CN107136939B - Pipeline structure of coffee machine, coffee machine with pipeline structure and working method of coffee machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a pipeline structure of a coffee machine, wherein hot water entering the pipeline structure can flow back to a water supply unit through a return channel, so that the hot water of the pipeline structure is prevented from being sprayed out to hurt a user. Meanwhile, the invention also provides a coffee machine with the pipeline structure and a working method of the coffee machine.

Description

Pipeline structure of coffee machine, coffee machine with pipeline structure and working method of coffee machine

Technical Field

The invention relates to the field of beverage preparation equipment, in particular to a pipeline structure of a coffee machine, the coffee machine with the pipeline structure and a working method of the coffee machine.

Background

A conventional coffee maker generally includes a coffee maker main body, a water supply unit assembled to the coffee maker main body, a brewing unit, and a pipe structure for connecting the water supply unit and the brewing unit. The brewing unit is partly or wholly detachably mounted in the coffee machine body and comprises a brewing chamber and a cover body detachably engaged with the opening of the brewing chamber, the cover body being provided with a water inlet tube of the brewing unit. The pipeline structure is arranged between the water inlet pipe and the water supply unit of the brewing unit so as to convey hot water of the water supply unit of the coffee machine to the brewing unit. That is, the hot water of the water supply unit enters the water inlet pipe through the pipe structure and passes through the cover body, and finally enters the brew chamber. Since the pipe structure of the conventional coffee maker has only a one-way passage for delivering hot water, if the brewing unit is removed or the cover of the brewing unit is removed during the delivery of hot water from the water supply unit to the brewing unit through the pipe structure, hot water or water vapor in the pipe structure may be ejected, possibly causing injury to a user.

Disclosure of Invention

In order to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art, a first object of the present invention is to provide a piping structure of a coffee machine, which has not only a delivery channel but also a return channel and allows switching of the operating conditions of the delivery channel and the return channel. This pipe structure is therefore used not only for delivering hot water to the brewing unit of the coffee machine, but also for returning the hot water in the pipe structure to the water supply unit.

To achieve the above object, there is provided a method for connecting a water supply unit and a brewing unit of a coffee machine so as to deliver hot water of the water supply unit of the coffee machine to the brewing unit, the method comprising mounting a conduit structure into the coffee machine by means of a mounting assembly, the conduit structure comprising a first conduit, a second conduit and a conduit connection socket communicable with the first conduit and the second conduit, the conduit connection socket having a connection socket inner cavity and a resilient assembly in the connection socket inner cavity, the connection socket inner cavity forming a first channel with a first passage opening, a second channel with a second passage opening and a third channel with a third passage opening, the first channel and the third channel being communicable to form a delivery channel, the first channel and the second channel being communicable to form a return channel, the first conduit being connected with the first channel through the first passage opening, the second conduit being connected with the second passage opening through the second passage opening, the third passage opening being adapted to receive an inlet tube of the brewing unit so as to connect the inlet tube and the third passage, the resilient assembly comprising a resilient blocking element being arranged to be movable between a first position in which the connection socket inner cavity is blocked when the return channel is in the second position, and the return channel is blocked; when the blocking element is in the second position, the supply channel is switched off and the return channel is switched on.

In this case, when the blocking member is moved to the first position during the hot water delivery using the pipe structure, since the delivery passage is connected and the return passage is cut off, the water from the water supply unit may sequentially flow through the first guide pipe, the first passage of the pipe connection seat, and the third passage to be supplied to the brewing unit, and when the blocking member is located at the second position, since the delivery passage is cut off and the return passage is connected, the hot water entering the pipe structure may return to the water supply unit through the return passage, thereby preventing the hot water of the pipe structure from being sprayed out to injure a user. In addition, in the scheme, the return channel can be connected while the conveying channel is cut off, so that the pipeline structure is prevented from increasing pipeline pressure due to the fact that hot water cannot be discharged and is discharged in time when the conveying channel is cut off. Therefore, the burst of the pipe structure due to the excessive pressure can be avoided.

In one embodiment, the first position is a location where the first passage, the second passage and the third passage meet, and the second position is a location where the first passage opening is located, the resilient assembly further comprising a resilient member, the blocking element being disposed in the inner cavity of the connector holder by the resilient member and being arranged to be movable along the first passage between the first passage opening and the meeting location. When the blocking element is located at the intersection position, the first passage port and the second passage are blocked, the delivery passage is connected and the return passage is cut off; when the blocking element is located at the first passage opening, the first passage opening is blocked, the feed passage is cut off and the return passage is switched on.

In one embodiment, the blocking element has a rounded end provided with an annular wall extending in the axial direction of the blocking element, the annular wall delimiting an inner cavity of the blocking element, the inner cavity accommodating the resilient member. When the blocking element is subjected to a downward force in the axial direction, the elastic member is compressed, the blocking element moves downward in the axial direction, and when the downward force in the axial direction is reduced or eliminated, the blocking element moves in the opposite direction by the elastic member.

In one embodiment, to further limit the direction of movement of the blocking element, the rounded end portion is further provided with a shaft portion extending in the axial direction of the blocking element, the shaft portion being located in the inner cavity of the blocking element, the resilient member being provided with a hollow portion into which the shaft portion can protrude.

In one embodiment, the first passage opening is provided with a seal provided with a stop shoulder radially inwardly, such that the stop shoulder is abutted by the blocking element when moved to the first passage opening. The sealing piece is used for sealing and connecting the first channel port and the water inlet of the brewing unit. The stop shoulder helps to stop the movement of the blocking element to position the blocking element at the first passage opening, preventing the blocking element from being moved out of the first passage opening under the action of the resilient member.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a coffee machine having said duct structure. The coffee machine can prevent hot water or water vapor in the pipeline structure from being sprayed out when the brewing unit is removed or the cover body of the brewing unit is removed, so that the injury to a user is avoided.

In order to achieve the above object, there is provided a coffee maker having the pipe structure, the coffee maker including a coffee maker main body, the water supply unit and the brewing unit being assembled to the coffee maker main body, the water supply unit including a water tank provided in the coffee maker main body, a heating device, and a water tank connection assembly for connecting the water tank and the heating device, the brewing unit being partially or entirely detachably assembled to the coffee maker main body, the brewing unit including a brewing chamber and a cover detachably engaged with an opening of the brewing chamber, the cover being provided with a water inlet pipe of the brewing unit, the first conduit being communicated with the heating device, the second conduit being communicated with the water tank, the water inlet pipe of the brewing unit being communicated with the brewing chamber through the cover, the water inlet pipe being communicable with a third passage of the conduit connection assembly through insertion of the third passage.

The coffee machine in the scheme is characterized in that when the brewing unit is installed on the coffee machine main body and the cover body is jointed with the opening of the brewing chamber, the water inlet pipe is inserted into the third channel, the water inlet pipe accordingly pushes the blocking element to be pushed by the water inlet pipe from the second position to the first position, at the moment, the conveying channel is communicated and the backflow channel is cut off, so that water in the water supply unit of the coffee machine can be conveyed to the brewing unit through the pipeline structure; when the water inlet pipe is separated from the third channel, the blocking element elastically arranged in the inner cavity of the connecting seat can be reset to the second position, the conveying channel is cut off, and the return channel is communicated. Therefore, water entering the pipeline structure can flow back to the water supply unit through the return channel, so that hot water or water vapor in the pipeline structure is prevented from being sprayed out, and the injury to a user is avoided.

In one embodiment, the water tank connecting assembly includes a water guide seat, the water guide seat is provided with a first water guide seat interface, a second water guide seat interface and a third water guide seat interface, the first water guide seat interface is respectively communicated with the second water guide seat interface and the third water guide seat interface, the water guide seat is communicated with the water tank through the first water guide seat interface, the water guide seat is connected with the first conduit through the second water guide seat interface, the water guide seat is communicated with the heating device through the third water guide seat interface, the first water guide seat interface is provided with a switch device, and the switch device is used for cutting off or connecting a flow guide channel formed by the first water guide seat interface and the heating device.

In a preferred embodiment, the switching device comprises a valve and a valve ball arranged at the first interface of the water guide.

In one embodiment, the water tank comprises a tank body having a tank opening, a tank cover for closing the tank opening, and a tank outlet provided at the bottom of the tank body.

A third object of the present invention is to provide a working method of said coffee machine. The working method of the coffee machine comprises the following steps: a. when the water inlet pipe of the brewing unit is inserted into the third channel port of the conduit connecting seat, the conveying channel is communicated and the return channel is cut off, and after water from the water tank is heated by the heating device, the first conduit, the first channel of the conduit connecting seat, the third channel of the conduit connecting seat, the water inlet pipe of the brewing unit and finally the water enters the brewing chamber in sequence; b. when the water inlet pipe of the brewing unit is separated from the third channel opening of the catheter connecting seat, the delivery channel of the catheter connection is cut off and the return channel is communicated, and the water from the water tank and entering the first channel of the catheter connecting seat flows into the second channel and the second catheter in sequence and finally flows back to the water tank.

The invention has the beneficial effects that: the pipeline structure of the invention can be used for delivering hot water to the brewing unit of the coffee machine by having the delivery channel and the return channel and allowing the working states of the delivery channel and the return channel to be switched, so that the delivery channel is switched on and the return channel is switched off, and in addition, the delivery channel is switched off and the return channel is switched off, so that the hot water entering the pipeline structure can flow back to the water supply unit through the return channel, thereby avoiding the hot water of the pipeline structure from being sprayed out to hurt a user. In addition, in the scheme, the return channel can be connected while the conveying channel is cut off, so that the pipeline structure is prevented from increasing pipeline pressure due to the fact that hot water cannot be discharged and is discharged in time when the conveying channel is cut off. Therefore, the burst of the pipe structure due to the excessive pressure can be avoided. Also, the coffee maker having the pipe structure can return water in the pipe structure to the water supply unit through the return passage when the cover body is separated from the opening of the brewing chamber or when the brewing unit is separated from the coffee maker main body, thereby preventing hot water or steam in the pipe structure from being sprayed out and avoiding injury to a user.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is an exploded view of a piping structure of a coffee maker and components of the coffee maker engaged therewith according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a schematic sectional view of a coffee maker according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is another sectional structural view of the coffee maker according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a partial structural diagram of a portion a in fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a partial structural diagram of a portion B in fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a blocking element according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a partial structural view of a coffee maker according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is an exploded view of the water tank connecting assembly of the coffee maker according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 9 is a partial structure view of a coffee machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 10 is an exploded view of the structure of a water tank according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

The present invention will be further described with reference to the following embodiments.

The specification figures show a pipeline structure of a coffee machine and the coffee machine with the pipeline structure. As shown in fig. 1 to 10, a piping structure of a coffee maker of the present invention is used for connecting a water supply unit and a brewing unit of the coffee maker so as to transfer hot water of the water supply unit of the coffee maker to the brewing unit. Referring to fig. 1-5, the conduit structure is mounted into the coffee machine by a mounting assembly provided in the coffee machine body, which includes a mounting seat 44, and the conduit structure is secured to the mounting seat 44 by screws 41. The piping structure includes a first conduit 412, a second conduit 413, and a conduit coupling socket 410 capable of communicating with the first conduit 412 and the second conduit 413. Catheter hub 410 has a hub lumen forming a first passage 416, a second passage 417 and a third passage 418, and a resilient component in the hub lumen, the first passage 416 and third passage 418 communicating to form a delivery passage, the first passage 416 and second passage 417 communicating to form a return passage. The first channel 416, the second channel 417 and the third channel 418 are respectively provided with a first channel port 419, a second channel port 420 and a third channel port 421 which are communicated with the inner cavity, the first guide pipe 412 is connected with the first channel 416 through the first channel port 419, and the first guide pipe 412 can be fixed at the first channel port 419 through a clamping spring 41; through the second conduit 413, through a second port 420 and to a second channel 417. The second conduit 413 and the third passage 421 are adapted to receive an inlet pipe 521 of a brewing unit so as to connect the inlet pipe 521 and the third passage 418. The elastic assembly comprises a blocking element 480 and a spring 490, the blocking element 480 having a rounded end 481, said rounded end 481 being provided with an annular wall 482 extending in the axial direction of said blocking element 480, said annular wall delimiting an inner chamber 483 of the blocking element, said inner chamber 483 being able to house the spring 490. The rounded end 481 is further provided with a shaft portion 484 in the axial direction of the blocking element. The first passage 416, the second passage 417 and the third passage 418 all extend in a vertical direction, and the first passage 416 and the second passage 417 are arranged side by side in a horizontal direction and form a boss 422 therebetween. The third passage 418 extends upwardly from the boss 422. A first gap 423 for communicating the first passage 416 with the second passage 417 is formed at one side of the boss 422, and a second gap 424 for communicating the first passage 416 with the third passage 418 is formed at the other side of the boss 422. The spring 490 is mounted in the third channel 418 with the blocking member 480 fitting over the third channel 418 and the shaft portion 482 extending into the hollow portion of the spring 490. The first passage opening 419 is provided with an annular seal 47 in a nested manner, and the seal 470 is provided radially inwardly with a stop shoulder 471, so that the stop shoulder 471 is abutted by the blocking element 480 when it is moved into the first passage opening 419.

Referring to fig. 2, 3 and 7, the coffee maker includes a coffee maker main body, a water supply unit mounted to the coffee maker main body, the water supply unit including a water tank 1 provided in the coffee maker main body, a heating device 2, and a water tank connection assembly for connecting the water tank 1 and the heating device 2, and the brewing unit partially or entirely detachably mounted to the coffee maker main body, the brewing unit including a brewing chamber and a cover body 52 detachably engaged with an opening of the brewing chamber, the cover body 52 being provided with a water inlet pipe 521 of the brewing unit. In this embodiment, the first conduit 412 is connected to the heating device through a first connection pipe 414, the second conduit 413 is connected to the water tank 1 through a second connection pipe 415, the water inlet pipe 521 of the brewing unit is communicated with the brewing chamber through the cover 52, and the water inlet pipe 521 can be inserted into the third channel 421 to be communicated with the third channel 418 of the conduit connection base. In other embodiments, according to the actual requirement, the first connection pipe 414 and/or the second connection pipe 415 may not be provided, and the first conduit 412 is directly connected with the heating device and/or the second conduit 413 is connected with the water tank 1, and the water inlet pipe 521 is communicated with the brewing chamber through the cover 52.

Referring to fig. 2, 4 and 7, when the infusion unit is mounted on the coffee machine body and the cover 52 is engaged with the opening of the infusion chamber, the inlet pipe 521 is inserted in the third passage 418, the rounded end 481 of said blocking element 480 abuts the inlet pipe 521, so that the blocking element 480 is pushed by the inlet pipe 521 from the first passage opening 419 to the intersection of said first passage 416, second passage 417 and third passage 418 and blocks the second notch 424, while the spring 490 is compressed. At this time, a feed passage formed by the first passage 416 and the third passage 418 communicating with each other is opened and a return passage formed by the first passage 416 and the second passage 417 communicating with each other is closed.

When the brewing unit is removed from the coffee maker body or the cover 52 is separated from the opening of the brewing chamber, see fig. 3, 5 and 7, the inlet tube 521 is drawn away from the first passage 416, the blocking element 480 is moved from along the first passage 416 to the first passage opening 419 and abuts against the stop shoulder 471 by the spring force of the spring 490. Thus, the third port 421 is blocked by the blocking element 480 and the second indentation 425 is opened. At this time, the feed channel is cut off and the return channel is switched on.

Referring to fig. 8-10, the water tank connection assembly includes a water guide seat 22, and the water guide seat 22 is provided with a first water guide seat interface 221, a second water guide seat interface 222, and a third water guide seat interface 223, and is communicated with the water tank 1 through the first water guide seat interface 221. The water guide seat 22 is communicated with the heating device through a water guide seat second port 222, the water guide seat 22 is communicated with a second connecting pipe 415 through a water guide seat third port 223 and further connected with the second conduit 415, and a check valve 224 and a check valve ball 225 are arranged at the water guide seat first port 221. A water guide protrusion is further disposed in the middle of the water guide first port 221. The heating device comprises a heating pipe 310, and the heating pipe 310 is connected with the water guide second interface 222 through a silicone pipe 226.

The water tank 1 includes a tank body 11 having a tank opening, and a tank cover 12 for covering the tank opening. A water tank sealing ring 13 is arranged between the water tank body 11 and the water tank cover body 12. The bottom of the tank body 11 is provided with a tank outlet 111. A water tank spring 14 and a water tank stop valve 15 are arranged in the water tank outlet 111, and the water tank spring 14 is sleeved on the water tank stop valve 15. The first water guide port 221 is communicated with the tank outlet 111, and a sealing ring 21 is disposed between the first water guide port 221 and the tank outlet 111 for sealing.

When the water tank 1 is mounted to the coffee maker main body, the water guide protrusion lifts up the water stop valve 15 such that a gap is formed between the water stop valve 15 and the water tank case 11, and thus, water in the water tank can flow into the water guide first port 221 through the gap. When the check valve 224 is opened and the water inlet pipe 521 is inserted into the first passage 416, the water from the water tank flows through the water guide first port 221, the water guide second port 222, the silicone tube 311, the heating pipe 310, the first connecting pipe 414, the first conduit 412, the first passage 416, the third passage 418, the water inlet pipe 521 and finally enters the brewing chamber (at this time, the flow direction of the water is shown by an arrow C in fig. 7). When the inlet pipe 521 is drawn out from the first passage 416, the first passage opening 419 is blocked by the blocking element 480 and the second notch 424 is opened, so that the water from the water tank and entering the first passage 416 through a plurality of components flows into the second passage 417 through the second notch 424, and then flows back to the water tank 1 through the second connection pipe 415, the water guide third interface 223, the water guide first interface 221 in sequence (the flow direction of the water is shown by an arrow D in fig. 7).

The working method of the coffee machine of the embodiment comprises the following steps:

a. when the inlet pipe 521 of the brewing unit is inserted into the third channel port 421 of the conduit coupling seat 410, the delivery channel is connected and the return channel is cut off, and after the water from the water tank 1 is heated by the heating device, the first conduit 412, the first channel 416 of the conduit coupling seat 410, the third channel 418 of the conduit coupling seat 410, the inlet pipe 521 of the brewing unit and finally enter the brewing chamber in sequence; b. when the inlet pipe 521 of the brewing unit is separated from the third passage port 421 of the catheter hub 410, the delivery passage of the catheter hub 410 is cut off and the return passage is connected, and the water from the water tank 1 and entering the first passage 416 of the catheter hub 410 flows into the second passage 417, the second conduit 413, and finally flows back to the water tank 1.

Claims (10)

1. A conduit structure of a coffee machine for connecting a water supply unit and a brewing unit of the coffee machine for delivering hot water of the water supply unit of the coffee machine to the brewing unit, the conduit structure being mounted into the coffee machine by a mounting assembly, characterized in that the conduit structure comprises a first conduit (412), a second conduit (413) and a conduit connection socket (410) communicable with the first conduit (412) and the second conduit (413), the conduit connection socket (410) having a connection socket inner cavity and a resilient assembly in the connection socket inner cavity, the connection socket inner cavity forming a first passage (416) with a first passage opening (419), a second passage (417) with a second passage opening (420) and a third passage (418) with a third brewing passage opening (421), the first passage (416) and the third passage (418) communicating to form a delivery passage, the first passage (416) and the second passage (417) communicating to form a return passage, the first conduit (412) being connected with the first passage (416) through the first passage opening (419), the second passage (417) being connected with the resilient assembly through the second passage opening (480) for receiving a water inlet pipe (521) and a resilient assembly (521) arranged in the connection socket inner cavity (480), the blocking element (480) is arranged to be bodily movable along a first passage (416) between a first position and a second position in the connecting socket inner cavity, such that when the blocking element (480) is in the first position, the delivery passage is switched on and the return passage is switched off; when the blocking element (480) is in the second position, the feed channel is closed and the return channel is opened.

2. A line arrangement according to claim 1, characterised in that the first position is a meeting position of the first passage (416), the second passage (417) and the third passage (418), and the second position is a position where the first passage opening (419) is present, the resilient assembly further comprising a resilient member (490), the blocking element (480) being arranged in the connecting socket inner chamber by means of the resilient member (490) and being arranged to be movable along the first passage (416) between the first passage opening (419) and the meeting position.

3. Tubing arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the blocking element (480) has a rounded end (481), the rounded end (481) being provided with an annular wall (482) extending in the axial direction of the blocking element (480), the annular wall (482) delimiting an inner cavity (483) of the blocking element (480), the inner cavity (483) being capable of accommodating the resilient member (490).

4. Tubing arrangement according to claim 3, characterized in that the rounded end (481) is further provided with a shaft portion (484) extending in the axial direction of the blocking element (480), the shaft portion (484) being located in the inner cavity (483) of the blocking element (480), the resilient member (490) being provided with a hollow portion into which the shaft portion (484) is extendable.

5. Pipeline structure according to claim 2, characterized in that the first passage opening (419) is provided with a seal (47), which seal (47) is provided with a stop shoulder (471) radially inwards, so that the blocking element (480) abuts against the stop shoulder (471) when moved to the first passage opening (419).

6. A coffee machine having a pipe structure according to any one of claims 1-5, comprising a coffee machine body, the water supply unit and the brewing unit being fitted to the coffee machine body, the water supply unit comprising a water tank (1) arranged in the coffee machine body, heating means and a water tank connection assembly for connecting the water tank (1) and the heating means, the brewing unit being partly or wholly detachably fitted to the coffee machine body, the brewing unit comprising a brewing chamber and a cover (52) detachably engaged with an opening of the brewing chamber, the cover (52) being provided with an inlet pipe (521) of the brewing unit, characterized in that the first conduit (412) communicates with the heating means, the second conduit (413) communicates with the water tank (1), the inlet pipe (521) of the brewing unit communicates with the brewing chamber through the cover (52), the inlet pipe (521) being insertable in the third passage (421) to communicate with a third passage (418) of the conduit connection seat (410).

7. The coffee machine according to claim 6, characterized in that the water tank connecting assembly comprises a water guide seat (22) provided with a first water guide seat interface (221), a second water guide seat interface (222) and a third water guide seat interface (223), the first water guide seat interface (221) is respectively communicated with the second water guide seat interface (222) and the third water guide seat interface (223), the water guide seat (22) is communicated with the water tank (1) through the first water guide seat interface (221), the water guide seat (22) is connected with the heating device through the second water guide seat interface (222), the water guide seat (22) is communicated with the second conduit (413) through the third water guide seat interface (223), and a switch device is arranged at the second water guide seat interface (222) and is used for cutting off or connecting a flow guide channel formed by the second water guide seat interface (222) and the heating device.

8. A coffee machine according to claim 7, characterized in that said switching means comprise a valve (224) and a valve ball (225) arranged at the first interface of the water seat.

9. A coffee machine according to claim 6, characterized in that the water tank (1) comprises a tank body (11) with a tank opening, a tank cover (12) for closing the tank opening, the tank body (11) being provided with a tank outlet (111) at the bottom.

10. Method of operating a coffee machine according to any one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: a. when the water inlet pipe (521) of the brewing unit is inserted into the third channel opening (421) of the conduit connecting seat (410), the conveying channel is connected and the return channel is cut off, and water from the water tank (1) enters the first conduit (412), the first channel (416) of the conduit connecting seat (410), the third channel (418) of the conduit connecting seat (410), the water inlet pipe (521) of the brewing unit and finally enters the brewing chamber after being heated by the heating device; b. when the inlet pipe (521) of the brewing unit is separated from the third passage port (421) of the catheter connection base (410), the delivery passage of the catheter connection base (410) is cut off and the return passage is connected, and the water from the water tank (1) and entering the first passage (416) of the catheter connection base (410) sequentially flows into the second passage (417), the second catheter (413) and finally flows back to the water tank (1).

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