Brewing structure with fool-proof function and coffee machine

Abstract

The brewing structure with the fool-proof function comprises a machine base with a liquid outlet, a piston assembly is arranged in the machine base, the piston assembly can move towards the liquid outlet and form a brewing cavity with the machine base, the brewing cavity is used for containing a special capsule, and the front end face of the piston assembly is opposite to the sealing end face of the special capsule. The brewing structure is characterized in that the piston assembly is divided into an inner ring part and an outer ring part, the inner ring part corresponds to a water inlet of a sealing end face of the special capsule, the outer ring part corresponds to a hard shell area of the sealing end face, the brewing structure further comprises a fool-proof assembly, the fool-proof assembly comprises a puncture piece and an elastic piece, and the puncture piece penetrates through the outer ring part of the piston assembly. The puncturing piece can move in the axial direction of the piston assembly and always tends to stretch out of the front end face of the piston assembly under the action of the elastic piece. Only a special capsule with the outer ring of the sealing end face as a hard shell area can be brewed, and an imitated capsule with the sealing end face as a thin film easy to puncture cannot be brewed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to a brewing structure with a foolproof function and a coffee machine using the brewing structure. Background Technology

[0002] With similar dimensions and internal structure, many coffee capsules are compatible with the same model of coffee machine. DELTA's capsule coffee products have won widespread acclaim for their unique flavor. However, with the increasing number of counterfeit products on the market that are structurally similar to DELTA capsules, and these counterfeit capsules being used without difficulty on DELTA coffee machines, this undoubtedly poses a threat to the brand's legitimate rights.

[0003] To protect their interests, some coffee capsule manufacturers have developed coffee capsules with unique structures and customized coffee machines for them. This ensures that only coffee capsules with specific structures can function perfectly on these customized machines, effectively preventing the proliferation of counterfeit products. For example, the structure disclosed in Chinese invention patent application No. 201810851886.9 (Publication No. CN 108784360A), entitled "Coffee Machine Brewing Structure with Mistake-Proof Function," is specifically designed for coffee capsules with an annular groove on the sealed end face, and the puncture point located within the sealed end face enclosed by this groove. This specific structure not only protects the brand's innovative achievements but also provides consumers with a purer and higher-quality coffee experience.

[0004] The structure of DELTA-specific capsules is as follows: Figure 7 As shown, the center of its sealed end face is the water inlet 41, and the rest is a plastic hard shell area 42 with a thickness of about 2mm. The sealed end face of counterfeit capsules is generally a thin film that is easy to puncture. It is necessary to design a special brewing system and coffee machine based on this feature, so as to target the counterfeit capsules developed and sold by DELTA's competitors on the market, so that the brewing system and coffee machine can only brew DELTA special capsules, and counterfeit capsules cannot be brewed into coffee by this machine. Utility Model Content

[0005] The technical problem to be solved by this utility model is to propose a brewing system and coffee machine that can only brew special capsules with a hard outer ring of the sealed end face, but cannot brew imitation capsules with a easily punctured film on the sealed end face, in response to the above-mentioned technical status.

[0006] The technical solution adopted by this utility model to solve the above-mentioned technical problems is as follows: a brewing structure with a foolproof function, including a base with a liquid outlet, a piston assembly provided in the base, the piston assembly being able to move towards the liquid outlet and forming a brewing chamber with the base, the brewing chamber being used to accommodate a special capsule, the front end face of the piston assembly being opposite to the sealing end face of the special capsule, characterized in that the piston assembly is divided into an inner ring part and an outer ring part, the inner ring part corresponding to the water inlet of the sealing end face of the special capsule, the outer ring part corresponding to the hard shell area of ​​the sealing end face, the brewing structure also includes a foolproof component, the foolproof component including a puncture member and an elastic member, the outer ring part of the piston assembly is provided with a puncture member, the puncture member being able to move along the axial direction of the piston assembly, and under the action of the elastic member, always having the tendency to extend out of the front end face of the piston assembly.

[0007] Furthermore, the puncture element is tubular, hollow inside, and forms a drainage channel. When the puncture element punctures the imitation capsule, coffee powder and coffee liquid can be discharged from the brewing chamber through the drainage channel.

[0008] Specifically, the elastic element is a compression spring.

[0009] To enable the compression spring to drive the puncture component more efficiently, preferably, the puncture component has an annular abutment extending outward in its radial direction, and the free end of the compression spring is sleeved on the rear end of the puncture component and abuts against the abutment.

[0010] To make it easier for the puncture device to pierce the membrane of the imitation capsule, preferably, the radius of the front end of the puncture device gradually decreases.

[0011] Specifically, the foolproof component further includes a fixing plate, which is fixedly connected to the rear end face of the piston assembly, and the fixed end of the compression spring abuts against the fixing plate.

[0012] Furthermore, the fixing plate has a water passage hole, which corresponds to the drainage channel, and the fixing end of the compression spring abuts against the outer periphery of the water passage hole. The coffee powder and coffee water leaking from the imitation capsule pass through the drainage channel and then are discharged through the water passage hole.

[0013] To accurately position the puncture component, the fixing plate is further provided with two mounting holes, which are distributed on both sides of the water passage hole.

[0014] Furthermore, the rear end face of the piston assembly has a groove, and the bottom surface of the groove has a channel penetrating to the front end face of the piston assembly. The piercing member is at least partially inserted into this channel, and the abutting portion of the piercing member can abut against the bottom surface of the groove. The abutting portion of the piercing member can abut against the abutting portion, thereby limiting the movable range of the piercing member and preventing the compression spring from disengaging from the piercing member, or preventing the compression spring from failing to provide sufficient driving force.

[0015] This utility model also proposes a coffee machine, characterized by the application of the aforementioned brewing structure.

[0016] Compared to existing technologies, this invention features a foolproof design, where a piercing element is positioned on the outer ring of the piston assembly, corresponding to the robust hard-shell area of ​​the dedicated capsule's sealing end face. When a user inserts a dedicated capsule into this invention, the piercing element retracts due to the resistance of the hard-shell area. Since the elastic force provided by the elastic element and the sharpness of the piercing element are insufficient to penetrate the hard-shell's defense, the capsule will not be damaged. However, if a counterfeit capsule is mistakenly inserted into this invention, the piercing element can easily pierce the thin membrane of its sealing end face. This prevents the brewing chamber from building up enough pressure to burst the counterfeit capsule during the brewing process, thus ensuring that this brewing structure and coffee machine are only compatible with and can brew dedicated capsules, and cannot brew counterfeit capsules. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the brewing system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Cross-sectional view when the special capsule is inserted;

[0019] Figure 3 for Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the capsule being inserted;

[0020] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the piston assembly and the foolproof assembly according to an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0021] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the piston assembly and the foolproof assembly from another angle according to an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0022] Figure 6 for Figure 5 An explosion diagram;

[0023] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the special capsule. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0025] like Figures 1-6The diagram shows a preferred embodiment of a brewing structure and coffee machine with a foolproof function according to this utility model. The coffee machine of this embodiment includes a brewing structure, which includes a base 1 with a liquid outlet 12 from which brewed coffee liquid can flow. A piston assembly 2 is provided inside the base 1, and the piston assembly 2 is connected to a handle 11 located above the base 1. Operating the handle 11 can move the piston assembly 2 towards (forward) or away from the liquid outlet 12 (backward). During coffee brewing, pulling the handle 11 opens the brewing structure, the piston assembly 2 retracts, the user inserts a coffee capsule, and then the handle 11 is closed, pushing the piston assembly 2 forward to form a brewing chamber with the base 1. The capsule is accommodated within the formed brewing chamber, and the front end face of the piston assembly 2 faces the sealing end face of the coffee capsule.

[0026] Piston assembly 2 is divided into an inner ring portion 23 and an outer ring portion 24. The inner ring portion 23 corresponds to the water inlet 41 of the sealing end face of the special capsule. A water inlet channel 21 corresponding to the water inlet 41 is provided in the inner ring portion 23. Hot water in the heater enters the water inlet 41 of the capsule through the water inlet channel 21. The outer ring portion 24 corresponds to the hard shell area 42 of the sealing end face. A piercing element 31 is provided in the outer ring area 24. The piercing element 31 can move back and forth along the axial direction of piston assembly 2. When the piercing element 31 moves forward, it will be pushed back when it encounters the hard shell area 42 of the special capsule 4. When it encounters the sealing end face film of the imitation capsule 4', it will pierce it, causing leakage and preventing normal brewing.

[0027] The puncture member 31 is a component of the foolproof assembly 3. It is generally tubular, hollow inside, and forms a drainage channel 311. When the puncture member 31 punctures the imitation capsule 4', coffee powder and coffee liquid can be discharged from the brewing chamber through the drainage channel 311. The radius of the front end of the puncture member 31 gradually decreases, making it easier to puncture the membrane of the imitation capsule 4'. The puncture member 31 extends radially with an annular abutment portion 312.

[0028] In addition to the puncture member 31, the foolproof assembly 3 also includes a compression spring 32 and a fixing plate 33 as elastic elements. The free end of the compression spring 32 is sleeved on the rear end of the puncture member 31 and abuts against the abutment part 312. The fixed end of the compression spring 32 abuts against the fixing plate 33. Under the elastic force of the compression spring 32, the puncture member 31 always tends to extend out of the front end face of the piston assembly 2. The fixing plate 33 is fixedly connected to the rear end face of the piston assembly 2 and has a water passage hole 331. The water passage hole 331 corresponds to the drainage channel 311 of the puncture member 31. The fixed end of the compression spring 32 abuts against the outer periphery of the water passage hole 331. The coffee powder and coffee water leaking from the imitation capsule 4' pass through the drainage channel 311 and then through the water passage hole 331 of the fixing plate 33. Two mounting holes 332 are provided on the fixing plates on both sides of the water passage hole 331. Two screws 34 pass through the two mounting holes 332 respectively to fix the fixing plate 33 to the rear end face of the piston assembly 2.

[0029] The rear end face of the piston assembly 2 has a groove 22, and the bottom surface of the groove 22 has a channel 25 that penetrates to the front end face of the piston assembly. The piercing member 31 is partially inserted into the channel 25. The abutting part 312 of the piercing member 31 can abut against the bottom surface of the groove 22, thereby limiting the movable range of the piercing member 31 and preventing the compression spring 32 from disengaging from the piercing member 31 or the compression spring 32 from failing to provide sufficient driving force.

[0030] like Figure 2 As shown, when the user inserts the special capsule 4 into this embodiment, the piercing element 31 will retract under the resistance of the hard shell region 42. Since the elastic force provided by the elastic element and the sharpness of the piercing element 31 are insufficient to penetrate the hard shell's defense, the capsule will not be damaged, and the coffee liquid will flow normally from the spout 12 out of the base 1. The arrows in the figure represent the direction of fluid flow. However, as Figure 3 As shown, when a counterfeit capsule 4' is mistakenly inserted in this embodiment, the foolproof component 3 functions, and the piercing member 31 can easily pierce the thin film on its sealing end face. The brewing chamber cannot build up enough pressure to break the counterfeit capsule 4', and the coffee powder and coffee water flow out from the drain channel 311, thereby ensuring that this brewing structure and coffee machine can only be compatible with and brew the special capsule 4, and cannot brew the counterfeit capsule 4'.

Claims

1. A brewing structure with a foolproof function, comprising a base (1) having a liquid outlet (12), a piston assembly (2) disposed within the base (1), the piston assembly (2) being movable toward the liquid outlet (12) and forming a brewing chamber with the base (1), the brewing chamber being used to accommodate a special capsule (4), the front end face of the piston assembly (2) being opposite to the sealing end face of the special capsule (4), characterized in that, The piston assembly (2) is divided into an inner ring part (23) corresponding to the water inlet (41) of the sealing end face of the special capsule (4) and an outer ring part (24) corresponding to the hard shell area (42) of the sealing end face, and the brewing structure further comprises a fool-proof assembly (3) comprising a piercing member (31) and an elastic member, the outer ring part (24) of the piston assembly (2) is provided with the piercing member (31), the piercing member (31) can move along the axial direction of the piston assembly (2) and always has a tendency to protrude from the front end face of the piston assembly (2) under the action of the elastic member.

2. The brewing structure according to claim 1, wherein, The piercing member (31) is tubular, hollow inside and forms a drainage channel (311).

3. The brewing structure according to claim 2, wherein, The elastic member is a compression spring (32).

4. The brewing structure according to claim 3, wherein The piercing member (31) extends outward along the radial direction of the piercing member (31) and has a ring-shaped abutting portion (312), and the free end of the compression spring (32) is sleeved on the rear end of the piercing member (31) and abuts against the abutting portion (312).

5. The brewing structure according to claim 4, wherein, The front end radius of the piercing member (31) gradually decreases.

6. The brewing structure according to claim 5, wherein, The fool-proof assembly (3) further comprises a fixed plate (33) fixedly connected to the rear end face of the piston assembly (2), and the fixed end of the compression spring (32) abuts against the fixed plate (33).

7. The brewing structure according to claim 6, characterized in that, The fixed plate (33) is provided with a water passing hole (331) corresponding to the drainage channel (311), and the fixed end of the compression spring (32) abuts against the outer periphery of the water passing hole (331).

8. The brewing structure according to claim 7, characterized in that, The fixed plate (33) is provided with two mounting holes (332) distributed on both sides of the water passing hole (331).

9. The brewing structure according to claim 8, characterized in that, The rear end face of the piston assembly (2) is provided with a groove (22), the bottom surface of the groove (22) is provided with a channel (25) penetrating the front end face of the piston assembly (2), the piercing member (31) is at least partially arranged in the channel (25), and the abutting portion (312) of the piercing member (31) can abut against the bottom surface of the groove (22).

10. A coffee maker characterized in that, The brewing structure has the advantages that the piercing member (31) is arranged in the channel (25) of the piston assembly (2), the piercing member (31) can move along the axial direction of the piston assembly (2), and the piercing member (31) always has a tendency to protrude from the front end face of the piston assembly (2) under the action of the elastic member, so that the piercing member (31) can be prevented from being damaged and the brewing structure can be prevented from being damaged. The brewing structure has the advantages that the piercing member (31) is arranged in the channel (25) of the piston assembly (2), the piercing member (31) can move along the axial direction of the piston assembly (2), and the piercing member (31) always has a tendency to protrude from the front end face of the piston assembly (2) under the action of the elastic member, so that the piercing member (31) can be prevented from being damaged and the brewing structure can be prevented from being damaged.

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