JPH09117372A - Beverage extractor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To smoothly feed boiling water into a filter cup despite a simple structure. SOLUTION: This beverage extractor is constituted by providing a sealed vessel 11 for storing water so as to be heated and a discharge pipe 22 for communicating with the closed vessel 11. The water stored in the sealed vessel 11 receives steam pressure by heating so as to rise through a discharge pipe 22 and is fed into a filter cup 12. A pressure reduction means 28 is provided in the discharge pipe 22, the steam generated in the sealed vessel 11 is discharged to the outside, and when the water in the sealed vessel 11 is not boiled, the stored water is prevented from rising through the discharge pipe 22 so as not to be fed to the filter cup 12 according to the internal steam pressure.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a beverage extractor used in drip coffee makers and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a drip-type beverage extractor, as shown in FIG. 11, a server 2 and a filter cup 3 are sequentially stacked on a heater 1, and water stored in a tank 4 is passed through a check valve 5. By supplying to the heater 1 and heating, it flows in the discharge pipe 6 and the filter cup 3
The coffee extract is discharged to the inside of the server 2 and collected in the server 2.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional drip coffee maker, since the water level of the discharge pipe 6 rises to the water level stored in the tank 4,
Even if it is heated by the heater 1, there is a problem that the water in the lower region of the discharge pipe 6 is only partially boiled, the hot water discharged to the filter cup 3 is not brought to a boiling state, and has a slightly lower temperature.

Further, the principle of discharging hot water from the discharge pipe 6 is that the steam generated by the heating of the heater 1 moves in the discharge pipe 6 so that the hot water flows at the same time. Therefore, as the inner diameter of the discharge pipe 6 increases, it becomes more difficult for the steam to flow the hot water, and only the steam flows out of the discharge pipe 6 and the hot water cannot be supplied to the filter cup 3.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a drip-type beverage extractor capable of smoothly supplying boiling water into a filter cup with a simple structure.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, hot water is dropped from above onto coffee powder or the like contained in a filter cup through a filter so that the coffee powder is disposed below the filter cup. In a beverage extractor configured to collect an extract such as coffee with a server, a closed container that contains water and is heated, one end of which is opened near the bottom surface of the closed container, and the other end of which is above the filter cup. A discharge pipe that opens at a position is provided, and the water contained in the closed container receives an internal pressure that rises when heated and generates steam so that the water flows in the discharge pipe and is supplied into the filter cup. It is the one. Therefore, even if the discharge pipe having a large inner diameter is adopted, the hot water smoothly flows through the discharge pipe due to the vapor pressure and is supplied to the filter cup.

A pressure reducing means for suppressing an increase in the internal pressure of the closed container is provided so that the contained water hardly flows in the discharge pipe and is not supplied into the filter cup before the water in the closed container boils. Preferably. in this way,
With a simple configuration in which only the pressure reducing means is provided, it is possible to reliably supply boiling water to the filter cup, and it is possible to obtain an extract such as coffee having an excellent flavor.

The decompression means can be provided in a closed container or a discharge pipe. In particular, if the discharge pipe has a vertical portion located in a closed container, and the decompression means is provided in the vertical portion of the discharge pipe and above the water surface of the water contained in the closed container. Water vapor does not blow into the filter cup and adversely affect the surroundings (especially the human body).

The decompression means may be composed of an exhaust hole and an opening / closing valve for opening and closing the discharge port based on the water vapor pressure in the closed container. The opening / closing valve is provided with a heat-sensitive deformable member,
The heat-sensitive deformable member deforms based on the temperature of the contained water,
It is preferable to interlock the on-off valve so that the exhaust hole is opened in the non-boiling state and closed in the boiling state.

Further, it is preferable that the discharge pipe is provided with an opening adjusting means. By adjusting the opening of the discharge pipe with the opening adjustment means, depending on the drop rate of the extract such as coffee from the filter cup to the server,
The amount of hot water discharged to the filter cup can be set freely.

It is preferable that the discharge pipe is provided with an informing means for producing a sound by the air passing through after the boiling water is moved. This makes it possible to determine by sound whether or not all the water in the closed container has been supplied to the filter cup, which is convenient because it is not necessary to observe that the inside of the closed container has become empty. Further, the closed container can be made of not only a light-transmitting material such as glass but also other material such as metal.

It is preferable that a server is provided on the closed container between the filter cup and the filter cup so that the extract liquid such as coffee accumulated in the server is not cooled by the heat radiation from the closed container. According to this, the heat used for heating the closed container can be used as it is for keeping the temperature of the extraction liquid such as coffee in the server, and it is not necessary to newly provide a heat keeping means.

It is preferable that the components such as the filter cup and the server can be housed in a closed container. When the components are stored in a closed container when not in use, it is compact and convenient to carry, suitable for outdoor use, and has a small storage space.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an overall sectional view of a drip coffee maker which is a beverage extractor according to the present invention. This coffee maker is roughly composed of a closed container 11, a filter cup 12, and a server 13.

The closed container 11 is formed by closing an upper opening portion of a bottomed cylindrical container body 14 made of heat resistant glass or the like with a lid 15. A water level line 16 is drawn on the outer peripheral surface of the container body 14, and a handle 17 is attached in the vicinity thereof. The handle 17 is a substantially U-shaped metal rod that is curved along the outer peripheral surface of the container body 14, and is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the container body 14 by being bent in a direction in which both ends approach each other.
It is rotatably locked to the locking portion 18a of No. 8.

A recess 19 is formed in the central portion of the lid body 15, and a knob 20 is screwed into a male screw portion 19a protruding from the central portion. Due to the recess 19, the lid 15
It is possible to prevent the tab 20 from protruding and to stably mount the server 13 described below on the lid 15. A packing 21 is provided on the outer peripheral edge of the lid body 15 so that the inside of the container body 14 can be hermetically closed when the upper opening of the container body 14 is closed. Further, a through hole 15a is formed in the lid body 15, and a discharge pipe 22 is detachably attached to the through hole 15a.

The discharge pipe 22 is formed by connecting a lower end pipe 23, an intermediate pipe 24, an upper pipe 25 and an upper end horizontal pipe 26 by screwing. The lower end pipe 23 is screwed into an intermediate pipe 24 attached to the lid body 15, and when the lid body 15 closes the upper opening portion of the container body 14, the lower end opening portion is located near the bottom surface of the container body 14. It is like this.

As shown in FIG. 2, a water amount adjusting nut 27 is screwed into the lower end opening of the lower end pipe 23 so that the opening area can be adjusted. The water amount adjusting nut 27 has a cylindrical shape with a bottom, an internal thread portion 27a is formed on the inner surface of the cylindrical portion, and a water intake hole 27b is formed at the center of the bottom surface. On the other hand, the lower end opening of the lower end pipe 23 has a male screw portion 2 with which the female screw portion 27a of the water amount adjusting nut 27 is screwed to the outer peripheral portion.
3a is formed, and a plurality of ribs extending from the edge of the opening holds a tapered projection 23b at the center. Therefore, the gap formed between the water intake hole 27b and the protrusion 23b, that is, the opening area is adjusted by screwing the water amount adjusting nut 27 into the lower end opening of the lower end pipe 23 and changing the screwing position. You can do it.

In order to prevent clogging due to foreign matter, the water amount adjusting nut 27 is, for example, shown in FIGS. 3 (a) to 3 (c).
The structure shown in may be adopted. In FIG. 3A, a semi-cylindrical rib 2 is provided around the water intake hole 27 b of the water amount adjusting nut 27.
7c is formed. Further, in FIG. 3B, a notch 27d is formed at a diagonal position of a cylindrical rib 27c formed around the water intake hole 27b. Further, FIG.
In (c), a part of the water intake hole 27b is cut out toward the outer diameter side to form a keyhole shape. However, the clogging prevention structure may be directly formed in the lower end opening of the lower end pipe 23 when the water amount adjusting nut 27 is not provided.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the lower end pipe 23 is provided with a vapor hole 28 which communicates the outside with an upper space in the closed container 11, thereby forming a pressure reducing means. . As shown in the graph of FIG. 4, the steam holes 28 can be discharged from the discharge pipe 22 to the filter cup 12 when the steam pressure (internal pressure) immediately increases immediately before the water in the closed container 11 boils. Is formed. As a result, it is possible to avoid exceeding the vapor pressure that can be discharged before boiling, as in the case where the vapor holes 28 are not provided (shown by the upper graph in FIG. 4).

A plurality of discharge ports 26a are formed on the lower surface of the upper end horizontal pipe 26 so that the boiling water rising through the discharge ports 26a can be evenly dropped into the filter cup 12. .

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a sound generating member 26b as a notification means may be provided in the internal flow path of the upper end horizontal pipe 26. This voice generating member 2
6b can be used, for example, a structure that emits a sound when steam passes, such as a structure adopted in a whistle-bending kettle. Since the sound generating member 26b is arranged in the vicinity of the screwed portion between the upper horizontal pipe 26 and the upper pipe 25, it can be easily replaced by simply removing the upper horizontal pipe 26 from the upper pipe 25. .

The filter cup 12 is formed in a conical shape whose cross-sectional area gradually decreases downward, and a through hole 12a is formed at the tip thereof, and a pedestal portion 12b is extended toward the outer periphery. ing. A substantially U-shaped handle 29 is rotatably connected to a diagonal position of the upper opening edge of the filter cup 12 so that it can be suspended at a predetermined position of the discharge pipe 22. . A locking hole 29a is formed in the central portion of the handle 29 of the filter cup 12, and the locking portion 22a projecting above the discharge pipe 22 is locked to lock the filter cup in the suspended state. The displacement of 12 is prevented. In addition, the filter cup 1
A filter 30 is arranged inside the unit 2 so that coffee powder can be stored therein.

The server 13 has a bottomed cylindrical shape similar to the container body 14 of the closed container 11 and has a handle 31. The server 13 is sized so that it can be placed on the lid 15 and can be housed in the closed container 11.

The coffee maker having the above structure is used as follows. First, in the closed container 11, the water level line 1
A predetermined amount of water is stored on the basis of No. 6 and set as shown in FIG. Then, the contained water is heated by heating means such as thermal power. When the water temperature rises and steam is generated, the internal pressure in the space above the closed container 11 rises. The water surface is pushed down by the increased steam pressure, but as described above, part of the steam is discharged to the outside through the steam holes 28.
Therefore, in the state before boiling, the contained water does not rise up the discharge pipe 22 and reach the inside of the filter cup 12. When the water in the closed container 11 boils, the internal pressure becomes sufficiently large and the boiling water is discharged into the filter cup 12 through the discharge pipe 22, and the coffee extract can be obtained in the server 13. The coffee extract thus obtained is placed above the closed container 11 and
Heat is received from the heating means via 1 and is kept warm.

When the coffee maker is not used, as shown in FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b), the closed container 11 is used.
If other components such as the filter cup 12, the server 13 and the discharge pipe 22 are housed inside, it is very compact and convenient to carry and store. In this case, as shown in FIG. 6 (b), the locking frame body 14 b is attached to the container body 14.
Is preferably provided so that the outer peripheral edge of the lid body 15 is sandwiched between the opening edge portions of the container body 14.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the pressure reducing means is composed of the steam holes 28, but as shown in FIG.
The through hole 15a formed in the lid 15 may be opened and closed by the plug 35. In addition, the discharge pipe 22 is connected to the container body 1
You may make it connect with other parts, such as the lower side surface of 4. The plug body 35 is a cylinder body 33 mounted inside the lid body 15.
And is moved up and down by a spring 34 which is also housed in the cylindrical body 33. The cylindrical body 33
A plurality of ventilation holes 33a are formed in the upper side surface of the closed container 11 so that the inside and outside of the closed container 11 communicate with each other through the ventilation holes 33a and the through holes 15a. The spring 34
Is formed of a shape memory alloy or the like, and contracts before the water contained in the closed container 11 boils, and returns to the shape and expands when the water boils. As a result, the through hole 15a and the ventilation member 33a can be opened by the plug body 35 before boiling and can be closed during boiling.

In the above embodiment, the closed container 11 is used.
Although the server 13 and the filter cup 12 are sequentially stacked above the above, it is not always necessary to use them in such a stacked state. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, after the discharge pipe 22 is projected from the closed container 11,
It is also possible to arrange the server 13 and the filter cup 12 laterally if they are extended laterally.
You can freely change the layout according to the place of use.

Further, in the above embodiment, the vapor hole 28 is provided in the discharge pipe 22, but it goes without saying that the vapor hole 28 may be provided in the lid body 15 or the container body 14 in some cases. If the steam holes 28 are provided in the lid 15, the steam discharged through the steam holes 28 is blown to the server 13, so that the heat retention state can be further improved.

Further, in the above embodiment, the lower end pipe 2
The water amount adjusting nut 27 having the structure shown in FIG.
However, the configuration shown in FIG. 9 may be used. That is, in the water amount adjusting nut 27, the water intake hole 27b extending in the circumferential direction is provided on the lower side surface, and the lower end pipe 23 is simply rotatably mounted, not screwed as described above. On the other hand, in the lower end pipe 23,
A plurality of through holes 23 a are formed in the side surface of the portion covered by the water amount adjusting nut 27. Then, the opening area is adjusted by changing the rotational position of the water amount adjusting nut 27 and increasing or decreasing the number of the through holes 23a of the lower end pipe 23 opened in the water intake hole 27b.

When the discharge pipe 22 is provided on the lower side surface of the container body 14 as shown in FIG. 7, the amount of water may be adjusted by the configuration shown in FIG. That is, by changing the position of the plug member 37 inserted into the discharge pipe 22 via the packing 36, the discharge pipe 22 and the container main body 14 are connected by the plug body 38 provided at the tip thereof.
The opening degree of the communication hole 14c formed in the connecting portion with the and may be adjusted.

Although coffee extraction has been described in the above embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this.
Black tea, green tea, oolong tea, etc. may be stored in 2 and the extract thereof may be extracted.

As for the heat source, in addition to thermal power, any method such as using an electric heater or performing electromagnetic induction heating with the container body 14 as a magnetic body can be applied. It may be built in.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall cross-sectional view showing a drip coffee maker according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a water amount adjusting nut provided on the lower end pipe of FIG.

3A to 3C are partial cross-sectional views and plan views showing various clogging preventing structures in the closed container of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing the relationship between the water temperature in the closed container and the internal pressure.

5 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a sound generating member provided on the upper end horizontal pipe of FIG.

6A and 6B are a perspective view and a front sectional view of the closed container showing a state in which the other constituent members of FIG. 1 are accommodated.

FIG. 7 is an overall cross-sectional view showing a coffee maker provided with another pressure reducing means.

FIG. 8 is a front view showing another usage mode of the coffee maker of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing another water amount adjusting nut.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing still another water amount adjusting nut.

FIG. 11 is an overall sectional view showing a drip coffee maker according to a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Airtight Container 12 Filter Cup 13 Server 14 Container Body 15 Lid 22 Discharge Pipe 28 Steam Hole (Decompression Means)

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A beverage in which an extract liquid such as coffee is collected by a server arranged below the filter cup by dropping hot water from above onto coffee powder or the like contained in the filter cup through a filter. The extractor is provided with a closed container that contains water and is heated, and a discharge pipe that has one end opened near the bottom surface of the closed container and the other end opened above the filter cup. Beverage extractor, wherein the water is supplied with heat into the filter pipe by receiving an internal pressure that rises when heated to generate steam and flowing into the discharge pipe. 2. The airtight container or the discharge pipe is provided with a decompression means for suppressing an increase in the internal pressure of the airtight container, and the water contained in the airtight container almost flows in the air discharge pipe before the water in the airtight container boils. The beverage extractor according to claim 1, wherein the beverage extractor is not supplied into the filter cup. 3. The beverage extractor according to claim 2, wherein the decompression unit includes an exhaust hole and an opening / closing valve that opens and closes the exhaust hole based on the water vapor pressure in the closed container. 4. The on-off valve is provided with a heat-sensitive deformable member, the heat-sensitive deformable member deforms based on the temperature of water contained in the closed container, and the steam hole is opened in a non-boiling state. The beverage extractor according to claim 3, wherein the on-off valve is interlocked so as to be closed in a boiling state. 5. The discharge pipe has a vertical portion located in a closed container, and the decompression means is a vertical portion of the discharge pipe and is provided above the water surface of the water contained in the closed container. The beverage extractor according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that: 6. The beverage extractor according to claim 1, wherein the discharge pipe is provided with opening adjustment means. 7. The discharge pipe, after moving the boiling water,
The beverage extractor according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a notification unit that emits a sound by passing air. 8. A server is provided on the closed container between the filter cup and the filter cup so that the extract liquid such as coffee accumulated in the server is not cooled by heat radiation from the closed container. The beverage extractor according to any one of claims 1 to 7. 9. The beverage extractor according to claim 1, wherein the components such as the filter cup and the server are configured to be housed in a closed container.