Beverage preparation device

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a beverage preparation device. The beverage preparation apparatus comprises: a water tank (214); a heater (204); the cold water pipe (202) is used for conveying water in the water tank (214) to the input end of the heater (204); hot water heated by the heater (204) flows into the input end of the hot water pipe (206) through the output end of the heater (204), and the hot water pipe (206) further comprises a low-temperature hot water branch pipe (208) and a high-temperature hot water branch pipe (210); the output end of the low-temperature hot water branch pipe (208) and the output end of the high-temperature hot water branch pipe (210) are connected to the beverage preparation chamber (216), and the temperature of hot water flowing out of the output end of the low-temperature hot water branch pipe (208) is lower than that of hot water flowing out of the output end of the high-temperature hot water branch pipe (210).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of kitchen appliances, and more particularly, to a beverage preparation device. Background Art

[0002] There are many beverage preparation devices on the market, which can be used to brew various beverages such as coffee and tea. Taking brewing coffee as an example, common ones include drip coffee machines (such as Figure 1 as shown) and American-style grinders (such as Figure 2 As shown in the figure, this type of coffee machine can have different shapes. The grinding coffee machine is also provided with a grinding knife (126), but basically water is heated by an electric heater (104) from a water tank (114) through a water inlet pipe (102), and then the hot water (boiling water) is sent to a coffee basket (116) through a water outlet pipe (106), thereby brewing coffee.

[0003] As the quality of life is getting higher and higher, consumers have higher and higher requirements for brewing coffee. Currently, consumers are increasingly demanding the use of low-temperature water to brew coffee. In order to meet the needs of consumers, enable coffee machines to make coffee with different tastes, and improve people's taste in life, a few coffee machines currently add water pumps, NTC (negative temperature coefficient) thermistors, flow meters and other components to achieve the function of brewing coffee with optional water temperature. For example, Chinese patent CN211632835U uses flow meters, temperature sensors and other components to achieve the cold extraction function. However, these solutions to brew coffee with optional water temperature have significantly increased manufacturing costs due to the addition of water pumps, NTCs, flow meters, one-way valves and other components, which has greatly reduced the competitiveness of the products in the market. Utility Model Content

[0004] This disclosure is provided to introduce some concepts in a simplified form that will be further described in the following detailed description. This disclosure is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[0005] One of the purposes of the present disclosure is to provide a beverage preparation device with selectable temperature, by adding one or more hot water pipes to the original hot water pipe, and by having different water outlet temperatures of different hot water pipes, the desired output water temperatures of different levels can be achieved.

[0006] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a beverage preparation device is provided, wherein the beverage preparation device comprises: a water tank; a heater; a cold water pipe for conveying water in the water tank to the input end of the heater; a hot water pipe, hot water heated by the heater flows into the input end of the hot water pipe through the output end of the heater, and the hot water pipe further comprises a low-temperature hot water branch pipe and a high-temperature hot water branch pipe; and a beverage preparation chamber, wherein the output ends of the low-temperature hot water branch pipe and the high-temperature hot water branch pipe are respectively connected to the beverage preparation chamber, wherein the temperature of the hot water flowing out of the output end of the low-temperature hot water branch pipe is lower than the temperature of the hot water flowing out of the output end of the high-temperature hot water branch pipe. This design can achieve the purpose of achieving optional water temperature at a low cost by setting the low-temperature hot water branch pipe and the high-temperature hot water branch pipe to obtain different output water temperatures.

[0007] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the length of the low-temperature hot water branch pipe is greater than that of the high-temperature hot water branch pipe, so that the temperature difference reduced by hot water flowing through the low-temperature hot water branch pipe is greater than the temperature difference reduced by hot water flowing through the high-temperature hot water branch pipe. This design adjusts the output water temperature by setting different lengths of hot water pipes, which is easy to implement and has low manufacturing cost.

[0008] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the low-temperature hot water branch pipe passes through the water tank, so that the temperature difference reduced by the hot water flowing through the low-temperature hot water branch pipe is greater than the temperature difference reduced by the hot water flowing through the high-temperature hot water branch pipe. This design arranges the low-temperature hot water branch pipe to pass through the water tank, so that the hot water in the low-temperature hot water branch pipe can be cooled by the cold water in the water tank, and the arrangement is more compact, thereby reducing the volume of the beverage preparation device.

[0009] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the heater includes a first heating unit and a second heating unit, the output end of the first heating unit is connected to the input end of the low-temperature hot water branch pipe, and the output end of the second heating unit is connected to the input end of the high-temperature hot water branch pipe. This design uses multiple heating units to heat the cold water flowing into the low-temperature hot water branch pipe and the high-temperature hot water branch pipe respectively, thereby adjusting the output water temperature, which is easy to implement.

[0010] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the cold water pipe further includes a first cold water branch pipe and a second cold water branch pipe, the input end of the first heating unit is connected to the output end of the first cold water branch pipe, and the input end of the second heating unit is connected to the output end of the second cold water branch pipe. This design inputs cold water to different heating units for heating through different cold water branches, thereby achieving different output temperatures.

[0011] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the temperature of the hot water flowing out of the first heating unit is lower than the temperature of the hot water flowing out of the second heating unit. The design utilizes different heating units to heat cold water to obtain different outflowing water temperatures.

[0012] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the amount of hot water heated by the first heating unit and the second heating unit is controlled in response to the user's selection. This design can adjust the amount of water heated by different heating units according to the user's requirements, thereby achieving multiple desired water outlet temperatures.

[0013] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, in response to a user's selection, water from the cold water pipe is controlled to flow only into the first heating unit, or only into the second heating unit, or into both the first heating unit and the second heating unit. This design achieves multiple user-desired water outlet temperatures by controlling the amount of water heated by different heating units.

[0014] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the beverage preparation device further includes a control device, which is configured to control the amount of water flowing into the low-temperature hot water branch pipe and the high-temperature hot water branch pipe in response to a user's selection. This design controls the heated hot water to flow through different hot water pipes through the control device, thereby obtaining different output water temperatures, and can achieve the purpose of achieving selectable water temperatures at a low cost.

[0015] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the control device controls the heated water to flow only into the low-temperature hot water branch pipe, or only into the high-temperature hot water branch pipe, or into both the low-temperature hot water branch pipe and the high-temperature hot water branch pipe. This design achieves the water outlet temperature desired by multiple users by controlling the amount of water flowing into different hot water pipes.

[0016] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the hot water pipe further includes a hot water main pipe, the output end of the hot water main pipe is connected to the input end of the control device, and the output end of the control device is respectively connected to the input ends of the low-temperature hot water branch pipe and the high-temperature hot water branch pipe. This design draws hot water from the heater through the hot water main pipe, and then divides the hot water through the three-way control device.

[0017] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the beverage preparation device further comprises: a beverage preparation instruction receiving device for receiving instructions from a user for preparing beverages using different beverage preparation temperatures. The beverage preparation instruction receiving device can further provide a water temperature selection interface for the user.

[0018] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the beverage preparation chamber is used to make coffee or tea. The beverage preparation device includes a coffee machine or a tea maker, which has multiple application scenarios.

[0019] These and other features and advantages will become apparent by reading the following detailed description and by reference to the associated drawings.It is to be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are illustrative only and are not restrictive of the aspects of what is claimed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] In order to understand in detail the manner in which the above features of the present disclosure are used, the above briefly summarized contents may be described in more detail with reference to various embodiments, some of which are shown in the accompanying drawings. However, it should be noted that the accompanying drawings only show certain typical aspects of the present disclosure and should not be considered to limit its scope, as the description may allow for other equally effective aspects.

[0021] Figure 1 A three-dimensional diagram showing the internal structure of a drip coffee machine according to the prior art.

[0022] Figure 2 A three-dimensional view showing the internal structure of a grinding coffee machine according to the prior art.

[0023] Figure 3 A side perspective view showing the internal structure of a beverage preparation device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0024] Figure 4 A bottom perspective view showing the internal structure of a beverage preparation device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0025] Figure 5 A perspective view showing the internal structure of a beverage preparation device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0026] Figure 6 A partial perspective view of a beverage preparation device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0027] Figure 7 A side perspective view of a beverage preparation apparatus according to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0028] Figure 8 A bottom perspective view showing the internal structure of a beverage preparation device according to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0029] Fig. 9 A perspective view showing the internal structure of a drip coffee machine according to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0030] Fig.10 A perspective view showing the internal structure of a grinding coffee machine according to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0031] Description of reference numerals:

[0032] 102 water inlet pipe; 104 electric heater; 106 water outlet pipe; 114 water tank; 116 coffee basket; 126 grinding knife.

[0033] 202 cold water pipe; 2022 first cold water branch pipe; 2024 second cold water branch pipe.

[0034] 206 hot water pipe; 218 hot water main pipe; 208 low-temperature hot water branch pipe; 210 high-temperature hot water branch pipe.

[0035] 204 heater; 2042 first heating unit; 2044 second heating unit.

[0036] 212 control device; 214 water tank; 216 beverage preparation chamber; 220 cup body; 224 diverter. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Although certain embodiments of the present disclosure are shown in the accompanying drawings, it should be understood that the present disclosure can be implemented in various forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments described herein, which are instead provided for a more thorough and complete understanding of the present disclosure. It should be understood that the drawings and embodiments of the present disclosure are only for exemplary purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

[0038] In the description of the present disclosure, it should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, "multiple" means more than two; the terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "inside", "outside", etc. indicate positions or positional relationships only for the convenience of describing the present disclosure and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the present disclosure. In addition, the terms "first", "second", "third", etc. are only used for descriptive purposes and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance. "Vertical" is not strictly vertical, but is within the allowable error range. "Parallel" is not strictly parallel, but is within the allowable error range.

[0039] The directional words appearing in the following description are all directions shown in the figures, and do not limit the specific structure of the present disclosure. In the description of the present disclosure, it should also be noted that, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "installed", "connected", and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present disclosure can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0040] Reference to "embodiments" herein means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in conjunction with the embodiments may be included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. The appearance of the phrase in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it an independent or alternative embodiment that is mutually exclusive with other embodiments. It is explicitly and implicitly understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein may be combined with other embodiments.

[0041] In the description of the embodiments of the present disclosure, the term "and / or" is only a description of the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B may represent: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone. In addition, the character " / " in this article generally indicates that the associated objects before and after are in an "or" relationship.

[0042] In the following, we will combine Figures 3 to 10 To describe the principle of the present disclosure. It should be noted that, for the sake of convenience, each of the drawings of the present disclosure is described by taking a coffee machine as an example of a beverage preparation device. However, it can be appreciated that the structure and improvements of the present disclosure are not only applicable to coffee machines, but can be applied to any beverage preparation device that brews beverages with hot water, such as a tea maker, a milk tea maker, etc.

[0043] Figure 3 and Figure 4 2 is a stereogram of a beverage preparation device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure from different perspectives. As shown in the figure, the beverage preparation device may include a water tank 214, a heater 204, a cold water pipe 202, a hot water pipe 206 and a beverage preparation chamber 216. Among them, the water tank 214 can be used to store water, and the cold water pipe 202 is used to transport the water in the water tank 214 to the input end of the heater 204. It can be appreciated that the cold water pipe 202 can include one or more cold water branches according to actual needs. Similarly, the heater 204 can also include one or more heating units according to actual needs. The hot water heated by the heater 204 flows into the input end of the hot water pipe 206 through the output end of the heater 204. The hot water pipe 206 may further include a low-temperature hot water branch pipe 208 and a high-temperature hot water branch pipe 210, and the output ends of the low-temperature hot water branch pipe 208 and the high-temperature hot water branch pipe 210 are respectively connected to the beverage preparation chamber 216. Specifically, the various designs described below can be used to make the temperature of hot water flowing out of the output end of the low-temperature hot water pipe 208 lower than the temperature of hot water flowing out of the output end of the high-temperature hot water pipe 210, thereby achieving multiple water outlet temperatures that meet user needs.

[0044] In one example, different temperature differences can be achieved by setting hot water branches of different lengths. That is, the low-temperature hot water branch 208 and the high-temperature hot water branch 210 can have different lengths. Since the length of each hot water branch is different, the heat dissipation of each hot water pipe is also different, so the effect of multiple water temperatures can be achieved by letting water flow through different hot water branches. For example, the length of the low-temperature hot water pipe 208 can be greater than the length of the high-temperature hot water pipe 210, so that the temperature difference reduced by the hot water flowing through the low-temperature hot water pipe 208 is greater than the temperature difference reduced by the hot water flowing through the high-temperature hot water pipe 210. Specifically, when the heated water enters the low-temperature hot water branch 208 and the high-temperature hot water branch 210 of the hot water pipe 206 and dissipates heat through different branches respectively, and finally flows into the beverage preparation chamber 216, the water flowing out of the low-temperature hot water branch 208 has a lower temperature than the water flowing out of the high-temperature hot water branch 210 because of its longer length and more heat loss. It can be understood that the temperatures of the hot water flowing into the low-temperature hot water branch 208 and the high-temperature hot water branch 210 can be the same or different. When the water temperature flowing into the low-temperature hot water branch 208 is lower than the water temperature flowing into the high-temperature hot water branch 210, hot water branches of different lengths can further increase the temperature difference between the outlet water temperatures of the low-temperature hot water branch 208 and the high-temperature hot water branch 210.

[0045] As described above, considering that the length of each hot water branch pipe is inversely proportional to the temperature of the water flowing out of the branch pipe, different water temperatures can be adjusted by different water pipe lengths, that is, the low-temperature hot water branch pipe is longer than the high-temperature hot water branch pipe. As a non-limiting example, the low-temperature hot water branch pipe 208 can be at least 50 mm longer than the high-temperature hot water branch pipe 210, so that the temperature difference of the hot water flowing into the beverage preparation chamber 216 through the low-temperature hot water branch pipe 208 after heating is at least 5°C lower than the temperature difference of the hot water flowing into the beverage preparation chamber 216 through the high-temperature hot water branch pipe 210. It can be appreciated that the specific length difference of the hot water branch pipe depends on various factors such as the structure of different beverage preparation equipment, heat dissipation performance, the material of the branch pipe, and the desired water temperature difference to be achieved, so different branch pipe lengths can be set according to the design needs of the actual product.

[0046] In another example, different temperature differences can be achieved by setting whether the hot water branch pipe passes through the water tank. For example, the low-temperature hot water branch pipe 208 can be set to pass through the water tank 214, so that the temperature difference reduced by the hot water flowing through the low-temperature hot water pipe 208 is greater than the temperature difference reduced by flowing through the high-temperature hot water pipe 210. This setting can cool the hot water in the low-temperature hot water branch pipe 208 by the cold water in the water tank 214, so as to achieve the desired lower water temperature, and this design makes the layout of each device in the beverage preparation device more compact, thereby reducing the volume of the entire beverage preparation device. However, it can be appreciated that setting the low-temperature hot water branch pipe 208 to pass through the water tank 214 can also cover the situation where the low-temperature hot water branch pipe 208 is set close to the water tank 214, which agrees that the hot water in the low-temperature hot water branch pipe 208 can be cooled by the cold water in the water tank 214. In addition, whether the high-temperature hot water branch pipe 210 passes through the water tank 214 can be set according to actual needs. For example, when only the outlet water temperature is distinguished by this example, the high-temperature hot water branch pipe 210 can be set not to pass through the water tank 214. When combined with other designs, the high-temperature hot water branch pipe 210 can also be set to pass through the water tank 214. However, optionally setting the high-temperature hot water branch pipe 210 not to pass through the water tank 214 can further increase the temperature difference between the outlet water temperatures of the low-temperature hot water branch pipe 208 and the high-temperature hot water branch pipe 210.

[0047] In another example, different temperature differences can be achieved by setting different heating units. For example, the heater 204 may include a first heating unit 2042 and a second heating unit 2044, the output end of the first heating unit 2042 is connected to the input end of the low-temperature hot water branch pipe 208, and the output end of the second heating unit 2044 is connected to the input end of the high-temperature hot water branch pipe 210. Specifically, different heating units may have different working powers, heat cold water to different temperatures, and then output to different hot water branches, thereby obtaining different outlet water temperatures.

[0048] Accordingly, the cold water pipe 202 may further include a first cold water branch pipe 2022 and a second cold water branch pipe 2024, the input end of the first heating unit 2042 is connected to the output end of the first cold water branch pipe 2022, and the input end of the second heating unit 2044 is connected to the output end of the second cold water branch pipe 2024. Thus, the cold water from the water tank 214 flows into the first cold water branch pipe 2022 and the second cold water branch pipe 2024 respectively, the water flowing into the first cold water branch pipe 2022 is heated by the first heating unit 2042 and then flows into the low-temperature hot water branch pipe 208, and the water flowing into the second cold water branch pipe 2024 is heated by the second heating unit 2044 and then flows into the high-temperature hot water branch pipe 210. Since different heating units are used to heat the cold water, the hot water flowing into the low-temperature hot water branch pipe 208 and the high-temperature hot water branch pipe 210 can have different temperatures.

[0049] Furthermore, by setting different heating units, for example, the first heating unit 2042 and the second heating unit 2044 can have different heating powers, thereby achieving that the temperature of the hot water flowing out of the first heating unit 2042 is lower than the temperature of the hot water flowing out of the second heating unit 2044, thereby making the outlet water temperature of the low-temperature hot water branch 208 lower than the outlet water temperature of the high-temperature hot water branch 210.

[0050] In addition, the amount of hot water heated by the first heating unit 2042 and the second heating unit 2044 can also be controlled in response to the user's selection. Specifically, for example, in response to the user's selection, the water from the cold water pipe 202 can be controlled to flow only into the first heating unit 2042, or only into the second heating unit 2044, or into both the first heating unit 2042 and the second heating unit 2044. This setting allows the two heating units to be heated separately or simultaneously, thereby obtaining multiple levels of water outlet temperatures. It can be appreciated that controlling the amount of hot water heated by the first heating unit 2042 and the second heating unit 2044 also includes controlling different amounts of cold water to flow into the first heating unit 2042 and the second heating unit 2044, so that different proportions of hot water heated by the first heating unit 2042 and the second heating unit 2044 can be mixed to obtain more optional water outlet temperatures.

[0051] It can be appreciated that the above three examples can be applied individually or in combination, for example: (1) only hot water branch pipes of different lengths are set to obtain different outlet water temperatures; (2) only one hot water branch pipe (e.g., low-temperature hot water branch pipe 208) is set to pass through the water tank 214, while another hot water branch pipe (e.g., high-temperature hot water branch pipe 210) is set not to pass through the water tank 214, thereby obtaining different outlet water temperatures; (3) different outlet water temperatures are obtained by heating cold water only through different heating units; (4) one hot water branch pipe (e.g., low-temperature hot water branch pipe 208) is set to pass through the water tank 214, and the low-temperature hot water branch pipe 208 is set to be longer than the low-temperature hot water branch pipe 210; (5) different heating units and hot water branches of different lengths are provided to obtain different water outlet temperatures; (6) one hot water branch (e.g., the low-temperature hot water branch 208) is provided to pass through the water tank 214, while another hot water branch (e.g., the high-temperature hot water branch 210) is provided not to pass through the water tank 214, and different heating units are provided to obtain different water outlet temperatures; (7) different heating units and hot water branches of different lengths are provided, and one hot water branch is provided to pass through the water tank 214, so as to obtain different water outlet temperatures, and so on.

[0052] Figure 3 and Figure 4A stereogram combining the above three examples is shown, wherein the heater 204 (including the first heating unit 2042 and the second heating unit 2044) is a heating pipe, which can directly heat the cold water flowing through it, combining the functions of water delivery and heating, avoiding the need for a separate heating device in addition to the water delivery component, which can make the layout of the various devices in the beverage preparation device more compact, thereby saving space. However, it can be understood that the heater 204 is not as Figure 3 and Figure 4 In addition to the design shown, other structures can also be designed as long as the water from the cold water pipe 202 can be heated. For example, it can include a heating device such as a heating plate and a water pipe, and the water in the water pipe is heated by the heating device.

[0053] refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4 In actual application scenarios, users can choose beverages with different water outlet temperatures according to their needs. See below for specific descriptions.

[0054] (1) When low-temperature water is required, that is, only the first heating unit 2042 is required to work, cold water enters the first heating unit 2042 from the water tank 214 through the first cold water branch pipe 2022, and after the cold water is heated by the first heating unit 2042, the hot water passes through the low-temperature hot water branch pipe 208 and enters the beverage preparation chamber 216, and is extracted and brewed with coffee or tea in the beverage preparation chamber 216, and then flows into the liquid container (i.e., the cup body 220), which can be a glass cup or a stainless steel cup. The first heating unit 2042 heats the water to a relatively low temperature, and then the hot water dissipates heat through the relatively long low-temperature hot water branch pipe 208, and is further cooled through the water tank 214, and finally a relatively low water outlet temperature can be obtained. It can be understood that at this time, the second heating unit 2044 does not work and does not heat the cold water therein. Accordingly, the cold water therein is stationary and does not flow from the high-temperature hot water branch pipe 210 to the beverage preparation chamber 216.

[0055] (2) When high-temperature water output is required, that is, when only the second heating unit 2044 is required to work, cold water enters the second heating unit 2044 from the water tank 214 through the second cold water branch pipe 2024. After the cold water is heated by the second heating unit 2044, the hot water passes through the high-temperature hot water branch pipe 210 and enters the beverage preparation chamber 216, where it is extracted and brewed with the coffee or tea in the beverage preparation chamber 216, and then flows into the liquid container (i.e., the cup body 220). The above second heating unit 2044 will heat the water to a higher temperature, and then the hot water will dissipate heat through the shorter high-temperature hot water branch pipe 210, and finally a higher water outlet temperature can be obtained. Similarly, at this time, the first heating unit 2042 does not work and does not heat the cold water therein. Accordingly, the cold water therein is stationary and will not flow from the low-temperature hot water branch pipe 208 to be output to the beverage preparation chamber 216. In addition, it can be understood that although Figure 3 and Figure 4 It is shown that the high-temperature hot water branch pipe 210 also passes through the water tank 214 (this can save the layout space of various devices in the beverage preparation equipment), but according to actual application needs, it can also be arranged not to pass through the water tank 214. When it does not pass through the water tank 214, a relatively higher water outlet temperature can be obtained.

[0056] (3) When medium-temperature water outlet is required, that is, the first heating unit 2042 and the second heating unit 2044 need to work at the same time, cold water flows out of the water tank 214 and enters the first cold water branch pipe 2022 and the second cold water branch pipe 2024 respectively. The water flowing into the first cold water branch pipe 2022 is heated by the first heating unit 2042 and then flows into the low-temperature hot water branch pipe 208, while the water flowing into the second cold water branch pipe 2024 is heated by the second heating unit 2044 and then flows into the high-temperature hot water branch pipe 210. Finally, the hot water from the low-temperature hot water branch pipe 208 and the high-temperature hot water branch pipe 210 enter the beverage preparation chamber 216 together. The above can mix the hot water from the low-temperature hot water branch pipe 208 and the high-temperature hot water branch pipe 210 to obtain water outlet with a relatively moderate temperature (higher than the low temperature and lower than the high temperature). It can be understood that more optional water outlet temperatures can be obtained by adjusting different water volume ratios flowing into the low-temperature hot water branch pipe 208 and the high-temperature hot water branch pipe 210.

[0057] In order to distinguish the first heating unit 2042 from the second heating unit 2044, as a non-limiting example, the cold water can be heated to above 65 degrees by the first heating unit 2042, and the cold water can be heated to above 85 degrees by the second heating unit 2044, so as to obtain different water outlet temperatures. It can be appreciated that other heating temperatures can also be set according to different beverages to be brewed, user needs, etc.

[0058] Figure 5 and Figure 6 Another stereogram combining the above three examples is shown. Figure 3 and Figure 4 Compared with the embodiment shown, the difference is Figure 5 and Figure 6 The cold water pipe 202 in the embodiment further includes a cold water main pipe 2026. The input end of the cold water main pipe 2026 is connected to the water tank 214, and the output end of the cold water main pipe 2026 is connected to the input ends of the first cold water branch pipe 2022 and the second cold water branch pipe 2024. In this embodiment, the cold water from the water tank 214 first flows into the cold water main pipe 2026 of the cold water pipe 202, and then branches into the first cold water branch pipe 2022 and the second cold water branch pipe 2024 respectively. Other specific implementation schemes are similar to those described above with reference to Figure 3 and Figure 4 The water tank 214 has two outlets directly connected to the first cold water branch pipe 2022 and the second cold water branch pipe 2024, so it is not repeated here.

[0059] With Figure 1 and Figure 2 Compared with the beverage preparation device of the prior art shown in Figures 3 to 6 The beverage preparation device in the illustrated embodiment can solve the pain point of brewing coffee at a single water temperature of existing similar coffee machines by adding only a hot water pipe and a heating unit, and can also solve the high cost problem caused by using a water pump + NTC and other solutions to realize a coffee machine with optional water temperature, thereby achieving the purpose of brewing coffee at high and low temperatures at low cost, adding selling points to the product and improving the product's competitiveness in the market.

[0060] Figures 7 to 10 2 is a perspective view of a beverage preparation device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure from different perspectives, in which different outlet water temperatures are obtained by setting a hot water branch pipe (e.g., a low-temperature hot water branch pipe 208) to pass through a water tank 214, and setting the length of the low-temperature hot water branch pipe 208 to be greater than the length of the high-temperature hot water branch pipe 210. It can be appreciated that, as required, only one hot water branch pipe (e.g., a low-temperature hot water branch pipe 208) may be set to pass through the water tank 214, or only the length of the low-temperature hot water branch pipe 208 may be set to be greater than the length of the high-temperature hot water branch pipe 210.

[0061] like Figures 7 to 10 As shown, the beverage preparation device further comprises a control device 212, which is configured to control the amount of water flowing into the low-temperature hot water branch pipe 208 and the high-temperature hot water branch pipe 210 in response to a user's selection.

[0062] Specifically, a control device 212 is arranged between the heater 204 and each hot water branch pipe (for example, 208 and 210), and the control device 212 is used to control the heated water to flow only into the low-temperature hot water pipe 208, or only into the high-temperature hot water pipe 210, or into both the low-temperature hot water pipe 208 and the high-temperature hot water pipe 210.

[0063] As a non-limiting example, the control device 212 may be a solenoid valve or a motor, and the flow direction of water, that is, the amount of water flowing to each hot water branch pipe, may be controlled by a solenoid valve solution or a motor drive solution. When the control device 212 is a solenoid valve, the opening and closing of the water path or the amount of water may be directly controlled by the solenoid valve principle, for example, in Figures 7 to 10 In the embodiment shown, the solenoid valve can be three-way, with one water inlet channel and two water outlet channels. The opening and closing of the solenoid valve can control whether the water flows out of the first water outlet channel or the second water outlet channel, thereby realizing the water flow direction control. When the control device 212 is a motor, the motor can be driven to control the water flow direction or the amount of water flow distributed, for example, by bending a water outlet pipe through the rotation of the motor, thereby controlling the water flow direction.

[0064] Specifically, the control device 212 may perform the following operations in response to the user's selection:

[0065] (1) The hot water is controlled to flow through the high-temperature hot water branch pipe 210. Since the high-temperature hot water branch pipe 210 is shorter than other hot water branch pipes, the hot water enters the beverage preparation chamber 216 at a higher temperature to be soaked and extracted with the coffee powder, tea, etc. therein, and then flows into the cup body 220 below (for example, a coffee cup, a glass cup, etc.).

[0066] (2) The hot water is controlled to flow through the low-temperature hot water branch pipe 210. The hot water will flow through the longer low-temperature hot water branch pipe and / or pass through the water tank 214, while dissipating heat and cooling down. The hot water will then enter the beverage preparation chamber 216 to be soaked and extracted with the coffee powder or tea therein, and then flow into the cup body 220 below (for example, a coffee cup, a glass cup, etc.), thereby achieving the effect of brewing coffee or tea with hot water at a lower temperature.

[0067] (3) Controlling hot water to flow through both the high-temperature hot water branch pipe 210 and the low-temperature hot water branch pipe 210. Further, the amount or ratio of hot water flowing into both the low-temperature hot water branch pipe 210 and the high-temperature hot water branch pipe 210 can be controlled by the control device 212, and finally merged into the beverage preparation chamber 216, so that more than two temperature gear selections can be achieved through the two branches. It can be understood that controlling hot water to flow into only one of the two hot water branches is a special case of water amount or ratio control.

[0068] In such Figures 7 to 10In the illustrated embodiment, before the hot water pipe 206 is divided into the low-temperature hot water branch pipe 208 and the high-temperature hot water branch pipe 210, there may be a section of hot water main pipe 218. Accordingly, the input end of the control device 212 is connected to the hot water main pipe 218, and the output end of the control device 212 is respectively connected to the input ends of the low-temperature hot water branch pipe 208 and the high-temperature hot water branch pipe 210. Specifically, the hot water heated by the heater 204 can flow into the hot water main pipe 218, and then reach the control device 212 between the hot water main pipe 218 and each hot water branch pipe (for example, 208 and 210), and the control device 212 controls the flow direction of the hot water, so that the hot water flows through the low-temperature hot water branch pipe 208 and / or the high-temperature hot water branch pipe 210, and finally enters the beverage preparation chamber 216.

[0069] It can be understood that, except for Figures 7 to 10 In the embodiment shown, the hot water pipe 206 may also be implemented to include only the low-temperature hot water branch pipe 208 and the high-temperature hot water branch pipe 210. In this example, the input end of the control device 212 may be directly connected to the output end of the heater 204, and the output end of the control device 212 is respectively connected to the input end of the low-temperature hot water branch pipe 208 and the high-temperature hot water branch pipe 210. Specifically, the hot water heated by the heater 204 directly flows into the control device 212, and the control device 212 controls the flow direction of the hot water, which flows through the low-temperature hot water branch pipe 208 and / or the high-temperature hot water branch pipe 210, and finally enters the beverage preparation chamber 216.

[0070] As a non-limiting example, corresponding to the brewing temperature requirements of different types of coffee or tea in reality, the brewing temperature requirements of different types of coffee or tea can be calculated by referring to Figures 7 to 10 The design makes the temperature of the hot water flowing out of the low-temperature hot water branch pipe 208 lower than 85°C, and the temperature of the hot water flowing out of the high-temperature hot water branch pipe 210 higher than 90°C, thereby realizing high and low temperature hot water branches with different temperatures. It can be understood that different output water temperature levels and water temperature differences can also be set according to needs. For example, the average temperature of the high-temperature hot water branch pipe can be set to be greater than 88°C, and the average temperature of the low-temperature hot water branch pipe can be set to be between 60°C and 85°C, etc.

[0071] With Figure 1 and Figure 2 Compared with the beverage preparation device of the prior art shown in Figures 7 to 10 The beverage preparation device in the illustrated embodiment can solve the pain point of brewing coffee at a single water temperature of existing similar coffee machines by adding only a water pipe and a control device, and solve the high cost problem caused by using a water pump + NTC and other solutions to realize a coffee machine with optional water temperature, thereby achieving the purpose of brewing coffee at high and low temperatures at low cost, adding selling points to the product and improving the competitiveness of the product in the market.

[0072] In addition, although Figures 7 to 10Only two hot water branches (i.e., 208 and 210) are shown, but more than two hot water branches may be provided according to actual needs (e.g., more temperature options). For ease of explanation, the following description is made by taking the addition of a third hot water branch as an example. Similar to the example of two hot water branches described above, the third hot water branch may have different heat dissipation performance from the low-temperature hot water branch and the high-temperature hot water branch through the length of the hot water branch, the wiring arrangement of the branch, etc., thereby providing different outlet water temperatures.

[0073] In one example, the length of the third hot water branch pipe may be different from the lengths of the low-temperature hot water branch pipe and the high-temperature hot water branch pipe 210, that is, the lengths of the three hot water branch pipes are different from each other, so that the output water temperatures of the hot water branch pipes are different. The three hot water branch pipes may be respectively arranged to pass through or not pass through the water tank 214 as required.

[0074] In another example, it is assumed that the low-temperature hot water branch pipe 208 (i.e., the low-temperature hot water branch pipe) is set to pass through the water tank, while the high-temperature hot water branch pipe 210 (i.e., the high-temperature hot water branch pipe) does not pass through the water tank. The third hot water branch pipe can be set to pass through the water tank 214, and at the same time have a different length from the low-temperature hot water branch pipe 208. In this case, the low-temperature hot water branch pipe 208 and the third hot water branch pipe both pass through the water tank 214, but the lengths of the two are different, and the high-temperature hot water branch pipe 210 does not pass through the water tank, thereby, the three hot water branches can have different output water temperatures. Alternatively, the third hot water branch pipe can be set not to pass through the water tank 214, and at the same time have a different length from the high-temperature hot water branch pipe 210. In this case, only the low-temperature hot water branch pipe 208 passes through the water tank 214, while the high-temperature hot water branch pipe 210 and the third hot water branch pipe do not pass through the water tank, but the lengths of the high-temperature hot water branch pipe 210 and the third hot water branch pipe are different, thereby, the three hot water branches can also have different output water temperatures.

[0075] In addition, the control device 212 is configured to control the amount of water flowing into each of the low-temperature hot water branch pipe 208, the high-temperature hot water branch pipe 210, and the at least one third hot water branch pipe in response to the user's selection. Specifically, the control device 212 may, for example, have an input end and multiple output ends, and the multiple output ends are respectively connected to each hot water branch pipe, so as to control the amount of water after the heated hot water flowing into different hot water branches, and finally obtain the water outlet with a temperature that meets the user's requirements. The specific implementation scheme is similar to the above reference Figures 7 to 10 The conditions of the two hot water branches are therefore not described again.

[0076] Similarly, for reference Figure 3 and Figure 4In the embodiment of the plurality of heating units, a third or more heating units may be provided as required, connected to a third or more hot water branches, so as to obtain more output water temperatures. Figure 3 and Figure 4 The situation of the two heating units is therefore not repeated here.

[0077] In addition, the above Figures 3 to 10 Shown as a drip coffee maker or a ground coffee maker, Fig. 9 and Fig.10 For example, the difference between a drip coffee maker and a ground coffee maker is as follows. Fig.10 In addition to the grinding coffee machine Fig. 9 In addition to the various components of the drip coffee machine shown (e.g., water tank 214, heater 204, cold water pipe 202, hot water pipe 206, heater 204 and beverage preparation chamber 216, etc., wherein the hot water pipe 206 may include a low-temperature hot water branch pipe 208 and a high-temperature hot water branch pipe 210), a grinding assembly 226, such as a grinding knife group, etc., is included, which can be used to grind coffee beans into coffee powder and provide it to the beverage preparation chamber 216. The hot water flowing out through the various hot water branches described above also flows into the beverage preparation chamber 216 to brew the coffee powder. It can be appreciated that these styles of coffee machines are only examples, and the various design solutions disclosed in the present invention are not limited to a specific coffee machine.

[0078] As a non-limiting example, the beverage preparation device in the present disclosure may be a coffee machine or a tea maker, and accordingly, the beverage preparation chamber 216 may be used to make coffee or tea. Further, the beverage preparation device may further include a diverter 224 (see Figures 3 to 10 ), the hot water flowing out of each hot water branch pipe is gathered in the diverter 224, and then flows into the beverage preparation chamber 216. The beverage preparation chamber 216 may include a filter basket for placing coffee powder or tea, or a container for hot water extraction of coffee, etc., and the filtered beverage may flow into the cup body 220 below. The cup body 220 below may be, for example, a glass cup, a ceramic cup, etc., for collecting the beverage.

[0079] As another non-limiting example, the beverage preparation device may further include a beverage preparation instruction receiving device for receiving instructions from a user for beverages prepared using different beverage preparation temperatures. The beverage preparation device may be provided with a button, a touch screen, etc., on which options corresponding to different temperatures are provided for the user to select. In addition, the beverage preparation device may also be provided with a signal receiving device so that the user can remotely select different temperatures.

[0080] The beverage preparation device of the present disclosure is described above, which realizes beverage preparation with multiple optional water temperatures by adding a hot water pipe. It is simple and reliable, and can solve the problem of single water temperature brewing at a relatively low cost, thereby meeting different needs of users.

[0081] What has been described above includes examples of various aspects of the claimed subject matter. Of course, it is not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methods for the purpose of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Thus, the disclosed subject matter is intended to encompass all such alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A beverage preparation device, characterized in that: The beverage preparation device comprises: Water tank (214); Heater (204); A cold water pipe (202) for conveying water in the water tank (214) to an input end of the heater (204); a hot water pipe (206), wherein the hot water heated by the heater (204) flows into the input end of the hot water pipe (206) through the output end of the heater (204), and the hot water pipe (206) further comprises a low-temperature hot water branch pipe (208) and a high-temperature hot water branch pipe (210); and A beverage preparation chamber (216), wherein the output ends of the low-temperature hot water branch pipe (208) and the high-temperature hot water branch pipe (210) are respectively connected to the beverage preparation chamber (216), wherein the temperature of the hot water flowing out of the output end of the low-temperature hot water branch pipe (208) is lower than the temperature of the hot water flowing out of the output end of the high-temperature hot water branch pipe (210).

2. The beverage preparation device according to claim 1, characterized in that The length of the low-temperature hot water branch pipe (208) is greater than the length of the high-temperature hot water branch pipe (210), so that the temperature difference reduced by hot water flowing through the low-temperature hot water branch pipe (208) is greater than the temperature difference reduced by hot water flowing through the high-temperature hot water branch pipe (210).

3. The beverage preparation device according to claim 1, characterized in that The low-temperature hot water branch pipe (208) passes through the water tank (214), so that the temperature difference reduced by hot water flowing through the low-temperature hot water branch pipe (208) is greater than the temperature difference reduced by hot water flowing through the high-temperature hot water branch pipe (210).

4. A beverage preparation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The heater (204) comprises a first heating unit (2042) and a second heating unit (2044), wherein the output end of the first heating unit (2042) is connected to the input end of the low-temperature hot water branch pipe (208), and the output end of the second heating unit (2044) is connected to the input end of the high-temperature hot water branch pipe (210).

5. A beverage preparation device according to claim 4, characterized in that The cold water pipe (202) further comprises a first cold water branch pipe (2022) and a second cold water branch pipe (2024); the input end of the first heating unit (2042) is connected to the output end of the first cold water branch pipe (2022); and the input end of the second heating unit (2044) is connected to the output end of the second cold water branch pipe (2024).

6. A beverage preparation device according to claim 4, characterized in that The temperature of the hot water flowing out of the first heating unit (2042) is lower than the temperature of the hot water flowing out of the second heating unit (2044).

7. A beverage preparation device according to claim 4, characterized in that The amounts of hot water heated by the first heating unit (2042) and the second heating unit (2044), respectively, are controlled in response to a user's selection.

8. A beverage preparation device according to claim 7, characterized in that In response to a user's selection, water from the cold water pipe (202) is controlled to flow only into the first heating unit (2042), or only into the second heating unit (2044), or into both the first heating unit (2042) and the second heating unit (2044).

9. A beverage preparation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The beverage preparation device further comprises a control device (212) configured to control the amount of water flowing into the low-temperature hot water branch pipe (208) and the high-temperature hot water branch pipe (210) in response to a user's selection.

10. A beverage preparation device according to claim 9, characterised in that The control device (212) controls the heated water to flow only into the low-temperature hot water branch pipe (208), or only into the high-temperature hot water branch pipe (210), or into both the low-temperature hot water branch pipe (208) and the high-temperature hot water branch pipe (210).

11. A beverage preparation device according to claim 9, characterized in that The hot water pipe (206) further comprises a hot water main pipe (218), the output end of the hot water main pipe (218) being connected to the input end of the control device (212), and the output end of the control device (212) being respectively connected to the input ends of the low-temperature hot water branch pipe (208) and the high-temperature hot water branch pipe (210).

12. A beverage preparation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that The beverage preparation device further comprises: a beverage preparation instruction receiving device for receiving instructions from a user for beverages prepared using different beverage preparation temperatures.

13. A beverage preparation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that The beverage preparation chamber (216) is used for making coffee or tea.

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