JPH09182666A - Coffee supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide delicious coffee including sufficient air to provide soft taste by providing a coffee supply device with an air supply pipe communicating with a mixing chamber to which coffee is introduced around a mixing rotor, and a coffee discharge pipe to discharge coffee from the mixing chamber. SOLUTION: In this coffee supply device 1, inner parts are parted by a partition plate 4, and an air supply pipe 5 is protruded from a center part of the partition plate 4 into a coffee container 2. A motor installation part 6 is protruded to the opposite side of the air supply pipe 5, and a mixing chamber 9 is formed of the motor installation part 6 and the partition plate 4. A shaft 10 of a motor 7 installed on the motor installation part 6 is extended to the mixing chamber 9, and a mixing roller 11 is installed in the mixing chamber 9. A discharge pipe 15 is extended out of the coffee container 2 from part of a wall of the mixing chamber 9, and the air supply pipe 5 and the discharge pipe 15 are made to respectively communicate with the mixing chamber 9.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a whipped coffee supply device for improving the mouthfeel of extracted coffee. The coffee supply device herein means a device for supplying the coffee after extraction to the coffee cup, but the coffee supply device may also serve as the coffee extraction device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There are various factors that determine the taste of coffee, such as the type of coffee beans and how to grind coffee. But,
Even if the same coffee beans are ground in the same way, if the extracted coffee contains a lot of air, the taste of the coffee will be different. Generally, when the coffee is rich in air, that is, when air bubbles are present on the surface of the coffee in the coffee container, a pleasant and delicious coffee is obtained.

Espresso coffee is one of the coffees of this type which contains a large amount of air.
Known from 37366. This known device for extracting and supplying espresso coffee has a bifurcated espresso coffee supply tube in order to make several, or two, cups of espresso coffee at the same time. Furthermore, this known device is equipped with a screw at the branch of this bifurcated coffee supply pipe. Espresso coffee is extracted by high pressure to become steam, reaches the bifurcated coffee supply pipe, and hits the screw. When the screw is rotated by the steam of espresso coffee containing a large amount of air, the steam of the espresso coffee is distributed almost equally to the bifurcated pipes of the bifurcated coffee supply pipe, and 2 cups of espresso coffee are produced. .

[0004]

As described above, coffee extracted with high-pressure steam, such as espresso coffee, contains a large amount of air and therefore has a pleasant taste. However, since ordinary coffee that is not extracted by high pressure does not contain much air, it cannot be said that it is always delicious and tasty. The known device comprises a screw, which is intended to evenly distribute the espresso coffee into two cups, not to allow the coffee to contain air. This is because espresso coffee contains air during its extraction process, whereas ordinary coffee extraction process does not include air. Conventionally,
In order to smooth the mouthfeel of normal coffee that is not brewed by high pressure, there has not been a device for adding air to the brewed coffee. Further, when mixing the coffee liquid and the air in such a known device, the screw alone causes rotation of the screw when the coffee liquid passes through, so that the rotation speed of the screw is very high. Lately it was difficult to mix the air well with the coffee liquid.

[0005]

According to the present invention, a mixing chamber into which coffee is introduced, a mixing rotor arranged in the mixing chamber, an air supply pipe communicating with the mixing chamber near the rotor, A coffee outflow pipe that communicates with the mixing chamber in the vicinity of the rotor for flowing out the coffee in the mixing chamber, and a driving means for driving the rotor are provided.

[0006]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The drive means for driving the rotor of the coffee supply device according to the present invention is a motor, and the rotor is attached to the shaft of the motor.

In the coffee supply device according to the present invention, the rotor also rotates at high speed in association with the rotation of the shaft of the motor. As the rotor rotates at high speed, a coffee vortex is created and coffee is sucked into the mixing chamber. Similarly, air will be sucked into the mixing chamber through the air supply pipe. At that time, while the coffee drawn into the mixing chamber and the air are mixed with each other, the coffee containing much air is poured into the coffee cup through the coffee outflow pipe. This mix of coffee and air results in coffee with a good froth. The effect of this foam creates a palatable coffee.

The coffee feeding apparatus according to the present invention is also characterized in that the rotor is mechanically coupled to the first magnetic body, while the driving means for driving the rotor has a motor, and a shaft of the motor is provided. A second magnetic body is attached. The rotor and the motor are mechanically separated.

The magnetic force between the first magnetic body and the second magnetic body causes the rotor to rotate in association with the driving of the motor. The rotation of the rotor causes a vortex of coffee to draw the coffee and air into the mixing chamber, and the coffee and air are mixed with each other to produce coffee with a good frothiness. Since the rotor and the motor are mechanically separated, the shaft of the motor does not have to be soaked directly in the coffee, which prevents the shaft of the motor from rusting.

The coffee dispenser according to the invention also has at least one recess in the inner wall of the mixing chamber for creating a small swirl of coffee and air.

When the rotor rotates, a small vortex of coffee is generated in each of the depressions. The small vortex allows the coffee and air to mix better. Therefore,
Even if the number of rotations of the motor is suppressed, coffee with good foaming can be obtained. Since the number of rotations of the motor can be suppressed, the degree of freedom in selecting the motor can be increased while the driving current of the motor is small.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic structure of a coffee supply device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, partly in cross section. In FIG. 1, a coffee supply device 1
Has a coffee container 2 and a motor controller 3, and is partitioned by a partition plate 4. The side wall of the coffee container 2 and the partition plate 4 are preferably made of a heat-insulating material such as a thermos. An elongated air supply pipe 5 is attached to a central portion of the partition plate 4 and vertically projects into the coffee container 2. The air supply pipe 5 may be integrated with the partition plate 4. On the side opposite to the air supply pipe 5, a motor mounting part 6 projects from the partition plate 4 toward the motor control part 3. The position of the tip of the air supply pipe 5 is set to the coffee container 2
Is higher than the upper edge of the side wall. This is because the upper end of the air supply pipe 5 must always be in contact with air. If the air supply pipe 5 is lower than the side wall of the coffee container 2, the coffee injected into the coffee container 2 needs to be injected not to exceed the upper end of the air supply pipe 5.

The motor mounting portion 6 may be detachable from the partition plate 4. The motor mounting portion 6 and the partition plate 4 form a mixing chamber 9. A motor 7 is attached to the motor attachment portion 6.
A current input terminal (not shown) of the motor 7 is connected to the motor control unit 8, and the motor control unit 8 is electrically connected to the external switch 12. The shaft 10 of the motor 7 extends into the mixing chamber 9 in an airtight manner, and the mixing rotor 1 is installed in the mixing chamber 9.
1 is attached. The rotor 11 is substantially below the air supply pipe 5. The outflow pipe 15 extends from the part of the wall of the mixing chamber 9 around the rotor to the outside of the coffee container 2 along the side wall of the coffee container 2. The air supply pipe 5 and the outflow pipe 15 are
It is in communication with each of the mixing chambers 9. In the case of this embodiment, the inner diameter of the air supply pipe 5 is 2 to 3 mm, and the inner diameter of the air supply pipe is 5 mm. The partition plate 4 has two openings 14 around the air supply pipe 5 for allowing coffee from the coffee container 2 to flow into the mixing chamber 9.

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the rotor 11 used in FIG. The rotor 11 has a disc 20 and a plurality of fins 22 projecting upward from the disc 20,
An attachment hole 23 for attaching to the shaft 10 of the motor 7 is arranged at the center. In this embodiment, the disc 20 has a diameter of 22 mm and a thickness of 1 mm, and the fin 22 has a height of 2 mm from the disc 20.

The coffee lid 16 is opened and coffee is poured into the coffee container 2. After the injection of coffee, the coffee container 2 is covered by the coffee lid 16. The mixing chamber 9 is also filled with coffee via the opening 14. Coffee pressure also causes coffee to flow into the air supply pipe 5.

Place a coffee cup under the outlet of the outflow pipe 15 (not shown). The switch 12 is pressed to switch it on. When the motor control unit 8 detects that the switch is turned on, a current flows from the motor control unit 8 to the motor 7, and the shaft 10 and the rotor 11 of the motor 7 rotate. The rotation speed is preferably between 16000 rpm and 19000 rpm. This is because the amount of coffee and air drawn by the high speed rotation increases.
The rotation of the rotor 11 causes the coffee to be opened 14
And is drawn into the mixing chamber 9. The rotor 11
The fins 22 stir the coffee well and form swirls of water flow. Similarly, this rotation causes air from the outside to flow into the mixing chamber 9 through the air supply pipe 5. The coffee and air are extruded toward the outflow pipe 15 while being mixed with each other. Coffee containing a large amount of air passes through the outflow pipe 15 and is dripped from the outlet of the outflow pipe 15 into the coffee cup. When the coffee cup is filled with the desired amount of coffee, the switch 12 is pressed again. When the motor control unit 8 detects that the switch has been pressed again, the current flowing through the motor 7 stops, and the rotation of the motor 7 stops. As a result, coffee is not dripped from the outlet through the outflow pipe 15. Electrical means such as these motor control units 8 are well known to those skilled in the art and need not be described in detail.
The coffee filled in the coffee cup contains a sufficient amount of air and has a foamy surface. Due to the frothy coffee, the texture is very smooth.

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of a part of another preferred embodiment of the coffee supply device according to the present invention. The structure of the coffee supply device 31 of FIG. 3 is substantially the same as that of the coffee supply device 1 of FIG. The difference is the rotor and the structure around it. The same structure as that of FIG. 1 will not need explanation.

The air supply pipe 35 and the outflow pipe 45 communicate with the mixing chamber 39, respectively. Coffee container 32
Has a recess at the bottom, and the mixing chamber 39 is mechanically fitted in this recess. The mixing chamber 39 has two openings 44 around the air supply pipe 35 for allowing coffee to flow into the mixing chamber 39 from the coffee container 32. A rotor 41 and a first magnet 47 are housed in the mixing chamber 39. The rotor 41 and the first magnet 47 are mechanically coupled and integrated, and are housed in the mixing chamber 39 so that the first magnet faces the bottom of the coffee container 32. The motor control unit 33
It has a motor 37, a motor control unit 38, and a switch 42. A second magnet 48 is attached to the shaft 40 of the motor 37. The second magnet 48 has an N pole and an S pole in parallel with the axis of the shaft 40.
The poles are preferably polarized. The first magnet 47 is preferably similarly polarized. When the second magnet rotates and the same poles of the first and second magnets overlap with each other, repulsive forces act on each other.
This is because the rotation followability of the first magnet with respect to the rotation of the magnet is improved.

When the switch 42 is pressed, the motor 37 is driven via the motor control unit 38. The shaft 40 and the second magnet 48 rotate. When the second magnet 48 rotates, the magnetic force causes the first magnet 47 to rotate in conjunction with the rotation of the rotor 41. Similar to the coffee supply device of FIG. 1, by rotating the rotor 41, coffee and air are sucked into the mixing chamber 39, and frothed coffee is produced through the outflow pipe 45.

In this embodiment, since the motor and the rotor are separated, the shaft of the motor is not soaked in coffee. This prevents rust from adhering to the motor. Further, since the motor and the rotor have magnets, the motor control unit 38 can control the rotation of the rotor even if the motor and the rotor are mechanically separated.

FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of the rotor 41 having the fins 52 and the separable lower element 39a of the mixing chamber 39 used in the coffee feeder of FIG. 3 according to the present invention. is there. The lower element 39a of the mixing chamber 39 has six vortex generating recesses 53 on the inner wall. When the rotor 41 rotates in association with the rotation of the shaft 40 of the motor 37, the recess 53
A small swirl of coffee occurs around the. By this vortex,
The coffee and air will mix better. It is preferable that the base end portion of the outflow pipe 45 faces one of the six recesses 53. Since the recess 53 allows the coffee and air to mix better, it is possible to reduce the rotation speed of the motor as compared with the case where there is no recess. As a result, the electric power of the motor can be small, so that a small motor can be used and the drive current can be small, and the consumption current can be saved.

[0023]

According to the coffee supply device of the present invention, it is possible to obtain a delicious coffee containing a sufficient amount of air and having a very smooth taste. Further, in another example of the present invention in which the motor and the rotor are mechanically separated from each other mechanically by the magnet, the shaft of the motor is not soaked in coffee, so that rust is prevented from adhering to the motor. ,
Moreover, the rotation of the rotor can be controlled via the magnetic force. Furthermore, since the inner wall of the mixing chamber is provided with the depression, a small vortex of coffee is generated in the depression, and the coffee and the air are well mixed. Therefore, coffee and air can be mixed well even if the electric power of the motor is small,
A small motor can be used and the drive current can be small, and the effect of saving the current consumption can be obtained.

In this embodiment, the coffee that has already been extracted is poured into the coffee supply device according to the present invention, but it goes without saying that the coffee supply device itself according to the present invention may be equipped with a coffee extraction device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a coffee supply device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, partly as a sectional view.

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the rotor used in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a part of another preferred embodiment of the coffee supply device according to the present invention.

4 is a schematic plan view of a rotor and an inner wall of a mixing chamber used in the coffee feeder of FIG. 3 according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 31 Coffee supply device 2, 32 Coffee container 3, 33 Motor control unit 4 Partition plate 5, 35 Air supply pipe 6 Motor mounting unit 7, 37 Motor 8, 38 Motor control unit 9, 39 Mixing chamber 10, 40 Shaft 11 , 41 rotor 12, 42 switch 14, 44 opening 15, 45 outflow pipe 16, 46 coffee lid 20, disk 22, 52 fin 23 mounting hole 47 first magnet 48 second magnet 53 recess

Front Page Continuation (72) Inventor Johann Praft The Netherlands 5621 Behr Aindow Fenflunewachwech 1 (72) Inventor Leonardus Petrius Antonius Klaustralov The Netherlands 5621 Behr Aindow Fenflune Wachwech 1

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A mixing chamber into which coffee is introduced, a mixing rotor arranged in the mixing chamber, an air supply pipe communicating with the mixing chamber in the vicinity of the rotor, and for flowing out coffee in the mixing chamber. And a coffee outlet pipe communicating with the mixing chamber in the vicinity of the rotor, and a driving means for driving the rotor. 2. The coffee supply device according to claim 1, wherein the drive means has a motor, and when the motor is driven, the rotor in the mixing chamber is magnetically driven in conjunction with each other. Characteristic coffee supply device. 3. Coffee supply device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the inner wall of the mixing chamber has at least one depression for producing a small swirl of coffee and air. apparatus.