Coffee machine for the rapid preparation of cold coffee at low temperature

Abstract

This invention discloses a coffee machine capable of rapidly preparing low-temperature cold coffee, relating to the technical field of coffee preparation equipment. The coffee machine includes a housing, an extraction mechanism, a coffee chamber, a refrigeration and ice-making module, a heat exchange device, and a dispensing assembly. Hot coffee extracted by the extraction mechanism flows into the coffee chamber. The refrigeration and ice-making module includes a refrigeration chamber and an ice-making assembly. The ice-making assembly is located in the upper chamber of the refrigeration chamber, and the lower chamber stores the cold water prepared by the ice-making assembly. The heat exchange device is attached to the outer wall of the coffee chamber and communicates with the lower chamber of the refrigeration chamber, utilizing the cold water to exchange heat and cool the hot coffee. The dispensing assembly is used to dispense the cold coffee. This invention's coffee machine for rapidly preparing low-temperature cold coffee provides a continuous and stable cold source, solving the problems of decreased heat exchange efficiency and the inability to continuously prepare multiple cups of cold coffee in existing technologies, thus improving the efficiency of cold coffee preparation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of coffee preparation equipment technology, and in particular to a coffee machine that can quickly prepare low-temperature cold coffee. Background Technology

[0002] With the diversification of the coffee consumption market, cold coffee, with its refreshing taste and unique flavor, is increasingly favored by consumers, driving the coffee machine industry to continuously develop technologies that enable rapid cooling of hot coffee. Currently, existing coffee machines generally employ a structure where the heat exchange device is fitted to the outer wall of the coffee chamber for heat exchange and cooling of hot coffee. Low-temperature water is stored in the cooling chamber and used as the heat exchange medium to cool the hot coffee.

[0003] However, on the one hand, the high-temperature water flowing through the outer wall of the coffee chamber in the heat exchange device flows directly back into the cooling chamber, inevitably raising the overall water temperature inside the cooling chamber. This causes the temperature of the low-temperature water in the cooling chamber to gradually rise, significantly reducing the efficiency of the next heat exchange. Consequently, the hot coffee cools down more slowly, the cooling effect is unstable, and it cannot quickly reach the ideal drinking temperature for cold coffee. On the other hand, because the high-temperature water recirculation causes the water temperature in the cooling chamber to continue to rise, the brewing process must be paused to allow the cooling chamber to cool the recirculated high-temperature water back to a low temperature in order to ensure the cooling effect of subsequent cold coffees. This prevents the coffee machine from continuously brewing multiple cups of cold coffee at once, affecting the user experience and hindering the convenient and continuous brewing of cold coffee. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The main objective of this invention is to provide a coffee machine that can quickly prepare cold coffee at low temperatures, thereby improving the efficiency of cold coffee preparation.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention proposes a coffee machine capable of rapidly preparing low-temperature cold coffee. The coffee machine comprises a housing, an extraction mechanism, a coffee chamber, a refrigeration and ice-making module, a heat exchange device, and a liquid dispensing assembly. The extraction mechanism is located within the housing and is used to extract hot coffee. The coffee chamber is located within the housing and is connected to the outlet end of the extraction mechanism; the coffee chamber is used to hold the hot coffee extracted by the extraction mechanism. The refrigeration and ice-making module is located within the housing and includes a refrigeration chamber and a liquid dispensing assembly. An ice-making component is provided, located in the upper cavity of the refrigeration chamber, with cold water flowing through the lower cavity of the refrigeration chamber. A heat exchange device is located within the housing and on the outer wall of the coffee chamber, communicating with the lower cavity of the refrigeration chamber. The refrigeration chamber provides a cold source for the heat exchange device, which in turn cools the hot coffee in the coffee chamber. A liquid outlet component is located within the housing, with its inlet connected to the coffee chamber via a pipe and its outlet connected to the outside.

[0006] In one embodiment, the heat exchange device has an inlet end and an outlet end, the inlet end being connected to the lower cavity portion of the refrigeration chamber, and the outlet end being connected to the upper cavity portion of the refrigeration chamber, and is configured corresponding to the ice-making assembly.

[0007] In one embodiment, the ice-making assembly includes an ice-making element and an ice-making box, the ice-making element being disposed above the ice-making box, and the outlet end being disposed corresponding to the ice-making element.

[0008] In one embodiment, the ice-making component includes a main body and an ice-making column, the ice-making column being configured with a double-walled structure, the ice-making column comprising a first wall and a second wall, the first wall and the second wall being in contact with each other; or, The space between the first pipe wall and the second pipe wall is filled with a thermally conductive material.

[0009] In one embodiment, the heat exchange device includes a condenser heat exchange tube wound around the outer wall of the coffee chamber, the condenser heat exchange tube being in communication with the refrigeration chamber and being in contact with the outer wall of the coffee chamber.

[0010] In one embodiment, the condenser heat exchange tube has a heat exchange plane that is in contact with the outer wall of the coffee chamber.

[0011] In one embodiment, the heat exchange device further includes heat-conducting fins, which are integrally formed with the condenser heat exchange tube and are uniformly distributed along the axial direction of the coffee chamber.

[0012] In one embodiment, the outer wall of the condenser heat exchange tube is provided with a condensate drain groove and a hydrophobic coating. The condensate drain groove is used to collect condensate generated during the heat exchange process, and the hydrophobic coating is used to prevent condensate from adhering. The bottom of the condensate drain groove is provided with a drain pipe, which extends to a wastewater box outside the shell.

[0013] In one embodiment, the heat exchange device further includes a condenser coil, which is connected to a condenser heat exchange tube or the refrigeration ice-making module, and the condenser coil is located inside the coffee chamber.

[0014] In one embodiment, the condenser coil is spirally wound inside the coffee chamber, the spiral spacing of the condenser coil is 10mm-15mm, and the distance between the outer diameter of the condenser coil and the inner wall of the coffee chamber is not less than 5mm.

[0015] The technical solution of this invention combines an ice-making module with a refrigeration chamber. The lower chamber of the refrigeration chamber stores cold water prepared by the ice-making module, providing a continuous and stable cold source for the heat exchange device. The heat exchange device is attached to the outer wall of the coffee chamber, enabling rapid and efficient heat exchange and cooling of hot coffee. The coordinated operation of these structures effectively solves the problem of high-temperature water reflux causing increased water temperature and decreased heat exchange efficiency in the refrigeration chamber, which is common in existing technologies. At the same time, it can continuously provide low-temperature cold water, enabling the continuous preparation of multiple cups of cold coffee, improving the user experience, and ensuring the cooling effect and quality stability of the cold coffee. Attached Figure Description

[0016] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0017] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a coffee machine that can quickly prepare low-temperature cold coffee according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 for Figure 1 Cross-sectional view of the coffee chamber and heat exchange device.

[0018] Explanation of icon numbers: 10. Shell; 20. Extraction mechanism; 30. Coffee chamber; 40. Refrigeration and ice-making module; 41. Refrigeration chamber; 42. Ice-making component; 421. Ice-making part; 422. Ice box; 50. Heat exchange device; 50a. Inlet end; 50b. Outlet end; 51. Condensation heat exchange tube; 52. Condensation coil; 60. Liquid outlet component.

[0019] The realization of the objective, functional features and advantages of the present invention will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0021] It should be noted that if the embodiments of the present invention involve directional indicators (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.), the directional indicators are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of the components in a specific posture. If the specific posture changes, the directional indicators will also change accordingly.

[0022] Furthermore, if the embodiments of this invention involve descriptions such as "first" or "second," these descriptions are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of those features. Additionally, the use of "and / or" or "and / or" throughout the text includes three parallel solutions. For example, "A and / or B" includes solution A, solution B, or a solution where both A and B are satisfied simultaneously. Furthermore, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but this must be based on the ability of those skilled in the art to implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or impossible to implement, it should be considered that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed by this invention.

[0023] With the diversification of the coffee consumption market, cold coffee, with its refreshing taste and unique flavor, is increasingly favored by consumers, driving the coffee machine industry to continuously develop technologies that enable rapid cooling of hot coffee. Currently, existing coffee machines generally employ a structure where the heat exchange device is fitted to the outer wall of the coffee chamber for heat exchange and cooling of hot coffee. Low-temperature water is stored in the cooling chamber and used as the heat exchange medium to cool the hot coffee.

[0024] Specifically, the heat exchange process of this type of coffee machine is as follows: the heat exchange device is closely attached to the outer wall of the coffee chamber, and the low-temperature water stored in the cooling chamber is continuously transported to the heat exchange device. During the process of flowing through the outer wall of the coffee chamber, it exchanges heat with the hot coffee inside the coffee chamber, absorbing the heat of the hot coffee, thereby realizing the heat exchange and cooling of the hot coffee; after completing the heat exchange, the water becomes high-temperature water due to absorbing a large amount of heat, and then flows back to the cooling chamber, forming a circulating heat exchange working mode.

[0025] However, the existing heat exchange refrigeration methods described above have significant technical flaws, severely impacting the efficiency and quality stability of cold coffee preparation and failing to meet market demands for continuous and efficient cold coffee preparation. On one hand, the high-temperature water flowing through the outer wall of the coffee chamber in the heat exchange device directly returns to the refrigeration chamber, inevitably raising the overall water temperature inside the refrigeration chamber, causing the temperature of the low-temperature water in the refrigeration chamber to gradually increase. According to the principle of heat exchange, the temperature difference between the hot and cold fluids is a key factor in ensuring heat exchange efficiency. The increased water temperature reduces the temperature difference between the subsequent low-temperature water participating in the heat exchange and the hot coffee, resulting in insufficient heat transfer driving force and significantly reducing the efficiency of the next heat exchange. This leads to a slower cooling rate of the hot coffee, unstable refrigeration effects, and an inability to quickly reach the ideal drinking temperature for cold coffee.

[0026] On the other hand, because the hot water recirculation causes the water temperature in the cooling chamber to rise continuously, the brewing process must be paused to allow the cooling chamber to cool the recirculated hot water back to a low temperature in order to ensure the cooling effect of subsequent cold coffees. This prevents the coffee machine from continuously brewing multiple cups of cold coffee at once. Especially in commercial settings, this defect severely reduces the coffee machine's dispensing efficiency and cannot meet peak usage demands; in home settings, it also affects the user experience, hindering convenient and continuous cold coffee brewing.

[0027] In summary, the existing heat exchange refrigeration structure used in coffee machines has significant technical shortcomings. High-temperature water recirculation causes the refrigeration chamber water temperature to rise, reducing heat exchange efficiency and limiting the continuous preparation of multiple cups of cold coffee. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a heat exchange refrigeration structure in coffee machines that can overcome these technical deficiencies, thereby improving the efficiency and quality stability of cold coffee preparation and meeting diverse market demands.

[0028] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2In one embodiment of the present invention, the coffee machine capable of rapidly preparing low-temperature cold coffee includes a housing 10, an extraction mechanism 20, a coffee chamber 30, a refrigeration and ice-making module 40, a heat exchange device 50, and a liquid dispensing assembly 60. The extraction mechanism 20 is disposed within the housing 10 and is used to extract hot coffee. The coffee chamber 30 is disposed within the housing 10 and is connected to the outlet end 50b of the extraction mechanism 20. The coffee chamber 30 is used to hold the hot coffee extracted by the extraction mechanism 20. The refrigeration and ice-making module 40 is disposed within the housing 10 and includes a refrigeration chamber 41 and an ice-making assembly. 42. The ice-making component 42 is located in the upper cavity of the refrigeration chamber 41, and the lower cavity of the refrigeration chamber 41 has cold water flowing through the ice-making component 42; the heat exchange device 50 is located inside the housing 10 and on the outer wall of the coffee chamber 30. The heat exchange device 50 is connected to the lower cavity of the refrigeration chamber 41. The refrigeration chamber 41 is used to provide a cold source for the heat exchange device 50, and the heat exchange device 50 is used to exchange heat and cool the hot coffee in the coffee chamber 30; the liquid outlet component 60 is located in the housing 10. The liquid inlet of the liquid outlet component 60 is connected to the coffee chamber 30 through a pipe, and the liquid outlet is connected to the outside.

[0029] This embodiment provides a coffee machine capable of rapidly preparing low-temperature cold coffee, including a housing 10, an extraction mechanism 20, a coffee chamber 30, a refrigeration and ice-making module 40, a heat exchange device 50, and a liquid dispensing assembly 60. The housing 10 is made of ABS engineering plastic or metal and has an overall rectangular structure, the size of which can be designed according to home or commercial scenarios. The surface of the housing 10 is provided with an operation panel and a liquid dispensing port mounting position, and the interior has reserved mounting chambers for each component, which play a role in overall support, protection, and sealing, preventing the internal components from being corroded by external dust and moisture, while separating the functional areas to reduce mutual interference.

[0030] The extraction mechanism 20 is installed in the upper part of the housing 10 and adopts a conventional espresso extraction structure, including a coffee powder hopper, a high-pressure water pump, a heating element, and an extraction head. The coffee powder hopper is used to hold coffee powder, and the high-pressure water pump is used to deliver clean water to the heating element. The heating element heats the clean water to 85-90°C and then delivers it to the extraction head. The extraction head performs high-pressure extraction on the coffee powder to form hot coffee. The outlet end 50b of the extraction mechanism 20 is connected to the coffee chamber 30 through a food-grade silicone tube to ensure that the hot coffee can flow smoothly into the coffee chamber 30 without leakage.

[0031] The coffee chamber 30 is installed in the middle of the inner cavity of the housing 10, directly below the extraction mechanism 20. It is cylindrical or square in shape, with a volume designed to be 200-500ml depending on the single preparation volume. The material used is high borosilicate glass or food-grade stainless steel. High borosilicate glass allows users to easily observe the amount of coffee and the cooling status inside the coffee chamber 30, while stainless steel is more impact-resistant and easier to clean. The outer wall of the coffee chamber 30 needs to be smoothed to ensure a tight fit with the heat exchange device 50 and improve heat exchange efficiency. An interface is located at the bottom of the coffee chamber 30, which connects to the inlet of the liquid dispensing assembly 60 via a pipe, for delivering the cooled coffee to the liquid dispensing assembly 60.

[0032] The refrigeration and ice-making module 40 is installed on one side of the inner cavity of the housing 10, adjacent to the coffee chamber 30. It includes a refrigeration chamber 41 and an ice-making component 42. The refrigeration chamber 41 is generally rectangular in shape, divided into an upper chamber and a lower chamber. The upper chamber refers to the part near the top of the coffee chamber 30, and the lower chamber can be understood as the part near the bottom of the refrigeration chamber 41. The refrigeration chamber 41 is made of food-grade stainless steel, which has good heat insulation and corrosion resistance. The lower chamber is used to store the cold water prepared by the ice-making component 42, and the cold water temperature can be maintained at 0-5℃ to meet the heat exchange and refrigeration requirements. The ice-making component 42 is fixedly installed in the upper chamber of the refrigeration chamber 41. Specifically, a semiconductor ice-making component 42 or a compressor ice-making component 42 can be selected. The semiconductor ice-making component 42 is small in size and low in energy consumption, suitable for home use, while the compressor ice-making component 42 has a fast ice-making speed and stable cooling effect, suitable for commercial use. After the ice-making component 42 has finished making ice, it can be directly poured into the cold water to form an ice-water mixture.

[0033] Furthermore, the ice-making component 42 is independently located in the upper cavity of the refrigeration chamber 41, enabling independent ice making without interfering with the lower cavity of the refrigeration chamber 41. After individual ice making is completed, the ice is sent to the lower cavity of the refrigeration chamber 41 to form an ice-water mixture with the low-temperature water in the lower cavity. Moreover, the individual ice making allows for precise and controllable ice production, and a large ice storage capacity. This enables rapid cooling of the warm water returning from the heat exchange device 50, continuously maintaining a constant low temperature of the cold water in the lower cavity of the refrigeration chamber 41, ensuring stable heat exchange efficiency, and supporting the continuous preparation of multiple cups of cold coffee. Simultaneously, this structure allows for controllable separation of the ice-making component 42 from the water source, fundamentally preventing the low-temperature ice-making component 42 from prolonged contact with water and continuous thick ice formation. This effectively prevents excessively thick ice layers from reducing heat transfer efficiency and avoids the drawbacks of messy ice formation and uncontrollable ice quantity, further improving the stability and reliability of the entire refrigeration and ice-making system.

[0034] Meanwhile, the ice-making component 42 can be equipped with an independent control unit, thereby flexibly controlling the start / stop, ice-making rate, and total ice production of the ice-making component 42. Its ice-making capacity is sufficient; its maximum ice production can meet the rapid cooling requirements of the return warm water from the heat exchange device 50, quickly cooling the return warm water to 0-5℃ and ensuring a stable temperature of the cold water in the lower chamber of the cooling chamber 41. The lower chamber of the cooling chamber 41 is used to store the cold water prepared by the ice-making component 42, providing a continuous and reliable cold source for the heat exchange device 50.

[0035] The heat exchange device 50 is installed inside the housing 10, tightly fitted to the outer wall of the coffee chamber 30. It can be a coil-type heat exchanger or a plate-type heat exchanger. The coil-type heat exchanger can be wound around the outer wall of the coffee chamber 30, while the plate-type heat exchanger is fully fitted to the outer wall of the coffee chamber 30. The material is made of copper or 304 stainless steel, which have excellent thermal conductivity and can quickly transfer heat. The heat exchange device 50 is connected to the lower cavity of the cooling chamber 41 via food-grade silicone tubing. Cold water in the lower cavity of the cooling chamber 41 can be pumped to the heat exchange device 50, providing a continuous cold source. As the cold water flows through, the heat exchange device 50 absorbs heat from the hot coffee inside the coffee chamber 30, achieving rapid heat exchange and cooling of the hot coffee. Subsequently, the temperature of the cooled water after heat exchange rises and flows back into the cooling chamber 41. The high-temperature return water raises the temperature of the cold water in the cooling chamber 41. At this time, since the water in the cooling chamber 41 is an ice-water mixture, it will quickly cool down the heated water again to provide a continuous and stable cold source for the heat exchange device 50 and improve the efficiency of cold coffee preparation.

[0036] The dispensing assembly 60 is installed on the front outer side of the housing 10 for easy coffee dispensing. It includes a dispensing port, a control valve, and a drip tray. The dispensing port is funnel-shaped and made of food-grade stainless steel. The control valve is an electromagnetic control valve, controllable via a button on the surface of the housing 10. The drip tray is located below the dispensing port to collect dripping coffee, keeping the environment clean. The inlet of the dispensing assembly 60 is connected to the bottom interface of the coffee chamber 30 via a food-grade silicone tube. The outlet is exposed on the outside of the housing 10, communicating with the external space, allowing cooled coffee to flow smoothly through the dispensing assembly 60.

[0037] In this embodiment, all connections of the structures are sealed with food-grade seals to prevent leakage of coffee liquid or cold water, ensuring the safety and stability of the coffee machine. The working process is as follows: hot coffee extracted by the extraction mechanism 20 flows into the coffee chamber 30; the ice-making component 42 of the refrigeration and ice-making module 40 prepares cold water and stores it in the lower cavity of the refrigeration chamber 41; the cold water is transported through pipes to the heat exchange device 50, absorbing heat from the hot coffee as it flows through the outer wall of the coffee chamber 30, thus cooling the hot coffee; the cooled coffee flows out through the liquid outlet component 60, completing the preparation of cold coffee.

[0038] The technical solution of this invention, by setting up a refrigeration and ice-making module 40, combines the ice-making component 42 with the refrigeration chamber 41. The lower cavity of the refrigeration chamber 41 stores the cold water prepared by the ice-making component 42, providing a continuous and stable cold source for the heat exchange device 50. The heat exchange device 50 is attached to the outer wall of the coffee chamber 30, enabling rapid and efficient heat exchange and cooling of hot coffee. The coordinated operation of these structures effectively solves the problem in the prior art where high-temperature water reflux causes the water temperature of the refrigeration chamber 41 to rise and the heat exchange efficiency to decrease. At the same time, it can continuously provide low-temperature cold water, enabling the continuous preparation of multiple cups of cold coffee, improving the user experience, and ensuring the refrigeration effect and quality stability of the cold coffee.

[0039] Please see Figure 1 In one embodiment, the heat exchange device 50 has an inlet end 50a and an outlet end 50b. The inlet end 50a is connected to the lower cavity of the refrigeration chamber 41, and the outlet end 50b is connected to the upper cavity of the refrigeration chamber 41 and is provided corresponding to the ice-making assembly 42.

[0040] Specifically, the heat exchange device 50 has an inlet end 50a and an outlet end 50b, both of which are circular interfaces made of the same material as the main body of the heat exchange device 50, namely copper or 304 stainless steel. The inlet end 50a is connected to the lower cavity of the refrigeration chamber 41 via a food-grade silicone tube, specifically at the bottom of the lower cavity of the refrigeration chamber 41. A miniature water pump can be installed in the middle of the tube to stably deliver cold water from the lower cavity of the refrigeration chamber 41 to the heat exchange device 50, ensuring the flow rate of the cold water and improving the heat exchange efficiency. The outlet end 50b is connected to the upper cavity of the refrigeration chamber 41 via a food-grade silicone tube, specifically at the top of the upper cavity of the refrigeration chamber 41. The outlet of the outlet end 50b is positioned corresponding to the ice-making component 42, with the outlet facing the surface of the ice-making component 42, so that the water flowing from the heat exchange device 50 can be directly sprayed onto the ice-making component 42. In this embodiment, the cold water in the heat exchange device 50 absorbs heat and becomes warm water after flowing through the outer wall of the coffee chamber 30. The warm water flows directly back to the upper chamber of the cooling chamber 41 through the outlet end 50b and is sprayed onto the ice-making component 42. The ice-making component 42 can quickly cool the warm water, causing it to rapidly cool down and become cold water. Then, it flows into the lower chamber through the through holes in the partition of the cooling chamber 41 and is transported back to the heat exchange device 50 as a cold source, forming a closed-loop cycle. This connection method can prevent warm water from directly mixing into the cold water in the lower chamber of the cooling chamber 41, effectively maintaining the low temperature of the cold water in the lower chamber of the cooling chamber 41, ensuring a stable temperature difference for each heat exchange, significantly improving heat exchange efficiency, and realizing the recycling of cold water without pausing the preparation process to wait for the cold water to cool down. This further ensures the continuous preparation of multiple cups of cold coffee, and the structure is simple, the connection is reliable, and the energy consumption of the equipment is reduced.

[0041] Please see Figure 1Furthermore, the ice-making assembly 42 includes an ice-making element 421 and an ice-making box 422. The ice-making element 421 is positioned above the ice-making box 422, and the outlet end 50b is positioned corresponding to the ice-making element 421. Specifically, the ice-making assembly 42 includes an ice-making element 421 and an ice-making box 422. The ice-making element 421 is fixedly installed above the ice-making box 422, both located in the upper cavity of the cooling chamber 41. The ice-making box 422 is detachably installed at the bottom of the upper cavity of the cooling chamber 41 for easy cleaning and maintenance. The ice-making element 421 adopts a plate-like structure and is made of aluminum alloy or copper alloy with excellent thermal conductivity. Its surface is provided with several protrusions to increase the contact area with warm water and improve cooling efficiency. The ice-making element 421 can also adopt a columnar structure, evenly distributed above the ice-making box 422, to further expand the contact area. The ice maker 422 is a square trough made of food-grade PP plastic or stainless steel. Its volume matches the volume of the lower cavity of the cooling chamber 41. It is used to receive the condensate water generated by the ice maker 421 and the cooled water. The cold water in the ice maker 422 can flow into the lower cavity of the cooling chamber 41.

[0042] In this embodiment, the outlet end 50b of the heat exchange device 50 is set to correspond to the ice-making component 421. Specifically, the pipe opening of the outlet end 50b is directly facing the upper surface of the ice-making component 421, and the distance between the pipe opening and the upper surface of the ice-making component 421 is set to 5-10cm, so that the warm water flowing out from the outlet end 50b can be sprayed evenly on the surface of the ice-making component 421, avoiding excessive local temperature from affecting the cooling effect. By splitting the ice-making component 42 into an ice-making element 421 and an ice-making box 422, the ice-making element 421 is responsible for rapidly cooling warm water, while the ice-making box 422 is responsible for receiving cold water and guiding it to the lower cavity of the refrigeration chamber 41. The clear division of labor in the structure improves the efficiency of ice making and cooling. The outlet end 50b is set to correspond to the ice-making element 421, so that the warm water can directly contact the ice-making element 421, shortening the cooling path, accelerating the cooling speed of the warm water, and ensuring that the lower cavity of the refrigeration chamber 41 can continuously obtain low-temperature cold water, further improving the heat exchange efficiency and the ability to continuously prepare multiple cups of cold coffee. At the same time, the detachable design of the ice-making box 422 improves the convenience of cleaning the equipment.

[0043] Furthermore, the ice-making component 421 includes a main body (not shown in the figure) and an ice-making column (not shown in the figure). The ice-making column is configured with a double-walled structure (not shown in the figure), comprising a first wall and a second wall, which are fitted together; or, The space between the first and second pipe walls is filled with thermally conductive material.

[0044] Specifically, the ice-making component 421 includes a main body and ice-making columns. The main body is a plate-shaped structure and is fixedly connected to the top of the ice-making box 422. The ice-making columns are vertically arranged on the lower surface of the main body and are evenly distributed. The number of ice-making columns can be set to 4-12 according to the ice-making needs. Each ice-making column is 10-15cm long and 2-3cm in diameter. The material is the same as that of the main body, which is aluminum alloy or copper alloy.

[0045] In the first embodiment, the ice-making column is configured with a double-walled structure, including a first wall and a second wall. The first wall is located on the inner side, and the second wall is located on the outer side. The first and second walls are tightly fitted together, either by welding or integral molding, ensuring no gaps between them and improving thermal conductivity. Both the first and second walls are 0.5-1mm thick and made of copper. Copper has a high thermal conductivity, enabling rapid transfer of the cold air from the ice-making component 421, allowing the warm water sprayed onto the surface of the ice-making column to cool quickly. Simultaneously, the double-walled structure enhances the structural strength of the ice-making column, preventing deformation after long-term use.

[0046] In the second embodiment, the ice-making column also has a double-walled structure, including a first wall and a second wall. A thermally conductive material is filled between the first and second walls. This material can be graphite, thermally conductive silicone, or thermally conductive ceramic. The filling method is tight, ensuring full contact between the thermally conductive material and the first and second walls without gaps. This thermally conductive material further improves the thermal conductivity of the ice-making column, allowing the cold energy of the ice-making component 421 to be quickly transferred to the warm water, accelerating the cooling speed of the warm water. Simultaneously, it reduces cold energy loss, improves the cooling efficiency of the ice-making component 42, and ensures that the lower cavity of the cooling chamber 41 can continuously obtain low-temperature cold water, providing a stable cold source for the heat exchange device 50, thereby improving the cooling speed and continuous preparation capability of hot coffee.

[0047] On the other hand, setting the ice column to a double-walled structure effectively solves the problems of existing single-layer ice columns lacking isolation and protection, and refrigerant easily leaking and polluting water quality, thus improving the safety of ice making.

[0048] This embodiment optimizes the structure of the ice-making column by employing a double-walled design or filling it with thermally conductive material, significantly improving the heat conduction efficiency of the ice-making column, accelerating ice-making and warm water cooling speeds, and ensuring that the lower cavity of the cooling chamber 41 can continuously maintain a low temperature, thus guaranteeing stable heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchange device 50. Simultaneously, it enhances the structural strength of the ice-making column, extends the service life of the ice-making component 42, and is suitable for long-term continuous use, further addressing the shortcomings of existing technologies such as decreased heat exchange efficiency and the inability to continuously prepare multiple cups of cold coffee. Furthermore, it effectively solves the problems of existing single-layer ice-making columns lacking isolation protection and prone to refrigerant leakage and water contamination, improving ice-making safety.

[0049] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2In one embodiment, the heat exchange device 50 includes a condenser heat exchange tube 51 that is wound around the outer wall of the coffee chamber 30. The condenser heat exchange tube 51 is connected to the cooling chamber 41 and is attached to the outer wall of the coffee chamber 30.

[0050] Specifically, the heat exchange device 50 includes a condenser heat exchange tube 51, which is made of food-grade 316L stainless steel. This tube has good thermal conductivity and corrosion resistance, making it suitable for acidic and alkaline environments and alternating hot and cold conditions in coffee. The condenser heat exchange tube 51 is spirally shaped with a diameter of 8-12mm and 5-8 spiral turns. It is wound around the outer wall of the coffee chamber 30, ensuring a tight fit. The condenser heat exchange tube 51 can be directly attached to the outer wall of the coffee chamber 30, or it can be fixed at the joint using a high-temperature, acid- and alkali-resistant food-grade sealant. This ensures there are no gaps between the condenser heat exchange tube 51 and the outer wall of the coffee chamber 30, improving heat conduction efficiency. One end of the condenser heat exchange tube 51 is connected to the cold end of the refrigeration ice-making module 40 through a sealed metal pipe, while the other end flows back to the refrigeration ice-making module 40 through a pipe, forming a closed-loop heat exchange circuit. The cold energy generated by the refrigeration ice-making module 40 is quickly transferred to the coffee chamber 30 through the condenser heat exchange tube 51, achieving rapid cooling of hot coffee. In this embodiment, the spiral condenser heat exchange tube 51 is wound around and fits against the outer wall of the coffee chamber 30, increasing the heat exchange area. At the same time, the tightly fitted structure reduces cold energy loss and improves heat exchange efficiency, enabling rapid cooling of hot coffee in the coffee chamber 30 to the set temperature. Moreover, the structure is simple, the cost is low, and it is easy to mass-produce and assemble.

[0051] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2 In one embodiment, the condenser heat exchange tube 51 has a heat exchange plane that is in contact with the outer wall of the coffee chamber 30. Specifically, the condenser heat exchange tube 51 has a heat exchange plane that is fully in contact with the outer wall of the coffee chamber 30. The arrangement of the heat exchange plane further increases the contact area between the condenser heat exchange tube 51 and the outer wall of the coffee chamber 30. Compared with the circular tube wall, the heat conduction efficiency is greatly improved, and the cold energy can be transferred to the coffee chamber 30 more quickly and evenly, shortening the cooling time of the coffee liquid. At the same time, the tighter fit reduces the loss of cold energy and lowers the energy consumption of the refrigeration and ice-making module 40.

[0052] In one embodiment, the heat exchange device 50 further includes heat-conducting fins (not shown in the figure), which are integrally formed with the condenser heat exchange tube 51 and are uniformly distributed along the axial direction of the coffee chamber 30.

[0053] Specifically, the heat exchange device 50 also includes heat-conducting fins made of food-grade aluminum, which are lightweight and have high thermal conductivity. These fins are integrally formed with the condenser heat exchange tube 51 and are fixed to the outer wall of the condenser heat exchange tube 51 by welding, and are evenly distributed along the axial direction of the coffee chamber 30. The heat-conducting fins are perpendicular to the tube wall of the condenser heat exchange tube 51 and have a 1-2mm gap with the outer wall of the coffee chamber 30 to avoid affecting the fit between the condenser heat exchange tube 51 and the coffee chamber 30. The heat-conducting fins further expand the heat exchange area, accelerate the transfer and diffusion of cold energy, reduce heat exchange dead zones, and ensure uniform temperature in all areas of the coffee chamber 30. This avoids uneven coffee flavor caused by excessively rapid local cooling. Furthermore, the lightweight aluminum heat-conducting fins do not increase the overall weight of the equipment, and the simple molding process facilitates mass production.

[0054] In one embodiment, the outer wall of the condenser heat exchange tube 51 is provided with a condensate drain and a hydrophobic coating (not shown in the figure). The condensate drain is used to collect condensate generated during the heat exchange process, and the hydrophobic coating is used to prevent condensate from adhering. The bottom of the condensate drain is provided with a drain pipe that extends to a wastewater box outside the housing 10.

[0055] Specifically, the outer wall of the condenser heat exchanger tube 51 is provided with a condensate drain groove and a hydrophobic coating. The condensate drain groove is arranged along the axial direction of the condenser heat exchanger tube 51, forming a U-shaped groove structure, and is evenly distributed on the outer wall of the condenser heat exchanger tube 51 to collect condensate generated during heat exchange and prevent condensate from accumulating on the surface of the condenser heat exchanger tube 51. The hydrophobic coating can be made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and is applied to the outer wall of the condenser heat exchanger tube 51 and the inner wall of the condensate drain groove through a spraying process. The coating thickness is 0.1-0.2 mm, and it has good hydrophobicity, which can prevent condensate from adhering to the surface of the condenser heat exchanger tube 51 and reduce the impact of condensate on heat exchange efficiency. A drain pipe is provided at the bottom of the condensate drain groove. The drain pipe is made of food-grade silicone tubing, with one end connected to the condensate drain groove and the other end extending to a wastewater box outside the shell 10, to guide the collected condensate into the wastewater box for easy cleaning by the user. The condensate drain and hydrophobic coating effectively collect and drain the condensate generated during the heat exchange process, preventing condensate from corroding the condenser heat exchange tube 51 and surrounding components, extending the service life of the equipment, reducing the cooling loss caused by condensate adhesion, ensuring stable heat exchange efficiency, and improving the safety and reliability of the equipment.

[0056] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2In one embodiment, the heat exchange device 50 further includes a condenser coil 52, which is connected to the condenser heat exchange tube 51 or the refrigeration ice-making module 40. The condenser coil 52 is located inside the coffee chamber 30. Specifically, the condenser coil 52 is made of food-grade 316L stainless steel capillary tube with a diameter of 4-6mm. It has good thermal conductivity and corrosion resistance, and is compact in size, so it does not occupy too much space in the coffee chamber 30. The condenser coil 52 can be connected to the condenser heat exchange tube 51 or directly to the cold end of the refrigeration ice-making module 40 to form an independent heat exchange branch. The condenser coil 52 is located inside the coffee chamber 30, with one end penetrating through the side wall of the coffee chamber 30 and sealed to the external pipeline. The other end also penetrates through the side wall of the coffee chamber 30 and is connected to the return pipeline. The penetration is sealed with a high-temperature resistant sealant to ensure no leakage of coffee liquid. The condenser coil 52 extends into the coffee chamber 30 and comes into direct contact with the coffee liquid. Combined with the heat exchange on the outer wall of the condenser heat exchange tube 51, it forms a dual heat exchange structure, which greatly improves heat exchange efficiency and shortens the cooling time of the coffee liquid. At the same time, the condenser coil 52 is small in size and will not affect the holding capacity of the coffee chamber 30, nor will it damage the crema on the surface of the coffee liquid, thus ensuring the taste of cold coffee.

[0057] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2 In one embodiment, the condenser coil 52 is spirally coiled inside the coffee chamber 30, the spiral spacing of the condenser coil 52 is 10mm-15mm, and the distance between the outer diameter of the condenser coil 52 and the inner wall of the coffee chamber 30 is not less than 5mm.

[0058] Specifically, the condenser coil 52 is spirally coiled inside the coffee chamber 30, with a spiral spacing of 10mm-15mm, preferably 12mm. This spacing ensures the distribution density of the condenser coil 52, improving heat exchange efficiency, while preventing the coils from being too dense, which could hinder coffee circulation. The distance between the outer diameter of the condenser coil 52 and the inner wall of the coffee chamber 30 is not less than 5mm, preferably 6mm. This avoids rigid contact between the condenser coil 52 and the inner wall of the coffee chamber 30, preventing scratching of the inner wall, while also providing space for coffee circulation, allowing the coffee to fully contact the condenser coil 52 and achieve uniform cooling. The spiral diameter of the condenser coil 52 is 1 / 2-2 / 3 of the inner diameter of the coffee chamber 30, ensuring that the coils are evenly distributed inside the coffee chamber 30 without any dead zones in heat exchange. The spirally coiled condenser coil 52 further increases the contact area with the coffee liquid. The evenly distributed structure ensures uniform cooling of the coffee liquid in all areas, avoiding uneven flavor caused by local temperature differences. At the same time, the reasonable spacing and diameter settings not only ensure heat exchange efficiency but also protect the inner wall of the coffee chamber 30 and the flavor of the coffee liquid, improving the practicality and reliability of the equipment.

[0059] The above description is merely an exemplary embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Any equivalent structural transformations made based on the technical concept of the present invention and the contents of the specification and drawings of the present invention, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A coffee machine capable of rapidly preparing low-temperature cold coffee, characterized in that, include: case; An extraction mechanism is disposed within the housing, and the extraction mechanism is used to extract hot coffee; A coffee chamber is located inside the housing and is connected to the outlet end of the extraction mechanism. The coffee chamber is used to hold the hot coffee extracted by the extraction mechanism. A refrigeration and ice-making module is disposed within the housing; the refrigeration and ice-making module includes a refrigeration chamber and an ice-making component, the ice-making component is disposed in the upper cavity of the refrigeration chamber, and the lower cavity of the refrigeration chamber has cold water flowing through the ice-making component; A heat exchange device is disposed inside the housing and located on the outer wall of the coffee chamber. The heat exchange device is connected to the lower cavity of the cooling chamber. The cooling chamber is used to provide a cold source for the heat exchange device. The heat exchange device is used to exchange heat and cool the hot coffee in the coffee chamber. as well as A liquid dispensing assembly is located in the housing. The inlet end of the liquid dispensing assembly is connected to the coffee chamber via a pipeline, and the outlet end is connected to the outside.

2. The coffee machine for rapidly preparing low-temperature cold coffee as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The heat exchange device has an inlet end and an outlet end. The inlet end is connected to the lower cavity of the refrigeration chamber, and the outlet end is connected to the upper cavity of the refrigeration chamber, and is configured corresponding to the ice-making component.

3. The coffee machine for rapidly preparing low-temperature cold coffee as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The ice-making assembly includes an ice-making element and an ice-making box. The ice-making element is disposed above the ice-making box, and the outlet end is disposed corresponding to the ice-making element.

4. The coffee machine for rapidly preparing low-temperature cold coffee as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The ice-making component includes a main body and an ice-making column. The ice-making column is configured with a double-walled structure, comprising a first wall and a second wall, which are fitted together; or... The space between the first pipe wall and the second pipe wall is filled with a thermally conductive material.

5. The coffee machine capable of rapidly preparing low-temperature cold coffee as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The heat exchange device includes a condenser heat exchange tube wound around the outer wall of the coffee chamber. The condenser heat exchange tube is connected to the refrigeration chamber and is in contact with the outer wall of the coffee chamber.

6. The coffee machine for rapidly preparing low-temperature cold coffee as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The condenser heat exchange tube has a heat exchange plane, which is in contact with the outer wall of the coffee chamber.

7. The coffee machine for rapidly preparing low-temperature cold coffee as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The heat exchange device also includes heat-conducting fins, which are integrally formed with the condenser heat exchange tube and are evenly distributed along the axial direction of the coffee chamber.

8. The coffee machine for rapidly preparing low-temperature cold coffee as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The outer wall of the condenser heat exchange tube is provided with a condensate drain groove and a hydrophobic coating. The condensate drain groove is used to collect condensate generated during the heat exchange process, and the hydrophobic coating is used to prevent condensate from adhering. The bottom of the condensate drain groove is provided with a drain pipe, which extends to a wastewater box outside the shell.

9. The coffee machine for rapidly preparing low-temperature cold coffee as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The heat exchange device also includes a condenser coil, which is connected to a condenser heat exchange tube or the refrigeration ice-making module, and the condenser coil is located inside the coffee chamber.

10. The coffee machine for rapidly preparing low-temperature cold coffee as described in claim 9, characterized in that, The condenser coil is spirally wound inside the coffee chamber, with a spiral spacing of 10mm-15mm and a distance of not less than 5mm between the outer diameter of the condenser coil and the inner wall of the coffee chamber.

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