Control valve and beverage machine having the same

Abstract

The application discloses a control valve and a beverage machine. The control valve comprises a valve body, a valve core, a sealing element and an elastic element. The valve body is provided with a first conveying channel and a second conveying channel. The second conveying channel has a first conveying opening. The first conveying channel and the second conveying channel are communicated through the first conveying opening. The valve core is movably arranged in the valve body. The sealing element is arranged in the second conveying channel and used for opening or closing the first conveying opening. The elastic element is arranged in the second conveying channel and used for pressing the sealing element in a first direction to close the first conveying opening. The valve core is operable to act on the sealing element in a second direction, so that the sealing element overcomes the pressing action of the elastic element and moves in the second direction to open the first conveying opening, thereby connecting the first conveying channel and the second conveying channel. The second direction is opposite to the first direction. By arranging the control valve, users can select to make beverages with different flavors according to needs, provide different taste options, and improve user experience.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of beverage preparation technology, and in particular to a control valve and a beverage machine having the same. Background Technology

[0002] In the preparation of beverages, especially in automatic coffee machines, the brewer typically includes a cylindrical brewing head. At the bottom of the brewing head is a screen with an outlet. This outlet forms the seat of a one-way valve or pressure valve. The one-way valve or pressure valve includes a spring that presses against a valve ball to close the outlet. When making coffee using this type of coffee machine, the one-way valve is initially closed by the spring. The pressure in the brewing head increases due to the inflow of hot water until it exceeds a critical point, opening the one-way valve and allowing the coffee beverage to flow into the coffee cup through the outlet.

[0003] In other words, coffee made using existing brewing devices is usually pressurized coffee, which is achieved by using a pressure valve in the brewing head. Coffee will only flow out when the pressure inside the brewing head reaches the opening pressure of the pressure valve, and it is impossible to make coffee with lower extraction pressure.

[0004] However, as users' demand for beverages with different flavors increases, the traditional brewing device's extraction design, which only supports pressurized coffee, can no longer meet users' needs for diverse beverages. Utility Model Content

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a control valve with a simple structure that can achieve different pressure controls.

[0006] Another objective of this invention is to provide a beverage machine that can output beverages extracted under different pressures using the same brewer.

[0007] To achieve one of the above-mentioned objectives, this utility model provides a control valve, comprising:

[0008] The valve body is provided with a first conveying channel and a second conveying channel, the second conveying channel having a first conveying opening, and the first conveying channel and the second conveying channel being connected through the first conveying opening;

[0009] Valve core, which is movably disposed within the valve body;

[0010] A sealing element is disposed within the second conveying channel to open or close the first conveying opening;

[0011] An elastic element is disposed in the second conveying channel, and the elastic element presses against the seal along the first direction to close the first conveying opening;

[0012] The valve core is operable to act on the seal in a second direction, causing the seal to overcome the pressure of the elastic element and move in the second direction to open the first conveying opening, thereby connecting the first conveying channel and the second conveying channel; the second direction is opposite to the first direction.

[0013] Compared with existing technologies, the advantages of this invention are as follows: by replacing the existing pressure accumulator valve with a control valve, pressurized or unpressurized beverages can be made using only one brewer, eliminating the need for multiple valves for control, thereby reducing the size and cost of the machine. The control valve of this application allows users to choose to make different flavored beverages according to their needs, providing a choice of different tastes and enhancing the user experience.

[0014] As a further improvement of one embodiment of the present invention, the valve body is further provided with an installation channel, the valve core is disposed in the installation channel, the sealing member has a closed side that closes the first conveying opening, and the valve core presses against the closed side to make the sealing member open the first conveying opening.

[0015] As a further improvement of one embodiment of the present invention, the mounting channel and the second conveying channel extend in the same direction, and the valve core is operably movable within the mounting channel.

[0016] As a further improvement of one embodiment of the present invention, the closed side is spherical in shape, the diameter of the second conveying channel is larger than the diameter of the closed side, and the diameter of the closed side is larger than the diameter of the first conveying opening.

[0017] As a further improvement of one embodiment of the present invention, the second conveying channel is provided with a second conveying opening and a third conveying opening. Along the extension direction of the second conveying channel or the circumference of the second conveying channel, the second conveying opening and the third conveying opening are spaced apart. One of the second conveying opening and the third conveying opening is used to connect to the beverage outlet, and the other of the second conveying opening and the third conveying opening is used to connect to the water supply pipeline.

[0018] As a further improvement of one embodiment of the present invention, it also includes a pressure regulating knob, which extends into the second conveying channel. The two ends of the elastic element abut against the pressure regulating knob and the sealing element, respectively. The pressure regulating knob is operable to move relative to the second conveying channel to change the deformation of the elastic element. The second conveying channel is also provided with a second conveying opening, which communicates with the first conveying channel through the first conveying opening.

[0019] As a further improvement of one embodiment of the present invention, the extension direction of the first conveying channel intersects the extension direction of the second conveying channel, and the first conveying channel and the second conveying channel are integrally formed.

[0020] As a further improvement of one embodiment of the present invention, the first conveying channel is disposed between the installation channel and the second conveying channel, and a motor is provided at the end of the installation channel away from the seal, and the motor drives the valve core to move along the installation channel.

[0021] As a further improvement of one embodiment of the present invention, the installation channel is provided with a first step portion, and the outer periphery of the valve core is provided with a second step portion. The valve core presses against the sealing member to open the first conveying opening, and the second step portion abuts against the first step portion to limit the extreme position of the valve core.

[0022] As a further improvement of one embodiment of the present invention, the valve body is provided with a slot that radially penetrates the installation channel, and a sealing ring and a retaining ring are sequentially fitted on the valve core along the first direction. An opening clamp is connected in the slot, and the opening clamp is clamped on the valve core and located on the side of the retaining ring away from the sealing ring. The opening clamp limits the retaining ring through the slot.

[0023] This utility model also provides a beverage machine, including:

[0024] A brewer for containing beverage ingredients and extracting the beverage ingredients into a beverage, the brewer including a water inlet and a beverage outlet;

[0025] The water supply line can be selectively connected to the water supply inlet to supply water to the brewer;

[0026] A beverage dispenser outlet for dispensing beverages produced from the brewer;

[0027] A control valve as described in any of the preceding embodiments is connected between the beverage outlet and the beverage machine outlet. The first conveying channel is connected to the beverage outlet, and the second conveying channel is connected to the beverage machine outlet. The valve core drives the seal to open the first conveying opening, and the brewer is in unobstructed fluid communication with the second conveying channel. The liquid produced by the brewer is the first beverage. Alternatively, the valve core can be separated from the seal, and the brewer can be in obstructed fluid communication with the second conveying channel. The liquid produced by the brewer is the second beverage. The concentration of the first beverage is different from the concentration of the second beverage.

[0028] As a further improvement of one embodiment of this utility model, it further includes: a water circuit switching component is provided on the water supply line, and a first water supply branch and a second water supply branch are connected between the water circuit switching component and the brewing device; the brewing device includes a brewing cylinder, an upper piston and a lower piston, the upper piston and the lower piston are respectively engaged with both ends of the brewing cylinder to form a brewing chamber; the water supply inlet is connected to the lower piston, and the beverage outlet is connected to the upper piston; the first water supply branch is connected to the water supply inlet, and the second water supply branch is connected to the beverage outlet through the control valve; the water circuit switching component controllably connects the second water supply branch and the second conveying channel, so as to supply water to the brewing chamber through the first conveying channel when the seal opens the first conveying opening.

[0029] When the water circuit switching component can connect to the second water supply branch and the second conveying channel, water can enter the brewing chamber through the first conveying channel to clean the filter screen on the upper piston. The direction of the cleaning water flow is opposite to the flow direction of the beverage, further ensuring the hygienic performance of the beverage machine.

[0030] As a further improvement of one embodiment of the present invention, the second conveying channel is provided with a second conveying opening and a third conveying opening, one of the second conveying opening and the third conveying opening is connected to the beverage machine outlet, and the other of the second conveying opening and the third conveying opening is connected to the second water supply branch. Attached Figure Description

[0031] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a control valve according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 The control valve is shown in a cross-sectional view along line AA, with the seal in the position where the first delivery opening is closed.

[0033] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the control valve is shown, in which the seal is in the position where the first delivery opening is open.

[0034] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 A three-dimensional schematic diagram of the control valve.

[0035] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 A three-dimensional schematic diagram of the control valve from another perspective.

[0036] Figure 6 yes Figure 1 A schematic diagram of another structural form of the control valve in the diagram.

[0037] Figure 7This is a schematic diagram of a beverage machine according to one embodiment of the present invention, showing the direction of liquid flow for brewing beverages.

[0038] Figure 8 yes Figure 7 A schematic diagram of another structural form of a beverage machine, showing the direction of liquid flow for forward cleaning.

[0039] Figure 9 Is with Figure 8 Similarly, the direction of the liquid flow in reverse cleaning is shown therein. Detailed Implementation

[0040] The present application will now be described in detail with reference to the specific embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. However, these embodiments do not limit the present application, and any structural, methodological, or functional modifications made by those skilled in the art based on these embodiments are included within the scope of protection of this application.

[0041] This application relates to the field of beverage preparation technology, specifically to a control valve and a beverage machine having the control valve, aiming to solve the problems of existing coffee machines only being able to achieve a single extraction method, and beverage machines having a single cleaning mode and insufficient hygiene performance.

[0042] This embodiment presents a compact, low-cost, and multifunctional control valve and a corresponding beverage machine, referring to... Figure 1 and Figure 2 The following describes the control valve 10 and the corresponding beverage machine 100 of this application in detail, taking coffee extraction as an example.

[0043] Specifically, this embodiment provides a first conveying channel 21 and a second conveying channel 22 with a specific structural relationship within the valve body 20, and provides a seal 23 and an elastic element 24 in the second conveying channel 22. The valve core 31 acts on the seal 23 in the opposite direction to overcome the pressure of the elastic element 24, thereby enabling the controllable movement of the seal 23, opening or closing the first conveying opening 221, and thus selectively realizing pressureless or pressurized extraction of the beverage machine.

[0044] With the above structure, when the valve core 31 is not controlled to move, the seal 23 is automatically opened by the liquid pressure inside the brewer 40 in the beverage machine, realizing the traditional pressure-accumulating extraction mode (i.e., pressurized extraction); while after the valve core 31 is controlled to move, the seal 23 is directly opened by the valve core 31, realizing the continuous and unobstructed pressureless extraction mode. Thus, based on the fact that the beverage machine only provides one brewer, it can provide coffee beverages with different tastes and flavors.

[0045] In this embodiment, the control valve 10 is also equipped with a pressure adjustment knob 26. By changing the deformation of the elastic element 24, the pressure can be adjusted, allowing users to precisely adjust the extraction pressure according to their personal preferences and obtain a better coffee experience.

[0046] In one embodiment, refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 The control valve 10 includes a valve body 20, a valve core 31, a seal 23, and an elastic element 24. The valve body 20 has a first conveying channel 21 and a second conveying channel 22. The second conveying channel 22 has a first conveying opening 221, and the first and second conveying channels 21 are connected through the first conveying opening 221. The valve core 31 is movably disposed within the valve body 20, for example, it can be controllably moved in a specific direction. The seal 23 is disposed within the second conveying channel 22 and is used to open or close the first conveying opening 221 to control the fluid communication between the first and second conveying channels 21 and 22.

[0047] In this design, the seal 23 is preferably a spherical seal 23, such as a glass ball, to ensure sealing effect and smooth movement; the elastic element 24 is preferably a compression spring, which can provide stable preload.

[0048] To achieve precise control over the opening and closing state of the seal 23, an elastic element 24 is disposed within the second conveying channel 22. The elastic element 24 is preferably a pressure spring. Specifically, refer to... Figure 2 The elastic element 24 presses against the seal 23 along the first direction, keeping the seal 23 closed over the first conveying opening 221. The pressure exerted by the elastic element 24 on the seal 23 is continuous to ensure that no fluid communication occurs between the first conveying channel 21 and the second conveying channel 22 until the set pressure is reached. (Refer to...) Figure 3 When the liquid pressure inside the brewer 40 from the first delivery channel 21 gradually increases and eventually exceeds the pre-pressure applied by the elastic element 24, the seal 23 is pushed open by the liquid pressure, thereby opening the first delivery opening 221. The liquid flows smoothly from the first delivery channel 21 to the second delivery channel 22, forming a traditional pressure-accumulating extraction process to prepare a rich-tasting, oily coffee beverage (such as espresso).

[0049] To meet the diverse taste and flavor preferences of users, the valve core 31 acts on the seal 23 in a second direction. The valve core 31 operably pushes the seal 23 along this second direction, causing it to overcome the resistance of the elastic element 24 and move along this direction, thereby actively opening the first conveying opening 221 and achieving direct fluid communication between the first conveying channel 21 and the second conveying channel 22. At this time, because the gap formed after the seal 23 is opened by the valve core 31 remains stable, the brewer 40 can achieve continuous fluid output without accumulating pressure, ensuring the continuity and stability of the outflowing liquid. This avoids the phenomenon of intermittent fluid flow caused by intermittently opening the seal 23, improving the visual quality and taste of the coffee during pressureless extraction.

[0050] In the above scheme, it is clearly stated that the second direction is opposite to the first direction. To further clarify, the "first direction" specifically refers to the direction in which the elastic element 24 applies force to close the first delivery opening 221 with the seal 23, for example... Figure 1 As indicated by arrow F. The "second direction" is the opposite, specifically the direction in which the valve core 31 pushes the seal 23 to open the first delivery opening 221.

[0051] Through the above structure, the control valve 10 of this embodiment realizes the free switching between pressurized and unpressurized coffee extraction modes in a simple and efficient manner. Users can flexibly choose coffee drinks with different tastes and flavors according to their actual needs, thereby significantly improving the applicability and user experience of the coffee machine. Moreover, the overall structure is compact, effectively reducing the size and manufacturing cost of the equipment.

[0052] Based on the aforementioned control valve 10, to further improve the accuracy and stability of the valve core 31's motion control, this application also includes a specially designed mounting channel 25 within the valve body 20. The valve core 31 is disposed within this mounting channel 25. The valve core 31 can be operably moved linearly along the mounting channel 25, thereby precisely achieving the pushing action on the seal 23.

[0053] In one embodiment, the seal 23 has a closed side 231 that closes the first conveying opening 221. The valve core 31 presses against the closed side 231 to open the first conveying opening 221, thereby connecting the first conveying channel 21 and the second conveying channel 22. The valve core 31 opens the first conveying opening 221 by pressing against the closed side 231, ensuring reliable connection between the first conveying channel 21 and the second conveying channel 22. The entire control valve 10 has a simple structure, and the valve core 31 is easy to control.

[0054] Of course, in other feasible solutions, the valve core 31 can also drive the seal 23 to move on the opposite side of the closed side 231. For example, the seal 23 can be configured to be fixed relative to the valve core 31, and the movement of the valve core 31 can simultaneously drive the seal 23.

[0055] To further optimize the sealing effect of the control valve 10 and ensure smooth fluid flow, the preferred embodiment of this application features a specially designed structure and dimensions for the seal 23. Specifically, the closed side 231 is preferably constructed with a spherical shape, and the seal 23 is preferably spherical in shape, such as a glass ball, to achieve good sealing performance and low-friction movement, ensuring that the seal 23 can be easily pushed and moved stably by the valve core 31.

[0056] Furthermore, to ensure unobstructed fluid flow, the diameter of the second delivery channel 22 is larger than the diameter of the closed side 231 (i.e., the spherical structure), and the diameter of the closed side 231 is larger than the diameter of the first delivery opening 221. This strict and precise dimensional design ensures that, on the one hand, the seal 23, when not pushed open, accurately abuts against the first delivery opening 221, achieving a tight and reliable seal and preventing fluid leakage; on the other hand, when the valve core 31 pushes the seal 23 open, because the diameter of the second delivery channel 22 is larger than the diameter of the seal 23, the seal 23 can be smoothly pushed to the vicinity of the inner wall of the second delivery channel 22, forming a sufficient fluid channel gap. This avoids partial blockage or insufficient gap in the channel during the opening process of the seal 23, ensuring a smooth and continuous flow of coffee liquid and other fluids from the first delivery channel 21 to the second delivery channel 22, preventing fluid interruption due to unstable flow during dispensing, and significantly improving the visual effect and user experience of beverage extraction.

[0057] Through the optimized design of the above-mentioned structural dimensions, the embodiments of this application ensure a balance between the sealing performance and fluid flow of the control valve 10, thereby improving the overall stability of equipment operation and the quality of beverage output, achieving the best performance.

[0058] To optimize the structural layout and achieve smoother and more reliable movement of the valve core 31, the mounting channel 25 and the second conveying channel 22 extend in the same direction. This arrangement ensures that the movement path of the valve core 31 is consistent with the direction of the second conveying channel 22, thereby minimizing the lateral forces on the valve core 31 and the seal 23, extending the service life of the parts, significantly improving the smoothness of the valve core 31's movement, and resulting in a more compact overall structural layout.

[0059] Reference Figures 2 to 5Furthermore, the first conveying channel 21 is positioned between the installation channel 25 and the second conveying channel 22. A motor 30, preferably a stepper motor, is located at the end of the installation channel 25 furthest from the seal 23. The motor 30 precisely drives the valve core 31 to move axially along the installation channel 25 via an electronic control system, thereby achieving precise pushing and control of the valve core 31 on the seal 23. This ensures accurate positioning of the valve core 31 when opening and closing the seal 23, avoiding problems such as poor sealing effect or unstable flow due to positional errors.

[0060] To ensure the safe and reliable movement of the valve core 31, a first step 251 is further provided within the mounting channel 25, and a second step 312 is correspondingly provided on the outer periphery of the valve core 31. During the process of the valve core 31 moving to press against the sealing element 23 to open the first conveying opening 221, when the valve core 31 reaches a set limit position, the second step 312 abuts against the first step 251, effectively limiting the limit position of the valve core 31. This prevents excessive displacement of the valve core 31 from damaging the sealing element 23 or the elastic element 24, effectively protecting the structural integrity of the valve core 31 and related components, and significantly improving the reliability and durability of the equipment.

[0061] To further enhance the stability of the valve core 31's movement and ease of installation, the valve body 20 is also provided with a radially penetrating groove 252 through the installation channel 25. A sealing ring 321 and a retaining ring 322 are sequentially fitted onto the valve core 31 along the first direction to ensure sealing performance within the installation channel 25 and smooth movement of the valve core 31. An open clamp 323 is connected within the groove 252, engaging the valve core 31 and positioned on the side of the retaining ring 322 furthest from the sealing ring 321. The open clamp 323 effectively limits the retaining ring 322 through the groove 252, thereby further fixing the axial position of the valve core 31 within the installation channel 25, preventing accidental detachment or loosening of the valve core 31, and effectively improving the stability, reliability, and maintainability of the structure.

[0062] Additionally, the sealing ring 321 fitted onto the valve core 31 can be an O-ring. A third step 253 is also provided within the mounting channel 25, located between the first step 251 and the groove 252. The sealing ring 321 is confined between the third step 253 and the retaining ring 322, ensuring that the sealing ring 321 will not shift regardless of whether the valve core 31 moves in the first or second direction. The sealing ring 321 further ensures the sealing of the valve core 31, preventing liquid from entering the side of the valve core 31 connected to the motor 30.

[0063] In summary, through the detailed design of the installation channel 25 and the moving structure of the valve core 31, the embodiment of this application achieves precise positional control between the valve core 31 and the seal 23, resulting in a more compact and reliable structure. This further improves the operational stability and accuracy of the control valve 10, effectively extends the service life of the equipment, and significantly optimizes the overall user experience.

[0064] To further meet users' personalized needs for coffee extraction pressure, this embodiment adds a pressure regulating structure to the control system, allowing for precise adjustment and control of the accumulated pressure within the brewer 40. Specifically, the control valve 10 further includes a pressure regulating knob 26, which extends into the second delivery channel 22 and is operably movable relative to it. The two ends of the elastic element 24 abut against the pressure regulating knob 26 and the seal 23, respectively. By changing the position of the pressure regulating knob 26, the deformation of the elastic element 24 can be adjusted, thereby precisely changing the pressure exerted by the elastic element 24 against the seal 23, achieving adjustable accumulated pressure.

[0065] During operation, users can precisely adjust the accumulated pressure by simply operating the pressure adjustment knob 26 to increase or decrease the pre-pressure of the elastic element 24 according to their personal taste preferences or desired coffee quality. When a user desires a strong, oily coffee, they can adjust the pressure adjustment knob 26 to increase the pre-pressure of the elastic element 24, causing the seal 23 to open under higher pressure, thus extending the coffee's pressure-accumulating extraction time and enhancing its flavor. When a user desires a milder, less oily coffee, they can decrease the pre-pressure, allowing the seal 23 to open under lower pressure, resulting in a milder coffee. Alternatively, the valve core 31 can actively open the seal 23 to achieve a pressureless continuous extraction mode, yielding an even milder coffee.

[0066] In addition, to facilitate the effective operation of the pressure regulating structure, the second conveying channel 22 is provided with a second conveying opening 222. The second conveying opening 222 is connected to the first conveying channel 21 through the first conveying opening 221, ensuring that the fluid can flow smoothly when the seal 23 is open, and ensuring a stable output of coffee liquid under different pressure settings.

[0067] Through the above-described pressure regulation structure design, the embodiments of this application not only effectively improve the pressure control accuracy and functional flexibility of the control valve 10, but also meet the personalized coffee taste needs of different users, greatly enhancing the user experience and market competitiveness of the beverage machine 100.

[0068] Reference Figure 6In one embodiment, the control valve 10 features a specially optimized design in the structure of the second conveying channel 22 to allow for flexible switching between coffee extraction and cleaning functions. Specifically, the second conveying channel 22 is provided with a second conveying opening 222 and a third conveying opening 223; the second conveying opening 222 and the third conveying opening 223 are spaced apart along the extension direction or circumference of the second conveying channel 22 to meet different fluid conveying needs. The second conveying opening 222 is used to connect to the beverage outlet 411, ensuring smooth output of coffee beverage flowing from the first conveying channel 21 to the beverage machine outlet 55, guaranteeing a stable and continuous beverage output for the user. The third conveying opening 223 is used to connect to the water supply line 51, enabling reverse cleaning of the valve body 20 and the corresponding brewer 40 pipeline. Alternatively, the second conveying opening 222 can be used to connect to the water supply line 51, while the third conveying opening 223 can be used to connect to the beverage outlet 411. In practical applications, the connections of the second conveying opening 222 and the third conveying opening 223 can be flexibly interchanged according to actual needs. In this embodiment, after the third conveying opening 223 is connected to the water supply pipe 51, the cleaning water can flow into the brewer 40 through the second conveying channel 22, the first conveying opening 221 and the first conveying channel 21 through an appropriate control mechanism. This makes the flow direction of the cleaning water opposite to the flow direction of the beverage output, thereby effectively and thoroughly rinsing the internal structure of the brewer 40 and the conveying channel. In particular, it achieves efficient cleaning of the filter screen of the upper piston 41 inside the brewer 40, significantly improving the internal hygiene of the equipment.

[0069] Through the innovative design of the second conveying channel 22 with multiple openings, the control valve 10 not only ensures flexible selection of coffee extraction modes, but also achieves a more efficient and thorough equipment cleaning function, greatly improving the overall hygiene performance and service life of the beverage machine 100, and comprehensively optimizing the user experience.

[0070] In one embodiment, the extending direction of the first conveying channel 21 intersects the extending direction of the second conveying channel 22, preferably perpendicularly at 90 degrees. The first conveying channel 21 and the second conveying channel 22 are integrally formed. This integral formation facilitates the manufacture of the control valve 10 and reduces its cost. The intersection of the extending directions of the first conveying channel 21 and the second conveying channel 22 facilitates connection to the conveying pipe and optimizes the installation space of the control valve 10.

[0071] Reference Figures 7 to 9This application also provides a novel and multifunctional beverage machine 100. The beverage machine 100 includes a brewer 40, a water supply pipe 51, and a beverage machine outlet 55. The brewer 40 is used to hold beverage ingredients and extract them into a beverage. The brewer 40 has a water inlet 421 and a beverage outlet 411 to respectively achieve water intake and beverage output. The water supply pipe 51 can selectively connect to the water inlet 421 of the brewer 40 to supply water to the brewer 40. The beverage machine outlet 55 is used to output the beverage produced by the brewer 40 for the user to drink.

[0072] A control valve 10, as described above, is connected between the beverage outlet 411 of the brewer 40 and the beverage machine outlet 55. A first conveying channel 21 is connected to the beverage outlet 411 of the brewer 40, and a second conveying channel 22 is connected to the beverage machine outlet 55.

[0073] Reference Figure 7 As indicated by the middle arrow, the movement between the valve core 31 and the seal 23 of the control valve 10 enables two distinct beverage extraction modes. When the valve core 31 actuates and pushes the seal 23 to open the first delivery opening 221, the brewer 40 and the second delivery channel 22 are in a state of unobstructed fluid communication. The liquid produced by the brewer 40 at this time is the first beverage, characterized by pressureless or low-pressure extraction, resulting in a mild and mellow taste with low oil content. Conversely, when the valve core 31 and the seal 23 are separated (i.e., the valve core 31 is not actuated), the seal 23 automatically opens due to the accumulated liquid pressure within the brewer 40. At this time, the brewer 40 and the second delivery channel 22 are in a state of obstructed fluid communication, achieving high-pressure accumulation extraction to produce the second beverage, which has a richer taste and higher oil content. Due to the different extraction modes, the first beverage differs from the second beverage, specifically in that the concentration of the first beverage differs from the concentration of the second beverage.

[0074] By using the control valve 10, the beverage machine 100 can easily switch between different extraction modes to meet users' personalized needs for different flavors and textures, significantly improving user satisfaction.

[0075] The water supplied from the water supply pipe 51 to the brewer 40 can be hot water from a self-supply water source heated by the heater 53. Specifically, the water source can be the water tank 52 of the beverage machine 100, filtered tap water, or bottled water, etc. The heater 53 can be a boiler or an instant heater 53 (e.g., an electric heating plate). In this embodiment, the heater 53 is constructed as a boiler.

[0076] The brewer 40 is fluidly connected to the second conveying channel 22, meaning that the brewed beverage needs to overcome resistance to flow out of the beverage machine outlet 55. The resistance of the second conveying channel 22 can be formed by the seal 23 under the pressure of the elastic element 24, so that the brewed beverage can flow out of the second conveying channel 22 under pressure, thereby making pressurized coffee (such as espresso).

[0077] The brewer 40 and the second delivery channel 22 are in unobstructed fluid communication. This means that the brewed beverage flows directly out of the second delivery channel 22 without needing to overcome any resistance. The second delivery channel 22 has no structure that creates resistance, allowing the brewed beverage to flow out without pressure, thus enabling the production of pressureless coffee. However, pressureless coffee is not zero-pressure extraction. Pressure exists in coffee extraction because the flow of liquid within the pipes of the beverage machine 100 itself requires pressure. It's just that the extraction pressure for pressureless coffee is much lower than that for pressurized coffee extraction, which requires overcoming additional resistance. Therefore, pressureless coffee simply means that there is no additional resistance in the coffee output pipes compared to pressurized coffee, and thus no additional pressure is needed to overcome that resistance.

[0078] To further optimize the cleaning effect of the equipment and ensure hygiene performance, this application further incorporates a water circuit switching component 54 into the aforementioned beverage machine 100 structure. The water circuit switching component 54 is specifically connected to the brewer 40 via a first water supply branch 511 and a second water supply branch 512, enabling bidirectional or reverse cleaning of the internal piping of the beverage machine 100. The water circuit switching component 54 can be one or more three-way valves.

[0079] Specifically, the brewer 40 includes a brewing cylinder and an upper piston 41 and a lower piston 42 located at both ends of the brewing cylinder. The upper piston 41 and the lower piston 42 are respectively engaged with both ends of the brewing cylinder to jointly enclose and form a closed brewing chamber. The water inlet 421 of the brewer 40 is connected to the lower piston 42, and the beverage outlet 411 of the brewer 40 is connected to the upper piston 41. The first water supply branch 511 is connected to the water inlet 421, and the second water supply branch 512 is connected to the beverage outlet 411 through the control valve 10.

[0080] During the cleaning process, refer to Figure 9 As indicated by the arrow, the water circuit switching component 54 controllably connects the second water supply branch 512 and the second delivery channel 22. When the seal 23 is actively pushed open by the valve core 31, thereby opening the first delivery opening 221, the cleaning water can enter the control valve 10 through the second delivery channel 22, and flow back into the brewing chamber through the first delivery opening 221 and the first delivery channel 21 to clean the filter screen of the upper piston 41, the inner wall of the brewing cylinder, and the filter screen of the lower piston 42. The cleaned water can be discharged into the water storage pan 56 through the water supply inlet 421.

[0081] During normal beverage brewing, water flows from the water inlet 421 to the beverage outlet 411, penetrating the coffee grounds layer. The upper piston 41 is under pressure, and coffee oils and powders are easily embedded in the gaps and dead corners of the upper piston 41. During reverse rinsing, water flows in the opposite direction from the beverage outlet 411, forming a water flow at a 180° angle to the brewing direction. This reverse water flow, opposite to the direction of residue accumulation, directly impacts the adhesion surface, using the water flow to peel the embedded coffee oils and powder from the upper piston 41. This efficiently removes residues generated during brewing, ensuring thorough cleaning and excellent hygiene of the equipment.

[0082] The first water supply branch 511 is equipped with a three-way pressure relief valve 57, through which the cleaning water flowing out from the water supply inlet 421 can be discharged into the water storage pan 56.

[0083] In addition, during the cleaning process, refer to Figure 8 As indicated by the arrow, the water circuit switching component 54 controllably connects the first water supply branch 511 and the water supply inlet 421 of the brewer 40. Cleaning water flows into the brewing chamber and, after cleaning, is discharged from the first conveying channel 21 and the second conveying channel 22 of the control valve 10 to the water storage pan 56, achieving forward cleaning of the brewer 40. This removes residues generated during the brewing process along the path of the beverage dispensing liquid, ensuring thorough cleaning of the equipment.

[0084] The aforementioned forward cleaning is defined as the liquid flow direction during cleaning being the same as the liquid flow direction when producing the beverage, for example... Figure 8 The direction of the middle arrow; reverse cleaning, defined as the direction of liquid flow during cleaning being opposite to the direction of liquid flow when producing the beverage, for example... Figure 9 The direction of the middle arrow.

[0085] Reference Figure 8 and Figure 9 In one embodiment, the second conveying channel 22 is provided with a second conveying opening 222 and a third conveying opening 223, wherein the second conveying opening 222 is connected to the beverage machine outlet 55, and the third conveying opening 223 is connected to the second water supply branch 512. In other embodiments, the connections of the second conveying opening 222 and the third conveying opening 223 can be interchanged, i.e., the second conveying opening 222 is connected to the second water supply branch 512, and the third conveying opening 223 is connected to the beverage machine outlet 55. Through this connection structure, the cleaning water flow can flexibly choose to enter the brewer 40 in the reverse direction, realizing the reverse rinsing of the brewer 40. With the help of an appropriate electronic control system, it is also possible to realize bidirectional cleaning in both forward and reverse directions, i.e., seamless switching cleaning between forward and reverse directions, making the cleaning of the internal pipes and components of the brewer 40 more thorough and further improving the hygiene performance.

[0086] Among other feasible options, such as Figure 7 As shown, the second conveying channel 22 may only have a second conveying opening 222. A three-way structure component is provided between the second conveying channel 22 and the beverage machine outlet 55. The second water supply branch 512 can be connected to the second conveying channel 22 through the three-way structure component, thereby achieving communication with the beverage machine.

[0087] The innovative design of the overall structure and cleaning solution of the beverage machine 100 effectively solves the problems of the traditional beverage machine 100's single extraction mode and incomplete cleaning. It not only significantly improves the hygiene performance of the beverage machine 100, but also enriches the variety and taste of beverages, and comprehensively enhances the product's market competitiveness and user satisfaction.

[0088] In summary, this application, through the ingenious design of the structure of the control valve 10 and its organic integration with the beverage machine 100, achieves free switching between multiple coffee extraction modes under a single control valve 10 structure, effectively solving the technical problem that existing beverage machines 100 can only provide a single extraction method. The precisely designed valve core 31 and sealing element 23 structure, optimized dimensional relationship, and pressure adjustment knob 26 in this application enable the equipment to have precise and flexible pressure adjustment functions, meeting users' diverse personalized needs for coffee flavor and taste. Simultaneously, by setting multiple conveying openings in the second conveying channel 22 and cooperating with the water circuit switching component 54, forward, reverse, and reciprocating bidirectional rinsing modes are successfully realized, greatly improving the internal hygiene and cleaning efficiency of the equipment. Furthermore, this application has a more compact overall structure, significantly reduced manufacturing costs, improved overall reliability, and a comprehensively optimized user experience, possessing excellent application prospects and market competitiveness.

[0089] Of course, the beverage machine 100 mentioned above is not limited to use in coffee machines, but can also be used in other beverage brewing devices, such as tea machines or other beverage brewing devices.

[0090] It should be understood that although this specification describes embodiments, not every embodiment contains only one independent technical solution. This way of describing the specification is only for clarity. Those skilled in the art should regard the specification as a whole. The technical solutions in each embodiment can also be appropriately combined to form other embodiments that can be understood by those skilled in the art.

[0091] The detailed descriptions listed above are merely specific descriptions of feasible implementation methods of this utility model, and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this utility model. All equivalent implementation methods or modifications made without departing from the spirit of this utility model should be included within the scope of protection of this utility model.

Claims

1. A control valve, comprising: The valve body is provided with a first conveying channel and a second conveying channel, the second conveying channel having a first conveying opening, and the first conveying channel and the second conveying channel being connected through the first conveying opening; Valve core, which is movably disposed within the valve body; A sealing element is disposed within the second conveying channel to open or close the first conveying opening; An elastic element is disposed in the second conveying channel, and the elastic element presses against the seal along the first direction to close the first conveying opening; The valve core is characterized in that it operably acts on the sealing element in a second direction, causing the sealing element to overcome the pressing action of the elastic element and move in the second direction to open the first conveying opening, thereby connecting the first conveying channel and the second conveying channel; The second direction is opposite to the first direction.

2. The control valve according to claim 1, characterized in that, The valve body is also provided with an installation channel, the valve core is disposed in the installation channel, and the seal has a closed side that closes the first delivery opening. The valve core presses against the closed side to open the first delivery opening.

3. The control valve according to claim 2, characterized in that, The mounting channel and the second delivery channel extend in the same direction, and the valve core is operable to move within the mounting channel.

4. The control valve according to claim 2, characterized in that, The closed side is spherical in shape, the diameter of the second conveying channel is larger than the diameter of the closed side, and the diameter of the closed side is larger than the diameter of the first conveying opening.

5. The control valve according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second conveying channel is provided with a second conveying opening and a third conveying opening; along the extension direction of the second conveying channel or the circumference of the second conveying channel, the second conveying opening and the third conveying opening are spaced apart, one of the second conveying opening and the third conveying opening is used to connect to a beverage outlet, and the other of the second conveying opening and the third conveying opening is used to connect to a water supply pipeline.

6. The control valve according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a pressure regulating knob that extends into the second conveying channel. The two ends of the elastic element abut against the pressure regulating knob and the sealing element, respectively. The pressure regulating knob is operable to move relative to the second conveying channel to change the deformation of the elastic element. The second conveying channel is also provided with a second conveying opening, which communicates with the first conveying channel through the first conveying opening.

7. The control valve according to claim 1, characterized in that, The extension direction of the first conveying channel intersects the extension direction of the second conveying channel, and the first conveying channel and the second conveying channel are integrally formed.

8. The control valve according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first conveying channel is located between the installation channel and the second conveying channel. A motor is provided at the end of the installation channel away from the seal, and the motor drives the valve core to move along the installation channel.

9. The control valve according to claim 2, characterized in that, The installation channel is provided with a first step portion, and the outer periphery of the valve core is provided with a second step portion. The valve core presses against the seal to open the first delivery opening, and the second step portion abuts against the first step portion to limit the extreme position of the valve core.

10. The control valve according to claim 2, characterized in that, The valve body is provided with a groove that radially penetrates the installation channel. A sealing ring and a retaining ring are sequentially fitted on the valve core along the first direction. An opening clamp is connected in the groove. The opening clamp is clamped on the valve core and located on the side of the retaining ring away from the sealing ring. The opening clamp limits the retaining ring through the groove.

11. A beverage machine, comprising: A brewer for containing beverage ingredients and extracting the beverage ingredients into a beverage, the brewer including a water inlet and a beverage outlet; The water supply line can be selectively connected to the water supply inlet to supply water to the brewer; A beverage dispenser outlet for dispensing beverages produced from the brewer; The features are as follows: a control valve as described in any one of claims 1 to 10 is connected between the beverage outlet and the beverage machine outlet; the first conveying channel is connected to the beverage outlet; the second conveying channel is connected to the beverage machine outlet; the valve core drives the sealing element to open the first conveying opening; the brewer is in unobstructed fluid communication with the second conveying channel; and the liquid produced by the brewer is the first beverage. Alternatively, the valve core can be separated from the sealing element; the brewer is in obstructed fluid communication with the second conveying channel; and the liquid produced by the brewer is the second beverage. The concentration of the first beverage is different from the concentration of the second beverage.

12. The beverage machine according to claim 11, characterized in that, Also includes: The water supply line is equipped with a water supply switching component, and the water supply switching component is connected to the brewer by a first water supply branch and a second water supply branch; the brewer includes a brewing cylinder, an upper piston and a lower piston, and the upper piston and the lower piston are respectively engaged with the two ends of the brewing cylinder to form a brewing chamber; The water supply inlet is connected to the lower piston, and the beverage outlet is connected to the upper piston; the first water supply branch is connected to the water supply inlet, and the second water supply branch is connected to the beverage outlet through the control valve; The water circuit switching component controllably connects the second water supply branch and the second conveying channel to supply water to the brewing chamber through the first conveying channel when the seal opens the first conveying opening.

13. The beverage machine according to claim 12, characterized in that, The second conveying channel is provided with a second conveying opening and a third conveying opening. One of the second conveying opening and the third conveying opening is connected to the beverage machine outlet, and the other of the second conveying opening and the third conveying opening is connected to the second water supply branch.

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