A powder dispensing structure for a brewing device

Abstract

This utility model discloses a coffee powder dispensing structure for a brewing device, including a powder hopper for storing coffee powder, with a powder outlet at the bottom or side of the hopper; a powder dispensing drive mechanism; and a powder dispensing actuator connected to the drive mechanism for driving the coffee powder downwards from the hopper through the powder outlet. This utility model, through the cooperation of the powder hopper, drive mechanism, and actuator, achieves an automated process from storage to delivery, improving efficiency and avoiding the inconvenience and unsanitary conditions of manual operation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the technical field of brewing equipment, and in particular to a powder dispensing structure for brewing equipment. Background Technology

[0002] Coffee, a globally popular beverage, has seen automation and intelligentization of its brewing equipment become major development trends. Modern fully automatic or semi-automatic coffee machines aim to complete the entire process from coffee bean grinding, coffee powder delivery, tamping to brewing with a single button, providing users with a stable and convenient coffee-making experience. In the process of automating coffee brewing, reliably and quantitatively delivering pre-stored or ground coffee powder to the brewing chamber is one of the key factors determining the final coffee quality and equipment stability. While some powder delivery solutions exist in existing technologies, they still have many shortcomings:

[0003] First, some early or low-end machines used a simple manual coffee dispensing method, where users had to manually pour the measured coffee grounds into the brewing chamber. This method was not only cumbersome and disrupted the integrity of the automated process, but also relied entirely on user experience for powder quantity control, making it difficult to guarantee consistent coffee flavor and maintain hygiene.

[0004] Secondly, some automated equipment uses solenoid valves or simple baffle gate structures to control powder feeding. These solutions have the following drawbacks:

[0005] 1. Prone to clogging: Coffee powder, especially coffee powder that has static electricity or contains oil after grinding, is very prone to adsorption, bridging or even clumping at the powder outlet or valve, resulting in poor powder dispensing or complete blockage, causing equipment failure.

[0006] 2. Inaccurate control: Simple on / off coffee dispensing makes precise quantitative control difficult. The amount of coffee dispensed is easily affected by factors such as the amount of coffee grounds in the dispenser and the degree of clumping, resulting in large fluctuations and making it impossible to guarantee a consistent concentration for every cup of coffee.

[0007] 3. Poor sealing: Many coffee grounds cannot be effectively sealed when not in use. This causes coffee grounds to be exposed to air for a long time, making them susceptible to moisture and deterioration, and their flavor to deteriorate rapidly. At the same time, when the equipment is moved or vibrated, coffee grounds may be accidentally spilled, contaminating the inside of the machine.

[0008] In addition, while some complex designs have solved the above problems to some extent, they often introduce new problems such as excessive cost, bulky structure, high energy consumption, or difficulty in cleaning and maintenance. Utility Model Content

[0009] (a) Technical problems to be solved

[0010] The technical problem to be solved by this utility model is to provide a powder dispensing structure for a brewing device. Through the cooperation of the powder hopper, drive mechanism and actuator, an automated process from storage to delivery is realized, which improves efficiency and avoids the trouble and unsanitary conditions of manual operation.

[0011] (II) Technical Solution

[0012] The solution adopted by this utility model to solve the above-mentioned technical problems is a powder dispensing structure for a brewing device, including...

[0013] A powder container is used to store coffee powder, and the bottom or side of the powder container is provided with a powder outlet;

[0014] Powder dispensing drive mechanism;

[0015] A powder dispensing actuator, which is connected to the powder dispensing drive mechanism, is used to drive coffee powder to be conveyed downward from the powder hopper through the powder outlet.

[0016] In some embodiments, the top of the powder hopper is provided with an open end for putting in coffee powder. A powder hopper cover is detachably connected to the open end. The powder hopper cover is also provided with a powder hopper cover sealing ring to achieve a seal, which can effectively prevent the coffee powder from getting damp and the aroma from evaporating, ensuring the freshness of the coffee powder, and also preventing dust from leaking out. The powder hopper can hold 250g of coffee powder.

[0017] In some embodiments, a controller is further included, which is electrically connected to the powder dispensing drive mechanism and configured to control the start / stop and operating parameters of the powder dispensing drive mechanism according to a received brewing instruction, so as to achieve quantitative powder dispensing.

[0018] By adopting the above solution, the coordination of powder silos, drive mechanisms, and actuators realizes an automated process from storage to transportation, improving efficiency and avoiding the trouble and unsanitary conditions of manual operation.

[0019] In some embodiments, the powder dispensing mechanism includes a rotatable powder dispensing disk; the powder dispensing drive mechanism includes a powder dispensing motor for driving the powder dispensing disk to rotate.

[0020] By using the above solution, the amount of coffee powder dispensed each time can be precisely controlled by adjusting the number of rotations or the time of the powder dispensing motor, thereby achieving quantitative brewing and ensuring the stability of the coffee flavor. The rotating powder dispensing disc can agitate the coffee powder, helping to break up any clumps that may form, preventing blockages in the powder outlet or dispensing channel of the powder hopper, and ensuring a smooth dispensing process.

[0021] In some embodiments, the powder dispensing mechanism further includes:

[0022] A multi-stage gear reduction mechanism is connected to the output end of the powder-dispensing motor;

[0023] A powder dispensing output shaft is connected to the output end of the multi-stage gear reduction mechanism, and the end of the powder dispensing output shaft away from the multi-stage gear reduction mechanism can extend into the powder hopper;

[0024] A bracket is mounted on the powder output shaft;

[0025] The powder-dispensing disc is mounted on the bracket.

[0026] Specifically, the powder-dispensing output shaft, the bracket, and the powder-dispensing disc rotate synchronously.

[0027] By adopting the above solution, the multi-stage gear reduction mechanism can increase the output torque while reducing the speed. This allows the powder dispensing disc to provide sufficient torque to break up and push coffee powder when it encounters locally clumped, making the operation more stable and powerful. The power is transmitted from the powder dispensing motor to the powder dispensing disc inside the powder hopper through the "powder dispensing output shaft" and "bracket". The structure is compact and the transmission efficiency is high.

[0028] In some embodiments, the powder dispensing disc includes an upper dispersing disc located on the upper layer and a lower powder feeding disc connected below the upper dispersing disc, wherein the lower powder feeding disc includes a plurality of discs spaced apart around the rotation axis of the powder dispensing disc, and a powder storage space is formed between every two spaced discs.

[0029] In some embodiments, the disc body is fixedly mounted on the bracket. The disc body is formed by extending radially outward from the outer wall of the bracket and bending upward near the side wall of the powder hopper, so that the bottom of the disc body is in contact with the bottom wall of the powder hopper, the bent part of the disc body is in contact with the side wall of the powder hopper, and the part of the disc body in contact with the inner wall of the powder hopper is covered with a wear-resistant elastic material.

[0030] The upper dispersing disc includes a lower fixing ring connected to the top of each disc body, radial blades extending outward and upward from the top of the lower fixing ring, an upper fixing ring connected to the outside of the blades, and a powder-dispensing blade extending downward from the lower end of the blades, the powder-dispensing blade extending into the powder storage space.

[0031] Specifically, the wear-resistant elastic material is TPU, food-grade silicone, or polyurethane.

[0032] The above-mentioned scheme efficiently breaks up coffee powder clumps through radial blades and a powder-dispensing blade, ensuring uniform powder quality and laying the foundation for subsequent quantitative delivery. The "powder storage space" formed by the spacer discs enables "volume-based" quantitative delivery. Each powder storage space carries a fixed amount of coffee powder and rotates to the outlet, resulting in more precise and stable control of the powder quantity. The powder-dispensing blade extends into the powder storage space, further ensuring that the coffee powder in the storage space is completely and cleanly scraped out during rotation, avoiding residual powder and guaranteeing the accuracy of the powder quantity.

[0033] In some embodiments, the powder container has a powder outlet on its side; wherein, the powder container is provided with a switch assembly at its powder outlet, the switch assembly being used to close the powder outlet in a normally closed state to prevent coffee powder stored in the powder container from spilling out through the powder outlet; the switch assembly can open the powder outlet under external force to allow coffee powder to fall out.

[0034] The switching assembly includes a movable member movably connected to the powder hopper at the front end of the powder outlet, and an elastic member connected between the top of the movable member and the powder hopper; the elastic member acts on the movable member to provide a downward elastic force to the movable member, enabling the movable member to move downward against the powder hopper to close the powder outlet; when the movable member is subjected to an external force, it can overcome the elastic force of the elastic member and move upward to open the powder outlet;

[0035] The powder hopper is provided with a relatively fixed powder hopper support outside the powder hopper, and the powder hopper support is provided with a driving part at the front end of the powder outlet. After the powder hopper is assembled to the powder hopper support, the bottom end of the movable part abuts against the driving part, so that the movable part can overcome the elastic force of the elastic member and move upward to open the powder outlet. After the powder hopper is detached from the powder hopper support, the elastic force of the elastic member can drive the movable part to move downward to close the powder outlet.

[0036] In some embodiments, the powder hopper is provided with a mounting groove for mounting the switch assembly at the front end of the powder outlet. The bottom end of the mounting groove is provided with a limiting part for limiting the downward movement of the movable member. When the movable member moves downward under the elastic force of the elastic member until the bottom end of the movable member abuts against the limiting part, the movable member is in a state of completely closing the powder outlet.

[0037] Specifically, when the powder dispensing motor drives the powder dispensing disc to rotate and dispense powder, it will only accumulate in the powder dispensing channel outside the brewing chamber door. At this time, the door drive motor is connected to the powder dispensing channel door through a linkage mechanism. The powder dispensing channel door is limited by guide rails on the left and right sides and can only move forward and backward. By rotating, the powder dispensing channel door moves forward to open the door. When it reaches the required position, a micro switch is triggered to stop, thus achieving a stable door opening and allowing coffee powder to fall into the brewing chamber. When the required amount of coffee powder is reached, the door drive motor reverses and stops when a micro switch is triggered to close the door.

[0038] Using the above solution, the switch assembly achieves automatic opening and closing of the powder outlet; it automatically opens when the powder container is installed on the device for easy normal operation; it automatically closes when the powder container is removed from the device; it prevents coffee powder from spilling during the removal and placement of the powder container, keeping the machine and the environment clean; while the powder container is off the machine, it forms a sealed space, continuously and effectively preventing moisture and preserving aroma; it uses an "elastic element" to provide the force for normal closure and uses the powder container bracket as a "drive unit" to provide the external force for opening, resulting in a simple and ingenious structure that requires no additional control circuitry or sensors and operates reliably; the "restriction unit" ensures that the moving part can completely seal the powder outlet in the closed position, avoiding the problem of slow powder leakage caused by incomplete closure.

[0039] In some embodiments, the powder feeding drive mechanism includes a vibration motor; the powder feeding execution mechanism includes...

[0040] A powder hopper bracket, wherein the powder hopper is fixedly installed on the powder hopper bracket.

[0041] The motor bracket is used to fix the vibration motor to the bottom surface of the powder hopper bracket near the middle position.

[0042] The powder hopper has a sloping bottom, and the powder outlet is located at the lowest point of the sloping structure.

[0043] In some embodiments, a lower support is connected to the lower end of the powder hopper support, and a silicone pad is provided between the lower support and the powder hopper support to reduce the vibration of the whole machine.

[0044] Specifically, the motor vibration drives the powder container support, and the powder container vibration causes the coffee powder to fall into the powder dispensing channel.

[0045] Specifically, when the vibration motor runs, it vibrates the coffee powder in the powder hopper and dispenses it. The powder only accumulates in the powder dispensing channel outside the brewing chamber door. At this time, the door drive motor is connected to the powder dispensing channel door through a linkage mechanism. The powder dispensing channel door is limited by guide rails on the left and right sides and can only move forward and backward. By rotating, the powder dispensing channel door moves forward to open the door. When it reaches the required position, a micro switch is triggered to stop, thus achieving a stable door opening and allowing the coffee powder to fall into the brewing chamber. When the required amount of coffee powder is reached, the door drive motor reverses and stops when the micro switch is triggered, thus closing the door.

[0046] Using the above scheme, a vibration motor and a powder hopper with a sloping bottom structure are designed. The vibration breaks the static friction of the coffee powder, causing it to slide along the sloping structure towards the powder outlet under the action of gravity.

[0047] In some embodiments, the powder feeding drive mechanism includes a screw motor; the powder feeding execution component includes...

[0048] A pipe is connected to the powder hopper, and the inlet end of the pipe is connected to the powder outlet of the powder hopper. An outlet end is provided on the side of the pipe away from the inlet end for discharging powder.

[0049] A screw is adapted to be inside the pipe, and the inner wall of the pipe is provided with a helical structure adapted to the outer wall of the screw;

[0050] The screw is connected to the output end of the screw motor, which drives the screw to rotate so that coffee powder enters the pipe from the powder outlet and is pushed to the outlet through the pipe.

[0051] In some embodiments, the pipe is arranged laterally at the lower end of the powder outlet; the screw motor is connected to the screw via a connecting bracket so that the screw motor can drive the screw to rotate about its own central axis.

[0052] In some embodiments, the inner wall profile of the conduit is adapted to the helical outer edge of the screw to form a sealed channel for pushing coffee powder, which helps to further prevent the coffee powder from getting damp and losing aroma.

[0053] Specifically, when coffee powder is placed in the powder hopper, it falls to the bottom of the hopper by gravity. The screw motor starts and drives the screw to rotate. When the screw rotates, it moves the coffee powder forward to the outlet at the bottom of the pipe. The coffee powder falls into the outlet at the bottom by gravity and enters the powder feeding channel.

[0054] By adopting the above solution and using a screw-driven method, the amount of coffee powder dispensed can be well controlled. The amount of powder dispensed per screw rotation is fixed. Furthermore, the combination of the pipe and the screw can form a relatively closed conveying environment, which helps to further prevent the coffee powder from getting damp and losing its aroma.

[0055] In some embodiments, a powder feeding channel is connected below the powder outlet, the powder feeding channel being used to transport coffee powder to the brewing chamber.

[0056] By adopting the above solution and setting up a coffee powder channel, the coffee powder falling from the powder outlet can be reliably guided and collected into the designated brewing chamber, preventing the powder from scattering and ensuring that all coffee powder enters the brewing position, thus guaranteeing the brewing effect and the cleanliness of the equipment.

[0057] In some embodiments, a sealing mechanism for sealing the powder feeding channel is further included; the sealing mechanism includes a powder feeding channel door and a door drive motor for driving the powder feeding channel door to move; wherein the powder feeding channel door is configured to open and close the powder feeding channel under the drive of the door drive motor.

[0058] In some embodiments, a base is also included, and the powder dispensing structure is assembled on the base; wherein the base is located below the powder dispensing channel and has an opening; a sealing silicone element is provided at the connection between the powder dispensing channel door and the base.

[0059] By adopting the above solution, closing the coffee powder channel door during the brewing process can create a sealed space in the brewing chamber, effectively maintaining the temperature and pressure required for brewing; preventing the high-temperature water vapor generated during brewing from rising to the powder container, thus avoiding the coffee powder in the powder container from becoming damp and clumping; the automatic opening and closing is achieved through a "door drive motor", which is more intelligent; and the setting of "sealing silicone parts" ensures the airtightness when the door is closed, further improving the effects of heat preservation, pressure preservation and moisture prevention.

[0060] In some embodiments, the sealing mechanism further includes a linkage mechanism and a guide rail, wherein the door drive motor drives the powder discharge channel door to move along the guide rail via the linkage mechanism; and / or, the sealing mechanism further includes a position detection unit for detecting the position of the powder discharge channel door.

[0061] In some embodiments, there are two guide rails, which are respectively arranged at both ends of the powder discharge channel door to restrict the powder discharge channel door from moving in a straight line along the guide rails.

[0062] In some embodiments, the position detection unit includes a micro switch disposed at the end of the guide rail, and the end of the powder discharge channel door is used to trigger the micro switch.

[0063] Specifically, as coffee powder falls from the powder hopper, it accumulates in the powder dispensing channel outside the brewing chamber door. At this time, the door drive motor is connected to the powder dispensing channel door through a linkage mechanism. The powder dispensing channel door is limited by guide rails on the left and right sides, allowing it to move only forward and backward. By rotating, the powder dispensing channel door moves forward, opening the door. When it reaches the required position, a micro switch is triggered to stop, thus achieving a stable opening and allowing coffee powder to fall into the brewing chamber. When the required amount of coffee powder is reached, the door drive motor reverses, and stops when a micro switch is triggered, thus closing the door.

[0064] In some embodiments, the powder hopper is provided with a powder quantity detection device for detecting the remaining amount of coffee powder; the powder quantity detection device is an infrared photoelectric sensor or an ultrasonic sensor, and is communicatively connected to the controller, which is configured to issue a prompt message when the powder quantity is below a threshold.

[0065] The above solution ensures that the powder dispensing channel door can only move along a predetermined trajectory (such as a straight line), preventing jamming, misalignment, or tilting, and making the opening and closing of the door smooth and accurate. The linkage mechanism can convert the rotational motion of the door drive motor into the linear motion of the door, ensuring stable transmission and easy control. The micro switch is used to detect the limit position (fully open or fully closed) of the powder dispensing channel door. The door drive motor stops after receiving the signal from the micro switch, ensuring that the opening and closing positions are completely consistent each time, guaranteeing the reliability of the seal and the accuracy of powder dispensing. At the same time, it can also prevent the door drive motor from overloading or the powder dispensing channel door from exceeding its travel range.

[0066] (III) Beneficial Effects

[0067] Compared with the prior art, this utility model designs a powder dispensing structure for a brewing device.

[0068] (1) This utility model realizes the automated process from storage to transportation through the cooperation of powder hopper, drive mechanism and actuator, which improves efficiency and avoids the trouble and unsanitary conditions of manual operation;

[0069] (2) By controlling the number of rotations or time of the powder dispensing motor, this utility model can precisely control the amount of powder dispensed each time, thereby achieving quantitative brewing and ensuring the stability of coffee flavor; the rotating powder dispensing disc can agitate the coffee powder, which helps to break up any possible powder clumps, prevents blockage of the powder outlet or dispensing channel in the powder hopper, and ensures a smooth dispensing process; the use of a multi-stage gear reduction mechanism can increase the output torque while reducing the rotation speed, which allows the powder dispensing disc to provide sufficient torque to break up and push the powder when it encounters locally clumped coffee powder, making the operation more stable and powerful; the power is transmitted from the powder dispensing motor to the powder dispensing disc inside the powder hopper through the "powder dispensing output shaft" and "bracket", resulting in a compact structure and high transmission efficiency;

[0070] (3) This utility model efficiently breaks up coffee powder lumps through radial blades and a powder-dispensing blade, ensuring uniform powder quality and laying the foundation for subsequent quantitative delivery; through the "powder storage space" formed by the spacer plate, "volume-based" quantitative delivery is realized. Each powder storage space carries a fixed amount of coffee powder and rotates to the powder outlet, making the powder dispensing amount more precise and stable; the powder-dispensing blade extends into the powder storage space, which can further ensure that the coffee powder in the powder storage space is completely and cleanly scraped out during the rotation process, avoiding residual powder retention and ensuring the accuracy of the powder dispensing amount;

[0071] (4) This utility model realizes the automatic opening and closing of the powder outlet through the switch assembly; when the powder container is installed on the equipment, it opens automatically for easy normal operation; when the powder container is removed from the equipment, it closes automatically; it can prevent coffee powder from spilling during the removal and placement of the powder container, keeping the machine and environment clean; when the powder container is off the machine, it forms a sealed space, which continuously and effectively prevents moisture and preserves aroma; the "elastic element" provides the force for normal closing, and the powder container bracket is used as the "drive part" to provide the external force for opening. The structure is simple and ingenious, requiring no additional control circuit or sensor, and the operation is reliable; the "limiting part" ensures that the moving part can completely seal the powder outlet in the closed position, avoiding the problem of slow powder leakage caused by incomplete closure;

[0072] (5) The present invention is designed with a vibration motor and a powder hopper with a sloped bottom structure. The vibration breaks the static friction of the coffee powder, causing it to slide along the sloped structure towards the powder outlet under the action of gravity.

[0073] (6) This utility model adopts a screw pushing method, which can effectively control the amount of coffee powder dispensed. The amount of coffee powder dispensed is fixed for each rotation of the screw. Furthermore, the combination of the pipe and the screw can form a relatively closed conveying environment, which helps to further prevent the coffee powder from getting damp and losing its aroma.

[0074] (7) The present invention is equipped with a powder feeding channel, which can reliably guide and collect the coffee powder falling from the powder outlet into the designated brewing chamber, prevent the powder from scattering, ensure that all coffee powder enters the brewing position, and guarantee the brewing effect and the cleanliness of the equipment; during the brewing process, closing the powder feeding channel door can form a sealed space in the brewing chamber, effectively maintaining the temperature and pressure required for brewing; prevent the high temperature water vapor generated during brewing from rising to the powder hopper, and avoid the coffee powder in the powder hopper from getting damp and clumping; automatic opening and closing is achieved through the "door drive motor", which is more intelligent; the setting of the "sealing silicone part" ensures the sealing when the door is closed, further improving the heat preservation, pressure preservation and moisture prevention effects;

[0075] (8) The “guide rail” of this utility model ensures that the powder dispensing channel door can only move along a predetermined trajectory (such as a straight line), preventing jamming, misalignment or skew, and making the opening and closing of the door smooth and accurate; the “linkage mechanism” can convert the rotational motion of the door drive motor into the linear motion of the door, making the transmission stable and easy to control; the “micro switch” is used to detect the limit position (fully open or fully closed) of the powder dispensing channel door. After receiving the signal from the micro switch, the door drive motor stops, ensuring that the opening and closing positions are completely consistent each time, ensuring the reliability of the seal and the accuracy of powder dispensing. At the same time, it can also prevent the door drive motor from overloaded or the powder dispensing channel door from moving beyond its travel range. Attached Figure Description

[0076] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0077] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of the powder dispensing structure of a brewing device according to Embodiment 1;

[0078] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Enlarged view of point A in the middle;

[0079] Figure 3 for Figure 1 Enlarged view of point B in the middle;

[0080] Figure 4 This is a partial exploded view of the powder feeding structure of a brewing device according to Embodiment 1;

[0081] Figure 5 for Figure 4 Enlarged view of point C in the middle;

[0082] Figure 6 This is a partial schematic diagram of the powder dispensing structure of a brewing device according to Embodiment 1;

[0083] Figure 7 This is a partial schematic diagram from another angle of the powder dispensing structure of a brewing device according to Embodiment 1;

[0084] Figure 8 This is a cross-sectional view of the powder dispensing structure of a brewing device according to Embodiment 2;

[0085] Figure 9 This is a cross-sectional view of the powder dispensing structure of a brewing device according to Embodiment 3;

[0086] Figure 10 for Figure 9 Enlarged diagram of point D in the middle.

[0087] The component names corresponding to the various reference numerals in the figure are as follows: 10. Powder hopper; 101. Powder outlet; 102. Sloping structure; 103. Open end; 104. Mounting groove; 1041. Restriction part; 11. Powder hopper bracket; 110. Drive part; 12. Powder discharge channel; 13. Powder hopper cover; 14. Powder hopper cover sealing ring; 20. Powder dispensing disc; 200. Upper dispersing disc; 200a. Lower fixing ring; 200b. Blade; 200c. Upper fixing ring; 200d. Powder dispensing blade; 201. Lower powder delivery disc; 2011. Disc body; 2012. Powder storage space; 21. Powder dispensing motor. ; 22. Multi-stage gear reduction mechanism; 23. Powder dispensing output shaft; 24. Bracket; 30. Switch assembly; 31. Moving part; 32. Elastic part; 40. Vibration motor; 41. Powder hopper bracket; 42. Motor bracket; 43. Lower bracket; 44. Silicone pad; 50. Screw motor; 51. Pipe; 511. Inlet end; 512. Outlet end; 513. Spiral structure; 52. Screw; 53. Connecting bracket; 60. Sealing mechanism; 61. Powder dispensing channel door; 62. Door drive motor; 63. Linkage mechanism; 64. Guide rail; 70. Base; 71. Sealing silicone part. Detailed Implementation

[0088] The specific embodiments of this utility model will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and examples. The following examples are used to illustrate this utility model, but should not be used to limit the scope of this utility model.

[0089] In the description of this utility model, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "joining" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0090] The following specific examples illustrate the implementation of this application. Those skilled in the art can easily understand other advantages and effects of this application from the content disclosed in this specification. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of them. This application can also be implemented or applied through other different specific embodiments, and the details in this specification can also be modified or changed based on different viewpoints and applications without departing from the spirit of this application. It should be noted that, in the absence of conflict, the following embodiments and features in the embodiments can be combined with each other. Based on the embodiments in this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0091] It should be noted that the following description covers various aspects of embodiments within the scope of the appended claims. It will be apparent that the aspects described herein can be embodied in a wide variety of forms, and any particular structure and / or function described herein is merely illustrative. Based on this application, those skilled in the art will understand that one aspect described herein can be implemented independently of any other aspect, and two or more of these aspects can be combined in various ways. For example, any number and aspects set forth herein can be used to implement the device and / or practice the method. Additionally, this device and / or method can be implemented using structures and / or functionalities other than one or more of the aspects set forth herein.

[0092] It should also be noted that the illustrations provided in the following embodiments are only schematic representations of the basic concept of this application. The drawings only show the components related to this application and are not drawn according to the actual number, shape and size of the components in the actual implementation. In the actual implementation, the form, quantity and proportion of each component can be arbitrarily changed, and the layout of the components may also be more complex.

[0093] Additionally, specific details are provided in the following description to facilitate a thorough understanding of the examples. However, those skilled in the art will understand that practice can be carried out without these specific details.

[0094] The technical solutions provided by the various embodiments of this application are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0095] Example 1:

[0096] like Figures 1-7As shown, this embodiment provides a coffee powder dispensing structure for a brewing device, including a powder hopper 10 for storing coffee powder, with a powder outlet 101 at the bottom of the powder hopper 10; a dispensing drive mechanism; and a dispensing execution mechanism connected to the dispensing drive mechanism for driving coffee powder downwards from the powder hopper 10 through the powder outlet 101. In some embodiments, the top of the powder hopper 10 has an open end 103 for dispensing coffee powder, and a powder hopper cover 13 is detachably connected to the open end 103. The powder hopper cover 13 is also provided with a powder hopper cover sealing ring 14 to achieve a seal, effectively preventing the coffee powder from getting damp and the aroma from evaporating, ensuring the freshness of the coffee powder, and also preventing dust leakage; the powder hopper 10 can hold 250g of coffee powder. In some embodiments, a controller is also included, which is electrically connected to the dispensing drive mechanism and configured to control the start / stop and operating parameters of the dispensing drive mechanism according to the received brewing command to achieve quantitative dispensing of coffee powder. By adopting the above solution, the powder hopper 10, drive mechanism and actuator work together to realize an automated process from storage to transportation, which improves efficiency and avoids the trouble and unsanitary conditions of manual operation.

[0097] In some embodiments, the powder dispensing mechanism includes a rotatable powder dispensing disc 20; the powder dispensing drive mechanism includes a powder dispensing motor 21 for driving the powder dispensing disc 20 to rotate. By controlling the number of rotations or the time of the powder dispensing motor 21, the amount of powder dispensed each time can be precisely controlled, thereby achieving quantitative brewing and ensuring the stability of the coffee flavor. The rotating powder dispensing disc 20 can agitate the coffee powder, helping to break up any clumps that may form, preventing blockage of the powder outlet 101 or the powder dispensing channel 12 of the powder hopper 10, and ensuring a smooth powder dispensing process.

[0098] In some embodiments, the powder dispensing mechanism further includes: a multi-stage gear reduction mechanism 22 connected to the output end of the powder dispensing motor 21; a powder dispensing output shaft 23 connected to the output end of the multi-stage gear reduction mechanism 22, wherein one end of the powder dispensing output shaft 23 away from the multi-stage gear reduction mechanism 22 can extend into the powder hopper 10; and a bracket 24 mounted on the powder dispensing output shaft 23; wherein the powder dispensing disc 20 is mounted on the bracket 24. Specifically, the powder dispensing output shaft 23, the bracket 24, and the powder dispensing disc 20 rotate synchronously. Using the above scheme, the multi-stage gear reduction mechanism 22 can increase the output torque while reducing the rotational speed, which allows the powder dispensing disc 20 to provide sufficient torque to break up and push coffee powder when encountering locally clumped particles, resulting in smoother and more powerful operation; the power is transmitted from the powder dispensing motor 21 to the powder dispensing disc 20 inside the powder hopper 10 through the "powder dispensing output shaft 23" and the "bracket 24," resulting in a compact structure and high transmission efficiency.

[0099] In some embodiments, the powder dispensing disc 20 includes an upper dispersing disc 200 located on the upper layer and a lower powder feeding disc 201 connected below the upper dispersing disc 200. The lower powder feeding disc 201 includes a plurality of disc bodies 2011 arranged at intervals around the rotation axis of the powder dispensing disc 20, and a powder storage space 2012 is formed between every two spaced disc bodies 2011. In some embodiments, the disc body 2011 is fixedly mounted on the bracket 24. The disc body 2011 is formed by extending radially outward from the outer wall of the bracket 24 and bending upward near the side wall of the powder hopper 10, such that the bottom of the disc body 2011 is in contact with the bottom wall of the powder hopper 10, and the bent part of the disc body 2011 is in contact with the side wall of the powder hopper 10. Furthermore, the portion of the disc body 2011 in contact with the inner wall of the powder hopper 10 is covered with a wear-resistant elastic material. The upper dispersing disc 200 includes a lower fixing ring 200a connected to the top of each disc body 2011, radial blades 200b extending outward and upward from the top of the lower fixing ring 200a, an upper fixing ring 200c connected to the outer side of the blades 200b, and a powder-dispensing blade 200d extending downward from the lower end portion of the blades 200b. The powder-dispensing blade 200d extends into the powder storage space 2012. Specifically, the wear-resistant elastic material is TPU. Using the above scheme, the radial blades 200b and the powder-dispensing blade 200d efficiently break up coffee powder clumps, ensuring uniform powder quality and laying the foundation for subsequent quantitative delivery. The "powder storage space 2012" formed by the spacer disc 2011 achieves "volume-based" quantitative delivery. Each powder storage space 2012 carries a fixed amount of coffee powder and rotates to the powder outlet 101, resulting in more precise and stable control of the powder quantity. The powder-dispensing blade 200d extends into the powder storage space 2012, further ensuring that the coffee powder in the storage space 2012 is completely and cleanly scraped out during rotation, avoiding residual powder and guaranteeing the accuracy of the powder quantity.

[0100] In some embodiments, the powder container 10 has a powder outlet 101 on its side; wherein, the powder container 10 is provided with a switch assembly 30 at its powder outlet 101, the switch assembly 30 is used to close the powder outlet 101 in a normally closed state to prevent coffee powder stored in the powder container 10 from spilling out through the powder outlet 101; the switch assembly 30 can open the powder outlet 101 under external force to allow coffee powder to fall out; the switch assembly 30 includes a movable member 31 movably connected to the front end of the powder container 10 at the powder outlet 101, and an elastic member 32 connected between the top end of the movable member 31 and the powder container 10; the elastic member 32 acts on the movable member 31 to provide a downward elastic force to the movable member 31, so that the movable member 31 moves downward. The movable part 31 can move downward close to the powder hopper 10 to close the powder outlet 101; when the movable part 31 is subjected to external force, it can overcome the elastic force of the elastic member 32 and move upward to open the powder outlet 101; wherein, a relatively fixed powder hopper support 11 is provided outside the powder hopper 10, and a driving part 110 is provided at the front end of the powder outlet 101; after the powder hopper 10 is assembled to the powder hopper support 11, the bottom end of the movable part 31 abuts against the driving part 110, so that the movable part 31 can overcome the elastic force of the elastic member 32 and move upward to open the powder outlet 101; after the powder hopper 10 is separated from the powder hopper support 11, the elastic force of the elastic member 32 can drive the movable part 31 to move downward to close the powder outlet 101. In some embodiments, the powder hopper 10 is provided with a mounting groove 104 for mounting the switch assembly 30 at the front end of the powder outlet 101. The bottom end of the mounting groove 104 is provided with a limiting part 1041 for limiting the downward movement of the movable member 31. When the movable member 31 moves downward under the elastic force of the elastic member 32 until the bottom end of the movable member 31 abuts against the limiting part 1041, the movable member 31 is in a state of completely closing the powder outlet 101. Using the above solution, the switch assembly 30 realizes the automatic opening and closing of the powder outlet 101; when the powder container 10 is installed on the device, it automatically opens to facilitate normal operation; when the powder container 10 is removed from the device, it automatically closes; it can prevent coffee powder from spilling during the removal and placement of the powder container 10, keeping the machine and the environment clean; when the powder container 10 is off the machine, it forms a sealed space, which continuously and effectively prevents moisture and preserves aroma; the "elastic element 32" provides the force for normal closing, and the powder container bracket 11 serves as the "drive unit 110" to provide the external force for opening. The structure is simple and ingenious, requiring no additional control circuits or sensors, and the operation is reliable; the "limiting part 1041" ensures that the moving part 31 can completely seal the powder outlet 101 in the closed position, avoiding the problem of slow powder leakage caused by incomplete closure.

[0101] In some embodiments, a coffee powder discharge channel 12 is connected below the powder outlet 101, the coffee powder discharge channel 12 being used to transport coffee powder to the brewing chamber. By adopting the above solution, the coffee powder discharge channel 12 can reliably guide and collect the coffee powder falling from the powder outlet 101 into the designated brewing chamber, preventing powder scattering and ensuring that all coffee powder enters the brewing position, thus guaranteeing brewing effect and equipment cleanliness. In some embodiments, a sealing mechanism 60 for sealing the coffee powder discharge channel 12 is also included; the sealing mechanism 60 includes a coffee powder discharge channel door 61 and a door drive motor 62 for driving the coffee powder discharge channel door 61; wherein, the coffee powder discharge channel door 61 is configured to open and close the coffee powder discharge channel 12 under the drive of the door drive motor 62. In some embodiments, a base 70 is also included, the coffee powder discharge structure being assembled on the base 70; wherein, the base 70 is an opening located below the coffee powder discharge channel 12; a sealing silicone element 71 is provided at the connection between the coffee powder discharge channel door 61 and the base 70. Using the above solution, closing the coffee powder dispensing channel door 61 during the brewing process creates a sealed space within the brewing chamber, effectively maintaining the required temperature and pressure. This prevents high-temperature steam generated during brewing from rising to the coffee powder container 10, thus avoiding moisture absorption and clumping of the coffee powder. Automatic opening and closing via the "door drive motor 62" enhances intelligence. The "sealing silicone part 71" ensures a tight seal when the door is closed, further improving heat preservation, pressure retention, and moisture prevention. In some embodiments, the sealing mechanism 60 further includes a linkage mechanism 63 and a guide rail 64. The door drive motor 62 drives the coffee powder dispensing channel door 61 to move along the guide rail 64 via the linkage mechanism 63. The sealing mechanism 60 also includes a position detection unit for detecting the position of the coffee powder dispensing channel door 61. In some embodiments, the position detection unit includes a microswitch located at the end of the guide rail 64, and the end of the coffee powder dispensing channel door 61 triggers the microswitch. In some embodiments, there are two guide rails 64, respectively arranged at both ends of the powder dispensing channel door 61, to restrict the powder dispensing channel door 61 from moving linearly along the guide rails 64. Specifically, when coffee powder falls from the powder hopper 10, it accumulates in the powder dispensing channel 12 outside the brewing chamber door. At this time, the door drive motor 62 is connected to the powder dispensing channel door 61 through the linkage mechanism 63. The left and right sides of the powder dispensing channel door 61 are limited by the guide rails 64, and it can only move back and forth. By rotating, the powder dispensing channel door 61 moves forward to open the door. When it reaches the required position, a micro switch is triggered to stop, thus achieving stable opening and allowing coffee powder to fall into the brewing chamber. When the required amount of coffee powder is reached, the door drive motor 62 reverses, and stops when the micro switch is triggered to close the door.Using the above scheme, the "guide rail 64" ensures that the powder dispensing channel door 61 can only move along a predetermined trajectory (such as a straight line), preventing jamming, misalignment, or tilting, and making the opening and closing action smooth and accurate; the "linkage mechanism 63" can convert the rotational motion of the door drive motor 62 into the linear motion of the door, with stable transmission and easy control; the "micro switch" is used to detect the limit position (fully open or fully closed) of the powder dispensing channel door 61. After receiving the signal from the micro switch, the door drive motor 62 stops, ensuring that the opening and closing positions are completely consistent each time, guaranteeing the reliability of the seal and the accuracy of powder dispensing. At the same time, it can also prevent the door drive motor 62 from overload or the powder dispensing channel door 61 from exceeding its travel range.

[0102] Specifically, when the powder dispensing motor 21 drives the powder dispensing disc to rotate 20 times to dispense powder, it will only accumulate in the powder dispensing channel 12 outside the brewing chamber door. At this time, the door drive motor 62 is connected to the powder dispensing channel door 61 through the linkage mechanism 63. The powder dispensing channel door 61 is limited by the left and right guide rails 64 and can only move back and forth. By rotating, the powder dispensing channel door 61 moves forward to open the door. When it reaches the required position, the micro switch is triggered to stop, which can realize the stable opening of the door and let the coffee powder fall into the brewing chamber. When the required amount of coffee powder is reached, the door drive motor 62 reverses and stops when the micro switch is triggered to close the door.

[0103] Example 2:

[0104] like Figure 8 As shown, the difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment described above is that: the powder dispensing drive mechanism includes a vibration motor 40; the powder dispensing execution mechanism includes a powder hopper bracket '41', with the powder hopper 10 fixedly mounted on the powder hopper bracket '41'; and a motor bracket 42, through which the vibration motor 40 is fixedly mounted on the bottom surface of the powder hopper bracket '41 near the center; wherein, the bottom of the powder hopper 10 is a sloped structure 102, and the powder outlet 101 is located at the lowest point of the sloped structure 102. In some embodiments, a lower bracket 43 is connected to the lower end of the powder hopper bracket '41', and a silicone pad 44 is provided between the lower bracket 43 and the powder hopper bracket '41' to reduce overall machine vibration. Specifically, the motor vibration drives the powder hopper bracket '41' and the powder hopper 10 to vibrate and dispense the coffee powder into the powder dispensing channel 12. Using the above scheme, a vibration motor 40 and a powder hopper 10 with a sloped structure 102 at the bottom are designed. The vibration breaks the static friction of the coffee powder, causing it to slide along the sloped structure 102 towards the powder outlet 101 under the action of gravity.

[0105] Specifically, when the vibration motor 40 runs, it vibrates and dispenses the coffee powder in the powder hopper 10, which only accumulates in the powder dispensing channel 12 outside the brewing chamber door. At this time, the door drive motor 62 is connected to the powder dispensing channel door 61 through the linkage mechanism 63. The powder dispensing channel door 61 is limited by the left and right guide rails 64, which can only move back and forth. By rotating, the powder dispensing channel door 61 moves forward to open the door. When it reaches the required position, the micro switch is triggered to stop, thus achieving a stable door opening and allowing the coffee powder to fall into the brewing chamber. When the required amount of coffee powder is reached, the door drive motor 62 reverses, and when the micro switch is triggered, it stops to close the door.

[0106] Example 3:

[0107] like Figures 9-10 As shown, the difference between this embodiment and the above-mentioned embodiments one and two is that: the powder dispensing drive mechanism includes a screw motor 50; the powder dispensing execution component includes a pipe 51, which is connected to the powder hopper 10, and the inlet end 511 of the pipe 51 communicates with the powder outlet 101 of the powder hopper 10, and an outlet end 512 is provided on the side of the pipe 51 away from the inlet end 511 for dispensing powder; a screw 52 is adapted to the pipe 51, and the inner wall of the pipe 51 is provided with a spiral structure 513 adapted to the outer wall of the screw 52; wherein, the screw 52 is connected to the output end of the screw motor 50, and the screw motor 50 can drive the screw 52 to rotate so as to push coffee powder from the powder outlet 101 into the pipe 51, and push it to the outlet end 512 via the pipe 51. In some embodiments, the inner wall profile of the pipe 51 is adapted to the helical outer edge of the screw 52 to form a sealed channel for pushing coffee powder, which helps to further prevent the coffee powder from getting damp and losing aroma. In some embodiments, the pipe 51 is arranged laterally at the lower end of the powder outlet 101; the screw motor 50 is connected to the screw 52 through a connecting bracket 53, so that the screw motor 50 can drive the screw 52 to rotate around its own central axis. Specifically, when coffee powder is put into the powder hopper 10, it falls to the bottom of the powder hopper 10 by gravity. The screw motor 50 starts and drives the screw 52 to rotate. When the screw 52 rotates, it moves the coffee powder forward to the outlet end 512 at the bottom of the pipe 51. The coffee powder falls into the outlet end 512 at the bottom by gravity and enters the powder dispensing channel 12. By adopting the above scheme and using the screw 52 to push the coffee powder, the amount of powder pushed can be well controlled. The amount of powder pushed is fixed for each rotation of the screw 52. Furthermore, the cooperation between the pipe 51 and the screw 52 can form a relatively closed conveying environment, which helps to further prevent the coffee powder from getting damp and losing its aroma.

[0108] The same or similar parts between the various embodiments in this specification can be referred to mutually. Each embodiment focuses on describing the differences from other embodiments.

[0109] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A powder dispensing structure for a brewing device, characterized in that: include A powder container (10) is used to store coffee powder, and the bottom or side of the powder container (10) is provided with a powder outlet (101). Powder dispensing drive mechanism; A powder dispensing actuator, which is connected to the powder dispensing drive mechanism, is used to drive coffee powder to be conveyed downward from the powder hopper (10) through the powder outlet (101).

2. The powder dispensing structure of the brewing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The powder dispensing mechanism includes a rotatable powder dispensing disc (20); the powder dispensing drive mechanism includes a powder dispensing motor (21) for driving the powder dispensing disc (20) to rotate.

3. The powder dispensing structure of the brewing device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The powder dispensing mechanism also includes: A multi-stage gear reduction mechanism (22) is connected to the output end of the powder-dispensing motor (21); The powder output shaft (23) is connected to the output end of the multi-stage gear reduction mechanism (22), and the end of the powder output shaft (23) away from the multi-stage gear reduction mechanism (22) can extend into the powder hopper (10); A bracket (24) is mounted on the powder output shaft (23); The powder-dispensing disc (20) is mounted on the bracket (24).

4. The powder dispensing structure of the brewing device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The powder dispensing tray (20) includes an upper dispersing tray (200) located on the upper layer and a lower powder feeding tray (201) connected below the upper dispersing tray (200). The lower powder feeding tray (201) includes a plurality of trays (2011) arranged at intervals around the rotation axis of the powder dispensing tray (20), and a powder storage space (2012) is formed between every two spaced trays (2011).

5. The powder dispensing structure of the brewing device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The powder container (10) has a powder outlet (101) on its side; wherein, the powder container (10) is provided with a switch assembly (30) at its powder outlet (101), the switch assembly (30) is used to close the powder outlet (101) in the normally closed state to prevent the coffee powder stored in the powder container (10) from spilling out through the powder outlet (101); the switch assembly (30) can open the powder outlet (101) under the action of external force to allow the coffee powder to fall out; The switching assembly (30) includes a movable member (31) movably connected to the powder hopper (10) at the front end of the powder outlet (101), and an elastic member (32) connected between the top of the movable member (31) and the powder hopper (10); the elastic member (32) acts on the movable member (31) to provide a downward elastic force to the movable member (31), so that the movable member (31) can move downward close to the powder hopper (10) to close the powder outlet (101); when the movable member (31) is subjected to an external force, it can overcome the elastic force of the elastic member (32) and move upward to open the powder outlet (101). The powder hopper (10) is provided with a relatively fixed powder hopper support (11), and the powder hopper support (11) is provided with a drive part (110) at the front end of the powder outlet (101). After the powder hopper (10) is assembled to the powder hopper support (11), the bottom end of the movable part (31) abuts against the drive part (110), so that the movable part (31) can overcome the elastic force of the elastic member (32) and move upward to open the powder outlet (101). After the powder hopper (10) is separated from the powder hopper support (11), the elastic force of the elastic member (32) can drive the movable part (31) to move downward to close the powder outlet (101).

6. The powder dispensing structure of the brewing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The powder feeding drive mechanism includes a vibration motor (40); the powder feeding execution mechanism includes Powder hopper bracket '(41),' wherein the powder hopper (10) is fixedly installed on the powder hopper bracket '(41); Motor bracket (42), the vibration motor (40) is fixedly installed on the bottom surface of the powder hopper bracket (41) near the middle position through the motor bracket (42); The bottom of the powder hopper (10) is a sloping structure (102), and the powder outlet (101) is located at the lowest point of the sloping structure (102).

7. The powder dispensing structure of the brewing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The powder feeding drive mechanism includes a screw motor (50); the powder feeding execution component includes... A pipe (51) is connected to the powder hopper (10), and the inlet end (511) of the pipe (51) is connected to the powder outlet (101) of the powder hopper (10). An outlet end (512) is provided on the side of the pipe (51) away from the inlet end (511) for discharging powder. The screw (52) is adapted to the pipe (51), and the inner wall of the pipe (51) is provided with a helical structure (513) adapted to the outer wall of the screw (52). The screw (52) is connected to the output end of the screw motor (50). The screw motor (50) can drive the screw (52) to rotate so that the coffee powder enters the pipe (51) from the powder outlet (101) and is pushed to the outlet end (512) through the pipe (51).

8. The powder dispensing structure of the brewing device according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that: The powder outlet (101) is connected to a powder delivery channel (12) below it, which is used to deliver coffee powder to the brewing chamber.

9. The powder dispensing structure of the brewing device according to claim 8, characterized in that: It also includes a sealing mechanism (60) for sealing the powder dispensing channel (12); the sealing mechanism (60) includes a powder dispensing channel door (61) and a door drive motor (62) for driving the powder dispensing channel door (61) to move; wherein the powder dispensing channel door (61) is configured to enable the powder dispensing channel (12) to be opened and closed under the drive of the door drive motor (62).

10. The powder dispensing structure of the brewing device according to claim 9, characterized in that: The sealing mechanism (60) further includes a linkage mechanism (63) and a guide rail (64), wherein the door drive motor (62) drives the powder discharge channel door (61) to move along the guide rail (64) via the linkage mechanism (63); and / or, the sealing mechanism (60) further includes a position detection unit for detecting the position of the powder discharge channel door (61).

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