Beverage generating method of beverage machine and beverage machine

By controlling the frequency of instant heater and water pump, the problem of insufficient steam temperature of existing coffee machines is solved, low-cost and efficient beverage temperature control is achieved, and beverage quality and user experience are improved.

CN119157390APending Publication Date: 2024-12-20KALERM TECH (SUZHOU) CO LTD
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN202310736353.7
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Applications(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2023-06-20
Publication Date
2024-12-20

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

When making hot milk or milk foam, existing coffee machines cannot meet the high temperature demand due to limited steam temperature, resulting in a decrease in the amount of milk intake, which increases the complexity and cost of equipment.

Method used

By controlling the power of the instant heater and the frequency of the water pump, the water supply is decomposed periodically by using the mains pulse signal signal to ensure the output of steam energy, combined with the negative pressure suction principle of the Venturi milk foam, the temperature control under different beverage modes is achieved .

Benefits of technology

A low-cost solution to meet the temperature needs of different beverages is realized, which improves beverage quality and user experience, and reduces equipment complexity and cost.

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Abstract

The invention discloses a beverage generating method of a beverage machine and the beverage machine. The beverage generating method comprises the following steps: receiving a beverage preparation signal; judging that a beverage mode corresponding to the beverage preparation signal is a beverage mode representing steam output; starting the instant heater; physical substance characteristics of steam required by the corresponding beverage mode and / or physical quantities related to the physical substance characteristics and optional supply characteristics of the single cup amount are obtained, and the water supply amount per unit time is set based on the physical substance characteristics of the steam and / or the physical quantities related to the steam and the optional supply characteristics of the single cup amount; the water supply amount per unit time is determined according to the power of the instant heater and the temperature needing to be heated, the water supply amount per unit time is decomposed according to the period of the mains supply pulse signal to form a water supply target value, the water pump is controlled to work at the target frequency according to the water supply target value, and the target frequency corresponds to the detected mains supply pulse signal. By controlling the operation of the water pump, the steam energy which meets the requirements and is required for making drinks can be obtained.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of beverage preparation, and in particular to a beverage generating method of a beverage machine and the beverage machine. Background Art

[0002] Various automatic or semi-automatic beverage machines, in particular coffee machines, are equipped with a device for producing hot milk or milk foam, and can be used to prepare milk-based beverages such as cappuccino, latte, flat white coffee, etc.

[0003] Existing coffee machines generally use a milk frother based on the Venturi phenomenon to heat milk or make milk foam drinks. The steam forms a negative pressure, so that the milk can be sucked from the milk container into the designed pipeline. At present, coffee machines that use the Venturi principle to heat milk or make milk foam use an instant electric heating plate. The instant electric heating plate is limited by the power of the entire coffee machine, and the energy it can generate steam is insufficient to meet the temperature required to heat milk.

[0004] Due to the inverse relationship between the Venturi milk intake and the steam temperature, when the steam outlet temperature is limited, in order to ensure the temperature of the hot milk, the milk intake must be reduced. For example, depending on whether it is hot milk or hot milk foam, a motor is used to compress the cross section of the milk intake pipe, thereby controlling the milk intake to ensure that the temperature of the hot milk or hot milk foam is suitable for drinking. However, this method is complicated and increases high costs.

[0005] Therefore, it is necessary to further improve the existing technology. Summary of the invention

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a beverage production method of a beverage machine which has low cost and can ensure steam output energy.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a beverage machine which is low in cost and can produce beverages that meet the needs of users.

[0008] To achieve one of the above-mentioned purposes of the invention, an embodiment of the present invention provides a beverage production method of a beverage machine, comprising the following steps:

[0009] A beverage preparation signal is received;

[0010] determining that the beverage mode corresponding to the beverage preparation signal is a beverage mode characterizing steam output, wherein the beverage mode characterizing steam output includes a first beverage mode and a second beverage mode;

[0011] Start the instant heater;

[0012] Acquire the physical material properties of steam and / or the physical quantities related thereto and the optional supply characteristics of a single cup required for the corresponding beverage mode, and set the water supply amount per unit time based on the physical material properties of the steam and / or the physical quantities related thereto and the optional supply characteristics of a single cup;

[0013] The water supply per unit time is determined according to the power of the instant heater and the required heating temperature, the water supply per unit time is decomposed according to the period of the mains pulse signal to form a water supply target value, and the water pump is controlled to operate at a target frequency according to the water supply target value, the target frequency corresponds to the detected mains pulse signal, under the target frequency, the water pump supplies water to the instant heater in a regular intermittent manner, the water at the first temperature pumped by the water pump within the single cup time length passes through the instant heater to generate a steam flow at a second temperature, the steam flow is supplied to the steam inlet of the venturi milk frother, and the required heating temperature is the difference between the second temperature and the first temperature;

[0014] In the first beverage mode, the steam flow entering from the steam inlet generates negative pressure to suck in the source liquid, and the venturi milk froth machine outputs the first heated beverage in a selected cup amount;

[0015] In the second beverage mode, air is supplied to the air inlet of the venturi milk frother, the steam flow entering from the steam inlet generates negative pressure to suck in the air-source liquid mixture, and the venturi milk frother outputs a selected cup of the second heated beverage.

[0016] As a further improvement of an embodiment of the present invention, the temperature of the instant hot water heater is detected; a function of the temperature change of the instant hot water heater over time is established, and when it is detected that the temperature of the instant hot water heater is higher or lower than a preset temperature, a non-constant distribution of the target frequency is set based on the change trend of the temperature of the instant hot water heater in the function, and the non-constant distribution changes during the time of selecting the cup amount, and the water pump affects the output of the first heated beverage or the second heated beverage in a manner of executing the non-constant distribution of the target frequency.

[0017] As a further improvement of an embodiment of the present invention, a function of the temperature of the instant heating heater changing with time is subjected to a second derivative to obtain a second derivative result, and the second derivative result is used as a variation trend of the temperature of the instant heating heater.

[0018] As a further improvement of an embodiment of the present invention, in the non-constant distribution of the target frequency, the start time of the water pump is kept unchanged and the target frequency is changed by adjusting the stop time of the water pump.

[0019] As a further improvement of one embodiment of the present invention, the temperature of the instant heating heater is detected; when it is detected that the temperature of the instant heating heater is higher or lower than a preset temperature, the temperature difference between the detected temperature of the instant heating heater and the preset temperature is calculated, and the target frequency of the water pump is adjusted based on the temperature difference.

[0020] As a further improvement of one embodiment of the present invention, in the first beverage mode and the second beverage mode, the target frequency is the same; in the first beverage mode, the instant heater operates at full frequency; in the second beverage mode, the instant heater operates at a fixed frequency.

[0021] As a further improvement of an embodiment of the present invention, in the first beverage mode and the second beverage mode, the instant heater operates at full frequency; the target frequency of the water pump operation in the first beverage mode is less than the target frequency of the water pump operation in the second beverage mode.

[0022] As a further improvement of an embodiment of the present invention, at the target frequency, the start-up duration of the water pump is the same as one cycle of the pulse signal of the AC power, and the start-up time point of the water pump is the same position in different cycles of the pulse signal.

[0023] As a further improvement of an embodiment of the present invention, the power of the instant heater is between 1300W and 1600W.

[0024] As a further improvement of an embodiment of the present invention, the beverage mode also includes a beverage mode characterized by limited steam output, and the beverage mode with limited steam output is a third beverage mode. In the third beverage mode, the water pump is controlled to operate at full frequency.

[0025] The present invention also relates to a beverage machine, comprising:

[0026] A milk froth machine and a steam supply channel and a source liquid supply channel connected to the milk froth machine, wherein an instant heater is provided on the steam supply channel;

[0027] A controller and a water pump connected to the controller, wherein the water pump is arranged between a water tank and the instantaneous heater, and the instantaneous heater is connected to the controller. The controller includes a memory and a processor, wherein a computer program is stored in the memory, and when the computer program is executed by the processor, the beverage machine implements the beverage generation method of the beverage machine described in any of the above embodiments.

[0028] Compared with the prior art, the beverage production method proposed in the present invention can obtain the required temperature for making various beverages by controlling the operation of the water pump. The beverage machine using the beverage production method has good quality of prepared beverages and good user experience, and can be achieved by simply controlling the water pump, with low cost. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the water path of a beverage machine in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 2 is a flow chart of a method for producing a beverage in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of a pulse signal of a commercial power supply, a control signal of a water pump, and a control signal of a hot plate in a method for producing a beverage in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of a pulse signal of a commercial power supply, a control signal of a water pump, and a control signal of a hot plate in a method for producing a beverage in another embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] Figure 5 yes Figure 3 and Figure 4 A schematic diagram showing time variations of a target frequency of a water pump and a temperature of an instant heater in a method for producing a beverage.

[0034] Figure 6 It is a schematic diagram of a control signal of a water pump in a method for producing a beverage in still another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the present invention and is not intended to be a limitation of the present invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations may be made to the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention. For example, a feature illustrated or described as part of one embodiment may be used together with another embodiment to produce yet another embodiment. Therefore, the present invention is intended to cover such modifications and variations that fall within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0036] As used herein, the terms "first", "second", and "third" may be used interchangeably to distinguish one component from another and are not intended to indicate the location or importance of the respective components. Terms such as "upstream" and "downstream" refer to the direction relative to the flow of fluid, with "upstream" being the side relative to the flow in and "downstream" being the side relative to the flow out. As used herein, approximate terms such as "substantially", "about", or "approximately" include values ​​within ten percent greater or less than the stated value.

[0037] The beverage machine in the embodiment of the present application can heat the source liquid and emulsify the source liquid, and the source liquid is not limited to milk, but can also be plant milk or other liquids that need to be heated. The following specific implementation takes milk as an example for explanation.

[0038] Figure 1 A partial water circuit diagram of a beverage machine according to a preferred embodiment of the present application is provided, which only shows a portion of the water circuit required for the beverage machine to make beverages related to the embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 As shown, the beverage machine 100 has a milk froth machine 20 for emulsifying milk and an instant heater 30 for heating water. The milk froth machine 20 is preferably a Venturi milk froth machine, which uses a Venturi structure to mix the sucked milk with steam or the milk with steam and air, thereby obtaining hot milk or milk foam. The instant heater 30 is preferably an electric heating plate. The steam required by the milk froth machine 20 is ensured by the instant heater 30 by heating the water in the pipeline. The water from the water tank 41 can be supplied to the pipeline of the heater 30. The supplied water is transported by a water pump 51, that is, the water pump 51 is located between the water tank 41 and the instant heater 30, and the water tank 41 is located upstream of the water pump 51. A flow meter 52 can be set between the water tank 41 and the water pump 51 to detect the flow of water transported to the pipeline of the instant heater 30.

[0039] Figure 2 A flow chart of a beverage production method of a beverage machine according to a preferred embodiment of the present application is provided. In a preferred embodiment of the present application, the beverage production method comprises the following steps:

[0040] A beverage preparation signal is received;

[0041] determining that the beverage mode corresponding to the beverage preparation signal is a beverage mode characterizing steam output, wherein the beverage mode characterizing steam output includes a first beverage mode and a second beverage mode;

[0042] Start the instant heater;

[0043] Acquire physical material properties of steam and / or physical quantities related thereto and optional supply characteristics of a single cup required for a corresponding beverage mode, and set a water supply amount per unit time based on the acquired physical material properties of steam and / or physical quantities related thereto and optional supply characteristics of a single cup;

[0044] The water supply per unit time is determined according to the power of the instant heater and the required heating temperature, and the water supply per unit time is decomposed according to the period of the mains pulse signal to form a water supply target value. The water pump is controlled to operate at a target frequency according to the target value. The target frequency corresponds to the detected mains pulse signal. Under the target frequency, the water pump supplies water to the instant heater in a regular intermittent manner. The water at the first temperature pumped by the water pump within the single cup time generates a steam flow at the second temperature through the instant heater. The steam flow is supplied to the steam inlet of the venturi milk frother. The required heating temperature is the difference between the second temperature and the first temperature.

[0045] In the first beverage mode, the steam flow entering from the steam inlet generates negative pressure to suck the source liquid, and the venturi milk frother outputs the first heated beverage in the selected cup amount;

[0046] In the second beverage mode, air is supplied to the air inlet of the venturi milk frother, and the steam flow entering from the steam inlet generates negative pressure to inhale the air-source liquid mixture, and the venturi milk frother outputs the second heated beverage of the selected cup amount. Among them, the received beverage preparation signal can be that the user presses the beverage button, and the signal output by the button determines whether it is a beverage mode representing steam output, and the beverage machine starts to prepare steam when receiving the signal of the button; of course, it can also be a remote signal for making the above beverage sent by a mobile device. The beverage mode representing steam output includes a first beverage mode and a second beverage mode. The first beverage mode can be a hot milk beverage, which is a mode of heating the source liquid by outputting steam. The second beverage mode can be a milk foam beverage, which is a mixed mode of outputting steam and air-source liquid. The source liquids of the first beverage mode and the second beverage mode can be one or different. The difference between the first beverage mode and the second beverage mode is whether air is contained. When the source liquids are both milk, the first heated beverage formed by the first beverage mode is hot milk, and the second heated beverage formed by the second beverage mode is hot milk foam.

[0047] The milk froth machine 20 has a steam inlet, an air inlet and a milk inlet. The steam inlet of the milk froth machine 20 is connected to the outlet of the instant heater, the air inlet of the milk froth machine 20 is connected to the external air, and the milk inlet of the milk froth machine 20 is connected to the milk container. The milk froth machine 20 can fully mix the three substances of air, steam and milk in a certain proportion in the mixing chamber through their respective pipelines to form milk froth. That is, the milk froth machine 20 forms a negative pressure based on the Venturi effect by introducing a steam flow. With the help of the negative pressure, milk can be sucked into the mixing chamber from the milk container through the suction pipe, and air can be sucked into the mixing chamber from the outside through the air inlet, thereby heating and emulsifying the milk. Among them, the air inlet is adjustable, and the air inlet can be opened and closed by setting a valve or various opening and closing devices, or the opening size of the air inlet can be controlled. In this embodiment, in the first beverage mode, the air inlet is closed, and only steam and milk are mixed in the milk froth machine to generate hot milk; in the second beverage mode, the air inlet is opened, and steam, air and milk are mixed in the milk froth machine to generate hot milk froth.

[0048] In this embodiment, preferably, the first beverage mode may be making hot milk, and the second beverage mode may be making hot milk froth. When the beverage cup volume and temperature requirements are the same, making hot milk has a higher requirement for steam. As long as the energy of the steam from the instant heater can meet the requirement for heating milk, the requirement for making hot milk froth can certainly be met.

[0049] In the above steps, starting the instant heater can be full-frequency start-up so that the instant heater can reach a higher temperature in a shorter time. Obtain the physical material properties of the steam required for making hot milk and / or the physical quantities related thereto and the optional single cup supply characteristics, that is, the temperature / energy of the steam corresponding to the final output beverage, or the corresponding steam quality / steam output time, which are related to the optional single cup volume. The higher the single cup volume, the more steam energy or steam quality or steam output time required. The optional single cup supply characteristics include the volume of the heated beverage to be output, the time to complete the production of the heated beverage, the temperature of the source liquid, the temperature of the heated beverage, etc. For example, the selected heated beverage is 100 ml, the initial milk temperature is 5 degrees, it needs to be heated to 80 degrees, and it takes 20 seconds to complete the production. The steam temperature required for this beverage mode is 130 degrees, and the calorific value of the generated hot milk is equal to the heat of the steam, so that the required steam quality can be obtained.

[0050] According to the law of conservation of mass, the mass of steam is equal to the amount of water that needs to be evaporated, which means that theoretically the amount of water supplied per unit time is the amount of water that can be completely vaporized by the instant heater per unit time. However, based on the heating properties of the instant heater, the volume of the instant heater is very small. If the amount of water input per unit time is large, too much water entering the instant heater may not have time to vaporize and will flow out, which will cause the steam entering the milk frother to have a high water content, and the beverage produced will not meet the needs of the user. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the amount of water supplied per unit time based on the power of the instant heater and the required heating temperature, and decompose the amount of water supplied per unit time by the period of the mains pulse signal to form a water supply target value.

[0051] Among them, within a certain period of time, the heat taken away by the increased temperature of the outflowing water is equal to the electric energy for heating. According to the formula Cm△T=Pt, C is the thermal capacity of water, which is a fixed constant, m is the mass of water flowing through, △T is the temperature rise of water, P is the power of the instant heater, and t is the heating time. According to the power of the instant heater, the mass of water that is completely vaporized per unit time can be calculated. Taking water at room temperature of 20 degrees as an example, the energy required to heat 1 gram of 20-degree water to 100 degrees, plus the energy required to heat 100-degree water to 100-degree steam, plus the energy required to heat 100-degree steam to 150-degree steam. When a 1500W instant heater is used, the energy generated in 1 second is 1500 joules. 1500 joules divided by the total energy required to heat 1 gram of water to the target 150-degree steam, finally the mass of water that can be completely vaporized in 1 second is obtained. It can be seen that the water supply per unit time is related to the power of the instantaneous heater and / or the required heating temperature, and the water supply per unit time can be determined according to the power of the instantaneous heater and the required heating temperature. The water supply per unit time remains unchanged, and the single large amount of water supply is changed to multiple small amounts of water supply, and the water supply frequency per unit time is increased. The water supply frequency is associated with the period of the mains pulse signal, that is, the water supply per unit time is decomposed by the period of the mains pulse signal to form a water supply target value, and the water supply target value is a single water supply. The target frequency for the water pump is set by the single water supply, and the target frequency corresponds to the detected mains pulse signal. At this target frequency, the water pump supplies water to the instantaneous heater in a regular intermittent manner. In this way, the water supply per unit time is decomposed by the period of the mains pulse signal to form a water supply target value, and the water pump is controlled to work at the target frequency with the water supply target value, which can ensure the one-time water supply capacity of the water pump to obtain higher energy steam. The water at the first temperature pumped by the water pump within the single cup duration generates a steam flow at the second temperature through the instant heater, and the steam flow is supplied to the steam inlet of the venturi milk frother. The above-mentioned required heating temperature is the temperature difference between the water supply source and the temperature required for heating corresponding to the beverage mode. In the specific embodiment of the present application, the mains pulse is based on the 50hz mains category in China as an example for time / pulse description.

[0052] However, in actual use, it is necessary to consider the heat loss of the instant heater and the error between the actual working time and the theoretical value, as well as the thermal conductivity characteristics of water and the delayed integral effect of heat transfer. The actual water supply per unit time or the water supply target value needs to be multiplied by a compensation coefficient less than 1. In the above method, the actual water supply per unit time is also obtained. Therefore, it is preferred in this application to decompose the water supply per unit time according to the period of the mains pulse signal, and the working cycle of the water pump also corresponds to the period of the mains pulse signal. The working cycle in which the water supply can be completely vaporized once is selected as the frequency of the water pump, that is, the water supply target value is used to control the water pump to work at the target frequency. At this target frequency, the water pump supplies water to the instant heater in a regular intermittent manner. The water supply of each cycle of the water pump can be completely vaporized, which will produce a continuous steam flow, and the water content of the steam is disclosed, so that the beverage produced meets the needs of the user.

[0053] Figure 3 A schematic diagram showing the comparison between the control signal of the instant heater and the control signal of the water pump and the pulse signal of the mains in the first beverage mode is shown, referring to Figure 3 As shown, in the first beverage mode, the target frequency is preferably that the water pump starts for 20ms and stops for 180-220ms, 20ms being one cycle of the AC pulse signal of the mains, and the stop time is an integer multiple of the start time, such as 180ms, 200ms, 220ms, etc. This ensures that the water pump can replenish water in time when the last water supply is completely vaporized, ensuring the continuity of the water supply, so as to obtain sufficient steam energy.

[0054] Reference Figure 5 The figure shows the target frequency of the water pump and the temperature of the instant heating heater over time. During the heating process of the instant heating heater, the temperature of the instant heating heater cannot remain fixed, so the consistency of the generated steam cannot be guaranteed. Therefore, the temperature of the instant heating heater can be further detected; a function of the temperature of the instant heating heater changing over time is established. When it is detected that the temperature of the instant heating heater is higher or lower than the preset temperature, a non-constant distribution of the target frequency is set based on the change trend of the temperature of the instant heating heater in the function. The non-constant distribution changes during the time of selecting the cup size, and the water pump affects the output of the first heated beverage by executing the non-constant distribution of the target frequency.

[0055] During the beverage making process, the temperature of the instant heater is not always constant. As the water evaporates, the temperature of the instant heater will also decrease. If the target frequency of the water pump remains unchanged, the consistency and continuity of the final steam output may be affected.

[0056] When it is detected that the temperature of the instant heating heater is higher or lower than the preset temperature, the non-constant distribution of the target frequency is set to set the target frequency to a dynamic frequency. Under the dynamic frequency, the start time of the water pump is kept unchanged and the water pump operation is controlled by adjusting the stop time of the water pump. For example, the above-mentioned water pump starts for 20ms and stops for 200ms. Then, when the temperature of the instant heating heater fluctuates, the stop time of the water pump can be adjusted to 180ms or 220ms, that is, when it is detected that the temperature of the instant heating heater is lower than the preset temperature, the stop time of the water pump can be extended, and when it is detected that the temperature of the instant heating heater is higher than the preset temperature, the stop time of the water pump can be shortened, thus forming a non-constant distribution of the target frequency. The preset temperature can be a temperature value or an allowable temperature range to ensure that the instant heating heater remains within this temperature value or temperature range, thereby ensuring the stability and consistency of steam generation. For example, the instant heating heater is kept at around 155 degrees to ensure the generation of steam within the range of 120-140 degrees.

[0057] The water pump operates at a dynamic frequency to ensure that consistent, continuous and stable steam is generated to meet the needs of making hot milk.

[0058] Reference Figure 4 As shown, the second beverage mode can be to make hot milk froth to obtain the physical material properties of the steam required for making hot milk and / or the physical quantities related thereto and the optional supply characteristics of the single cup quantity, that is, the temperature / energy of the steam corresponding to the final beverage produced, or the corresponding steam quality / duration of steam output. The target value of the water supply per unit time and the target frequency of the water pump are determined in the same way as when making hot milk as described above, and will not be repeated here. Among them, the target frequency corresponding to making hot milk froth is preferably that the water pump starts for 20ms and stops for 120ms-160ms, 20ms is one cycle of the AC pulse signal of the mains, and the stop time is an integer multiple of the start time, such as 120ms, 140ms, 160ms, etc., that is, the second frequency is less than the first frequency, so that it can be ensured that the water pump supplies water once so that the instant heater generates steam energy that meets the requirements for milk froth preparation.

[0059] Similarly, the target frequency corresponding to making hot milk foam can also be set to a dynamic frequency. Under the dynamic frequency, the start time of the water pump is kept unchanged and the water pump operation is controlled by adjusting the stop time of the water pump. For example, the water pump starts for 20ms and stops for 140ms. Then, when the temperature of the instant heater fluctuates, the stop time of the water pump can be adjusted to 120ms or 160ms, that is, when the temperature of the instant heater is detected to be lower than the preset temperature, the stop time of the water pump can be extended, and when the temperature of the instant heater is detected to be higher than the preset temperature, the stop time of the water pump can be shortened. The preset temperature can be a temperature value or an allowable temperature range, ensuring that the instant heater remains within this temperature value or temperature range, thereby ensuring the stability and consistency of steam generation. The preset temperature here can be the same as the preset temperature of the instant heater when making hot milk, or it can be different, such as lower than the preset temperature of the instant heater when making hot milk. The instant heater is kept at about 130 degrees to ensure the generation of steam within the range of 100-120 degrees.

[0060] No matter in the first beverage mode or the second beverage mode, when it is detected that the temperature of the instant heater is higher or lower than a preset temperature, the water pump is controlled to perform a non-constant distribution of the target frequency. Based on the temperature sensor on the instant heating heater, the temperature of the instant heating heater is collected once every 20ms or 40ms (preferred value is 20ms). According to the temperature of the instant heating heater detected each time and the corresponding detection time, a function of the temperature change of the instant heating heater over time can be fitted, which is recorded as the temperature function f(Tw) of the instant heating heater. The temperature function f(Tw) of the instant heating heater is secondarily derived to obtain the second derivative result f″(Tw). The second derivative result f″(Tw) can reflect the change rate of the temperature rise rate of the instant heating heater, that is, it can reflect the change trend of the temperature of the instant heating heater. The larger the second derivative result f″(Tw), the faster the temperature rise rate of the instant heating heater in the current state. At this time, the stop interval of the water pump can be shortened more quickly. By performing a second derivative on the function of the instant heating heater temperature changing over time, the change law of the temperature of the instant heating heater can be accurately determined, and the target frequency of the water pump operation can be adjusted immediately according to the change law.

[0061] When the result of the second derivative is less than the preset value, it indicates that the temperature rise rate of the instantaneous heater in the current state cannot meet the requirement that the single water supply can be completely vaporized when the water pump is running at the current target frequency. At this time, the stop interval of the water pump can be increased. The above preset value can be determined according to the working state of the instantaneous heater, such as the critical value of the second-order derivative of the temperature function of the instantaneous heater between the highest temperature operating state and the lowest temperature operating state when the instantaneous heater is running at full frequency. By adjusting the non-constant distribution of the target frequency according to the speed of change of the temperature rise rate of the instantaneous heater, the user's needs are met on the basis of ensuring the continuity and consistency of the steam output.

[0062] In another embodiment, the temperature of the instant heating heater is detected; when it is detected that the temperature of the instant heating heater is higher or lower than the preset temperature, the temperature difference between the detected temperature of the instant heating heater and the preset temperature is calculated, and the target frequency of the water pump is adjusted based on the temperature difference. That is, when the temperature difference is larger, the target frequency change rate of the water pump operation is larger. For example, the increase or decrease of the interval of the stop time is proportional to the temperature difference while the start time of the water pump remains unchanged, and the temperature of the instant heating heater can also be kept in a suitable range, thereby ensuring the energy of steam output. In the first beverage mode and the second beverage mode, the instant heating heater operates at full frequency; the target frequency of the water pump operation in the first beverage mode is less than the target frequency of the water pump operation in the second beverage mode. For example, when making hot milk, the target frequency is preferably that the water pump starts for 20ms and stops for 200ms, and when making hot milk foam, the target frequency is preferably that the water pump starts for 20ms and stops for 120ms-160ms. In this way, different heated beverages can be output by controlling the operating frequency of the water pump.

[0063] Optionally, in the first beverage mode or the second beverage mode, the same target frequency can be used to control the operation of the water pump. In the first beverage mode, the instant heating heater operates at full frequency; in the second beverage mode, the instant heating heater operates at a fixed frequency. In the same beverage mode, the operating frequency of the heater is fixed. In different beverage modes, the template frequency of the water pump is the same, and different heated beverages can also be output.

[0064] The instant heater is operated at a reduced frequency, which is equivalent to reducing the power of the instant heater, and can achieve the purpose of reducing steam energy to prepare hot milk foam. Of course, based on the actual power of the instant heater, the target frequency of the water pump operation in the two modes can also be set to be different. In the above embodiment, the steam generated by the water output by the water pump to the instant heater can be controlled to prepare milk foam that meets the requirements of a single cup, while preventing the instant heater from frequently switching between multiple powers to affect its service life.

[0065] In the above control for the water pump to run at the target frequency, the start-up time of the water pump is the same as one cycle of the pulse signal of the mains, and the start-up time point of the water pump is the same position in different cycles of the pulse signal. Figure 3 and Figure 4 The start time of the water pump can be set at the rising position A of the mains pulse signal, which can ensure the consistency of the effective start time of the water pump and prevent deviations from causing different water supply amounts each time, thereby affecting the consistency of the final steam generation. Of course, the start time of the water pump can also be set at the falling position of the mains pulse signal, as long as the same position point of different cycles of the pulse signal is sufficient.

[0066] In the above embodiment, the power of the instant heater is preferably between 1300W and 1600W. Although the greater the power of the instant heater, the greater the steam energy generated per unit time, the entire coffee machine also involves other high-power devices. If they are started at the same time, it may cause an impact on the power grid, posing a safety hazard. The steam energy generated per unit time of an instant heater with a lower power does not meet the requirements. If the purpose is only to make the generated steam energy meet the requirements, a continuous heater can be used. The instant heater with the above power is the best choice in terms of the generated steam energy, cost and overall machine volume.

[0067] Reference Figure 6As shown, the beverage mode also includes a beverage mode that characterizes limited steam output, and the beverage mode that characterizes limited steam output is the third beverage mode. In the third beverage mode, the water pump is controlled to operate at full frequency. Among them, the beverage mode that characterizes limited steam output can be the preparation of coffee beverages without milk, such as American coffee. When the water pump operates at full frequency, it can be independent of the mains pulse signal. Therefore, what the instant heater needs to output is hot water at this time, and the full-frequency operation of the water pump will not affect the output of hot water. Specifically, when the beverage mode that characterizes steam output is the first beverage mode, the water supply per unit time corresponding to the first beverage mode is obtained, and the water supply target value formed based on the water supply per unit time corresponding to the first beverage mode is controlled to operate at the target frequency corresponding to the first beverage mode, that is, the water pump is controlled according to the first beverage mode, and the temperature of the instant heater corresponding to the first beverage mode is approximately 155 degrees. When the beverage mode characterizing steam output is the second beverage mode, the water supply per unit time corresponding to the second beverage mode is obtained, and the water supply target value formed based on the water supply per unit time corresponding to the second beverage mode is controlled to operate at the target frequency corresponding to the second beverage mode, that is, the water pump is controlled according to the second beverage mode, and the temperature of the instant heater corresponding to the second beverage mode is approximately 140 degrees; when the third beverage mode characterizing the steam output restriction is used, the water pump is controlled to operate at full frequency, that is, the water pump is controlled according to the third beverage mode, and the temperature of the instant heater corresponding to the third beverage mode is approximately 90 degrees. By controlling the water pump, the temperature requirements of different beverages can be met, and different beverages that meet the taste requirements of users can be made.

[0068] By adopting the above embodiment, different beverages can be made. Different types of beverages of the same quantity have different requirements for temperature and heating energy. By controlling the working frequency of the water pump, steam energy that meets the requirements of different types of beverages can be generated, and hot water that meets the brewing requirements can also be generated.

[0069] The present application also relates to a beverage machine, which includes a milk froth machine 20 and a steam supply channel and a source liquid supply channel connected to the milk froth machine 20, and an instant heating heater 30 is arranged on the steam supply channel. The beverage machine also includes a controller and a water pump 51 connected to the controller, the instant heating heater 30 and the water pump 51 are connected to the controller 80, and the water pump 51 is arranged between the water tank 41 and the milk froth machine 20. The controller includes a memory and a processor, and a computer program is stored in the memory, and when the computer program is executed by the processor, it is used to implement the beverage production method of the beverage machine in the above embodiment.

[0070] The beverage machine using the beverage production method can realize the production of different beverages, and the overall size of the beverage machine is small and the cost is low.

[0071] It should be understood that although this specification is described according to implementation modes, not every implementation mode contains only one independent technical solution. This description of the specification is only for the sake of clarity. Those skilled in the art should regard the specification as a whole. The technical solutions in each implementation mode may also be appropriately combined to form other implementation modes that can be understood by those skilled in the art.

[0072] The series of detailed descriptions listed above are only specific descriptions of feasible implementation methods of the present invention. They are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Any equivalent implementation methods or changes that do not deviate from the technical spirit of the present invention should be included in the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A beverage production method for a beverage machine, It is characterized in that The following steps are involved: A beverage preparation signal is received; determining that the beverage mode corresponding to the beverage preparation signal is a beverage mode characterizing steam output, wherein the beverage mode characterizing steam output includes a first beverage mode and a second beverage mode; Start the instant heater; Acquire the physical material properties of steam and / or the physical quantities related thereto and the optional supply characteristics of a single cup required for the corresponding beverage mode, and set the water supply amount per unit time based on the physical material properties of the steam and / or the physical quantities related thereto and the optional supply characteristics of a single cup; The water supply per unit time is determined according to the power of the instant heater and the required heating temperature, the water supply per unit time is decomposed according to the period of the mains pulse signal to form a water supply target value, and the water pump is controlled to operate at a target frequency according to the water supply target value, the target frequency corresponds to the detected mains pulse signal, under the target frequency, the water pump supplies water to the instant heater in a regular intermittent manner, the water at the first temperature pumped by the water pump within the single cup time length passes through the instant heater to generate a steam flow at a second temperature, the steam flow is supplied to the steam inlet of the venturi milk frother, and the required heating temperature is the difference between the second temperature and the first temperature; In the first beverage mode, the steam flow entering from the steam inlet generates negative pressure to suck in the source liquid, and the venturi milk froth machine outputs the first heated beverage in a selected cup amount; In the second beverage mode, air is supplied to the air inlet of the venturi milk frother, the steam flow entering from the steam inlet generates negative pressure to suck in the air-source liquid mixture, and the venturi milk frother outputs a selected cup of the second heated beverage.

2. The beverage production method according to claim 1, It is characterized in that Detecting the temperature of the instant hot water heater; establishing a function of the temperature of the instant hot water heater changing with time, and when detecting that the temperature of the instant hot water heater is higher or lower than a preset temperature, setting the non-constant distribution of the target frequency based on the changing trend of the temperature of the instant hot water heater in the function, wherein the non-constant distribution changes during the time of selecting the cup amount, and the water pump affects the output of the first heated beverage or the second heated beverage in a manner of executing the non-constant distribution of the target frequency.

3. The beverage production method according to claim 2, It is characterized in that A second derivative is performed on a function of the temperature of the instant heating heater changing with time to obtain a second derivative result, and the second derivative result is used as a change trend of the temperature of the instant heating heater.

4. The beverage production method according to claim 2, It is characterized in that In the non-constant distribution of the target frequency, the start time of the water pump is kept unchanged and the target frequency is changed by adjusting the stop time of the water pump.

5. The beverage production method according to claim 1, It is characterized in that Detecting the temperature of the instantaneous heater; when detecting that the temperature of the instantaneous heater is higher or lower than a preset temperature, calculating the temperature difference between the detected temperature of the instantaneous heater and the preset temperature, and adjusting the target frequency of the water pump based on the temperature difference.

6. The beverage production method according to claim 1, It is characterized in that In the first beverage mode and the second beverage mode, the target frequency is the same; in the first beverage mode, the instant heater operates at full frequency; in the second beverage mode, the instant heater operates at a fixed frequency.

7. The beverage production method according to claim 1, It is characterized in that In the first beverage mode and the second beverage mode, the instant heater operates at full frequency; and in the first beverage mode, a target frequency of the water pump operation is lower than a target frequency of the water pump operation in the second beverage mode.

8. The beverage production method according to claim 1, It is characterized in that At the target frequency, the start-up duration of the water pump is the same as one cycle of the pulse signal of the mains power, and the start-up time point of the water pump is the same position in different cycles of the pulse signal.

9. The beverage production method according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The power of the instant heater is between 1300W and 1600W.

10. The beverage production method according to claim 9, It is characterized in that The beverage mode also includes a beverage mode characterized by limiting steam output, and the beverage mode with limited steam output is a third beverage mode. In the third beverage mode, the water pump is controlled to operate at full frequency.

11. A beverage machine, It is characterized in that include: A milk froth machine and a steam supply channel and a source liquid supply channel connected to the milk froth machine, wherein the steam supply channel is connected to an instant heater; A controller and a water pump connected to the controller, wherein the water pump is arranged between a water source and the instantaneous heater, and the instantaneous heater is connected to the controller, wherein the controller comprises a memory and a processor, wherein a computer program is stored in the memory, and when the computer program is executed by the processor, the beverage machine implements the beverage generation method of the beverage machine according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

Citation Information

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