JPH067250A - Method for automatically brewing coffee and device thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically brew a large quantity of coffee liquid with a small-sized brewing chamber by controlling the amount of hot water supplied to the chamber and the amount of brewed coffee liquid to be sent into a coffee storage chamber according to a signal based on a measurement of the level of the brewed coffee liquid. CONSTITUTION:Ground coffee beans are put into a hopper 21 from a ground coffee beans quantifying device 70, and heated hot water flows to a hot-water supplying nozzle 22 from a hot-water storage tank 10 by opening a valve 61. After the steam time passed, the hot water is sprinkled by opening a valve 62. The amount of hot-water supply is weighed by means of a flow sensor 40. When coffee liquid reaches the fixed amount after being brewed with hot water in a coffee brewing chamber 20, it is sent to a coffee storage chamber 30 through a filter 25 by means of a pump 50 by opening a valve 64, and when the coffee liquid reaches the fixed amount after that the liquid level in the storage chamber 30 is measured with a liquid level detecting device 31, the pump is stopped to discharge the coffee liquid by opening a valve 66. The valves 62, 64 are opened and closed according to signals of sensors 40, 31 to start and stop the pump 50. Thereby, a large quantity of coffee liquid is automatically brewed with a small-sized brewing chamber.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic coffee extracting method and an apparatus for extracting coffee under atmospheric pressure.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to automatically extract coffee,
By pressurizing the closed coffee extraction chamber, the filtration and extraction of the coffee liquid are promoted, and the coffee is pumped to the coffee storage tank or the coffee supply port. To pressurize the coffee extraction chamber, hot water supplied to ground coffee beans or compressed air is supplied to the coffee extraction chamber.

In order to automatically extract coffee, a cup of coffee is extracted at atmospheric pressure, and the secondary side of the filter is sucked with a cylinder and a piston to facilitate filtration. Things exist.

[0004]

The method of pressurizing the coffee extraction chamber has an advantage that hot water easily penetrates into the ground coffee beans and the coffee extract can be extracted in a short time. However, on the other hand, the extracted components have a different balance from the normal drip coffee extracted at atmospheric pressure, which is a taste problem. Furthermore, if the coffee extraction chamber is pressurized, if there is a leak in the extraction chamber, the filtration speed will decrease and the performance will not be fully exhibited. There is a problem that the structure for ensuring the degree of hermeticity becomes complicated because there is an opening such as a discharge port for the soybean cake after extraction and the like.

Although the vending machine type is suitable for extracting a cup of coffee,
There is a problem that the device becomes large when extracting several liters of coffee at a time. Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and provides an automatic coffee extraction method and an apparatus therefor capable of extracting several liters of coffee at a time under atmospheric pressure. To aim.

[0006]

Therefore, according to the automatic coffee extraction method of the present invention, the amount of hot water sent to the coffee extraction chamber 20 open to the atmosphere is measured by the flow meter 40, and the coffee extraction chamber 20 and the coffee storage tank 30 are measured. The amount of coffee to be sent to the coffee extraction chamber 20 is measured stepwise by the liquid level detection device 31, and the amount of hot water to be sent to the coffee extraction chamber 20 and the coffee storage tank 30 are adjusted in timing with the signals from the flow meter 40 and the liquid level detection device 31. It is supposed to control the amount of coffee delivered to.

The automatic coffee extracting device of the present invention comprises a hot water storage tank 10, a coffee extraction chamber 20 open to the atmosphere, and a coffee storage tank 30, and the hot water storage tank 10 is provided with a heating device 11. As well as being
A water supply pipe 80 is communicated via a flow meter 40, and a hopper 21 for receiving ground coffee beans supplied from a ground coffee beans constant quantity supply device 70 is provided above the coffee extraction chamber 20. As a result, the coffee extraction chamber 20 is opened to the atmosphere. Further, the coffee extraction chamber 20 is provided with a sprinkler device 23 connected to the hot water storage tank 10 by a communication pipe 82.
A valve 62 is attached to the coffee brewing chamber 2
In the lower part of 0, a filter 25 is provided, and a ground bean discharge port 28 closed by a piston 27 is provided. The coffee storage tank 30 has a liquid level detecting device 31 for detecting the liquid level position stepwise. Further, the coffee storage tank 30 is communicated with the coffee extraction chamber 20 by the coffee transfer pipe 84, and the coffee transfer pipe 84 is provided with the pump 50 in the middle thereof.

Further, in the automatic coffee extracting device of the present invention, the coffee extracting chamber 20 is connected to the hopper hot water supply nozzle 22 which is connected from the hot water storage tank 10 by the communication pipe 81 and the communication pipe 83 from the hot water storage tank 10. A brewing chamber cleaning nozzle 24 is provided, valves 61 and 63 are attached to the communication pipes 81 and 83, respectively, and the coffee transfer pipe 84 is provided with valves 64 and 6.
5 is branched into a storage tank supply pipe 85 and a drainage pipe 86 attached to each, and a coffee take-out pipe 87 having a valve 66 attached thereto is connected to the storage tank supply pipe 85. .

[0009]

The automatic coffee extracting method and apparatus according to the present invention, having the above-mentioned means, have the following operations. First, the amount of hot water staying in the coffee extraction chamber 20 can be known as the difference between the amount of hot water measured by the flow meter 40 and the amount of coffee measured stepwise by the liquid level detection device 31.

Furthermore, the coffee extraction chamber 20 is open to the atmosphere, and coffee extraction is performed under atmospheric pressure.
Further, the bean lees discharge port 28 is closed by the piston 27, but since the pressure applied to this portion during coffee extraction is only a slight head pressure due to the hot water staying in the coffee extraction chamber 20, it is a simple seal. The structure is good.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An automatic coffee extracting method and apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings shown as embodiments. 1 and 2 show schematic views of an apparatus for carrying out the automatic coffee extraction method of the present invention.

The automatic coffee extracting apparatus shown in the figure comprises a hot water storage tank 10, a coffee extracting chamber 20, and a coffee storage tank 30. A heating device 11 is provided below the hot water storage tank 10, and a water supply pipe 80 is connected to the heating device 11 via a flow meter 40. The water supply pipe 80 may be provided with a pressure reducing valve 60 if necessary.

At the upper part of the coffee extraction chamber 20, there is provided a hopper 21 for receiving the ground coffee beans supplied from the ground coffee bean quantity supply device 70.
1, the coffee extraction chamber 20 is open to the atmosphere.
Further, in the coffee extraction chamber 20, a hopper hot water supply nozzle 22 communicated with the hot water storage tank 10 by a communication pipe 81, a sprinkler device 23 communicated with the hot water storage tank 10 by a communication pipe 82, and a communication pipe 8 with the hot water storage tank 10.
An extraction chamber cleaning nozzle 24, which is communicated by 3 is provided. Valves 61, 62, 63 are attached to the communication pipes 81, 82, 83, respectively. A filter 25 is provided in the lower part of the coffee brewing chamber 20, and a soybean meal discharge port 28 closed by a piston 27 that is opened and closed by a crank device 26 is provided.

The coffee storage tank 30 is provided with a liquid level detecting device 31 for gradually detecting the liquid level positions 31a, 31b, 31c and 31d. Further, the coffee storage tank 30 is in communication with the coffee brewing chamber 20 by a coffee transfer pipe 84. This coffee transfer pipe 8
4, a pump 50 is provided on the way, and valves 64 and 6 are provided.
5 is branched into a storage tank supply pipe 85 and a drain pipe 86 attached to each. A coffee take-out pipe 87 having a valve 66 attached thereto is connected to the storage tank supply pipe 85. In addition, the pump 5
No. 0 has a self-priming structure, and the discharge amount is 2
Somewhat greater than the flow rate of hot water sprinkled through 3.

Further, a plurality of coffee storage tanks 30 can be provided if necessary. In this case, the storage tank supply pipe 85 is branched as shown in FIG.
Valves 64a and 64b are attached to the respective valves, and valves 65a and 65 are attached to the branched storage tank supply pipe 85, respectively.
It suffices that the coffee extraction pipe 87 to which b is attached is connected.

According to the automatic coffee extracting method of the present invention, in the automatic coffee extracting device constructed as described above, the flow rate meter 40 measures the amount of hot water sent to the coffee extracting chamber 20 which is open to the atmosphere, and the coffee extracting chamber is measured. The amount of coffee sent from 20 to the coffee storage tank 30 is measured stepwise by the liquid level detection device 31, and the hot water sent to the coffee extraction chamber 20 in time with the signals from the flow meter 40 and the liquid level detection device 31. The quantity and the quantity of coffee delivered to the coffee storage tank 30 are controlled.

The operating state of the automatic coffee extracting device of the present invention will be described below. First, the hot water storage tank 10 is filled with hot water kept at a temperature suitable for coffee extraction by the heating device 11, the crank device 26 is operated, and the bean lees discharge port 28 is closed by the piston 27. The ground coffee constant amount supply device 70 is operated to drop the ground coffee beans into the hopper 21. At this time, when the valve 61 is opened at the same time, the hot water storage tank 1 is passed through the water supply pipe 80.
0 is supplied with water, hot water in the hot water storage tank 10 is pushed out, and the hopper hot water supply nozzle 22 is passed through the communication pipe 81.
Flow to. Ground coffee beans are poured into this hot water and collect at the bottom of the coffee extraction chamber 20. The amount of warm water is 40
And the valve 61 is closed by pouring an amount of ground coffee soaked.

A pause for several tens of seconds at this stage results in a so-called "purple" state, which is more preferable for coffee extraction. Next, the valve 62 is opened and hot water is sent from the hot water storage tank 10 to the sprinkler 23 through the communication pipe 82.
Sprinkle ground coffee beans with water. The amount of this hot water is continuously measured by the flow meter 40, and when the amount of hot water in the coffee extraction chamber 20 reaches the specified amount, the valve 64 is opened and the homp 50 is started.

In the coffee extraction chamber 20, the hot water comes into contact with the ground coffee beans to extract the extract from the ground coffee beans and become a coffee liquid. The pump 50 sucks this coffee liquid,
The coffee liquid is filtered by the filter 25, and the coffee liquid is sent to the coffee storage tank 30. Then, when the liquid surface position 31a is detected by the liquid surface detection device 31, the pump 50 is stopped. Coffee storage tank 30 at this stage
The amount of the coffee liquid sent to is defined as Acc.

On the other hand, from the time when the pump 50 is started, the amount of warm water fed into the coffee extraction chamber 20 by the water sprinkling device 23 is measured by the flow meter 40, and when Acc reaches Acc, the valve 6
Close 2 During this process, A
This means that cc of warm water has flowed in and similarly Acc of coffee liquid has flowed out, and the amount of warm water in the coffee extraction chamber 20 is the same as the amount of warm water at the time when the pump 50 is started, that is, the specified amount. Since the flow rate flowing in from the sprinkler 23 is smaller than the flow rate drawn out by the pump 50, the amount of hot water in the coffee extraction chamber 20 decreases with the operation of the pump 50, and the sprinkling continues even after the pump 50 is stopped. Then, the amount of warm water is restored and the valve 62 is closed. Therefore, the amount of hot water in the coffee brewing chamber 20 is the smallest at the time when the pump 50 is stopped. The specified amount is set to such an amount that the hot water in the coffee extraction chamber 20 is not completely cut off by the pump 50 at this time.

Then, the valve 62 is opened again, the pump 50 is simultaneously started, and the liquid level detecting device 3 of the coffee storage tank 30 is opened.
The same operation is performed until the liquid surface position 31b is detected by 1. Note that the valve 62 may be closed and reopened as described above, and the valve 62 may be continuously opened and proceed to this extraction process. Next, the same operation is repeated until the liquid level detection device 31 of the coffee storage tank 30 detects the liquid level positions 31c and 31d. During this extraction process, ground coffee beans are accumulated in the primary space S1 of the filter 25,
It becomes a resistance that prevents the passage of coffee liquid. This resistance shows a gradual increase, and as the resistance increases, the pump 50
The amount of coffee liquid transferred by the machine will decrease. Pump 50
When the transfer amount of the coffee liquid due to the water flow rate falls below the flow rate of the hot water sprinkled from the water sprinkling device 23, the timing of closing the valve 62 comes earlier than the timing of stopping the pump 50. In this case, the pump 50 may be continuously operated without a break of stopping and restarting.

When the liquid level detecting device 31 detects the liquid level position 31d corresponding to the specified coffee extraction amount, the extraction operation is terminated and the valve 64 is closed. The coffee liquid in the coffee storage tank 30 is stored in the valve 6 of the coffee take-out pipe 87.
By operating the coffee take-out valve 67 as shown in FIG. 2 with 6 open, the coffee can be taken out into a cup or the like.

By the above operation, it is possible to always brew coffee hygienically close to drip coffee. Although the specified coffee extraction amount is set to the amount corresponding to the liquid surface position 31d in the above process, the extraction operation may be terminated with the extraction amount corresponding to the liquid surface position 31a, for example. Further, the coffee extraction concentration can be adjusted by changing the amount of ground coffee beans supplied from the ground coffee bean quantity supply device 70.

The coffee extraction chamber 20 is washed by the following washing operation. First, the crank device 26 is operated to move the piston 27, and the bean sprout discharge port 28
When opened, the hot water in the coffee extraction chamber 20 and the ground coffee beans flow out of the device through the ground bean discharge port 28. here,
The valve 63 is opened to feed the hot water in the hot water storage tank 10 into the coffee extraction chamber 20 through the extraction chamber cleaning nozzle 24. The extraction chamber cleaning nozzle 24 sprays hot water evenly into the coffee extraction chamber 20 so that the coffee liquid or ground coffee beans remaining in the coffee extraction chamber 20 is discharged from the device outlet 28. Can be washed away.

When hot water is ejected from the extraction chamber cleaning nozzle 24 for a sufficient time to clean the interior of the coffee extraction chamber 20, the valve 65 is opened and the pump 50 is started. The clean hot water in the coffee brewing chamber 20 flows out from the bean cake discharge port 28, and a part is sucked by the pump 50, passes through the coffee transfer pipe 84, passes through the valve 65, and the drainage pipe 86.
Is drained to the outside of the equipment. In this process, in the coffee extraction chamber 20, the secondary space S2 of the filter 25, the coffee transfer pipe 84, and the pump 50 are cleaned and replaced with clean hot water. After a sufficient time for cleaning and replacement, the valves 63 and 65 are closed and the pump 50 is stopped.

[0026]

Since the present invention is constructed as described above, it has the following effects. First, by knowing the amount of hot water staying in the coffee extraction chamber 20 as the difference between the amount of warm water measured by the flow meter 40 and the amount of coffee measured stepwise by the liquid level detection device 31, Since the fluctuation of the amount of hot water in 20 can be suppressed to the minimum, the volume of the coffee extraction chamber 20 can be reduced and the apparatus can be downsized even when several liters of coffee are extracted at one time.

Furthermore, the coffee extraction chamber 20 can create a state close to the normal drip extraction, the extracted component balance is the same as that of the drip extraction, and the extracted coffee has no taste problem. . Further, since the bean cake discharge port 28 may have a simple closed structure, the structure for ensuring the tightness does not become complicated.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view of an automatic coffee extracting device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of an automatic coffee extracting device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Hot Water Storage Tank 11 Heating Device 20 Coffee Extraction Room 21 Hopper 22 Hopper Hot Water Nozzle 23 Sprinkler 24 Extraction Room Cleaning Nozzle 25 Filter 27 Piston 28 Discharge Port 30 Coffee Storage Tank 31 Liquid Level Detector 40 Flow Meter 50 Pump 61 Valve 62 Valve 63 Valve 64 Valve 65 Valve 66 Valve 70 Coffee ground bean quantitative supply device 80 Water supply pipe 81 Communication pipe 82 Communication pipe 83 Communication pipe 84 Coffee transfer pipe 85 Storage tank supply pipe 86 Drain pipe 87 Coffee extraction pipe

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A flow meter 40 measures the amount of hot water sent to the coffee extraction chamber 20 which is open to the atmosphere, and the amount of coffee sent from the coffee extraction chamber 20 to a coffee storage tank 30 is measured stepwise by a liquid level detection device 31. , The flow meter 4
0 and a signal from the liquid level detection device 31 are adjusted in timing to control the amount of hot water sent to the coffee extraction chamber 20 and the amount of coffee sent to the coffee storage tank 30, and an automatic coffee extraction method. 2. A hot water storage tank 10, a coffee extraction chamber 20 open to the atmosphere, and a coffee storage tank 30 are provided. The hot water storage tank 10 is provided with a heating device 11 and water is supplied through a flow meter 40. A pipe 80 communicates with the coffee extraction chamber 20. An upper portion of the coffee extraction chamber 20 is provided with a hopper 21 for receiving the ground coffee beans supplied from the coffee ground bean quantity supply device 70. Further, the coffee extraction chamber 20 is provided with a sprinkler device 23 connected to the hot water storage tank 10 by a communication pipe 82.
2, a valve 62 is attached, a filter 25 is provided in the lower part of the coffee brewing chamber 20, and
A coffee grounds discharge port 28 closed by a piston 27 is provided, a liquid level detection device 31 for detecting the liquid level position in stages is provided in the coffee storage tank 30, and the coffee storage tank 30 is used for transferring the coffee. The pipe 84 communicates with the coffee brewing chamber 20, and the coffee transfer pipe 8
4 is an automatic coffee extracting device, which is provided with a pump 50 on the way. 3. The coffee extraction chamber 20 is provided with a hopper hot water supply nozzle 22 communicated with the hot water storage tank 10 by a communication pipe 81, and an extraction chamber cleaning nozzle 24 communicated with the hot water storage tank 10 by a communication pipe 83,
Valves 61 and 63 are attached to the communication pipes 81 and 83, respectively, and the coffee transfer pipe 84 is branched into a storage tank supply pipe 85 and a drain pipe 86 to which valves 64 and 65 are attached. Moreover, this storage tank supply pipe 8
5, a coffee extraction pipe 8 with a valve 66 attached
7. The automatic coffee extracting device according to claim 2, wherein 7 are connected.