Automatic coffee powder pressing and extracting all-in-one machine

Abstract

The invention discloses an automatic coffee powder pressing and extracting all-in-one machine which comprises a cup holder, a gearbox assembly, a powder pressing extractor assembly and a limiting detection device. The cup holder is fixedly connected with a gearbox lower shell and used for fixing a coffee extracting cup; through the arrangement of the pressed powder extractor assembly and the gearbox gear set, traditional separated powder pressing, powder distribution and extraction steps are integrated into coherent mechanical actions. Water injection and extraction are synchronously completed in the powder pressing process, the manual coffee powder transferring link is omitted, coffee powder scattering pollution is effectively avoided, meanwhile, the occupied space of equipment is reduced, accurate powder pressing depth regulation and control are achieved through the synergistic effect of a limiting switch and a position sensor, and through the constant force output characteristic of thread transmission, the powder pressing efficiency is improved. The density stability of the coffee powder cake is ensured. The mechanism breaks through the technical bottleneck of large deviation of manual powder pressing force, so that the thickness and the compactness of the pressed powder of each cup of coffee are highly consistent, the extraction uniformity is remarkably improved, and the taste stability and the quality consistency of the coffee are guaranteed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of coffee machines, and particularly relates to an integrated coffee machine with automatic powder pressing and extraction functions. Background Art

[0002] In traditional coffee brewing processes, coffee beans need to go through multiple processes such as grinding, powder receiving, powder pressing, and extraction. First, the coffee beans are put into a grinder, and the bean grains are broken into powders with a particle size of about 0.5 - 1.5 mm by rotating blades. Subsequently, an extraction funnel needs to be manually placed under the powder outlet of the grinder to receive the coffee powder. At this time, the volume of the loose coffee powder is about 3 - 4 times that after compaction. The brewer needs to hold a powder pressing hammer weighing 1 - 2 kg and apply a vertical pressure with a force of 5 - 15 kg to press the coffee powder into a cake-like structure with a thickness of 1 - 2 cm. This process has significant defects: First, it is difficult to control the uniformity of the pressing force manually, resulting in a density deviation of the coffee powder cake reaching ±30%, which affects the extraction efficiency; Second, during the powder pressing process, the coffee powder is prone to generate dust due to vibration, causing a raw material waste of 5 - 10%; Third, manual powder distribution requires cooperation with rotating and smoothing operations, which requires high skills from the operator, and beginners need to practice multiple times to meet the standards. Existing coffee equipment mostly adopts a split design, with independent functions for grinding, powder pressing, and extraction, resulting in a large volume of the equipment and the need for manual transfer of coffee powder, increasing the risk of contamination. Although some integrated equipment attempts to integrate functions, there are problems such as complex structure, high maintenance cost, and insufficient powder pressing accuracy (stroke error > 0.5 mm). With the upgrading of consumption, the market demand for intelligent coffee equipment has increased sharply. The annual growth rate of coffee machines with fully automatic powder pressing functions reaches 28%, but existing products still cannot solve the core pain points such as cumbersome operation and unstable powder pressing quality. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of the present invention is to provide an integrated coffee machine with automatic powder pressing and extraction functions to solve the problems raised in the above background art.

[0004] To achieve the above purpose, the present invention provides the following technical solution: An integrated coffee machine with automatic powder pressing and extraction functions, comprising a cup holder, a gearbox assembly, a powder pressing and extraction device assembly, and a limit detection device. The cup holder is fixedly connected to the lower housing of the gearbox and is used to fix the coffee extraction cup.

[0005] The gearbox assembly includes an upper housing of the gearbox, a lower housing of the gearbox, and a gearbox gear set disposed between the two. The powder pressing and extraction device assembly is installed in the gearbox gear set, and when the gearbox gear set rotates, it drives the powder pressing and extraction device assembly to move up and down.

[0006] The upper housing of the gearbox is provided with a limit switch and a position sensor for detecting the pressing depth and reset position of the powder pressing and extraction device assembly.

[0007] Preferably, the compressed powder extractor assembly includes a main body with an external thread, and the gearbox gear set is provided with an internal thread matching the external thread. The threaded fit enables the compressed powder extractor assembly to move up and down when the gearbox gear set rotates, thereby effectively ensuring the consistency of the density of the coffee powder cake, thereby significantly improving the extraction efficiency and making the caffeine extraction rate more stable.

[0008] Preferably, a rectangular groove is provided on the gearbox upper shell, and a rectangular positioning rib cooperating with the rectangular groove is provided on the compressed powder extractor assembly. The rotation of the compressed powder extractor assembly is limited by the cooperation between the rectangular groove and the rectangular positioning rib, and it is only allowed to move up and down, which effectively solves the problem of uneven distribution of coffee powder caused by improper operation in the traditional manual powder distribution and powder pressing process.

[0009] Preferably, the limit switch and the position sensor are installed on the upper shell of the gearbox. The limit switch and the position sensor are triggered when the pressed powder extractor assembly moves up and down to accurately control the pressed powder depth and the reset position, so that the strength and effect of each pressed powder are consistent, ensuring the uniformity of the thickness of the coffee powder cake, thereby stabilizing the extraction quality. No matter how many cups of coffee are made, the taste and quality of each cup can be ensured to be the same.

[0010] Preferably, it also includes a driving motor, which is connected to the gearbox gear set to drive the gearbox gear set to rotate, thereby realizing the automation of the powder pressing process and completely getting rid of the tediousness and uncertainty of manual powder pressing. It can continuously and stably provide power to the gearbox gear set, ensure the consistency of powder pressing force and speed, and avoid changes in powder pressing force caused by manual fatigue.

[0011] Preferably, the compressed powder extractor assembly is made of cross-groove countersunk self-tapping stainless steel, and its external thread and the internal thread of the gearbox gear set form a transmission matching structure. The cross-groove countersunk design makes the compressed powder extractor assembly more convenient and quick during installation and maintenance. Its threaded transmission matching with the gearbox gear set not only ensures the stability of the powder pressing process, but also makes the entire structure compact and reasonable, reducing the volume of the equipment.

[0012] Preferably, a switch bracket is also included, and the limit switch is installed on the upper shell of the gearbox through the switch bracket to ensure that the limit switch is firmly installed and does not affect the overall appearance of the device. In addition, the thermoplastic material has a certain insulation property, which improves the safety of the equipment and avoids safety hazards caused by electrical failures.

[0013] Compared with the prior art, the technical effects and advantages of the present invention are as follows: the automatic coffee powder pressing and extraction machine,

[0014] Through the integrated design of the powder pressing and extraction device assembly and the gearbox gear set, the present invention integrates the traditional separate steps of powder pressing, powder spreading, and extraction into a coherent mechanical action. During the powder pressing process, water injection and extraction are completed synchronously, eliminating the manual transfer of coffee powder, effectively avoiding coffee powder spillage and contamination, reducing the equipment footprint, and achieving a high degree of intensification in the coffee-making process.

[0015] Through the coordinated action of the limit switch and the position sensor, the present invention realizes precise control of the powder pressing depth. Combining with the constant force output characteristic of the screw drive, it ensures the stability of the coffee powder cake density. This mechanism breaks through the technical bottleneck of large deviation in manual powder pressing force, making the thickness and compactness of the powder cake for each cup of coffee highly consistent, significantly improving the extraction uniformity, and ensuring the stability of coffee taste and quality consistency.

[0016] The present invention adopts a combined design of a thermoplastic plastic switch bracket and a stainless steel powder pressing component, reducing the manufacturing cost while ensuring the structural strength. The anti-rotation structure of the rectangular positioning ribs and grooves simplifies the complexity of the transmission system, reduces the number of vulnerable parts, and extends the service life of the equipment. The overall structure is compact and reasonable, facilitating maintenance, and effectively solving the problem of high maintenance cost of traditional integrated equipment. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017] Figure 1 is the main exploded view of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 2 is the main sectional view of the powder pressing and extraction integrated machine of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 3 is the combined top view of the gearbox upper shell and the powder pressing and extraction device assembly of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 4 is the top perspective view of the gearbox upper shell of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 5 is the perspective view of the powder pressing and extraction device assembly of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 6 is the internal thread gear drawing of the gearbox gear set of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 7 is the combined sectional view of the powder pressing and extraction device assembly and the gearbox gear set of the present invention.

[0024] In the figure: 1. Position sensor; 2. Switch bracket; 3. Limit switch; 4. Gearbox upper shell; 5. Gearbox gear set; 6. Powder pressing and extraction device assembly; 7. Gearbox lower shell; 8. Cup holder; 9. Driving motor; 10. Rectangular groove; 11. Rectangular positioning rib. Detailed Description of the Invention

[0025] The following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all of the embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0026] Please refer to Figure 1-7 , the present invention provides a technical solution: an automatic coffee powder pressing and extraction integrated machine, which includes a cup holder 8, a gearbox assembly, a powder pressing and extraction device assembly 6, and a limit detection device. The cup holder 8 is fixedly connected to the lower gearbox housing 7 and is used to fix the coffee extraction cup. The cup holder 8 is tightly fixed to the lower gearbox housing 7 through 4 M5 high-strength bolts. The lower gearbox housing 7 is pre-opened with internal thread mounting holes at corresponding positions, and the cup holder 8 is provided with matching bolt through holes. During installation, the bolts pass through the through holes of the cup holder 8 in sequence and are screwed into the internal thread holes of the lower gearbox housing 7, and then a torque wrench is used to tighten them according to the specified torque to ensure that the cup holder 8 and the lower gearbox housing 7 form a stable and rigid connection. This connection method can enable the cup holder 8 to firmly carry the coffee extraction cup during the powder pressing and extraction processes, effectively preventing it from shaking or displacing;

[0027] The gearbox assembly includes an upper gearbox housing 4, a lower gearbox housing 7, and a gearbox gear set 5 disposed between the two. The powder pressing and extraction device assembly 6 is installed in the gearbox gear set 5. When the gearbox gear set 5 rotates, it drives the powder pressing and extraction device assembly 6 to move up and down. The gearbox assembly is surrounded by the upper gearbox housing 4 and the lower housing 7 to create a closed space to accommodate the gearbox gear set 5. The upper gearbox housing 4 and the lower housing 7 are firmly connected by a circle of evenly distributed M4 hexagon socket head cap screws, and a sealing strip is provided at the docking surface to prevent dust and foreign objects from invading and affecting the normal operation of the gear set.

[0028] The gearbox gear set 5 is formed by meshing multiple gears of different specifications. Through the carefully designed gear ratio, precise power transmission and speed conversion are achieved. The main body of the powder pressing and extraction device assembly 6 passes through the center of the gearbox gear set 5, and its external thread is precisely adapted to the internal thread of the gearbox gear set 5. When the drive motor 9 drives the gearbox gear set 5 to rotate, according to the principle of screw drive, the powder pressing and extraction device assembly 6 moves up and down in the vertical direction to successfully complete the coffee powder pressing operation;

[0029] The upper housing 4 of the gearbox is provided with a limit switch 3 and a position sensor 1 for detecting the pressing depth and the reset position of the powder pressing and extraction component 6; the limit switch 3 is installed at a specific part of the upper housing 4 of the gearbox through a switch bracket 2. The switch bracket 2 is injection-molded from thermoplastic plastic, with both good plasticity and a certain strength. One end of it is firmly fixed to the side of the upper housing 4 of the gearbox by two small self-tapping screws, and the other end is provided with a special card slot for the limit switch 3. After the limit switch 3 is inserted into the card slot, it is locked with a fastening screw to ensure a firm installation.

[0030] The position sensor 1 is fixed by relying on a metal mounting seat welded to the top of the upper housing 4 of the gearbox. The shape, size and position of the mounting seat are precisely matched with the position sensor 1, and the position sensor 1 is firmly fixed with screws. When the powder pressing and extraction component 6 moves up and down, a specific part will trigger the limit switch 3 and the position sensor 1. The limit switch 3 is mainly used to detect the limit pressing depth of the powder pressing and extraction component 6. When the set maximum pressing depth is reached, the limit switch 3 is triggered, and the power supply of the driving motor 9 is immediately cut off to avoid over-pressing and damaging the equipment and the coffee powder. The position sensor 1 monitors the position of the powder pressing and extraction component 6 in real time, and feeds the position signal back to the equipment control system. The control system accurately adjusts the pressing depth and the reset position of the powder pressing and extraction component 6 accordingly to ensure the high precision of each powder pressing and reset operation.

[0031] The powder pressing and extraction component 6 includes a main body part with an external thread, and the gearbox gear set 5 of the gearbox is provided with an internal thread matching the external thread. When the gearbox gear set 5 rotates through thread cooperation, the powder pressing and extraction component 6 moves up and down.

[0032] The upper housing 4 of the gearbox is provided with a rectangular groove 10, and the powder pressing and extraction component 6 is provided with a rectangular positioning rib 11 matching the rectangular groove 10. The rotation of the powder pressing and extraction component 6 is restricted through the cooperation of the rectangular groove 10 and the rectangular positioning rib 11, and only allows it to move up and down.

[0033] The limit switch 3 and the position sensor 1 are installed on the upper housing 4 of the gearbox. When the powder pressing and extraction component 6 moves up and down, the limit switch 3 and the position sensor 1 are triggered to accurately control the powder pressing depth and the reset position.

[0034] It also includes a drive motor 9, which is connected to the gearbox gear set 5 in a transmission manner to drive the gearbox gear set 5 to rotate. The output shaft of the drive motor 9 is connected to the input shaft of the gearbox gear set 5 by means of a high-precision coupling. The coupling is made of elastic material, which can effectively compensate for the slight deviation between the two shafts and reduce the vibration and noise caused by installation errors. During installation, first put half of the coupling on the output shaft of the drive motor 9, fix it circumferentially with a key, and then install the other half on the input shaft of the gearbox gear set 5, which is also fixed with a key. Then, fine-tune the motor installation position so that the two half couplings are accurately aligned, and finally tighten the two half couplings with bolts and tighten them according to the specified torque. In this way, the output power of the drive motor 9 can be stably and efficiently transmitted to the gearbox gear set 5, driving it to rotate, and then driving the compressed powder extractor assembly 6 to move up and down.

[0035] The compressed powder extractor assembly 6 is made of cross-groove countersunk self-tapping stainless steel, and its external thread and the internal thread of the gearbox gear set 5 form a transmission matching structure. The main body of the compressed powder extractor assembly 6 is made of cross-groove countersunk self-tapping stainless steel, which has excellent strength and corrosion resistance. Its external thread is tightly engaged with the internal thread of the gearbox gear set 5, and can withstand greater pressure while achieving transmission. On the side of the compressed powder extractor assembly 6, rectangular positioning ribs 11 are symmetrically arranged, and correspondingly, the upper shell 4 of the gearbox is processed with matching rectangular grooves 10. When the compressed powder extractor assembly 6 is installed in the gearbox gear set 5, the rectangular positioning ribs 11 are embedded in the rectangular grooves 10. This structure limits the rotational freedom of the compressed powder extractor assembly 6 when it moves up and down, ensuring that it can only move linearly in the vertical direction, ensuring the accuracy and stability of the compressed powder operation. In addition, a dedicated water inlet is provided inside the compressed powder extractor assembly 6. After the powder is compressed, water is injected into the coffee powder in the extraction cup through the water inlet to start the coffee extraction process.

[0036] The device also includes a switch bracket 2, through which the limit switch 3 is mounted on the upper housing 4 of the gearbox, and the switch bracket 2 is made of thermoplastic plastic. The device also includes a switch bracket 2, through which the limit switch 3 is mounted on the upper housing 4 of the gearbox, so that the limit switch 3 maintains good stability during use of the device.

[0037] Specifically, during use, after the driving motor 9 is started, it drives the transmission gear set 5 to rotate. The transmission gear set 5 is formed by meshing multiple gears of different specifications. Through the carefully designed gear ratio, the precise transmission of power and speed conversion are achieved. The main body of the powder pressing extractor assembly 6 passes through the center of the transmission gear set 5, and its external thread is tightly fitted with the internal thread of the transmission gear set 5. Based on the principle of screw drive, when the transmission gear set 5 rotates, the powder pressing extractor assembly 6 moves up and down in the vertical direction. During the powder pressing process, the powder pressing extractor assembly 6 moves downward to press the coffee powder in the coffee extraction cup placed on the cup holder 8. The cup holder 8 is firmly connected to the lower housing 7 of the transmission by 4 M5 high-strength bolts, and can reliably carry the coffee extraction cup during powder pressing to prevent it from shaking or displacing.

[0038] The upper housing 4 of the transmission is equipped with a limit switch 3 and a position sensor 1. The limit switch 3 is fixed to a specific part of the upper housing 4 of the transmission by a switch bracket 2 made of thermoplastic. When the powder pressing extractor assembly 6 is pressed down to the set maximum depth, it will trigger the limit switch 3, and at this time, the power supply of the driving motor 9 is immediately cut off to avoid over-pressing damage to the equipment and coffee powder. The position sensor 1 is fixed relying on a metal mounting seat welded to the top of the upper housing 4 of the transmission. It real-time monitors the position of the powder pressing extractor assembly 6 and feeds the position signal back to the equipment control system. The control system adjusts the pressing depth and reset position of the powder pressing extractor assembly 6 precisely according to these signals to ensure the high precision of each powder pressing and reset operation.

[0039] After the powder pressing is completed, since there is a dedicated water inlet channel inside the powder pressing extractor assembly 6, external water source injects water into the coffee powder in the extraction cup through this water inlet channel to start the coffee extraction process. During the whole process, the upper housing 4 and the lower housing 7 of the transmission enclose to form a closed space to protect the normal operation of the transmission gear set 5. The two are firmly connected by a circle of evenly distributed M4 hexagon socket head cap screws, and the sealing rubber strip at the docking surface effectively prevents dust and foreign objects from invading. In addition, the rectangular positioning ribs 11 on the side of the powder pressing extractor assembly 6 cooperate with the rectangular grooves 10 on the upper housing 4 of the transmission to limit the rotational freedom of the powder pressing extractor assembly 6 when moving up and down, ensuring that it can only move linearly in the vertical direction, thus guaranteeing the precision and stability of the powder pressing operation, and finally realizing efficient and stable coffee powder pressing and extraction operations, bringing a convenient and high-quality coffee making experience to users.

[0040] Finally, it should be noted that the above are only preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments or perform equivalent replacements for some of the technical features. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present invention shall be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An automatic coffee powder pressing and extraction integrated machine, characterized in that, It includes a cup holder (8), a gearbox assembly, a powder pressing and extraction component (6), and a limit detection device. The cup holder (8) is fixedly connected to the lower gearbox housing (7) and is used to fix the coffee extraction cup. The gearbox assembly includes an upper gearbox housing (4), a lower gearbox housing (7), and a gearbox gear set (5) disposed therebetween. The powder pressing and extraction component (6) is installed within the gearbox gear set (5). When the gearbox gear set (5) rotates, it drives the powder pressing and extraction component (6) to move up and down. The upper gearbox housing (4) is provided with a limit switch (3) and a position sensor (1) for detecting the downward pressing depth and the reset position of the powder pressing and extraction component (6).

2. The automatic coffee powder pressing and extraction integrated machine according to claim 1, wherein: The powder pressing and extraction component (6) includes a main body portion with an external thread. The gearbox gear set (5) is provided with an internal thread matching the external thread. Through the thread fit, when the gearbox gear set (5) rotates, the powder pressing and extraction component (6) moves up and down.

3. The automatic coffee powder pressing and extraction integrated machine according to claim 1, wherein: A rectangular groove (10) is provided on the upper gearbox housing (4). The powder pressing and extraction component (6) is provided with a rectangular positioning rib (11) matching the rectangular groove (10). By the cooperation of the rectangular groove (10) and the rectangular positioning rib (11), the rotation of the powder pressing and extraction component (6) is restricted, and only its up and down movement is allowed.

4. The automatic coffee powder pressing and extraction integrated machine according to claim 1, wherein: The limit switch (3) and the position sensor (1) are installed on the upper gearbox housing (4). When the powder pressing and extraction component (6) moves up and down, the limit switch (3) and the position sensor (1) are triggered to precisely control the powder pressing depth and the reset position.

5. The coffee automatic powder pressing and extraction integrated machine according to claim 1, wherein: It further includes a drive motor (9). The drive motor (9) is in transmission connection with the gearbox gear set (5) to drive the gearbox gear set (5) to rotate.

6. The automatic coffee powder pressing and extraction integrated machine according to claim 1, wherein: The powder pressing and extraction component (6) is made of cross recessed countersunk head self-tapping stainless steel, and its external thread and the internal thread of the gearbox gear set (5) form a transmission fit structure.

7. The automatic coffee powder pressing and extraction integrated machine according to claim 1, wherein: It further includes a switch bracket (2). The limit switch (3) is installed on the upper gearbox housing (4) through the switch bracket (2), and the switch bracket (2) is made of thermoplastic plastic.

8. The automatic coffee powder pressing and extraction integrated machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The water inlet channel is connected to an external water inlet pipe. Water is injected into the extraction cup through the water inlet channel for coffee powder extraction. The extracted coffee flows out from the outlet pipe at the bottom of the extraction cup.

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