JP7809592B2 - Automated mechanism for beverage dispenser and beverage dispenser - Google Patents

Description

This application relates to an automated mechanism for a beverage dispenser and a beverage dispenser.

Patent Document 1 discloses an air-cooled beverage server for dispensing beverages stored in beverage containers. The beverage server includes a refrigerator for storing and cooling the beverage containers, and a hollow tower that protrudes upward from the refrigerator and has a discharge portion at its top for dispensing the beverage. The beverage containers and the discharge portion are connected by a hose unit that is placed inside the tower, and the tower has an opening at its top for removing the hose unit.

With a so-called tower-type beverage server, such as that shown in Patent Document 1, the beverage server can be kept clean by periodically replacing the hose unit, and there is no need for daily cleaning of the piping or periodic major cleaning, which significantly reduces the amount of work required to clean the beverage server. However, beverages must be dispensed manually, which increases the amount of work required when large amounts of beverages are consumed in restaurants and other establishments.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-100426

In consideration of the above-mentioned issues, the present invention aims to provide an automated mechanism for a beverage dispenser and a beverage dispenser that can improve the efficiency of dispensing operations.

One aspect of the present disclosure is an automated mechanism attached to a beverage dispenser, comprising: a hollow tower extending vertically above a beverage container and having a discharge portion at its upper portion for dispensing a beverage from the beverage container; and a cock located above the tower for opening and closing the discharge portion; the beverage container and the discharge portion are connected by a hose unit that is placed inside the tower; and the tower has an opening at its upper portion for attaching and detaching the hose unit to the beverage container and the discharge portion. The automated mechanism for a beverage dispenser includes a cock operating unit attached above the tower opening for operating the cock; and a base attached below the tower opening, separately from the cock operating unit, for placing a beverage container onto which the beverage is poured.

Furthermore, in another aspect of the present disclosure, the base portion of the automated mechanism of the beverage dispenser may be configured to be tiltable.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the automated mechanism of the beverage dispenser may include a control unit that links the cock operating unit and the basin unit.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the tap operating section of the automated mechanism for the beverage dispenser may be formed in the shape of a plate extending horizontally toward the tap, and may include a slide section with an insertion hole at one end for fitting over the top of the tap, a connecting section hingedly connected to the other end of the slide section, and a drive mechanism for sliding the connecting section horizontally.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the tower of the automated mechanism of the beverage dispenser may be configured so that the top side can be opened and closed, and the cock operating unit may be attached to the top side.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is a beverage dispenser comprising: a hollow tower extending vertically above a beverage container and having a discharge portion at its upper portion for dispensing a beverage from the beverage container; a cock arranged above the tower for opening and closing the discharge portion; a hose unit arranged through the interior of the tower and connecting the beverage container to the discharge portion; an opening formed at the top of the tower for attaching and detaching the hose unit to the beverage container and the discharge portion; a cock operating portion attached above the tower opening for operating the cock; and a base portion attached below the tower opening separately from the cock operating portion for placing a beverage container on which to pour the beverage.

Furthermore, in another aspect of the present disclosure, the basin portion of the beverage dispenser may be configured to be tiltable.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the beverage dispenser may also include a control unit that links the cock operating unit and the basin unit.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the tap operating part of the beverage dispenser may be formed in the shape of a plate extending horizontally toward the tap, and may include a slide part with an insertion hole at one end for fitting over the top of the tap, a connecting part hingedly connected to the other end of the slide part, and a drive mechanism for sliding the connecting part horizontally.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the beverage dispenser tower may be configured so that the top side can be opened and closed, and the cock operating unit may be attached to the top side.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the cock actuating unit can actuate the cock and dispense a beverage into a drinking container placed on the receiving base. This allows the user to dispense a beverage into a drinking container without having to manually actuate the cock, reducing the user's workload. This improves the efficiency of the beverage dispensing process. Furthermore, the cock actuating unit of the automated mechanism for actuating the beverage dispenser's cock is attached to the beverage dispenser above the tower opening. Furthermore, the receiving base of the automated mechanism, on which the drinking container is placed to dispense the beverage, is attached to the beverage dispenser below the tower opening, separately from the cock actuating unit. This allows the automated mechanism to be attached to the beverage dispenser without blocking or obstructing the tower opening. As a result, even when the automated mechanism is attached, the hose unit, which is arranged through the interior of the tower and connects the beverage container to the discharge unit, can be attached and detached through the tower opening. This reduces the workload required to clean the beverage dispenser and improves the efficiency of the beverage dispensing process.

Furthermore, according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the pedestal of the beverage dispenser is configured to be tiltable. This allows the pedestal on which the drinking container is placed to be tilted when dispensing the beverage, thereby reducing the impact on the poured beverage and preserving the flavor of the beverage. In this way, the adjustment work that the user performs when pouring the beverage into the drinking container can be performed by an automated mechanism, making the beverage dispensing process more efficient.

Furthermore, according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the automation mechanism includes a control unit that links the cock actuator and the base unit. This allows the cock actuator to tilt the base unit in time with the timing of pouring the beverage into the drinking container, minimizing impact on the beverage and preserving the flavor of the beverage. In this way, the automation mechanism can perform the adjustments that a user makes when pouring a beverage into a drinking container, making the beverage dispensing process more efficient.

In addition, according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the upper part of the faucet can be fitted into an insertion hole formed at one end of a plate-shaped sliding section. The other end of the sliding section is hingedly connected to the connecting section, and the connecting section can be slid horizontally by a drive mechanism. This allows the faucet to tilt in accordance with the sliding of the sliding section. This allows the discharge section to be opened and closed to inject a beverage into a drinking container, thereby making the beverage dispensing process more efficient.

Furthermore, according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the top side of the beverage dispenser tower is configured to be openable and closable, allowing the hose unit to be removed from the top side. The cock operating unit is also attached to the top side of the tower. Therefore, even when an automated mechanism is installed, the top side of the tower can be opened to attach and detach the hose unit. This reduces the amount of work required to clean the beverage dispenser and makes the beverage dispensing process more efficient.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a beverage dispenser according to this embodiment. FIG. 2 shows a side view of the beverage dispenser. FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the tower. Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the hose unit removed from the beverage dispenser. FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the inside of the cock operating portion. FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the cock actuator attached to the tower lid. FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the saddle portion. FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the control unit. FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the pedestal portion. 10A and 10B are perspective views showing the operating states of the cock operating portion, where (a) shows the foam dispensing state, (b) shows the standby state, and (c) shows the beverage dispensing state.

The following describes a beverage dispenser and its automation mechanism (hereinafter referred to as the automation mechanism) according to an embodiment, with reference to the accompanying drawings. Similar or corresponding elements are given the same reference numerals, and duplicate explanations will be omitted. For ease of understanding, the scale of the drawings may be changed.

1 and 2 show a beverage dispenser 10 equipped with an automated mechanism 12 according to this embodiment. The automated mechanism 12 includes a cock actuation unit 14 and a base unit 16, which are separately attached to the beverage dispenser 10. Specifically, the cock actuation unit 14 for actuating the cock 20, which is the tap of the beverage dispenser 10, is attached above an opening 30 (see FIG. 4) formed at the top of the tower 18 of the beverage dispenser 10, and the base unit 16 for placing a drinking container (not shown) for pouring a beverage is attached below the opening 30, separately from the cock actuation unit 14.

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the beverage dispenser 10 with the automation mechanism 12 removed. The beverage dispenser 10 includes a tower 18 having a tubular shape, here a cylindrical main body 22, extending vertically above a beverage container (not shown). The tower 18 of the beverage dispenser 10 extends upward from the upper ceiling wall 24a of a refrigerator 24 that stores and refrigerates beverage containers. The interior of the tower 18 is connected to the interior of the refrigerator 24, and the faucet 20 of the beverage dispenser 10 is connected to the beverage container by a hose unit 40, which will be described later. Note that, while the tower 18 is described here as extending upward from the ceiling wall 24a of the refrigerator 24, this is not limiting, and the tower may be provided in other ways, such as directly connecting to a beverage container integrated with a cooling mechanism or to a sufficiently cooled beverage container.

The beverage container referred to here is, for example, a beer barrel. Note that, while the beverage container will be described below as a beer barrel, it is not limited to this. The beverage container may also contain various beverages, such as beer, alcoholic carbonated beverages other than beer, i.e., happoshu (low-malt beer), beer-flavored sparkling alcoholic beverages infused with another alcoholic beverage made from ingredients other than malt (so-called third beer), chuhai, or highball, or non-alcoholic carbonated beverages, i.e., non-alcoholic beer or carbonated juice.

The beverage dispenser 10 also includes a gas cylinder for supplying gas, such as carbon dioxide gas, to the beverage container, and a temperature control device for controlling the supply of gas from the gas cylinder and managing the temperature inside the refrigerator 24 (both not shown). However, this is not limiting, and for example, a gas such as carbon dioxide gas may be injected into the beverage in the beverage container in advance, eliminating the need for a gas cylinder.

The tower 18 comprises a cylindrical main body 22, a discharge portion 26 formed at the top of the main body 22 for dispensing the beverage from the beverage container, and an openable and closable lid 28 located above the main body 22. The lid 28 has a top surface (tower cap 28a), and a cock 20 for opening and closing the discharge portion 26 is located on the front side.

As shown in FIG. 4, an opening 30 is formed at the upper end of the cylindrical main body 22 and is open to the outside of the main body 22. The lid 28 is formed so as to block the opening 30 and the discharge port 26 from above when closed.

The lid 28 is rotatably attached to the main body 22 via a connecting member such as a hinge 32, allowing the interior of the main body 22 of the tower 18 to be opened and closed. The upper end of the lid 28 is a removable tower cap 28a, which is connected to the lid main body 28b below it by a thumbscrew 34 (see Figure 7). Furthermore, a button 36 is provided on the lid 28 to prevent the lid 28 from opening accidentally. Therefore, the lid 28 can only be opened when the button 36 is pressed.

A hose unit 40 is arranged inside the main body 22 of the tower 18 along its axial direction, i.e., the vertical direction. This allows a beverage container to be connected to the outlet 26 of the tower 18. The hose unit 40 includes a hollow hose 42 made of a flexible material, a probe 44, and a tap nozzle 46. The probe 44 is attached to one end of the hose 42, and the tap nozzle 46 is attached to the other end.

The hose 42 is made of, for example, polyethylene. However, it may also be made of other flexible materials, such as synthetic resin. The probe 44 is formed in a cylindrical or conical shape with an outer diameter larger than that of the hose 42, and is connected to a beverage container or a dispense head (not shown) attached to the beverage container.

The hose unit 40 is configured to be removable through the opening 30 of the main body 22, making it easy to replace it periodically, at a predetermined time, or at any time. For this reason, the outer diameter of the hose 42 and probe 44 is smaller than the inner diameter of the main body 22 of the tower 18. The hose unit may be disposable.

The tap nozzle 46 is attachable to the cylindrically formed discharge portion 26, i.e., it is configured so that its tip can be fitted into the discharge portion 26 and protrude from it. This allows the tap nozzle 46 to serve as the beverage outlet for the beverage dispenser 10. The tap nozzle 46 may be made of various materials, such as synthetic resin or metal. Such a hose unit 40 can be, for example, a commercially available product.

An on-off valve (not shown) is attached inside the tap nozzle 46, and the lower end of the cock 20 is configured to connect to this on-off valve when the lid 28 is closed. Therefore, the on-off valve of the tap nozzle 46 can be opened and closed by tilting the cock 20. This allows the beverage in the beverage container connected to the hose unit 40 to be dispensed from the discharge portion 26.

In this way, the entire beverage flow path downstream from the beverage container is configured using the easily replaceable hose unit 40. This allows the beverage flow path to be kept clean without the need for cleaning. This reduces the amount of work required by the user to clean the beverage dispenser 10.

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the interior of the cock actuator 14 attached to the lid 28 side of the tower 18. The cock actuator 14 includes a slide 50 for operating, i.e., tilting, the cock 20 (see Figure 2), a drive mechanism 52 for sliding the slide 50, and a connecting portion 54 for connecting the slide 50 and the drive mechanism 52. The cock actuator 14 also includes a safety cover 56 formed to cover the slide 50 and the cock 20 from above when the slide 50 is operated. Therefore, Figure 5 shows the internal structure with the upper part of the cover 52a of the drive mechanism 52 of the cock actuator 14 and the safety cover 56 (see Figures 1 and 2) removed.

After removing the tower cap 28a, the drive mechanism 52 is positioned. The drive mechanism 52 includes a motor 58, a gear 60 attached to the rotation shaft of the motor 58, and a rack portion 62 that extends horizontally toward the cock 20 and has teeth formed along the longitudinal direction on its side so as to mesh with the gear 60. Therefore, when the motor 58 is operated and the gear 60 rotates, the rack portion 62 with which the gear 60 meshes can slide horizontally toward the cock 20 or away from the cock 20.

A connecting portion 54 is formed integrally with the rack portion 62 at the end of the rack portion 62 of the drive mechanism 52 on the cock 20 side. The connecting portion 54 is connected to the rack portion 62 and has a first member 54a extending in the vertical direction and a second member 54b extending in the horizontal direction from the lower end of the first member 54a toward the cock 20, and is formed in an L-shape or an inverted L-shape in side view.

By having the connecting portion 54 include the first member 54a, the rack portion 62 can be positioned above the second member 54b. This allows the motor 58 to be positioned below the rack portion 62 in the space created by the difference in height between the second member 54b and the rack portion 62. This allows the drive mechanism 52 to be configured so that its bottom is positioned above the opening 30 of the tower 18, without the portion where the motor 58 is positioned protruding downward.

The second member 54b is configured to slide horizontally as the rack portion 62 slides. The second member 54b is also configured to slide while being guided by a hole 64 formed at the end of the drive mechanism 52 on the cock 20 side. This allows the second member 54b to be stabilized so that it does not tilt vertically.

The slide part 50 is hingedly connected to the end of the second member 54b facing the tap 20 via a hinge connector 66. The slide part 50 extends horizontally from the second member 54b toward the tap 20. An insertion hole 68 is formed through the end of the slide part 50 facing the tap 20, allowing it to fit onto the top of the tap 20. Therefore, the hinged slide part 50 can be attached to the tap 20 by rotating it upward, i.e., lifting it upward, and fitting the slide part 50 into the tap 20 from above.

The sliding portion 50 slides horizontally while being guided by the moving hole 64 in accordance with the sliding of the hinged connecting portion 54. As a result, a moment is applied by the sliding portion 50 to the faucet 20 into which the sliding portion 50 is fitted, causing it to tilt. As a result, as shown in Figure 2, the faucet 20 can be tilted into three states: standby state SB, beverage dispensing state DS, and foam dispensing state FS. Note that while the faucet 20 is described here as being tiltable into the above three states, it is not limited to this and may be configured to be tiltable into two states or four or more states.

As shown in Figure 6, a safety cover 56 is positioned above the cock 20 into which the slide part 50 is fitted, covering them. The safety cover 56 is hingedly connected to the drive mechanism 52 on its top surface via a cover-side connector 70 (see Figure 1), and is configured to be rotatable toward the top surface of the drive mechanism 52 around this hinged connector. Therefore, by removing the safety cover 56, i.e., by rotating it toward the drive mechanism 52, the slide part 50 and cock 20 can be exposed. This makes it easy to attach and remove the slide part 50.

A sensor (not shown) is attached near the cover-side connector 70 of the safety cover 56 and is electrically connected to the control unit 78, which will be described later. Therefore, when the safety cover 56 is rotated toward the drive mechanism 52 and the slide portion 50 and cock 20 are exposed, the sensor detects this and stops the operation of the cock operating unit 14. This allows the cock operating unit 14 to be operated safely.

A pair of guide plates 72 are positioned inside the safety cover 56, which are located on either side of the cock 20 and the sliding portion 50 when the safety cover 56 is covering them, and extend in the sliding direction of the sliding portion 50. Additionally, multiple rollers 74 (three in this case) are rotatably attached to the lower side of each guide plate 72, extending in the sliding direction. The rollers 74 are positioned so that they come into contact with the upper surface of the sliding portion 50 when the safety cover 56 covers the cock 20 and the sliding portion 50. This not only facilitates the sliding of the sliding portion 50, but also prevents the sliding portion 50 from rotating, i.e., bending upward, due to tilting of the cock 20.

The cock actuator 14 is connected via a thumbscrew 34 to the lid body 28b of the lid 28 from which the tower cap 28a has been removed. This allows the cock actuator 14 to be easily attached to the tower 18. The cock actuator 14 can also be attached to the upper side of the lid 28, i.e., above the opening 30. Therefore, even when the cock actuator 14 is attached to the tower 18, the hose unit 40 can be attached and detached through the opening 30. This reduces the amount of work required to clean the beverage dispenser 10 and makes the beverage dispensing process more efficient.

Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the saddle portion 80 for mounting the control unit 78 and the receiving base portion 16. The saddle portion 80 is fixed to the lower side of the opening 30 of the tower 18 by fastening, with screws 88, a saddle 82 formed to fit the outer periphery of the tower 18 and a bracket saddle 84 formed in the shape of a plate extending in the vertical direction and having an upper flange 85 and a lower flange 86 at the upper and lower ends.

As shown in FIG. 8 , the control unit 78 is disposed between the upper flange 85 and lower flange 86 of the bracket saddle 84. In this manner, the control unit 78 and saddle unit 80 can be easily attached to the tower 18. The control unit 78 is electrically connected to the cock actuator 14 via a cable 90 (see FIGS. 1 and 2 ). Therefore, the control unit 78 can operate the motor 58 of the drive mechanism 52 to slide the slide unit 50. As previously described, the control unit 78 is also connected to a sensor on the safety cover 56. When the sensor detects that the safety cover 56 has been rotated toward the drive mechanism 52 and that the slide unit 50 and cock 20 are exposed, the control unit 78 is configured to stop operation of the cock actuator 14. Furthermore, the control unit 78 is equipped with a sound source (not shown). When the safety cover 56 is removed during operation of the cock actuator 14, exposing the slide unit 50 and cock 20, the control unit 78 stops operation of the cock actuator 14 and issues an alarm from the sound source.

The control unit 78 has a tilt unit 92 on its front side, i.e., the discharge unit 26 side. The tilt unit 92 is disposed on the upper surface of the control unit 78 and has a pair of hooks 94 with grooves 94a formed therein. As shown in FIG. 2 , the tilt unit 92 also has a pivot lever 96 rotatably attached to the lower side of the hooks 94. The pivot lever 96 is formed in the shape of a plate extending in the vertical direction, with its lower end bent forward. The upper end of the pivot lever 96 is connected to a motor (not shown) located inside the control unit 78. Therefore, the motor can be operated by the control unit 78 to pivot the pivot lever 96 forward, i.e., toward the discharge unit 26. The control unit 78 can also coordinate the rotation of the pivot lever 96 with the sliding of the slide portion 50 of the cock actuation unit 14.

As shown in FIG. 9 , a receiving base 16 is attached to the front side of the tilt unit 92. The receiving base 16 includes a vertical plate 98 extending vertically, a pair of guide members 100 integrally formed on both sides of the vertical plate 98 and extending vertically, and a mounting base 102 attached to the pair of guide members 100 below the vertical plate 98 and on which a drinking vessel is placed. The mounting base 102 includes a horizontally extending plate-like tray 104 on which a drinking vessel is placed, and a vertical member 106 integrally formed with the tray 104 and extending vertically on the guide member 100 side. The mounting base 102 can be fixed to the guide member 100 by inserting a first pin 108 into holes formed in the guide member 100 and the vertical member 106. This allows the height of the mounting base 102 to be easily adjusted according to the size of the drinking vessel.

A second pin 110 is attached to the upper end of each of the pair of guide members 100. Therefore, by hooking the pin 110 into the groove 94a of the hook portion 94, the receiving base 16 can be rotatably attached to the tilt unit 92. In this way, the receiving base 16 can be easily attached to the control unit 78. Furthermore, the lower end of the pivot lever 96 is formed to abut against the vertical plate portion 98 when the receiving base 16 is attached to the tilt unit 92. Therefore, by rotating the pivot lever 96, the receiving base 16 attached to the hook portion 94 can be tilted.

Next, we will explain the operation and effects of the automation mechanism 12 of the beverage dispenser 10 according to this embodiment by explaining how the automation mechanism 12 operates the faucet 20.

Figures 10(a) to 10(c) show the operating states of the faucet 20 and slide portion 50 in the foam dispensing state FS, standby state SB, and beverage dispensing state DS. For ease of explanation, the safety cover 56 is not shown in these figures, but the faucet 20 is operated inside the safety cover 56. First, in the standby state SB shown in Figure 10(b), where no beverage is being dispensed, the user places a drinking container on the tray 104 (see Figure 9) and activates the automation mechanism 12. Next, as shown in Figure 10(c), the control unit 78 of the automation mechanism 12 activates the faucet operating unit 14 to tilt the faucet 20 to the beverage dispensing state DS. This causes the beverage to be dispensed from the hose unit 40. At this time, the control unit 78 tilts the base portion 16 by a predetermined angle to reduce impact on the beverage. Furthermore, when a predetermined amount of beverage is poured into the drinking container, as shown in FIG. 10(a), the control unit 78 of the automation mechanism 12 activates the cock actuator 14 to tilt the cock 20 to the foam dispensing state FS. This causes foam to be dispensed from the hose unit 40. At this time, the control unit 78 tilts the pedestal 16 at an angle different from the beverage dispensing state DS to reduce impact on the beverage. Here, the predetermined angle and predetermined amount refer to an angle and amount whose optimal values are determined based on the ingredients and temperature of the beverage, the size of the drinking container, etc.

The beverage dispenser 10 and automation mechanism 12 according to this embodiment allow the faucet actuator 14 to operate the faucet 20 and dispense a beverage into a drinking container placed on the cradle 16. This allows the user to dispense a beverage into a drinking container without having to operate the faucet 20 themselves, reducing the user's workload. This improves the efficiency of the beverage dispensing process. Furthermore, the faucet actuator 14 of the automation mechanism 12 for operating the faucet 20 is attached to the beverage dispenser 10 above the opening 30 of the tower 18. Furthermore, the cradle 16, on which the drinking container is placed to dispense the beverage, is attached to the beverage dispenser 10 below the opening 30 of the tower 18, separately from the faucet actuator 14. This allows the automation mechanism 12 to be attached to the beverage dispenser 10 without blocking or obstructing the opening 30 of the tower 18. As a result, even when the automated mechanism 12 is installed, the hose unit 40, which is arranged through the interior of the tower 18 and connects the beverage container to the discharge portion 26, can be attached and detached through the opening 30 of the tower 18. This reduces the amount of work required to clean the beverage dispenser 10 and makes the beverage dispensing process more efficient.

Furthermore, according to the beverage dispenser 10 and automation mechanism 12 of this embodiment, the cradle 16 of the beverage dispenser 10 is configured to be tiltable. This allows the cradle 16, on which the drinking container is placed, to be tilted when dispensing beverages or foam, thereby minimizing impact on the beverage and preserving the flavor of the beverage. In this way, the automation mechanism 12 can perform the adjustments that users make when pouring beverages into drinking containers, making the beverage dispensing process more efficient.

Furthermore, according to the beverage dispenser 10 and automation mechanism 12 of this embodiment, the automation mechanism includes a control unit 78 that links the cock actuator 14 and the pedestal 16. This allows the cock actuator 14 to tilt the pedestal 16 in time with the timing of pouring beverage or foam into the drinking container, thereby minimizing impact on the beverage and preserving the flavor of the beverage. In this way, the automation mechanism 12 can perform the adjustments that a user would make when pouring a beverage into a drinking container, making the beverage dispensing process more efficient.

Furthermore, with the beverage dispenser 10 and automation mechanism 12 according to this embodiment, the upper part of the faucet 20 can be fitted into an insertion hole 68 formed at one end of the plate-shaped slide portion 50. The other end of the slide portion 50 is hingedly connected to the connecting portion 54, which can be slid horizontally by the drive mechanism 52. This allows the faucet 20 to tilt in accordance with the sliding of the slide portion 50. This allows the discharge portion 26 to be opened and closed to inject beverage into a drinking container, thereby improving the efficiency of the beverage dispensing process.

Furthermore, with the beverage dispenser 10 and automation mechanism 12 according to this embodiment, the tower 18 of the beverage dispenser 10 is configured so that the lid 28 side can be opened and closed, allowing the hose unit 40 to be removed from the opening 30. The cock actuator 14 is also attached to the lid 28 side of the tower 18. Therefore, even when the automation mechanism 12 is attached, the opening 30 of the tower 18 can be opened to attach and detach the hose unit 40. This reduces the amount of work required to clean the beverage dispenser 10 and makes the beverage dispensing process more efficient.

As explained above, the beverage dispenser 10 and automation mechanism 12 of this embodiment can improve the efficiency of the dispensing process of dispensing a beverage from a beverage container into a drinking container.

The above describes an embodiment of the beverage dispenser 10 and the automated mechanism 12, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. Those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications to the above embodiment are possible.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 beverage dispenser 12 automation mechanism 14 cock operating section 16 cradle section 18 tower 20 cock 26 discharge section 28 lid section (top surface)
30 Opening 40 Hose unit 50 Slide portion 52 Drive mechanism 54 Connection portion 66 Hinge connection device (hinge connection)
78 control unit

Claims (10)

The apparatus is configured to include a hollow tower extending in a vertical direction above a beverage container and having a discharge portion at its upper portion for dispensing a beverage from the beverage container, a lid portion disposed at the top of the tower and configured to be openable and closable, and a cock attached to the upper side of the lid portion for opening and closing the discharge portion,
The beverage container and the discharge part are connected by a hose unit arranged through the inside of the tower, and the tower has an opening at an upper part for attaching and detaching the hose unit to and from the beverage container and the discharge part.
a cock operating unit attached to the tower and the lid portion above the opening of the tower, for operating the cock;
a receiving portion for placing a drinking container for pouring the beverage therein, the receiving portion being attached separately from the cock operating portion to a lower side of the opening of the tower;
Equipped with
The cock operating portion is
The slide portion is formed in a plate shape extending horizontally toward the cock, connects to the cock at one end, and is configured to be slidable.
Automated mechanism for beverage dispenser. The automated mechanism for a beverage dispenser described in claim 1, wherein the base portion is configured to be tiltable. The automated mechanism for a beverage dispenser described in claim 2 includes a control unit that links the cock operating unit and the pedestal unit. The cock operating portion further includes:
a connecting portion hingedly connected to the other end of the sliding portion;
a drive mechanism that slides the connecting portion along a horizontal direction;
The automated mechanism of the beverage dispenser of claim 3, comprising: An automated beverage dispenser mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the tower is configured so that the top side can be opened and closed, and the cock operating unit is attached to the top side. a hollow tower extending in a vertical direction above the beverage container and having a discharge portion at its top for dispensing beverage from the beverage container;
a lid portion disposed on an upper portion of the tower and configured to be openable and closable;
a cock attached to an upper side of the lid portion for opening and closing the discharge portion;
a hose unit disposed inside the tower and connecting the beverage container and the discharge portion;
an opening formed in an upper portion of the tower for attaching and detaching the hose unit to the beverage container and the discharge portion;
a cock operating unit attached to the tower and the lid portion above the opening of the tower, for operating the cock;
a receiving portion for placing a drinking container for pouring the beverage therein, the receiving portion being attached separately from the cock operating portion to a lower side of the opening of the tower;
Equipped with
The cock operating portion is
The slide portion is formed in a plate shape extending horizontally toward the cock, connects to the cock at one end, and is configured to be slidable.
Beverage dispenser. The beverage dispenser of claim 6, wherein the base portion is tiltable. The beverage dispenser of claim 7, further comprising a control unit that links the cock operating unit and the basin unit. The cock operating portion further includes:
a connecting portion hingedly connected to the other end of the sliding portion;
a drive mechanism that slides the connecting portion along a horizontal direction;
The beverage dispenser of claim 8 , comprising: A beverage dispenser as described in any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the tower is configured so that the top side can be opened and closed, and the cock operating unit is attached to the top side.