 41 plug body 50 coffee beans

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Mitsutaka Fujiwara 3-28-4 Higashi Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo Inside Ishizaki Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Toshio Kanai 3-28-4 Higashiueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo No. Ltd. Ishizaki Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takaya Shishido 3-28-4 Higashi Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo Tokyo Ishizaki Electric Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A roasting unit for roasting green coffee beans by heating compressed air blown by an air blowing unit by a heating unit, and crushing the coffee beans roasted by the roasting unit. A crushing unit, a conveying unit that communicates the roasting unit and the crushing unit, and conveys the roasted coffee beans to the crushing unit by the compressed air, and heats the coffee beans crushed by the crushing unit. A coffee extraction unit comprising: a coffee extraction unit for supplying hot water to extract coffee; and roasting state management means for managing the roasting state of the green coffee beans in the roasting unit, And a conveyor control means for controlling the conveyor so as to convey the coffee beans roasted by the roasting unit to the crushing unit after the roasting of the coffee beans is completed. Characteristic coffee extraction device.