초록 ▼

One embodiment of the invention relates to apparatus (10) for roasting coffee beans, the apparatus comprising: a chamber (12) in which a supply of coffee beans can be received for roasting; means (15) for heating air; and means (20) for driving heated air into the chamber (12) for roasting coffee be

One embodiment of the invention relates to apparatus (10) for roasting coffee beans, the apparatus comprising: a chamber (12) in which a supply of coffee beans can be received for roasting; means (15) for heating air; and means (20) for driving heated air into the chamber (12) for roasting coffee beans received therein; wherein the air driving means (20) and chamber (12) are configured and arranged so that coffee beans located in the chamber (12) circulate generally horizontally about the periphery of the chamber (12) when the air driving means (20) drives heated air into the chamber (12).

대표청구항 ▼

1. An apparatus for roasting coffee beans, the apparatus comprising: a chamber in which a supply of coffee beans can be received for roasting, said chamber having an outlet for roasted coffee beans;a heater for heating air;an air driver for driving heated air into the chamber to roast coffee beans r

1. An apparatus for roasting coffee beans, the apparatus comprising: a chamber in which a supply of coffee beans can be received for roasting, said chamber having an outlet for roasted coffee beans;a heater for heating air;an air driver for driving heated air into the chamber to roast coffee beans received therein, and for driving air into the chamber to lift roasted coffee beans from the chamber to and through said outlet; anda controller operable to control the air driver to vary a rate at which air is driven into the chamber,wherein the air driver and the chamber are configured and arranged so that coffee beans located in the chamber circulate generally horizontally about a periphery of the chamber when the air driver drives heated air into the chamber, said controller being configured to control the air driver to drive air into the chamber at a first rate to circulate the beans as they roast, and at a second rate higher than the first to lift the beans towards and through the outlet. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said chamber is generally conical and expands in diameter towards said outlet. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said chamber is configured to define one or more air inlets, the air driver being configured to drive air through said one or more inlets into said chamber. 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said one or more air inlets are arranged circumferentially around a peripheral wall of the roasting chamber, said inlets being configured so that air enters the chamber tangentially to the peripheral wall of the chamber to horizontally circulate the beans. 5. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said air inlets extend radially in a base part of the roasting chamber, said inlets being configured so that air enters the chamber at an angle to the plane of the base part to horizontally circulate the beans. 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the air driver is operable to drive cooler air into the chamber to quench the roasted beans. 7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the air driver is configured to drive cooler air into the chamber to quench the roasted beans and lift the beans towards the outlet. 8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first rate comprises a range of rates and the controller is configured to vary, within said range, the rate at which air is driven into the chamber to account for changes in volume and weight of the beans as they roast. 9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the controller is configured to vary the rate at which air is driven into the chamber in accordance with a predetermined process profile. 10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said predetermined process profile defines, for a given roasting process, variations in the rate at which hot air is to be driven into the chamber over time. 11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said process profile is tailored for a particular type of coffee bean, said process profile being selectable by said controller in accordance with the type of beans to be roasted. 12. The apparatus according to claim 11, comprising an input interface operable by a user to indicate to the controller a type of beans to be roasted, the controller being responsive to information input by means of said interface to select a process profile that is appropriate for the type of beans to be roasted from a profile process store. 13. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a vortex generator in fluid communication with said roasting chamber outlet, said vortex generator being configured to induce a vortex or cyclone in air exiting said roasting chamber through said outlet. 14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the vortex generator has an outlet for roasted beans and chaff, the vortex being configured to separate chaff and roasted beans from the air flowing into the vortex generator from the roasting chamber, the apparatus further comprising a chaff collector into which roasted beans and chaff pass from the vortex generator outlet. 15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the chaff collector is configured to separate the chaff from the air that passes into the collector from the vortex generator, said chaff collector being configured to store said separated chaff whilst allowing the roasted beans to pass therethrough. 16. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a grinding module in communication with said outlet, the grinding module being configured to receive roasted coffee beans from said chamber via said outlet and to grind said roasted coffee beans. 17. The apparatus according to claim 16, comprising a brewing module configured to receive ground coffee beans from said grinding module, and to pass heated water through said ground coffee beans and into a receptacle. 18. An apparatus for roasting and grinding coffee beans, the apparatus comprising: a roasting chamber in which a supply of coffee beans can be received for roasting, the roasting chamber comprising an outlet for roasted coffee beans;a grinding module in fluid communication with the outlet of the roasting chamber;a heater for heating air;an air driver for driving heated air into the roasting chamber for roasting coffee beans received therein; anda controller operable to control the air driver to vary a rate at which air is driven into the roasting chamber;wherein the air driver and the roasting chamber are configured and arranged so that coffee beans located in the roasting chamber circulate generally horizontally about a periphery of the roasting chamber when the air driver drives heated air into the roasting chamber to roast beans received therein, andthe air driver is further operable to drive air into the roasting chamber to lift roasted coffee beans to and through said outlet and into said grinding module for grinding thereby, said controller being configured to control the air driver to drive air into the roasting chamber at a first rate to circulate the beans as they roast, and at a second rate higher than the first to lift the beans towards and through the outlet. 19. An apparatus for roasting and grinding coffee beans, and for brewing coffee from roasted and ground coffee beans, the apparatus comprising: a roasting chamber in which a supply of coffee beans can be received for roasting, the roasting chamber comprising an outlet for roasted coffee beans;a grinding module in fluid communication with the outlet of the roasting chamber;a brewing module in fluid communication with an outlet of the grinding module, the brewing module being configured to receive ground coffee from the grinding module and to pass heated water through the ground coffee into a receptacle;a heater for heating air;an air driver for driving heated air into the roasting chamber for roasting coffee beans received therein; anda controller operable to control the air driver to vary a rate at which air is driven into the roasting chamber;wherein the air driver and the roasting chamber are configured and arranged so that coffee beans located in the roasting chamber circulate generally horizontally about a periphery of the roasting chamber when the air driver drives heated air into the roasting chamber to roast beans received therein, andthe air driver is further operable to drive air into the roasting chamber to lift roasted coffee beans to and through said outlet and into said grinding module for grinding thereby, said controller being configured to control the air driver to drive air into the roasting chamber at a first rate to circulate the beans as they roast, and at a second rate higher than the first to lift the beans towards and through the outlet. 20. The apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising a cyclonic separator located between said roasting chamber and said grinding module, said cyclonic separator being operable to separate chaff from the air passing therethrough. 21. The apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising a cyclonic separator located between said roasting chamber and said grinding module, said cyclonic separator being operable to separate chaff from the air passing therethrough.