Coffee mill

Abstract

To provide a coffee mill which can remove efficiently static electricity of ground powder of roasted coffee bean.SOLUTION: A coffee mill includes a pulverization section for pulverizing roasted coffee bean, a pulverized product receptor for receiving pulverized products of coffee beans pulverized on the pulverization section, an ion generation emission section which generates ions and emits the ions for the pulverized products which circulate within a circulation path, in the circulation path connecting the pulverizing section and the pulverized product receptor, and an electric source for ion generation which produces a high voltage electric current for generating ions on the ion generation emission section. The ion generation emission section and the ion generation electric source are connected electrically while being separated from each other, the circulation path has a closed circulation cross-section has such a constitution as to be curved in a horizontal direction and, at the same time, be inclined in a lower direction and the ion generation emission section emits ions so as to oppose to the circulation direction of the pulverized product in the circulation path.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a coffee mill, and more particularly to a coffee mill for removing static electricity charged on the ground coffee.

Background Art

[0002] A coffee mill grinds roasted coffee beans to obtain a ground product. However, if the ground product is charged with static electricity, the ground product will adhere to the coffee mill itself and containers such as bags for packaging the ground product, which causes problems in handling. Therefore, a coffee mill having a function of removing static electricity charged on the ground product obtained by grinding roasted coffee beans is known.

[0003] For example, the static electricity removing unit provided in the coffee grinder (coffee mill) described in Patent Document 1 generates ions by corona discharge using a high voltage and discharges the ions in a direction crossing the falling path of the ground product, thereby removing the static electricity of the ground product. This static electricity removing unit discharges ions in a region wider than the passing range of the ground product at any height or over the entire region of the falling path of the ground product.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In the coffee grinder described in Patent Document 1, during the short time when the ground material ground in the grinding section is discharged from the outlet cylinder and falls downward vertically with great force, ions emitted by the static electricity removing section are applied to the ground material. And the ions emitted from this static electricity removing section diffuse into the open space. Therefore, in this coffee grinder, the ions do not efficiently hit the ground material falling from the grinding section, and there is a possibility that the static electricity charged on the ground material cannot be efficiently neutralized and removed by the ions.

[0006] The present invention has been proposed to address such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a coffee mill capable of efficiently removing static electricity from ground material of roasted coffee beans.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The coffee mill according to the present invention includes a grinding section for grinding roasted coffee beans, a ground material receiving container for receiving the ground material of the coffee beans ground in the grinding section, and in a flow path connecting the grinding section and the ground material receiving container, an ion generation and emission section that generates and emits ions to the ground material flowing in the flow path, and an ion generation power source that generates a high-voltage current for generating ions in the ion generation and emission section. The ion generation and emission section and the ion generation power source are electrically connected while being separated from each other. The flow path has a closed flow cross-section and has a configuration that curves in the horizontal direction and inclines downward. The ion generation and emission section emits ions so as to face the flow direction of the ground material in the flow path.

Effects of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a coffee mill capable of efficiently removing static electricity from ground material of roasted coffee beans.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] The coffee mill according to the embodiment (this embodiment) of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. In FIGS. 1 to 5, the description of the same configuration will be omitted.

[0011] The coffee mill 1 according to this embodiment grinds and pulverizes roasted coffee beans that are raw materials for beverages to obtain a pulverized product thereof. Hereinafter, the roasted coffee beans will also be referred to as "raw materials", and the pulverized product of the raw materials (roasted coffee beans) will also be simply referred to as "pulverized product".

[0012] In addition, the arrow X direction shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 is the direction toward the front side of the coffee mill 1, and the direction opposite to the arrow X direction is the direction toward the back side of the coffee mill 1. Also, the arrow Y direction shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 is the direction toward the upper side of the coffee mill 1, and the direction opposite to the arrow Y direction is the direction toward the lower side of the coffee mill 1. Further, the arrow Z direction shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 is the direction toward the side surface side having the pulverized product receiving container 3 described later in the coffee mill 1, and the direction opposite to the arrow Z direction is the direction toward the side surface side having the main power cord 9 described later in the coffee mill 1.

[0013] As shown in Fig. 1, the coffee mill 1 includes a pedestal 2A for a receiver, a crushed material receiver 3 disposed on the pedestal 2A for a receiver, a cover portion 5 that covers the main body portion 4 (Fig. 2) and is detachable from the main body portion 4, a raw material input portion (hopper) 6 detachably installed on the main body portion 4, and a lid portion (hopper lid) 7, and has an appearance provided with a main power switch 8 and a main power cord 9. The cover portion 5 is composed of a main portion cover portion 5a that covers the main portion of the main body portion 4 (Fig. 2), and a main body side cover 5b that covers the later-described flow passage 13 and ion generation and release portion 14 of the main body portion 4 and the space therearound. The lid portion 7 is composed of a lid upper surface portion 7a and a lid side portion 7b, and is detachably attached onto the opening 6a (Fig. 2) of the raw material input portion 6. An opening hole 3A1 connected to the outlet 13g (Fig. 4) of the flow passage 13 is formed at the upper end of the crushed material receiver 3, and a receiver lid 3A (Fig. 4) is provided.

[0014] As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, in the coffee mill 1, the main body portion 4 is disposed on a pedestal 2B for the main body portion. The main body portion 4 includes a raw material introduction cylinder 11 connected to the lower end of the raw material input portion (hopper) 6, a crushing portion 12 connected to the lower end of the raw material introduction cylinder 11, a flow passage 13 connecting the crushing portion 12 and the crushed material receiver 3, an ion generation and release portion 14 that generates and releases ions in the flow passage 13, and an ion generation power source 15 that generates a current for generating ions by the ion generation and release portion 14.

[0015] The main body portion 4 also includes a drive portion 16 provided with a plurality of gears (not shown) for driving the crushing portion 12, a motor portion 17 that serves as a power source for the drive portion 16, and a main power supply portion 18 for supplying power to the ion generation power source 15 and the motor portion 17. The main power supply portion 18 is installed on the pedestal 2B for the main body portion. After connecting the main power cord 9 to an external outlet (not shown) and turning on the main power switch 8 (switching it on), the main power supply portion 18 supplies power to the ion generation power source 15 and the motor portion 17.

[0016] The ion generation and emission unit 14 (i.e., the two discharge needles 20 described later) and the ion generation power source 15 are separated from each other but are connected by two lead wires 19, whereby they are electrically connected to each other. Further, the main body 4 includes a support column 21 provided one by one at the end in the arrow X direction and the end in the direction opposite to the arrow X direction on the pedestal 2B for the main body, and similarly, a support column 22 provided one by one at the end in the arrow X direction and the end in the direction opposite to the arrow X direction on the pedestal 2B for the main body. Between the two support columns 21, a motor unit 17 and a main power supply unit 18 are provided. The upper ends of the two support columns 21 and the two support columns 22 are connected to the drive unit 16.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 3, on the back side of the coffee mill 1, the ion generation power source 15 is disposed above the main power supply unit 18 in a space where nothing is provided between the support column 21 and the support column 22, that is, in a dead space in the main body 4. In this way, the coffee mill 1 can effectively utilize the dead space in the main body 4 for installing the ion generation power source 15. As a result, there is no need to secure a separate space for installing the ion generation power source 15 from the main body 4, so that the entire apparatus constituting the coffee mill 1 can be downsized (made compact).

[0018] The raw material input unit (hopper) 6 is a container that stores the input raw materials, and when the lid 7 is removed, the opening 6a is opened and raw materials (roasted coffee beans) can be input. A small cover (not shown) for preventing the scattering of the raw materials is provided on the bottom side inside the raw material input unit 6.

[0019] The lid upper surface portion 7a of the lid portion (hopper lid) 7 prevents the raw materials in the raw material input portion 6 from scattering to the outside. The lid side portion 7b of the lid portion 7 has a bellows shape that can expand and contract. According to such a lid portion 7, by pressing the lid upper surface portion 7a of the lid portion 7 on the raw material input portion 6 to expand and contract the lid side portion 7b, compressed air can be circulated into the pulverized material receiving container 3 through the raw material input portion 6, the pulverizing portion 12, and the flow passage 13. As a result, coffee bean husks, pulverized materials, etc. remaining inside the raw material input portion 6, the pulverizing portion 12, the flow passage 13, etc. can be pushed into the pulverized material receiving container 3 by this compressed air. According to the coffee mill 1 provided with such a lid portion 7, when it is not in use, the lid upper surface portion 7a of the lid portion 7 can be pressed to clean the inside of the raw material input portion 6, the pulverizing portion 12, the flow passage 13, etc.

[0020] The raw material introduction cylinder 11 located at the uppermost position of the main body portion 4 has a substantially cylindrical shape. The upper end of the raw material introduction cylinder 11 is connected to the raw material input portion 6, and the lower end thereof is connected to the pulverizing portion 12. As a result, the raw materials discharged from the raw material input portion 6 pass through while falling inside the raw material introduction cylinder 11 and are introduced into the pulverizing portion 12.

[0021] The pulverizing portion 12 includes a substantially cylindrical housing 12a and members such as a mill blade portion (not shown) provided inside thereof. The mill blade portion, as an example, has a fixed mill blade portion (not shown) formed on the inner peripheral side of the housing 12a and a rotating mill blade portion (not shown) that meshes with a gear (not shown) of a drive portion 16 described later and rotates around a rotation axis (not shown), and pulverizes (grinds) the roasted coffee beans as the raw material between the fixed mill blade portion and the rotating mill blade portion to obtain the pulverized material. The obtained pulverized material moves from the gap between the fixed mill blade portion and the rotating mill blade portion to the outer peripheral side of the mill blade portion and falls into the flow passage 13 along the inner peripheral surface of the housing 12a.

[0022] Note that the configuration of the pulverizing portion 12 is not limited to such an example, and other configurations may be used. For example, the pulverizing portion 12 may be configured to obtain a pulverized material by rotating a propeller-shaped blade portion to repeatedly cut the raw material (roasted coffee beans).

[0023] The flow path 13 shown in FIGS. 2 to 5 connects the pulverizing section 12 and the pulverized material receiving container 3, and is a flow path for flowing the pulverized material that has fallen from the pulverizing section 12 to the pulverized material receiving container 3. This flow path 13 includes an inclined bottom portion 13a, curved side portions 13b and 13c, and a curved side portion 13d therebetween, and an open lid 13e is detachably attached to the upper ends of these curved side portions 13b to 13d. In the flow path 13, the space surrounded by the inclined bottom portion 13a, the curved side portions 13b and 13c, and the curved side portion 13d therebetween, and the open lid 13e serves as a flow space for flowing the pulverized material. The inlet 13f (FIG. 5) in the flow path 13 is connected to the pulverizing section 12, and the outlet 13g (FIGS. 4 and 5) in the flow path 13 is connected to the pulverized material receiving container 3. The pulverized material that has flowed into the flow path 13 from the pulverizing section 12 through the inlet 13f flows through the flow path 13 and flows out from the outlet 13g to the pulverized material receiving container 3.

[0024] Note that when the coffee mill 1 is in use, the open lid 13e is attached to the upper ends of the curved side portions 13b to 13d. However, in FIGS. 4 and 5, the state where the open lid 13e is removed is shown in order to facilitate understanding of the configuration inside the flow path 13.

[0025] The ion generation and emission unit 14 generates and emits ions to the pulverized material flowing through the flow path 13 in the flow path 13. The ion generation power source 15 generates a high voltage current for generating ions in the ion generation and emission unit 14 based on the power supplied from the main power supply unit 18. Two lead wires 19 are connected to the ion generation power source 15. These two lead wires 19 are formed by coating a metal conductor (such as copper or nickel) with an insulating material (such as fluororesin). A discharge needle (needle-shaped electrode) 20 is connected to the tip of each lead wire 19 on the side opposite to the side connected to the ion generation power source 15.

[0026] The high-voltage current generated by the ion generation power supply 15 is supplied through two lead wires 19 to discharge needles 20 connected to the tip ends of the respective lead wires 19. At this time, the ion generation power supply 15 applies a positive high voltage (via the lead wire 19) to one of the two discharge needles 20 (positive discharge needle), and a negative high voltage (via the lead wire 19) to the other discharge needle 20 (negative discharge needle).

[0027] At the tip of one discharge needle 20 (positive discharge needle) to which the positive high voltage is applied, corona discharge occurs, generating positive ions (+ ions) in the surrounding air and discharging them into the flow path 13. Also, at the tip of the other discharge needle 20 (negative discharge needle) to which the negative high voltage is applied, corona discharge occurs, generating negative ions (- ions) in the surrounding air and discharging them into the flow path 13. That is, in the present embodiment, the ion generation and discharge unit 14 refers to these two discharge needles 20 (especially their tips) that generate positive and negative ions by such corona discharge and discharge the positive and negative ions into the flow path 13.

[0028] The pulverized material obtained from the pulverizing unit 12 often becomes charged with positive (+) or negative (-) static electricity mainly due to friction etc. at the mill blade part (fixed mill blade part, rotating mill blade part) during pulverization. In the flow path 13, when the positive (+) ions discharged from the tip of one discharge needle 20 (positive discharge needle) in the ion generation and discharge unit 14 hit the pulverized material charged with negative (-) static electricity, the negative static electricity charged on the pulverized material is neutralized and removed. Also, in the flow path 13, when the negative (-) ions discharged from the tip of the other discharge needle 20 (negative discharge needle) in the ion generation and discharge unit 14 hit the pulverized material charged with positive (+) static electricity, the positive static electricity charged on the pulverized material is neutralized and removed.

[0029] In this way, the ion generation and discharge unit 14 electrically neutralizes the pulverized material that has become charged with static electricity and has a poor electrical balance in the flow path 13 by applying the ions generated by corona discharge, and removes the static electricity charged on the pulverized material.

[0030] The drive unit 16 includes a plurality of gears (not shown) inside the gear case 16a. The motor unit 17 includes a rotatable motor (not shown) and an output gear (not shown) connected to the motor inside the motor case 17a. The output gear of the motor unit 17 meshes with one of the plurality of gears of the drive unit 16. The plurality of gears included in the drive unit 16 are sequentially meshed, and another one of them meshes with the rotary mill blade portion of the pulverizing unit 12. When the motor of the motor unit 17 rotates based on the power supplied from the main power supply unit 18 and the output gear connected to this motor rotates, the rotary mill blade portion of the pulverizing unit 12 rotates through the plurality of gears of the drive unit 16 that rotate in conjunction therewith.

[0031] When the pulverized material obtained by pulverization in the pulverizing unit 12 falls from the pulverizing unit 12 into the lower flow path 13 and is introduced, it flows through the flow path 13 and then flows into the pulverized material receiving container 3. In the flow path 13 connecting the pulverizing unit 12 and the pulverized material receiving container 3, corona discharge is generated by the ion generation and release unit 14 (that is, two discharge needles 20) for the pulverized material flowing through the flow path 13, thereby generating ions (positive ions, negative ions) and releasing the ions (positive ions, negative ions) into the flow path 13.

[0032] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the curved side portions 13b and 13c are arranged to face each other via the curved side portion 13d. The inner surfaces of the curved side portions 13b to 13d are curved in a horizontal direction (a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction (arrow Y direction and the opposite direction)). The inner surfaces of the curved side portions 13b and 13c are curved in the horizontal direction so as to gently bend from the inlet 13f side to the outlet 13g side in the opposite direction of the arrow X direction with respect to the arrow Z direction. Note that thereby, the length in the direction along the flow direction of the pulverized material on the inner surface of the curved side portion 13b is longer than the length in the direction along the flow direction of the pulverized material on the inner surface of the curved side portion 13c. Further, the inner surface of the inclined bottom portion 13a and the inner surface of the open lid 13e provided on the curved side portions 13b to 13d both have a configuration inclined downward from the inlet 13f side toward the outlet 13g side.

[0033] The flow path 13 has a closed flow cross-section with its flow space surrounded by such an inclined bottom 13a, curved side portions 13b to 13d, and an open lid 13e, and has a configuration that curves horizontally and inclines downward as described above. The ion generation and emission unit 14 emits ions so as to face the flow direction of the pulverized material in the flow path 13 having such a configuration.

[0034] If the flow path connecting the pulverizing unit 12 and the pulverized material receiving container 3 has a flow direction extending in a substantially vertical direction, in that flow path, since the pulverized material vigorously falls toward the pulverized material receiving container 3, the flow time of the pulverized material in that flow path becomes extremely short. Therefore, in this case, ions cannot be efficiently applied to the pulverized material flowing (falling) in that flow path.

[0035] Also, if the flow cross-section of the flow path connecting the pulverizing unit 12 and the pulverized material receiving container 3 is open, the ions emitted in that flow path will diffuse into the open space. Also, if ions are emitted in substantially the same direction as the flow direction of the pulverized material in the flow path, ions cannot be applied to many of the pulverized materials flowing therein. Therefore, also in these cases, ions cannot be efficiently applied to the pulverized material flowing in that flow path.

[0036] In contrast, in the coffee mill 1 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, since the flow path 13 has a configuration in which it curves in the horizontal direction and inclines downward, the length of the flow path 13 is ensured. Therefore, sufficient time is ensured as the flow time of the pulverized material in the flow path 13. Further, since the flow cross-section of this flow path 13 is closed, in the flow path 13, the ions released from the ion generation and release unit 14 do not diffuse to the outside and exist at a relatively high concentration in the flow path 13. And since such relatively high-concentration ions are released so as to face the flow direction of the pulverized material (the direction from the inlet 13f side to the outlet 13g side) (in the direction from the outlet 13g side to the inlet 13f side), sufficient ions can be applied to the flowing pulverized material.

[0037] According to the coffee mill 1 according to the present embodiment, in this way, in the closed flow path 13, ions existing at a relatively high concentration can be efficiently applied to the pulverized material flowing relatively slowly over a sufficient time. As a result, according to the coffee mill 1, the static electricity charged on the pulverized material can be surely neutralized and removed by the ions.

[0038] The coffee mill 1 according to the present embodiment has a configuration in which the flow path 13 has a closed flow cross-section, but the opening lid 13e provided in the flow path 13 is configured to be openable. That is, the opening lid 13e constitutes the flow path 13 together with the inclined bottom 13a and the curved side portions 13b to 13d. Thereby, (especially when the coffee mill 1 is in use), the flow cross-section of the flow path 13 is made closed, but since it is detachable from the upper ends of the curved side portions 13b to 13d, this opening lid 13e can be easily removed to open the flow path 13. According to such a coffee mill 1, when it is not in use, the opening lid 13e can be easily removed to open the flow path 13, and cleaning, maintenance, etc. inside the flow path 13 can be easily performed.

[0039] Further, in the coffee mill 1 according to the present embodiment, since the ion generation power source 15 is arranged in the above-described dead space in the main body portion 4, the size of the entire apparatus can be reduced.

[0040] When the coffee mill 1 according to this embodiment is in use, after connecting the main power cord 9 to an external power outlet and then turning on the main power switch 8, the motor unit 17 starts based on the power supplied from the main power supply unit 18, and the grinding unit 12 operates. In the grinding unit 12, a rotating mill blade portion (not shown) rotates with respect to a fixed mill blade portion (not shown).

[0041] Also, when the main power switch 8 is turned on in this way, the ion generation power supply 15 of the coffee mill 1 generates a high-voltage current for ion generation based on the power supplied from the main power supply unit 18, and supplies the high-voltage current to the two discharge needles 20 via the two lead wires 19. As a result, in the flow passage 13, corona discharge occurs at the tips of the two discharge needles 20, and ions are generated and emitted.

[0042] After the coffee mill 1 is started in this way, the raw material (roasted coffee beans) in the raw material input section (hopper) 6 is introduced into the grinding unit 12 through the raw material introduction cylinder 11. When the raw material is ground by the mill blade portion of the grinding unit 12, the obtained ground material is introduced into the flow passage 13 by falling through the inlet 13f from the grinding unit 12 and flows through the flow passage 13. As described above, the flow passage 13 has a closed flow cross-section and is configured to be curved in the horizontal direction and inclined downward. While the ground material flows through the flow passage 13 having such a configuration for a sufficient time, the static electricity is surely neutralized and removed by the ions generated and emitted by the ion generation and emission unit 14, and then flows into the ground material receiving container 3 through the outlet 13g and is received in the ground material receiving container 3.

[0043] The configuration of the present embodiment described above does not limit the content of the present invention, and it is possible to make changes without departing from the scope of the claims.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0044] 1: Coffee mill, 2A: Base for receptacle, 2B: Base for main body, 3: Ground coffee receptacle, 3A: Cover for receptacle, 3A1: Opening hole, 4: Main body, 5: Cover part, 5a: Main part cover, 5b: Side cover of main body, 6: Raw material input part (hopper), 6a: Opening, 7: Cover part (hopper lid), 7a: Upper cover surface, 7b: Side cover, 8: Main power switch, 9: Main power cord, 11: Raw material introduction tube, 12: Grinding part, 12a: Housing, 13: Flow path, 13a: Sloping bottom, 13b, 13c, 13d: Curved side parts, 13e: Open lid, 13f: Inlet, 13g: Outlet, 14: Ion generation and release part, 15: Power supply for ion generation, 16: Driving part, 16a: Gear case, 17: Motor part, 17a: Motor case, 18: Main power supply part, 19: Lead wire, 20: Discharge needle (needle-shaped electrode), 21, 22: Support columns

Claims

1. a grinding unit that grinds roasted coffee beans; a ground coffee receiver that receives the ground coffee beans ground by the grinding unit; an ion generation and emission unit that generates and emits ions to the ground coffee flowing in the flow path connecting the grinding unit and the ground coffee receiver; an ion generation power source that generates a high voltage current for generating ions in the ion generation and emission unit; and the ion generation and emission unit and the ion generation power source are electrically connected while being separated from each other; the flow path has a closed flow cross-section and is configured to be curved in the horizontal direction and inclined downward; the ion generation and emission unit emits ions so as to face the flow direction of the ground coffee in the flow path; A coffee mill characterized by the above.

2. The coffee mill according to claim 1, further comprising an openable lid provided in the flow path.

3. The coffee mill according to claim 1, wherein the ion generation power source is disposed in a dead space in a main body portion having the grinding unit, the flow path, and the ion generation and emission unit.

Images