TWI716731B - Automatic coffee machine and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

An automatic coffee machine and control method are disclosed herein. The control method includes the following operations: driving a grinder component of the automatic coffee machine to execute a grinder process during a first time period; flowing out a first liquid from the first outlet hole and a second outlet hole of the automatic coffee machine during a second time period; and flowing out a second liquid having a foam from a third outlet hole and a forth outlet hole of the automatic coffee machine during a third time period, and mixing with the first liquid, wherein the second time period is later than the first time period, and the second time period is later than the third time period.

Description

Automatic coffee machine and control method

This case relates to an automatic coffee machine and its control method, and in particular it relates to an automatic coffee machine and its coffee-out control method.

Coffee is currently one of the most common beverages. In recent years, due to the development of automation technology, convenience stores also use coffee machines for coffee brewing. The general coffee machine usually has the function of brewing latte, espresso, cappuccino, American coffee and so on. In general convenience stores when brewing latte coffee, in order to save the time of brewing coffee, milk is usually flowed first. At the same time, the coffee machine starts to grind the coffee beans into coffee powder, and then flows hot water through the coffee powder to extract the coffee. The coffee liquid flows out after the liquid, so as to reduce the waiting time for consumers. However, this will cause unevenness in the brewed latte (the upper layer may have more coffee, and the lower layer will have more milk), causing consumers to generally believe that the taste of the latte brewed in convenience stores Bad. Therefore, how to improve the taste of latte coffee is a problem to be solved in this field.

The main purpose of the present invention is to provide an automatic coffee machine and control method, which is mainly to improve the problem of poor taste of the latte brewed in the convenience store in the past, and adjust the sequence of coffee and milk to make the brewed coffee The latte can be mixed more evenly, and there is no need to spend extra manpower to stir the latte to make it more uniform, so as to improve the taste of the latte and save manpower.

In order to achieve the above objective, the first aspect of the present case is to provide a control method suitable for an automatic coffee machine. The method includes the following steps: driving the grinding member of the automatic coffee machine to execute the grinding process in the first time period; The first liquid flows out from the first outlet hole and the second outlet hole of the automatic coffee machine during the second time period; and the second liquid with foam flows out from the third outlet hole and the fourth outlet hole of the automatic coffee machine during the third time period, And mixed with the first liquid; wherein, the second period is later than the first period, and the third period is later than the second period.

The second aspect of the present case is to provide a control method suitable for an automatic coffee machine. The method includes the following steps: driving the grinder component of the automatic coffee machine to execute the grinding process in the first time period; Water into the coffee powder tank of the automatic coffee machine to infiltrate the coffee powder; during the third time period, the first liquid flows from the first and second outlet holes of the automatic coffee machine; during the fourth time period, the first liquid flows from the first water outlet of the automatic coffee machine. A water outlet hole and a second water outlet hole flow out the second liquid; and in the fifth time period, the first water outlet hole and the second water outlet hole of the automatic coffee machine flow out the first liquid; wherein, the second time period is later than the first time period. Three periods are later than the second period, the fourth period is later than the third period, and the fifth period is later than the fourth period.

The third aspect of the present case is to provide an automatic coffee machine, which includes: a water supply unit, a bean grinding member, a coffee powder tank, and a control unit. The water supply unit is connected with the water supply pipe to provide hot water, the bean grinding component is used to execute the bean grinding process in the first time period, and the coffee powder tank is used to place the coffee powder after the bean grinding process is completed. The control unit is used to control the water supply unit to inject hot water into the coffee powder tank during the second time period, the first water outlet and the second water outlet to flow out the first liquid, and then in the third time period, the second liquid with foam is controlled from the third The water outlet hole and the fourth water outlet hole flow out and mix with the first liquid; wherein, the second period is later than the first period, and the third period is later than the second period.

The fourth aspect of the present case is to provide an automatic coffee machine, which includes: a water supply unit, a bean grinding member, a coffee powder tank, and a control unit. The water supply unit is connected with the water supply pipe to provide hot water, the bean grinding member is used for executing the bean grinding process in the first time period, and the coffee powder tank is used for placing the coffee powder after the bean grinding process is completed. The control unit is used to control the water supply unit to inject hot water into the coffee powder tank to soak the coffee powder in the second time period, and then control the water supply unit to inject hot water into the coffee powder tank, the first water outlet and the second water outlet during the third time period The first liquid flows out, the second liquid is controlled to flow out from the first water outlet and the second water outlet during the fourth time period, and the water supply unit is controlled to inject hot water into the coffee powder tank, the first water outlet and the second water outlet during the fifth time period. The first liquid flows out from the water outlet; wherein the second period is later than the first period, the third period is later than the second period, the fourth period is later than the third period, and the fifth period is later than the fourth period.

The automatic coffee machine and the control method of the present invention mainly improve the problem of poor taste of the latte brewed in the convenience store in the past, and adjust the flow sequence of coffee and milk to make the brewed latte can be mixed It is more uniform, and there is no need to spend extra manpower to stir the latte to make it more uniform, so as to improve the taste of the latte and save manpower.

100‧‧‧Automatic coffee machine

110‧‧‧Water supply unit

111‧‧‧Water supply pipe

120‧‧‧Bean Grinding Components

130‧‧‧Coffee powder trough

140‧‧‧Control Unit

150‧‧‧Water Outlet

160‧‧‧User Interface

150A, 150B, 150C, 150D‧‧‧Water outlet

200, 300‧‧‧Control method

S210~S230, S310~S350‧‧‧Step

In order to make the above and other objects, features, advantages and embodiments of the present invention more comprehensible, the description of the accompanying drawings is as follows: Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an automatic coffee machine according to some embodiments of the present invention Figure 2 is a flow chart of a control method according to some embodiments of this case; and Figure 3 is a flow chart of a control method according to some embodiments of this case.

The following disclosure provides many different embodiments or illustrations for implementing different features of the present invention. The elements and configurations in the specific examples are used in the following discussion to simplify the disclosure. Any examples discussed are only for illustrative purposes, and will not limit the scope and significance of the present invention or its examples in any way. In addition, the present disclosure may repeatedly quote numerals and/or letters in different examples. These repetitions are for simplification and explanation, and do not specify the relationship between the different embodiments and/or configurations in the following discussion.

Please refer to Figure 1. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an automatic coffee machine 100 according to some embodiments of the present application. As shown in FIG. 1, the automatic coffee machine 100 includes a water supply unit 110, a bean grinding member 120, a coffee powder tank 130, a control unit 140, a water outlet tank 150 and a user interface 160. The water supply unit 110 is connected to the water supply pipe 111 for supplying hot water to the coffee powder tank 130. The bean grinding member 120 is connected to the coffee powder tank 130 for performing a bean grinding process in the first period of time and conveying the ground coffee powder to the coffee powder tank 130. The coffee powder trough 130 is used for storing coffee powder after the bean grinding process is completed. The water supply unit 110 not only provides hot water to the coffee powder tank 130, but also includes milk or hot water to the water outlet tank 150. The water outlet tank 150 includes water outlet holes 150A, 150B, 150C, and 150D. The water outlet holes 150A and 150B are used to flow out coffee liquid, and the water outlet holes 150C and 150D are used to flow out milk or hot water. The user interface 160 is connected to the control unit 140, and the user can control the coffee items (lattes, American coffee, etc.) to be made through the user interface 160.

In each embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 140 can be implemented as an integrated circuit such as a microcontroller, a microprocessor, a digital signal processor, and an application specific integrated circuit (application specific integrated circuit). integrated circuit, ASIC), logic circuit or other similar components or a combination of the above components. The user interface 160 can be implemented as a touch display panel or a combination of a display panel and keys.

Please refer to Figure 2. FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a control method 200 according to some embodiments of the present application. In one embodiment, the control method 200 shown in FIG. 2 can be applied to the automatic coffee machine 100 in FIG. 1, and the control unit 140 is used to brew a latte according to the steps described in the control method 200 below. Taking the user pressing the control button for making latte coffee on the user interface 160 as an example, when the user chooses to make a latte coffee, the control method 200 first executes step S210 to drive the grinder member 120 to perform grinding in the first time period. In the bean program, the magic bean grinding time of the bean component 120 lasts approximately 1 to 8 seconds.

Following the above embodiment, the control method 200 further executes step S220 in the second period of time to flow out the first liquid from the water outlet holes 150A and 150B. In this embodiment, the first liquid is coffee liquid, and the time for the coffee liquid to flow out of the water outlet holes 150A and 150B will last approximately 18-25 seconds.

Then, the control method 200 further executes step S230 during the third time period to flow out the second liquid with foam from the water outlet holes 150C and 150D, and mix with the first liquid. In this embodiment, the second liquid with foam is a mixed liquid of milk and milk foam, and the time for the mixed liquid of milk and milk foam to flow out of the water outlet holes 150C and 150D lasts about 15-22 seconds. When the mixed liquid of milk and milk foam is poured into the coffee cup, since the density of milk is greater than that of the coffee liquid, the mixed liquid of milk and milk foam will automatically mix with the injected coffee liquid evenly when it is poured into the coffee cup. An extra stirring step is used to mix the coffee and milk evenly. In this embodiment, the execution time of step S210 is earlier than the execution time of step S220, and the execution time of step S220 is earlier than the execution time of step S230.

Please refer to Figure 3. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a control method 300 according to some embodiments of the present application. In one embodiment, the control method 300 shown in FIG. 3 can be applied to the automatic coffee machine 100 in FIG. 1, and the control unit 140 is used to brew American coffee according to the steps described in the control method 300 below. In another embodiment, taking the user pressing the control key for making American coffee on the user interface 160 as an example, when the user chooses to make American coffee, the control method 300 first executes step S310 to drive the grinder 120 on the first The bean grinding program is executed within a period of time, and the magic bean time of the bean grinding component 120 lasts approximately 1 to 8 seconds.

Following the above embodiment, the control method 300 further executes step S320 during the second period of time to flow hot water into the coffee powder tank 130 to soak the coffee powder. In this embodiment, the second time period lasts for 0.1 to 0.4 seconds. This step is used to first infiltrate the coffee powder, so that the coffee powder can release the aroma of coffee under the infiltration of hot water, and improve the overall quality of the brewed American coffee aroma.

Following the above embodiment, the control method 300 further executes step S330 to flow out the first liquid from the water outlet holes 150A and 150B in the third time period. In this embodiment, the first liquid is coffee liquid, and the amount of coffee liquid flowing out of the water outlet holes 150A and 150B accounts for about 40% of the capacity of the coffee cup. For example, if the capacity of the coffee cup is 330 ml, the amount of coffee liquid flowing out is about 132 ml.

Then, the control method 300 further executes step S340 to flow out the second liquid from the water outlet holes 150C and 150D in the fourth time period. In this embodiment, the second liquid is water at 70 to 90 degrees Celsius, and the amount of hot water flowing out of the water outlet holes 150C and 150D accounts for about 20% of the capacity of the coffee cup. For example, if the capacity of the coffee cup is 330 ml, the amount of hot water flowing out is about 66 ml.

Then, the control method 300 further executes step S350 to flow out the first liquid from the water outlet holes 150A and 150B in the fifth time period. In this embodiment, the execution time of step S310 is earlier than the execution time of step S320, the execution time of step S320 is earlier than the execution time of step S330, the execution time of step S330 is earlier than the execution time of step S340, and the execution time of step S340 is It is earlier than the execution time of step S350.

It can be seen from the implementation of the above case that the main improvement is to improve the taste of the latte brewed in the convenience store in the past, and the lack of aroma of the American coffee. The order of the outflow of coffee and milk is adjusted to make the brewed latte It can be mixed more evenly, and there is no need to spend extra manpower to stir the latte coffee to make it more even; or first let the hot water soak the coffee powder, adjust the coffee and hot water outflow sequence to make the brewed American coffee more aromatic Rich, to improve the taste of latte, save manpower and enhance the aroma of American coffee.

In addition, the above examples include sequential exemplary steps, but these steps need not be executed in the order shown. Performing these steps in different orders is within the scope of the present disclosure. Within the spirit and scope of the embodiments of the present disclosure, the order can be added, replaced, changed, and/or omitted as appropriate.

Although this case has been disclosed as above by way of implementation, it is not intended to limit the case. Anyone who is familiar with this technique can make various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the case. Therefore, the scope of protection of this case should be reviewed. The attached patent application scope shall prevail.

100‧‧‧Automatic coffee machine

110‧‧‧Water supply unit

111‧‧‧Water supply pipe

120‧‧‧Bean Grinding Components

130‧‧‧Coffee powder trough

140‧‧‧Control Unit

150‧‧‧Water Outlet

160‧‧‧User Interface

150A, 150B, 150C, 150D‧‧‧Water outlet

Claims (6)

A control method of an automatic coffee machine is suitable for an automatic coffee machine. The control method includes: driving a bean grinding component of the automatic coffee machine to execute a bean grinding process in a first time period; A first liquid flows out from a first outlet hole and a second outlet hole of the automatic coffee machine; and a foamy liquid flows out from a third outlet hole and a fourth outlet hole of the automatic coffee machine during a third time period The second liquid is mixed with the first liquid; wherein, the second period is later than the first period, and the third period is later than the second period; wherein, the second period lasts for 18-25 seconds. The control method of an automatic coffee machine according to claim 1, wherein the first liquid is coffee liquid, and the foamed second liquid is a mixed liquid of milk and milk foam. The control method of an automatic coffee machine according to claim 1, wherein the first time period lasts for 1 to 8 seconds and the third time period lasts for 15 to 22 seconds. An automatic coffee machine, comprising: a water supply unit connected to a water supply pipe to provide hot water; a bean grinding component for executing a bean grinding process in a first time period; A coffee powder tank for storing coffee powder after the grinding process is completed; and a control unit for controlling the water supply unit to inject hot water into the coffee powder tank during a second time period, and a first water outlet And a second outlet hole flows out a first liquid, and then a second liquid with foam is controlled to flow out from a third outlet hole and a fourth outlet hole during a third period of time, and mix with the first liquid; wherein , The second period is later than the first period, and the third period is later than the second period; wherein, the second period lasts for 18-25 seconds. The automatic coffee machine according to claim 4, wherein the first liquid is coffee liquid, and the foamed second liquid is a mixed liquid of milk and milk foam. The automatic coffee machine according to claim 5, wherein the first time period lasts for 1 to 8 seconds and the third time period lasts for 15 to 22 seconds.

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