JP7412962B2 - beverage dispensing equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a beverage dispensing device for dispensing a beverage supplied under gas pressure while suppressing outflow of gas.

BACKGROUND ART Beverage serving mechanisms have conventionally been used in restaurants and the like to serve drinks such as carbonated drinks and soft drinks.

In this beverage serving mechanism, a beverage supplying section that supplies a beverage under gas pressure and a beverage dispensing section that supplies the beverage to a glass or the like are connected via a beverage delivery device (for example, see Patent Document 1).

In the beverage dispensing mechanism, in order to prevent the beverage dispensing section from dispensing only foamy beverages or gas when the remaining amount of beverage in the beverage dispensing section is low, the beverage dispensing device is The beverage is delivered from the beverage supply section to the beverage provision section while suppressing the outflow of gas from the beverage supply section to the beverage provision section.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-82788

In the beverage delivery device installed in the beverage supply mechanism, when the remaining amount of beverage in the beverage supply unit is low, the beverage supply unit is designed to quickly Therefore, it is necessary to suppress the outflow of gas from the beverage supply section to the beverage serving section.

Therefore, in the present invention according to claim 1, the device is provided between the beverage supply section that supplies the beverage with gas pressure and the beverage provision section that provides the beverage, and prevents the gas from flowing from the beverage supply section to the beverage provision section. In a beverage dispensing device for discharging a beverage from a beverage supply section to a beverage dispensing section while suppressing the amount, a beverage storage chamber is formed for storing the beverage supplied from the beverage supply section, and a gas is supplied above the beverage storage chamber. In addition to providing a gas outlet for discharging the beverage, a beverage outlet for discharging the beverage is provided below the beverage storage chamber, and a float for the gas outlet that opens and closes the gas outlet inside the beverage storage chamber and a beverage outlet that opens and closes the beverage outlet. A beverage delivery port float is provided so as to be independently buoyant by the beverage stored inside the beverage storage chamber , and a beverage delivery chamber is formed which communicates with the lower part of the beverage storage chamber via the beverage delivery port, A weight connected to the float for the delivery port via a connecting rod is housed inside the beverage delivery chamber, and the float for the beverage delivery port is floated by the beverage together with the connecting rod and the weight.

Further, in the present invention according to claim 2, in the present invention according to claim 1, the beverage storage chamber is divided into upper and lower parts by partitions that allow permeation of the beverage and gas, and the gas discharge port is provided on the upper side of the partition. In addition to providing the float, it was decided to provide the float for the beverage outlet on the lower side of the partition.

Further, in the present invention according to claim 3, in the invention according to claim 1 or claim 2, a gas exhaust port sensor for detecting an open/closed state of a gas exhaust port float is provided at the gas exhaust port; It was decided to provide a beverage outlet sensor for detecting the open/closed state of the beverage outlet float at the outlet.

Further, the present invention provides the effects described below.

That is, in the present invention, the beverage supply section is provided between the beverage supply section that supplies the beverage with gas pressure and the beverage provision section that serves the beverage, and is configured to supply the beverage while suppressing the outflow of gas from the beverage supply section to the beverage provision section. In a beverage delivery device for delivering a beverage from a beverage supply section to a beverage supply section, a gas is used to form a beverage storage chamber for storing the beverage supplied from the beverage supply section and to discharge gas above the beverage storage chamber. In addition to providing a discharge port, a beverage delivery port for delivering the beverage is provided below the beverage storage chamber, and a float for the gas discharge port that opens and closes the gas discharge port and a beverage delivery port that opens and closes the beverage delivery port are provided inside the beverage storage chamber. Since the floats are provided so that they can be floated independently by the beverage stored inside the beverage storage chamber, the float for the gas discharge port and the float for the beverage delivery port are separated by the beverage stored inside the beverage storage chamber. Since the floats can be independently and quickly floated to open and close the gas discharge port and the beverage delivery port, when the remaining amount of beverage in the beverage supply section is low, foamy beverages can be removed from the beverage supply section. The outflow of gas from the beverage supply section to the beverage supply section can be quickly suppressed so that only gas and gas are not provided from the beverage supply section.

In particular, the beverage storage chamber is divided into upper and lower sections by partitions that allow permeation of beverages and gas, and a float for the gas discharge port is provided above the partition, and a float for the beverage delivery port is provided below the partition. In this case, it is possible to prevent the gas discharge port float and the beverage delivery port float from interfering (contacting) inside the beverage storage chamber, thereby preventing malfunctions.

In addition, when the gas exhaust port is provided with a gas exhaust port sensor that detects the open/closed state of the gas exhaust port float, and the beverage delivery port is provided with a beverage delivery port sensor that detects the open/closed state of the beverage delivery port float. It is possible to immediately detect the open/closed state of the gas discharge port and the beverage delivery port, and control can be performed accordingly.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing how the beverage delivery device is used. FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing the beverage delivery device. An explanatory diagram of the same operation. An explanatory diagram of the same operation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A specific configuration of a beverage dispensing device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, a beverage dispensing device 1 is used in a beverage dispensing mechanism 2 for dispensing beverages into glasses or the like in a store or the like.

The beverage supply mechanism 2 connects, via the beverage delivery device 1, a beverage supply section 3 that supplies a beverage under gas pressure and a beverage supply section 4 that supplies the beverage to a glass or the like. Note that the beverage supply section 3 connects a gas tank 6 that stores compressed gas such as carbon dioxide gas to a beverage tank 5 that stores beverages.

In the beverage providing mechanism 2, in order to prevent the beverage providing section 4 from providing only a foamy beverage or gas when the remaining amount of beverage in the beverage supply section 3 is low, In the delivery device 1, the beverage is delivered from the beverage supply section 3 to the beverage provision section 4 while suppressing the outflow of gas from the beverage supply section 3 to the beverage provision section 4.

As shown in FIG. 2, this beverage dispensing device 1 has a hollow container shape by vertically connecting an upper structure 7, an intermediate upper structure 8, an intermediate lower structure 9, and a lower structure 10 in a watertight manner. A gas storage chamber 11, a beverage storage chamber 12, and a beverage delivery chamber 13 are vertically arranged and communicated with each other in a hollow portion (inside).

The gas storage chamber 11 is formed inside the upper structure 7 and above the center of the intermediate upper structure 8 .

An exhaust valve 14 is provided at the center of the upper part of the upper structure 7 on the upper side of the gas storage chamber 11. This exhaust valve 14 has a connecting rod 16 vertically slidably attached to a through hole 15 formed in the center of the upper structure 7 and penetrating vertically, and an operation button 17 is attached to the upper end of the connecting rod 16. At the same time, a disc-shaped valve body 19 is attached to the lower end of the connecting rod 16, and the valve body 19 is attached to the center of the upper structure 7 on a concentric circle on the outer circumferential side of the through hole 15. A plurality of formed exhaust ports 20 communicating with the upper and lower sides are opened and closed. Note that the exhaust valve 14 may be configured so that the operation button 17 is operated manually, or may be connected to a control device (such as a computer) so that the operation button 17 can be operated automatically.

This exhaust valve 14 is biased by a spring 18 in a direction (upward) in which the valve body 19 closes the exhaust port 20, and by pressing the operation button 17 downward against the biasing force of the spring 18, The valve body 19 moves in the direction (downward) to open the exhaust port 20, and the gas inside the gas storage chamber 11 can be discharged from the exhaust port 20 to the outside (atmosphere) under its own pressure.

A gas discharge port 21 having a circular horizontal section and communicating between the lower part of the gas storage chamber 11 and the upper part of the beverage storage chamber 12 is formed in the center of the intermediate upper structure 8 which is the lower side of the gas storage chamber 11. . Thereby, the beverage delivery device 1 forms a gas discharge port 21 above the beverage storage chamber 12 for discharging gas from the beverage storage chamber 12 to the outside via the gas storage chamber 11.

The beverage storage chamber 12 is formed inside the middle upper structure 8 and inside the middle lower structure 9, and is sandwiched between the lower center of the middle upper structure 8 and the upper center of the middle lower structure 9. It is partitioned vertically and in a continuous manner by a perforated disc-shaped partition 22. A plurality of through holes 23 are formed in the partition 22 to extend vertically through the partition 22. Thereby, the beverage delivery device 1 divides the beverage storage chamber 12 into upper and lower sections by partitions 22 through which the beverage and gas can pass. Inside the beverage storage chamber 12, above the partition 22, a hollow spherical gas discharge port float 24 that floats with the beverage is disposed (accommodated), and below the partition 22, the float 24 is disposed above the partition 22, and is disposed below the partition 22. A floating hollow spherical beverage outlet float 25 is disposed (accommodated).

A gas discharge valve 26 is provided at the center of the midway upper structure 8 that is on the upper side of the beverage storage chamber 12. This gas exhaust valve 26 opens and closes the gas exhaust port 21 from below using a gas exhaust port float 24. The gas exhaust valve 26 is provided with a gas exhaust port sensor 27 around the lower side of the gas exhaust port 21 to detect contact with the gas exhaust port float 24. This gas exhaust port sensor 27 can detect the open/closed state of the gas exhaust port 21 based on the presence or absence of contact with the gas exhaust port float 24. The gas exhaust port sensor 27 is connected to a control device (such as a computer).

A beverage supply port 28 that communicates below the partition 22 of the beverage storage chamber 12 is formed on the side of the midway lower structure 9 that is on the midway side of the beverage storage chamber 12 . This beverage supply port 28 is connected to the beverage supply section 3. Thereby, in the beverage delivery device 1, the beverage and gas supplied from the beverage supply section 3 flow into the beverage storage chamber 12 from the beverage supply port 28.

A beverage delivery port 29 with a circular horizontal cross section that communicates the lower part of the beverage storage chamber 12 with the upper part of the beverage delivery chamber 13 is formed in the center of the middle lower structure 9 that is the lower side of the beverage storage chamber 12. . Thereby, the beverage delivery device 1 forms a beverage delivery port 29 below the beverage storage chamber 12 for delivering the beverage from the beverage storage chamber 12 via the beverage delivery chamber 13.

Further, a beverage delivery valve 30 is provided at the center of the midway lower structure 9 that is on the lower side of the beverage storage chamber 12. This beverage delivery valve 30 is configured to open and close the beverage delivery port 29 from above using a beverage delivery port float 25. The beverage delivery valve 30 is provided with a beverage delivery port sensor 31 that detects contact with the beverage delivery port float 25 around the upper side of the beverage delivery port 29. This beverage outlet sensor 31 can detect the open/closed state of the beverage outlet 29 based on the presence or absence of contact with the beverage outlet float 25. The beverage outlet sensor 31 is connected to a control device (such as a computer).

The beverage delivery chamber 13 is formed below the center of the midway lower structure 9 and inside the lower structure 10.

A beverage supply port 32 communicating with the beverage dispensing chamber 13 is formed at the center of the lower part of the lower structure 10 on the lower side of the beverage dispensing chamber 13. This beverage supply port 32 is connected to the beverage supply section 4. Thereby, the beverage delivery device 1 is adapted to deliver the beverage from the beverage storage chamber 12 to the beverage providing section 4 via the beverage delivery chamber 13.

Inside the beverage delivery chamber 13, a connecting rod 33 connected to the beverage delivery port float 25 and a weight 34 are arranged (accommodated). In this way, by housing the weight 34 connected to the beverage outlet float 25 housed inside the beverage storage chamber 12 via the connecting rod 33 inside the beverage outlet chamber 13, the beverage outlet float 25 can be adjusted. This ensures that opening and closing operations are performed stably and reliably. Incidentally, the beverage outlet float 25 is configured to float together with the connecting rod 33 and the weight 34 by the beverage.

The beverage delivery device 1 is configured as described above, and supplies the beverage supplied from the beverage supply section 3 to the beverage supply section 4 while suppressing the outflow of gas from the beverage supply section 3 to the beverage supply section 4. I try to send it out as follows.

That is, as shown in FIG. 3(a), when the beverage is properly supplied from the beverage supply section 3, the beverage flows into the beverage storage chamber 12 from the beverage supply port 28, and the inside of the beverage storage chamber 12 is The beverage is stored in the container, and the beverage causes the gas outlet float 24 to levitate, closing the gas outlet 21 from below and closing the gas outlet valve 26, and the beverage causes the beverage outlet float 25 to levitate. to open the beverage delivery port 29 and the beverage delivery valve 30 to be in the open state. Thereby, the beverage is provided from the beverage supply section 3 to the beverage provision section 4 via the beverage delivery device 1 . In addition, in the control device, it is possible to detect that the gas exhaust valve 26 is closed and the beverage delivery valve 30 is open using the gas exhaust port sensor 27 and the beverage delivery port sensor 31. It is possible to recognize that the supply operation is being performed satisfactorily, and it is also possible to notify the user of this fact.

After that, as shown in FIG. 3(b), if the remaining amount of the beverage in the beverage supply section 3 decreases and the beverage supply section 3 starts supplying gas instead of beverage, the As the amount of beverage stored inside the storage chamber 12 decreases, the gas discharge port float 24 separates from the gas discharge port 21 to open the gas discharge port 21, and the gas discharge valve 26 opens. The beverage outlet float 25 continues to float due to the beverage, opening the beverage outlet 29, and the beverage outlet valve 30 remains open. As a result, the beverage is continuously supplied from the beverage supply section 3 to the beverage supply section 4 via the beverage delivery device 1, but the gas flows from the beverage storage chamber 12 to the gas storage chamber 11 and flows into the gas storage chamber. 11 and the beverage storage chamber 12, and is not supplied to the beverage providing section 4. In addition, the control device can detect that the gas exhaust valve 26 is opened and the beverage delivery valve 30 is opened by the gas exhaust port sensor 27 and the beverage delivery port sensor 31, and the remaining beverage is removed. It is possible to recognize that the amount has decreased and the normal beverage supply operation is at its end, and that the time to replace the beverage tank 5 is approaching, and it is also possible to notify the user of this fact.

After that, as shown in FIG. 3(c), when the beverage stored inside the beverage storage chamber 12 runs out, the gas exhaust port float 24 remains separated from the gas exhaust port 21. The gas discharge valve 26 continues to be opened, and the beverage delivery port float 25 closes the beverage delivery port 29 from above, and the beverage delivery valve 30 is also closed. As a result, the gas pressure is no longer applied to the beverage, and the supply of the beverage to the beverage serving section 4 is stopped. Gas is also stored in the gas storage chamber 11 and the beverage storage chamber 12, and is not supplied to the beverage serving section 4. In addition, in the control device, the gas exhaust port sensor 27 and the beverage delivery port sensor 31 can detect that the gas exhaust valve 26 is open and the beverage delivery valve 30 is closed, and the remaining beverage can be detected. It is possible to recognize that it is time to replace the beverage tank 5 because the amount has run out and the normal beverage supply operation has ended, and it is also possible to notify the user of this fact.

When replacing the beverage tank 5 and starting the beverage supply operation, as shown in FIG. As shown in (b), the operation button 17 is operated manually or automatically under the control of a control device to open the exhaust valve 14 and discharge the gas to the outside from the exhaust port 20.

After that, when the supply of beverage from the beverage supply unit 3 is started, as shown in FIG. 4(c), the operation button 17 is operated manually or automatically under control of the control device to close the exhaust valve 14. When the state is set, the beverage supplied from the beverage supply unit 3 is stored in the beverage storage chamber 12, the beverage makes the beverage outlet float 25 levitate, opens the beverage outlet 29, and the beverage outlet valve 30 opens. Become. Thereby, the beverage is provided from the beverage supply section 3 to the beverage provision section 4 via the beverage delivery device 1 . In addition, in the control device, it is possible to detect that the gas exhaust valve 26 is opened and the beverage delivery valve 30 is opened by the gas exhaust port sensor 27 and the beverage delivery port sensor 31. It is possible to recognize that the supply operation has started successfully, and it is also possible to notify the user of this fact.

As explained above, the beverage delivery device 1 forms a beverage storage chamber 12 for storing the beverage supplied from the beverage supply section 3, and a gas discharging chamber 12 for discharging the gas above the beverage storage chamber 12. In addition to providing a discharge port 21, a beverage delivery port 29 is provided below the beverage storage chamber 12 for delivering the beverage, and a gas discharge port float 24 and a beverage delivery port 29 are provided inside the beverage storage chamber 12 to open and close the gas discharge port 21. A float 25 for a beverage delivery port that opens and closes the opening and closing is provided so as to be able to float independently with the beverage stored inside the beverage storage chamber 12.

Therefore, in the beverage delivery device 1 configured as described above, the gas discharge port float 24 and the beverage delivery port float 25 are each independently and quickly floated by the beverage stored inside the beverage storage chamber 12, and the gas discharge port is 21 and the beverage outlet 29 can be opened and closed, so even if the remaining amount of beverage in the beverage supply section 3 is low, only foamy beverages or gas will not be provided from the beverage supply section 4. As such, the outflow of gas from the beverage supply section 3 to the beverage provision section 4 can be quickly suppressed.

In addition, the beverage delivery device 1 divides the beverage storage chamber 12 into upper and lower sections with a partition 22 through which the beverage and gas can permeate. It has a structure in which a float 25 for a beverage outlet is disposed on the lower side.

Therefore, in the beverage delivery device 1 having the above configuration, it is possible to prevent interference (contact) between the gas discharge port float 24 and the beverage delivery port float 25 inside the beverage storage chamber 12, thereby preventing malfunctions. can do.

The beverage delivery device 1 also includes a gas exhaust port sensor 27 for detecting the open/closed state of the gas discharge port float 24 at the gas discharge port 21, and a gas discharge port sensor 27 for detecting the open/closed state of the beverage delivery port float 25 for the beverage delivery port 29. The structure includes a sensor 31 for a beverage outlet.

Therefore, in the beverage delivery device 1 having the above configuration, the open/closed states of the gas discharge port 21 and the beverage delivery port 29 can be immediately detected, and control can be performed accordingly.

1 Beverage delivery device 2 Beverage providing mechanism 3 Beverage supply unit 4 Beverage providing unit 5 Beverage tank 6 Gas tank 7 Upper structure 8 Midway upper structure 9 Midway lower structure 10 Lower structure
11 Gas storage chamber 12 Beverage storage chamber
13 Beverage delivery chamber 14 Exhaust valve
15 Through hole 16 Connecting rod
17 Operation button 18 Spring
19 Valve body 20 Exhaust port
21 Gas outlet 22 Partition
23 Through hole 24 Float for gas outlet
25 Float for beverage outlet 26 Gas discharge valve
27 Sensor for gas outlet 28 Beverage supply outlet
29 Beverage outlet 30 Beverage outlet valve
31 Beverage outlet sensor 32 Beverage outlet
33 Connecting rod 34 Weight

Claims (3)

It is installed between a beverage supply section that supplies beverages using gas pressure and a beverage provision section that serves beverages, and is provided from the beverage supply section to the beverage provision section while suppressing the outflow of gas from the beverage supply section to the beverage provision section. In a beverage dispensing device for dispensing a beverage,
A beverage storage chamber is formed for storing the beverage supplied from the beverage supply section, a gas discharge port is provided above the beverage storage chamber for discharging gas, and the beverage is sent below the beverage storage chamber. A gas outlet float is provided inside the beverage storage chamber to open and close the gas exhaust port, and a beverage outlet float to open and close the beverage outlet is independent of each other depending on the beverage stored inside the beverage storage chamber. A beverage dispensing chamber is formed so as to be floatable, and communicates with the lower part of the beverage storage chamber via a beverage dispensing port, and a weight connected to a float for the beverage dispensing port via a connecting rod is housed inside the beverage dispensing chamber. A beverage dispensing device characterized in that a float for a beverage dispensing port is floated by the beverage integrally with a connecting rod and a weight . The beverage storage chamber is divided into upper and lower parts by a partition that allows permeation of beverage and gas, and the float for the gas discharge port is disposed above the partition, and the float for the beverage delivery port is disposed below the partition. The beverage dispensing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The gas exhaust port is provided with a gas exhaust port sensor that detects the open/closed state of the gas discharge port float, and the beverage delivery port is provided with a beverage delivery port sensor that detects the open/closed state of the beverage delivery port float. A beverage dispensing device according to claim 1 or claim 2.

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