Coffee bean roasting machine

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a coffee bean roasting machine that allows a drum to be removed stably and easily therefrom. [Solution] A coffee bean roasting machine (2) comprises: a base (3) that is installed in a pan support (81) and has an attachment part (31); a support member (4) that is attached to the attachment part (31); a shaft (5) that penetrates the support member (4) and is rotatably supported with respect to the support member (4); and a drum (6) that is fixed to the shaft (5) at one end (661), has, at the other end (662), an opening (631) through which coffee beans can pass, and rotates upon receiving a rotational force transmitted from the shaft (5). Either the base (3) or the support member (4) fits into the other of the base (3) and the support member (4). The drum (6) is supported on one side at the one end (661).

Description

Coffee bean roaster

[0001] The present invention relates to a coffee bean roaster for roasting coffee beans.

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a handheld roaster for roasting coffee beans, etc. In the roaster described in Patent Document 1, a rotation groove provided on the lid of the drum body is pivotally supported in a recess in the front support piece, and a rotation step provided on the handle is pivotally supported in a recess in the rear support piece, thereby supporting the drum body on both sides.

[0003] When a user roasts coffee beans using a roaster, for example, the user places the coffee beans into the drum body and rotates the drum body using the handle while the drum body is heated by a flame emitted from a burner. The user then turns off the flame at a time of their choosing, removes the drum body from its pivoted support, and discharges the roasted coffee beans from the drum body. At this time, it is desirable to discharge the coffee beans from the drum body and allow them to cool shortly after the flame is turned off in order to prevent the roasting from progressing after the flame is turned off.

[0004] However, the roaster described in Patent Document 1 has a problem in that both sides of the drum body are pivotally supported in recesses in the support pieces, making it difficult to remove the drum body from the pivotal supports. In other words, for a short time after the flame is turned off, the drum body is still hot, so the user cannot hold or touch it, and must remove the drum body from the pivotal supports by holding the handles. However, it is difficult to remove the drum body from the pivotal supports by holding the handles that extend to one side of the drum body. Furthermore, because the handles are crank-shaped, removing the drum body from the pivotal supports by holding the handles may cause the drum body to rotate, resulting in an unstable state.

[0005] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-119269

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and has an object to provide a coffee bean roaster in which the drum can be removed stably and easily.

[0007] The above problem is solved by a coffee bean roaster according to the present invention, which is a coffee bean roaster for roasting coffee beans, comprising: a base that is attached to a trivet and has an attachment portion; a support member that is attached to the attachment portion; a shaft that passes through the support member, is rotatable relative to the support member, and is supported directly or indirectly by the support member; and a drum that is fixed to the shaft at one end and has an opening at the other end through which the coffee beans can pass, and that rotates by receiving rotational force transmitted from the shaft, wherein either the base or the support member fits into the other of the base and the support member, and the drum is supported on one side at the one end.

[0008] In the coffee bean roaster according to the present invention, either the base or the support member installed on the trivet is detachably fitted to the other of the base or the support member. This allows the support member to be detachably attached to the mounting portion of the base. Furthermore, the drum is fixed at one end to a shaft that penetrates the support member, is rotatable relative to the support member, and is supported directly or indirectly on the support member, and is supported on one side at that end. This allows the user to easily remove the drum from the base by, for example, grasping the support member or a member near the support member with one hand and removing the support member from the mounting portion of the base. Furthermore, even if the shaft has a crank shape, the user does not need to grasp the shaft, but can stably remove the drum from the base by grasping the support member or a member near the support member.

[0009] In the coffee bean roaster of the present invention, preferably, the support member has a support portion that is attached to the attachment portion, and a bearing portion that is connected to the support portion and through which the shaft passes, and when the support portion is attached to the attachment portion, the shaft that passes through the bearing portion extends in a direction away from the base as it moves from the bearing portion toward the drum.

[0010] In the coffee bean roaster according to the present invention, when the support portion of the support member is attached to the mounting portion of the base, the shaft that passes through the bearing portion of the support member extends in a direction away from the base as it moves from the bearing portion of the support member toward the drum. Therefore, when the support portion of the support member is attached to the mounting portion of the base, a reservoir for coffee beans introduced through the opening of the drum can be formed on the side opposite the opening of the drum, i.e., on one end side. This allows coffee beans to be roasted efficiently in a coffee bean roaster that allows the drum to be stably and easily removed.

[0011] In the coffee bean roaster of the present invention, the support member preferably has a groove at its lower end into which the trivet fits when attached to the attachment portion.

[0012] In the coffee bean roaster according to the present invention, when the support member is attached to the mounting portion, the trivet fits into a groove provided at the lower end of the support member. Therefore, even when the support member is attached to the mounting portion of the base while resting on the trivet, the position of the support member can be prevented from shifting from the trivet. Therefore, the support member is stably supported by the trivet when attached to the mounting portion. This allows the user to stably rotate the shaft passing through the support member, thereby stably rotating the drum.

[0013] The coffee bean roaster according to the present invention is preferably characterized by further comprising a grip attached to the support member on the opposite side of the support member from the drum.

[0014] With the coffee bean roaster according to the present invention, the user can more easily remove the drum from the base by grasping the grip attached to the support member with, for example, one hand and removing the support member from the mounting portion of the base. Also, even if the shaft has a crank shape, the user can more stably remove the drum from the base by grasping the grip attached to the support member with, for example, one hand.

[0015] In the coffee bean roaster according to the present invention, the shaft is preferably arranged to pass through the grip.

[0016] In the coffee bean roaster according to the present invention, the shaft passes through the grip, so the user can stably support the drum via the shaft by holding the grip with, for example, one hand, which allows the user to remove the drum from the base more stably and easily.

[0017] The coffee bean roaster according to the present invention is preferably characterized by further comprising a cover portion provided opposite the grip at a position spaced apart from the grip.

[0018] In the coffee bean roaster according to the present invention, the cover is provided facing the grip at a distance from the grip held by the user, which prevents the user's hands and fingers from coming into contact with the trivet or, for example, the gas canister cover of a portable stove when holding the grip or while the user is holding the grip.

[0019] In the coffee bean roaster according to the present invention, the base preferably has a groove into which the trivet fits.

[0020] In the coffee bean roaster according to the present invention, when the base is installed on the trivet, the trivet fits into a groove provided in the base. Therefore, when the base is installed on the trivet, the base's position can be prevented from shifting from the trivet. Therefore, the base is stably installed on the trivet. This allows the user to stably rotate the shaft and the drum.

[0021] In the coffee bean roaster according to the present invention, the base is preferably formed in an octagonal shape, and the grooves are provided on each side of the octagon.

[0022] In the coffee bean roaster according to the present invention, the grooves in the base are provided on each side of the octagonal base. This increases the degree of freedom in the installation angle of the base relative to the trivet. This allows the user to set the installation angle of the base relative to the trivet according to their preference. For example, the user can install the base on the trivet so that the handle faces forward, so that the handle faces diagonally from the forward direction, so that the handle faces either left or right, or so that the handle faces backward.

[0023] The coffee bean roaster of the present invention is preferably characterized in that it is provided with a grip connected to the support member on the opposite side of the support member from the drum, and when the support member is attached to the attachment part, the support member has a heat avoidance part that is inclined overall above the support part that is attached to the attachment part and away from the drum, thereby avoiding convection heat around the drum.

[0024] In the coffee bean roaster according to the present invention, a user can more easily remove the drum from the base by grasping the grip and removing the support member from the mounting portion of the base. However, convection heat from the flames generated around the drum during roasting can heat the support member, potentially making the grip connected to the support member too hot to hold. However, in this preferred embodiment, the support member has a heat avoidance section that is inclined away from the drum to avoid the convection heat around the drum. This prevents the support member and the grip connected to it from overheating.

[0025] In the coffee bean roaster of the present invention, it is preferable that when the support member is attached to the attachment portion, the shaft extends from a through hole that passes through the support member in a direction away from the base as it moves toward the drum, the support member has the through hole above the heat avoidance portion, and the area between the heat avoidance portion and the through hole is generally inclined in a direction approaching the drum, with the upper end of the heat avoidance portion as the base point.

[0026] In the coffee bean roaster according to the present invention, the shaft extends from the through-hole that penetrates the support member toward the drum, in a direction away from the base. The drum is then connected along the inclination of the shaft, forming a coffee bean collection area within the drum's internal space, and the drum is rotated to allow for uniform roasting. Even if the heat avoidance portion is significantly inclined toward the handle to effectively avoid convection heat, the area between the heat avoidance portion and the through-hole is generally inclined from the upper end of the heat avoidance portion toward the drum. Therefore, the angle of the shaft and the drum connected to it is corrected by the heat avoidance portion to an angle suitable for roasting, enabling a satisfactory roast.

[0027] In the coffee bean roaster according to the present invention, the grip and the support member are preferably connected in a spaced-apart state, thereby forming a space between the grip and the support member.

[0028] According to the coffee bean roaster of the present invention, a space is provided between the grip and the support member, which acts as an insulating layer, reducing the heat transmitted to the grip and preventing burns to the hands holding the grip.

[0029] According to the present invention, a coffee bean roaster can be provided in which the drum can be removed stably and easily.

[0030] 15A is a perspective view of a coffee bean roaster according to the present embodiment; FIG. 15B is a perspective view of a coffee bean roaster according to the present embodiment; FIG. 15C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 1; FIG. 15D is a perspective view of the support member and the vicinity of the shaft according to the present embodiment; FIG. 15E is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B in FIG. 4; FIG. 15F is a perspective view of the support member according to the present embodiment; FIG. 15G is a side view of the support member as viewed in the direction of arrow A2 in FIG. 6; FIG. 15H is a perspective view of the base according to the present embodiment; FIG. 15H is a plan view of the base according to the present embodiment; FIG. 15H is a plan view of the drum according to the present embodiment; FIG. 15I is an exploded view of the drum according to the present embodiment; FIG. 15I is a central vertical cross-sectional view of a coffee bean roaster according to a modified example of the present embodiment; FIG. 15I is a view showing the support member being attached to the attachment part of the modified example; FIG. 15I is a front view of the attachment part and its periphery with the support member attached to the attachment part of the modified example; FIG. 15I is a bottom perspective view of the attachment part and its periphery according to the modified example; FIG. 15I is a plan view of the attachment part of the modified example; Figure 16(A) is a perspective view of the support member of this modified example, and Figure 16(B) is a further modified example of the support member of Figure 16(A). A schematic enlarged view of the grip and its surroundings of Figure 12. A perspective view of a spoon attached to the coffee bean roaster according to this embodiment. A front view of the spoon of Figure 18 (the back view is symmetrical to the front view). A plan view of the spoon of Figure 18. A bottom view of the spoon of Figure 18. A right side view of the spoon of Figure 18. A left side view of the spoon of Figure 18.

[0031] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. The embodiments described below are preferred specific examples of the present invention, and therefore various technically preferable limitations are applied. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited to these aspects unless otherwise specified in the following description to the effect that the present invention is specifically limited. Furthermore, in each drawing, similar components are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted where appropriate.

[0032] Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views showing a coffee bean roaster according to this embodiment. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in Figure 1. Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which the support member is attached to the mounting portion of the base. Figure 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the support member is removed from the mounting portion of the base.

[0033] Coffee bean roaster 2 according to this embodiment is a device used when roasting coffee beans, and is primarily installed on trivet 81 of portable stove 8 as shown in Figures 1 to 3. In other words, coffee bean roaster 2 according to this embodiment is a portable coffee bean roaster that can be used in an ordinary home.

[0034] 1 to 3, coffee bean roaster 2 includes a base 3, a support member 4, a shaft 5, and a drum 6. Coffee bean roaster 2 may further include a grip 71 and a cover portion 72. Note that portable stove 8 is not included in coffee bean roaster 2, and is shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 for ease of explanation.

[0035] The base 3 is a platform for placing the roaster body, consisting of the drum 6 and shaft 5, on the portable stove 8 via the support member 4. It is formed, for example, of metal as a ring-shaped member with an open center. The base 3 has a groove 321 at its lower end and is attached to the trivet 81 of the portable stove 8. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 , when the base 3 is attached to the trivet 81, the trivet 81 fits into the groove 321 in the base 3. In the portable stove 8 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 , four trivets 81 are provided every 90 degrees in the circumferential direction around the burner 82. Therefore, it is preferable that at least four grooves 321 are provided at the lower end of the base 3 every 90 degrees, corresponding to the positions of the trivets 81 in the circumferential direction around the central part of the ring. In the base 3 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 , eight grooves 321 are provided every 45 degrees in the circumferential direction around the central part of the ring.

[0036] The base 3 has an attachment portion 31. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, a support member 4 that supports the roaster main body is attached to the attachment portion 31 of the base 3. For example, as shown by arrow A1 in Figure 2, the support member 4 is detachably attached to the attachment portion 31 of the base 3. Specifically, as shown in Figure 3, the support member 4 detachably fits into the hole 311 of the attachment portion 31. In this way, the support member 4 is detachably attached to the attachment portion 31 of the base 3. Note that, for example, the support member 4 may be detachably attached to the attachment portion 31 of the base 3 by detachably fitting a protrusion (not shown) of the attachment portion 31 into a hole (not shown) in the support member 4.

[0037] The support member 4 is a plate-like member formed of, for example, metal. As shown in Fig. 3, the shaft 5 passes through the support member 4. The support member 4 rotatably supports the shaft 5, and is detachably attached to the attachment portion 31 of the base 3 by fitting detachably into the hole 311 of the attachment portion 31 as described above.

[0038] The shaft 5 is a rod-shaped member made of, for example, metal that rotates the drum 6. The shaft 5 passes through the support member 4 and is supported rotatably relative to the support member 4. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the shaft 5 has a crank shape. In other words, the shaft 5 is a so-called crankshaft. The shaft 5 has a handle 51 rotatably attached to one end. A user can rotate the shaft 5 around an axis A61 shown in FIG. 3 by grasping the handle 51 and rotating the crank-shaped portion.

[0039] The drum 6 is a cylindrical member made of, for example, metal. That is, the drum 6 has an internal space for accommodating coffee beans to be roasted. The drum 6 is fixed to the shaft 5 at one end 661. The manner in which the drum 6 is fixed to the shaft 5 is not particularly limited. Examples of the manner in which the drum 6 is fixed to the shaft 5 include fixing by welding and fixing by fastening members such as screws.

[0040] The drum 6 has an opening 631 at the other end 662. The opening 631 functions as an inlet and outlet for coffee beans. That is, the coffee beans can pass through the opening 631 of the drum 6. For example, when a user starts roasting the coffee beans, the user puts the coffee beans into the interior of the drum 6 (i.e., the storage space) through the opening 631. On the other hand, when a user finishes roasting the coffee beans, the user discharges the roasted coffee beans from the interior of the drum 6 (i.e., the storage space) through the opening 631.

[0041] The drum 6 is fixed to the shaft 5 at one end 661, and therefore receives a rotational force transmitted from the shaft 5, thereby rotating about the axis A61 shown in Fig. 3. For example, when a user grasps the handle 51 and rotates the crank-shaped portion to rotate the shaft 5 about the axis A61, the drum 6 receives the rotational force transmitted from the shaft 5 and rotates about the axis A61.

[0042] 3, an agitating blade 611 is provided on the inner surface of the drum 6. The agitating blade 611 extends along the axis A61 and extends from the inner surface of the drum 6 toward the center of the drum 6 (i.e., the axis A61). Therefore, when the drum 6 rotates around the axis A61, the coffee beans contained inside the drum 6 are agitated approximately uniformly by the agitating blade 611.

[0043] As described above, the drum 6 is fixed to the shaft 5 at one end 661. The shaft 5 passes through the support member 4 and is supported rotatably relative to the support member 4. The support member 4 is detachably fitted into the hole 311 of the mounting portion 31, and is thereby detachably mounted to the mounting portion 31 of the base 3. As a result, when the support member 4 is mounted to the mounting portion 31 of the base 3, the drum 6 is supported on one side at one end 661 in the direction of the axis A61.

[0044] Next, the coffee bean roaster according to this embodiment will be further described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the support member and the shaft of this embodiment, as well as a portion thereof. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the support member of this embodiment. Fig. 7 is a side view of the support member as viewed in the direction of arrow A2 in Fig. 6.

[0045] 4 and 5, a grip 71 is attached to the support member 4. Specifically, the grip 71 is attached to the support member 4 on the side opposite the drum 6 as viewed from the support member 4, i.e., on the handle 51 side as viewed from the support member 4. The grip 71 has a shape that allows a user to hold it with one hand, and is made of, for example, resin. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the shaft 5 rotatably passes through the grip 71.

[0046] 4 and 5, the cover portion 72 is provided facing the grip 71 at a position away from the grip 71. Specifically, when the support member 4 is attached to the attachment portion 31 of the base 3, the cover portion 72 is provided facing the grip 71 at a position away from the grip 71 toward the base 3 (i.e., below the grip 71). This makes it possible to prevent the user's hands and fingers from coming into contact with, for example, the trivet 81 or the gas cylinder cover 84 (see FIGS. 1 to 3) of the portable stove 8 when the user grips the grip 71 or while the user is holding the grip 71.

[0047] 6 and 7 , the support member 4 is formed as a plate-like member and has a support portion 41 and a bearing portion 42. The support portion 41 is a portion of the support member 4 that fits into the hole 311 of the mounting portion 31 of the base 3.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 6 , the support portion 41 has a groove 411 formed at its lower end. For example, when the base 3 is installed on the trivet 81 with the trivet 81 fitting into the groove 321 formed at the lower end of the mounting portion 31 of the base 3, i.e., when the base 3 is installed on the trivet 81 rotated 45 degrees circumferentially around the burner 82 from the state shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the support portion 41 of the support member 4 fits into the hole 311 of the mounting portion 31 and rests on the trivet 81. At this time, the trivet 81 fits into the groove 411 formed at the lower end of the support portion 41. Therefore, even when the support portion 41 of the support member 4 is attached to the mounting portion 31 of the base 3 with the trivet 81 resting on it, the position of the support member 4 can be prevented from shifting from the trivet 81. Therefore, the support member 4 is stably supported by the trivet 81 when attached to the mounting portion 31 of the base 3.

[0049] The bearing portion 42 is connected to the upper end of the support portion 41, i.e., the end opposite the lower end where the groove 411 is formed. As shown in FIG. 6 , the bearing portion 42 has a through hole 421. The shaft 5 passes through the through hole 421 of the bearing portion 42, penetrating the bearing portion 42, and is supported rotatably relative to the bearing portion 42. That is, as shown in FIG. 5 , the shaft 5 passes through the grip 71 and the bearing portion 42 of the support member 4, and is fixed to the drum 6 at the other end (i.e., the end opposite the end where the handle 51 is provided).

[0050] 7, the bearing portion 42 is connected to the support portion 41 in a state inclined relative to the support portion 41. That is, the axis A62 of the through hole 421 of the bearing portion 42 extends obliquely with respect to the attachment / detachment direction (see arrow A1) of the support portion 41 relative to the attachment portion 31 of the base 3. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, when the support portion 41 is attached to the attachment portion 31 of the base 3, the shaft 5 that passes through the bearing portion 42 extends in a direction away from the base 3 as it moves from the bearing portion 42 toward the drum 6. The axis A62 of the through hole 421 of the bearing portion 42 substantially coincides with the axis A61 that serves as the center of rotation of the shaft 5 and the drum 6.

[0051] 8 and 9 are perspective and plan views showing the base of the present embodiment.

[0052] 8 and 9, the base 3 is formed as an annular member having an opening 33 in the center. Specifically, the base 3 is formed as an octagonal annular member. Grooves 321 are formed at the lower ends of the side portions 32 of the octagonal base 3. One groove 321 is formed in the center of each side portion 32. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, eight grooves 321 are provided at 45-degree intervals in the circumferential direction centered on the annular center portion.

[0053] This increases the degree of freedom in the installation angle of the base 3 relative to the trivet 81. In other words, the user can set the installation angle of the base 3 relative to the trivet 81 as desired. For example, the user can install the base 3 on the trivet 81 so that the handle 51 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) faces forward, or so that the handle 51 faces diagonally from the forward direction, or so that the handle 51 faces either left or right, or so that the handle 51 faces backward.

[0054] The mounting portion 31 has a hole 311. The hole 311 is formed so as to penetrate the mounting portion 31. As described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7 , the support portion 41 of the support member 4 is detachably fitted into the hole 311 of the mounting portion 31, whereby the support member 4 is detachably attached to the mounting portion 31 of the base 3.

[0055] The mounting portion 31 has a groove 321 at its bottom end that is similar to the grooves 321 formed in each of the side portions 32. Therefore, when the base 3 is installed on the trivet 81 with the mounting portion 31 resting on the trivet 81, the trivet 81 fits into the groove 321 formed at the bottom end of the mounting portion 31. This prevents the base 3 from shifting position from the trivet 81, even when the base 3 is installed on the trivet 81 with the mounting portion 31 resting on the trivet 81. Therefore, the base 3 is installed stably on the trivet 81.

[0056] 10 and 11 are plan and exploded views of the drum of the present embodiment.

[0057] 10 and 11 , the drum 6 has a first main body portion 61, a second main body portion 62, a first lid portion 63, a second lid portion 64, and a ring member 65. Each of the first main body portion 61 and the second main body portion 62 is formed in a cylindrical shape. The first main body portion 61 is disposed inside the second main body portion 62. In other words, the outer diameter of the first main body portion 61 is smaller than the inner diameter of the second main body portion 62. Because the first main body portion 61 is disposed inside the second main body portion 62, the drum 6 has a double drum structure.

[0058] 11 , the stirring blade 611 is provided on the inner surface 612 of the first main body portion 61. The stirring blade 611 extends along the axis A61 and extends from the inner surface 612 of the first main body portion 61 toward the center of the cylinder of the first main body portion 61 (i.e., the axis A61).

[0059] The first lid portion 63 has an opening 631 that functions as an inlet and an outlet for coffee beans, and is attached to the second main body portion 62 on the side of the other end 662 of the drum 6. The first lid portion 63 may be attached to the second main body portion 62 in a detachable manner.

[0060] The second lid portion 64 is attached to the second main body portion 62 at one end 661. The second lid portion 64 is fixed to the second main body portion 62 by, for example, welding. The second lid portion 64 is substantially truncated cone-shaped, and as shown in Figure 3, when the drum 6 is rotated, the coffee beans slide down the inside of the truncated cone.

[0061] The ring member 65 is attached to the second cover 64 at one end 661. The ring member 65 is fixed to the second cover 64 by, for example, welding. The shaft 5 is fitted into the ring member 65 and fixed to the ring member 65 by, for example, welding or a fastening member such as a screw. In this way, the drum 6 is fixed to the shaft 5 at one end 661.

[0062] Next, examples of use and operation of the coffee bean roaster 2 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 11. First, the user places the base 3 on the trivet 81 of the portable stove 8 so that the trivet 81 of the portable stove 8 fits into the groove 321 of the base 3. This prevents the base 3 from shifting from the trivet 81. Therefore, the base 3 is stably placed on the trivet 81.

[0063] At this time, the user can set the installation angle of the base 3 relative to the trivet 81 as desired. For example, the user can install the base 3 on the trivet 81 so that the handle 51 faces forward, or so that the handle 51 faces diagonally from the forward direction, or so that the handle 51 faces either left or right, or so that the handle 51 faces backward.

[0064] Next, the user fits the support member 4 into the hole 311 of the mounting portion 31 to mount the support member 4 to the mounting portion 31. As a result, the drum 6 is supported on one side at one end 661 in the direction of the axis A61, as shown in Figures 1 and 3. At this time, as shown in Figure 3, the shaft 5 extends in a direction away from the base 3 as it moves from the bearing portion 42 of the support member 4 toward the drum 6.

[0065] Next, the user places coffee beans into the drum 6 (specifically, into the first main body portion 61) through the opening 631. Next, the user rotates the operating knob 83 (see FIGS. 1 to 3 ) of the portable stove 8 to ignite the burner 82. This causes the drum 6 to be heated by the flame emitted from the burner 82. At this time, as described above with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11 , because the drum 6 has a double drum structure, semi-hot air roasting is performed rather than direct flame roasting, and scorching of the coffee beans' surfaces is prevented.

[0066] The user also grasps the handle 51 and rotates the crank-shaped portion of the shaft 5 to rotate the drum 6 around the axis A61. At this time, the trivet 81 is fitted into the groove 321 of the base 3, preventing the base 3 from shifting from the trivet 81. Therefore, the base 3 is stably installed on the trivet 81. This allows the user to stably rotate the shaft 5 and the drum 6.

[0067] As the drum 6 rotates, the coffee beans placed inside the drum 6 are heated by the flame emitted from the burner 82 via the drum 6, which functions as a double drum, and are stirred approximately uniformly by the stirring blades 611. Furthermore, because the shaft 5 extends in a direction away from the base 3 as it moves from the bearing portion 42 of the support member 4 toward the drum 6, a reservoir for the coffee beans placed through the opening 631 of the drum 6 is formed on the side opposite the opening 631 of the drum 6, i.e., on one end 661 side. This allows the coffee beans to be mixed uniformly and efficiently for roasting. In this manner, the coffee beans are roasted.

[0068] Next, the user turns the operating knob 83 of the portable stove 8 at a timing that suits the user's preference to stop the flame of the burner 82. Then, in order to prevent the roasting from progressing after the flame is stopped, the user should preferably discharge the coffee beans from the drum 6 and allow them to cool as soon as possible after the flame is stopped.

[0069] Therefore, a user of the coffee bean roaster 2 according to this embodiment can remove the drum 6 from the base 3 by grasping the grip 71 with, for example, one hand and removing the support member 4 from the mounting portion 31 of the base 3. At this time, because the cover portion 72 is provided facing the grip 71 at a position separated from the grip 71, the user's hand and fingers can be prevented from coming into contact with, for example, the trivet 81 or the gas cylinder cover 84 of the portable stove 8. Furthermore, because the drum 6 is fixed to the shaft 5 at one end 661 and supported on one side at the other end 661, the user can easily remove the support member 4 from the mounting portion 31 of the base 3 and easily remove the drum 6 from the base 3.

[0070] Furthermore, the user can stably remove the drum 6 from the base 3 by holding the grip 71 with, for example, one hand and removing the support member 4 from the mounting portion 31 of the base 3 without having to grasp the crank-shaped shaft 5. Furthermore, because the shaft 5 passes through the grip 71, the user can stably support the drum 6 via the shaft 5 by holding the grip 71 with, for example, one hand. This allows the user to remove the drum 6 from the base 3 even more stably and easily.

[0071] Next, while holding the grip 71 with, for example, one hand, the user tilts the drum 6 so that the opening 631 of the drum 6 faces downward. This allows the user to easily discharge the coffee beans from inside the drum 6 through the opening 631 in a short time after the flame has been extinguished. Next, the user fits the support member 4 into the hole 311 of the mounting portion 31 to reattach the support member 4 to the mounting portion 31. At this time, the user can reattach the support member 4 to the mounting portion 31 simply by fitting the support member 4 into the hole 311 of the mounting portion 31, so that the drum 6 can be easily supported on one side at one end 661. This allows the user to cool the coffee beans in a short time after the flame has been extinguished, thereby preventing the roasting from progressing after the flame has been extinguished.

[0072] As described above, in the coffee bean roaster 2 according to this embodiment, either the base 3 or the support member 4, which are installed on the trivet 81, fit detachably into the other of the base 3 or the support member 4. This allows the support member 4 to be detachably attached to the mounting portion 31 of the base 3. Furthermore, the drum 6 is fixed at one end 661 to the shaft 5, which penetrates the support member 4 and is supported rotatably relative to the support member 4, and is supported on one side at the end 661. This allows the user to easily remove the drum 6 from the base 3 by, for example, grasping the support member 4 or a member near the support member 4 (e.g., the grip 71) with one hand and removing the support member 4 from the mounting portion 31 of the base 3. Furthermore, even if the shaft 5 has a crank shape, the user does not need to grasp the shaft 5, but can stably remove the drum 6 from the base 3 by grasping the support member 4 or a member near the support member 4 (e.g., the grip 71).

[0073] [Modifications] Modifications of the above-described embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 12 to 17. Figure 12 is a central vertical cross-sectional view (the cutting position is the same as in Figure 3) of a coffee bean roaster 100 according to this modification, Figure 13 is a view showing the support member 90 being attached to the attachment portion 52, and Figure 14 is a partial front view of the state in which the support member 90 has been attached to the attachment portion 52. Also, Figure 15(A) is a bottom perspective view of the attachment portion 52 and its periphery, and Figure 15(B) is a plan view thereof. Figure 16(A) is a perspective view of the support member 90, and Figure 16(B) is a further modification of this support member 90. Figure 17 is a schematic enlarged view of the grip 71 and its periphery in Figure 12, showing the outline with the detailed configuration omitted to avoid cluttering the drawing.

[0074] In these figures, parts with the same reference numerals as those in coffee bean roaster 2 in Figures 1 to 11 have the same configuration, so redundant explanations will be omitted and the following explanation will focus on the differences. The main differences between coffee bean roaster 100 of this modified example and coffee bean roaster 2 of the above embodiment are support member 90, mounting portion 52, grip 71, and the relationship between these.

[0075] First, the detachable structure of the support member 90 and the mounting portion 52 according to this modified example will be described mainly with reference to Figures 13 to 15. The mounting portion 52 has first and second plate-like portions 15, 16 that face each other, and a connecting portion 17 that is located between the first plate portion 15 and the second plate portion 16 and connects the first plate portion 15 and the second plate portion 16. In contrast, the support portion 92 that is located below the support member 90 and attached to the mounting portion 52 is plate-shaped, and has a notch 67 at its lower end that can be inserted from above and engage with the connecting portion 17. This allows the support member 90 to be detachably attached to the mounting portion 52.

[0076] Specifically, the first plate 15 comprises a portion 3a of the annular base 3 and an extension 3b formed by extending the portion 3a upward. The upper end surface of the extension 3b is beveled at both ends 15a, 15a along the circumferential direction of the base 3. The lower end of the first plate 15 is formed with a protrusion 23 that protrudes toward the second plate 16. The protrusion 23 is curved so as to be convex toward the second plate 16, and is, for example, approximately hemispherical. A support member 92 can be inserted between the protrusion 23 and the second plate 16.

[0077] The second plate portion 16 has the same overall shape as the first plate portion 15, and both end portions 16a, 16a of the upper end surface along the circumferential direction of the base 3 are chamfered and inclined. The second plate portion 16 is shorter than the first plate portion 15, so that when the mounting portion 52 is viewed from the second plate portion 16 side, the upper end portion 15b of the first plate portion 15 is exposed.

[0078] The overall shape of the connecting portion 17 is substantially similar to the notch portion 67 of the support portion 92, but is formed slightly smaller than the internal space of the notch portion 67. When viewed through the second plate portion 16, the connecting portion 17 has a trapezoidal shape with the upper side being the upper base, and the side surfaces (legs of the trapezoid) 17a, 17a along the height direction are inclined surfaces. The thickness D1 of the connecting portion 17 (i.e., the distance between the first plate portion 15 and the second plate portion 16) is greater than the thickness D2 of the support portion 92. Furthermore, the upper end surface 17c of the connecting portion 17 is at the same height as the central portion 16c of the upper end surface of the second plate portion 16.

[0079] With the above configuration, when inserting the support portion 92 between the first plate portion 15 and the second plate portion 16, the mounting portion 52 is not box-shaped, and both end portions 15a, 15a, 16a, 16a of the first and second plate portions 15, 16 are chamfered, and the upper end surface 17c of the connecting portion 17 is at the same height as the central portion 16c of the upper end surface of the second plate portion 16, making it easy to see the connecting portion 17. Moreover, the distance D1 between the first plate portion 15 and the second plate portion 16 is greater than the thickness D2 of the support portion 92, and furthermore, the connecting portion 17 and the notch portion 67 are both trapezoidal, so that the connecting portion 17 can be easily fitted into the notch portion 67 of the support portion 92. Even if the distance D1 is greater than the thickness D2 of the support portion 92, the support portion 92 can be held down by the protrusion 23 while being sandwiched between the first plate portion 15 and the second plate portion 16, preventing wobbling. In this modified example, the drum 6 side is heavier than the grip 71 side relative to the support member 90, and as shown in Figure 14, the support portion 92 is tilted so that its upper end 92a faces the drum side. The support portion 92 is prevented from moving by contact with the upper end 15b of the first plate portion 15, the protrusion 23, and the lower end 16b of the second plate portion 16.

[0080] A groove 333 is formed in the lower end portions of the first plate portion 15, the second plate portion 16, and the connecting portion 17. The groove 333 has the same function as the groove 321 in Fig. 8, and fits into the trivet 81 when it is located at the trivet 81 position (see Fig. 12).

[0081] Next, the connection structure between the support member 90 and the grip 71 according to this modified example will be described mainly with reference to Figures 12 and 17. As shown in the figures, a space S is formed between the opposing grip 71 and the support member 90. The space S is an insulating layer for preventing the grip 71 from overheating as much as possible. In this modified example, the distance between the grip 71 and the opposing support member 90 is kept slightly larger than the gap, taking into consideration the balance between the drum 6 side and the grip 71 side and the overall size of the product. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the space S may be made larger to achieve a higher insulating effect.

[0082] To form this space S, the through-hole 421 at the top of the support member 90 through which the shaft 5 passes and its surrounding area (hereinafter referred to as the "shaft penetration periphery") 45 are connected to the grip 71 while being spaced apart from each other via a joint 37 such as a pin or a screw. The joint 37 is preferably made of stainless steel with low thermal conductivity, or a metal surface coated with a heat insulating paint, but is not limited to this. One end 37a of the joint 37 is connected to surround the through-hole 421 (connected at the position indicated by the symbol PT in FIG. 16), and the other end 37b is connected to a metal plate 88 fixed to the shaft penetration periphery 45 side of the grip 71.

[0083] The shaft 5 passes through a through-hole 421 in the shaft penetration peripheral portion 45 of the support member 90, but there is a gap between the shaft 5 and the inner surface 421a of the through-hole 421, and the shaft 5 is rotatably connected to the grip 71. In the illustrated example, the shaft 5 is provided with flanges or ring-shaped portions (hereinafter referred to as "rings") 27 coaxial with the shaft 5 at several locations along its length. In contrast, a locking member 56 is provided inside the grip 71 to lock with the ring 27 so as to restrict movement of the ring 27 in the longitudinal direction of the shaft 5 without restricting rotation of the ring 27. In this way, in the present invention, the shaft 5 may be rotatably supported not only directly (in contact with the through-hole 421) by the support member 90, but also indirectly (without contacting the through-hole 421) via the grip 71 connected to the support member 90.

[0084] Next, the support member 90 of this modified example will be described, focusing on FIGS. 12 and 16 . The support member 90 has a heat avoidance portion 93 above the support portion 92 attached to the attachment portion 52. The heat avoidance portion 93 is a portion for avoiding convective heat (CF) around the drum 6 generated by flames during roasting. In particular, the drum 6 has a generally truncated cone shape on one end 661 side (i.e., the second lid portion 64) so ​​that coffee beans can be collected around the inner bottom periphery (i.e., the reservoir portion) BA on the side of one end 661 opposite the opening 631. Therefore, the truncated cone-shaped outer wall 64a (the inclined outer wall around the reservoir portion BA) 64a toward the support member 90 easily directs the convective heat CF toward the support member 90, heating even the grip 71 connected to the support member 90. Therefore, the heat avoidance portion 93 is formed to avoid the convective heat CF so that the hand holding the grip 71 does not get too hot.

[0085] Specifically, the thermal avoidance portion 93 is formed between the support portion 92 and the shaft penetration peripheral portion 45. The thermal avoidance portion 93 is formed by generally inclining away from the drum 6, starting from the upper end 92a of the support portion 92. In the case of FIG. 12 , when the support member 90 is attached to the attachment portion 52, the thermal avoidance portion 93 is inclined upward toward the handle 51. The inclination angle θ2 of the thermal avoidance portion 93 relative to the vertical direction is preferably larger than the inclination angle θ1 of the inclined outer wall 64a of the reservoir portion BA located on one end 661 of the drum 6 relative to the vertical direction. In FIG. 12 , the inclination angle θ1 is approximately 45 degrees, and the inclination angle θ2 is approximately 50 degrees. The inclination angle θ2 of the thermal avoidance portion 93 is not limited to this and may be 50 degrees or greater. Alternatively, if the distance between the drum 6 and the support member 90 is large, the inclination angle θ2 may be equal to or smaller than the inclination angle θ1 of the inclined outer wall 64a of the reservoir portion BA located on the support member 90 side. However, to make it easier to remove the roaster main body from the base 3, it is preferable that the distance between the drum 6 and the support member 90 is small, and for this reason, it is preferable that the relationship of inclination angle θ2 > inclination angle θ1 as shown in the figure. Also, the inclination of the heat avoidance part 93 needs to be inclined overall towards the handle 51 to avoid the flames, and it may be curved as shown in Figure 16(B) or stepped, for example.

[0086] In this way, by forming the heat avoidance portion 93 on the support member 90 and forming the space S between the grip 71 and the support member 90, it was possible to keep the temperature of the end of the grip 71 on the drum 6 side within 50 degrees. If it is within 50 degrees, there is no risk of burns even if you come into contact with it for a short time.

[0087] Incidentally, the heat avoidance portion 93 of the support member 90 and the shaft penetration peripheral portion 45 formed integrally therewith also serve as a separation wall that separates the grip 71 from the drum 6 so that the convection heat CF shown in FIG. 12 does not directly hit the grip 71. For this reason, the heat avoidance portion 93 and the shaft penetration peripheral portion 45 are preferably plate-shaped, with the surface facing the drum 6 being the main surface 90a (see FIG. 16). Furthermore, it is preferable that the width W2 (see FIG. 16) of the heat avoidance portion 93 and the shaft penetration peripheral portion 45 be equal to or greater than the width W1 (see FIG. 13) of the grip 71, so that the grip 71 is hidden by the heat avoidance portion 93 and the shaft penetration peripheral portion 45 when the support member 90 is viewed head-on from the drum 6 side.

[0088] Next, the relationship between the shaft penetration peripheral portion 45 and the thermal avoidance portion 93 will be described mainly with reference to FIGS. 12 to 14 . At least the portion of the shaft penetration peripheral portion 45 between the thermal avoidance portion 93 and the through-hole 421 is generally inclined toward the drum 6 from the upper end 93a of the thermal avoidance portion 93 (see also FIG. 16 ). In this modified example, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 , the shaft penetration peripheral portion 45 is disposed at an angle θ3, inclined upward toward the drum 6, based on an imaginary line VL extending through the thermal avoidance portion 93. This inclination angle θ3 is set to a preferred angle θ4 of the rotation axis A61 of the drum 6 relative to the horizontal direction in FIG. 12 . In other words, the inclination angle θ5 of the shaft penetration peripheral portion 45 relative to the vertical direction (see FIG. 14 ) is equivalent to the angle θ4 of the axis A61 relative to the horizontal direction in FIG. 12 . The angle θ4 of the axis A61 is set to approximately 10 to 20 degrees, approximately 12 degrees in the illustrated example. This allows the coffee beans to be properly collected in the accumulation area BA and stirred to ensure substantially uniform roasting, even when the heat avoidance area 93 is inclined to avoid convection heat CF. It also prevents the cover 72 from coming into contact with the gas cylinder housing 97 that houses the gas cylinder of the portable stove 8.

[0089] 12 and 17, the upper surface 71a of the grip 71 of this modified example is linear from the center in the longitudinal direction of the shaft 5 to just before the end 71b on the handle 51 side, and the angle θ6 formed by the upper surface 71a and the side surface 71c on the handle 51 side is 90 degrees or less. This prevents a hand placed on the upper surface 71a from slipping off and coming into contact with the heated shaft 5.

[0090] The above describes the embodiments of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the claims. The configurations of the above embodiments can be partially omitted or arbitrarily combined in a different manner from the above.

[0091] For example, the support member 4 in Figures 4 and 6 rotatably supports the shaft 5 by passing it through a through hole 421 of its bearing portion 42, but as shown in Figure 17 , a support member 90 may rotatably support the shaft 5 via a grip 71. That is, it is the grip 71 that rotatably supports the shaft 5, and the support member 90 may support this grip 71, so that the support member 90 indirectly supports the shaft 5. Alternatively, the shaft penetration peripheral portion 45 in Figure 17 may be changed to the bearing portion 42 in Figure 4. That is, the shaft 5 may slidably pass through the through hole 421 of the shaft penetration peripheral portion 45 in Figure 17, and the shaft penetration peripheral portion 45 may serve as a bearing portion.

[0092] Furthermore, the coffee bean roaster 2, 100 of the above embodiment and its modified examples may be provided with a spoon for removing coffee beans from the drum to check their roast level. The spoon 150 shown in Figures 18 to 23 is designed for this purpose and is generally rod-shaped. This spoon 150 has a metal spoon body 160 on which the coffee beans are placed and a resin or wooden handle 170. The spoon body 160 has a V-shaped cross section in the width direction X, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and the angle θ7 between one surface 161 and the other surface 162 in the width direction X is approximately 120 degrees. This makes it easier to line up the removed coffee beans by gathering them at the bottom of the V-shape (near the boundary between the one surface 161 and the other surface 162), making it easier to see the roasting state of the coffee beans.

[0093] The handle 170 can be held between the thumb and middle finger. The rear end of the upper surface of the handle 170 has a first recess 175 indicating where the thumb should rest, and this first recess 175 is curved to correspond to the ball of the thumb. The rear end of the lower surface of the handle 170 has a second recess 176, which is longer and shallower than the first recess 175, and is designed for the middle finger to rest at an angle. The cross section of the handle 170 in the width direction X is generally diamond-shaped. When viewed from the rear end (right side) of FIG. 22 , a right-handed person can place the index finger on the lower right surface 170a, and a left-handed person can place the index finger on the lower left surface 170b, making it easier to support the handle. The spoon 150 is of a length such that when it is inserted into the inner bottom periphery (reservoir) BA on the opposite side of the opening 631 of the drum shown in Figure 12, the first and second recesses 175, 176 in Figure 19 do not enter the opening 631 of the drum 6 in Figure 12.

[0094] 2,100: coffee bean roaster, 3: base, 4: support member, 5: shaft, 6: drum, 8: portable stove, 31: mounting portion, 32: side portion, 33: opening, 41: support portion, 42: bearing portion, 51: handle, 61: first main body portion, 62: second main body portion, 63: first lid portion, 64: second lid portion, 65: ring member, 71: grip, 72: cover portion, 81: trivet, 82: burner, 83: operating knob portion, 84: cylinder cover, 311: hole, 321: groove, 411: groove, 421: through hole, 611: stirring blade, 612: inner surface, 631: opening, 661: one end, 662: other end, 93: Heat avoidance part, S: Space

Claims

1. A coffee bean roaster for roasting coffee beans, comprising: a base installed on a trivet and having an attachment part; a support member attached to the attachment part; a shaft that passes through the support member, is rotatable relative to the support member and is supported directly or indirectly by the support member; and a drum that is fixed to the shaft at one end and has an opening at the other end through which the coffee beans can pass, and rotates by receiving a rotational force transmitted from the shaft, wherein either the base or the support member is detachably fitted into the other of the base or the support member, and the drum is supported on one side at the one end.

2. The coffee bean roaster described in claim 1, characterized in that the support member has a support part that is attached to the mounting part, and a bearing part that is connected to the support part and through which the shaft passes, and when the support part is attached to the mounting part, the shaft that passes through the bearing part extends in a direction away from the base as it moves from the bearing part towards the drum.

3. A coffee bean roaster as described in claim 1, characterized in that the support member has a groove at its lower end into which the trivet fits when attached to the mounting portion.

4. A coffee bean roaster as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a grip attached to said support member on an opposite side of said support member from said drum.

5. The coffee bean roaster according to claim 4, wherein the shaft passes through the grip.

6. A coffee bean roaster as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a cover portion provided opposite said grip at a position spaced from said grip.

7. The coffee bean roaster according to claim 1, wherein the base has a groove into which the trivet fits.

8. The coffee bean roaster according to claim 7, characterized in that the base is formed in an octagonal shape, and the grooves are provided on each side of the octagon.

9. A coffee bean roaster as described in claim 1, characterized in that it is provided with a grip connected to the support member on the opposite side of the support member to the drum, and when the support member is attached to the mounting part, the support member has a heat avoidance part above the support part, which is the part attached to the mounting part, that is inclined overall away from the drum to avoid convection heat around the drum.

10. The coffee bean roaster described in claim 9, characterized in that, when the support member is attached to the attachment portion, the shaft extends from a through hole penetrating the support member in a direction away from the base as it approaches the drum, the support member has the through hole above the heat avoidance portion, and the area between the heat avoidance portion and the through hole is generally inclined from the upper end of the heat avoidance portion as a base point in a direction approaching the drum.

11. A coffee bean roaster as described in claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the grip and the support member are connected in a spaced-apart state, thereby forming a space between the grip and the support member.

Images