KR102468853B1 - Automatic grinding system for coffee bean - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an automatic coffee bean grinding system, and more particularly, to an automatic coffee bean grinding system capable of improving the convenience and safety of the coffee bean input process and automatically adjusting the size of ground bean particles. .
An automatic coffee bean grinding system according to the present invention includes a grinding device body, a grinding cutter unit installed in the grinding device body to perform a grinding operation, a grinding motor rotating the grinding cutter unit, and the grinding cutter A cutter control unit that controls the size of ground bean particles by manipulating the unit; and a hopper part installed on the pulverizer body and having a hopper cover on the upper part of the hopper body accommodating coffee beans; an opening/closing operation unit that is connected to the hopper cover and performs an opening/closing operation; and an opening/closing actuator generating and applying a driving force to the opening/closing actuator.

Description

Coffee bean automatic grinding system {AUTOMATIC GRINDING SYSTEM FOR COFFEE BEAN}

The present invention relates to an automatic coffee bean grinding system, and more particularly, to an automatic coffee bean grinding system capable of improving the convenience and safety of the coffee bean input process and automatically adjusting the size of ground bean particles. .

In general, coffee is instant coffee in which coffee is extracted and processed in large quantities using coffee beans, but roasted coffee beans are ground to an appropriate size and then coffee liquid is immediately extracted by an automatic coffee machine to preserve the unique flavor of coffee. Instantly extracted coffee that can be felt is widely consumed.

The automatic coffee machine extracts coffee automatically by a mechanical device, so it is quicker and more convenient than the manual extraction method, but it still requires a worker, and when there are many orders, multiple workers are needed, so it is difficult to manage due to the increase in labor cost. is being brought about

Accordingly, in recent years, a technology employing an articulated robot has been used for manufacturing beverages such as coffee.

Beverage manufacturing system using an articulated robot is a method in which the articulated robot puts coffee beans provided from a coffee grinding device such as a grinder into a portafilter according to a predetermined program, installs them in an automatic coffee machine, goes through an extraction process, and then provides them to drinkers. works with

Beverage manufacturing system using such an articulated robot can reduce labor costs by replacing manual work of workers by articulated robots and can uniformize the taste of coffee to some extent, but has limitations accompanying various problems as follows.

First, in the conventional coffee manufacturing system using an articulated robot, the articulated robot can grind coffee beans by operating a coffee grinder instead of a human, but when replenishing coffee beans, the hopper lid of the coffee grinder is opened and the inside of the coffee grinder is opened. Since coffee beans must be put in and then the hopper lid must be closed again, a separate manpower is required and a lot of time is required, which is not only inconvenient, but also has the disadvantage of fading the meaning of employing a robot for coffee manufacturing because manpower is required for this task.

In addition, the conventional beverage manufacturing system using an articulated robot has a high risk of safety accidents due to contact or collision with a robot arm in the process of replenishing coffee beans.

In addition, as the manual coffee grinder is applied to a beverage manufacturing system using an articulated robot, the flow of the coffee manufacturing process or supply process is not smooth, so it simply performs functions similar to vending machines, which cannot give satisfaction to consumers. There is a limit.

Korean Patent Registration No. 10-0552222 "Coffee Bean Grinding Device" Korean Patent Registration No. 10-0451607 "Coffee Bean Grinding and Feeding Device for Coffee Vending Machine" Korea Utility Model Registration No. 20-1999-0022825 "Discharge Wings of Coffee Bean Grinder"

The present invention has been proposed in view of the above, and the purpose of the present invention is to provide an automatic coffee bean grinding system that can conveniently and safely perform the coffee bean input process and automatically adjust the size of the ground bean particles. have.

Another object of the present invention is to efficiently operate a beverage manufacturing system using an articulated robot because the coffee bean input process can be conveniently performed and the size of the ground bean particles can be automatically adjusted, An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic coffee bean grinding system that can safely and conveniently perform a providing process.

In order to achieve the above object, an automatic coffee bean grinding system according to the present invention includes a grinding device body, a grinding cutter unit installed in the grinding device body to perform a grinding operation, and rotating the grinding cutter unit a grinding motor, and a cutter control unit controlling the size of ground bean particles by manipulating the grinding cutter unit; and a hopper part installed on the pulverizer body and having a hopper cover on the upper part of the hopper body accommodating coffee beans; an opening/closing operation unit that is connected to the hopper cover and performs an opening/closing operation; and an opening/closing actuator generating and applying a driving force to the opening/closing actuator.

In order to achieve the above object, an automatic coffee bean grinding system according to the present invention includes a grinding device body, a grinding cutter unit installed in the grinding device body to perform a grinding operation, and rotating the grinding cutter unit a grinding motor, and a cutter control unit controlling the size of ground bean particles by manipulating the grinding cutter unit; and a hopper part installed on the pulverizer body and having a hopper cover on the upper part of the hopper body accommodating coffee beans; an opening/closing operation unit that is connected to the hopper cover and performs an opening/closing operation; an opening and closing driving unit generating and applying a driving force to the opening and closing operation unit; and an adjustment drive unit generating and applying a driving force for operating the cutter control unit.

The crushing cutter unit may include a rotary cutter connected to the motor shaft of the crushing motor and rotated, and a fixed cutter spaced apart and disposed facing the rotary cutter.

The cutter control unit may include a separation distance adjusting member connected to move the fixed cutter to the rotary cutter to adjust a separation distance from the rotary cutter and having a worm wheel, and a worm connected to the worm wheel.

Preferably, the adjustment drive unit, the interval control motor for generating a driving force of the cutter control unit; a driving pulley installed on the motor shaft of the spacing adjusting motor; a drive belt having one side connected to the drive pulley; a driven pulley to which the other side of the drive belt is connected; and an adjustment rod having one side connected to the driven pulley and the other side connected to the cutter control unit.

The opening/closing operation unit may include an opening/closing member connected to the hopper cover, a hinge member connected to the opening/closing member, a hinge shaft connected to the hinge member, and a bearing member connected to the hinge shaft.

The opening/closing driving unit may include an actuator to which a rod is connected to the opening/closing operation unit.

A plurality of the crushing devices may be arranged and configured to form a coaxial structure, and may include an installation frame in which the opening/closing operation unit and the opening/closing driving unit are installed in contact with the crushing unit.

According to the coffee bean automatic grinding system according to the present invention, since the hopper cover is opened and closed by the opening and closing operation unit operated by the opening and closing driving unit, the coffee bean inputting process can be performed quickly and safely, and the fixed cutter and the rotary cutter can be performed by the adjustment driving unit. Since the separation distance between them can be adjusted, there is an effect of conveniently adjusting the size of the ground bean particles without resorting to the manual work of a manager or operator.

Due to this, it is possible to automatically perform the coffee bean input process and the size adjustment of the ground bean particles, so that the beverage manufacturing system using the multi-joint robot can be efficiently operated, and the beverage providing process can be safely and conveniently performed. have.

1 is a perspective view showing a state in which the automatic coffee bean grinding system according to the present invention is applied to a beverage manufacturing system using an articulated robot;
Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the front shape of the automatic coffee bean grinding system according to an embodiment of the present invention;
3 is a perspective view showing the rear shape of the automatic coffee bean grinding system according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the rear side with parts separated to explain the opening and closing operation unit and the opening and closing operation unit of the automatic coffee bean grinding system according to an embodiment of the present invention;
5 is an enlarged perspective view of main parts for explaining an opening and closing operation unit and an opening and closing operation unit of an automatic coffee bean grinding system according to an embodiment of the present invention;
6 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating a main part of an adjustment and driving unit of an automatic coffee bean grinding system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail based on the accompanying drawings 1 to 6, but the same reference numerals will be given to the same components in FIGS. 1 to 6 to be described.

On the other hand, in each drawing, detailed descriptions of configurations and actions and effects thereof that can be easily known to those skilled in the art from general technology are simplified or omitted. In addition, since the present invention is characterized by the automatic coffee bean grinding system, the related parts are shown and described, and the description of the remaining parts is simplified or omitted.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which the automatic coffee bean grinding system according to the present invention is applied to a beverage manufacturing system using an articulated robot, Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the front shape of the automatic coffee bean grinding system according to an embodiment of the present invention As an enlarged perspective view of part A of FIG. Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the rear shape of the automatic coffee bean grinding system according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 4 is to explain the opening and closing operation unit and the opening and closing operation unit of the automatic coffee bean grinding system according to an embodiment of the present invention A rear side perspective view with parts separated, Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view of main parts for explaining the opening and closing operation unit and the opening and closing operation unit of the automatic coffee bean grinding system according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the main part according to an embodiment of the present invention It is an enlarged perspective view of the main part to explain the adjustment and driving part of the automatic coffee bean grinding system.

1 to 6, the automatic coffee bean grinding system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is for automatically performing the coffee bean input process and the grinding process, and includes a grinding device 110, an installation frame ( 120), an opening/closing operation unit 130, an opening/closing driving unit 140 and an adjustment driving unit 150 are provided.

The crushing device 110 is commonly referred to as a grinder, grinder, etc., and is a device for grinding coffee beans, and there is no particular limitation in structure or shape, but in this embodiment, the grinding device body 111, the upper part of the grinding device body 111 A crushing cutter unit 112 installed to perform a crushing action, a crushing motor (not shown) built into the crushing device body to rotate the crushing cutter unit 112, and a cutter control unit for manipulating the crushing cutter unit 112 ( 114) and a hopper part 115 installed on the upper part of the crushing device body 111.

The grinding device main body 111 includes a case 1111 formed in a substantially cylindrical shape so that a grinding motor or the like is built in, an outlet 1112 provided to discharge ground coffee beans at the top of the case, a portafilter f, and the like. A cradle 1113 is provided at the bottom of the case so that it can be placed thereon.

Since the grinding cutter unit 112 is basically applied to a general coffee bean grinding device, specific illustration or detailed description thereof will be omitted. Briefly, the crushing cutter unit 112 includes a rotary cutter (not shown) connected to the motor shaft of the crushing motor and rotated, and a fixed cutter (not shown) spaced apart and disposed facing the rotary cutter.

The cutter control unit 114 is a component that controls the size of ground bean particles by manipulating the crushing cutter unit 112, and is provided with a worm wheel to adjust the separation distance from the rotary cutter by moving the fixed cutter to the rotary cutter. A separation distance adjusting member 1141 and a worm 1142 connected to the worm wheel are provided.

The hopper part 115 is installed in the grinding cutter part 112 coupled to the upper part of the grinding device body 111, the hopper body 1151 in which coffee beans are accommodated, and the hopper which is openable and openable on the upper part of the hopper body 1151. A cover 1152 is provided.

Although the above-described grinding device 110 may be configured as a single structure in the automatic coffee bean grinding system 100, in this embodiment, a plurality (three) are provided to efficiently operate a beverage manufacturing system using an articulated robot. They are arranged and configured in a row so as to form a coaxial structure.

The installation frame 120 is formed at the rear of the crushing device 110 as a component in which the opening and closing operation unit 130, the opening and closing operation unit 140 and the adjustment driving unit 150 are installed.

In addition, the installation frame 120 is composed of a box body formed in an approximate 'B' shape by a plate-like member, although there is no particular limitation on the shape or structure.

The opening/closing operation unit 130 is a component connected to the hopper cover 1152 to perform an opening/closing operation, and includes an opening/closing member 131 connected to the hopper cover 1152 and a hinge member 132 connected to the opening/closing member 131. ), a hinge shaft 133 to which the hinge member 132 is connected, and a bearing member 134 to which the hinge shaft 133 is connected.

Here, the opening/closing member 131 is composed of a plurality of opening/closing members 1311 formed in a bar shape by a thin plate and installed on the hopper cover 1152, and a connecting table 1312 integrally connected to the opening/closing members 1311. has been

The opening and closing driving unit 140 is a component that generates and applies a driving force to the opening and closing operation unit 130, and is composed of an actuator to which a rod 142 is connected to a hinge member 132.

The actuator may also be composed of an electric actuator called a solenoid, but in this embodiment, it is composed of a pneumatic cylinder, and at the end of the rod 142 is a 'U' shaped yoke for connection with the hinge member 132. A rod connector 143 is formed.

Adjustment driving unit 150 is a component for generating and applying a driving force for operating the cutter control unit 114, a spacing control motor 151 for generating driving force for operating the cutter control unit, and a motor of the spacing control motor 151 A drive pulley 152 installed on the shaft, a drive belt 153 having one side connected to the drive pulley 152, a driven pulley 154 connected to the other side of the drive belt 153, and one side connected to the driven pulley 154 An adjustment rod 155 connected to this connection and the other side connected to the worm 1142 of the cutter control unit 114 is provided.

Here, the drive pulley 153 and the driven pulley 154 are composed of timing pulleys for accurate adjustment of the cutter control unit 114, and the drive belt 153 is composed of a timing belt. have.

In addition, as a power transmission method for transmitting the driving force of the distance adjusting motor 151 to the adjusting rod 155, a gear method using a meshing operation of gears may be applied in addition to the belt method using the aforementioned pulley and belt.

The adjusting drive unit 150 is provided with a sensing unit 157 that performs a sensing function for controlling the operation of the spacing adjusting motor 151 for stable operation of the cutter adjusting unit 114 .

The sensing means 157 includes a sensing piece 1571 installed on the drive belt 153, an upper sensor 1572 installed on the installation frame 120 to detect the upper limit movement of the sensing piece 1571, It consists of a lower detection sensor 1573 installed under the installation frame 120 to detect the lower limit movement of the piece 1571. Here, the upper detection sensor 1572 and the lower detection sensor 1573 apply a detection signal to the control unit when detecting the detection piece 1571, thereby stopping the operation of the interval adjusting motor 151 under the control of the control unit (not shown). Problems such as breakage due to excessive damage to the cutter control unit 114 can be solved.

On the other hand, non-explained numeral 200 in FIG. 1 is a mainframe having a top plate 220 on which an automatic grinding system is placed, 300 is an articulated robot for manufacturing and supplying beverages such as coffee beans, and 400 is a portafilter ( f) is a pressure tamper unit for tamping the extraction object filled in, and 500 is a roasting device for roasting coffee beans.

In addition, 700 is an extraction unit such as an automatic coffee machine that extracts coffee beans, 800 is a beverage service unit that automatically provides customers with manufactured coffee beans, and 910 is an extraction container for washing the extraction container used for espresso extraction. 920 is an ice supply unit for supplying ice, 930 is a portafilter storage unit for storing the portafilter (f), 940 is a portafilter cleaning unit for cleaning the portafilter, 950 is a cold and hot water supply unit for supplying hot and cold water, Reference numeral 960 is a milk supply unit for supplying milk. In addition, the beverage manufacturing system using the articulated robot may additionally include a syrup supply unit for supplying syrup, a cinnamon powder supply unit for supplying cinnamon powder, and a chocolate powder supply unit for supplying chocolate powder.

In addition, a non-explained numeral 240 in FIG. 1 is a display unit (not shown), which displays various types of information, such as coffee bean information and order information, under the control of a control unit, and visually provides them to customers or managers.

Reference numeral 170 in FIG. 5 is an outflow prevention plate that prevents falling objects from leaking out in the process of handling coffee beans, ground beans, and the like by the robot.

Hereinafter, the operation of the automatic coffee bean grinding system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be briefly described.

When the automatic coffee bean grinding system according to the present invention described above is applied to a beverage manufacturing system using an articulated robot, the process of putting coffee beans into the grinding device 110 and the grinding process can be performed automatically, making it more rapid and convenient. Coffee beans may be ground according to a set program, coffee may be extracted, and then provided to consumers.

Here, the beverage manufacturing process is performed by the pressure tamper unit 400, the portafilter loading unit 930, and the portafilter cleaning unit 940 together with the dynamic operation of the multi-joint robot 300 under the control of the beverage preparation control unit (not shown). ), the extraction container washing unit 910, the extraction unit 700, the ice supply unit 920, the cold and hot water supply unit 950, and the milk supply unit 960 are operated to prepare and provide beverages such as espresso, Americano, and cafe latte. As can be done, a detailed description of the beverage manufacturing process will be omitted and the operation of the automatic coffee bean grinding system 100 according to the present invention will be described in detail.

The articulated robot 300 disposed in contact with the roasting device 500 is a robot mainly in charge of grinding and roasting coffee beans, and the coffee beans discharged from the roasting device 500 are placed in a container using the articulated robot. Put the ground coffee beans into the hopper unit 115, and the ground coffee beans subjected to the grinding process by the operation of the grinding device 110 are put in the portafilter f and then moved to the pressurized tamper unit 400 to perform the tampering operation After that, the portafilter is placed on a predetermined position of the portafilter stacking unit 930.

The multi-joint robot 300, which is in charge of extracting coffee in succession, grips the portafilter of the portafilter loading unit 930 and extracts coffee beans by a predetermined operation when mounted on the group head of the extraction unit (automatic coffee machine).

On the other hand, according to the present invention, since the opening and closing operation unit 130 and the opening and closing driving unit 140 are provided, in the process of putting the articulated robot 300 into the hopper unit 115, as in the prior art, the hopper cover 1152 Since there is no need for a manager or operator to open manually, it can be performed more conveniently and safely.

More specifically, when replenishment of coffee beans is required by the hopper unit 115 by the articulated robot 300, the rod 142 is pulled while the pneumatic cylinder composed of the opening and closing driving unit 140 is operated under the control of the control unit. When the hinge shaft 133 including the hinge member 132 rotates, and the opening/closing member 131 coupled via the hinge member interlocks and rotates, the opening operation of the hopper cover 1152 coupled thereto is automatically performed do. In addition, when replenishment of coffee beans is completed, the closing operation of the hopper cover 1152 is automatically performed by the reverse operation of the opening/closing driving unit 140. Accordingly, convenience and safety can be further improved since a manager or operator does not have to manually open and close the hopper cover 1152 or perform difficult opening and closing operations by separately manipulating a robot in a handling process such as replenishment of coffee beans.

In addition, according to the present invention, since the adjustment drive unit 150 for operating the cutter control unit 114 is configured, the fixed cutter of the crushing cutter unit 112 is moved up and down without manual work to adjust the separation distance from the rotary cutter. The size of the ground bean particles can be adjusted.

More specifically, when the size of the desired bean particles is determined, when the spacing adjusting motor 151 rotates in the forward or reverse direction under the control of the controller, the drive pulley 152 installed on the motor shaft rotates and the drive belt connected thereto ( The driven pulley 154 is rotated according to the movement of 153.

When the driven pulley 154 is rotated, the control rod 155 connected to it is rotated and the worm 1142 of the cutter control unit 114 is rotated, so the separation distance adjusting member 1141 equipped with a worm wheel is rotated and coupled thereto By raising or lowering the fixed cutter, the separation distance between the fixed cutter and the rotary cutter can be adjusted, so that the size of ground bean particles can be conveniently adjusted without the manual work of a manager or operator.

Although the configuration and operation of the automatic coffee bean grinding system according to an embodiment of the present invention have been described above, this is an example, and those skilled in the art will do the above without departing from the technical idea of the present invention. It will be appreciated that substitutions and modifications of parts 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.

100: coffee bean automatic grinding system 110: grinding device
111: crushing device body 112: crushing cutter
114: cutter control unit 115: hopper unit
120: installation frame 130: opening and closing operation unit
131: opening and closing member 132: hinge member
133: hinge axis 134: bearing member
140: opening and closing drive unit 142: rod
150: adjustment drive unit 151: spacing control motor
152: driving pulley 153: driving belt
154: driven pulley 155: adjustment rod
157: detection means

Claims (6)

delete In the coffee bean automatic grinding system,
a crushing device main body, a crushing cutter unit installed in the crushing unit body to perform a crushing operation, a crushing motor rotating the crushing cutter unit, and a cutter adjusting unit controlling the size of ground bean particles by manipulating the crushing cutter unit; and a hopper part installed on the pulverizer body and having a hopper cover on the upper part of the hopper body accommodating coffee beans; an opening/closing operation unit that is connected to the hopper cover and performs an opening/closing operation; an opening and closing driving unit generating and applying a driving force to the opening and closing operation unit; And an adjustment drive unit generating and applying a driving force for operating the cutter control unit;
The crushing device is arranged and configured so that a plurality of them coaxially,
In contact with the crushing device, an installation frame is provided in which the opening and closing operation unit and the opening and closing operation unit are installed,
The adjusting drive unit may include a spacing adjusting motor generating a driving force of the cutter adjusting unit; a driving pulley installed on the motor shaft of the spacing adjusting motor; a drive belt having one side connected to the drive pulley; a driven pulley to which the other side of the drive belt is connected; and an adjustment rod having one side connected to the driven pulley and the other side connected to the cutter control unit. The adjustment drive unit includes a detection piece installed on the drive belt, an upper detection sensor installed on the upper part of the installation frame to detect the upper limit movement of the detection piece, and a lower detection sensor installed under the installation frame to detect the lower limit movement of the detection piece. a sensing means provided; A control unit for stopping the operation of the distance adjusting motor when the upper detection sensor and the lower detection sensor detect the detection piece;
The opening/closing operation unit includes an opening/closing member composed of a plurality of opening/closing bars formed in a bar shape by a thin plate and installed on the hopper cover and a connecting bar integrally connected to the opening/closing bars, a hinge member connected to the opening/closing member, and the hinge member. Including a hinge axis connected, a bearing member to which the hinge axis is connected,
The automatic coffee bean grinding system of claim 1, wherein the opening and closing driving unit includes an actuator having a rod connected to the hinge member of the opening and closing operation unit.
According to claim 2,
The crushing cutter unit includes a rotary cutter connected to the motor shaft of the crushing motor and rotated, and a fixed cutter spaced apart and disposed facing the rotary cutter,
The cutter control unit moves the fixed cutter to the rotary cutter and is connected to adjust the separation distance from the rotary cutter and includes a separation distance adjusting member having a worm wheel and a worm connected to the worm wheel Automatic coffee beans, characterized in that crushing system.
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