JP5791551B2 - Beverage supply equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a beverage supply apparatus that supplies a beverage obtained by diluting a raw material with hot water or cold water to a beverage container.

  A beverage supply device that supplies a beverage obtained by diluting a raw material with hot water or cold water to a beverage container such as a cup is already widely known as disclosed in Patent Document 1 and the like. This type of beverage supply device contains a raw material container that contains beverage ingredients (powder), a cold water tank that contains cold water, a cooling passage that cools beverage water using cold water in the cold water tank, and hot water A hot water tank, a mixing container for mixing the raw material with hot water or cold water, a raw material feeder for sending the raw material contained in the raw material container into the mixing container, and a cooling passage cooled by the cold water in the cold water tank A cold water supply path for mixing to supply the cold water to the mixing container, a hot water supply path for mixing to supply the hot water in the hot water tank to the mixing container, and a dispensing supply path to discharge the beverage in the mixing container to the beverage container. Yes. For example, when preparing a hot beverage such as hot coffee, the raw material (powder) of coffee is supplied to the mixing container, hot water is supplied to the mixing container, and the raw material is stirred in the mixing container. And hot water are mixed and melted, and then the beverage (hot coffee) is dispensed from the mixing container to the beverage container.

  In addition, when making tea (hot beverage tea) with the beverage supply apparatus, tea is generally preferred to have a relatively lower temperature than coffee or the like, so the tea material (powder) in the mixing container is preferred. In addition to supplying hot water and cold water to the mixing container to dissolve the raw materials, tea is discharged from the mixing container to the beverage container.

JP 2003-310441 A

  However, in the environment where the beverage supply apparatus is used, there is a case where hot beverage is not supplied (sold) for a long time. In this case, tea (hot tea for hot beverage) is created as described above because hot water and hot beverages such as hot water supply channels for mixing, mixing containers, and dispensing nozzles are cold (especially in winter). In this case, while passing through the above-mentioned places (mixing hot water supply channel, mixing container, dispensing nozzle, etc.), the temperature of the tea is greatly reduced, and there is a problem that the deliciousness of the tea is halved. .

  This invention solves the said subject, and provides the drink supply apparatus which can supply hot drinks, such as tea, at favorable temperature, even when there is no supply (sale) of hot drinks for a long time. It is for the purpose.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a beverage supply apparatus according to the present invention includes a raw material container for storing a raw material, a cold water tank for storing cold water, a cooling passage in the cold water tank (water for drinking with cold water in the cold water tank) Cooling passage for cooling the water), a hot water tank for storing hot water, a mixing container for mixing raw materials with hot water and cold water, and a cooling passage for the cold water tank (cooling passage cooled by the cold water in the cold water tank) A cold water supply path for mixing that supplies the cold water in the container to the mixing container, a hot water supply path for mixing that supplies the hot water in the hot water tank to the mixing container, a dispensing supply path that discharges the beverage in the mixing container to the beverage container, and a timing When the supply standby time from the previous supply of the hot beverage mixed with warm water to the current supply is within a predetermined determination standby time There is warm water mixed with raw materials , Controlled so that cold water is supplied to the mixing container or beverage container, and when the supply standby time exceeds the determination standby time, the cold water is not supplied or the amount of cold water is reduced The hot water mixed with the raw material is controlled to be supplied to the mixing container or the beverage container.

  With this configuration, when the supply standby time from the previous supply of the hot beverage to the current supply is a long period (when the determination standby time is exceeded), the amount of cold water is not supplied or the amount of cold water is not supplied. Since the hot water mixed with the raw materials is supplied to the mixing container or the beverage container in a state where the amount is reduced, it is supplied to the beverage container at a good temperature.

  Further, the present invention is provided with a temperature detecting means for measuring at least one of a temperature in the vicinity of the hot water supply path and the mixing container and an outside air temperature, and the control unit measures the supply waiting time and the temperature detecting means. Based on the measured temperature, control is performed such that the longer the waiting time for supply and the lower the measured temperature, the smaller the amount of cold water supplied.

  With this configuration, even when the supply standby time is long, the supply amount of cold water is determined according to the temperature condition in the vicinity of the hot water supply path and the mixing container and the temperature condition of the outside air, and it is possible to always supply a hot beverage with a good temperature. Become.

  Further, the present invention is provided with a temperature detection means for measuring at least one temperature of the hot water supply path and the temperature of the mixing container, and the control unit is configured such that the lower the measurement temperature is based on the measurement temperature measured by the temperature detection means. The control is performed so as to reduce the supply amount of the cold water. With this configuration, the supply amount of cold water is determined according to the hot water supply path and the temperature state of the mixing container, and a hot beverage having a good temperature can always be supplied.

  In addition, when the controller supplies hot water mixed with raw materials to the container without supplying cold water or in a state where the amount of cold water is reduced, the hot water corresponding to the supply amount of cold water is increased. Preferably, the same amount of hot beverage is supplied regardless of the length of waiting time for supply.

  According to the present invention, when the supply standby time exceeds the determination standby time by the control unit, the hot water mixed with the raw material is supplied without supplying cold water or in a state where the amount of cold water is reduced. By controlling to supply to the mixing container or beverage container, it becomes possible to supply the hot beverage at a good temperature even when the hot beverage supply waiting time is long. The supply is prevented and the reliability is improved.

  Further, a temperature detection means for measuring at least one temperature of the hot water supply path and the vicinity of the mixing container and the outside air temperature is provided, and the control unit determines the supply standby time and the measured temperature measured by the temperature detection means. Thus, by controlling the supply amount of cold water to decrease as the supply standby time is longer and the measurement temperature is lower, not only the supply standby time but also the temperature state and the outside air in the vicinity of the hot water supply path and the mixing container are controlled. Depending on the temperature state, a hot beverage having a good temperature can be supplied.

  Moreover, a temperature detection means for measuring at least one temperature of the hot water supply path and the temperature of the mixing container is provided, and the supply amount of cold water is lower as the measurement temperature is lower by the control unit based on the measurement temperature measured by the temperature detection means. By controlling so as to reduce the temperature, a hot beverage having a good temperature can be supplied.

  In addition, when supplying hot water mixed with raw materials to the container without supplying cold water or with the amount of cold water reduced, the controller supplies the hot water corresponding to the amount of cold water supplied. By doing so, the same amount of hot beverage can be supplied regardless of the supply standby time.

1 is an overall perspective view of a beverage supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a principal part front view of the drink supply apparatus. It is a figure which shows the drink supply circuit etc. of the same drink supply apparatus. It is a block diagram of the drink supply apparatus. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the supply waiting time of the same drink supply apparatus, and cold water addition amount. It is a figure which shows the drink supply circuit etc. of the drink supply apparatus which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the drink supply apparatus. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the supply standby time of the same drink supply apparatus, measured temperature, and cold water addition amount. It is a figure which shows the drink supply circuit of the drink supply apparatus which concerns on other embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, a beverage supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, embodiment shown here is an example to the last, Comprising: It is not necessarily limited to this embodiment.

  1 and 2 are an overall perspective view and a front view of a main part of a beverage supply apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in these figures, a beverage supply device 1 includes a casing 2 that constitutes an outer shell, a container receiver 4 provided with a container receiver 4a in which a beverage container 3 such as a cup is placed in the center of the front surface, and a beverage A plurality of beverage name display parts 5 on which the types (brands) are displayed, a selection push button 6 provided corresponding to the beverage name display part 5, a hot water temperature display part 7 indicating the temperature of hot water, a power lamp 8, and the like have. In the example shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, for example, four types of green tea, green tea, hot water, and cold water can be selected as brands of the beverage to be supplied. For green tea, any of warm green tea and cold green tea can be selected. In addition, for matcha, either warm matcha or cold matcha can be selected. A selectable lamp 9 indicating that the beverage corresponding to the selection pushbutton 4 can be supplied is provided beside the selection pushbutton 4 or the like.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a beverage supply circuit of the beverage supply apparatus. As shown in FIG. 3, in the casing 2, a raw material container 11, also called a canister for storing beverage raw materials (powder), a cold water tank 12 for storing cold water, and hot water are stored. A hot water tank 13, a mixing container 14 for mixing raw materials with hot water and cold water, a cooling channel (cooling coil) 36 for cooling drinking water with the cold water in the cold water tank 12, and water in the hot water tank 13 From the heater 37, the screw conveyor for sending the raw material accommodated in the raw material container 11 into the mixing container 14, the feed-out machine 15 b which is a discharge motor 15 b for rotationally driving the screw conveyor, and the cooling flow path 36. Cold water supply passage 16 for supplying cold water to the mixing container 14, a cold water supply valve 17 for mixing, and hot water for mixing supplying hot water from the hot water tank 13 to the mixing container 14. A path 18, a hot water supply valve 19 for mixing, a dispensing supply path (dispensing nozzle) 20 for dispensing the beverage in the mixing container 14 to the beverage container 3, and a beverage in which the warm water from the warm water tank 13 is placed in the container receiver 4. The container hot water supply passage 21 and the container hot water supply valve 24 that are directly supplied to the container 3, and the container cold water supply passage that directly supplies the cold water from the cooling flow path 36 to the beverage container 3 placed in the container receiving portion 4. 22, a container cold water supply valve 25, a water level sensor for monitoring the water level and temperature of the cold water tank 12 and the hot water tank 13, a tank temperature sensor, and the like.

  In this embodiment, the raw material container 11, the mixing container 14, the raw material delivery device 15, the mixing cold water supply path 16, the mixing cold water supply valve 17, the mixing hot water supply path 18, the mixing hot water supply valve 19 and the dispensing Although the case where the two cooking circuits which consist of the supply path 20 etc. are provided is illustrated, it is not restricted to this, One cooking circuit may be provided, and three or more systems are provided. Also good. Further, the water in the cold water tank 12 is cooled to a room temperature or lower by a heat exchanger 34a of a cooling device 34 composed of a refrigeration cycle. Further, reference numeral 35 in FIG. 3 denotes a drainage tank for collecting drainage including the container receiving portion 4 and the like.

  Further, in this embodiment, the mixing container 14 is rotatably arranged, and the driving force of one rotary stirring motor 23 is plural via a driving force transmitting means such as a belt. The mixing container 14 is rotated, the raw material supplied to the inside of the mixing container 14 is mixed with hot water or cold water, and the rotating operation is stopped, so that the beverage in the mixing container 14 is dispensed to the beverage container 3 side. It is configured as follows. However, as a matter of course, a single mixing vessel 14 may be rotated by a single rotary stirring motor 23. Further, a stirring blade or the like may be provided inside the mixing container 14 so that the respective raw materials, hot water, and cold water are stirred and mixed.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the beverage supply device 1 has various controls such as temperature management, time management, pressing operation management of the selection pushbutton 6, raw material / hot water / cold water supply operation, and rotation / stop operation of the mixing container 14. The control unit 40 is provided with a timer 41 for time management, a storage unit 42 for storing various data, and the like. Further, the storage unit 42 of the control unit 40 stores a determination standby time (for example, 10 hours) that is a reference for determining when changing the control process when the hot beverage has not been sold for a while. . The storage unit 42 of the control unit 40 also stores the date and time when hot green tea, warm matcha tea, and hot water that were hot beverages were last sold.

  Then, when there is a hot drink sales instruction (supply instruction), the control unit 40 waits for the supply standby time from the previous supply of the hot drink mixed with hot water to the current supply to be within a predetermined determination standby time. In this case, the hot water mixed with the raw materials and the cold water are controlled to be supplied to the mixing container 14, and when the supply standby time exceeds the determination standby time, the cold water is not supplied. The hot water mixed with the raw materials is controlled to be supplied to the mixing container 14.

  Specifically, the control unit 40 stores the last sales date of warm green tea, warm matcha tea, and hot water in the storage unit 42. For example, when there is a sales instruction (supply instruction) for warm green tea, FIG. As shown, when the supply standby time from the previous supply of the hot beverage (warm green tea) mixed with warm water to the current supply is within a predetermined determination standby time (for example, 10 hours), Control is performed so that, for example, 90 cc of hot water and 20 cc of cold water are supplied. On the other hand, when the supply standby time exceeds the determination standby time (for example, 10 hours), the hot water mixed with the raw material is controlled to be supplied to the mixing container 14 without supplying the cold water. In this case, it is desirable to increase the hot water by an amount corresponding to the amount of cold water that is not supplied (for example, 110 cc).

  With this configuration, even when the supply standby time from the previous supply of the hot beverage to the current supply exceeds the determination standby time (for example, 10 hours), in this case, the raw material can be supplied without supplying cold water. The mixed warm water is supplied to the mixing container or the beverage container. As a result, supply of hot beverages such as chilled tea is prevented, and hot beverages can be supplied at a favorable temperature, improving reliability. Further, since the control method is extremely simple, there is an advantage that the program setting of the control unit 40 can be performed relatively easily and simply.

  In addition, as described above, when the supply standby time exceeds the determination standby time and the cold water is not supplied, if the hot water corresponding to the supply amount of the cold water is increased and supplied, the supply standby time is not limited. More preferably, the same amount of hot beverage is supplied. However, even when cold water is not supplied, it is possible not to increase hot water. In this case, there is a disadvantage that the amount of the hot beverage varies depending on the length of the supply standby time, but since the supply amount of hot water is constant, there is an advantage that the control is simplified.

  In the above embodiment, when the hot beverage supply standby time exceeds the determination standby time, the case where no cold water is supplied has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It may be less than the normal case (when it is within the determination standby time) (for example, it may be reduced to 10 cc). In this case, it is preferable to increase the amount of hot water corresponding to the amount of decrease in cold water, but it is also possible not to increase hot water.

  In the above-described embodiment, the supply of cold water is stopped or the supply amount of cold water is reduced based on only the supply standby time regardless of the temperature of the mixing hot water supply path 18, the mixing container 14, the discharge supply path 20, etc. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, in the vicinity of a place where the mixing hot water supply path 18, the mixing container 14, and the dispensing supply path 20 are provided (that is, the mixing hot water supply path 18 and the mixing hot water supply path 18 are mixed). A temperature sensor 50 is provided as a temperature detecting means for measuring the ambient temperature at a location where the container 14 and the dispensing supply path 20 are disposed). Based on the measured temperature measured by the temperature sensor 50, cold water is supplied as usual. Supply to the container (cold water supply mode), decrease the amount of cold water supplied (cold water reduction supply mode), or not supply cold water to the mixing container 14 (cold water non-supply mode) (that is, any mode) select). In this case, the supply amount of cold water is decreased as the measurement temperature is lower. Furthermore, even when the supply standby time is short, the supply amount of cold water itself may be adjusted to be smaller as the measurement temperature is lower, depending on the measurement temperature. That is, the control unit 40 performs control to decrease the supply amount of cold water as the supply standby time is longer and the measurement temperature is lower.

  To describe a specific example, for example, a database representing the relationship between the supply standby time, the measured temperature, and the amount of cold water added as shown in FIG. 8 is stored in the storage unit 42 of the control unit 40 and controlled. In addition, a plurality of determination standby times are provided as the determination standby times, and are set to, for example, 5 hours as the first determination standby time and 10 hours as the second determination standby time. And even when the supply standby time of the hot beverage is within the first determination standby time (5 hours), the supply amount of cold water is 10 cc when the measurement temperature is 5 ° C. or less, and the measurement temperature is 5 ° C. to 5 ° C. When the temperature is 15 ° C (over 5 ° C and below 15 ° C), 15cc, when the measuring temperature is 15 ° C to 25 ° C (when over 15 ° C and below 25 ° C), 20cc, and the measuring temperature is 25 When it exceeds ℃, it is adjusted to 25 cc, and the amount of hot water is adjusted to 110 cc together with cold water.

  On the other hand, when the hot beverage supply standby time exceeds the first determination standby time (5 hours) and is within the second determination standby time (10 hours), the amount of cold water supplied is When the measurement temperature exceeds 25 ° C., it is 20 cc, and when the measurement temperature is 15 ° C. to 25 ° C., it is 15 cc, but when the measurement temperature is 5 ° C. to 15 ° C., it is 10 cc. Cold water is not supplied when the temperature is 5 ° C or lower.

  When the hot beverage supply standby time exceeds the second determination standby time (10 hours), the amount of cold water supplied is 15 cc when the measured temperature exceeds 25 ° C. When the temperature is 15 ° C. to 25 ° C., it is 10 cc. However, when the measurement temperature is 5 ° C. to 15 ° C. or 5 ° C. or less, cold water is not supplied.

  As described above, the temperature sensor 50 as the temperature detecting means is provided in the vicinity of the location where the mixing hot water supply path 18, the mixing container 14, and the dispensing supply path 20 are provided, and based on the measured temperature measured by the temperature sensor 50. Thus, the temperature of the hot beverage such as tea supplied to the beverage container 3 can be made constant at an appropriate temperature by configuring the supply amount of the cold water to decrease as the measurement temperature is lower. In other words, the lower the temperature at the location of the mixing hot water supply path 18, the mixing container 14, and the dispensing supply path 20, the higher the rate at which the temperature of the hot water or beverage decreases at these locations. For example, such a problem can be prevented and the temperature of the hot beverage can be made constant. Thereby, even when the supply waiting time of the hot beverage is long, or when the temperature of the location where the hot water supply channel 18 for mixing, the mixing container 14 and the dispensing supply channel 20 are low is supplied, the hot beverage is supplied at a very good temperature. And reliability is improved. In this embodiment, the case where the cold water addition amount is determined using the database representing the relationship between the supply standby time, the measurement temperature, and the cold water addition amount is described. However, the supply standby time, the measurement temperature, and the cold water addition amount are described. (The equation for decreasing the supply amount of cold water as the supply waiting time is longer and the measurement temperature is lower) may be stored, and the amount of cold water added may be determined from this equation.

  In the above-described embodiment, the vicinity of the place where the mixing hot water supply path 18, the mixing container 14, and the dispensing supply path 20 are provided (that is, the mixing hot water supply path 18, the mixing container 14, and the dispensing supply path 20. The temperature sensor 50 as a temperature detecting means for measuring the ambient temperature is provided at the place where the temperature is measured, and the supply amount of the cold water is adjusted based on the measured temperature measured by the temperature sensor 50. However, instead of disposing the temperature sensor 50 at the location, the temperature sensor 50 is disposed at a location where the beverage supply device 1 is disposed, that is, a location where the outside air temperature can be measured, and the temperature sensor 50 is measured. The supply amount of cold water may be adjusted based on the measured temperature.

  Further, as simply shown in FIG. 9, a temperature sensor 50 as a temperature detecting means may be disposed at a location where the temperature of the hot water supply path or the mixing container 14 can be measured. For example, a dispensing supply path 20 is connected to the mixing container 14 as a path for supplying beverage to the beverage container 3, and the dispensing supply path 20 has a path portion between the dispensing nozzle at the tip and the mixing container 14. However, a metal pipe having high thermal conductivity is disposed in a part of this portion, and the temperature of the metal pipe is measured by the temperature sensor 50. Thereby, more accurate temperature data of the hot water supply path is obtained, and the supply amount of cold water is determined from the database and the calculation formula similar to FIG. 8 based on the measured temperature.

  Thus, by providing the temperature sensor 50 as the temperature detecting means at the place where the dispensing supply path 20 is provided, the lower the measured temperature measured by the temperature sensor 50, the lower the amount of cold water supplied, The temperature of hot beverages such as tea supplied to the beverage container 3 can be made extremely constant. In addition, by taking into consideration the waiting time factor, the temperature can be further fixed at an appropriate temperature. Thereby, even when the supply waiting time of the hot beverage is long, or when the temperature of the location where the hot water supply channel 18 for mixing, the mixing container 14 and the dispensing supply channel 20 are low is supplied, the hot beverage is supplied at a very good temperature. And the reliability is improved. As a place where the temperature sensor 50 is disposed, a heat conductor is provided on the surface of the mixing container 14 and the hot water supply path 18 for mixing which is in contact with the beverage, instead of the dispensing supply path 20, and the temperature sensor is provided on the heat conductor. May be attached.

  In addition, when the temperature sensor 50 as the temperature detecting means is provided at a place where the payout supply path 20 is provided, the temperature at the place where the payout supply path 20 is arranged is low even though the supply standby time is short. In the past, it is assumed that the hot water temperature in the hot water tank has dropped due to continuous dispensing, or the hot water temperature has fallen due to a failure in the temperature sensor of the hot water tank, etc. It may be configured to cancel.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the case where it was a drink supply apparatus of the structure which supplies cold water to the mixing container 14 in the case of hot drinks, such as tea, it was not restricted to this, Hot drinks, such as tea In this case, it goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to a beverage supply apparatus configured to supply cold water to the beverage container 3. Moreover, it cannot be overemphasized that it is applicable also when hot water is supplied as a drink.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the case where a supply drink was green tea, matcha, hot water, and water was described, of course, the said structure is applicable also to the drink supply apparatus which can also provide another drink. .

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Drink supply apparatus 11 Raw material container 12 Cold water tank 13 Hot water tank 14 Mixing container 15 Raw material delivery machine 16 Mixing cold water supply path 17 Mixing cold water supply valve 18 Mixing hot water supply path (hot water supply path)
19 Hot water supply valve for mixing 20 Discharge nozzle 21 Hot water supply path for containers (hot water supply path)
24 Hot water supply valve for containers 22 Cold water supply path for containers 25 Cold water supply valve for containers 40 Control unit 42 Storage unit 50 Temperature sensor

Claims (4)

A raw material container for containing raw materials, a cold water tank for containing cold water, a hot water tank for containing hot water, a mixing vessel for mixing raw materials and hot water or cold water, and cold water in the cooling passage of the cold water tank into a mixing vessel Supplying cold water supply path for mixing, hot water supply path for mixing supplying hot water from the hot water tank to the mixing container, a dispensing supply path for discharging the beverage in the mixing container to the beverage container, a timer for timing, and a control unit And comprising
When the supply standby time from the previous supply of the hot beverage mixed with hot water to the current supply is within a predetermined standby time for determination, the control unit may add hot water mixed with raw materials, cold water, Is supplied to the mixing container or the beverage container, and when the supply standby time exceeds the determination standby time, the raw material is supplied without supplying cold water or with the amount of cold water reduced. A beverage supply apparatus that controls to supply hot water mixed with a mixture container or a beverage container. A temperature detecting means for measuring at least one of a temperature of the hot water supply path and the mixing container, a temperature in the vicinity of the hot water supply path and the mixing container, and an outside air temperature;
The control unit controls to decrease the supply amount of cold water as the supply standby time is longer and the measurement temperature is lower, based on the supply standby time and the measured temperature measured by the temperature detection unit. The beverage supply apparatus according to claim 1. A temperature detecting means for measuring at least one temperature of the hot water supply path and the temperature of the mixing container;
2. The beverage supply device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit performs control so as to decrease a supply amount of cold water as the measured temperature is lower based on the measured temperature measured by the temperature detecting unit.   When supplying the hot water mixed with the raw materials to the container without supplying the cold water or in a state where the amount of the cold water is reduced, the control unit increases the hot water corresponding to the supply amount of the cold water. The beverage supply apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein

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