Tee manufacturing apparatus and method

Abstract

A tea manufacturing apparatus and corresponding method suitable for use in vending machines are proposed. The apparatus comprises a storage container (110) for tea pellets (120), a liquid supply unit (130) for liquid at a predetermined temperature, a dissolving container (140) for dissolving at least one tea pellet (125) in the liquid (130), and a supply mechanism (150) for transporting the tea pellets from the storage container (110) to the dissolving container (140). The dissolving container (140) comprises an outlet (160) having a valve (180) for dispensing the tea into a cup (170), and means for controlling the duration of the dissolving process by operating the valve (180). This apparatus enables the extraction of tea in a fully automated manner, with no part of the tea manufacturing taking place outside the machine. Only the cup for receiving the beverage for consumption by the user is located outside the machine and is therefore visible and accessible to the user. Externally supplied tea bags and / or stirring devices are unnecessary, resulting in a simple and clean user experience and reduced waste.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to tea manufacturing devices and corresponding methods. These are typically used for manufacturing tea, especially in the context of beverage vending machines.

Background Art

[0002] The world of beverage vending machines currently lacks support for tea. Almost all hot beverage vending machines available at present only offer coffee, cocoa beverages, and hot water in a wide variety of variations, probably. This hot water can later be turned into tea by adding a tea bag. However, tea bags are usually stored separately outside the vending machine and are available. This not only requires additional effort and space but also does not provide a good customer or user experience. Furthermore, in contrast to coffee, which is provided in a drinkable state immediately from the vending machine, a spoon for stirring or a similar utensil must be provided, resulting in additional waste in the form of tea bags and often disposable stirrers.

[0003] Numerous tea manufacturing devices that do not require tea bags are also known from the prior art. However, most of these are not suitable for use in beverage vending machines or similar automatic beverage extractors.

[0004] English Patent Publication No. 952,562 and English Patent Publication No. 1562491 describe apparatus and methods for use in the preparation of beverages, such as tea. Beverages are extracted from beverage-forming material in a solid, compressed form, such as pellets. However, beverages, such as tea, are actually extracted in a beverage container, such as a cup, into which the pellets are delivered. This beverage container is located outside the machine and is therefore visible and / or accessible to the user, possibly on a vibrating device to facilitate the dissolution of the pellets. The user sees the tea pellets falling into the cup, which does not provide a desirable user experience. A similar apparatus with the same drawbacks is described in English Patent Publication No. 952,727. However, this apparatus further includes a crushing mechanism that crushes or grinds the solid, compressed beverage-forming material before it is delivered into the cup. This makes the apparatus more complex and significantly increases the maintenance required. None of these apparatuses enable the extraction of tea, which is performed inside the machine and therefore invisible to and / or inaccessible to the user. A further problem with the aforementioned conventional technology is that the pellets dissolve in the drinking cup. Therefore, further stirring and / or vibration means are needed to ensure a sufficiently uniform distribution or concentration of tea in the cup.

[0005] For example, a two-purpose extractor for tea and coffee is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2011 / 0081466. This provides an extractor basket for extracting tea or a similar beverage. The extractor basket has an electromagnetically controlled outlet drain valve to retain water in the extractor basket for a sufficient amount of time to extract tea. When extracting coffee, the valve remains open. However, there is no means provided for supplying tea material to the extractor basket. Therefore, loose tea in the form of tea leaves or similar must be manually inserted into the extractor basket prior to each beverage preparation, and thus this two-purpose extractor is not suitable for use in beverage vending machines or similar automatic beverage dispensers. U.S. Patent No. 6,964,222 provides a similar extractor basket that fits into existing coffee makers.

[0006] A similar apparatus to the one described in U.S. Patent Application Publication 2011 / 0081466, but designed to use capsules such as tea or coffee, is described in European Patent Application Publication 3111812. The capsules, again, must be manually inserted into the apparatus.

[0007] An automatic tea brewing device is known from European Patent Application Publication No. 3936009. It comprises a tea brewing container having an electrically controlled valve for dispensing tea into a beverage container, and a water boiling assembly described in detail. However, there is no means provided for introducing tea (in the form of loose tea leaves) into the brewing container. Therefore, such a device is also unsuitable for use in beverage vending machines or similar automatic beverage dispensers. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] UK Patent Application Publication No. 952,562 [Patent Document 2] British Patent Application Publication No. 1562491 [Patent Document 3] UK Patent Application Publication No. 952,727 [Patent Document 4] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2011 / 0081466 [Patent Document 5] U.S. Patent No. 6,964,222 [Patent Document 6] European Patent Application Publication No. 3111812 [Patent Document 7] European Patent Application Publication No. 3936009 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0009] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for producing tea, which is suitable for use in a beverage vending machine or a similar automatic beverage dispenser. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] This objective is achieved by the invention as claimed in the independent claims. Preferred embodiments are described in the dependent claims, and their disclosures are incorporated herein by reference.

[0011] Unless otherwise disclosed, the use of the singular form does not preclude the use of the plural form, and this is also true in reverse. Even if a large number of dependent claims are not presented, all reasonable combinations of the features of the claims shall be disclosed.

[0012] Therefore, a tea-making apparatus is proposed. This tea-making apparatus comprises a storage container for tea pellets, a supply unit for liquid at a predetermined temperature, and a dissolving container. The dissolving container receives at least one tea pellet, as well as the liquid, from the storage container, and enables the dissolution of at least one tea pellet in the liquid. The tea-making apparatus further comprises a supply mechanism for transporting at least one tea pellet from the storage container to the dissolving container. The dissolving container has an outlet opening for discharging its contents into a beverage container. The tea-making apparatus further comprises means for temporarily holding at least one tea pellet in the dissolving container. In this context, "temporarily" should be understood in such a way that the tea pellet cannot leave the dissolving container immediately after being supplied from the storage container to the dissolving container.

[0013] Tea pellets are known from the prior art, e.g., UK Patent Publication No. 952,562, UK Patent Publication No. 952,727, and UK Patent Publication No. 1562491. Suitable tea pellets for use in the tea-making apparatus of this proposal may be selected from a wide range of commercially available products. They may be made from either extracts or plant parts (see glossary). Tea extracted from pellets made from compressed plant parts leaves a small residue, which results in an acceptable, and sometimes desirable, "naturally cloudy" beverage. Furthermore, tea pellets may contain additional ingredients, such as dried milk, sugar, or spices.

[0014] The liquid supply unit may be any known type of supply unit capable of supplying a liquid at a predetermined temperature suitable for tea extraction. For example, the liquid may be water, tea, milk, milk substitute, or extracted beverage, and the predetermined temperature may be any temperature required to extract the type of tea to be produced. For the most common applications, for example, the liquid is hot water, typically having a temperature of 70–98°C, depending on the type of tea to be extracted. A well-known example requiring a cold liquid is so-called "iced tea" or cold-brewed tea.

[0015] This tea brewing device enables fully automated tea extraction, with no part of the tea brewing process taking place outside the machine, i.e., invisible and / or inaccessible to the user. Therefore, this tea brewing device is well-suited for use in beverage vending machines or similar machines into which it can be incorporated. Only the beverage container that receives the beverage for user consumption is located outside the machine and is therefore visible and accessible to the user. Externally provided tea bags and / or stirring devices are unnecessary, resulting in a simple and clean user experience and reduced waste. No manual intervention is required from the start of beverage brewing until the final tea product is delivered to the beverage container. Furthermore, by completely or partially dissolving the tea pellets in the dissolution container of the tea brewing device and releasing its contents into a separate beverage container, a well-mixed beverage with a sufficiently uniform tea distribution or concentration (sufficiently homogeneous composition) is provided to the consumer without the need for additional stirring. Therefore, the problem of the prior art in which the tea pellets dissolve at the bottom of the drinking cup, resulting in uneven distribution or concentration of tea in the cup, is eliminated without the need for additional stirring devices as used in the prior art.

[0016] There are several ways to temporarily hold at least one tea pellet. One way is to configure the outlet opening of the dissolving container to match the size and / or shape of the pellet in a manner that holds it. The outlet opening can be smaller than the tea pellet, for example, so that the pellet does not fall through the outlet opening into the beverage container immediately after being transported to the dissolving container, or the outlet opening may have a rectangular cross-section while the pellet is basically spherical in shape. In that case, the dimensions of the rectangular cross-section are selected to prevent undissolved pellets from passing through the outlet opening.

[0017] In another embodiment, means for temporarily holding at least one tea pellet comprises a valve for opening and closing an outlet opening. In this case, preferably, the tea-making apparatus further comprises means for controlling the duration of the dissolution process by operating the valve. The means for controlling the duration of the dissolution process ensure that the valve at the outlet opening remains closed for a sufficiently long period of time for the tea pellet to dissolve sufficiently in the liquid. This period of time may vary depending on the type of tea being produced and / or the type and / or size of the tea pellet used.

[0018] If the valve is a proportional valve, it is possible to further optimize tee production. Such a valve allows for adjustment of the cross-section of the valve opening, enabling changes in fluid flow. For example, this allows the valve to open earlier, enabling the tee to be slowly discharged into the beverage container while the tee pellets are still dissolving in the dissolution container. The advantage of this method is that users or customers are less dissatisfied with the waiting time because some action, namely the beverage container already filling up, is visible. Alternatively, the valve opening can be adjusted to open wider for faster fluid flow and stronger turbulence, resulting in improved tee homogeneity.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the dissolution vessel includes a grate positioned at or upstream of the outlet opening to temporarily hold at least one tea pellet during the dissolution process. This prevents the tea pellet from clogging the outlet opening and / or valve. In this context, “temporarily” should be understood as until the tea pellet has dissolved into one or more residues smaller than the size of the grate's opening. Thus, these residues fall through the grate, leaving no residue behind.

[0020] Furthermore, the grid ensures that the liquid can flow optimally around the pellet and / or that the pellet is held in an optimal position within the dissolution vessel where it can reach the pellet from all sides.

[0021] It is particularly advantageous if the grid has openings with an opening width of 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm, i.e., if the elongated elements forming the grid are separated by this opening width. If the grid is configured to have a mesh-like form, the opening width can also be interpreted as the size of the holes in the mesh. When the opening width is within the above range, the tea pellet is held by the grid until the remaining undissolved portion of the pellet has dissolved to an extent that it is smaller than the opening width. These small undissolved portions can then pass through the grid. When the valve is opened, it is even possible to exit the dissolution vessel. However, these residues are small enough to dissolve completely before the tea is consumed by the consumer, either when passing through the outlet into the beverage container, immediately after entering the beverage container, or within a short time thereafter.

[0022] When the openings of the grid have side walls, if the side walls are curved or inclined with respect to the perpendicular to the plane of the grid, additional turbulence can be imparted to the tea and / or the liquid dissolving the tea pellet. For example, the grid can thus produce a flowing fluid with an inclined lateral component or change the pressure and / or velocity of the fluid flowing through the grid. In particular, the openings in the form of holes or apertures can be conical or not perpendicular, i.e., not perpendicular to the plane of the grid. The additional turbulence promotes the dissolution of the tea pellet and ensures that the manufactured beverage has a sufficiently homogeneous composition.

[0023] Preferably, the supply mechanism is configured to convey exactly one tea pellet at a time from the storage container to the dissolution container. This ensures that each portion of the tea produced has an equal concentration.

[0024] To produce tea of ​​varying strengths and / or to fill beverage containers of different sizes, the dispensing mechanism may, conveniently, be designed to allow selection of a variable number of tea pellets for transport from the storage container to the dissolving container. A simple example is to allow the aforementioned dispensing mechanism to be operated a variable number of times for each tea production. However, a dispensing mechanism capable of transporting a variable number, especially two or more tea pellets at once, is also possible. Furthermore, the number of tea pellets required may vary depending on the size of the pellets used. In one example, one cup of tea is produced from one pellet, one strong cup of tea from two pellets, and a pot of tea from three or four pellets. In another example, one cup of tea is produced from one or two pellets, one cup of strong tea from three to five pellets, and a pot of tea from six or more pellets. Naturally, a pot requires a larger volume of liquid. This may be supplied separately, i.e., directly to the beverage container via a separate pipe, or via the dissolving container. The choice of a cup of strong tea, a teapot, etc., must be made by the consumer. For this choice to be made, there must be a corresponding means of selection that is accessible to the consumer.

[0025] The feeding mechanism can be kept particularly simple when configured to operate based on gravity. In such cases, no additional drive motors are required, resulting in reduced costs and lower maintenance requirements. However, numerous alternative forms of feeding mechanisms are possible, such as those based on spindles, conveyor screws, and conveyors. Feeding mechanisms using vacuum conveying systems or positive pneumatic conveying systems are also possible.

[0026] Particularly efficient storage, transport, and overall handling of tea pellets can be achieved when the storage container and / or feeding mechanism is configured to accommodate tea pellets in rounded, spherical, rectangular, pill-shaped, or tablet-shaped forms. Pill-shaped refers to a substantially cylindrical shape with rounded ends, preferably hemispherical ends, while tablet-shaped refers to a substantially flat cylindrical shape with optionally rounded edges. Generally, tea-making equipment may be configured to operate with any of the commercially available tea pellets already described. Circular shapes are preferred because they reduce the contact area between pellets.

[0027] The object of the present invention can also be achieved by method. The individual steps of this method are described in more detail below. The steps do not necessarily have to be performed in the order given herein. Furthermore, additional steps not explicitly mentioned may also be part of this method.

[0028] In particular, the objective is achieved by a method for producing tea using the tea production apparatus described above. This method consists of the following steps, namely (a) A step of transporting at least one tea pellet from a storage container to a dissolution container, (b) A step of supplying a liquid at a predetermined temperature to a dissolution container, (c) the step of temporarily holding at least one pellet in the dissolution container, (d) the step of dissolving at least one tea pellet in a liquid, (e) The step of pouring the contents of the dissolving container into a beverage container. Includes.

[0029] If the tea-making apparatus is equipped with a valve, the duration of the dissolution process in the dissolution container can be controlled by operating the valve. By opening the valve after a predetermined duration, the contents of the dissolution container can be poured into the beverage container.

[0030] In a preferred embodiment of the method for producing tea as described above, the tea production apparatus comprises a grid as further described above. Thus, at least one tea pellet is temporarily held by the grid during the dissolution process, as further described above. The grid ensures that at least one pellet is held in an optimal position within the dissolution vessel, where the liquid can flow optimally around the pellet and / or reach the pellet from all sides. A valve is opened before the tea pellet is completely dissolved. As a result, undissolved residue of the tea pellet remains on the grid. After the valve is opened, additional liquid at a predetermined temperature is supplied to the dissolution vessel, and the additional liquid further dissolves the residue by passing over the undissolved residue of the tea pellet. The tea pellet is held by the grid until the remaining undissolved portion of the pellet is smaller than the opening width of the grid. These small undissolved portions can then pass through the grid. However, these residues are small enough to dissolve completely before the tea is consumed by the consumer. Furthermore, the grid can impart additional turbulence to the liquid dissolving the tea and / or tea pellets, thereby promoting the dissolution of the tea pellets and ensuring that the produced beverage has a sufficiently homogeneous composition. This method reduces the apparent downtime of the tea production equipment and thus improves the user experience. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0031] Other objects and advantages of the present invention can be confirmed by examining this specification and the appended claims in conjunction with the drawings. For a more complete understanding of the present invention, the following description of embodiments made in relation to the appended drawings is referenced. The possibilities for solving the problem are not limited to these embodiments. Exemplary embodiments are schematically shown in the drawings. Specifically,

[0032] [Figure 1] This shows a schematic diagram of the tea-making apparatus being described. [Figure 2A]A first example of a grid that may be used in an embodiment of a tea-making apparatus is shown. [Figure 2B] A second example of a grid that may be used in an embodiment of a tea-making apparatus is shown. [Figure 2C] A third example of a grid that may be used in an embodiment of a tea-making apparatus is shown. [Figure 2D] A fourth example of a grid that may be used in an embodiment of a tea-making apparatus is shown, wherein the openings of the grid are conical in shape. [Figure 2E] A fifth example of a grid that may be used in an embodiment of a tea-making apparatus is shown. [Figure 2F] Two examples of longitudinal sections of lattice openings having curved or inclined side walls relative to the perpendiculars of the lattice plane are shown. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0033] Figure 1 shows the above-described tea manufacturing apparatus incorporated into a beverage vending machine 100, for example, indicated by a dashed line. This tea manufacturing apparatus includes a storage container 110 for tea pellets 120, a supply unit 130 for liquid at a predetermined temperature, preferably hot water, a dissolving container 140 for dissolving at least one tea pellet 125 to manufacture tea, a supply mechanism 150 for transporting the tea pellets from the storage container 110 to the dissolving container 140, and an outlet opening 160. The outlet opening 160 allows the manufactured tea to be discharged from the dissolving container 140 into a beverage container 170 such as a cup.

[0034] Preferably, the outlet opening 160 is opened and closed by a valve 180. The valve 180 is preferably operated by an automatic control unit (not shown). This control unit ensures that the valve 180 remains closed for an appropriate period of time to ensure the complete dissolution of one or more tea pellets 125 in the water 130 in the dissolution container 140. The period of time may vary depending on the type of tea being produced, the type and size of pellets 120 the apparatus is configured for, and / or the desired concentration of the tea.

[0035] The grid 190 is preferably positioned above the outlet opening 160 to temporarily hold at least one tea pellet 125 in an optimal position within the dissolution container 140 until it is completely dissolved or dissolved into a sufficiently small residue. The opening width of the grid 190 is appropriately selected, for example, such that the maximum size of undissolved tea pellet residue that can pass through the grid is less than 5-15% of the original size of the pellet 125. An opening width of 0.5-1.5 mm is particularly preferred.

[0036] The supply mechanism 150 may preferably be configured to transport only one tea pellet at a time from the storage container 110 to the dissolving container 140. Numerous variations of single-pellet supply mechanisms are known in the art. For example, if multiple pellets are desired for a stronger cup of tea, such a transport mechanism 150 will operate multiple times.

[0037] However, the supply mechanism can be designed or configured so that the amount of tea pellets 120 transported from the storage container 110 to the dissolving container 140 is selectable, and may be multiple amounts at once. Such a supply mechanism 150 can also produce tea of ​​various strengths or different amounts for, for example, a cup 170 or a teapot.

[0038] Preferably, the supply mechanism 150 operates on gravity, allowing one or more pellets to fall from the storage container 110 into the dissolution container 140.

[0039] If valve 180 is a proportional valve, the corresponding control unit further adjusts how wide the valve opens depending on the desired fluid flow to optimally produce the selected form of tee. For example, in some cases it may be more desirable to slowly discharge the contents of dissolution container 140 into beverage container 170, allowing extra time for one or more tee pellets 125 to completely dissolve before reaching beverage container 170, while in other cases it may be more desirable to discharge from dissolution container 140 as quickly as possible to maximize turbulence and thus better mixing and homogenization of the tee.

[0040] Variations of the above-described apparatus having multiple storage containers for different types of tees are certainly possible. In that case, the control unit selects the appropriate behavior of the valve according to the type of tee selected by the user or customer.

[0041] Each figure in Figure 2 shows various exemplary embodiments of the grid 190 that can be incorporated into a tee-making apparatus.

[0042] The grid shown in Figure 2A has a similar form to an egg divider box, with two sets of wall-like elongated elements arranged perpendicular to each other, resulting in a grid-like arrangement of square openings.

[0043] Figure 2B shows a simpler form of the grid, in which only one pair of parallel, wall-like elongated elements are placed within the frame, resulting in an elongated rectangular opening.

[0044] Figure 2C shows a lattice constructed by arranging two sets of elongated rod-shaped elements perpendicular to each other in separate layers, i.e., placing one set above the other. This is easier to manufacture because it does not require a frame surrounding the lattice.

[0045] The grid shown in Figure 2D comprises a flat plate having, for example, vertical holes regularly arranged at the intersections of the grid. In a simple embodiment (not shown), these holes may be simple cylindrical holes of a constant diameter. However, in the preferred embodiment shown, the holes typically have a conical shape with a narrower end on the upstream side. To illustrate this, in this figure, a portion of the grid is cut out to show a longitudinal section of these rows of holes. Such an arrangement allows the pressure and / or velocity of the liquid to change as it flows through the holes, increasing turbulence and thus resulting in better mixing and homogenization of the tee produced.

[0046] Figure 2E shows a grid consisting of two layers of mesh, such as wire mesh. This is particularly easy and inexpensive to manufacture. In an even simpler embodiment (not shown), the grid may consist of only one layer of mesh. The size of the openings in the grid and how smoothly the liquid flows through the grid can be changed by varying the number of layers.

[0047] Figure 2F shows two possible longitudinal sections of an opening in a grid similar to the one shown in Figure 2D. The side walls of the opening are, for example, curved (shown on the right) or inclined with respect to the perpendiculars of the grid plane (shown on the left).

[0048] The production of tea can be further improved if the outlet opening of the dissolution container first discharges its contents into one or more additional processing containers for further processing before finally being supplied to the beverage container. Such further processing may include, for example, the addition and / or stirring of milk, other liquids (e.g., milk substitute, lemon juice, cocoa, liqueur, coffee, etc.), spices, sugar, artificial sweeteners, etc. Alternatively, the other liquids mentioned in relation to improving the final tea product may be added directly to the beverage container via a separate pipe. Adding additional water or other liquids directly to the beverage container via such a separate pipe may also contribute to increased turbulence.

[0049] Depending on the size and type of tea pellets used, the tea manufacturing apparatus can be further optimized by providing a grinding means for crushing the tea pellets into smaller fragments before dissolution by the liquid in the dissolution container. The grinding means can be located upstream of the dissolution container, i.e., adjacent to the feeding mechanism, or it can be located within the dissolution container.

[0050] Glossary beverage container A beverage container is a vessel used to hold a beverage. Typical examples of beverage containers for consuming beverages include cups, mugs, glasses, etc. However, a beverage container may also be an intermediate container into which the beverage can be transferred to one of the above-mentioned examples of drinking. Examples of such intermediate containers include bottles, carafes, flasks, pots, etc.

[0051] extraction Extraction is used as a generalized term for the process of making tea (including herbal tea) or other beverages, such as coffee. Typically, this involves steeping tea leaves or other plant parts in hot or boiling water. In some cases, the ingredients may be completely dissolved in water, such as in instant tea or other forms of pre-extracted tea.

[0052] lattice A grid is essentially an assembly of identical, parallel, elongated elements at any regular interval. A grid typically consists of one set of elongated elements, but may also consist of two sets, in which case the second set is usually perpendicular to the first set. This results in a mesh-like structure that forms multiple openings, for example, allowing the passage of fluid. A key feature of a grid is its width, i.e., the distance between the parallel elongated elements. A grid can filter or retain portions of a fluid mixture that are larger than this width.

[0053] pellet Pellet is typically a small particle produced by compressing the original material (see https: / / en.wikipedia.org / wiki / Pellet). In this specification, only tea pellets are relevant. There are two main types of tea pellets: the first type contains compressed plant material, such as tea leaves, while the second type contains compressed plant extract, such as instant tea, which dissolves completely in water without leaving any residue.

[0054] tea Tea is an aromatic beverage prepared by pouring hot or boiling water over dried or fresh leaves of the tea plant (Camellia sinensis), an evergreen shrub native to East Asia. The leaf material may be substantially fermented (i.e., black tea), partially fermented (i.e., oolong tea), or substantially unfermented (i.e., green tea). However, in the context of this invention, tea may also refer to infusions of fruit, leaf, or floral materials (e.g., petals), or other plant parts of other plants other than the tea plant, such as infusions of rosehip, chamomile, or rooibos. When it is necessary to distinguish these, the latter shall be called herbal tea. The term tea is intended to include products that are blends of two or more of these teas. Flavorings and / or spices may be added to the tea. [Explanation of symbols]

[0055] 100 beverage vending machines 110 Storage containers 120, 125 tea pellets 130 Supply unit for liquid at a predetermined temperature 140 Melting container 150 Supply mechanism 160 Exit opening 170 Beverage containers 180 valves 190 Lattice

[0056] Cited literature Cited patent documents European Patent Application Publication No. 3111812 European Patent Application Publication No. 3936009 UK Patent Application Publication No. 952,562 UK Patent Application Publication No. 952,727 UK Patent Application Publication No. 1562491 U.S. Patent No. 6,964,222 U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2011 / 0081466

Claims

1. 1.1 Storage container (110) for tea pellets (120), 1.2 A liquid supply unit (130) for liquid at a predetermined temperature, 1.3 A dissolving container (140) that receives at least one tea pellet (125) from the storage container (110), receives the liquid, and allows the at least one tea pellet (125) to dissolve in the liquid, 1.4 A supply mechanism (150) for transporting at least one tea pellet from the storage container (110) to the dissolving container (140) It is equipped with, 1.5 The dissolution container (140) is provided with an outlet opening (160) for discharging the contents into a beverage container (170), 1.6 Means for temporarily holding the at least one tea pellet (125) in the dissolution container (140) A tea-making device that is further equipped with these features.

2. The means for temporarily holding the at least one tea pellet (125) is realized by configuring the outlet opening (160) to match the size and / or shape of the pellet in such a way that it holds the pellet. The tea manufacturing apparatus according to feature 1.

3. The means for temporarily holding the at least one tea pellet (125) is, 3.1 A valve (180) for opening and closing the outlet opening (160), 3.2 Means for controlling the duration of the dissolution process in the dissolution container (140) by operating the valve (180) and The tea-making apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by comprising the following features.

4. The valve (180) is a proportional valve. The tea manufacturing apparatus according to feature 3.

5. Means for temporarily holding the at least one tea pellet (125) are provided by the outlet opening (160) or a grid (190) positioned upstream of the outlet opening (160) in the dissolution container (140). A tea manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The grid (190) has an opening having an opening width between 0.5 and 1.5 mm. The tea manufacturing apparatus according to feature 5.

7. 7.1 The opening of the grid (190) has a side wall, 7.1.1 The side wall is curved or inclined with respect to a perpendicular to the plane of the grid. The tea manufacturing apparatus according to claim 5 or 6.

8. The supply mechanism (150) is configured to accurately transport one tea pellet at a time from the storage container (110) to the dissolution container (140). A tea manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The supply mechanism (150) is designed in such a way that it can select a variable number of tea pellets (120, 125) for transport from the storage container (110) to the dissolving container (140). A tea manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. The supply mechanism (150) is configured to operate based on gravity. A tea manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. The storage container (110) and / or the supply mechanism (150) are configured to accommodate tea pellets (120, 125) that are rounded, spherical, rectangular, pill-shaped, or tablet-shaped. A tea manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. A method for producing tea using a tea production apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11, 12.1 A step of transporting at least one tea pellet (125) from the storage container (110) to the dissolution container (140), 12.2 A step of supplying a liquid (130) at a predetermined temperature to the dissolution container (140), 12.3 The step of temporarily holding at least one tea pellet (125) in the dissolution container (140), 12.4 The step of dissolving at least one tea pellet (125) in the liquid, 12.5 The step of pouring the contents of the dissolving container (140) into the beverage container (170) A method for producing tea, including the production of tea.

13. 13.1 The tea-making apparatus comprises the valve (180) according to claim 3 or 4, 13.2 The duration of the dissolution process in the dissolution container (140) is controlled by opening the valve (180) after a predetermined duration. A method for producing tea according to feature 12.

14. 14.1 The tea-making apparatus comprises the grid (190) according to any one of claims 5 to 7, 14.1.1 The at least one tea pellet (125) is temporarily held by the grid (190) during the dissolution process, 14.2 The valve (180) is opened before the tea pellet (125) is completely dissolved. 14.2.1 The undissolved residue of the tea pellet (125) remains on the grid (190), 14.3 After the valve (180) is opened, additional liquid (130) is supplied to the dissolution container (140). 14.4 The additional liquid (130) further dissolves the undissolved residue of the tea pellet (125) by passing through it. A method for producing tea according to feature 13.

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