JP6852280B2 - Beverage extraction method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a beverage extraction method.

Conventionally, as a beverage extraction device applied to, for example, a coffee server (beverage server) or a cup-type beverage vending machine, one provided with a cylinder, a filter block and a cylinder head is known.

The cylinder is an extraction container having a cylindrical shape. The filter block contains a filter and opens and closes the opening on the lower surface of the cylinder. The cylinder head opens and closes the opening on the upper surface of the cylinder.

In the beverage extraction device having such a configuration, the beverage is extracted as follows. Beverage raw materials and hot water are input from the raw material supply device and the hot water supply device, respectively, through the upper surface opening in the opened state into the cylinder whose lower surface opening is closed by the filter block. The beverage raw material and hot water charged into the cylinder are agitated by the air supplied into the cylinder from the first air supply path connected to the filter block. After that, the supply of air from the first air supply path is stopped.

Then, the upper surface opening of the cylinder is closed by the cylinder head, air is supplied to the inside of the cylinder from the second air supply path connected to the cylinder head, and the extraction path connected to the filter block is opened. As a result, the stirring liquid inside the cylinder is extracted as a beverage through the filter of the filter block, passes through the extraction path, and is discharged to the outside (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent No. 4760549

By the way, in the above-mentioned beverage extraction device, the stirring of the beverage raw material and the hot water and the extraction of the beverage are performed by the air supplied by the drive of the air pump from the first air supply path and the second air supply path. Power source was indispensable.

In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a beverage extraction method capable of satisfactorily extracting a beverage without using a power source such as an air pump.

In order to achieve the above object, the beverage extraction method according to the present invention extracts a beverage from a beverage raw material and hot water charged into a bottomed cylindrical cylinder having a bottom opening closed at the bottom, and is connected to the bottom. It is a beverage extraction method that discharges a beverage extracted through the extraction route, and when a start command is given, the extraction valve provided in the extraction route is closed to restrict the beverage from passing through the extraction route. At the same time, a mesh member having a disk shape in which a plurality of through holes are formed and whose side surfaces are in contact with the inner surface of the cylinder is arranged at an intermediate position separated from the bottom portion and the upper surface opening of the cylinder to open the upper surface. By moving the beverage raw material and the mesh member into which the beverage raw material and the hot water are charged to the upper surface by the charging step so as to be close to the bottom portion, and a charging step in which the beverage raw material and the hot water are charged through the brewing step. A stirring step of stirring the beverage raw material and the hot water by air passing through the through hole, and a mesh member moved to a position close to the bottom by the stirring step are moved so as to be separated from the bottom to extract the beverage. It is characterized by including an extraction step of brewing and a discharge step of opening the extraction valve and discharging the beverage extracted through the extraction path when the mesh member is moved to a position close to the upper surface opening by the extraction step. And.

The present invention also includes, in the beverage extraction method, a standing step of allowing the mesh member moved to a position close to the bottom by the stirring step to stand by for a predetermined time, and the extraction step is the standing step. The mesh member that has been made to stand by is moved so as to be separated from the bottom portion, and the beverage is extracted.

The present invention also includes a removal step in the beverage extraction method for removing the extraction slag placed on the mesh member when the mesh member is moved to a position close to the upper surface opening by the extraction step. It is a feature.

According to the present invention, in the loading process, when a start command is given, the extraction valve is closed to restrict the passage of the beverage through the extraction path, and a disk shape having a plurality of through holes is formed. A mesh member whose side surface is in contact with the inner surface of the cylinder is arranged at an intermediate position separated from the bottom and the top opening of the cylinder to allow the beverage raw material and hot water to be charged through the top opening. By moving the mesh member in which the beverage raw material and hot water are charged to the upper surface so as to be close to the bottom, the beverage raw material and hot water are agitated by the air passing through the through hole, and the beverage raw material and hot water are agitated by the stirring step in the extraction step. Beverages are extracted by moving the mesh member that has moved to the position to be separated from the bottom, and when the mesh member is moved to a position close to the top opening by the extraction process in the discharge process, the extraction valve is opened for extraction. Since the beverage extracted through the route is discharged, the effect is that the coffee raw material and the hot water can be satisfactorily stirred without using a power source such as an air pump.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view schematically showing a beverage extraction device that implements the beverage extraction method according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a procedure of a beverage extraction operation of the beverage extraction device shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a procedure of a beverage extraction operation of the beverage extraction device shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a procedure of a beverage extraction operation of the beverage extraction device shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a procedure of a beverage extraction operation of the beverage extraction device shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a procedure of a beverage extraction operation of the beverage extraction device shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a procedure of a beverage extraction operation of the beverage extraction device shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a procedure of a beverage extraction operation of the beverage extraction device shown in FIG.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the beverage extraction method according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view schematically showing a beverage extraction device that implements the beverage extraction method according to the embodiment of the present invention, and a part thereof is shown in a cross section.

The beverage extraction device 10 illustrated here is applied to a beverage server that provides beverages such as coffee and tea, a cup-type beverage vending machine, and the like, and is a coffee raw material (crushed beans: beverage) provided by the mill 1. The coffee beverage is extracted from the raw material) and the supplied hot water.

Such a beverage extraction device 10 includes a cylinder 20, a piston unit 30, a cover member 40, and an extraction path 50.

The cylinder 20 has a bottomed cylindrical shape in which the lower surface opening 21 formed on the lower surface is closed by the bottom portion 22. Such a cylinder 20 is supported by a cylinder holder (not shown), and the axial directions coincide with each other in the vertical direction.

The piston unit 30 includes a mesh member 31, a feed nut 32, and a feed screw 33. The mesh member 31 is made of, for example, a metal material and has a disk-like shape. The side surface of the mesh member 31 is in contact with the inner surface of the cylinder 20, and the mesh member 31 is formed in such a manner that a plurality of through holes 31a penetrate vertically.

The feed nut 32 is an elongated member whose vertical direction is the longitudinal direction, and is attached to the central portion of the lower surface of the mesh member 31 via the attachment block 34. The feed nut 32 has a cylindrical shape in which the opening on the upper surface is closed by the mounting block 34, and penetrates the nut hole portion 22a formed in the central portion of the bottom portion 22. Here, the outer diameter of the feed nut 32 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the nut hole portion 22a, and the gap between the feed nut 32 and the nut hole portion 22a is provided with packing or the like to provide airtightness. It is secured.

The feed screw 33 is an elongated member whose vertical direction is the longitudinal direction, and a part of the feed screw 33 has entered the inside of the feed nut 32. The feed screw 33 has an outer surface that enters the inside of the feed nut 32 and is screwed onto the inner surface of the feed nut 32. A piston motor 35 is linked to the lower end of the feed screw 33. The piston motor 35 is driven so as to be able to rotate in the forward and reverse directions in response to a command given from the control unit (control means) 60.

Therefore, when the piston motor 35 is driven in the forward rotation, the feed screw 33 moves the feed nut 32, which is screwed by rotating clockwise when viewed from above, downward, around its own central axis. On the other hand, when the piston motor 35 is driven in the reverse direction, the feed nut 32 is moved upward by rotating around the central axis, for example, counterclockwise when viewed from above.

As the feed nut 32 moves in the vertical direction due to the rotation of the feed screw 33 in this way, the side surface of the mesh member 31 to which the feed nut 32 is attached via the attachment block 34 comes into contact with the inner surface of the cylinder 20. In the state, it can move in a manner of approaching and separating from the bottom portion 22.

The cover member 40 is provided in the upper region of the cylinder 20. Such a cover member 40 has a box-like shape in which the lower wall portion and the left wall portion are opened, and the upper wall portion 41 has a size sufficient to cover the upper surface opening 23 of the cylinder 20. ing.

Such a cover member 40 is linked to the cover motor 42. The cover motor 42 is driven so as to be able to rotate in the forward and reverse directions in response to a command given from the control unit 60.

Therefore, when the cover motor 42 is driven in the forward rotation, the cover member 40 moves to the right and is in the first position to close the upper surface opening 23 of the cylinder 20 as shown by the broken line in FIG. On the other hand, when the cover motor 42 is driven in reverse, it moves to the left and moves to the second position where the upper surface opening 23 of the cylinder 20 is opened as shown by the solid line in FIG. Is. That is, the cover member 40 is movably provided between the first position for closing the upper surface opening 23 and the second position for opening the upper surface opening 23.

The cover member 40 has a scraper portion 43 and a supply path 44. The scraper portion 43 is composed of a right wall portion of the cover member 40. The vertical dimension of the scraper portion 43 is determined so that the lower end portion of the scraper portion 43 is in sliding contact with the upper surface of the cylinder 20 when the cover member 40 moves between the first position and the second position.

The supply path 44 is connected to the upper wall portion 41 of the cover member 40 and allows hot water supplied from a hot water tank (not shown) to pass through. A supply valve 45 is provided in the supply path 44. The supply valve 45 is a valve body that opens and closes in response to a command given from the control unit 60, and allows hot water to pass through the supply path 44 when it is open, while it is closed when it is closed. It regulates the passage of hot water through the supply path 44.

The extraction path 50 is connected to the bottom 22 in a manner of penetrating an extraction hole (not shown) provided in the bottom 22. The extraction path 50 passes the coffee beverage extracted inside the cylinder 20 and discharges it to the beverage container 2 (see FIG. 8). The extraction path 50 is provided with an extraction valve 51 and a pressure sensor 52.

The extraction valve 51 is a valve body that opens and closes in response to a command given from the control unit 60. When the extraction valve 51 is opened, the coffee beverage is allowed to pass through the extraction path 50, while when the extraction valve 51 is closed. , It regulates the passage of coffee beverages through the extraction route 50.

The pressure sensor 52 is provided on the upstream side of the extraction valve 51. The pressure sensor 52 detects the pressure at the lower part of the mesh member 31 inside the cylinder 20. The pressure sensor 52 gives the detected pressure to the control unit 60 as a pressure signal.

The extraction operation of the beverage extraction device 10 having the above-described configuration, that is, the beverage extraction method will be described below.

In the standby state, as shown in FIG. 2, the mesh member 31 is arranged at the top dead center position at the same height level as the upper surface of the cylinder 20 to close the upper surface opening 23, and the cover member 40 is the first. Placed in position. Further, both the supply valve 45 and the extraction valve 51 are closed.

When a start command is given from the standby state, the control unit 60 gives a drive command to the piston motor 35 to drive the piston motor 35 in the forward rotation. As a result, the feed screw 33 rotates clockwise when viewed from above, so that the mesh member 31 moves downward together with the feed nut 32. Then, when the mesh member 31 moves to an intermediate position separated from the bottom portion 22 and the upper surface opening 23, the control unit 60 gives a drive stop command to the piston motor 35. As a result, the mesh member 31 is arranged at an intermediate position as shown in FIG.

Further, the control unit 60 gives a drive command to the cover motor 42 in parallel with the drive command to the piston motor 35 to reversely drive the cover motor 42. As a result, the cover member 40 moves from the first position to the left. Then, when the cover member 40 moves to the second position, the control unit 60 gives a drive stop command to the cover motor 42. As a result, the cover member 40 is arranged at the second position as shown in FIG. In this way, the upper surface opening 23 of the cylinder 20 is opened, and the coffee raw material is awaited from the mill 1.

When the coffee raw materials are put into the cylinder 20 from the mill 1, these coffee raw materials are deposited on the upper surface of the mesh member 31. When the charging of the coffee raw material from the mill 1 is completed, the control unit 60 gives a drive command to the cover motor 42 to drive the cover motor 42 in the forward rotation. As a result, the cover member 40 moves from the second position to the right. Then, when the cover member 40 moves to the first position, the control unit 60 gives a drive stop command to the cover motor 42. As a result, the cover member 40 is arranged at the first position as shown in FIG. In this case, the upper surface opening 23 of the cylinder 20 is closed by the cover member 40.

After the cover member 40 is arranged in the first position, the control unit 60 gives an open command to the supply valve 45 to open the supply valve 45. As a result, the hot water from the hot water tank passes through the supply path 44 and is charged into the cylinder 20. When the opening time of the supply valve 45 reaches a predetermined time, the control unit 60 gives a closing command to the supply valve 45 to close the supply valve 45. As a result, a predetermined amount of hot water has been charged into the cylinder 20 (the above is the charging step).

Since the extraction valve 51 is closed inside the cylinder 20 to which the coffee raw material and the hot water are charged in the charging step, air stays in the lower part of the mesh member 31 at the intermediate position.

After such a charging step, the control unit 60 gives a drive command to the piston motor 35 to drive the piston motor 35 in the forward rotation. As a result, the feed screw 33 rotates clockwise when viewed from above, so that the mesh member 31 moves downward together with the feed nut 32. As a result of the mesh member 31 moving downward in this way, the pressure below the mesh member 31 inside the cylinder 20 rises and becomes a positive pressure.

Then, the positive pressure air below the mesh member 31 passes through the through hole 31a of the mesh member 31 to generate an air bubble AB, and the coffee raw material and the hot water are agitated by the air bubble AB (stirring step). Such stirring of the coffee raw material and the hot water is performed until the mesh member 31 reaches the bottom dead center position closest to the bottom portion 22.

By the way, the pressure below the mesh member 31 inside the cylinder 20 is detected by the pressure sensor 52, and the detection result is given to the control unit 60 as a pressure signal. Therefore, the control unit 60 may PWM control the piston motor 35 so that the pressure value (pressure result) given by the pressure sensor 52 becomes a preset predetermined pressure value.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the mesh member 31 reaches the bottom dead center position, the control unit 60 gives a drive stop command to the piston motor 35. After that, the control unit 60 causes the mesh member 31 to stand by at the bottom dead center position until a predetermined time elapses after the drive stop command is given to the piston motor 35 (stationary step).

As a result, the coffee raw material after stirring between the coffee raw material and the hot water precipitates on the upper surface of the mesh member 31 to form a precipitate D, and as shown enlarged in FIG. 5, the coffee raw material in the form of fine powder is formed on the upper surface of the mesh member 31. D1 (hereinafter, also referred to as a fine powder raw material) is precipitated, and a coffee raw material (hereinafter, also referred to as a powder raw material) D2 having a diameter larger than that of the fine powder raw material D1 is precipitated on the upper portion of the fine powder raw material D1.

After such a stationary step, the control unit 60 gives a drive command to the piston motor 35 to reversely drive the piston motor 35. As a result, the feed screw 33 rotates counterclockwise when viewed from above, so that the mesh member 31 moves upward together with the feed nut 32.

As a result of the mesh member 31 moving upward in this way, as shown in FIG. 6, the stirring liquid between the coffee raw material and the hot water passes through the through hole 31a, and the coffee beverage can be extracted below the mesh member 31. Can be done (extraction process).

In this case, the stirring liquid passes through the precipitate of the mesh member 31, so that the extracted coffee beverage is filtered. Further, it is preferable that the control unit 60 PWM-controls the piston motor 35 so that the pressure value (pressure result) given by the pressure sensor 52 becomes a preset predetermined pressure value.

Then, when the mesh member 31 reaches the top dead center position as shown in FIG. 7, the control unit 60 ends the extraction step by giving a drive stop command to the piston motor 35. At this time, the extraction slag K is placed on the upper surface of the mesh member 31.

After the extraction step is completed in this way, the control unit 60 gives a drive command to the cover motor 42 to reversely drive the cover motor 42. As a result, the cover member 40 moves from the first position to the left. In this case, the scraper portion 43 of the cover member 40 is in sliding contact with the upper surface of the mesh member 31 at the top dead center position to scrape the extraction slag K placed on the upper surface of the mesh member 31, as shown in FIG. , The extraction slag K can be accommodated in the slag container 3 arranged on the left side of the cylinder 20. When the cover member 40 moves to the second position in this way, the control unit 60 gives a drive stop command to the cover motor 42.

Further, the control unit 60 gives an open command to the extraction valve 51 in parallel with the drive command to the cover motor 42. As a result, the extraction valve 51 is opened, and the coffee beverage stored in the cylinder 20 passes through the extraction path 50 and is discharged to the beverage container 2 (discharge step).

By discharging a predetermined amount of coffee beverage to the beverage container 2 in this way, the coffee beverage is provided to the user.

After the discharge process is completed in this way, the control unit 60 gives a closing command to the extraction valve 51 and a drive command to the cover motor 42 to drive the cover motor 42 in the forward rotation. As a result, the cover member 40 is arranged at the first position and returns to the standby state described above.

As described above, according to the beverage extraction device 10, the scraper portion 43 of the cover member 40 closes the upper surface opening 23 when the cover member 40 moves from the first position to the second position. Since the extraction slag K placed on the member 31 is removed, the slag container 3 containing the extraction slag K can be installed next to the cylinder 20. Therefore, the capacity of the slag container 3 can be sufficiently increased while avoiding the increase in the height dimension of the installation area of the beverage extraction device 10 and the slag container 3. Therefore, it is possible to increase the capacity of the extraction slag K.

Since the capacity of the extraction slag K can be increased in this way, the ratio of the number of times of disposal work of the slag container 3 to the number of times of providing coffee beverage can be reduced, and the beverage extraction device 10 is applied. It is possible to reduce the burden on the administrator of the beverage server and the like.

According to the beverage extraction device 10, since the cover member 40 is arranged at the first position except when the coffee raw material is added and when the extracted coffee beverage is discharged, the dissipation of the aroma component of the coffee beverage can be suppressed. At the same time, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the outlet of the mill 1 is blocked due to the steam reaching the mill 1.

According to the beverage extraction device 10, the cover member 40 can be protected from airborne bacteria because the supply path 44 is connected to supply hot water.

According to the beverage extraction device 10, when a start command is given, the control unit 60 arranges the mesh member 31 at an intermediate position while closing the extraction valve 51, and the coffee raw material and the coffee raw material are placed on the upper surface of the mesh member 31. When hot water is added, the mesh member 31 is moved downward, so that the air below the mesh member 31 inside the cylinder 20 can be compressed into an air bubble AB to stir the coffee raw material and the hot water. Therefore, the coffee raw material and the hot water can be satisfactorily agitated without using a power source such as an air pump.

According to the beverage extraction method of the present embodiment, when a start command is given, the extraction valve 51 is closed and the mesh member 31 is arranged at an intermediate position, and the coffee raw material and hot water are discharged through the upper surface opening 23. The coffee raw material is brewed by the air passing through the through hole 31a by moving the mesh member 31 in which the coffee raw material and hot water are charged to the upper surface by the charging step that allows the coffee to be charged and the hot water so as to be close to the bottom portion 22. The stirring step of stirring the hot water and the hot water, the standing step of allowing the mesh member 31 moved to the bottom dead point position by the stirring step to stand by for a predetermined time, and the standing step of waiting the mesh member 31 by the standing step from the bottom 22. When the mesh member 31 is moved to a position close to the upper surface opening 23 by the extraction step and the extraction step of moving the coffee beverage so as to be separated from each other, the extraction valve 51 is opened and the coffee beverage extracted through the extraction path 50. Since the discharge step of discharging the coffee is included, the coffee raw material and the hot water can be satisfactorily stirred without using a power source such as an air pump.

Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications can be made.

In the above-described embodiment, the cover member 40 has a box-like shape in which the lower wall portion and the left wall portion are open, and the right wall portion constitutes the scraper portion 43. However, in the present invention, the cover member 40 has a scraper portion 43. The form of the cover member is not particularly limited, and various forms can be adopted.

In the above-described embodiment, the standing step is included, but in the present invention, the standing step may not be included.

10 Beverage extraction device 20 Cylinder 21 Bottom opening 22 Bottom 23 Top opening 30 Piston unit 31 Mesh member 31a Through hole 32 Feed nut 33 Feed screw 35 Piston motor 40 Cover member 42 Cover motor 43 Scraper part 44 Supply path 45 Supply valve 50 Extraction path 51 Extraction valve 52 Pressure sensor 60 Control unit (control means)

Claims (2)

A beverage extraction method in which a beverage is extracted from a beverage material and hot water charged into a bottomed cylindrical cylinder whose bottom opening is closed at the bottom, and the extracted beverage is discharged through an extraction path connected to the bottom.
When a start command is given, the extraction valve provided in the extraction path is closed to restrict the passage of beverages through the extraction path, and a disk shape having a plurality of through holes is formed. A charging step in which a mesh member whose side surface is in contact with the inner surface of the cylinder is arranged at an intermediate position separated from the bottom portion and the top surface opening of the cylinder to allow the beverage raw material and hot water to be charged through the top surface opening.
By moving the beverage raw material and the mesh member into which the hot water is charged to the upper surface by the charging step so as to be close to the bottom, the beverage raw material and the hot water are agitated by the air passing through the through hole. Stirring process and
An extraction step of extracting a beverage by moving the mesh member moved to a position close to the bottom by the stirring step so as to be separated from the bottom.
The extraction step includes a discharge step of opening the extraction valve and discharging the beverage extracted through the extraction path when the mesh member is moved to a position close to the upper surface opening by the extraction step.
The upper surface opening is closed with a cover member from the time when the beverage raw material is charged in the charging step until the extraction step is completed .
When the mesh member is moved to a position close to the upper surface opening by the extraction step, the cover member moves, and the scraper portion constituting the cover member slides on the upper surface of the mesh member. A beverage extraction method comprising a removal step of removing extraction slag placed on a member. Including a standing step of allowing the mesh member moved to a position close to the bottom by the stirring step to stand by for a predetermined time.
The beverage extraction method according to claim 1, wherein the extraction step moves the mesh member that has been made to stand by in the standing step so as to be separated from the bottom portion to extract a beverage.

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