JP7637898B2 - Beverage supply equipment - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to a beverage supply device and a beverage supply method.

Conventionally, in a beverage supply device that supplies a beverage from a nozzle to a container, a configuration for sterilizing the nozzle is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The beverage supply device described in Patent Document 1 includes a stand on which the container is placed, a discharge pipe (nozzle) that is disposed above the stand and supplies the beverage to the container, and an irradiation unit that is disposed below the stand. The stand is formed with an opening that allows ultraviolet light emitted from the irradiation unit to pass through. The ultraviolet light that passes through this opening is irradiated onto the discharge outlet of the discharge pipe, thereby disinfecting the discharge outlet.

JP 2018-104056 A

However, in the beverage dispenser of Patent Document 1, when a container is placed on the stand, the opening is blocked, making it impossible to properly sterilize the drinking spout of the container.

The present disclosure aims to provide a beverage supply device and a beverage supply method that can properly sterilize the drinking spout of a container.

The beverage supply device of the present disclosure comprises a container holding section that holds a container within a container lifting chamber , a nozzle that supplies a beverage to the container, an ultraviolet ray irradiation section, and a relative movement section that is capable of raising and lowering the container holding section until the distance from the container held by the container holding section to the nozzle reaches a set distance, and the ultraviolet ray irradiation section is provided on a side of the container lifting chamber and is configured to be able to irradiate ultraviolet rays onto the drinking spout of the container when the distance from the container to the nozzle reaches the set distance.

The beverage supply method disclosed herein is a beverage supply method performed by a beverage supply device that includes a container holding unit that holds a container, a nozzle that supplies a beverage to the container, and an ultraviolet ray irradiation unit, in which the beverage supply device moves the nozzle and the ultraviolet ray irradiation unit relative to the container holding unit until the distance from the container held by the container holding unit to the nozzle becomes a set distance, and irradiates ultraviolet rays using the ultraviolet ray irradiation unit to the drinking spout of the container when the distance from the container to the nozzle becomes the set distance.

The beverage supply device and beverage supply method disclosed herein can properly sterilize the drinking spout of the container.

Front view of the beverage dispenser FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container installation section and the beverage supply section as viewed from the front and diagonally upward right side; FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the container installation section as seen from the front and diagonally lower right side Block diagram of beverage supply device Flowchart of standby sterilization process FIG. 13 is a front view of the inside of the beverage dispenser when a sterilization process is being performed during standby; Flowchart of beverage serving process Flowchart of beverage serving process Flowchart of beverage serving process FIG. 13 is a front view of the inside of the beverage supply device when a sterilization process is being performed during the beverage serving process;

[Embodiment]
Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.

<Configuration of beverage supply device>
First, the configuration of the beverage dispenser will be described. Fig. 1 is a front view of the beverage dispenser. The front side is the side that the user of the beverage dispenser faces, and the rear side is the opposite side to the front side. The right side is the right side as seen from the user, and the left side is the opposite side to the right side. The upper side is the upper side when the beverage dispenser is installed on a horizontal plane, and the lower side is the opposite side to the upper side.

As shown in FIG. 1, the beverage supply device 1 includes a housing 10, an operation display unit 20, a container installation unit 30, and a beverage supply unit 40. The beverage supply device 1 supplies a beverage selected by a user operating the operation display unit 20 to a container C. Examples of the container C include a cup prepared by an employee or manager (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "employee, etc.") of a store or facility in which the beverage supply device 1 is installed, or a tumbler, water bottle, or cup brought in by a user of the beverage supply device.

A container insertion/removal opening 10A for inserting and removing the container C into and from the housing 10 is formed on the front surface of the housing 10. In addition, an insertion/removal opening door 11 for opening and closing the container insertion/removal opening 10A is arranged on the front surface of the housing 10. The insertion/removal opening door 11 is arranged so that it can rotate around the left end portion, for example. A mask 12 having a function of blocking ultraviolet rays U (see FIG. 2) is arranged on the upper part of the rear surface of the insertion/removal opening door 11 (the surface located on the inside side of the housing 10 when the insertion/removal opening door 11 is closed). This mask 12 can eliminate the influence of ultraviolet rays U on the user when ultraviolet rays U are irradiated to the drinking spout D (see FIG. 2) of the container C or the nozzle 42 (see FIG. 2) of the beverage supply unit 40 described later. The drinking spout D is the part of the container C that the user comes into contact with when drinking a beverage, and means at least the outer peripheral surface of the upper end side of the upper surface of the container C and the outer peripheral surface and inner peripheral surface of the upper end side.

Furthermore, an opening/closing sensor 13 is disposed above the container loading/unloading opening 10A on the front surface of the housing 10. The opening/closing sensor 13 is composed of a distance measurement sensor. When the opening/closing sensor 13 detects an operation by a user to open the loading/unloading opening door 11 (the user holds their hand over the opening/closing sensor 13), it outputs an operation detection signal.

The operation display unit 20 is located at the upper part on the front surface of the housing 10. The operation display unit 20 is used to select a beverage. The operation display unit 20 is configured with a touch panel. The operation display unit 20 displays selection buttons for selecting a beverage that can be served, and when a user presses an area corresponding to a specific selection button, outputs a beverage specification signal that specifies the pressed area to the control unit 75 (see FIG. 4) described below. Note that instead of the operation display unit 20, physical buttons for selecting a beverage that can be served may be arranged on the housing 10.

The container installation section 30 is disposed on the lower side inside the housing 10. The container C is installed in the container installation section 30. A detailed description of the container installation section 30 will be given later.

The beverage supply unit 40 is disposed inside the housing 10. The beverage supply unit 40 supplies the beverage selected by the user to a container C installed in the container installation unit 30. A detailed description of the beverage supply unit 40 will be given later.

Next, the detailed configuration of the container installation unit 30 will be described. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container installation unit 30 and the beverage supply unit 40 as viewed from the front and diagonally above to the right. As shown in FIG. 2, the container installation unit 30 includes a container lifting chamber 31 and a container holding unit 32. FIG. 2 shows a state in which a container C1, such as a relatively tall tumbler or water bottle, is installed in the container installation unit 30 as the container C.

The container lifting chamber 31 is formed in the shape of a vertically long rectangular box with an open front. The interior of the container lifting chamber 31 forms a lifting space in which the container C moves up and down. A beverage through hole 312 is formed in the left-right center of the top plate 311 that forms the container lifting chamber 31. The beverage supplied from the beverage supply unit 40 passes through the beverage through hole 312 and is supplied to the container C in the container lifting chamber 31. A rack through hole 313 is formed in the left side of the top plate 311.

The container holding unit 32 holds the container C in the container lifting chamber 31 and lifts and lowers the container C in the container lifting chamber 31. The container holding unit 32 includes a placement unit 33 and an adjustment unit 34.

The mounting section 33 is formed in a box shape with an open front and top. The mounting section 33 is arranged so that it can rise and fall within the container lifting chamber 31. The container C is placed on the bottom plate portion 331 of the mounting section 33.

The adjustment unit 34 adjusts the horizontal position of the container C by moving the container C horizontally in synchronization with the movement of the placement unit 33. The adjustment unit 34 includes a pair of abutment members 341 and an interlocking control unit (not shown).

The pair of abutment members 341 are formed in a shape that extends in the front-rear direction, and are arranged to sandwich the container C from the left and right. The interlocking control unit moves the pair of abutment members 341 in directions approaching each other in synchronization with the rise of the placement unit 33. The interlocking control unit also moves the pair of abutment members 341 in directions away from each other in synchronization with the descent of the placement unit 33.

Next, the detailed configuration of the beverage supply unit 40 will be described. The beverage supply unit 40 includes a beverage production unit 41 (see FIG. 4) that produces a beverage. The beverage production unit 41 includes, for example, a mechanism for extracting coffee from coffee beans, a mechanism for producing a powder beverage by diluting powder or granules with water or hot water, a mechanism for supplying milk, etc.

The beverage supply unit 40 further includes at least one nozzle 42 (six in this embodiment) and a nozzle holder 43. Each nozzle 42 is connected to the beverage production unit 41 via a pipe (not shown), and dispenses different beverages produced by the beverage production unit 41 into the container C. The nozzle holder 43 holds each nozzle 42 so that the beverage dispensed from each nozzle 42 is supplied to the container C in the container lifting chamber 31 through the beverage through hole 312.

3 is a perspective view of the container installation section 30 as viewed from the front and diagonally below to the right. As shown in FIG. 3, a reflecting section 35 made of a material such as aluminum that reflects ultraviolet rays U is disposed in the container lifting chamber 31. The reflecting section 35 includes an upper reflecting section 351 disposed on the lower surface of the top plate 311, a rear reflecting section 352 disposed in an upper and rear portion of the container lifting chamber 31, and a door-side reflecting section 353 (see FIG. 1) disposed on the rear surface of the loading/unloading door 11. The upper reflecting section 351 is configured to diffusely reflect ultraviolet rays U. The rear reflecting section 352 is formed in an arc plate shape and configured to regularly reflect ultraviolet rays U. One end of the rear reflecting section 352 in the circumferential direction of the arc is fixed to a central and upper portion of the left side plate 314 of the container lifting chamber 31 in the front-rear direction, and the other end is fixed to a central and upper portion of the right side plate 315 of the container lifting chamber 31 in the front-rear direction. The rear reflecting portion 352 is disposed so as to be recessed toward the rear in a plan view. The door side reflecting portion 353 is formed in a flat plate shape and configured to specularly reflect the ultraviolet rays U. The door side reflecting portion 353 is disposed on the mask 12. The upper reflecting portion 351 may be configured to specularly reflect the ultraviolet rays U, or at least one of the rear reflecting portion 352 and the door side reflecting portion 353 may be configured to diffusely reflect the ultraviolet rays U. The mask 12 may be provided with a function to specularly or diffusely reflect the ultraviolet rays U without disposing the door side reflecting portion 353 on the mask 12. The reflecting surface of the door side reflecting portion 353 may be formed in a concave shape. When the mask 12 is provided with a function to specularly or diffusely reflect the ultraviolet rays U, the reflecting surface of the mask 12 may be formed in a concave shape. FIG. 3 shows a state in which a container C2, such as a water bottle or a cup with a relatively low height, is disposed on the container mounting portion 30 as the container C.

The left side plate 332 of the mounting portion 33 is provided with a rack portion 51 that is provided so as to extend from the lower end of the left side plate 332 to a position above the left side plate 332. A rack groove (not shown) is formed over almost the entire left main surface of the rack portion 51. The rack portion 51 is provided so as to pass through the rack through hole 313 when the mounting portion 33 is raised.

The beverage dispenser 1 further includes a relative movement unit 50 that raises and lowers the container holding unit 32. The relative movement unit 50 includes the rack unit 51 and the lifting motor 52 described above. The lifting motor 52 is, for example, a servo motor. A drive gear 521 is disposed on the rotation shaft of the lifting motor 52. The lifting motor 52 is disposed so that a portion of the drive gear 521 is located inside the container lifting chamber 31 through a gear through-hole formed in the left side plate 314 of the container lifting chamber 31 and engages with the rack groove. The container holding unit 32 is raised and lowered by driving the lifting motor 52.

The beverage supply device 1 further includes an ultraviolet ray irradiation unit 60. The ultraviolet ray irradiation unit 60 includes a pair of ultraviolet ray LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) 61. The pair of ultraviolet ray LEDs 61 are configured to irradiate ultraviolet ray U radially (conically). The pair of ultraviolet ray LEDs 61 are fixed to the front and upper portions of the left side plate 314 and the right side plate 315 of the container lifting chamber 31, respectively. The pair of ultraviolet ray LEDs 61 are configured such that their optical axes 61A are inclined upward with respect to the horizontal plane, and the ultraviolet ray U is irradiated obliquely upward. In other words, each ultraviolet ray LED 61 is configured to irradiate ultraviolet ray U to the drinking spout D and nozzle 42 of the container C that are located above the ultraviolet ray LED 61 and within the irradiation range of the ultraviolet ray U. The ultraviolet ray irradiation unit 60 may include a light source that irradiates ultraviolet ray U, such as a fluorescent lamp, in addition to the ultraviolet ray LEDs 61 or instead of the ultraviolet ray LEDs 61.

Under the control of the control unit 75, the ultraviolet ray irradiation unit 60 irradiates ultraviolet ray U while the beverage supply device 1 is on standby and not serving a beverage, or while the beverage supply device 1 is serving a beverage. When ultraviolet ray U is irradiated while on standby, the nozzle 42 is sterilized because the container C is not present in the container installation unit 30. On the other hand, when ultraviolet ray U is irradiated during the beverage supply process, the drinking spout D and the nozzle 42 are sterilized because the container C is present in the container installation unit 30.

Figure 4 is a block diagram of the beverage dispenser 1. As shown in Figure 4, the beverage dispenser 1 further includes an inlet door opening/closing unit 70, a sterilization button 71, a detection unit 72, a timer unit 73, a memory unit 74, and a control unit 75.

The loading/unloading door opening/closing unit 70 opens and closes the loading/unloading door 11. It is equipped with an opening/closing motor 701, a locking unit 702, and the opening/closing sensor 13 described above.

A drive gear that meshes with a driven gear fixed to a rotating shaft (not shown) of the loading/unloading door 11 is fixed to the rotating shaft (not shown) of the opening/closing motor 701. The opening/closing motor 701 is driven under the control of the control unit 75 to open and close the loading/unloading door 11. The lock unit 702, based on the control of the control unit 75, locks the loading/unloading door 11 from a fully closed state so that it cannot be opened. Note that a well-known configuration having the above-mentioned function can be applied as the lock unit 702.

The sterilization button 71 is an example of a sterilization operation unit, and when pressed by an employee or the like, outputs a sterilization start signal indicating that the button has been pressed to the control unit 75. The sterilization button 71 is pressed when an employee or the like wishes to forcibly sterilize the nozzle 42. The sterilization button 71 may be displayed on the operation display unit 20, or may be configured as a physical button arranged on the housing 10. Note that although the sterilization button 71 has been exemplified as an example of a sterilization operation unit, a switch may also be used.

The detection unit 72 includes a container origin switch 721, a container detection unit 722, and a top position detection unit 723.

The container origin switch 721 detects that the container holder 32 is located at the bottom of the range of movement of the container holder 32 (see FIG. 6). In the following, the bottom position of the range of movement of the container holder 32 may be referred to as the "origin position". The container detection unit 722 detects that the container C is present in the container holder 32 located at the origin position. The top position detection unit 723 detects that the container C placed on the container holder 32 is located at a preset top position. The top position is the position where the container C is located when the distance from the top end of the container C to the bottom end of the nozzle 42 becomes a set distance (see FIGS. 2, 3, and 9). When the container C is located at the top position, the spout D is located on the optical axis 61A of the ultraviolet LED 61, and the ultraviolet light U is reliably irradiated to the spout D. The container origin switch 721, the container detection unit 722, and the top position detection unit 723 can be configured as known configurations having the above-mentioned functions.

The timekeeping unit 73 keeps track of the current time. The timekeeping unit 73 also functions as a timer. The timekeeping unit 73 outputs information about the current time and the remaining time in the timer function to the control unit 75.

The memory unit 74 is configured to be able to transmit and receive various data to and from the control unit 75. The memory unit 74 stores various data for controlling the beverage supply device 1. For example, the memory unit 74 stores a waiting time from the end of beverage supply (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as a "sterilization waiting time"), which is a criterion for starting sterilization of the nozzle 42 during standby. The sterilization waiting time may be a time during which the proliferation of bacteria in the nozzle 42 does not start after the end of beverage supply and before the sterilization waiting time has elapsed. The memory unit 74 also stores a time at which sterilization of the nozzle 42 starts (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as a "sterilization start time"). The memory unit 74 also stores a time for which sterilization is continued when sterilizing the nozzle 42 during standby (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as a "sterilization duration"). Note that employees can freely set the sterilization waiting time, sterilization start time, and sterilization duration, or they can choose not to set them.

The control unit 75 is configured to transmit and receive various signals between the operation display unit 20, the beverage preparation unit 41, the lifting motor 52, the UV LED 61, the loading/unloading door opening/closing unit 70, the sterilization button 71, the detection unit 72, and the timing unit 73. The control unit 75 controls the entire beverage supply device 1. The control performed by the control unit 75 will be described later.

<Operation of the beverage dispenser>
Next, a description will be given of the operation of the beverage supply device 1. As described above, the beverage supply device 1 performs sterilization during standby or during the beverage supply process. The details of these sterilization processes will be described below.

(Sterilization during standby)
First, the sterilization process during standby will be described. Fig. 5 is a flow chart of the sterilization process during standby. Fig. 6 is a front view of the inside of the beverage dispenser 1 when the sterilization process during standby is being performed.

First, in a state where the container holding unit 32 without a container C placed thereon is waiting at the origin position (see FIG. 6), the control unit 75 determines whether or not the sterilization standby time has elapsed since the end of the serving of the last beverage, as shown in FIG. 5 (step S1). The control unit 75 performs the determination process of step S1 based on the elapsed time from the end of the serving of the last beverage, which is timed by the timing unit 73, and the sterilization standby time stored in the memory unit 74. If the control unit 75 determines that the sterilization standby time has not elapsed since the end of the serving of the beverage (step S1: NO), it determines whether or not the current time timed by the timing unit 73 is the sterilization start time stored in the memory unit 74 (step S2). If the control unit 75 determines that the current time is not the sterilization start time (step S2: NO), it determines whether or not the sterilization button 71 has been pressed (step S3). If the control unit 75 determines that the sterilization button 71 has not been pressed (step S3: NO), it ends the standby sterilization process.

On the other hand, when the control unit 75 determines that the sterilization waiting time has elapsed since the end of the beverage serving (step S1: YES), or when the control unit 75 determines that the current time is the sterilization start time (step S2: YES), or when the control unit 75 determines that the sterilization button 71 has been pressed (step S3: YES), it controls the lock unit 702 to lock the loading/unloading door 11 in a fully closed state (step S4). Next, the control unit 75 controls the ultraviolet ray irradiation unit 60 to sterilize the nozzle 42 by irradiating ultraviolet rays U (step S5). By the process of step S5, as shown in FIG. 6, the ultraviolet rays U emitted from the ultraviolet ray irradiation unit 60 are directly irradiated to the nozzle 42. In addition, after the ultraviolet ray irradiation unit 60 irradiates the rear reflector 352, the ultraviolet ray U reflected by the rear reflector 352 is irradiated to the nozzle 42. In addition, after the ultraviolet ray irradiation unit 60 irradiates the door side reflector 353, the ultraviolet ray U reflected by the door side reflector 353 is irradiated to the nozzle 42. The control unit 75 continues sterilizing the nozzle 42 until the time elapsed from the start of sterilization measured by the timing unit 73 reaches the sterilization duration stored in the memory unit 74.

In the following, ultraviolet light U emitted from the ultraviolet light irradiation unit 60 and directly irradiated to the nozzle 42 or the drinking spout D may be referred to as ultraviolet light U0. Furthermore, ultraviolet light U irradiated from the ultraviolet light irradiation unit 60 to the upward reflecting unit 351, reflected by the upward reflecting unit 351, and irradiated to the drinking spout D may be referred to as ultraviolet light U1. Furthermore, ultraviolet light U irradiated from the ultraviolet light irradiation unit 60 to the rearward reflecting unit 352, reflected by the rearward reflecting unit 352, and irradiated to the nozzle 42 or the drinking spout D may be referred to as ultraviolet light U2.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the control unit 75 finishes sterilization of the nozzle 42, it controls the lock unit 702 to unlock the loading/unloading door 11 (step S6), and ends the standby sterilization process. The above steps S1 to S6 are repeated until the user uses the open/close sensor 13 to open the loading/unloading door 11, that is, until beverage serving begins. Note that if the user opens the loading/unloading door 11 during irradiation of ultraviolet light U in step S5, the control unit 75 immediately finishes sterilization of the nozzle 42, performs the process of step S6, and then begins serving the beverage.

As described above, even when the beverage supply device 1 is on standby, it sterilizes the nozzle 42 when the sterilization standby time has elapsed since the beverage supply has ended (a predetermined time has elapsed since the beverage supply has ended), when the sterilization start time arrives, or when the sterilization button 71 is pressed, so that the nozzle 42 can be kept clean.

In addition, during standby sterilization processing, the beverage dispenser 1 locks the loading/unloading door 11 while ultraviolet rays U0, U2 and ultraviolet rays U reflected by the door-side reflector 353 are being irradiated. In this way, by preventing the loading/unloading door 11 from being opened while ultraviolet rays U are being irradiated, it is possible to prevent the adverse effects of ultraviolet rays U from reaching the user.

(Beverage serving process)
Next, the beverage providing process will be described. Figures 7, 8 and 9 are flowcharts of the beverage providing process. Figure 10 is a front view of the inside of the beverage dispenser 1 when a sterilization process is being performed during the beverage providing process.

First, when the container holder 32, which does not have a container C placed thereon, waits at the origin position, the control unit 75 determines whether or not an operation to open the loading/unloading door 11 has been performed based on the output state of the operation detection signal from the opening/closing sensor 13 as shown in Fig. 7 (step S11). If the control unit 75 determines that an operation to open the loading/unloading door 11 has not been performed (step S11: NO), it performs the process of step S11 again. On the other hand, if the control unit 75 determines that an operation to open the loading/unloading door 11 has been performed (step S11: YES), it controls the opening/closing motor 701 to open the loading/unloading door 11 (step S12).

Next, the control unit 75 determines whether or not a container C is present in the container holding unit 32 located at the origin position, that is, whether or not a container C has been placed in the container holding unit 32, based on the detection result of the container detection unit 722 (step S13). If the control unit 75 determines that a container C is not present (step S13: NO), it performs the process of step S13 again. On the other hand, if the control unit 75 determines that a container C has been placed in the container holding unit 32 (step S13: YES), it determines whether or not a beverage has been selected by operating the selection button, based on the output state of the beverage specification signal from the operation display unit 20 (step S14). If the control unit 75 determines that a beverage has not been selected (step S14: NO), it performs the process of step S14 again.

On the other hand, when the control unit 75 determines that a beverage has been selected (step S14: YES), it controls the open/close motor 701 to close the loading/unloading door 11, and then controls the locking unit 702 to lock the loading/unloading door 11 (step S15). When the loading/unloading door 11 is locked, the control unit 75 controls the ultraviolet ray irradiation unit 60 to start irradiating ultraviolet rays U (step S16).

8, the control unit 75 determines whether the container C is in the top position based on the detection result of the top position detection unit 723 (step S17). When the control unit 75 determines that the container C is in the top position (step S17: YES), it determines the amount of beverage to be supplied (step S18). For example, the control unit 75 may determine the supply amount based on the amount of movement of the container holding unit 32 from the origin position to a position where the distance from the top end of the container C to the bottom end of the nozzle 42 is a set distance (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as the "holding unit movement amount"). In this case, the control unit 75 increases the supply amount as the holding unit movement amount is shorter, that is, the container C is higher and has a larger capacity. When the process of step S17 determines that the container C is in the top position, the holding unit movement amount is 0, so the supply amount is the largest. Examples of methods for detecting the holding unit movement amount include a method of detecting based on the rotation angle of the lifting motor 52, and a method of detecting based on the rising speed of the container holding unit 32 and the time from the start of the rise to the end of the rise.

Here, in step S17, the container C is determined to be in the top position when the container C is a container C1 such as a tumbler or water bottle that is relatively tall as shown in FIG. 10. In this case, the drinking spout D1 of the container C1 is located above the ultraviolet LED 61 and on the optical axis 61A of the ultraviolet LED 61. Therefore, when the irradiation of ultraviolet light U in step S16 is started, the drinking spout D1 is sterilized by the ultraviolet light U0, U1, U2 and the ultraviolet light U reflected by the door side reflector 353. In this way, the ultraviolet light U1 reflected by the upper reflector 351, the ultraviolet light U2 reflected by the rear reflector 352, and the ultraviolet light U reflected by the door side reflector 353 are irradiated to the drinking spout D1, so that the amount of ultraviolet light U irradiated to the drinking spout D1 can be increased compared to when the upper reflector 351, the rear reflector 352, and the door side reflector 353 are not arranged. Therefore, the sterilization ability of the drinking spout D1 can be improved. Furthermore, when irradiation of ultraviolet light U begins, the nozzle 42 is sterilized by ultraviolet light U0, U2 and ultraviolet light U reflected by the door-side reflector 353, just as in the case of standby sterilization processing. In other words, sterilization of the drinking spout D1 and nozzle 42 begins almost simultaneously with the start of irradiation of ultraviolet light U.

As shown in FIG. 8, if the control unit 75 determines that the container C is not in the uppermost position (step S17: NO), it controls the lift motor 52 to start raising the container holding unit 32 (step S19).

Here, in step S17, it is determined that container C is not at the top position when container C is, for example, a container C2 such as a water bottle or cup with a relatively low height as shown in FIG. 3. In this case, the drinking spout D2 of container C2 is located considerably lower than the ultraviolet LED 61 and is outside the irradiation range of ultraviolet light U. Therefore, even if irradiation of ultraviolet light U is started in step S16, ultraviolet light U is not irradiated onto drinking spout D2, and sterilization of drinking spout D2 does not start. However, as in the case of standby sterilization processing, ultraviolet light U0, U2 and ultraviolet light U reflected by the door side reflector 353 are irradiated onto nozzle 42 (nozzle 42 is not shown in FIG. 3), and sterilization of nozzle 42 starts.

8, when the container holding unit 32 starts to rise by the process of step S19, the control unit 75 determines whether or not the container C is in the top position based on the detection result of the top position detection unit 723 (step S20). If the control unit 75 determines that the container C is not in the top position (step S20: NO), it performs the process of step S20 again. On the other hand, if the control unit 75 determines that the upper end of the container C is in the top position (step S20: YES), it controls the lift motor 52 so that the rise of the container holding unit 32 ends (step S21). This process of step S21 stops the container holding unit 32 at a position where the distance from the upper end of the container C to the lower end of the nozzle 42 is the set distance.

For example, in step S20, a container C2 such as a water bottle or cup with a relatively low height as shown in FIG. 3 is determined to have its upper end at the uppermost position. In this case, the drinking spout D2 of the container C2 is located above the ultraviolet LED 61 and on the optical axis 61A of the ultraviolet LED 61. Therefore, the drinking spout D2 is sterilized by ultraviolet rays U0, U1, U2 and ultraviolet rays U reflected by the door side reflector 353. Sterilization of the drinking spout D2 of such a container C2 is initiated from the timing when the drinking spout D2 begins to enter the irradiation range of ultraviolet rays U, which is the timing between when the container C2 starts to rise and when it is determined that the upper end of the container C2 is at the uppermost position.

As described above, the beverage dispenser 1 moves the nozzle 42 and the ultraviolet irradiating unit 60 relative to the container holding unit 32 until the distance from the container C to the nozzle 42 reaches the set distance, and then irradiates the drinking spout D of the container C with ultraviolet light U. Therefore, even when the container C is placed on the container holding unit 32, the drinking spout D of the container C can be properly sterilized. Furthermore, the distance from the drinking spout D to the ultraviolet irradiating unit 60 can be made approximately the same regardless of the height of the container C. Therefore, the drinking spouts D of containers C of various heights can be properly sterilized with the same sterilization ability.

Furthermore, if the nozzle 42 and the ultraviolet ray irradiation unit 60 are moved to approach the container C, the following problems arise. For example, the resin pipes connecting the nozzle 42 and the beverage production unit 41, and the wiring supplying power to the ultraviolet LEDs 61 of the ultraviolet ray irradiation unit 60, bend and stretch as the nozzle 42 and the ultraviolet ray irradiation unit 60 move up and down. This causes problems such as the risk of damage to the pipes and wiring, and the need to provide space to allow movement of the pipes and wiring. However, by moving the container C while fixing the nozzle 42 and the ultraviolet ray irradiation unit 60, as in this embodiment, the above problems can be eliminated.

After performing the process of step S21, the control unit 75 determines the amount of beverage to be supplied (step S18). As described above, the control unit 75 determines the amount of beverage to be supplied based on, for example, the amount of movement of the holding unit. The control unit 75 then controls the beverage production unit 41 to supply the beverage selected by the user to the container C in the amount determined in step S18 (step S22). When the supply of the beverage is completed, the control unit 75 controls the ultraviolet ray irradiation unit 60 to end the irradiation of ultraviolet ray U (step S23). This end of the irradiation of ultraviolet ray U completes the sterilization of the drinking spout D and the nozzle 42.

As described above, the control unit 75 sterilizes the drinking spout D and the nozzle 42 by irradiating the ultraviolet light U while the beverage is being supplied to the container C. Since the sterilization effect is proportional to the product of the intensity of the ultraviolet light U and the irradiation time, by irradiating the ultraviolet light U while the beverage is being supplied, as in this embodiment, it is possible to appropriately sterilize the drinking spout D and the nozzle 42 while suppressing the output of the ultraviolet light LED 61.

When irradiation of the ultraviolet light U is completed, the control unit 75 controls the locking unit 702 to unlock the loading/unloading door 11, and then controls the opening/closing motor 701 to open the loading/unloading door 11 (step S24).

As described above, the control unit 75 locks the loading/unloading door 11 while ultraviolet light U is being irradiated during the sterilization process while the beverage is being served. In this way, by preventing the loading/unloading door 11 from being opened while ultraviolet light U is being irradiated, it is possible to prevent the harmful effects of ultraviolet light U from being exerted on the user.

9, the control unit 75 determines whether the container C that was in the top position continues to exist, that is, whether the container C has been removed from the beverage dispenser 1, based on the detection result of the top position detection unit 723 (step S25). If the control unit 75 determines that the container C has not been removed (step S25: NO), it performs the process of step S25 again.

On the other hand, when the control unit 75 determines that the container C has been removed (step S25: YES), it controls the open/close motor 701 to close the loading/unloading door 11 (step S26). Next, the control unit 75 controls the lift motor 52 to start the descent of the container holding unit 32 (step S27). The control unit 75 determines whether the container holding unit 32 has reached the origin position based on the on/off state of the container origin switch 721 (step S28). When the control unit 75 determines that the container holding unit 32 has not reached the origin position (step S28: NO), it performs the process of step S28 again. On the other hand, when the control unit 75 determines that the container holding unit 32 has reached the origin position (step S28: YES), it controls the lift motor 52 to end the descent of the container holding unit 32 (step S29). This ends the beverage serving process.

[Modification]
Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

For example, as a configuration for moving the nozzle 42 and the ultraviolet irradiation unit 60 relative to the container holding unit 32, a configuration in which the nozzle 42 and the ultraviolet irradiation unit 60 are fixed and the container holding unit 32 is moved has been exemplified, but the container holding unit 32 may be fixed and the nozzle 42 and the ultraviolet irradiation unit 60 may be lowered until the distance from the upper end of the container C to the lower end of the nozzle 42 becomes the set distance. In this case, the amount of movement of the nozzle 42 and the ultraviolet irradiation unit 60 becomes the amount of relative movement of the nozzle 42 and the ultraviolet irradiation unit 60 with respect to the container holding unit 32 until the distance from the upper end of the container C to the lower end of the nozzle 42 becomes the set distance. Also, the nozzle 42 and the ultraviolet irradiation unit 60 may be lowered and the container holding unit 32 may be raised until the distance from the upper end of the container C to the lower end of the nozzle 42 becomes the set distance.

The beverage dispenser 1 may be provided with only one or two of the upper reflector 351, rear reflector 352, and door-side reflector 353.

The beverage dispenser 1 may be provided without the locking section 702, and the loading/unloading door 11 may not be locked while irradiating ultraviolet light U.

The drinking spout D and nozzle 42 may be sterilized only after the distance from the top end of the container C to the bottom end of the nozzle 42 reaches a set distance and before the supply of the beverage begins. Also, the drinking spout D and nozzle 42 may be sterilized only from the start to the end of the supply of the beverage.

The ultraviolet irradiating unit 60 may not irradiate the nozzle 42 with ultraviolet rays U. Also, the ultraviolet LED 61 that irradiates the spout D with ultraviolet rays U and the ultraviolet LED 61 that irradiates the nozzle 42 with ultraviolet rays U may be separately arranged in the beverage dispenser 1. The ultraviolet LED 61 may be arranged so that the optical axis 61A is parallel to the horizontal plane or inclined downward relative to the horizontal plane.

To prevent the ultraviolet LEDs 61 from becoming dirty or from irradiating the outside of the beverage dispenser 1 with ultraviolet light, an LED cover may be provided to cover the ultraviolet LEDs 61. A part of the LED cover is preferably made of UV-transmitting resin (transmitting UV-A and UV-B), or UV-transmitting glass, or quartz glass (transmitting UV-C). In this case, it is preferable to form the UV-transmitting resin, UV-transmitting glass, or quartz glass into a concave lens shape. With this configuration, the concave lens of the LED cover can widen the irradiation range of the ultraviolet light U, while the part of the LED cover other than the concave lens can limit the irradiation range of the ultraviolet light U. In addition, it is preferable that the LED cover can be removed from the beverage dispenser 1. With this configuration, the LED cover can be easily cleaned. In addition, the entire LED cover may be made of a material that is opaque to ultraviolet light U, and a mechanism may be provided to move the LED cover so that when a container C is not placed on the container holder 32, the ultraviolet LEDs 61 are covered by the LED cover, and when a container C is placed on the container holder 32, the ultraviolet LEDs 61 are not covered by the LED cover.

This disclosure can be applied to beverage supply devices and beverage supply methods.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 beverage supply device 10 housing 10A container loading/unloading opening 11 loading/unloading opening door 12 mask 13 opening/closing sensor 20 operation display unit 30 container installation unit 31 container lifting/lowering chamber 32 container holding unit 33 placement unit 34 adjustment unit 35 reflection unit 40 beverage supply unit 41 beverage preparation unit 42 nozzle 43 nozzle holding unit 50 relative movement unit 51 rack unit 52 lifting/lowering motor 60 ultraviolet ray irradiation unit 61 ultraviolet ray LED
61A Optical axis 70 Loading/unloading door opening/closing section 71 Sterilization button 72 Detection section 73 Timer section 74 Memory section 75 Control section 311 Top plate 312 Beverage through hole 313 Rack through hole 314 Left side plate 315 Right side plate 331 Bottom plate section 332 Left side plate 341 Abutment member 351 Upper reflecting section 352 Rear reflecting section 353 Door side reflecting section 521 Drive gear 701 Opening/closing motor 702 Lock section 721 Container origin switch 722 Container detection section 723 Top position detection section C, C1, C2 Container D, D1, D2 Drinking spout U, U0, U1, U2 Ultraviolet light

Claims (7)

a container holding section for holding a container in the container lifting chamber ;
a nozzle for dispensing a beverage into the container;
An ultraviolet ray irradiation unit;
a relative movement unit capable of raising and lowering the container holding unit until a distance from the container held by the container holding unit to the nozzle becomes a set distance,
The ultraviolet ray irradiation unit is provided on a side surface of the container lifting chamber and is configured to irradiate ultraviolet rays onto the drinking spout of the container when the distance from the container to the nozzle becomes the set distance.
Beverage supply equipment. A reflecting unit that reflects the ultraviolet light irradiated from the ultraviolet light irradiating unit toward the drinking spout of the container is disposed on the top plate housing of the container lifting chamber .
2. The beverage dispenser of claim 1 . a housing that accommodates the container holding unit, the container lifting chamber, the nozzle, the ultraviolet ray irradiation unit, and the relative movement unit;
A container insertion/removal opening for inserting and removing the container into and from the housing is formed on one surface of the housing,
The housing is provided with an access door for opening and closing the container access port,
The reflecting portion is disposed on the access door and includes a door-side reflecting portion that reflects the ultraviolet light toward the drinking spout.
3. The beverage dispenser of claim 2 . A locking unit is disposed in the housing to lock the access door relative to the housing while the ultraviolet irradiation unit is irradiating the ultraviolet light.
4. The beverage dispenser of claim 3 . The ultraviolet ray irradiation unit irradiates the drinking spout with the ultraviolet ray while the beverage is being supplied to the container.
A beverage dispensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 . The ultraviolet ray irradiation unit is configured to irradiate the nozzle with ultraviolet rays.
A beverage dispensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 . the ultraviolet ray irradiation unit irradiates the nozzle with the ultraviolet ray at least one of the following timings: while the beverage is being supplied to the container, after a predetermined time has elapsed since the supply of the beverage is completed, and at a preset time.
7. The beverage dispenser of claim 6 .