GB2262212A - Coffee processing - Google Patents

Abstract

Green coffee beans are blended in a drum 1, roasted in a pan 2 and cooled in a pan 3. Roasted coffee beans are stored in a first hopper 5 and then delivered to a second hopper 6 for delivery to a grinding device 6. Ground coffee from the grinder 6 is collected in a mobile hopper and dispenser 10 which is moved to a feed chute 11 for delivery to a trough 15 which feeds a packaging station. To avoid clogging, a vibrator (20 Fig. 3) de-piles ground coffee in the hopper (16 Fig, 3). The feed chute 11 is also vibrated in response to a low level of coffee in the trough 15 to ensure free flow of ground coffee to the packaging station, on demand. <IMAGE>

Description

Coffee Processing The invention relates to coffee processing and in particular to a method of processing coffee beans to packaged ground coffee. The invention also relates to an apparatus for use in the method of the invention.

According to the invention there is provided a method of processing coffee beans to packaged ground coffee comprising steps of: blending green coffee beans to produce a desired blend; roasting the coffee beans; cooling the roasted coffee beans; delivering the roasted coffee beans to a bean dispensing hopper; leading beans from the bean dispensing hopper to a bean storage hopper; delivering beans from the bean storage hopper to a grinding device; grinding the beans; collecting ground coffee from the grinding device in a ground coffee dispenser; delivering ground coffee from the ground coffee dispenser to a generally horizontally arranged feed chute having an inlet for ground coffee from the ground coffee dispenser and a discharge outlet for delivery of ground coffee to a trough above a packaging station; detecting the presence of ground coffee at a location in the trough with a detection device, vibrating the feed chute to deliver coffee from the dispenser into the trough in a controlled manner in response to control signals from the detection device; and leading the ground coffee from the trough to the packaging station.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the method includes the step of de-piling the mass of ground coffee in the ground coffee dispenser.

Preferably the ground coffee is de-piled by vibrating a side wall of the ground coffee dispenser.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the presence of ground coffee iN the trough is detected by a level probe located at a predetermined level in the trough, to provide a control signal to vibrate the feeder chute to deliver ground coffee to the trough when the probe is uncovered.

In one embodiment of the invention the ground coffee is depiled in response to a control signal from the detector in the trough and/or in response to a control signal indicating the absence of ground coffee in the feed chute.

In one embodiment of the invention ground coffee is delivered from the trough to the packaging station by gravity flow.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention the ground coffee dispenser is movable from a ground coffee collecting position for collecting ground coffee from the grinding device to a ground coffee dispensing position in which the ground coffee dispenser hopper outlet is located above the inlet to the feed chute.

Preferably the feed chute is mounted adjacent to the trough.

In another aspect the invention provides an apparatus for use in a method of processing coffee according to the invention comprising a ground coffee hopper for collecting coffee from a grinding device, a feed chute having an inlet for ground coffee from the ground coffee dispenser and a discharge outlet for delivery of ground coffee, a trough for delivery of ground coffee to a packaging station, vibrating means for vibrating the feed chute to deliver coffee into the trough, a ground coffee detector for detecting the presence of ground coffee at a predetermined location in the trough and control means for operating the vibrating means to deliver ground coffee from the feed chute into the trough in response to control signals from the detector.

In a preferred embodiment of this aspect of the invention the apparatus includes de-piling means for de-piling ground coffee in the ground coffee dispenser.

The de-piling means comprises vibrator means for vibrating a side wall of the ground coffee dispenser.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention the ground coffee dispenser is mobile for movement from a ground coffee collecting position for collecting ground coffee from the grinding device to a ground coffee dispensing position in which the ground coffee dispenser hopper outlet is located above the inlet to the feed chute.

Preferably the feed chute is mounted adjacent to the trough.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description thereof given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which.

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of part of a method of processing coffee beans according to the invention, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of part of an apparatus for use in the method of the invention, and Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings the method of processing coffee beans to packaged ground coffee according to the invention comprises the steps of first blending green coffee beans in a blending drum 1 to produce a desired blend of coffee. The coffee beans are then roasted in a roaster 2 from which roasted coffee beans are delivered to a cooling pan 3. The cooled roasted coffee beans are then delivered by an auger 4 to a bean dispensing hopper 5 from which the beans are delivered by an auger 6 to a second storage hopper 7 for delivery to a grinding device 8. Ground coffee from the grinding device 8 is collected in a mobile ground coffee hopper and dispenser 10 which is moved to a feed chute 11 having an inlet 12 for ground coffee from the ground coffee dispenser 10 and a discharge outlet 13 for delivery of the ground coffee to a trough 15 for gravity flow to a packaging station (not shown).

In more detail, and referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 3 the ground coffee dispenser comprises a hopper 16 having an upper inlet closable by a cover 17 and converging side walls 18 for directing ground coffee to an outlet 19. To avoid clogging of the outlet 19 a vibration generating device 20 is mounted to the hopper side wall 18 to de-pile ground coffee and permit free flow of the coffee through the hopper discharge outlet 19 into the feed chute 11. The hopper 16 is fixedly mounted to a support framework 25 having ground engaging wheels 26 for movement of the dispenser 10 from a ground coffee collecting position adjacent the grinding device 8 to a ground coffee dispensing position adjacent the trough 15.

Ground coffee from the hopper 16 is delivered into the feed chute 11. The feed chute 11 is pivotally mounted at 27, 28 to a support frame 29 which is in turn mounted by vibration mountings 30 to a floor plate 31 adjacent the trough 15. The feed chute 11 is generally horizontally arranged and is vibrated by a vibration generating motor 35 for vibrational movement in a longitudinal or horizontal direction indicated by the arrows A in Fig. 3 for delivery of ground coffee from the hopper 16 into the chute 11 in a controlled manner.

A ground coffee detector, in this case a level probe 40, is mounted a predetermined location in the trough 15 to detect the level of ground coffee in the trough 15. As ground coffee from the trough 15 is used up at the packaging station the level probe 40 becomes uncovered which sends a control signal along command wires 45 to trigger the vibrating motor 35 to operate the feed chute 11 for delivery of ground coffee from the hopper 16 into the trough 15. In the event that there is no ground coffee in the feed chute 13 the de-piling vibrator 20 is operated to deliver ground coffee from the hopper 16 into feed chute 11.

The invention provides a simple, cost effective method for processing coffee beans to packaged ground coffee in a controlled manner and on demand.

Many variations on the specific embodiment of the invention described will be readily apparent and accordingly the invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in both construction and detail.

Claims (16)

1. A method of processing coffee beans to packaged ground coffee comprising steps of: blending green coffee beans to produce a desired blend; roasting the coffee beans; cooling the roasted coffee beans; delivering the roasted coffee beans to a bean dispensing hopper; leading beans from the bean dispensing hopper to a bean storage hopper; delivering beans from the bean storage hopper to a grinding device; grinding the beans; collecting ground coffee from the grinding device in a ground coffee dispenser; delivering ground coffee from the ground coffee dispenser to a generally horizontally arranged feed chute having an inlet for ground coffee from the ground coffee dispenser and a discharge outlet for delivery of ground coffee to a trough above a packaging station; detecting the presence of ground coffee at a location in the trough with a detection device;; vibrating the feed chute to deliver coffee from the dispenser into the trough in a controlled manner in response to control signals from the detection device; and leading the ground coffee from the trough to the packaging station;

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 including the step of de piling the mass of ground coffee in the ground coffee dispenser.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the ground coffee is de-piled by vibrating a side wall of the ground coffee dispenser.

4. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the presence of ground coffee in the trough is detected by a level probe located at a predetermined level in the trough, to provide a control signal to vibrate the feeder chute to deliver ground coffee to the trough when the probe is uncovered.

5. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the ground coffee is de-piled in response to a control signal from the detector in the trough and/or in response to a control signal indicating the absence of ground coffee in the feed chute.

6. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein ground coffee is delivered from the trough to the packaging station by gravity flow.

7. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the ground coffee dispenser is movable from a ground coffee collecting position for collecting ground coffee from the grinding device to a ground coffee dispensing position in which the ground coffee dispenser hopper outlet is located above the inlet to the feed chute.

8. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the feed chute is mounted adjacent to the trough.

9. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. Apparatus for use in a method of processing coffee as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9, comprising a ground coffee hopper for collecting coffee from a grinding device, a feed chute having an inlet for ground coffee from the ground coffee dispenser and a discharge outlet for delivery of ground coffee, a trough for delivery of ground coffee to a packaging station, vibrating means for vibrating the feed chute to deliver coffee into the trough, a ground coffee detector for detecting the presence of ground coffee at a predetermined location in the trough and control means for operating the vibrating means to deliver ground coffee from the feed chute into the trough in response to control signals from the detector.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 including de-piling means for de-piling ground coffee in the ground coffee dispenser.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein the de-piling means comprises vibrator means for vibrating a side wall of the ground coffee dispenser.

13. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 10 to 12 wherein the ground coffee dispenser is mobile for movement from a ground coffee collecting position for collecting ground coffee from the grinding device to a ground coffee dispensing position in which the ground coffee dispenser hopper outlet is located above the inlet to the feed chute.

14. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 10 to 13 wherein the feed chute is mounted adjacent to the trough.

15. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

16. Ground coffee whenever processed by a method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9 and/or utilising an apparatus as claimed in any of claims 10 to 15.