KR20220094408A - Automatic grinding system for coffee bean - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for automatically grinding coffee beans and, more specifically, to a system for automatically grinding coffee beans, which enhances convenience and safety of a process for introducing coffee beans and automatically performs adjustment of sizes of the coffee bean particles to be ground. The system for automatically grinding coffee beans according to the present invention comprises: a grinding device including a grinding device body, a grinding cutter unit installed on the grinding device body to perform grinding, a grinding motor rotating the grinding cutter unit, a cutter adjustment unit manipulating the grinding cutter unit to adjust a size of the coffee bean particle to be ground, and a hopper unit installed in an upper part of the grinding device body to have a hopper cover disposed in an upper part of the hopper body where coffee beans are accommodated; an opening/closing operation unit connected to the hopper cover to perform opening/closing operation; and an opening/closing driving unit generating and applying driving force to the opening/closing operation unit.

Description

Automatic coffee bean 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 coffee bean particles. .

In general, coffee is instant coffee in which coffee is extracted and processed in large quantities using coffee beans. Instant brew coffee that you can feel is widely consumed.

The automatic coffee machine extracts coffee automatically by a mechanical device, so it is faster and more convenient than the manual extraction method. is being brought about

Accordingly, in recent years, a technology employing a multi-joint robot is used to manufacture beverages such as coffee.

A beverage manufacturing system using a multi-joint robot is a method in which the multi-joint robot puts coffee beans provided from a coffee grinder such as a grinder according to a predetermined program in a portafilter, installs it in an automatic coffee machine, undergoes an extraction process, and provides it to the drinker works with

The beverage manufacturing system using such a multi-joint robot can reduce labor costs by replacing the manual work of the operator and uniform the taste of coffee to some extent, but there are limitations accompanying various problems as follows.

First, in the conventional coffee manufacturing system using a multi-joint robot, a multi-joint robot can grind coffee beans by operating a coffee grinder on behalf of a person, but when replenishing coffee beans, the hopper lid of the coffee grinder is opened and the After putting coffee beans into the coffee machine, it is necessary to close the hopper lid again, so a separate manpower is required, which is inconvenient and takes a lot of time.

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

In addition, as a manual coffee grinder is applied to a beverage manufacturing system using a multi-joint robot, the flow of the coffee manufacturing process or supply process is not smooth, so it simply performs a function similar to that of a vending machine, so it cannot give satisfaction to consumers. There are limitations.

Korean Patent No. 10-0552222 "Coffee Bean Grinding Device" Korean Patent No. 10-0451607 "Coffee Bean Grinding Supply Device of Coffee Vending Machine" Korea Registered Utility Model No. 20-1999-0022825 "Discharge wing 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 capable of conveniently and safely performing the coffee bean input process and automatically controlling the size of ground coffee bean particles. have.

Another object of the present invention is to efficiently operate a beverage manufacturing system using a multi-joint robot because it is possible to conveniently perform the coffee bean input process and to automatically perform the size adjustment of the ground coffee bean particles, and It is to provide an automatic coffee bean grinding system so that the supply process can be safely and conveniently performed.

In order to achieve the above object, in the automatic coffee bean grinding system according to the present invention, the automatic coffee bean grinding system according to the present invention includes a grinding device body, a grinding cutter part installed in the grinding device body to perform a grinding action, and rotating the grinding cutter part a crushing motor, a cutter adjusting unit for controlling the size of the coffee beans to be crushed by manipulating the crushing cutter unit; and a grinder including a hopper part installed on the grinding device body and provided with a hopper cover on the hopper body for accommodating coffee beans; an opening/closing operation unit connected to the hopper cover to perform an opening/closing operation; and an opening/closing driving unit for generating and applying a driving force to the opening/closing operation unit.

In order to achieve the above object, in the automatic coffee bean grinding system according to the present invention, the automatic coffee bean grinding system according to the present invention includes a grinding device body, a grinding cutter part installed in the grinding device body to perform a grinding action, and rotating the grinding cutter part a crushing motor, a cutter adjusting unit for controlling the size of the coffee beans to be crushed by manipulating the crushing cutter unit; and a grinder including a hopper part installed on the grinding device body and provided with a hopper cover on the hopper body for accommodating coffee beans; an opening/closing operation unit connected to the hopper cover to perform an opening/closing operation; an opening/closing driving unit for generating and applying a driving force to the opening/closing unit; and an adjustment driving unit for generating and applying a driving force for operating the cutter adjusting unit.

The crushing cutter unit may be configured to include a rotary cutter that is connected to the motor shaft of the crushing motor and rotates, and a fixed cutter that is spaced apart from and disposed to face the rotary cutter.

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

Preferably, the adjustment driving unit includes: an interval adjusting motor for generating a driving force of the cutter adjusting unit; a drive pulley installed on the motor shaft of the interval control 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 end connected to the driven pulley and the other end connected to the cutter adjusting 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 unit.

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

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

For this reason, it is possible to automatically perform the coffee bean input process and the size adjustment of the grinded bean particles, so that the beverage manufacturing system using the multi-joint robot can be efficiently operated, and the beverage provision 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 a multi-joint robot;
2 is a perspective view showing a front shape of an 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;
4 is a rear perspective view in which a part is separated to explain an opening/closing operation unit and an opening/closing driving unit of the automatic coffee bean grinding system according to an embodiment of the present invention;
5 is an enlarged perspective view of the main part for explaining the opening/closing operation unit and the opening/closing driving unit of the automatic coffee bean grinding system according to an embodiment of the present invention;
6 is an enlarged perspective view of the main part for explaining the adjustment driving unit of the 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 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 automatic coffee bean grinding system, the related parts will be mainly illustrated and described, and the description of the remaining parts will be simplified or omitted.

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 a multi-joint robot, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the front shape of the automatic coffee bean grinding system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is 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 and opening and closing operation of the automatic coffee bean grinding system according to an embodiment of the present invention A rear perspective view with a part separated, FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the main part for explaining the opening/closing operation unit and the opening/closing driving unit of the automatic coffee bean grinding system according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is an embodiment of the present invention It is an enlarged perspective view of the main part for explaining the adjustment 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 grinding device 110 is usually called a grinder, a grinder, etc., and as a device for grinding coffee beans, there is no particular limitation in structure or form, but in this embodiment, the grinding device body 111 and the grinding device body 111 are located on the upper part 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 adjusting unit for operating the crushing cutter unit 112 ( 114) and a hopper unit 115 installed on the crusher main body 111.

The grinder main body 111 includes a case 1111 formed in a substantially cylindrical shape so that a grinding motor, etc. is built therein, an outlet 1112 provided on the upper part of the case to discharge ground coffee beans, a portafilter f, etc. A cradle 1113 provided at the lower part of the case is provided so that it can be placed thereon.

Since the grinding cutter unit 112 is a part that is basically applied to a general coffee bean grinding apparatus, a detailed illustration or detailed description thereof will be omitted. Brief description of the crushing cutter unit 112 includes a rotary cutter (not shown) that is connected to the motor shaft of the crushing motor and rotates, and a fixed cutter (not shown) that is spaced apart and disposed to face the rotary cutter.

The cutter adjusting unit 114 is a component that controls the size of the coffee beans to be ground by manipulating the grinding cutter unit 112. A worm wheel is provided to move the fixed cutter to the rotating cutter to adjust the separation distance from the rotating cutter. A separation distance adjusting member 1141 and a worm 1142 connected to the worm wheel are provided.

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

The above-described grinding device 110 may be configured as a single structure in the automatic coffee bean grinding system 100, but in this embodiment, a plurality (3) is provided to efficiently operate the beverage manufacturing system using the articulated robot. They are arranged and arranged in a line to achieve coaxiality.

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

In addition, the installation frame 120 is not particularly limited in shape or structure, but is composed of a housing formed in an approximately 'L' shape by a plate-like member.

The opening/closing operation unit 130 is a component connected to the hopper cover 1152 to perform an opening/closing operation, and 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 formed in a bar shape by a thin thin plate and includes a plurality of opening/closing rods 1311 installed on the hopper cover 1152, and a connecting rod 1312 to which the opening/closing rods 1311 are integrally connected. has been

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

The actuator may be composed of an electric actuator called a solenoid, etc., but in this embodiment it is composed of a pneumatic cylinder, and the end of the rod 142 has a hinge member 132 such as a 'U'-shaped yoke for connection. A rod connection port 143 is formed.

The adjustment drive unit 150 is a component that generates and applies a driving force for operating the cutter adjustment unit 114 , and a gap adjustment motor 151 for generating a driving force for the operation of the cutter adjustment unit, and a motor of the interval adjustment 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 to which the other side of the drive belt 153 is connected, and one side to the driven pulley 154 . An adjustment rod 155 is provided which is connected and the other side is connected to the worm 1142 of the cutter adjustment unit 114 .

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

In addition, the power transmission method for transmitting the driving force of the gap control motor 151 to the adjustment rod 155 may be applied to a gear method using the meshing operation of the gear in addition to the belt method using the pulley and the belt described above.

The adjustment driving unit 150 is provided with a sensing means 157 for performing a sensing function for controlling the operation of the interval adjusting motor 151 for stable operation of the cutter adjusting unit 114 .

The detection means 157 includes a detection piece 1571 installed on the drive belt 153, an upper detection sensor 1572 installed on the upper portion of the installation frame 120 to detect the upper limit movement of the detection piece 1571, and detection It consists of a lower detection sensor 1573 installed under the installation frame 120 to detect the movement of the lower limit of the piece 1571 . Here, the upper detection sensor 1572 and the lower detection sensor 1573 apply a detection signal to the control unit upon detection of the sensing piece 1571 by stopping the operation of the interval adjusting motor 151 under the control of the control unit (not shown). It is possible to solve problems such as damage caused by excessive damage to the cutter adjusting unit 114 .

On the other hand, unexplained reference numeral 200 in FIG. 1 is a main frame provided with a top plate 220 on which an automatic grinding system is mounted, 300 is a multi-joint robot that manufactures and supplies beverages such as coffee beans, and 400 is a portafilter ( f) is a pressurized tamper for tamping the extraction object, 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 providing unit that automatically provides the prepared coffee beans to customers, 910 is an extraction container for washing the extraction container used for extraction of espresso a washing unit, 920 an ice supply unit to which ice is supplied, 930 a portafilter mounting unit storing the portafilter f, 940 a portafilter cleaning unit cleaning the portafilter, 950 a cold/hot water supply unit supplying hot and cold water; 960 is a milk supply unit for supplying milk. In addition, the beverage manufacturing system using the multi-joint robot may additionally include a syrup supply unit providing syrup, a cinnamon powder supply unit supplying cinnamon powder, a chocolate powder supply unit supplying chocolate powder, and the like.

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

Unexplained reference numeral 170 in FIG. 5 is a spill-preventing plate that prevents falling objects from leaking to the outside in the process of handling coffee beans, ground beans, etc. by a robot.

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

When applied to a beverage manufacturing system using a multi-joint robot, the automatic coffee bean grinding system according to the present invention described above can automatically perform the process of inserting and grinding coffee beans into the grinding device 110, making it faster and more convenient. According to a set program, coffee beans are ground and coffee is extracted and then provided to consumers.

Here, the beverage manufacturing process is performed under the control of the beverage preparation control unit (not shown) with the dynamic operation of the articulated robot 300, and the pressure tamper unit 400, the portafilter placement unit 930, and the portafilter cleaning unit 940. ), extraction container washing unit 910, extraction unit 700, ice supply unit 920, cold and hot water supply unit 950 and milk supply unit 960 are operated to manufacture and provide beverages such as espresso, americano, cafe latte, etc. 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 responsible for grinding and roasting coffee beans, and using this articulated robot, the coffee beans discharged from the roasting device 500 are placed in a container. Put it in the hopper unit 115, put the ground coffee beans that have been ground by the operation of the grinding device 110 in the portafilter f, and then move it to the pressurized tamper unit 400 so that the tampering operation is performed. After that, it is placed on a predetermined position of the portafilter placement unit 930 .

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

On the other hand, according to the present invention, since the opening/closing operation unit 130 and the opening/closing driving unit 140 are provided, in the process of inputting the hopper unit 115 by the aforementioned articulated robot 300, the hopper cover 1152 as in the prior art. It can be performed more conveniently and safely because there is no need for an administrator or operator to manually open the system.

More specifically, when the replenishment of coffee beans is required with the hopper unit 115 by the articulated robot 300, the rod 142 is pulled while the pneumatic cylinder composed of the opening/closing driving unit 140 is operated under the control of the control unit. When the hinge shaft 133 including the hinge member 132 is rotated, the opening and closing member 131 coupled via the hinge member is interlocked and rotated, so the opening operation of the hopper cover 1152 coupled thereto is automatically performed. do. In addition, when the 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, in the process of replenishing coffee beans, etc., a manager or operator does not have to manually open and close the hopper cover 1152 or operate a robot separately to perform difficult opening and closing operations, thereby further improving convenience and safety.

And, according to the present invention, since the adjusting driving unit 150 for operating the cutter adjusting 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 rotating cutter. It is possible to control the size of the coffee beans to be pulverized.

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

When the driven pulley 154 is rotated, the worm 1142 of the cutter adjusting unit 114 is rotated while the adjusting rod 155 connected thereto is rotated, so that the separation distance adjusting member 1141 provided with the worm wheel is rotated and coupled thereto It is possible to adjust the distance between the fixed cutter and the rotary cutter while raising or lowering the fixed cutter, so that the size of ground coffee beans can be conveniently controlled without manual intervention by the manager or operator.

Although the configuration and operation of the automatic coffee bean grinding system according to an embodiment of the present invention described above has been described, this is exemplary and those of ordinary skill in the art can 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.

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

Claims (6)

In the automatic coffee bean grinding system,
a crushing device body, a crushing cutter unit installed in the crushing device body to perform a crushing action, a crushing motor rotating the crushing cutter unit, and a cutter adjusting unit controlling the size of coffee beans to be ground by manipulating the crushing cutter unit; and a grinder including a hopper part installed on the grinding device body and provided with a hopper cover on the hopper body for accommodating coffee beans;
an opening/closing operation unit connected to the hopper cover to perform an opening/closing operation; and
Coffee bean automatic grinding system comprising a; an opening and closing driving unit for generating and applying a driving force to the opening and closing operation unit.
In the automatic coffee bean grinding system,
a crushing device body, a crushing cutter unit installed in the crushing device body to perform a crushing action, a crushing motor rotating the crushing cutter unit, and a cutter adjusting unit controlling the size of coffee beans to be ground by manipulating the crushing cutter unit; and a grinder including a hopper part installed on the grinding device body and provided with a hopper cover on the hopper body for accommodating coffee beans;
an opening/closing operation unit connected to the hopper cover to perform an opening/closing operation;
an opening/closing driving unit generating and applying a driving force to the opening/closing unit; and
Coffee bean automatic grinding system comprising a; an adjustment driving unit for generating and applying a driving force for operating the cutter control unit.
3. The method of claim 2,
The crushing cutter unit includes a rotary cutter that is connected to the motor shaft of the crushing motor and rotates, and a fixed cutter that is spaced apart from and disposed to face the rotary cutter,
The cutter adjusting unit is connected to move the fixed cutter to the rotary cutter to adjust the separation distance from the rotary cutter, and a separation distance adjusting member provided with a worm wheel, and a worm connected to the worm wheel Automatic coffee beans crushing system.
3. The method of claim 2,
The adjustment drive unit,
an interval adjusting motor for generating a driving force of the cutter adjusting unit;
a drive pulley installed on the motor shaft of the interval control 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
and an adjustment rod having one side connected to the driven pulley and the other side connected to the cutter adjusting unit.
5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The opening/closing operation unit includes an opening/closing member connected to the hopper cover, a hinge member connected to the opening/closing member, a hinge shaft to which the hinge member is connected, and a bearing member to which the hinge shaft is connected,
The automatic coffee bean grinding system, characterized in that the opening/closing driving unit includes an actuator to which a rod is connected to the opening/closing operation unit.
6. The method of claim 5,
The pulverizing device is arranged and configured so that a plurality of them are coaxial,
The automatic coffee bean grinding system, characterized in that it is provided with an installation frame in which the opening/closing operation unit and the opening/closing driving unit are installed in contact with the grinding device.

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