JPH0253048B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention provides a method for reciprocating a liquid between two opposing chambers via an extracted material packaged with a filter. The present invention relates to a liquid processing device that performs extraction processing.

[Prior art and its problems]

A conventional siphon extraction device has a flask and a funnel separated by a filter, and water boiled in the flask is introduced into the funnel under positive pressure to extract the material to be extracted with the hot water. The method utilized negative pressure to return the extract to the flask.

However, since it is difficult to automate the work of the conventional liquid processing apparatus, the extraction work has to be done manually, and a large amount of extraction work cannot be performed continuously.

[Purpose of the invention]

The present invention was made in view of these points, and allows liquid to be freely moved between two chambers using only positive pressure, and also allows for automatic supply of a fixed amount of liquid and heating of the liquid. It is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid treatment device which can also be used for liquid treatment and has a simple structure.

[Summary of the invention]

The liquid processing device of the present invention includes a first storage chamber in which a fixed amount of liquid is supplied from a fixed-quantity liquid supply mechanism through a fluid flow path by pressurized air, and has means for heating the supplied liquid; A liquid processing section is constituted by an extracted substance package provided opposite to the opening of the storage chamber and wrapped with a filter, and a second storage chamber provided with the opening opposite to the first storage chamber, A pressurized air generation source that supplies the liquid toward the first storage chamber and generates pressurized air for reciprocating the liquid between at least the first and second storage chambers. and the pressurized air inlet of the metering liquid supply mechanism and the pressurized air inlet of the second storage chamber for directing pressurized air to the second storage chamber by a first force-driven three-way valve or similar function. A second valve similar to the first valve is connected to the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber to selectively communicate each storage chamber with the outside. are doing.

The liquid processing device according to the present invention operates as described below.

First, the first and second forcedly driven three-way valves are turned OFF, and the fluid circuit is brought into communication from the pressurized air generation source to the metered liquid supply mechanism, and the second forcedly driven three-way valve is turned off. 1 storage chamber is in communication with the atmosphere. When the pressurized air generation source is activated in this state, the pressurized air is supplied to the quantitative liquid supply mechanism through the first forcedly driven three-way valve. Due to the pressing force of the pressurized air, the liquid previously supplied into the quantitative liquid supply mechanism is supplied into the first storage chamber through the fluid flow path. At this time, the air in the first storage chamber passes through the second storage chamber and then is discharged into the atmosphere through the second forced three-way valve.

The liquid supplied to the first storage chamber is heated by the heating means during the course of being fed into the first storage chamber and also after it has entered the chamber. Therefore, the steam generated in the first storage chamber passes through the extractable material package provided above the chamber and steams the extracted material.

If pressurized air continues to be fed after the liquid has been delivered, the positive pressure within the first storage chamber will increase. At that time, since the second storage chamber is in communication with the atmosphere, the liquid in the first storage chamber passes through the extractable material package provided between the second storage chamber and the extracted material in the liquid. The extracted material package is moved into the second storage chamber while being extracted, and the extracted material package is immersed in the liquid for a required period of time, thereby performing extraction similar to the siphon extraction method.

When the extraction is completed as described above, turn on the first and second forced drive three-way valves, switch the circuit,
The source of pressurized air is in communication with the second storage chamber, and the first storage chamber is in communication with the atmosphere. By switching this fluid circuit, the pressurized air discharged from the pressurized air generation source is transferred to the first forced drive 3.
It is routed into the second storage chamber through the directional valve, increasing the positive pressure in the second storage chamber. On the other hand, since the first storage chamber is connected to the atmosphere as mentioned above,
The extract liquid passes from the second storage chamber through the extractables package and moves towards the first storage chamber while extracting the extracts back into the liquid, and an extraction similar to the drip extraction method is carried out. .

Now, if both forced drive 3-way valves are turned OFF,
Extraction using the siphon method will be performed again, and when both three-way valves are turned on again,
Extraction will be performed again using the drip method.

An extract is obtained as described above.

[Embodiments of the invention]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a liquid processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In the drawings, reference numeral 1 indicates a first storage chamber. This first storage chamber 1 stores heated liquid inside, and a funnel 16 is installed inside the storage tank so that the upper opening of the storage tank is covered with the upper flange part, and the liquid in the storage tank is stored. It is pressed by the pressurized air fed into the tank and is pushed upward through the funnel 16 to the outside. With respect to the first storage chamber 1 and the funnel 16, a second storage chamber 1 having a downward opening stores liquid moving from the funnel 16.
A storage chamber 2 is provided, and between the first storage chamber 1 and the second storage chamber 2 in which a funnel 16 is installed, a flat package 3 for the extracted material through which liquid can freely pass is interposed with the outer periphery in an airtight state. It is configured in such a way that it can be This flat packaged material 3 is a product in which a material to be extracted, such as medium-ground coffee powder, is sandwiched between filters. The first storage chamber 1 also has heating means 4 such as an electric heater for heating the liquid being fed to the chamber and for heating the liquid stored in the chamber.
are provided, and these constitute a liquid processing section. A metered liquid is supplied to the first storage chamber 1 through a fluid channel 9 by a metered liquid supply mechanism 5.

In addition, pressurized air such as an air compressor is used to feed the liquid from the quantitative liquid supply mechanism 5 to the first storage chamber 1 or to move the liquid between the first storage chamber 1 and the second storage chamber 2. A source 6 is provided. Further, in order to move the liquid by the pressurizing action of the pressurized air discharged from the pressurized air generation source 6, a first forcedly driven three-way valve 7 and a second forcedly driven three-way valve including an electromagnetic switching valve are provided. A three-way valve 8 is provided, and these three-way valves 7 and 8 are connected to air flow paths 10 and 1.
1, 12, 13, 14 and 15 as follows. That is, the pressurized air source 6
The discharge port 6a is connected to the inlet 7a of the first forcedly driven three-way valve 7 through the air flow path 10, and one outlet 7b of the first forcedly driven three-way valve 7 is connected through the air flow path 11 to the inlet 7a of the first forcedly driven three-way valve 7. Pressurized air inlet 5a of liquid supply mechanism 5
The other outlet 7c is connected to the air flow path 1.
2 to the pressurized air inlet 2a of the second storage chamber 2, and in the quantitative liquid supply mechanism 5, it is connected to the pressurized air inlet 2a of the second storage chamber 2. Then, the liquid stored in the mechanism 5 flows out into the fluid flow path 9 through the outlet 5b, and in the second storage chamber 2, the pressurized air supplied to the inside from the pressurized air inlet 2a flows out. Due to the pressing force, the liquid stored in the chamber 2 can be moved to the first storage chamber 1 side through the flattened object package 3. In addition, the first storage chamber 1 and the second storage chamber 2 are respectively formed with outlets 1b and 2b for air discharge, and these outlets 1b and 2b
are the inlets 8a and 8b of the second forced drive three-way valve 8.
are in communication with each other via air channels 13 and 14, respectively. The outlet 8c of the second forcedly driven three-way valve 8 is open to the atmosphere via the air passage 15.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

A fixed amount of water is stored in the fixed amount liquid supply mechanism 5 in advance, and when coffee is extracted, this water is delivered and stored in the first storage chamber 1 in the following manner.

Here, first, turn off the first forced drive three-way valve 7.
so that the inlet 7a and the outlet 7b communicate with each other. On the other hand, the second forced drive three-way valve 8 is
Turn OFF and connect the inlet 8b and outlet 8c,
The second storage chamber 2 is communicated with the atmosphere. When the pressurized air generation source 6 is activated in this state to discharge pressurized air, the pressurized air passes through the air flow path 10, enters the first forcedly driven three-way valve 7 from the inlet 7a, and enters the first forcedly driven three-way valve 7 from the outlet 7a.
b to the air flow path 11, and flows into the quantitative liquid supply mechanism 5 from the upper pressurized air inlet 5a along the path shown by arrow A. The pressurized air that has flowed into the metered liquid supply mechanism 5 pressurizes the inside of the mechanism, and due to the pressing force, a fixed amount of water is stored in the metered liquid supply mechanism 5 in advance, so that water is pushed downward. The fluid is supplied from the outlet 5b to the fluid flow path 9, and the arrow
Proceeding in the direction indicated by A', the first storage chamber 1
It flows in from the upper inlet 1a. At this time, the air that initially remained in the first storage chamber 1 passes through the funnel 16 and the flattened material package 3 in order and flows into the second storage chamber 2, as shown by arrow A''. Further, the air flows through the air passage 14 into the second forced drive three-way valve 8 from the inlet 8b, passes through the outlet 8c, and is discharged into the atmosphere through the air passage 15.

In this way, the water flowing into the first storage chamber 1 is heated to the desired temperature by the heating means 4 during the feeding process and after entering the same chamber, so that the water inside the first storage chamber 1 is Steam is generated,
The steam rises through the funnel 16 and passes through the extracted material flat package 3.
The coffee powder is evenly steamed to wrap the extracted material flat package 3.

Next, when each forced drive three-way valve 7, 8 is left OFF and pressurized air is continued to be supplied from the pressurized air generation source 6, the pressurized air flows through the air flow path 11,
The first via the quantitative liquid supply mechanism 5 and the fluid flow path 9.
It reaches inside the storage chamber 1 and continues to pressurize the inside of the chamber 1. As a result, the hot water supplied into the first storage chamber 1 is pressed by the positive pressure of the compressed air, and rises in the funnel 16, and the flat packaged object to be extracted provided between it and the second storage chamber 2. After passing 3,
moving toward the second storage chamber 2 while extracting the active ingredients of the extracted material in the extracted material flat package 3;
The flat packaged object to be extracted 3 is immersed in hot water for the required time, and extraction similar to the siphon extraction method is performed.

After the required time has elapsed, both the first and second forced drive three-way valves 7 and 8 are turned ON, so that the inlet 7a and the outlet 7c are communicated with each other on the one hand, and the inlet 8a and the outlet 8 are opened on the other hand.
c, this causes the pressurized air source 6 to communicate with the second storage chamber 2 via the first forcedly driven three-way valve 7, and the first storage chamber 1 communicates with the second forcedly driven three-way valve 8. Both communicate with the atmosphere through. In this state, the pressurized air discharged from the pressurized air generation source 6 passes through the air flow path 12 and enters the second storage chamber 2 from the pressurized air inlet 2a of the second storage chamber 2, as shown by arrow B. The coffee extract in the second storage chamber 2 is pushed downward by the pressing force of this pressurized air, and the flat extracted material package 3 is pushed downward as shown by arrow B'. During this period, the active ingredient is extracted from the extracted material back into the liquid while descending, and is transferred through the funnel 16 into the first storage chamber 1, where extraction similar to the drip extraction method is performed. At this time, the remaining air in the first storage chamber 1 is removed from the outlet 1b as shown by arrow B''.
The air is then discharged into the atmosphere through the air flow path 13, the second forced drive three-way valve 8, and the air flow path 15.

In this way, coffee is extracted by reciprocating the liquid up and down to the flat packaged object 3 interposed between the two storage chambers 1 and 2, but this operation is performed not only once but twice. Alternatively, by repeating the process more than once, you can extract coffee with the desired concentration and flavor.

Note that when hot water is passed through the flat packaged object 3 for the extracted material, the hot water may be moved all at once as in the above embodiment, but the hot water (extract liquid) may be moved stepwise, in other words, intermittently. You may move it. If you use the latter method, the coffee extract will not be cloudy and the taste will be softer.

From the second storage chamber 2 side to the first storage chamber 1
The coffee produced by the transfer of the extract to can be taken out by turning off both forcedly driven three-way valves 7 and 8 and releasing the second storage chamber 2 to atmospheric pressure. In this case, the second storage chamber 2 and the flat packaged material to be extracted 3 are separated from the first storage chamber 1, and the flat packaged material to be extracted 3, which has turned into crumbs, is disposed of outside the machine.

For the next extraction, the extracted material flat package 3 is replaced with a new one.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but can be modified as necessary.

〔Effect of the invention〕

The liquid processing device of the present invention is capable of reciprocating the liquid between the first and second storage chambers, each of which is wrapped with a filter and has an extracted material package interposed therebetween, using only positive pressure from pressurized air. In addition, the number of times the liquid moves back and forth can be increased as needed, making it easy to obtain an extract with the desired concentration. Moreover, air supply, exhaust, and liquid supply and movement can all be performed using one pressurized air generation source and two forced-drive three-way valves, without using suction means such as a vacuum pump. This has the effect of significantly simplifying the configuration, making it possible to provide a more compact and inexpensive device. In addition, since a metered liquid supply mechanism is provided in a part of the liquid flow path system, and a fixed amount is supplied by the action of the pressurized air, this works well with the provision of a heating means in the liquid processing section. As a result, it is possible to continuously supply and heat a fixed amount of liquid and extract the substance to be extracted, which has a wide range of applications.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawing is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of the liquid treatment apparatus of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...First storage chamber, 2...Second storage chamber, 3...Flat packaged object to be extracted, 4...Heating means, 5...Limited amount liquid supply mechanism, 6...Pressurized air generation source, 7...First forced drive three-way valve, 8...Second
Forced drive three-way valve, 9...fluid flow path.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 A first storage chamber in which a fixed amount of liquid is supplied from a fixed-quantity liquid supply mechanism through a fluid flow path by pressurized air, and has means for heating the supplied liquid, and a first storage chamber facing the opening of the first storage chamber. A liquid processing section is constituted by an extracted material package packaged with a filter that extracts the liquid, and a second storage chamber provided with an opening facing the first storage chamber. a discharge side of a pressurized air source for delivering the liquid toward the first storage chamber and moving the liquid between at least the first and second storage chambers; and the metered liquid supply. the pressurized air inlet of the mechanism and the pressurized air inlet of the second storage chamber for directing pressurized air to the second storage chamber through a first forced-actuated three-way valve or a suitable valve having a similar function; and a second valve similar to the first valve is connected to the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber for selectively communicating each storage chamber with the outside.