Beverage supply apparatus

Abstract

To satisfactorily extract a large volume of beverage and supply it into a cup.SOLUTION: A beverage supply apparatus 1 comprises a control unit 12 which charges a crushed material and hot water into an extractor 30 to agitate them and supplies the extractor 30 with pressurized air for extraction to extract a beverage from the extractor 30 into a cup C. In a case when additional hot water is supplied to the extractor 30 after the supply of the beverage into the cup C, the control unit 12 performs large volume extraction which supplies the extractor 30 with pressurized air for extraction to extract an additional beverage from the extractor 30. In the case of performing the large volume extraction, the control unit 12 collapses a residual matter (B) constituted of a raw material in the extractor 30 after the supply of the beverage into the cup C.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a beverage dispensing device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a beverage supplying device that extracts a beverage from ground ingredients and hot water by an extractor installed inside the device body and supplies the extracted beverage to a cup as a container has been proposed in Patent Document 1. In this beverage supplying device, the ingredients and hot water are stirred by supplying pressurized air for stirring to the extractor, and then the beverage is extracted by supplying pressurized air for extraction to the extractor. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2023-137016 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, in the beverage supply device proposed in Patent Document 1 mentioned above, when extracting a beverage with a volume (large volume) larger than the amount dispensed in one go by the extractor, additional hot water is supplied to the extractor after the beverage is extracted, and pressurized air for extraction is supplied to extract the additional beverage.

[0005] As a result, a residue known as a bed remains inside the extractor, which is made up of ingredients compressed by the pressurized air used for extraction. This bed can cause excessive resistance to the extraction of additional beverages, making it difficult to extract large volumes of beverage.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE In view of the above-mentioned circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a beverage dispenser that can satisfactorily extract a large volume of beverage and dispense it into a cup. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the beverage supplying device of the present invention is equipped with a control unit which feeds crushed raw materials and hot water into an extractor and stirs them, supplies pressurized air for extraction to the extractor to extract a beverage from the extractor and supplies it to a cup, and when additional hot water is supplied to the extractor after the beverage has been supplied to the cup, the control unit supplies pressurized air for extraction to the extractor to extract an additional beverage from the extractor, making it a beverage supplying device that performs large-volume extraction, and is characterized in that, when performing the large-volume extraction, the control unit disintegrates residue composed of the raw materials in the extractor after supplying the beverage to the cup.

[0008] The present invention is also characterized in that, in the beverage supply device, the control unit disintegrates the residue by supplying at least one of the additional hot water and pressurized air for stirring to the extractor.

[0009] The present invention is also characterized in that, in the above-mentioned beverage supply device, the control unit disintegrates the residue by supplying the additional hot water to the extractor while supplying the pressurized air for stirring to the extractor. Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to the present invention, when performing large-volume extraction, the control unit breaks down the residue made of ingredients in the extraction machine after supplying the beverage to the cup, thereby reducing the extraction resistance of the additional beverage, thereby achieving the effect of successfully extracting a large volume of beverage and supplying it to the cup. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of a beverage dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an internal structure of the beverage supply device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3]FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing main components of the beverage dispenser according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining the beverage supplying operation of the beverage supplying device shown in FIGS. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining the beverage supplying operation of the beverage supplying device shown in FIGS. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining the beverage supplying operation of the beverage supplying device shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. As shown in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining the beverage supplying operation of the beverage supplying device shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. As shown in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram for explaining the beverage supplying operation of the beverage supplying device shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. As shown in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram for explaining the beverage supplying operation of the beverage supplying device shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. As shown in FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram for explaining the beverage supplying operation of the beverage supplying device shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. As shown in FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram for explaining the beverage supplying operation of the beverage supplying device shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. As shown in FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram for explaining the beverage supplying operation of the beverage supplying device shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. As shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of a beverage supplying device according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0013] Figures 1 to 3 each show a beverage supply device that is an embodiment of the present invention, where Figure 1 is an oblique view showing the external configuration of the beverage supply device, Figure 2 is an oblique view showing the internal structure of the beverage supply device, and Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing the main components of the beverage supply device.

[0014] The beverage dispenser 1 illustrated here is a coffee machine installed in a store such as a convenience store, and serves, for example, grinding beans and performing an extraction process to dispense a beverage such as coffee into a container, a cup C. Such a beverage dispenser 1 is configured with a main body cabinet 10 and a front door 20.

[0015] The main body cabinet 10 is an apparatus main body in the shape of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped having a front opening (not shown) on the front side, and contains a beverage preparation unit 11 that prepares a beverage (for example, coffee) and a control unit 12 therein.

[0016] The front door 20 is a door body having a size sufficient to close the front opening of the main cabinet 10. The front door 20 is provided on the left edge of the front side of the main cabinet 10 so as to be able to swing about the central axis of an axis part (not shown) extending in the vertical direction, and is capable of opening and closing the front opening of the main cabinet 10. The front side of the front door 20 constitutes the customer service surface, and a display unit 21, a beverage supply unit 22, and an opening and closing door 23 are provided thereon.

[0017] The display unit 21 is configured, for example, with a liquid crystal touch panel, and displays various information in response to commands given from the control unit 12, and is capable of input operations such as touch operations. The display unit 21 outputs a sales signal to the control unit 12 when an input operation such as a touch operation is performed.

[0018] The beverage supply unit 22 is provided below the display unit 21, and has a nozzle 22a and a stage 22b. The nozzle 22a ejects the beverage produced in the beverage production unit 11 downward. The stage 22b is provided below the nozzle 22a.

[0019] The opening / closing door 23 is made of a light-transmitting material such as a transparent resin, and is large enough to cover the inlet 22c of the beverage supply unit 22. The left end of the opening / closing door 23 is pivotally supported by the front door 20, and is capable of swinging in the front-rear direction.

[0020] In other words, the opening / closing door 23 can swing in the front-to-back direction in a manner approaching and moving away from the beverage supply unit 22, and when it swings backward in a manner approaching the beverage supply unit 22, it can close the inlet 22c of the beverage supply unit 22, and when it swings forward in a manner moving away from the beverage supply unit 22, it can open the inlet 22c of the beverage supply unit 22.

[0021] The beverage preparation section 11 is configured to include an extractor 30, an ingredient supply section 50, a hot water supply section 60, an air supply section 70, and a container bucket 80.

[0022] The extractor 30 extracts coffee, which is a beverage, from ingredients supplied from an ingredient supply unit 50 and hot water supplied from a hot water supply unit 60, and supplies the coffee to the beverage supply unit 22.

[0023] The extractor 30 is configured to include a grinder 32, a brewer unit 34, a pinch mechanism 36, a scraper 38, and a group of valves 40.

[0024] The crusher 32 is what is called a mill. The crusher 32 is driven when a drive command is given to a crusher driving unit 32a, which is an actuator. The crusher 32 is installed below a raw material box 51 and is connected to the raw material box 51 via a raw material supply chute 52.

[0025] When driven, the grinder 32 grinds the coffee beans guided by the raw material supply chute 52 and feeds the ground coffee beans (hereinafter also referred to as ground coffee beans) through the raw material chute section 33 into the brewer unit 34. This raw material chute section 33 has a raw material passage for dropping the ground coffee beans.

[0026] The brewer unit 34 is configured to include a cylinder 341, a top seal portion 342, and a filter block 343. The cylinder 341 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape. The top seal portion 342 opens and closes the top opening of the cylinder 341. In such a top seal portion 342, a cylindrical passage component 35 whose inside communicates with the top opening is formed in a manner of extending upward.

[0027] This passage forming member 35 is made of a resin material such as silicone, and has an elliptical cross section. A part of the ingredient chute section 33 is inserted from above into the hollow part of such passage forming member 35, and thus the hollow part forms a passage through which the ground coffee beans and mixed water (hot water) pass, as will be described in detail later, and its inner wall surface is water repellent.

[0028] A part of the upper end portion of the hollow portion of the passage forming member 35 is connected to the exhaust duct 49 in a manner that it is partitioned from the raw material chute section 33. The exhaust duct 49 not only communicates with the passage forming member 35, but also communicates with the inside of the cylinder 341 via the passage forming member 35.

[0029] An exhaust fan 46 is provided in such exhaust duct 49. This exhaust fan 46 is driven by an exhaust fan drive unit 46a, which is an actuator, in response to a command given from the control unit 12, and when driven, exhausts the air inside the cylinder 341, etc. to the outside through the exhaust duct 49.

[0030] Filter block 343 is generally box-shaped and provided below cylinder 341 so as to be movable up and down, and its upper surface is large enough to close the lower opening of cylinder 341.

[0031] A disk-shaped metallic mesh member (not shown) having a plurality of holes is provided in the filter block 343, and a beverage supply path 48 that communicates with these holes is connected to the filter block 343. The beverage supply path 48 is configured by connecting a beverage supply pipe, and connects the filter block 343 and the nozzle 22a.

[0032] This filter block 343 moves in the vertical direction when filter block driving unit 343b, which is an actuator, is driven in response to a command given from control unit 12. When filter block 343 moves up, it presses against the bottom opening of cylinder 341 to close it.

[0033] The pinch mechanism 36 is provided above the top seal portion 342. In this pinch mechanism 36, a first pinch component 361 and a second pinch component 362 extending in the left-right direction are arranged at a distance from each other in the front-rear direction, and a passage component 35 is arranged between the first pinch component 361 and the second pinch component 362.

[0034] In the normal state, the first pinch component 361 and the second pinch component 362 of the pinch mechanism 36 are disposed at the furthest positions from each other, and the pinch mechanism 36 does not act on the passage component 35 at all.

[0035] On the other hand, when the first pinch component 361 and the second pinch component 362 are brought closest to each other by driving the pinch motor 36a, the pinch mechanism 36 elastically deforms the lower part of the passage component 35 to close part of the passage.

[0036] By closing a part of the passage in this manner, the passage of ground coffee beans and the like is restricted. The location where the pinch mechanism 36 clamps the passage forming member 35 to close a part of the passage is the lower part of the passage forming member 35, i.e., the part below the area where the ingredient chute portion 33 is inserted.

[0037] The scraper 38 is moved in the front-rear direction by a scraper driving unit 382, ​​which is an actuator, being driven by a command given from the control unit 12, and power is transmitted to the scraper 38.

[0038] To explain in more detail, the scraper 38 is installed so as to be able to move forward and backward in the front-to-rear direction between a standby position rearward of the filter block 343 and an advanced position forward of the filter block 343, and is normally positioned in the standby position.

[0039] The scraper 38 is capable of sliding contact with the upper surface of the mesh member of the filter block 343 that has moved to the lowest position when moving forward from the standby position to the advanced position and when moving backward from the advanced position to the standby position, and removes the extraction residue K (see Figure 11) placed on the mesh member when moving forward from the standby position to the advanced position.

[0040] The valve group 40 is configured to include an air valve 41, a hot water valve 42, and a coffee valve 43.

[0041] Although not shown in the drawings, the air valve 41 is a switching valve configured with an air valve shaft displaceably provided inside an air valve case, and switches the communication state of four ports formed in the air valve case in accordance with the displacement of the air valve shaft. The four ports formed in this air valve case are an air introduction port 411a, an agitation air discharge port 411b, an extraction air discharge port 411c, and an opening port 411d.

[0042] The air inlet port 411a is connected to an air supply path 71 constituting the air supply unit 70. The agitation air discharge port 411b is connected to an agitation air line 401. The agitation air line 401 is composed of an agitation air supply pipe and is connected to the coffee valve 43.

[0043] The extraction air discharge port 411c is connected to the extraction air line 402. This extraction air line 402 is composed of an extraction air supply pipe, and is connected to the top seal portion 342. The release port 411d is an opening for opening the inside of the air valve case.

[0044] The air valve shaft is normally disposed at a reference position, and is displaced to a tip position when the air valve shaft itself is pressed.

[0045] In such an air valve 41, when the air valve shaft is disposed at the reference position, the air inlet port 411a and the agitating air discharge port 411b communicate with each other, and the extracted air discharge port 411c and the release port 411d communicate with each other. On the other hand, when the air valve shaft is disposed at the tip position, the air inlet port 411a and the extracted air discharge port 411c communicate with each other, and the agitating air discharge port 411b and the release port 411d do not communicate with each other.

[0046] Incidentally, the air valve shaft of the air valve 41 can also be disposed at an intermediate position between the reference position and the tip position. When the air valve shaft is disposed at the intermediate position in this manner, the air introduction port 411a, the agitating air discharge port 411b, the extracted air discharge port 411c, and the release port 411d are all in communication with each other.

[0047] The hot water valve 42 is a switching valve configured with a hot water valve shaft displaceably installed inside the hot water valve case, and switches the communication state of three ports formed in the hot water valve case in accordance with the displacement of the hot water valve shaft. The three ports formed in this hot water valve case are a hot water introduction port 421a, a first hot water discharge port 421b, and a second hot water discharge port 421c.

[0048] The hot water introduction port 421a is connected to the hot water supply path 65 constituting the hot water supply section 60. The first hot water discharge port 421b is connected to the mixed hot water supply path 403. This mixed hot water supply path 403 is composed of a mixed hot water supply pipe and is connected to a mixed hot water nozzle (not shown) formed in the raw material chute section 33. Here, the mixed hot water nozzle is provided in a manner facing the raw material passage in the raw material chute section 33, and discharges the mixed hot water in a fan shape diagonally downward. To explain in more detail, the mixed hot water nozzle discharges the mixed hot water in a manner that blocks a part of the raw material passage in the raw material chute section 33.

[0049] As a result, the extractor 30 mixes the ground coffee beans and mixed water in the air in the raw material chute section 33, and causes this mixture to collide with the inner wall surface of the raw material passage and then drop downward along said inner wall surface, without coming into contact with the inner wall surface of the passage configuration member 35.

[0050] The second hot water discharge port 421c is connected to the hot water supply path 405. This hot water supply path 405 is composed of a hot water supply pipe, and is connected to a hot water supply nozzle (not shown) formed in the top seal portion 342. Here, the hot water supply nozzle discharges hot water supplied through the hot water supply path 405 downward in a shower-like manner.

[0051] The hot water valve shaft is normally disposed at a reference position, and is displaced to a tip position when the hot water valve shaft itself is pressed.

[0052] In such a hot water valve 42, when the hot water valve shaft is placed in the reference position, the hot water inlet port 421a and the first hot water outlet port 421b are in communication with each other. On the other hand, when the hot water valve shaft is placed in the tip position, the hot water inlet port 421a and the second hot water outlet port 421c are in communication with each other.

[0053] The coffee valve 43 is disposed midway through the beverage supply path 48. This coffee valve 43 is a switching valve similar to the air valve 41 and hot water valve 42, and switches the communication state of three ports.

[0054] The three ports in the coffee valve 43 are a coffee introduction port 431a, an agitating air introduction port 431b, and a coffee discharge port 431c. The coffee introduction port 431a is connected to the filter block 343 (the brewer unit 34) through a portion of the beverage supply path 48. The agitating air introduction port 431b is connected to the agitating air line 401. The coffee discharge port 431c is connected to the nozzle 22a of the beverage supply unit 22 through a portion of the beverage supply path 48.

[0055] Such a coffee valve 43 switches between a first communication state in which the coffee introduction port 431a and the coffee discharge port 431c are in communication with each other, and a second communication state in which the stirring air introduction port 431b and the coffee introduction port 431a are in communication with each other.

[0056] In such a valve group 40, the air valve 41, hot water valve 42 and coffee valve 43 are linked to a common valve actuator 40b, and the communication state of each port of the air valve 41, hot water valve 42 and coffee valve 43 is switched by driving the valve actuator 40b to rotate cams and gears.

[0057] As shown in FIG. 3, the beverage supply path 48 connecting the filter block 343 and the coffee valve 43 is provided with a drain valve 44.

[0058] The drainage valve 44 is a switching valve similar to the air valve 41, the hot water valve 42, and the coffee valve 43, and switches the communication state of the three ports.

[0059] The three ports in the drain valve 44 are an inlet port 441a, a first outlet port 441b, and a second outlet port 441c. The inlet port 441a is connected to the filter block 343 (the brewer unit 34) through a part of the beverage supply path 48. The first outlet port 441b is connected to a drain path 471 provided in a manner extending to the containing bucket 80. The second outlet port 441c is connected to a beverage supply pipe linked to the coffee valve 43.

[0060] Such a drainage valve 44 switches between a first delivery state in which the inlet port 441a and the first outlet port 441b are in communication with each other, and a second delivery state in which the inlet port 441a and the second outlet port 441c are in communication with each other.

[0061] The ingredient supply unit 50 supplies coffee beans, which are a beverage ingredient, to the extraction machine 30, and includes an ingredient box 51. The ingredient box 51 contains roasted coffee beans, and is provided in such a manner that a portion of the ingredient box protrudes upward from a top plate hole 13a provided in the top plate portion 13 of the main body cabinet 10. The ingredient box 51 is provided with an ingredient supply drive unit 51a. The ingredient supply drive unit 51a drives an ingredient supply motor 51b, which is a drive source, when a drive command is given from the control unit 12, and dispenses a predetermined amount of coffee beans included in the drive command through an ingredient supply chute 52.

[0062] The hot water supply unit 60 supplies hot water to the extraction machine 30, and is configured by sequentially connecting a hot water tank 61, a first hot water pump 62, a sub-tank 63, and a second hot water pump 64 to a hot water supply path 65 formed by hot water supply piping.

[0063] The hot water tank 61 heats supplied water, such as tap water, with a heater (not shown) and stores it as hot water. The first hot water pump 62 is composed of, for example, a centrifugal pump, and when driven in response to a command given from the control unit 12, it sends out a fixed amount of hot water from the hot water tank 61 to the subtank 63. The subtank 63 has a smaller volume than the hot water tank 61, and temporarily stores the hot water sent out by the first hot water pump 62. The second hot water pump 64 is composed of, for example, a gear pump, and when driven in response to a command given from the control unit 12, it sends out hot water from the subtank 63.

[0064] The air supply unit 70 supplies pressurized air to the extractor 30. The air supply unit 70 is configured by providing an air pump 72 in an air supply path 71 formed by an air supply pipe. The air pump 72 is driven in response to a command given from the control unit 12, and compresses air and sends it out as pressurized air.

[0065] The collection bucket 80 is disposed below the extractor 30 and is used to collect the extraction grounds K and the like generated when the beverage is extracted by the extractor 30.

[0066] The control unit 12 generally controls the operation of each part of the beverage dispenser 1 in accordance with programs and data stored in a storage unit (not shown). Note that the control unit 12 may be realized, for example, by causing a processing device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) to execute a program, that is, by software, or may be realized by hardware such as an IC (Integrated Circuit), or may be realized by a combination of software and hardware.

[0067] In the above-described beverage supply device 1, the beverage preparation unit 11 extracts a larger volume (large capacity) of beverage than the amount dispensed in one go by the extraction machine 30, and supplies the beverage, i.e., coffee, to a cup C placed on the stage 22b of the beverage supply unit 22, as follows.

[0068] As a premise, hot water is stored in the hot water tank 61, and in the air valve 41, the air valve shaft is placed at a reference position, and the air introduction port 411a communicates with the stirring air discharge port 411b and the extraction air discharge port 411c communicates with the release port 411d. In the hot water valve 42, the hot water introduction port 421a communicates with the first hot water discharge port 421b, and in the coffee valve 43, the coffee introduction port 431a communicates with the stirring air introduction port 431b.

[0069] When a user touches display unit 21, control unit 12 outputs a sales signal for the selected beverage, and issues a command to filter block drive unit 343b to move filter block 343 upward, as shown in Fig. 4. Control unit 12 also sets drainage valve 44 to the first delivery state, thereby connecting inlet port 441a and second outlet port 441c.

[0070] Thereafter, the control unit 12 issues a drive command to the raw material supply motor 51b to drive the raw material supply drive unit 51a, and causes the raw material supply motor 51b to dispense an amount of coffee beans corresponding to the beverage to the grinder 32. After a predetermined amount of coffee beans has been dispensed to the grinder 32, the control unit 12 issues a drive stop command to the raw material supply motor 51b to stop the drive of the raw material supply drive unit 51a.

[0071] Then, the control unit 12 issues a drive command to the pulverizer drive unit 32a while issuing a drive command to the first hot water pump 62 and the second hot water pump 64. As a result, as shown in Fig. 5, hot water in the hot water tank 61 is supplied to the mixed hot water nozzle through the hot water valve 42 and the mixed hot water supply path 403, and is discharged as mixed hot water from the mixed hot water nozzle, and the coffee beans are pulverized by the pulverizer 32 to discharge the ground coffee beans into the raw material chute unit 33. As a result, the ground coffee beans fall in the raw material chute unit 33 and mix with the mixed hot water in the air, and the mixture collides with the inner wall surface of the raw material passage before being thrown into the cylinder 341. The control unit 12 stops the drive of the pulverizer drive unit 32a after discharging a predetermined amount of ground coffee beans, and stops the drive of the first hot water pump 62 and the second hot water pump 64 after discharging a predetermined amount of mixed hot water.

[0072] Thereafter, the control unit 12 drives the air pump 72, and the pressurized air is sent in the order of the air valve 41 (air inlet port 411a-mixing air outlet port 411b), the mixing air line 401, the coffee valve 43, the beverage supply path 48, the drainage valve 44 (second outlet port 441c-inlet port 441a), and the brewer unit 34, as shown in Fig. 5, and is supplied as pressurized air for mixing to mix the mixture. The pressurized air sent to the brewer unit 34 in this way and used to mix the mixture (pressurized air for mixing) is sent in the order of the extraction air line 402 and the air valve 41 (extraction air outlet port 411c-release port 411d), and is released from the release port 411d.

[0073] After stirring the mixture in this manner, the control unit 12 issues a drive command to the valve actuator 40b, which displaces the hot water valve shaft of the hot water valve 42 to communicate between the hot water introduction port 421a and the second hot water discharge port 421c.

[0074] Then, the control unit 12 issues a drive command to the first hot water pump 62 and the second hot water pump 64, so that hot water in the hot water tank 61 is supplied to the hot water nozzle through the hot water valve 42 and the hot water supply path 405, and is discharged from the hot water supply nozzle in a shower-like manner, as shown in Fig. 6. Pressurized air for stirring is supplied in the order of the air valve 41 (air inlet port 411a-mixing air outlet port 411b), the mixing air line 401, the coffee valve 43, the beverage supply path 48, the drainage valve 44 (second outlet port 441c-inlet port 441a), and the brewer unit 34 to further stir the mixture. The pressurized air thus supplied to the brewer unit 34 and used for stirring the mixture is sent in the order of the extraction air line 402 and the air valve 41 (extraction air outlet port 411c-opening port 411d), and is released from the opening port 411d. After a predetermined amount of hot water is discharged, the control unit 12 stops driving the first hot water pump 62 and the second hot water pump 64.

[0075] After discharging a predetermined amount of hot water, the control unit 12 drives the pinch motor 36a to move the first pinch component 361 and the second pinch component 362 close to each other, as shown in Fig. 7, thereby elastically deforming the lower part of the passage component 35 and closing a part of the passage. This allows the inside of the cylinder 341 to be sealed.

[0076] The control unit 12 also issues a drive command to the valve actuator 40b to displace the air valve shaft of the air valve 41 to the tip position, thereby connecting the air introduction port 411a to the extraction air discharge port 411c, and connecting the coffee introduction port 431a to the coffee discharge port 431c of the coffee valve 43.

[0077] As a result, as shown in FIG. 7, pressurized air from the air pump 72 is supplied as pressurized air for extraction to the air valve 41 (air inlet port 411a-extracted air outlet port 411c), the extraction air line 402, and the brewer unit 34 in that order, thereby extracting coffee, and the extracted coffee is sent to the nozzle 22a via the beverage supply path 48 and is then ejected and supplied from the nozzle 22a into the cup C.

[0078] As a result of the coffee being supplied to the cup C in this manner, a residue B, called a bed, is present inside the brewer unit 34, as shown in FIG. 8, in which the ground coffee beans (raw material) are compressed by the pressurized air used for extraction.

[0079] Next, the control unit 12 drives the pinch motor 36a to move the first pinch component 361 and the second pinch component 362 away from each other, thereby elastically deforming the passage component 35 to its original state as shown in Figure 9, thereby releasing the closed state.

[0080] In addition, the control unit 12 gives a drive command to the valve actuator 40b, thereby displacing the air valve shaft of the air valve 41 to a reference position, connecting the air inlet port 411a and the stirring air discharge port 411b, connecting the extraction air discharge port 411c and the release port 411d, connecting the coffee inlet port 431a and the stirring air inlet port 431b of the coffee valve 43, and further displacing the hot water valve shaft of the hot water valve 42 to connect the hot water inlet port 421a and the second hot water discharge port 421c.

[0081] As a result, the pressurized air generated by the operation of the air pump 72 is supplied as pressurized air for mixing to the air valve 41 (air inlet port 411a-mixing air outlet port 411b), the mixing air line 401, the coffee valve 43, the beverage supply path 48, the drain valve 44 (second outlet port 441c-inlet port 441a), and the brewer unit 34 in that order, as shown in FIG. 9.

[0082] Furthermore, the control unit 12 issues a driving command to the first hot water pump 62 and the second hot water pump 64, so that hot water in the hot water tank 61 is supplied as additional hot water through the hot water valve 42 and the hot water supply path 405 to the hot water supply nozzle, as shown in Figure 9, and is sprayed from the hot water supply nozzle in a shower-like manner.

[0083] As a result, in the brewer unit 34, by supplying pressurized air for stirring while supplying additional hot water, the residue B can be broken down, and then the residue B and the additional hot water are stirred. The pressurized air (pressurized air for stirring) sent to the brewer unit 34 in this manner and used to stir the additional hot water and residue B is sent in this order to the extraction air line 402 and the air valve 41 (extraction air discharge port 411c-open port 411d), and is released from the open port 411d. After supplying a predetermined amount of additional hot water, the control unit 12 stops driving the first hot water pump 62 and the second hot water pump 64.

[0084] After supplying a predetermined amount of additional hot water, the control unit 12 drives the pinch motor 36a to bring the first pinch component 361 and the second pinch component 362 closer to each other, as shown in Figure 10, thereby elastically deforming the lower part of the passage component 35 and closing part of the passage.

[0085] The control unit 12 also issues a drive command to the valve actuator 40b to displace the air valve shaft of the air valve 41 to the tip position, thereby connecting the air introduction port 411a to the extraction air discharge port 411c, and connecting the coffee introduction port 431a to the coffee discharge port 431c of the coffee valve 43.

[0086] As a result, as shown in FIG. 10, pressurized air from the air pump 72 is supplied as pressurized air for extraction to the air valve 41 (air inlet port 411a-extracted air outlet port 411c), the extraction air line 402, and the brewer unit 34 in that order, thereby extracting the additional beverage, coffee, and the extracted coffee is sent to the nozzle 22a via the beverage supply path 48 and is then ejected and supplied from the nozzle 22a into the cup C.

[0087] The control unit 12 repeats the procedures shown in FIGS. 8 to 10 until a predetermined amount of coffee is dispensed into the cup C.

[0088] When a predetermined amount of coffee has been supplied to cup C in this manner, the control unit 12 issues a drive command to the valve actuator 40b to displace the air valve shaft of the air valve 41 to a reference position, thereby connecting the air inlet port 411a to the stirring air discharge port 411b, connecting the extraction air discharge port 411c to the release port 411d, and connecting the coffee inlet port 431a to the stirring air inlet port 431b of the coffee valve 43, and then stops driving the air pump 72.

[0089] This allows the user to swing the open / close door 23 in the opening direction to take out the cup C from the beverage supply unit 22. The pressurized air used for extraction is sent out in this order from the extraction air line 402 and the air valve 41 (extracted air discharge port 411c-open port 411d), and is released from the open port 411d, thereby reducing the internal pressure of the brewer unit 34. The control unit 12 also drives the pinch motor 36a to separate the first pinch component 361 and the second pinch component 362 from each other, thereby elastically deforming the passage component 35 to its original state and releasing the closed state.

[0090] 11, the control unit 12 issues a command to the filter block driving unit 343b to lower the filter block 343. At this time, the extraction residue K is placed above the filter block 343.

[0091] After lowering the filter block 343, the control unit 12 issues a forward rotation drive command to the scraper drive unit 382 to move the scraper 38 forward from the standby position to the advanced position, as shown in Fig. 12. This allows the extracted residue K to be removed from the upper area of ​​the filter block 343 and discharged into the collection bucket 80. Thereafter, the control unit 12 issues a reverse rotation drive command to the scraper drive unit 382 to move the scraper 38 backward from the advanced position to the standby position.

[0092] As described above, according to the beverage supply device 1, when a large volume of beverage is extracted using the extractor 30, the control unit 12 disintegrates the residue B composed of ground coffee beans in the extractor 30 after supplying coffee to the cup C by supplying additional hot water to the extractor 30 while supplying pressurized air for stirring to the extractor 30, thereby reducing the extraction resistance of the additional beverage and allowing a large volume of beverage to be successfully extracted and supplied to the cup C.

[0093] Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this and various modifications can be made.

[0094] In the above-mentioned embodiment, the residue B is broken down by supplying pressurized air for stirring while supplying additional hot water to the brewer unit 34 (extractor 30), but in the present invention, the residue may be broken down by supplying only additional hot water to the extractor, or by supplying only pressurized air for stirring to the extractor. Also, in the present invention, the residue may be broken down by something other than the additional hot water and pressurized air for stirring. [Explanation of symbols]

[0095] 1...beverage supply device, 10...main cabinet, 11...beverage preparation section, 12...control section, 20...front door, 22...beverage supply section, 30...extractor, 50...ingredient supply section, 60...hot water supply section, 70...air supply section, 80...container bucket, B...residue, C...cup.

Claims

1. A control unit is provided for feeding the ground raw material and hot water into an extractor and stirring them, supplying pressurized air for extraction to the extractor, extracting a beverage from the extractor, and supplying the beverage to a cup; The control unit is a beverage supplying device that performs large-volume extraction by supplying pressurized air for extraction to the extractor to extract an additional beverage from the extractor when additional hot water is supplied to the extractor after the beverage is supplied to the cup, The beverage supply device is characterized in that, when performing the large-volume extraction, the control unit disintegrates residue composed of the ingredients in the extraction machine after supplying the beverage to the cup.

2. The beverage supply device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit disintegrates the residue by supplying at least one of the additional hot water and pressurized air for stirring to the extractor.

3. The beverage supply device according to claim 2 , wherein the control unit disintegrates the residue by supplying the additional hot water to the extractor while supplying the pressurized air for stirring to the extractor.

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