JPS6311118A - Coffee brewer - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] Industrial applications The present invention relates to a coffee brewer.

Conventional technology Conventionally, a mill mechanism for grinding coffee beans, a drip mechanism for supplying hot water to the ground coffee powder to extract coffee liquid, and a heat retention mechanism for keeping the coffee liquid warm during extraction have been integrated. A coffee boiler is known which is configured to automatically switch to a brewing operation, a brewing operation, and a warming operation after the milling operation is completed.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the coffee boiler includes a container 1 in which a coffee bean grinding chamber and a filtration chamber for extracting coffee liquid and separating the extracted liquid and residue are integrated. The container 1 is equipped with a cutter 3 that is rotated and driven by a motor 2, and a filter 4 at the bottom for separating the extract and the residue. It is provided with a timer 7 that automatically switches from energizing the motor 2 to energizing the heater 6 after the operation is completed, and a switch 8 that starts energizing the motor 2.

In the above configuration, when the timer 7 is set to the "mill" position and the switch 8 starts energizing, the coffee beans are ground by the cutter 3 (mill operation), and then the water stored in the tank 9 is The hot water is introduced into a water pipe 11 formed integrally with the heater 6 through a check valve 10, and is pushed up by the steam pressure generated when the water is heated by the heater 6, and is raised above the container 1. Hot water is poured into the container 1 from the discharge pipe 11' to extract the coffee liquid, and the coffee and heat liquid are stored in the cup 12 (drip operation). .

The cup 12 has a heat insulating plate 13 heated by the heater 6.
The thermostat 14 detects the temperature of the heat insulating plate 13 and adjusts the temperature to keep the extracted coffee liquid at a predetermined temperature (warming operation). ) are automatically performed.

Further, when the timer 7 is set to the "drip/keep warm" position and the switch 8 is operated, the above-described drip operation or keep warm operation is performed.

FIG. 7 shows a specific circuit diagram thereof, and FIG. 8 shows temperature characteristic curves during drip operation and heat retention operation.

In FIG. 7, the area inside frame A is a circuit diagram during drip operation and heat retention operation. Further, according to FIG. 8, energization is started to the heater 6, water in the tank 9 is guided to the water pipe 11 and heated by the heater 6, and the temperature of the water gradually rises.

(Heating) When the water temperature reaches boiling temperature, the steam pressure generated here pushes the hot water up to the discharge pipe 11.
9. Extraction of coffee liquid takes place. While extraction of coffee liquid continues by supplying hot water from the discharge pipe 11', the temperature is maintained at approximately boiling temperature.

(Extraction) After that, set the thermostat 14 at the specified temperature.
The heater 6 is turned on and off to keep the extracted coffee liquid warm. It can be seen that the operation of "Keeping warm" is performed.

Therefore, when the timer 7 is set to the 1-drip/keep warm position, the heater 6 is turned ON10FF depending on the current temperature and a predetermined temperature.

However, as for the operating time, there is no set time like in the mill operation, and once it is set to the "drip/keep warm" position, it is suitable for a configuration in which heating is performed indefinitely.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention As mentioned above, the extracted coffee liquid is kept warm, but if kept warm for a long time, the aroma will gradually disappear and the taste will deteriorate, so it cannot be used indefinitely after the brewing is finished. Unfortunately, there is a problem with not being able to keep it warm.

The object of the present invention is to provide a coffee boiler that solves these problems.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the coffee boiler of the present invention includes a heater provided in the main body, a cup containing coffee liquid extracted from coffee powder, and a cup heated by the heater. a cup stand having a heat-retaining plate; a temperature-sensing element that detects the temperature near the heat-retaining plate; a heater energization control means that controls energization of the heater; and a display element that indicates that the heater is in a heat-retaining state. A heat retention temperature setting means for setting the heat retention temperature of the coffee liquid, a heat retention time measuring means for measuring the time from the start of the heat retention operation, a heat retention time setting means for setting a heat retention time limit, and the temperature sensing element.

a keep-warm time determining means which inputs each output signal of the keep-warm temperature setting means, keep-warm time measuring means, and keep-warm time setting means and outputs a signal to the heater energization control means and the display element; and a warming end display means which outputs a signal different from a signal indicating that heat keeping is in progress to the display element and at the same time outputs a heater energization prohibition signal to the heater energization control means.

Effects According to the above configuration, the display state of the display element changes depending on whether the coffee is kept warm or when the heat keeping time limit has passed, so that the extracted coffee liquid is in a state where it is ready to drink. The user can easily know whether this is the case or not.

Embodiment Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be explained based on the block diagram shown in FIG. In FIG. 1, parts that perform the same operations as in FIGS. 5 to 7 are designated by the same numbers, and their explanations will be omitted here.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 15 denotes a temperature sensing element for detecting the temperature in the vicinity of the heat insulating plate 13, which is installed at the position shown in FIG.

16 is a heater energization control means for controlling the energization of the heater 6; 17 is a heat retention temperature setting means for setting the heat retention temperature of the coffee liquid; 18 is a heat retention time measuring means for measuring the time from the start of the heat retention operation; 19 is a heater energization control means Warming time setting means for setting a heat retention time limit; 20, a display element that lights up to indicate that the heat is being kept; 21, the thermosensing element 15; heat retention temperature setting means 17. The outputs of the heat retention time setting means 19 and the heat retention time measurement means 18 are input, and the heater energization control means 16
and a heat retention time determination means that outputs a signal to the display element 2o,
The heat retention time determining means 21 operates only within the time set by the heat retention time setting means 19 (hereinafter referred to as "warm retention time limit").

Reference numeral 22 indicates a display element lighting time setting means for setting the time for lighting up the display element 20, 23 indicates a display element light-off time setting means for setting a time for turning off the light, and 24 indicates the display element lighting time setting means 22 and the display element. Based on each time set by the light-off time setting means 23, the display element 2
At the same time as outputting the signal to blink 0, a signal for inhibiting heater energization is sent to the heater energization control means 16, and the alarm 2
6 is a warming end display means for outputting an alarm drive signal;
The heat retention end display means 24 is configured to start operating after the heat retention limit time has been exceeded. That is, within the heat retention time limit, the heat retention determination means 21 operates, and after the heat retention time limit is exceeded, the heat retention end display means 24 operates.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the heat retention time determining means 21.degree. and the heat retention time setting means 19. Each operation of the heat retention time measuring means 18°, the display element lighting time setting means 221, the display element light-off time setting means 23, and the heat retention completion display means 24 is executed by the microprocessor 2.
The program is processed by 6.

Further, 27 is a mil display element that lights up when the timer 7 is set to the "mil" position and the switch 8 is turned on to indicate that the mill is in operation.

FIG. 2 shows a circuit diagram of a coffee brewer according to an embodiment of the present invention. In addition, in this Figure 2,
Components that perform the same operations as in FIG. 1 and FIGS. 6 to 7 are given the same numbers, and their explanations will be omitted here.

In FIG. 2, 28 is a comparator built into the microprocessor 26. A voltage corresponding to the temperature detected by the temperature sensing element 16 (here, a thermistor) is input to the positive input terminal of the comparator 28, while a negative A voltage corresponding to a temperature preset by the heat retention temperature setting means 17 (hereinafter referred to as "heat retention set temperature") is input to the input terminal, but if the former is higher than the latter, a "HIGH" signal is input. Conversely, if the temperature is low, a "LOW" signal is output.

In FIG. 2, when the timer 7 is set to the "drip/keep warm" position and the switch 8 is operated, the drip operation or the keep warm operation is started as described above. If the elapsed time is within the heat retention limit time, the microprocessor 26 outputs a heater energization prohibition signal when the output is 'HIGH', and a heater energization signal when the output is 'LOW' to the heater energization control means 16 (here, a relay). ) and at the same time output to
Display element 20 (here, a light emitting diode, hereinafter referred to as [I]
(referred to as IcDJ) outputs a lighting signal indicating that it is being kept warm.

On the other hand, if the time has elapsed and the heat retention limit time is exceeded, the heat retention end display means 24 starts operating, and the comparator 2
8, the display element lighting time setting means 2
Based on the time preset in step 2 (hereinafter referred to as "lighting time") and the time preset in display element light-off time setting means 23 (hereinafter referred to as "light-off time"), a lighting or extinguishing signal is sent to the LED 20. At the same time, a signal for inhibiting heater energization is output to the heater energization control means 16 to stop energizing the heater 6, and the alarm 25 (buzzer in this case) is activated. A signal is output to notify that the heat retention time has exceeded the heat retention time limit.

Note that 29 is an oscillator that operates the microprocessor 26.

An outline of the above operation is shown in FIG. 3, and a display pattern of an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, the annunciator drive signal indicates that the drive signal is output only at the timing indicated by the shaded area, and the drive signal is not output at other timings.

In this embodiment, as is clear from FIGS. 3 and 4, the alarm 25 consisting of a buzzer is activated when the LED 20 is turned off, and the alarm 25 consisting of a buzzer is stopped when the LED 20 is turned on. However, this relationship may be reversed, and the end of warming may be notified by changing the display of only the LED 20 during and after warming.

In addition, although the above explanation does not clarify the timing of the start of heat retention (end of drip), as in this example, "drip"
If "Drip" and "Keep Warm" are on the same switch, for example, you can apply the timing shown in "Drip End" in Figure 8, or if "Drip" and "Keep Warm" are on different switches For this purpose, the time when the "keep warm" switch is turned on may be applied. Furthermore, regarding the drip operation, it is sufficient to energize the heater 6 until a predetermined temperature is reached.

Further, in the above embodiments, a coffee boiler having a mill mechanism has been described, but it goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to a coffee boiler without a mill mechanism or a simple heat insulator.

Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, when the temperature is kept warm,
Since the display state of the display element changes when the heat retention time limit has passed, the user can easily know whether the extracted coffee liquid is ready to drink or not. This has excellent effects.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a coffee boiler showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of the same coffee boiler, FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the same coffee boiler, and FIG. The figure shows an example of the display pattern of the heat retention end notification of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a front view of a conventional coffee brewer, FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same coffee brewer, and FIG. 7 8 is a circuit diagram of the same coffee boiler, and FIG. 8 is a temperature characteristic curve diagram during drip operation and heat retention operation. 5...Body, 6...Heater, 9...
... Tank, 11 ... Water pipe, 12 ...
・Cup, 13... Warm plate, 13...
Cup stand, 15...Temperature sensing element, 16...
... Heater energization control means, 17 ... Heat retention temperature setting means, 18 ... Heat retention time measuring means, 19 ...
...1 hour setting means, 2o...display element,
21... Warm-keeping time determination means, 22... Display element lighting time setting means, 23... Display element light-off time setting means, 24... Warm-keeping end display means,
26... Alarm, 26... Microprocessor. Name of agent: Patent attorney Toshio Nakao and 1 other person No. 5
Figure 5-m- too! No 1---Ei 12---D-tfu0 f3---Ira Ei? Work die 3'-1-η17"j1 right Figure 7 2E neck-

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A heater provided on the main body, a cup containing coffee liquid extracted from coffee grounds, a cup stand having a heat insulating plate heated by the heater, and a temperature sensor that detects the temperature near the heat insulating plate. a heating element, a heater energization control means for controlling the energization of the heater, a display element for indicating that it is in the keep-warm state, a keep-warm temperature setting means for setting the keep-warm temperature of the coffee liquid, and a keep-warm temperature setting means for setting the keep-warm temperature of the coffee liquid; Inputting each output signal of the heat retention time measuring means for measuring time, the heat retention time setting means for setting the heat retention time limit, the temperature sensing element, the heat retention temperature setting means, the heat retention time measurement means, and the heat retention time setting means, a keep-warm determining means for outputting a signal to the heater energization control means and the display element; A coffee brewing device comprising a heat retention end display means for outputting a prohibition signal for energization of the heater to a heater energization control means. (2) The coffee boiler according to claim 1, characterized in that an alarm is provided separately from the display element, and the alarm is activated after the heat retention time limit is exceeded.