Abstract:
A coffee maker includes a main body and a movable module. The main body includes a cup holder, a liquid container, and a frame. The cup holder carries a coffee cup set. The liquid container is disposed on the cup holder for accommodating a liquid. The frame supports the liquid container. The movable module connects the cup holder or the frame to translate and rotate the frame for more evenly melting the coffee.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The invention relates to a coffee maker and especially a coffee maker capable of more evenly melting the coffee. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    A known coffee making method includes: putting a filter cup on a coffee cup or other container; rolling a filter paper into a funnel shape for fitting in filter cup; putting the coffee powder in the funnel-shaped filter paper; pouring a hot water in the filter paper and melting the coffee powder for making coffee; filtering out the coffee powder grounds by the filter paper; and dripping the filtered coffee in a coffee cup for drinking. 
         [0005]    The aforementioned coffee making method cannot thoroughly and evenly melt the coffee powder, and the coffee made by the aforementioned method is not enough mellow. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    According to the above or other objects, the invention provides a coffee maker for more evenly melting the coffee. 
         [0007]    In an exemplary embodiment of the coffee maker according to the invention, the coffee maker includes a main body and a movable module. The main body includes a cup holder for carrying a coffee cup set. The movable module connects to the cup holder to translate and rotate the frame. 
         [0008]    In another exemplary embodiment, the movable module includes a driving unit and a transmission unit, and the driving unit generates a power to drive the cup holder through the transmission unit. 
         [0009]    In yet another exemplary embodiment, the transmission unit includes a ring gear and a gear. The gear engages inner peripheral surfaces of the ring gear. The driving unit connects to the gear and drives the gear to move along the inner peripheral surfaces. The cup holder eccentrically connects to the gear. 
         [0010]    In another exemplary embodiment, the driving unit can be a spring. 
         [0011]    In yet another exemplary embodiment, the driving unit can be a motor and the transmission unit can include a deceleration gear train. The motor drives the cup holder through the deceleration gear train. 
         [0012]    In another exemplary embodiment, the main body further includes a liquid container, and the liquid container is disposed on the cup holder for accommodating a liquid. 
         [0013]    In yet another exemplary embodiment, the liquid container includes a control valve to control a volume of the liquid for entering the coffee cup set. 
         [0014]    In another exemplary embodiment, the coffee maker further includes a frame for supporting the liquid container. 
         [0015]    In yet another exemplary embodiment, the aforementioned frame can be an extendable frame. 
         [0016]    From another perspective of the invention, a coffee maker is provided and the coffee maker includes a main body and a movable module. The main body includes a cup holder, a liquid container, and a frame. The cup holder carries a coffee cup set. The liquid container is disposed on the cup holder for accommodating a liquid. The frame supports the liquid container. The movable module connects to the frame to translate and rotate the frame. 
         [0017]    In an exemplary embodiment, the movable module includes a driving unit and a transmission unit, and the driving unit generates a power to drive the frame through the transmission unit. 
         [0018]    In another exemplary embodiment, the transmission unit includes a ring gear and a gear. The gear engages inner peripheral surfaces of the ring gear. The driving unit connects to the gear and drives the gear to move along the inner peripheral surfaces. The frame eccentrically connects to the gear. 
         [0019]    In yet another exemplary embodiment, the driving unit can be a spring. 
         [0020]    In another exemplary embodiment, the driving unit can be a motor and the transmission unit can include a deceleration gear train. The motor drives the cup holder through the deceleration gear train. 
         [0021]    In yet another exemplary embodiment, the liquid container includes a control valve to control a volume of the liquid entering the coffee cup set. 
         [0022]    In another exemplary embodiment, the aforementioned frame can be an extendable frame. 
         [0023]    A detailed description is given in the following embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0024]    The invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0025]      FIG. 1  shows a coffee maker in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 2  shows partial parts of the transmission unit of the coffee maker in accordance with the first embodiment of the invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 3  shows other parts of the transmission unit of the coffee maker in accordance with the first embodiment of the invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 4  shows a motion trace of a linking part of the transmission unit of the coffee maker in accordance with the first embodiment of the invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 5  shows a coffee making method using the coffee maker in accordance with the first embodiment of the invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 6  shows a coffee maker in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0031]    The following description is of the best-contemplated mode of carrying out the invention. This description is made for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention and should not be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the invention is best determined by reference to the appended claims. 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the coffee maker in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention includes a main body  10  and a movable module  20 . 
         [0033]    The main body  10  includes a liquid container  11 , a frame  12 , a base  13 , and a cup holder  14 , wherein the frame  12  and the cup holder  14  are disposed on the base  13  and the liquid container  11  is disposed on the frame  12 . 
         [0034]    The movable module  20  includes a transmission unit  21  and a driving unit  22 , and the driving unit  22  can be a motor, a spring, or any unit capable of generating power. The transmission unit  21  is disposed in the base  13 . The driving unit  22  generates a power to translate and/or rotate the cup holder  13  through the transmission unit  21 . 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the transmission unit  21  includes a linkage  219 , a linking part  218 , a gear  214 , a linking part  216 , and a ring gear  212 . One end of the linkage  219  connects to the driving unit  22 , and the other end of the linking part  219  connects to the center of the gear  214  through the linking part  218 . The gear  214  engages the inner peripheral surfaces of the ring gear  212 , and the driving unit  22  generates a rotation force to drive the gear  214  to move along the inner peripheral surfaces of the ring gear  212  through linking parts  218  and the linkage  219  (shown as arrow A in  FIG. 3 ). The linking part  216  connects the gear  214  and the cup holder  14  so that the driving unit  22  can further drive the cup holder  14  through linking part  216 . 
         [0036]    One thing to be noted, the linking part  216  does not connect to the center of the gear  214  but eccentrically connects to the gear  214 . Therefore, when the gear  214  moves along the inner peripheral surfaces of the ring gear  212 , the linking part  216  simultaneously translates and rotates. The motion trace of the linking part  216  depends on the location of the linking part  216 , and the motion trace  40  in  FIG. 4  is shown for example without limiting the implementation of the invention. Because the cup holder  14  connects to the linking part  216 , the motion trace of the cup holder  14  is same as that of the linking part  216 . 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the method of making coffee is as follows: providing a coffee cup set  30  including a filter cup  34 , a filter paper  32 , a coffee powder (not shown), and a coffee cup  26 ; putting the coffee cup set  30  on the cup holder  14  and adding hot water in the liquid container  11 ; adjusting and turning on the movable module  20  to drive the cup holder  14  so that the coffee cup set  30  simultaneously translates and rotates. Due to the continuously changing motion trace of the coffee cup holder  30  with respect to the liquid container  11 , a good coffee making effect is obtained. 
         [0038]    Furthermore, the frame  12  is extendable and its height can be adjusted according to the height of the coffee cup set  30  or other practical need. 
         [0039]    Furthermore, the liquid container  11  can include a control valve to control a volume of the liquid such as hot water or milk entering the coffee cup set. 
         [0040]    In an embodiment of the invention, when the driving unit  22  is a motor, the transmission unit  21  can include a deceleration gear train (not shown) to reduce the output speed from the motor and to increase the output torque at the same time for driving the cup holder  14  and the coffee cup set  30 . 
         [0041]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , a coffee maker in according with a second embodiment of the invention is shown. In this embodiment, a transmission unit  21 ′ connects to a frame  12 ′, and a driving unit  22 ′ drives the frame  12 ′ rather than the cup holder  14 ′ through the transmission unit  21 ′. This concept can similarly generate a continuously changing motion trace to obtain an evenly coffee making effect. Because other parts are similar with or identical to those of the first embodiment, their detail description is omitted. 
         [0042]    While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.