Boiler assembly and coffee machine

Abstract

The utility model relates to a boiler assembly and a coffee maker, the coffee maker comprises the boiler assembly, the boiler assembly comprises a first three-way valve, a boiler water path, a descaling water path, a water circulation device and a controller, one end of a first water supply pipe is connected with a water tank, and the other end of the first water supply pipe is connected with a water pump; the other end of the first water supply pipe is connected with a first water inlet of the first three-way valve, a water outlet of the first three-way valve is communicated with a water inlet portion of the boiler, one end of the second water supply pipe is connected with a water outlet portion of the containing box, and the other end of the second water supply pipe is connected with a second water inlet of the first three-way valve. When the boiler assembly is used for descaling, descaling residual liquid can be cleaned up, and the influence of the descaling residual liquid on water quality is avoided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of coffee machine technology, and in particular to a boiler assembly and a coffee machine. Background Technology

[0002] An existing boiler assembly, used in steam cooking equipment, includes a clean water tank, a first water circuit, a boiler, a clean water pump, a wastewater tank, a wastewater pump, a second water circuit, and a control system. The clean water tank provides water to the boiler assembly and is connected to the boiler via the first water circuit, which is equipped with a clean water pump. The wastewater tank is connected to the boiler via the second water circuit, which is also equipped with a wastewater pump. During descaling, a descaling agent is placed in the clean water tank, and the control system controls the clean water pump to operate. The descaling agent is then transported into the boiler via the first water circuit for descaling. After descaling is complete, the control system stops the clean water pump and activates the wastewater pump to pump the descaling waste liquid from the boiler into the wastewater tank, thus completing the descaling process. However, this descaling method easily leaves descaling agent residue in the clean water tank and the boiler, affecting water quality. Utility Model Content

[0003] To solve the above-mentioned problems in the prior art, this utility model provides a boiler assembly, including a first three-way valve, a boiler water circuit, a descaling water circuit, a water circulation device, and a controller, wherein the first three-way valve and the water circulation device are both electrically connected to the controller;

[0004] The boiler water circuit includes a boiler, a brewing head, a water tank, a first water supply channel, and a second water supply channel. The first water supply channel includes a first water supply pipe, one end of which is connected to the water tank, and the other end of which is connected to the first inlet of the first three-way valve. The outlet of the first three-way valve is connected to the water inlet of the boiler. One end of the second water supply channel is connected to the brewing head, and the other end of the second water supply channel is connected to the water outlet of the boiler.

[0005] The descaling water circuit includes a container, an outlet channel, and a return channel. The container is used to hold the descaling agent. The outlet channel includes a second water supply pipe, one end of which is connected to the outlet of the container, and the other end of which is connected to the second inlet of the first three-way valve. One end of the return channel is connected to the outlet of the boiler, and the other end of the return channel is connected to the inlet of the container.

[0006] The water circulation device is located in the water outlet channel and the first water delivery channel.

[0007] As an improvement to the boiler assembly of this utility model, the water circulation device includes a water pump, the outlet of the first three-way valve is connected to the inlet of the water pump, and the outlet of the water pump is connected to the water inlet of the boiler.

[0008] As an improvement to the boiler assembly of this utility model, it also includes a second three-way valve, which is electrically connected to the controller. The second water supply channel includes a third water supply pipe, one end of which is connected to the brewing head, and the other end of which is connected to the first outlet of the second three-way valve. The return channel includes a fourth water supply pipe, one end of which is connected to the water inlet of the container, and the other end of which is connected to the second outlet of the second three-way valve. The water inlet of the second three-way valve is connected to the water outlet of the boiler.

[0009] As an improvement to the boiler assembly of this utility model, the water outlet channel is also equipped with a flow meter, which is electrically connected to the controller.

[0010] As an improvement to the boiler component of this utility model, the descaling water circuit further includes a feeding mechanism, which is equipped with a descaling agent and is connected to the container to transfer the descaling agent into the container.

[0011] As an improvement to the boiler assembly of this utility model, the feeding mechanism includes a hopper, a first baffle, a second baffle, a motor, and gears. The receiving box has a feeding port. The hopper is used to hold solid descaling agent and is located on the receiving box. The hopper has a discharge port, which is vertically aligned with the feeding port. The hopper has a through groove located above the discharge port. The output shaft of the motor has a gear. The first baffle has a first gear rack. The second baffle is located above the first baffle and has a second gear rack. The gear is positioned between the first gear rack and the first baffle. The second gear rack meshes with both the first gear rack and the second gear rack to control the first baffle and the second baffle to move simultaneously in opposite directions. The motor can control the first baffle to cover the discharge port to isolate the discharge port from the feeding port, or control the first baffle to open the discharge port to connect the discharge port with the feeding port. When the motor controls the first baffle to cover the discharge port, the second baffle slides out of the through groove. When the motor controls the first baffle to open the discharge port, the second baffle passes through the through groove to restrict the descaling agent located above the second baffle from moving downward.

[0012] To address the aforementioned problems in the prior art, this utility model provides a coffee machine, including a boiler assembly.

[0013] The beneficial effects of this utility model's technical solution are as follows: By connecting one end of the first water supply pipe to the water tank, and the other end of the first water supply pipe to the first inlet of the first three-way valve, and connecting the outlet of the first three-way valve to the water inlet of the boiler, and connecting one end of the second water supply pipe to the outlet of the container, and connecting the other end of the second water supply pipe to the second inlet of the first three-way valve, during descaling, the controller controls the second inlet of the first three-way valve to open and controls the water circulation device to operate, so that the water outlet channel is connected to the boiler. The water circulation device draws liquid descaling agent from the container into the boiler through the outlet channel for descaling. The descaling wastewater then returns to the container through the return channel. After the descaling is completed with the descaling agent, the controller closes the second inlet of the first three-way valve and opens the first inlet of the first three-way valve to connect the first water supply channel with the boiler. The water circulation device then draws clean water from the water tank into the boiler through the first water supply channel for cleaning, thereby cleaning the residual descaling liquid in the boiler and preventing the residual descaling liquid from affecting the water quality. Attached Figure Description

[0014] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of the boiler assembly of this utility model;

[0015] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A cross-sectional view;

[0016] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of another embodiment of the boiler assembly of this utility model;

[0017] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the feeding mechanism of a preferred embodiment of the boiler assembly of this utility model. Detailed Implementation

[0018] Below, in conjunction with Figures 1 to 4 The boiler assembly and coffee machine of the present invention will be further described in the preferred embodiments and other embodiments. It should be noted that, without conflict, the technical features described below can be arbitrarily combined to form new embodiments.

[0019] like Figure 1 and Figure 2In a preferred embodiment, this utility model provides a boiler assembly, including a first three-way valve 100, a boiler water circuit 10, a descaling water circuit 20, a water circulation device 300, and a controller. The first three-way valve 100 and the water circulation device 300 are both electrically connected to the controller. The boiler water circuit 10 includes a boiler 1, a brewing head 2, a water tank 3, a first water delivery channel 4, and a second water delivery channel 5. The first water delivery channel 4 includes a first water delivery pipe 41, one end of which is connected to the water tank 3, and the other end of which is connected to the first inlet 101 of the first three-way valve. The outlet 103 of the first three-way valve is connected to the water inlet 11 of the boiler. One end of the second water delivery channel 5 is connected to the brewing head. The first water supply channel 5 is connected to the boiler outlet 12 at one end; the descaling water circuit 20 includes a container 6, an outlet channel 7, and a return channel 8. The container 6 is used to hold descaling agent 500. The outlet channel 7 includes a second water supply pipe 71. One end of the second water supply pipe 71 is connected to the outlet 61 of the container 61, and the other end of the second water supply pipe 71 is connected to the second inlet 102 of the first three-way valve. One end of the return channel 8 is connected to the boiler outlet 12, and the other end of the return channel 8 is connected to the inlet 62 of the container 62. The water circulation device 300 is provided in the outlet channel 7 and the first water supply channel 4 to provide power to the outlet channel 7 and the first water supply channel 4.In this embodiment, the boiler assembly of this utility model is applied to a coffee machine. One end of the first water supply pipe 41 is connected to the water tank 3, and the other end of the first water supply pipe 41 is connected to the first inlet 101 of the first three-way valve. The outlet 103 of the first three-way valve is connected to the water inlet 11 of the boiler. One end of the second water supply pipe 71 is connected to the outlet 61 of the container, and the other end of the second water supply pipe 71 is connected to the second inlet 102 of the first three-way valve. During descaling, the controller controls the second inlet 102 of the first three-way valve to open and controls the water circulation device 300 to operate, so that the outlet channel 7 is connected to the boiler 1. The water circulation device 300, through the outlet... Water channel 7 draws liquid descaling agent 500 from the container tank 6 into the boiler 1 for descaling. The descaling wastewater then returns to the container tank 6 through the return channel 8. After the descaling cleaning is completed with the descaling agent, the controller closes the second inlet 102 of the first three-way valve and opens the first inlet 101 of the first three-way valve to connect the first water delivery channel 4 with the boiler 1. The water circulation device 300 draws clean water from the water tank 3 into the boiler 1 through the first water delivery channel 4 for cleaning to remove the descaling residue in the boiler and prevent the descaling residue from affecting the water quality. In addition, the first water delivery channel 4 and the outlet channel 7 can partially overlap, which can also descal the first water delivery channel 4. In addition, if the container 6 contains solid descaling agent 500, during descaling, the controller controls the first inlet 101 of the first three-way valve to open and controls the water circulation device 300 to work, so that the first water supply channel 4 is connected to the boiler 1. The water circulation device 300 draws clean water from the water tank 3 to the boiler 1 through the first water supply channel 4 and then enters the container 6 through the return channel 8, providing clean water to the container 6 to dissolve the descaling agent 500.

[0020] like Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, in a preferred embodiment, the water circulation device 300 includes a water pump 300a. The outlet 103 of the first three-way valve is connected to the inlet 301 of the water pump, and the outlet 302 of the water pump is connected to the water inlet 12 of the boiler. That is, the boiler water circuit 10 and the descaling water circuit 20 share a single water pump 300a to simplify the structure of the boiler 1. In other implementations, the water circulation device 300 may include two water pumps, one of which is located in the first water delivery channel 4 and the other in the water outlet channel 7. Specifically, one end of the first water delivery pipe 41 is connected to the water tank 3, and the other end of the first water delivery pipe 41 is connected to the inlet of one of the water pumps. The outlet of the water pump is connected to the first inlet 101 of the first three-way valve. One end of the second water delivery pipe 71 is connected to the outlet 61 of the container, and the other end of the second water delivery pipe 71 is connected to the inlet of another water pump. The outlet of the other water pump is connected to the second inlet 102 of the first three-way valve.

[0021] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, in a preferred embodiment, a second three-way valve 200 is also included. The second three-way valve 200 is electrically connected to the controller. The second water supply channel 5 includes a third water supply pipe 51. One end of the third water supply pipe 51 is connected to the brewing head 2, and the other end of the third water supply pipe 51 is connected to the first outlet 201 of the second three-way valve. The return channel 8 includes a fourth water supply pipe 81. One end of the fourth water supply pipe 81 is connected to the water inlet 62 of the container, and the other end of the fourth water supply pipe 81 is connected to the second outlet 202 of the second three-way valve. The water inlet 203 of the second three-way valve is connected to the water outlet 12 of the boiler. By setting the second three-way valve 200, the structure of the boiler 1 is simplified, and the second water supply channel 5 and the return channel 8 can partially overlap. At the same time, the return channel 8 can be descaled. In addition, in other embodiments, the second three-way valve may not be provided. Specifically, the water outlet 12 of the boiler includes two independently set first water outlets and second water outlets. One end of the second water delivery channel 5 is connected to the brewing head 2, and the other end of the second water delivery channel 5 is connected to the first water outlet of the boiler. One end of the return channel 8 is connected to the second water outlet of the boiler, and the other end of the return channel 8 is connected to the water inlet 62 of the container.

[0022] like Figure 2 and Figure 4As shown, in a preferred embodiment, the descaling water path 20 further includes a feeding mechanism 9, which is equipped with descaling agent 500. The feeding mechanism 9 is connected to the container 6 so as to transfer the descaling agent 500 into the container 6. Specifically, the feeding mechanism 9 includes a hopper 91, a first baffle 92, a second baffle 93, a motor 94, and a gear 95. The receiving box 6 has a feeding port 63. The hopper 91 is used to hold solid descaling agent 500 and is located on the receiving box 6. The hopper 91 has a discharge port 911, which is vertically aligned with the feeding port 63. The hopper 91 has a through groove 912 located above the discharge port 911. The output shaft of the motor 94 has a gear 95. The first baffle 92 has a first gear rack 921. The second baffle 93 is located above the first baffle 92 and has a second gear rack 931. The gear 95 is located between the first gear rack 921 and the second gear rack 931. The first baffle 92 and the second baffle 93 are meshed with each other and with the first gear rack 921 and the second gear rack 931, so as to control the first baffle 92 and the second baffle 93 to move simultaneously in opposite directions. The motor 94 can control the first baffle 92 to cover the discharge port 911 to isolate the discharge port 911 from the feeding port 63, or control the first baffle 92 to open the discharge port 911 to connect the discharge port 911 with the feeding port 63. When the motor 94 controls the first baffle 92 to cover the discharge port 911, the second baffle 93 slides out of the through groove 912. When the motor 94 controls the first baffle 92 to open the discharge port 911, the second baffle 93 penetrates the through groove 912 to restrict the descaling agent 500 located above the second baffle 93 from moving downward.

[0023] like Figure 3 As shown, in other embodiments, the water outlet channel 7 is also equipped with a flow meter 400, which is electrically connected to the controller. The controller calculates the amount of descaling liquid entering the boiler 1 through the flow meter 400 to determine whether descaling is completed. Of course, descaling time can also be used to determine whether descaling is completed.

[0024] This invention provides a coffee machine, including the aforementioned boiler assembly.

[0025] The descaling principle of this coffee machine is as follows:

[0026] The coffee machine activates the first descaling mode, and the container 6 contains liquid descaling agent 500.

[0027] Step 1: The controller controls the second inlet 102 of the first three-way valve and the second outlet 202 of the second three-way valve to open, so that the outlet channel 7 connects the boiler 1 and the container 6, and the return channel 8 connects the boiler 1 and the container 6. That is, the descaling water circuit 20 is in a closed state. At the same time, the controller controls the first inlet 101 of the first three-way valve and the first outlet 201 of the second three-way valve to close the first water supply channel 4, so that the clean water tank 3 and the boiler 1 are not connected, and closes the second water supply channel 5, so that the brewing head 2 and the boiler 1 are not connected. That is, the boiler water circuit 10 is in a closed state. At the same time, the controller controls the water pump 300a to work. The water pump 300a draws liquid descaling agent 500 from the container 6 into the boiler 1 through the outlet channel 7 for descaling. The descaling wastewater is then returned to the container 6 through the return channel 8. This step can be set to cycle and clean multiple times as needed.

[0028] Step 2: After completing Step 1, the controller controls the second inlet 102 of the first three-way valve to close the outlet channel 7 so that the boiler 1 and the container tank 6 are not connected. At the same time, the controller controls the first inlet 101 of the first three-way valve to open the first water delivery channel 4. The water pump 300a pumps clean water from the clean water tank 3 into the boiler 1 through the first water delivery channel 4 for cleaning. The cleaning waste liquid then returns to the container tank 6 through the return channel 8 to complete the boiler descaling. This step can be set to cycle and clean multiple times as needed.

[0029] Furthermore, a third step may be included: after completing the second step, the controller controls the first inlet 101 of the first three-way valve and the first outlet 201 of the second three-way valve to open, that is, to close the second inlet 102 of the first three-way valve and the second outlet 202 of the second three-way valve. At the same time, the controller controls the water pump 300a to work. The water pump 300a pumps a small amount of clean water from the water tank 3 into the boiler 1 through the first water delivery channel 4 and then flows out from the brewing head 2 through the first outlet 201.

[0030] In addition, in the descaling mode, when clean water or descaling agent flows into the boiler 1, the controller can control the boiler 1 to heat, slightly heat or not heat, which can be selected according to user needs or fixed in the coffee machine of this utility model. For example, slightly heating means heating to about 50 degrees.

[0031] The coffee machine activates its second descaling mode, containing a solid descaling agent in the container.

[0032] Step 1: The controller controls the opening of the first inlet 101 of the first three-way valve and the second outlet 202 of the second three-way valve, so that the first water supply channel 4 connects the boiler 1 and the clean water tank 3, and the return channel 8 connects the boiler 1 and the container 6. At the same time, the controller controls the closing of the second inlet 102 of the first three-way valve and the closing of the first outlet 201 of the second three-way valve, so as to close the outlet channel 7, making the container 6 and the boiler 1 disconnected, and close the second water supply channel 5, making the brewing head 2 and the boiler 1 disconnected. At the same time, the controller controls the water pump 300a to work. The water pump 300a draws clean water from the clean water tank 3 into the boiler 1 through the first water supply channel 4. The clean water then enters the container 6 through the return channel 8 and mixes with the solid descaling agent to generate a liquid descaling agent. The remaining steps continue to be executed according to the first, second and third steps of the first descaling mode to complete the descaling work.

[0033] The beneficial effects of this utility model's boiler assembly and coffee machine are as follows: By connecting one end of the first water supply pipe to the water tank and the other end of the first water supply pipe to the first inlet of the first three-way valve, and connecting the outlet of the first three-way valve to the water inlet of the boiler, and connecting one end of the second water supply pipe to the outlet of the container and the other end of the second water supply pipe to the second inlet of the first three-way valve, during descaling, the controller controls the second inlet of the first three-way valve to open and controls the water circulation device to operate, so that the water outlet channel is connected to the... The boiler is connected, and the water circulation device draws liquid descaling agent from the container into the boiler through the outlet channel for descaling. The descaling wastewater then returns to the container through the return channel. After the descaling is completed with the descaling agent, the controller closes the second inlet of the first three-way valve and opens the first inlet of the first three-way valve to connect the first water supply channel with the boiler. The water circulation device draws clean water from the water tank into the boiler through the first water supply channel for cleaning to remove the residual descaling liquid from the boiler and prevent the residual descaling liquid from affecting the water quality.

[0034] The present invention has been described in detail above. The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. All equivalent changes and modifications made in accordance with the scope of this application should still fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A boiler assembly, characterized in that, It includes a first three-way valve, a boiler water circuit, a descaling water circuit, a water circulation device, and a controller. The first three-way valve and the water circulation device are both electrically connected to the controller. The boiler water circuit includes a boiler, a brewing head, a water tank, a first water supply channel, and a second water supply channel. The first water supply channel includes a first water supply pipe, one end of which is connected to the water tank, and the other end of which is connected to the first inlet of the first three-way valve. The outlet of the first three-way valve is connected to the water inlet of the boiler. One end of the second water supply channel is connected to the brewing head, and the other end of the second water supply channel is connected to the water outlet of the boiler. The descaling water circuit includes a container, an outlet channel, and a return channel. The container is used to hold the descaling agent. The outlet channel includes a second water supply pipe, one end of which is connected to the outlet of the container, and the other end of which is connected to the second inlet of the first three-way valve. One end of the return channel is connected to the outlet of the boiler, and the other end of the return channel is connected to the inlet of the container. The water circulation device is located in the water outlet channel and the first water delivery channel.

2. The boiler assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The water circulation device includes a water pump, the outlet of the first three-way valve is connected to the inlet of the water pump, and the outlet of the water pump is connected to the inlet of the boiler.

3. The boiler assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a second three-way valve, which is electrically connected to the controller. The second water supply channel includes a third water supply pipe, one end of which is connected to the brewing head, and the other end of which is connected to the first outlet of the second three-way valve. The return channel includes a fourth water supply pipe, one end of which is connected to the inlet of the container, and the other end of which is connected to the second outlet of the second three-way valve. The inlet of the second three-way valve is connected to the outlet of the boiler.

4. The boiler assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The water outlet channel is also equipped with a flow meter, which is electrically connected to the controller.

5. The boiler assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The descaling water path also includes a feeding mechanism, which is equipped with descaling agent and is connected to the container to transfer the descaling agent into the container.

6. The boiler assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that, The feeding mechanism includes a hopper, a first baffle, a second baffle, a motor, and gears. The receiving box has a feeding port. The hopper is used to hold solid descaling agent and is located on the receiving box. The hopper has a discharge port, which is vertically aligned with the feeding port. The hopper has a through groove located above the discharge port. The motor's output shaft has a gear. The first baffle has a first gear rack. The second baffle is located above the first baffle and has a second gear rack. The gear is located between the first gear rack and the second gear rack. Both are engaged with the first gear rack and the second gear rack to control the first baffle and the second baffle to move simultaneously in opposite directions. The motor can control the first baffle to cover the discharge port to isolate the discharge port from the feeding port, or control the first baffle to open the discharge port to connect the discharge port with the feeding port. When the motor controls the first baffle to cover the discharge port, the second baffle slides out of the through groove. When the motor controls the first baffle to open the discharge port, the second baffle passes through the through groove to restrict the descaling agent located above the second baffle from moving downward.

7. A coffee machine, characterized in that, Includes the boiler assembly as described in any one of claims 1 to 6.

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