Coffee maker brewing unit and brewing method

Abstract

The application discloses a coffee machine brewing unit and a brewing method, and belongs to the coffee brewing technology. The brewing unit of the existing coffee machine is characterized in that coffee powder is unevenly distributed in a brewing cavity, the compactness of a coffee powder cake is different, and a channel effect is easily generated during brewing extraction. In the application, the axis of a brewing plug is vertically arranged, and a brewing cavity with an upward opening and vertical arrangement is arranged for a brewing seat. The brewing seat is translated between a powder receiving position and a powder pressing position. When the brewing seat is located at the powder receiving position, the brewing cavity receives coffee powder. When the brewing seat is located at the powder pressing position, the brewing seat is connected to the lower end of a brewing plug support through a buckling structure to compact coffee powder in the brewing cavity by the brewing plug and extract coffee beverage. Under the action of gravity, coffee powder falls into the brewing cavity and is uniformly distributed. After the coffee powder is compacted by the brewing plug, the compactness of the coffee powder cake tends to be consistent, and the channel effect is effectively avoided during brewing extraction with hot water, so that high-quality coffee beverage is prepared.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application belongs to the technical field of coffee brewing, and particularly relates to a coffee machine brewing unit and a brewing method. BACKGROUND

[0002] There are many types of coffee machines, and full-automatic coffee machines gradually become popular in the market because they have low operation requirements for consumers and are convenient to use. The most core component of a full-automatic coffee machine includes a full-automatic brewing unit, and various brewing units have their own advantages and disadvantages in technology and actual use.

[0003] The patent application with the application number 201810294213.8 and the application publication number CN108261081A (prior art 1) discloses a brewing core of a coffee machine, which includes a support, a top head, a brewer, a water inlet pipe and a ball screw pair. The ball screw pair is installed on the support, the brewer is provided with a brewing cavity with an opening facing the top head, a powder falling port is located near the opening of the brewer, a movable filter plate is arranged in the brewing cavity, the water inlet pipe is fixed with the brewer, and a liquid outlet pipeline is arranged in the top head. The brewer is fixed with the support, and the top head is fixed with the sliding part of the ball screw pair. The brewing core of the coffee machine can effectively avoid water leakage at the connection between the water inlet pipe and the brewer.

[0004] The patent application with the application number 200880104069.1 and the application publication number CN101877981A (prior art 2) discloses a coffee machine injection group, which includes a sealed piston and an injection cylinder. The injection cylinder can reversibly move between a position engaged with the sealed piston to form an injection chamber and a position disengaged from the sealed piston to load a coffee powder load. The injection group includes a system for expelling the waste coffee powder load from the injection cylinder. The expelling system includes an expelling piston replaceably accommodated in the injection cylinder. The expelling system further includes a speed multiplier mechanism that operatively connects the injection cylinder and the expelling piston to relatively displace them between a position for receiving the coffee powder load into the injection cylinder and a position for expelling the coffee powder load from the injection cylinder.

[0005] The patent application with the application number of 200910174566.5 and the publication number of CN102028408A (the existing document 3) discloses a technical scheme of a brewing unit of a coffee machine, which comprises a brewing plug part, a brewing seat and a fastening assembly. The brewing plug part comprises a brewing plug and a brewing plug support, the brewing plug is movably arranged in the brewing plug support along the axis of the brewing plug; the brewing seat is below the brewing plug support, the brewing seat comprises a brewer which is rotatably arranged to connect or separate from the brewing plug support; the fastening assembly is connected between the brewing plug support and the brewer; in the connection state of the brewer and the brewing plug support, the coffee can be brewed, and the brewer can be fastened on the brewing plug support through the fastening assembly; in the separation state of the brewer and the brewing plug support, the brewer can be detached from the brewing seat. The brewing seat and the brewing plug part of the scheme are arranged separately, and the fastening assembly is arranged between the brewing seat and the brewing plug part, so that the brewing seat and the brewing plug support are in the fastened state during the brewing of the coffee, and the coffee cannot leak out, and the use is safe.

[0006] The existing brewing units have the following problems:

[0007] 1. Since the coffee powder in the brewing cavity is not in a vertical state, under the action of gravity, the coffee powder is unevenly distributed in the brewing cavity, the compactness of the coffee powder cake after pressing is different, and the channel effect is easy to occur during the brewing and extraction with hot water, and the coffee powder with static electricity is easy to scatter outside the brewing cavity.

[0008] 2. The related brewing units are divided into non-detachable type and detachable type, the detachable type has a large volume and is difficult to clean, which brings great difficulty to the user operation.

[0009] 3. The existing transmission mechanism has a large volume, and most of the transmission parts are arranged at the lower part of the powder hopper, so that the related parts are easy to stick and absorb coffee powder, the transmission function of the assembly is lost, and the user cleaning is also difficult.

[0010] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a new type of brewing unit of a coffee machine to overcome the above-mentioned defects. SUMMARY

[0011] The technical problem to be solved and the technical task to be solved by the present application are to overcome the defects that the compactness of the coffee powder cake is different under the action of gravity due to the fact that the coffee powder in the existing brewing unit of a coffee machine is not in a vertical state, and the channel effect is easy to occur during the brewing and extraction with hot water, to provide a coffee machine brewing unit and a brewing method, and on this basis, to solve the defects of easy disassembly and cleaning and reduction of the volume of the transmission mechanism.

[0012] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the coffee machine brewing unit of the present application comprises:

[0013] The brewing plug component includes a brewing plug and a brewing plug holder, the brewing plug is movably arranged in the brewing plug holder along the axis of the brewing plug, and the axis of the brewing plug is vertically arranged;

[0014] The brewing seat has a brewing cavity with an upward opening and a vertical arrangement, and is configured to be translated between a powder receiving position and a powder pressing position, is connected to the lower end of the brewing plug holder through the buckling structure when being located at the powder pressing position to compact the coffee powder in the brewing cavity by the brewing plug and brew the coffee beverage.

[0015] The technical scheme vertically arranges the axis of the brewing plug and the brewing cavity, and the upward opening of the brewing cavity, when the brewing seat is located at the powder receiving position to receive the coffee powder in the brewing cavity, the coffee powder falls into the brewing cavity under the action of gravity, is uniformly distributed, and the compactness of the coffee powder cake tends to be consistent after the coffee powder is compacted, effectively avoiding the channel effect and the floating powder phenomenon caused by static electricity when the coffee beverage is brewed and extracted by hot water, so as to obtain a high-quality coffee beverage.

[0016] In an embodiment, in order to facilitate cleaning of the brewing seat, the brewing seat is detachably assembled on a moving frame, and the moving frame is translated between the powder receiving position and the powder pressing position by the brewing seat driving motor through a horizontal transmission mechanism. Therefore, the brewing seat is conveniently removed from the moving frame for cleaning.

[0017] In an embodiment, the moving frame is provided with a limiting structure, and the limiting structure and the horizontal frame cooperate to limit the brewing seat between the powder receiving position and the powder pressing position, so as to accurately position the brewing seat at the powder receiving position or the powder pressing position.

[0018] In an embodiment, in order to simplify the structure, the limiting structure includes a limiting hole provided on the horizontal frame and a limiting block provided on the moving frame, and the limiting block is located in the limiting hole to achieve limiting, thereby reducing the occupied space of the limiting structure and reducing the product volume.

[0019] In an embodiment, in order to ensure reliable transmission and accurate transmission, the horizontal transmission mechanism includes a horizontal rack and a horizontal drive gear, the horizontal rack is horizontally and slidingly arranged on the horizontal frame and is used to push the moving frame to move horizontally, and the horizontal drive gear is engaged with the horizontal rack to transmit the power of the brewing seat driving motor to the horizontal rack.

[0020] In one embodiment, in order to keep the brewing seat in the powder receiving position or the powder pressing position, and further to intermittently output power outward through the horizontal movement transmission mechanism, the horizontal movement rack has a first pushing part and a second pushing part, the moving frame has a driven part, the first pushing part and the second pushing part selectively soft match with the driven part, the horizontal movement rack pushes the moving frame to move horizontally between the powder receiving position and the powder pressing position through the soft match, and the first pushing part or the second pushing part can pass the driven part to make the horizontal movement rack and the moving frame move relative to each other when the moving frame is blocked from moving horizontally with the horizontal movement rack in the powder receiving position or the powder pressing position.

[0021] In one embodiment, the first pushing part and the second pushing part are elastic structures or / and the driven part is an elastic structure.

[0022] In one embodiment, in order to automatically lift the coffee powder cake and move it away from the brewing chamber, and to simplify the transmission mechanism, the brewing seat has a lifting block for lifting the coffee powder cake, the lifting block is lifted by a lifting transmission mechanism, and power of the brewing seat driving motor is transmitted to the lifting transmission mechanism through the horizontal movement transmission mechanism. Accordingly, the brewing seat driving motor not only provides power for the horizontal movement transmission mechanism, but also provides power for the lifting transmission mechanism.

[0023] In one embodiment, the lifting transmission mechanism includes a lifting rack and a lifting drive gear, the lifting rack is arranged to be lifted in the brewing seat, the lifting block is fixed to an upper end of the lifting rack, and the lifting drive gear is arranged to rotate in the brewing seat and is engaged with the lifting rack.

[0024] In one embodiment, in order to transmit power of the brewing seat driving motor to the lifting transmission mechanism through the horizontal movement transmission mechanism, a transmission gear is arranged on the moving frame, the transmission gear is engaged with the horizontal movement rack and the lifting drive gear, the transmission gear does not transmit action between the horizontal movement rack and the lifting drive gear when the horizontal movement rack pushes the moving frame to move horizontally synchronously, and the transmission gear transmits the action of the horizontal movement rack to the lifting drive gear to drive the lifting block to lift when the horizontal movement rack and the moving frame move relative to each other.

[0025] In one embodiment, a limiting hole is arranged on the horizontal frame, a limiting block is arranged on the moving frame, the limiting block is located in the limiting hole to limit the brewing seat between the powder receiving position and the powder pressing position, and the transmission gear is assembled in the limiting block. The limiting block is used to limit the brewing seat by matching with the limiting hole, and simultaneously serves as the mounting position of the transmission gear, which simplifies the structure and makes the structure compact.

[0026] In one embodiment, in order to control the brewing seat, a first signal switch is configured for the brewing seat, the first signal switch is triggered when the brewing seat moves from the powder receiving position to the powder pressing position to instruct the brewing seat driving motor to pause.

[0027] In one embodiment, in order to remove the coffee powder cake in the brewing chamber, a top block is arranged in the brewing seat, the top block is lifted by the lifting transmission mechanism; the brewing plug support has a blocking part, the top block is lifted to hold the coffee powder cake, and the coffee powder cake is blocked by the blocking part when the brewing seat is translated from the powder pressing position to the powder receiving position.

[0028] In one embodiment, in order to guide the falling coffee powder cake, the brewing seat has a slope to guide the falling coffee powder cake from the top block.

[0029] In one embodiment, in order to control the lifting of the top block, a second signal switch is configured for the top block, the second signal switch is triggered when the top block is lifted to the highest position or lowered to the lowest position.

[0030] In one embodiment, in order to simplify the structure, the second signal switch is fixed and triggered by the first trigger part, the second trigger part and the third trigger part, the first trigger part and the third trigger part are used to trigger the second signal switch to be turned off, and the second trigger part is used to trigger the second signal switch to be turned on. In particular, the second trigger part is the edge of the transverse rack, and the first trigger part and the third trigger part are both grooves arranged on the edge of the transverse rack.

[0031] In one embodiment, in order to simplify the structure, the top block is in the shape of a piston and sealingly fits with the side wall of the brewing chamber and serves as the bottom of the brewing chamber.

[0032] In one embodiment, in order to facilitate the connection and disconnection of the clamping structure, the clamping structure includes two symmetrical supporting edges arranged at the lower end of the brewing plug support and a transverse edge arranged at the upper end of the brewing seat, the transverse edge is translated to the upper side of the supporting edge to be supported by the supporting edge when the brewing seat is translated from the powder receiving position to the powder pressing position, and the transverse edge is separated from the supporting edge when the brewing seat is translated from the powder pressing position to the powder receiving position.

[0033] In one embodiment, in order to accurately position the brewing seat and avoid liquid leakage during brewing, the middle part of the supporting edge has an upward groove, the middle part of the transverse edge has a downward protrusion, and the protrusion is located in the groove when the transverse edge is supported by the supporting edge to position the brewing seat at the lower end of the brewing plug support.

[0034] To achieve the above-mentioned purposes, the coffee machine brewing method of the present application is characterized by performing the following steps:

[0035] (1) The brewing seat is located at the powder receiving position and receives coffee powder in the brewing chamber;

[0036] (2) The brewing seat is translated from the powder receiving position to the powder pressing position and is connected to the lower end of the brewing plug support;

[0037] (3) The brewing plug moves downward to compact the coffee powder in the brewing chamber;

[0038] (4) The compacted coffee powder in the brewing chamber is brewed and extracted into coffee beverage by hot water and flows out;

[0039] (5) The brewing plug moves upward from the position of compacting coffee powder to reset;

[0040] (6) The coffee powder cake after brewing and extraction is lifted by the top block in the brewing seat;

[0041] (7) The brewing seat is translated from the powder pressing position to the powder receiving position, separated from the brewing plug support, and the coffee powder cake is blocked and falls off the top block;

[0042] (8) The brewing seat and the top block are reset to the state of step (1).

[0043] The beneficial effects of the present application are:

[0044] Firstly, the axis of the brewing plug and the brewing chamber are vertically arranged, the brewing chamber opening faces upward, and when the brewing seat is located at the powder receiving position for the brewing chamber to receive coffee powder, the coffee powder falls into the brewing chamber under the action of gravity, is evenly distributed, and the compactness of the coffee powder cake tends to be consistent after the coffee powder is compacted by the brewing plug, effectively avoiding the channeling effect and the floating powder phenomenon caused by static electricity during brewing and extraction with hot water, so as to obtain high-quality coffee beverage.

[0045] Secondly, the brewing seat is detachably assembled on a moving frame, and the moving frame is translated between the powder receiving position and the powder pressing position by the brewing seat driving motor through a horizontal translation transmission mechanism. Therefore, it is convenient to remove the brewing seat from the moving frame for cleaning.

[0046] Thirdly, a top block for lifting the coffee powder cake is arranged in the brewing seat, the top block is lifted by a lifting transmission mechanism, and the power of the brewing seat driving motor is transmitted to the lifting transmission mechanism through the horizontal translation transmission mechanism and a transmission gear. Accordingly, the brewing seat driving motor provides power for the horizontal translation transmission mechanism and also provides power for the lifting transmission mechanism. One power source provides power for two execution actions. In particular, a limiting hole is arranged on the horizontal frame, a limiting block is arranged on the moving frame, the limiting block is located in the limiting hole to limit the brewing seat between the powder receiving position and the powder pressing position, and the transmission gear is assembled on the limiting block. The limiting block is used to cooperate with the limiting hole to achieve limiting and also serves as the mounting position of the transmission gear, which simplifies the structure and makes the structure compact.

[0047] The brewing seat and the brewing plug part are arranged separately, and the brewing seat is connected to the lower end of the brewing plug support through the buckling structure when the brewing seat is in the powder pressing position to compact the coffee powder in the brewing chamber by the brewing plug and brew the coffee beverage, so that the brewing seat and the brewing plug support are in the buckling state when brewing coffee, the coffee liquid cannot leak out, and the use is safe. The brewing seat removed by the user has small volume, and the transmission mechanism parts are not exposed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0048] Figure 1 It is a shaft side view of the coffee machine brewing unit of the present application;

[0049] Figure 2 It is a shaft side view of the coffee machine brewing unit of the present application; Figure 1 It is a cross-section view of the coffee machine brewing unit showing the horizontal movement transmission mechanism;

[0050] Figure 3 It is a cross-section view of the coffee machine brewing unit showing the horizontal movement transmission mechanism; Figure 1 It is a cross-section view of the coffee machine brewing unit showing the horizontal movement transmission mechanism;

[0051] Figure 4 It is a cross-section view of the coffee machine brewing unit showing the horizontal movement transmission mechanism; Figure 2 It is a schematic view of the brewing seat of the coffee machine brewing unit in the powder receiving position;

[0052] Figure 5 It is a schematic view of the brewing seat of the coffee machine brewing unit in the powder receiving position; Figure 3 It is a schematic view of the brewing seat of the coffee machine brewing unit in the powder receiving position;

[0053] Figure 6 It is a schematic view of the brewing seat of the coffee machine brewing unit in the powder receiving position; Figure 4 It is a schematic view of the brewing seat of the coffee machine brewing unit in the powder receiving position;

[0054] Figure 7 It is a schematic view of the brewing seat of the coffee machine brewing unit in the powder receiving position; Figure 5 It is a schematic view of the brewing seat of the coffee machine brewing unit in the powder receiving position;

[0055] Figure 8 It is a schematic view of the brewing seat of the coffee machine brewing unit in the powder receiving position; Figure 6 It is a schematic view of the brewing seat of the coffee machine brewing unit in the powder receiving position;

[0056] Figure 9 It is a schematic view of the brewing seat of the coffee machine brewing unit in the powder receiving position; Figure 7 It is a schematic view of the brewing seat of the coffee machine brewing unit in the powder receiving position;

[0057] Figure 10 It is a schematic view of the brewing seat of the coffee machine brewing unit in the powder receiving position; Figure 8 It is a schematic view of the brewing seat of the coffee machine brewing unit in the powder receiving position;

[0058] Figure 11 It is a schematic view of the brewing seat of the coffee machine brewing unit in the powder receiving position; Figure 9 It is a schematic view of the brewing seat of the coffee machine brewing unit in the powder receiving position;

[0059] Figure 12 Fig. 2 is a schematic view of the top block of the coffee machine brewing unit lifting the cake of coffee powder; Figure 10

[0060] Figure 13 Fig. 3 is a schematic view of the top block of the coffee machine brewing unit lifting the cake of coffee powder; Figure 11

[0061] Figure 14 Fig. 4 is a schematic view of the cake of coffee powder being blocked from falling as the brewing seat of the coffee machine brewing unit resets from the powder pressing position to the powder receiving position; Figure 13

[0062] Figure 15 Fig. 5 is a schematic view of the cake of coffee powder sliding off the slope as it is blocked from falling as the brewing seat of the coffee machine brewing unit resets from the powder pressing position to the powder receiving position; Figure 13

[0063] Figure 16 Fig. 6 is a schematic view of the brewing seat of the coffee machine brewing unit resetting from the powder pressing position to the powder receiving position; Figure 12

[0064] Figure 17 Fig. 7 is a schematic view of the brewing seat of the coffee machine brewing unit resetting from the powder pressing position to the powder receiving position; Figure 13

[0065] Figure 18 Fig. 8 is a schematic view of the transverse rack of the present invention pushing the moving frame to the left;

[0066] Figure 19 Fig. 9 is a schematic view of the transverse rack of the present invention hooking the moving frame to the right;

[0067] Figure 20 Fig. 10 is a schematic view of the brewing seat of the present invention detachably assembled to the moving frame;

[0068] Figure 21 Fig. 11 is a schematic view of the moving frame of the present invention being limited in the powder pressing position by the limiting block being located in the limiting hole of the transverse frame;

[0069] Figure 22 Fig. 12 is a schematic view of the moving frame of the present invention being limited in the powder receiving position by the limiting block being located in the limiting hole of the transverse frame;

[0070] Legend of the figures:

[0071] 100 brewing plug component: 110 brewing plug, 111 axis of the brewing plug; 120 brewing plug holder, 121 blocking portion, 122 supporting edge, 123 groove, 130 brewing plug drive motor;

[0072] ​​​​​​200 brewing seat: 201 brewing cavity, 202 side wall of brewing cavity, 203 latch, 204 extrusion part; 210 top block; 221 lifting rack, 222 first gear, 223 second gear, 224 third gear, 225 fourth gear; 230 first signal switch; 240 inclined surface; 250 second signal switch; 261 transverse edge, 262 protruding part, 270 coffee outlet;

[0073] 300 moving frame: 301 clamping hole, 310 limiting block, 320 driven part, 330 transmission gear, 340 mounting position;

[0074] 400 horizontal frame, 401 limiting hole, 402 collection box;

[0075] 500 brewing seat driving motor;

[0076] 610 horizontal moving rack, 611 first pushing part, 612 second pushing part, 613 first triggering part, 614 second triggering part, 615 third triggering part; 620 horizontal driving gear;

[0077] 700 coffee powder cake. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0078] In order to make the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the present application clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described clearly and completely below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some of the embodiments of the present application, rather than all the embodiments of the present application. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative work fall within the protection scope of the present application.

[0079] The terms “include” and “have” and any variations thereof in the specification and claims of the present application are intended to cover the non-exclusive inclusion, for example, a method or product including a series of technical features is not limited to only those clearly listed, but can also include other technical features not clearly listed that can be included in the method or product.

[0080] In the description of the present application, it should be understood that the terms “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “right” and the like indicate the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the devices or elements referred to must have a particular orientation, be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the present application.

[0081] In the description of the present application, it should be understood that the technical features defined by the terms "first", "second" and the like with sequential concept only for the sake of clear distinction of the defined technical features from other technical features, and do not represent the actual naming in the actual implementation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation of the present application.

[0082] The present application will be described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments and accompanying drawings.

[0083] As Figures 1-3 shown, the coffee machine brewing unit comprises a brewing plug part 100, a brewing seat 200, a moving frame 300, a cross frame 400, a brewing seat driving motor 500, wherein:

[0084] The brewing plug part 100 comprises a brewing plug 110 and a brewing plug bracket 120, the brewing plug 110 is movably arranged in the brewing plug bracket 120 along the axis 111 of the brewing plug under the driving of the brewing plug driving motor 130, and the axis of the brewing plug is vertically arranged. The brewing plug part 100 is fixed in the transverse direction, and in the coffee machine, it can be fixed to the body of the coffee machine. The brewing plug bracket has a blocking part 121.

[0085] The brewing seat 200 has a brewing cavity 201 with an upward opening and a vertical arrangement, and the brewing seat 200 is arranged to be translated between a powder receiving position and a powder pressing position. When the brewing seat is in the powder receiving position, the brewing cavity receives coffee powder, and when the brewing seat is in the powder pressing position, it is connected to the lower end of the brewing plug bracket through the snap structure to compact the coffee powder in the brewing cavity by the brewing plug and brew the coffee beverage. As Figure 1 shown, the snap structure comprises two symmetrical holding edges 122 provided at the lower end of the brewing plug bracket 120 and a transverse edge 261 provided at the upper end of the brewing seat 200, the middle part of the holding edge 122 has an upward groove 123, and the middle part of the transverse edge 261 has a downward protrusion 262. Therefore, the transverse edge 261 of the brewing seat can be translated to the upper side of the holding edge 122 to be carried by the holding edge and translated away from the holding edge. When the transverse edge is carried by the holding edge, the protrusion 262 is located in the groove 123 to position the brewing seat at the lower end of the brewing plug bracket. In other embodiments, the protrusion 262 and the groove 123 can be interchanged.

[0086] As Figure 20As shown, the brewing seat 200 is detachably assembled on the mobile rack via a snap-fit ​​structure. The snap-fit ​​structure includes a snap-fit ​​hole 301 provided on the mobile rack, a latch 203 provided on the brewing seat, and a squeeze portion 204. The squeeze portion and the latch are linked, so that by squeezing the two squeeze portions relative to each other, the two latches can be retracted into the brewing seat, thereby placing the entire brewing seat in the mounting position 340 on the mobile rack. By releasing the squeezing portion, the two latches can be snapped into the snap-fit ​​hole to lock the brewing seat in the mounting position of the mobile rack. By squeezing the two squeeze portions relative to each other, the two latches can be retracted into the brewing seat, and after exiting the snap-fit ​​hole, the entire brewing seat can be removed from the mounting position of the mobile rack, making it easier to clean the brewing seat.

[0087] The movable frame 300 is a structural member, which is driven by the brewing seat drive motor 500 through the transverse transmission mechanism to translate between the powder receiving position and the powder pressing position. Preferably, the movable frame is assembled to the fixed transverse frame 400 in a left-right sliding manner.

[0088] The movable frame is equipped with a limiting structure, which cooperates with the horizontal frame to limit the brewing seat between the powder receiving position and the powder pressing position. Figures 21-22 As shown, the limiting structure includes a limiting hole 401 provided on the horizontal frame 400 and a limiting block 310 provided on the movable frame 300. The limiting block 310 is located in the limiting hole 401 to limit the brewing seat between the powder receiving position and the powder pressing position.

[0089] like Figures 18-19 As shown, the transverse transmission mechanism includes a transverse rack 610 and a transverse drive gear 620. The transverse rack 610 is laterally slidably arranged on the horizontal frame 400 and is used to push the movable frame to move laterally. The transverse drive gear 620 engages with the transverse rack to transmit the power of the brewing seat drive motor to the transverse rack. The brewing seat drive motor 500 is connected to the transverse drive gear 620 via a reduction mechanism. The axle of the transverse drive gear 620 is fixed, so that the positions of the brewing seat drive motor, reduction mechanism, and transverse drive gear remain unchanged during operation. Preferably, the axle of the transverse drive gear and the reduction mechanism are fixed to the horizontal frame, and the brewing seat drive motor is fixed to the reduction mechanism.

[0090] like Figures 18-19As shown, the horizontal moving rack 610 has a first pushing part 611 and a second pushing part 612, the moving frame 300 has a driven part 320, the first pushing part and the second pushing part selectively soft match with the driven part, the horizontal moving rack pushes the moving frame to move horizontally between the powder receiving position and the powder pressing position through the soft match. When the moving frame is blocked from moving horizontally with the horizontal moving rack in the powder receiving position or the powder pressing position, the first pushing part or the second pushing part can move the horizontal moving rack relative to the moving frame by passing the driven part. In the embodiment shown in the figure, the first pushing part and the second pushing part are rigid structures, and the driven part is an elastic structure. The elasticity of the driven part can be realized by the material of the driven part. In specific implementation, the first pushing part and the second pushing part can be elastic structures, the driven part can be a rigid structure, or the first pushing part, the second pushing part and the driven part can all be elastic structures.

[0091] The brewing seat 300 has a top block 210, which is lifted by a lifting transmission mechanism. The power of the brewing seat driving motor 500 is transmitted to the lifting transmission mechanism through a horizontal moving transmission mechanism, and then drives the top block to lift. The top block 210 is lifted to hold the coffee powder cake 700 high, and when the brewing seat is translated from the powder pressing position to the powder receiving position, the coffee powder cake is blocked by the blocking part 121 and falls off. The brewing seat 200 is also provided with a slope 240 for guiding the powder cake to fall off the top block. The top block 210 is in sealing cooperation with the side wall of the brewing cavity and serves as the bottom of the brewing cavity.

[0092] In particular, the lifting transmission mechanism comprises a lifting rack 221 and a lifting drive gear, the lifting rack is arranged on the brewing seat, the top block 210 is fixed on the upper end of the lifting rack 221, and the lifting drive gear is rotatably arranged on the brewing seat and engaged with the lifting rack. The transmission gear 330 is arranged on the moving frame 300, and the transmission gear 300 is assembled to the limiting block 310 for the purpose of simplifying the structure. As shown in the figure, there are two transmission gears, which are respectively engaged with the upper and lower teeth of the rack and are also engaged with each other, so as to maintain the stability of the transmission. The two transmission gears are opposite in direction. In other embodiments, there can be one transmission gear. The transmission gear 330 is engaged with the horizontal moving rack 610 and the lifting drive gear. When the horizontal moving rack pushes the moving frame to move horizontally synchronously, the transmission gear does not rotate and does not transmit the action between the horizontal moving rack and the lifting drive gear. When the horizontal moving rack moves relative to the moving frame, the transmission gear rotates and transmits the action of the horizontal moving rack to the lifting drive gear to drive the top block to lift. In the figure, the lifting drive gear comprises four gears, including a large gear named first gear 222 and three small gears named second gear 223, third gear 224 and fourth gear 225. The first gear is engaged with a transmission gear, the second gear is engaged with the first gear and the third gear, the third gear is engaged with the fourth gear and the lifting rack, and the fourth gear is also engaged with the lifting rack. When the brewing seat is removed from the moving frame, the first gear is disengaged from the transmission gear. When the brewing seat is installed on the moving frame, the first gear is engaged with the transmission gear again.

[0093] The first signal switch 230 is arranged on the brewing seat 200, and the first signal switch is triggered by the touching part on the moving frame when the brewing seat moves from the powder receiving position to the powder pressing position, so as to instruct the brewing seat driving motor to pause.

[0094] The second signal switch 250 is arranged on the top block 210, and the second signal switch is triggered when the top block is lifted to the highest position or lowered to the lowest position. The second signal switch is fixed and triggered by the first trigger part 613, the second trigger part 614 and the third trigger part 615, and the first trigger part and the third trigger part are used to trigger the second signal switch to be turned off, and the second trigger part is used to trigger the second signal switch to be turned on. The second trigger part is the edge of the horizontal moving rack, and the first trigger part and the third trigger part are grooves arranged on the edge of the horizontal moving rack.

[0095] In view of the above-mentioned structure of the coffee machine brewing unit, the following steps are automatically performed under the control of the circuit to realize the brewing method:

[0096] (1) As Figures 4-5As shown, the brewing seat 200 is in the powder receiving position and the coffee powder is received by the brewing chamber 201; in this position, the second signal switch 230 is triggered by the first trigger 613 to instruct the brewing seat drive motor 500 to stop rotating, the first push 611 is on the right side of the driven part 320, and the top block 210 is in the lowest position of the brewing chamber. Therefore, the coffee powder falling from above the brewing chamber falls into the center of the brewing chamber and accumulates.

[0097] (2) After the brewing chamber receives the powder, the brewing seat drive motor 500 is started to drive the horizontal rack 610 to move left, and the first push 611 pushes the driven part 320 to move left synchronously until it reaches Figures 6-7 the powder pressing position, the brewing seat 200 is connected to the lower end of the brewing plug support 120 through the buckling structure, and the first signal switch 230 is triggered by the trigger on the moving frame to instruct the brewing seat drive motor 500 to pause. The moving frame 300 is limited as shown Figure 21 and cannot continue to move left. During the movement of the brewing seat 200 at this stage, the second signal switch 250 is always kept in the closed and connected state by the second trigger 614.

[0098] (3) The brewing plug 110 moves downward to compact the coffee powder in the brewing chamber: as shown Figures 8-9 , when the brewing seat 200 is in the powder pressing position, the brewing plug drive motor 130 is started to drive the brewing plug 110 to move vertically downward for powder pressing action. During the powder pressing process, the brewing plug moves slowly under the reaction force of the coffee powder cake, and the brewing plug drive motor load torque also becomes larger. The control circuit stops working by sensing the current of the brewing plug drive motor, the powder pressing is completed, and the coffee powder is compacted into a powder cake.

[0099] (4) As shown Figures 8-9 , after step (3), the water pump supplies water, and the hot water (about 92°C) heated by the heater enters the brewing chamber through the hot water inlet and the pressure storage valve to brew and extract the compacted coffee powder cake, and the extracted coffee beverage flows out of the coffee outlet 270 through the pressure stabilizing valve.

[0100] (5) After the extraction is completed, the brewing plug drive motor 130 is reversed to drive the brewing plug 110 to move upward to reset until the trigger position signal switch is stopped, see Figures 10-11 .

[0101] (6) The brewing seat driving motor 500 continues to work after receiving the instruction, driving the horizontal moving rack 610 to move left. Since the moving frame 300 cannot move left at this time, the first pushing part 611 forces the driven part 320 to deform and forcibly move beyond the driven part. The horizontal moving rack 610 continues to move left. Since the leftward movement of the horizontal moving rack in this step is relative to the movement of the moving frame, the transmission gear 330 is rotated with the horizontal moving rack 610. The transmission gear 330 drives the top block 210 to rise through the lifting transmission mechanism. The top block 210 lifts the coffee powder cake 700 after brewing and extraction, until the second signal switch 250 is triggered by the third triggering part 615 to instruct the brewing seat driving motor 500 to stop working. At this time, the brewing unit is as shown in Figures 12-13 After the second pushing part 612 forcibly moves beyond the driven part 320, it is located on the left side of the driven part.

[0102] (7) From the state as shown in Figures 12-13 After receiving the instruction, the brewing seat driving motor 500 reverses to work, driving the horizontal moving rack 610 to move right. The second pushing part 612 pushes the driven part 320 to move right and translocate synchronously from the powder pressing position to the powder receiving position. The brewing seat 300 is separated from the brewing plug support 120. As shown in Figures 14-15 As the driven part 320 and the moving frame 300 move right, the coffee powder cake 700 is blocked by the blocking part 121 and falls from the top block, guided by the inclined surface 240 to fall into the collection box 402.

[0103] (8) Under the driving of the brewing seat driving motor 500, the moving frame 300 and the brewing seat 200 are synchronously moved right with the horizontal moving rack 610, until the brewing seat 300 translocates to the powder receiving position as shown in Figures 16-17 The moving frame 300 cannot continue to move right and is limited as shown in Figure 22 At this time, the second pushing part 612 on the left side of the driven part 320 forcibly moves beyond the driven part 320 under the driving of the brewing seat driving motor 500. The horizontal moving rack 610 continues to move right. Since the rightward movement of the horizontal moving rack in this step is relative to the movement of the moving frame, the transmission gear 330 is rotated with the horizontal moving rack 610. The transmission gear 330 drives the top block 210 to lower through the lifting transmission mechanism, until the second signal switch 250 is triggered by the first triggering part 613 to instruct the brewing seat driving motor 500 to stop working. The brewing seat 200 and the top block 210 are reset to the state of step (1) as shown in Figures 4-5

[0104] As described above, through steps (1) to (8), one brewing and extraction of coffee beverage is completed. Repeating steps (1) to (8) can repeatedly brew and extract coffee beverage.​

Claims

1. A coffee machine brewing unit, characterized by include: A brewing plug component (100) comprising a brewing plug (110) and a brewing plug holder (120), wherein the brewing plug is arranged in the brewing plug holder so as to be movable up and down along an axis (111) of the brewing plug, and the axis (111) of the brewing plug is arranged vertically; A brewing seat (200) having a brewing chamber (201) with an upward opening and arranged vertically, and being arranged to translate between a powder receiving position and a powder pressing position, wherein when the brewing seat is located at the powder receiving position, the brewing chamber receives coffee powder, and when the brewing seat is located at the powder pressing position, the brewing seat is connected to the lower end of the brewing plug support via a snap-fit ​​structure so that the brewing plug can press the coffee powder in the brewing chamber and brew an extracted coffee beverage; The brewing seat (200) is detachably mounted on a movable frame (300), and the movable frame (300) is driven by the brewing seat driving motor (500) via a transverse transmission mechanism to translate between the powder receiving position and the powder pressing position; The transverse transmission mechanism includes a transverse rack (610) and a transverse driving gear (620); the transverse rack (610) is arranged to slide transversely on the transverse frame (400) and is used to push the movable frame (300) to move transversely; the transverse driving gear (620) is engaged with the transverse rack (610) and is used to transmit the power of the brewing seat driving motor (500) to the transverse rack; The transverse rack (61) has a first pushing portion (611) and a second pushing portion (612), and the movable frame (300) has a driven portion (320). The first pushing portion and the second pushing portion selectively cooperate with the driven portion. The transverse rack (610) pushes the movable frame (300) to move laterally synchronously between a powder receiving position and a powder pressing position through the soft cooperation. When the movable frame (300) is blocked from laterally moving along with the transverse rack (610) at the powder receiving position or the powder pressing position, the first pushing portion (611) or the second pushing portion (612) can both pass over the driven portion (320) to allow the transverse rack and the movable frame to move relative to each other.

2. The coffee machine brewing unit according to claim 1, characterized in that: A limiting structure is configured for the movable frame (300), and the limiting structure cooperates with the horizontal frame (400) to limit the brewing seat between a powder receiving position and a powder pressing position.

3. The coffee machine brewing unit according to claim 2, characterized in that: The limiting structure comprises a limiting hole (401) provided on the horizontal frame (400) and a limiting block (310) provided on the movable frame (300), wherein the limiting block (310) is located in the limiting hole (401) to achieve limiting.

4. The coffee machine brewing unit according to claim 1, wherein: The first pushing portion and the second pushing portion are elastic structures and / or the driven portion is an elastic structure.

5. The coffee machine brewing unit according to claim 1, characterized in that: The brewing seat (200) has a top block (210) therein, and the top block (210) is lifted and lowered by a lifting transmission mechanism, and the power of the brewing seat drive motor (500) is transmitted to the lifting transmission mechanism via the transverse transmission mechanism.

6. The coffee machine brewing unit according to claim 5, characterized in that: The lifting transmission mechanism comprises a lifting rack (221) and a lifting drive gear. The lifting rack (221) is lifted and arranged on the brewing seat (200). The top block (210) is fixed to the upper end of the lifting rack (221). The lifting drive gear is rotatably arranged on the brewing seat and meshes with the lifting rack.

7. The coffee machine brewing unit according to claim 6, characterized in that: The movable frame (300) is provided with a transmission gear (330), and the transmission gear (330) is engaged with the transverse rack (610) and the lifting drive gear. When the transverse rack pushes the movable frame to move laterally synchronously, the transmission gear (330) does not transmit the action between the transverse rack and the lifting drive gear. When the transverse rack and the movable frame move relative to each other, the transmission gear (330) transmits the action of the transverse rack to the lifting drive gear to drive the top block (210) to move up and down.

8. The coffee machine brewing unit according to claim 7, characterized in that: A limiting hole (401) is provided on the horizontal frame (400), and a limiting block (310) is provided on the movable frame (300). The limiting block (310) is located in the limiting hole (401) to limit the brewing seat between a powder receiving position and a powder pressing position; the transmission gear (330) is assembled on the limiting block (310).

9. The coffee machine brewing unit according to claim 1, characterized in that: The brewing seat (200) is provided with a first signal switch (230), and when the brewing seat moves from the powder receiving position to the powder pressing position, the first signal switch is triggered to instruct the brewing seat drive motor to pause.

10. The coffee machine brewing unit according to claim 1, characterized in that: The brewing seat (200) has a top block (210) therein, and the top block (210) is lifted and lowered by a lifting transmission mechanism; the brewing plug support (120) has a blocking portion (121), and the top block (210) is lifted to lift the coffee powder cake, and when the brewing seat is translated from the powder pressing position to the powder receiving position, the coffee powder cake is blocked by the blocking portion (121) and falls.

11. The coffee machine brewing unit according to claim 10, characterized in that: The brewing seat (200) has an inclined surface (240) for guiding the powder cake to fall from the top block.

12. The coffee machine brewing unit according to claim 10, wherein: A second signal switch (250) is configured for the top block (210), and the second signal switch is triggered when the top block is raised to the highest position or lowered to the lowest position.

13. The coffee machine brewing unit according to claim 12, characterized in that: The second signal switch (250) is fixed and selectively triggered by a first triggering part (613), a second triggering part (614), and a third triggering part (615) that are movable. The first triggering part and the third triggering part are used to trigger the second signal switch to open, and the second triggering part is used to trigger the second signal switch to close.

14. The coffee machine brewing unit according to claim 13, characterized in that: The second trigger portion (614) is the edge of the transverse rack, and the first trigger portion (613) and the third trigger portion (615) are both grooves provided on the edge of the transverse rack.

15. The coffee machine brewing unit according to any one of claims 5-8, 10-14, characterized in that: The top block (210) is piston-shaped and seals with the side wall (202) of the brewing chamber and serves as the bottom of the brewing chamber.

16. The coffee machine brewing unit according to claim 1, characterized in that: The buckling structure comprises two symmetrical supporting edges (122) provided at the lower end of the brewing plug bracket and a transverse edge (261) provided at the upper end of the brewing seat. When the brewing seat is translated from the powder receiving position to the powder pressing position, the transverse edge (261) is translated to the upper side of the supporting edge (122) and is supported by the supporting edge. When the brewing seat is translated from the powder pressing position to the powder receiving position, the transverse edge (261) leaves the supporting edge (122) and is disconnected.

17. The coffee machine brewing unit according to claim 16, wherein: The middle portion of the supporting edge (122) has an upward groove (123), and the middle portion of the transverse edge (261) has a downward protrusion (262). When the transverse edge is supported by the supporting edge, the protrusion (262) is located in the groove (123) to position the brewing seat at the lower end of the brewing plug bracket.

18. A coffee machine brewing method, characterized in that The coffee machine brewing unit according to any one of claims 1 to 17 performs the following steps on its own: (1) The brewing seat (200) is located at a powder receiving position and receives coffee powder through the brewing chamber; (2) The brewing seat (200) is translated from the powder receiving position to the powder pressing position and connected to the lower end of the brewing plug bracket (120); (3) The brewing plug (110) moves downward to compact the coffee powder in the brewing chamber; (4) Using hot water to extract the compacted coffee powder in the brewing chamber into a coffee beverage and then flowing out; (5) The brewing plug (110) moves upward from the position where the coffee powder is compacted to reset; (6) The top block (210) in the brewing seat lifts the brewed and extracted coffee powder cake; (7) The brewing seat (200) moves horizontally from the powder pressing position to the powder receiving position and detaches from the brewing plug bracket, and the coffee powder cake is blocked and falls from the top block; (8) The brewing seat and top block are reset to the state of step (1).

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