KR102409944B1 - Hopper apparatus for supplying coffee beans - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a coffee bean supply hopper device, and more particularly, to a coffee bean supply hopper device capable of stably discharging and supplying coffee beans accommodated in a bean hopper using a bean feeder.
A coffee bean supply hopper device according to the present invention is a coffee bean supply hopper device, comprising: a hopper support means installed on an installation surface; a bean hopper in which coffee beans are accommodated; Bean detection means for detecting whether coffee beans are accommodated in the bean hopper; and a bean feeder installed under the bean hopper to transport coffee beans.

Description

Coffee bean supply hopper device {HOPPER APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING COFFEE BEANS}

The present invention relates to a coffee bean supply hopper device, and more particularly, to a coffee bean supply hopper device capable of stably discharging and supplying coffee beans accommodated in a bean hopper using a bean feeder.

In general, coffee is produced by an extraction method that is manufactured manually, such as drip coffee, and an extraction method using an automatic coffee machine, and coffee produced by each method has different taste and flavor, so the taste and taste of the drinker etc. are selected and provided.

In addition to the above-described extraction method, the taste of coffee varies according to numerous factors such as extraction time and speed, density of grinding, amount of water control, water temperature, extraction pressure, steam pressure, and the like.

In addition, since the taste of coffee has a significant difference depending on the type of coffee bean, production area, production method, processing method, etc. along with the above-mentioned technical factors, consumers select coffee beans according to their taste.

In addition, although the taste of a cup of coffee varies considerably depending on the amount of coffee beans input, it depends on the experience and skill of the barista, and even professional baristas sometimes have differences in the amount of coffee beans input, so it is difficult to maintain a uniform taste. There are limitations.

Recently, a technology employing a multi-joint robot for coffee production has been proposed to reduce labor costs and facilitate manufacturing, but due to the lack of equipment that can measure and provide coffee beans of a specific weight to the multi-joint robot, There is a limitation in that a coffee making system using a joint robot cannot be operated stably.

For this reason, it takes a lot of time and is inconvenient to supply the quantitative amount of coffee beans, and there is a disadvantage that additional manpower is still required.

Korean Patent Registration No. 10-1481901 "Quantitative supply unit of green beans and coffee bean feeder in the coffee mate system" Korean Patent Laid-Open Patent No. 10-2018-0011045 "Coffee bean proportional supply device" Korean Patent No. 10-1448524 "Bean supply unit of Coffee Mate System that automatically produces green coffee and delivers it to consumers"

The present invention has been proposed in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a coffee bean supply hopper device capable of stably discharging and supplying a fixed amount of coffee beans.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a coffee bean supply hopper device, which has been proposed in view of the above content, which can accurately perform a sensing operation of the amount of coffee beans and can be used interchangeably.

In order to achieve the above object, a coffee bean supply hopper device according to the present invention is a coffee bean supply hopper device, comprising: a hopper support means installed on an installation surface; a bean hopper in which coffee beans are accommodated; Bean detection means for detecting whether coffee beans are accommodated in the bean hopper; and a bean feeder installed under the bean hopper to transport coffee beans.

The coffee bean supply hopper device according to the present invention includes: a weight measuring device disposed to measure the weight of coffee beans discharged from the bean feeder; and a control unit for controlling the operation of the bean feeder according to a sensing signal applied from the weight measuring device.

And, the bean feeder, a cylindrical feeder body; a screw-shaped transport body installed inside the feeder body; and a feeder driving means having a speed reducer and a motor to rotate the transfer member.

On the other hand, the coffee bean supply hopper device according to the present invention is characterized in that it comprises a detection means installation member to which the bean detection means is installed.

Preferably, the detection means installation member, the detection means support installed on the installation surface; a height adjustment bar movably installed on the sensing means support; an angle adjusting bar coupled to the upper end of the height adjusting bar so that the angle can be adjusted; And it may include a sensor bracket that is coupled to the angle adjustment bar to move forward and backward, the sensor coupling portion is formed.

According to the coffee bean supply hopper device according to the present invention, coffee beans can be automatically discharged through the bean feeder, and when the set weight is detected by detecting the discharged weight, the operation of the feeder driving means is stopped under the control of the control unit to stop the coffee. There is an effect that coffee beans can be provided by discharging them in a fixed amount.

And, according to the coffee bean supply hopper device according to the present invention, since the bean detecting means is installed in the bean hopper to detect the level of coffee beans or whether or not they are accommodated, it is possible to conveniently manage the capacity and input timing of coffee beans. There is an advantage in that the discharge process can be performed stably.

1 is a perspective view showing the overall appearance from one side of a coffee bean supply hopper device according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the overall appearance appearing from the other side of the coffee bean supply hopper device according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view for explaining the sensing means installation member of the coffee bean supply hopper device according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view for explaining the sensing means installation member of the coffee bean supply hopper device according to an embodiment of the present invention;
5 is a view for explaining the operation of the coffee bean supply hopper device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

On the other hand, in each drawing, a detailed description of a configuration that can be easily recognized by a person skilled in the art from the general description and an action and effect thereof will be simplified or omitted. In addition, since the present invention has the characteristics of the coffee bean supply hopper device, the related parts will be mainly shown and described, and the description of the remaining parts will be simplified or omitted.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the overall appearance from one side of the coffee bean supply hopper device according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is the overall appearance shown from the other side of the coffee bean supply hopper device according to an embodiment of the present invention It is a perspective view shown.

1 to 2 , the coffee bean supply hopper device 4 according to an embodiment of the present invention is configured to discharge and supply coffee beans in a fixed amount, the hopper support means 41 and the bean hopper 42 ), a bean feeder 43 and a bean detecting means 44 are provided.

The hopper support means 41 is a component in which one side is installed in the installation part and the other side is connected to the bean hopper 42 or the bean feeder 43, and has a structure capable of supporting the bean hopper 42 and the bean feeder 43. If there is no particular limitation on the structure or form, in this embodiment, for the sake of simplicity and simplification of the structure, one end is fixed to the installation surface 13 and the other end is composed of a support bar connected to the bean hopper.

The bean hopper 42 is a component into which coffee beans are input and accommodated, and is formed in a substantially conical shape.

And the bean hopper 42 is formed of a transparent material such as transparent glass, transparent plastic, etc. to allow light to pass through. In this way, when the bean hopper 42 is formed of a transparent material, there is an advantage in that the capacity can be effectively detected by an optical sensor such as a laser sensor that can be applied as the bean detecting means 44 .

In addition, the bean hopper 42 may be configured with a hopper door (not shown) that automatically opens and closes in consideration of convenience when replenishing coffee beans on the upper portion.

The bean feeder 43 is a component installed at the lower part of the bean hopper 42 to transport coffee beans. If it is a device capable of stably discharging coffee beans, it can be selected and configured without any particular limitation in shape or structure. .

For example, the coffee bean feeder 43 has an inlet 432 formed in communication with the bean hopper 42 at the upper portion of the cylindrical body having a hollow portion therein and an outlet 433 formed at the lower portion of the body. It is composed of a screw feeder composed of a screw-shaped transport body (not shown) installed inside the body 431, and a feeder driving means (not shown) having a speed reducer and a motor to rotate the transport body.

The bean detection means 44 is a component that detects the capacity of coffee beans accommodated in the bean hopper 42, and if it can detect the level of coffee beans or whether or not they are accommodated, various detection sensors such as a laser sensor, an infrared sensor, etc. are not limited. You can select and configure.

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view for explaining the sensing means installation member of the coffee bean supply hopper device according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 4 is a detection means installation member of the coffee bean supply hopper device according to an embodiment of the present invention An exploded perspective view for explanation, Figure 5 is a view for explaining the operation of the coffee bean supply hopper device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 and 4 , the bean detection means 44 is installed close to the bean hopper 41 by the detection means installation member 45 .

In addition, the sensing means installation member 45 has a feature configured to enable an accurate sensing operation of the amount of coffee beans by the bean detection means 44 even if the shape or installation height of the bean hopper 42 is changed.

To this end, the detection means installation member 45 is a detection means support 451 installed on the installation surface, a height adjustment rod 452 movably installed on the detection means support 451, and the upper end of the height adjustment rod 451 . It is composed of an angle adjusting bar 453 bound to the angle adjusting bar 453 , and a sensor bracket 454 coupled to the angle adjusting bar 453 so as to be movable back and forth and having a sensor binding part 454b formed therein.

The sensing means support 451 is a support body 451a having a rectangular plate shape, a fastening hole formed under the support body 451a and into which a bolt (not shown) fastened to the installation surface is inserted. ), is recessed into the upper portion of the support body 451a and the height adjustment groove 451c into which the height adjustment rod 452 is inserted and moved is provided.

In addition, a plurality of height adjustment holes 451d are vertically formed in the height adjustment groove 451c to fasten the height adjustment bolts.

The height adjuster 452 is a height adjuster body 452a having a rectangular plate shape, an adjuster black hole 452b formed in the lower part of the height adjuster body 452a, and an arc on the upper part of the height adjuster body 452a An angle adjustment hole 452c that is perforated in the shape, and a fastening hole 452d that is perforated on the upper portion of the height adjustment base body 452a are provided.

The angle adjusting bar 453 is a fastening hole into which the fastening member inserted into the angle adjusting hole 452c and the fastening hole 452d of the height adjusting bar 452 is inserted into the angle adjusting bar body 453a having a substantially rectangular plate shape. (453b) (453c) and a fastening hole (453d) into which the fastening member inserted into the bracket long hole (454c) of the sensor bracket (454) to be described later is inserted is formed in a perforated structure.

The sensor bracket 454 is formed of a bracket body 454a having a pair of long bracket holes 454c formed therein, and a sensor coupling part 454b bent and formed in the bracket body 454a and perforated with a sensor connection hole.

On the other hand, in the coffee bean supply hopper device according to an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1 , a weight measuring device 46 is provided at the lower portion of the bean feeder 42 to measure the weight of the coffee beans discharged. Consists of.

The weight measuring device 46 can be selected without any particular limitation as long as it can accurately and quickly measure the weight of coffee beans, but in this embodiment, it is possible to accurately measure the weight of a small amount of coffee beans capable of extracting about one cup of coffee. It consists of a scale that can be

Here, the scale is composed of a normal electronic scale with a load cell inside the scale case on which the external container 82 is mounted.

And, in the coffee bean supply hopper device according to an embodiment of the present invention, a control unit (not shown) that controls the driving of a motor (not shown) provided in the bean feeder by a signal such as a weight value applied from a weight measurement device can be provided.

On the other hand, unexplained reference numeral 82 in FIG. 5 is an external supply container in which coffee beans discharged from the bean feeder are accommodated.

Hereinafter, the operation of the coffee bean supply hopper device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be briefly described.

1 to 3, when the feeder driving means (not shown) is operated under the control of the controller in a state in which coffee beans are accommodated in the bean hopper 41, the feeder body according to the rotational operation of the transfer body (not shown) Coffee beans are discharged through the outlet of (431).

In this discharging process, when the weight of coffee filled in the external serving container 82 by the weight measuring device 46 is detected as a set weight of about one cup (normally set to 10 to 30 g), the feeder driving means (not shown) under the control of the control unit. time) stops, so coffee beans can be provided in a fixed quantity.

And, in the coffee bean supply hopper device 4 according to the present invention, the bean detection means 44 is installed in the bean hopper 42 to detect the level or acceptance of coffee beans, so the capacity of coffee beans can be conveniently managed. It has the advantage of stably performing the discharge process and replenishment work.

In particular, in the coffee bean supply hopper device according to an embodiment of the present invention, the mounting position of the bean detection means 44 can be freely changed by the detection means installation member 45, so that the shape or installation height of the bean hopper 42, etc. Even if this change, it can be used interchangeably and has the advantage of being able to accurately detect the amount of coffee beans by the bean detection means 44 .

For example, the sensing means installation member 45 may perform a front-to-back position adjustment operation of the bean detection means 44 through the front-back movement of the sensor bracket 454 , and detects beans through the rotational operation of the angle adjustment bar 453 . It is possible not only to perform the inclination adjustment operation of the means 44 but also to perform the height adjustment operation of the bean detection means 44 through the vertical movement of the height adjustment bar 452 .

Although the configuration and operation of the coffee bean supply hopper device according to the embodiment of the present invention described above have been described, this is exemplary and those of ordinary skill in the art are described above without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention. It will be appreciated that substitutions and variations of some of the embodiments are possible.

Therefore, it should be understood that the protection scope of the present invention extends to the invention described in the claims and equivalents thereof.

4: Coffee bean supply hopper device
41: hopper support means
42: bean hopper
43: bean feeder
44: bean detection means
45: detection means installation member
451: detection detection zone
452: height adjustment bar
453: angle adjustment bar
454: sensor bracket
46: weighing device

Claims (5)

In the coffee bean supply hopper device,
Hopper support means installed on the installation surface; a bean hopper in which coffee beans are accommodated; Bean detection means for detecting the coffee beans accommodated in the bean hopper; a bean feeder installed in the bean hopper to transport coffee beans; and a detection means installation member on which the bean detection means is installed,
The sensing means installation member,
Detection means support installed on the installation surface;
a height adjustment bar movably installed on the sensing means support;
an angle adjusting bar coupled to the upper end of the height adjusting bar so that the angle can be adjusted; and
Coffee bean supply hopper device, characterized in that it comprises a sensor bracket coupled to the front and rear movement to the angle adjusting bar and a sensor binding portion is formed.
According to claim 1,
a weight measuring device disposed to measure the weight of coffee beans discharged from the bean feeder; and
Coffee bean supply hopper device comprising a; a control unit for controlling the operation of the bean feeder according to the sensing signal applied from the weight measuring device.
According to claim 1,
The bean feeder is
a cylindrical feeder body;
a screw-shaped transport body installed inside the feeder body; and
Coffee bean supply hopper device comprising a; a feeder driving means having a speed reducer and a motor to rotate the transfer body.
delete delete

Images