JP4872963B2 - Beverage nozzle cleaning device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a beverage nozzle cleaning device provided in a beverage dispenser or the like that mixes a syrup and a diluent and supplies a beverage.

The beverage dispenser dissolves syrup that is pumped from the syrup tank with the pressure of carbon dioxide gas supplied from a carbon dioxide gas cylinder, drinking water (diluent) supplied from the water supply, and carbon dioxide gas supplied from the carbon dioxide gas cylinder to drinking water The carbonated water (diluted solution) supplied from the carbonator storing the carbonated water is connected to the beverage nozzle in each supply pipeline, and when the beverage selection button is pressed by the user, the selected beverage selection The syrup corresponding to the button and drinking water or carbonated water are supplied to the beverage nozzle from the respective supply pipes, and the syrup and the diluted solution discharged from the syrup nozzle and the diluent nozzle are mixed by the beverage nozzle to make a cup. (Beverage container) is provided.
As described above, a beverage dispenser generally has a structure in which a beverage in which a syrup and a diluting liquid (drinking water, carbonated water, etc.) are mixed with a beverage nozzle is caused to flow into a cup (for example, see Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-139498

In the case of such a structure in which a beverage obtained by mixing a syrup and a diluent with a beverage nozzle is allowed to flow down into a cup, if syrup adheres to and remains on the syrup nozzle provided in the beverage nozzle, it is likely that germs are likely to grow. Therefore, daily cleaning of the beverage nozzle is indispensable for hygiene management, and in general, cleaning is performed using a brush.
However, when the beverage nozzle is cleaned using a brush, it is only necessary that the brush used for cleaning is hygienically managed. If this happens, there is a concern that the beverage nozzle may be contaminated with bacteria by washing the beverage nozzle using this brush. Spattering may cause a problem that the beverage dispenser is soiled.
The above problem can be solved by removing the syrup nozzle and washing with running water, but it is prone to inconveniences such as syrup leakage due to poor syrup nozzle attachment and syrup sticking caused by this leakage. Become. In addition, there is a risk of inducing hygiene problems due to the hand touching the nozzle when the syrup nozzle is attached.
In view of the above circumstances, the present invention provides a beverage nozzle capable of easily performing cleaning for hygienic management of a beverage nozzle provided in a beverage dispenser that supplies a beverage in which a syrup and a diluent are mixed. An object is to provide a cleaning device.

In order to achieve the above object, a beverage nozzle cleaning device according to claim 1 of the present invention is a syrup nozzle that discharges syrup for beverage, and is provided in the vicinity of the syrup nozzle, mixed with the syrup, The syrup nozzle so that the syrup discharged from the syrup nozzle and the diluent discharged from the diluent nozzle collide in the air and are mixed to become a beverage. And a beverage nozzle cleaning device provided with the diluent nozzle,
The beverage nozzle is attached with a cleaning adapter that guides the diluted solution discharged from the diluted solution nozzle and collides with the syrup nozzle, and the syrup nozzle is cleaned with the discharged diluted solution.
Moreover, the drink nozzle washing | cleaning apparatus which concerns on Claim 2 of this invention is characterized by the said adapter for washing | cleaning being detachably attached to the said drink nozzle in Claim 1 mentioned above.
Moreover, the drink nozzle washing | cleaning apparatus which concerns on Claim 3 of this invention WHEREIN: The liquid discharged from the said dilution liquid nozzle and wash | cleaning the said syrup nozzle in Claim 1 or Claim 2 mentioned above is carbonated water. Features.
A beverage nozzle cleaning device according to claim 4 of the present invention is the beverage nozzle cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the syrup nozzle is cleaned with a diluent discharged from the diluent nozzle. A predetermined amount of syrup is discharged from the syrup nozzle.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the washing adapter for guiding the diluted solution discharged from the diluted solution nozzle to the beverage nozzle and colliding with the syrup nozzle is attached, and the syrup nozzle is cleaned with the discharged diluted solution. Therefore, it is possible to provide a beverage nozzle cleaning device that can easily perform cleaning for hygienic management of a beverage nozzle provided in a beverage dispenser that supplies a beverage in which a syrup and a diluted liquid are mixed. It becomes.
According to the invention of claim 2, since the washing adapter is detachably attached to the beverage nozzle, the beverage nozzle can be easily washed.
Further, according to the invention of claim 3, since the liquid that is discharged from the diluting liquid nozzle and cleans the syrup nozzle is carbonated water, the cleaning effect is obtained by the action of carbonic acid bubbles generated when the carbonated water collides with the syrup nozzle. The syrup which is increased and adheres to the syrup nozzle can be washed away efficiently.
According to the invention of claim 4, after the syrup nozzle is washed with the diluent discharged from the diluent nozzle, a predetermined amount of syrup is discharged from the syrup nozzle, so that it remains in the syrup nozzle after washing. The diluted liquid that has been used can be eliminated, and unnecessary dilution liquid can be prevented from being mixed when the beverage supply is started by the beverage dispenser.

Exemplary embodiments of a beverage nozzle cleaning device according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.
FIG. 1 is an external view of a beverage dispenser 1 having a beverage nozzle. As shown in FIG. 1, a beverage dispenser 1 includes a dispenser body 2 having an opening on the front surface, and a front door supported on one side of the front surface of the dispenser body 2 in a manner that allows the front opening of the dispenser body 2 to be opened and closed. 3 and an operation panel 4 having a beverage selection button is disposed on the front door 3. In addition, a beverage nozzle for supplying beverage and a tube type pump are disposed below the inner side of the front door 3, and a cup rest 5 serving as a table for a cup, which is a beverage container, and a splattered beverage are disposed below the front door 3. A drip tray 6 for collecting is provided, and a bottom portion of the dispenser main body 2 is provided with a leg portion 7 which is a leveling adjusting leg whose height can be adjusted.
FIG. 2 is a view showing the front opening of the dispenser body 2 by opening the front door 3 of the beverage dispenser 1. The dispenser body 2 includes a tube-type pump 10 that pumps a predetermined amount of syrup stored in a BIB (Bag In Box) 9 housed in a refrigerator 8, and a syrup tank that uses carbon dioxide gas pressure supplied from a carbon dioxide gas cylinder (not shown). A syrup solenoid valve 14 (this embodiment) provided in the middle of each of a plurality of syrup conduits 11 (in this embodiment, four syrup conduits 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d) through which syrup fed under pressure is passed. In the form, four syrup solenoid valves 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d), a drinking water solenoid valve 15 provided in the middle of the drinking water conduit 12 through which drinking water (diluent) supplied from the water supply flows, Let the carbonated water (diluted solution) supplied from the carbonator that stores the carbonated water in which the carbon dioxide gas supplied from the carbon dioxide cylinder is dissolved in drinking water. A carbonated water solenoid valve 16 provided in the middle of the acid water pipeline 13 is provided, and the syrup pipelines 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d, the drinking water pipeline 12, and the terminal end of the carbonated water pipeline 13 are beverage nozzles 20. It is connected to the.

When the beverage selection button on the operation panel 4 is pressed, the syrup stored in the BIB 9 is supplied when the tube type pump 10 is driven in correspondence with the pressed beverage selection button. Alternatively, when the syrup solenoid valve 14 and the drinking water solenoid valve 15 or the carbonated water solenoid valve 16 are opened, syrup and drinking water or carbonated water are supplied from the beverage nozzle 20 and mixed and diluted to the drip tray 6. It is provided by flowing down to a mounted cup (not shown).
3 is a front view of the beverage nozzle 20, FIG. 4 is a right side view thereof, FIG. 5 is a bird's-eye view of the beverage nozzle 20 seen from obliquely above, FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the beverage nozzle 20 seen obliquely below, and FIG. It is the cross-sectional side view which looked at the AA part of this in the arrow direction. The beverage nozzle 20 has a nozzle body 21 provided with beverage inflow pipes 21a, 21b, 21c, and 21d to which end portions of the syrup conduits 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d are connected, fixed to the nozzle fixing bracket 40 with screws 41. Yes. The nozzle part 22 is attached by fixing the nozzle 23 in which the nozzle right 23a and the nozzle left 23b are combined, an elastic member (for example, formed of silicone rubber) 24 to be fixed in the nozzle 23, and fixing the elastic member 24 and the inner surface of the nozzle 23. The syrup nozzle 25 is configured to be attached to the nozzle body 21 by inserting the hinges 23d and 23e into the nozzle mounting holes 21e of the nozzle body 21 from below, and presses the upper portions of the hinges 23d and 23e inwardly. Thus, the nozzle body 21 can be removed.

The drinking water conduit 12 connected to the drinking water solenoid valve 15 and the carbonated water conduit 13 connected to the carbonated water solenoid valve 16 are merged on the way, and the terminal portion thereof is connected to the diluent connection pipe 26, and the diluent connection. The tube 26 is inserted and attached to an elastic pipe (for example, formed of silicone rubber) 27. A gap C (for example, 12 mm) is provided in the elastic pipe 27 and a diluent nozzle 28 is inserted and attached to form a buffer space D above the pressure reducing portion 29. The diluent nozzle 28 fixes the attachment portion 28a to the nozzle. It is inserted into the metal fitting 40 and attached. The pressure reducing unit 29 functions to reduce the volume of carbonated water supplied to the cup by reducing the pressure of carbonated water passing through the diluent nozzle 28. The pressure reducing unit 29 is formed in a 12-sided prism, and is in contact with the inner wall surface of the diluent nozzle 28 at the 12 corners. Circulate. The diluent discharge adapter 30 is attached by being inserted into the diluent discharge adapter mounting rib 21f of the nozzle body 21, and when the diluent discharge adapter 30 is attached, the diluent nozzle 28 is inserted therein. Yes.
As described above, in the beverage dispenser 1, the syrup and drinking water supplied from the syrup pipeline 11 and the drinking water pipeline 12 are non-carbonated beverages, and the syrup and carbonated water supplied from the syrup pipeline 11 and the carbonated water pipeline 13 are strong. Weak carbonated beverages can be supplied with syrup, drinking water and carbonated water supplied from carbonated beverages, syrup pipeline 11 and drinking water pipeline 12 and carbonated water pipeline 13. When supplying this weak carbonated beverage, the drinking water solenoid valve 15 and the carbonated water solenoid valve 16 are alternately opened, and the drinking water in the drinking water line 12 and the carbonated water in the carbonated water line 13 are alternately dispensed with the diluted liquid. It is supplied to the adapter 30 to make a weak carbonated drink. However, if drinking water and carbonated water are alternately supplied, carbonated water in which carbon dioxide gas is dissolved foams and expands, and carbonated water may splatter when discharged from the diluent discharge adapter 30. Since the buffer space D for absorbing the expansion of carbonated water is provided inside the elastic pipe 27 connected to the diluent discharge adapter 30, the expansion is absorbed in the buffer space D even if the carbonated water is expanded and expanded. Even when a weak carbonated beverage is supplied by the beverage dispenser 1, the carbonated water discharged from the diluent discharge adapter 30 can be prevented from scattering.

Further, since the mounting angles of the plurality of syrup nozzles 25 are changed according to the distance from the discharge port 30a of the diluent discharge adapter 30, the syrup discharged from each of the syrup nozzles 25 is mixed with the diluent. It can be made to collide at the optimal air position to make the beverage, and a beverage having a uniform syrup concentration can be supplied.
FIG. 8 is an external view of a washing adapter 31 which is a beverage nozzle washing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 (a) is a front view thereof, FIG. 8 (b) is a top view thereof, FIG. (C) is the right side view thereof, FIG. 9 is a right side view of the beverage nozzle 20 with the washing adapter 31 attached, FIG. 10 is a sectional front view thereof, and FIG. 11 is a sectional side view thereof.
When the use of the beverage dispenser 1 is finished and cleaning is performed for hygienic management of the beverage nozzle 20, the diluent discharge adapter 30 is detached from the beverage nozzle 20 and a cleaning adapter 31 is attached, and a cleaning button (not shown) ), The carbonated water electromagnetic valve 16 is opened and the carbonated water (diluent) stored in the carbonator is pushed out by the carbon dioxide pressure supplied from the carbon dioxide cylinder and supplied to the diluent connection pipe 26. The liquid is discharged from the diluent nozzle 28 through the elastic pipe 27. The carbonated water discharged from the diluent nozzle 28 is guided to the washing adapter 31 and collides with each syrup nozzle 25, so that the washing effect is increased by the action of the carbonated bubbles generated and adheres to the syrup nozzle 25 and remains. Efficient syrup is washed away.

Thus, whenever the use of the beverage dispenser 1 is completed, when the washing adapter 31 is attached to the beverage nozzle 20 and carbonated water is discharged, the carbonated water is guided to the washing adapter 31 and adheres to the syrup nozzle 25 and adheres. The remaining syrup is washed away, so that germs do not propagate and easy cleaning for hygienic management of the beverage nozzle 20 provided in the beverage dispenser 1 for supplying a beverage in which the syrup and the diluted solution are mixed is facilitated. An apparatus for cleaning the beverage nozzle 20 that can be performed can be provided.
Then, after washing the syrup nozzle 25 with carbonated water (diluent) discharged from the diluent nozzle 28, a predetermined amount of syrup is discharged from the syrup nozzle 25, so that the carbonated water remaining in the syrup nozzle 25 is removed. Since it can be excluded, unnecessary carbonated water can be prevented from being mixed when beverage supply is started by the beverage dispenser 1.
In addition, although demonstrated in the Example which uses carbonated water (dilution liquid) for wash | cleaning the syrup nozzle 25, it is made to wash | clean using the chlorine water manufactured with sodium hypochlorite or a chlorine generator. May be. At the time of sanitation of the beverage dispenser, the tip of the syrup nozzle can be cleaned by attaching a cleaning adapter when cleaning the inside of the syrup pipe with sodium hypochlorite or chlorine water.

It is an external view of a drink dispenser provided with a drink nozzle which is an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the front surface of the dispenser main body of the drink dispenser shown in FIG. It is a front view of the drink nozzle of the drink dispenser shown in FIG. It is a right view of the drink nozzle of the drink dispenser shown in FIG. It is a bird's-eye view of the drink nozzle of the drink dispenser shown in FIG. It is the bottom view which looked at the drink nozzle of the drink dispenser shown in FIG. 1 from diagonally downward. It is a cross-sectional side view of the drink nozzle of the drink dispenser shown in FIG. It is an external view of the adapter for washing | cleaning which is a washing | cleaning apparatus of the drink nozzle which is embodiment of this invention. It is a right view which attached the adapter for washing | cleaning to the drink nozzle shown in FIG. It is a cross-sectional front view which attached the adapter for washing | cleaning to the drink nozzle shown in FIG. It is a cross-sectional side view which attached the adapter for washing | cleaning to the drink nozzle shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Beverage dispenser 2 Dispenser main body 20 Beverage nozzle 21 Nozzle main body 22 Nozzle part 23 Nozzle 25 Syrup nozzle 28 Dilution liquid nozzle 30 Dilution liquid discharge adapter 31 Adapter for washing | cleaning

Claims (4)

A syrup nozzle that discharges a syrup for beverage, and a syrup that is provided in the vicinity of the syrup nozzle and that discharges a diluted liquid that is mixed with the syrup and becomes a beverage, and is discharged from the syrup nozzle; A beverage nozzle cleaning device in which the syrup nozzle and the diluent nozzle are arranged so that the diluent discharged from the diluent nozzle collides in the air and is mixed to become a beverage,
A beverage adapter for guiding a diluent discharged from the diluent nozzle and causing it to collide with the syrup nozzle is attached to the beverage nozzle, and the syrup nozzle is washed with the discharged diluent. Nozzle cleaning device.   The apparatus for washing a beverage nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the washing adapter is detachably attached to the beverage nozzle.   The apparatus for cleaning a beverage nozzle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the liquid discharged from the dilution liquid nozzle and cleaning the syrup nozzle is carbonated water. The beverage nozzle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a predetermined amount of syrup is discharged from the syrup nozzle after the syrup nozzle is washed with the diluent discharged from the diluent nozzle. Cleaning equipment.

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