JPS597995B2 - Vending machine with water heater - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a vending machine with a hot water supply device that requires hot water for products such as coffee and cup noodles.

Some vending machines with hot water heaters sell products as a predetermined amount of hot water depending on the product purchase request, but when selling continuously, it takes time to heat the hot water, which reduces sales efficiency. There is a problem with this point.

Additionally, if the water temperature is no longer appropriate, sales must be stopped.

The purpose of this invention is to solve the above problems, and an embodiment thereof will be explained based on the attached drawings. 1 is a hot water tank that constitutes a hot water supply device of a vending machine, and the above hot water tank 1 is The water supply pipe 2 connected thereto is opened and closed by a water supply valve 3, and supplies water W into the hot water tank 1.

A heating device (heater) is located near the inner bottom of the hot water tank 1.
4 is also provided with a thermistor or the like in the hot water tank 1 to convert the temperature change of the hot water H in the hot water tank 1 into an analog electrical signal.

A thermometer 5 is provided. Further, a water level gauge 7 is provided at the upper end of the introduction pipe 6 communicating with a suitable location below the hot water tank 1, and this water level gauge converts changes in the water level of the hot water H in the hot water tank 1 into an analog electrical signal.

A hot water supply pipe 8 communicating with the lower part of the hot water supply tank 1 is opened and closed by a hot water supply valve 9, and supplies hot water H' to a store A outside the hot water supply tank 1.

Figure 2 is a block wiring diagram of the hot water supply control device.
A high temperature set signal th that sets the high temperature of the hot water H and a low temperature set signal t1 that sets the low temperature of the hot water H are output, respectively.

C1 is a comparator connected after the thermometer 5, and this comparator inputs and compares the analog electric signal at corresponding to the temperature change of the hot water H and the high temperature setting signal th, and sets the temperature of the hot water H. If the temperature is higher than the high temperature, a high temperature signal h is output, and if the temperature of the hot water H is lower than the set high temperature, a suitable temperature signal m is output.

C2 is a comparator installed after the thermometer 5, and this comparator inputs and compares the analog electric signal at corresponding to the temperature change of the hot water H and the low temperature setting signal t1, and determines whether the temperature of the hot water H has reached the set low temperature. When the temperature is higher than the set temperature, a suitable temperature signal m is outputted, and when the temperature of the hot water H is lower than the set low temperature, a low temperature signal l is outputted.

Water level setting device S2 for setting the water level of hot water H in the hot water tank 1
outputs a high level set signal fh for setting the highest water level of hot water H and a low level set signal f1 for setting the lowest water level for hot water H, respectively.

C3 is a comparator connected after the water level gauge 7. This comparator inputs and compares the analog electric signal af corresponding to the water level change of the hot water H, the high level set signal fh1 and the low level set signal f1, and calculates the level of the hot water H. If the water level is lower than the set minimum water level, an abnormal level signal a is output, and if the water level of hot water H is lower than the set maximum water level and higher than the set minimum water level, an appropriate level signal m is output. do.

It is an integrator that starts an integration operation when the hot water supply start signal St is input, and outputs an integral value signal iv that changes in proportion to time.

The time setter Tm provided after the integrator It compares the varying integral value signal iv with the analog electrical signal fa corresponding to the water level change, and determines when the integral value signal iv and the analog electrical signal fa overlap. A valve closing signal v2 is output to close the hot water supply valve 9.

L is a logic circuit, and this circuit includes a group of AND gates G1 to G3, a flip-flop F, and an OR gate 04 to G.
Consisting of 6 groups, high temperature signal h1 suitable temperature signal m1 low temperature signal I1 abnormal position signal a1 suitable position signal n are respectively inputted to open/close valve signal 1 which controls opening/closing of water supply valve 3 and operation signal op which operates heater 4. and a sales prohibition signal n■ which stops the vending operation of the vending machine.

In the present invention as described above, when the water level of hot water H in the hot water supply tank 1 is an abnormal water level lower than the lowest water level set by the water level setting device S2, the abnormal level signal a from the comparator C3 , when the temperature of the hot water H in the hot water supply tank 1 is lower than the low temperature set by the temperature setting device S, the comparator C
By the low temperature signal l from 2, the OR gate G of the logic circuit L
6, a sales prohibition signal HV is output, and the vending operation of the vending machine is stopped.

In cases other than the above, by inserting coins into the vending machine,
When the product A is taken out, the hot water supply valve 9 is opened by applying the hot water supply start signal St, and the hot water H' in the hot water supply tank 1 is poured into the product A.

At the same time, the hot water supply start signal St is applied to the integrator It, which operates, and an integral value signal iV that changes in proportion to time is output to the time setting device Tm.

A) <S>The water level of hot water H in the hot water tank 1 decreases with the supply of hot water H' sales product A, and the analog electric signal af from the water level meter 7 corresponding to this decrease in the water level of hot water H is set at the time. When the analog electric signal G5 and the integral value signal iV match, a valve closing signal v2 that closes the hot water supply valve 9 is output from the time setting device Tm.

In other words, the time difference in the lowering level of the hot water H in the hot water supply tank 1 is controlled to keep the amount of hot water H' supplied to the sales product A constant.

Note that the analog electric signal af is configured to always change from a certain standard in the time setter Tm even if the position of the hot water H level in the hot water supply tank 1 is different at the time of need.

On the other hand, when the hot water level in the hot water tank 1 is lower than the highest water level set by the water level setting device S2, that is, the water level is in use, and the hot water temperature setting device S1 in the hot water tank 1 is When the set high temperature is higher than the set high temperature, the water supply valve 3 is opened by the on-off valve signal v1 via the flip-flop pump F etc. by checking the appropriate position signal n and high temperature signal h, and water W is supplied to the hot water tank 1. will be supplied.

In addition, if the water level of the hot water H in the hot water tank 1 is higher than the highest water level set by the water level setting device S2, or if the hot water H is at the working water level and the hot water H is not warmed by the temperature setting device S2,
If the temperature is between the high temperature and low temperature set in 1, or below the low temperature, the OR gate G
4, an AND gate G2, a flip-flop F, etc., the water supply valve 3 is closed by the on-off valve signal v1, and the supply of water W to the water supply tank 1 is stopped.

On the other hand, when the hot water H in the hot water supply tank 1 is at the working water level and is not at a high temperature or higher, the heater 4 is operated by the operation signal op via an AND gate G3 or the like.

Although not shown, it is of course possible to provide a plurality of heaters 4 and to control each heater by checking the combination of the high temperature signal h1 appropriate temperature signal m1 and low temperature signal l.

The present invention as described above includes a conversion means such as a water level gauge 7,
A conversion means such as a thermometer 5, a water level setting device S2, and a temperature setting device S1 are provided respectively, and by comparing and combining these signal groups, the water supply valve 3, heater 4, hot water supply valve 9 of the hot water tank 1, water supply valve 9, and automatic vending machine are Since the machines themselves are controlled individually, the specific amount of hot water H can always be kept at an appropriate temperature in preparation for sales.

In other words, the water level range for hot water H to be used can be determined in advance, and the water level of hot water H can be controlled to be raised while maintaining the appropriate temperature range from the lowest water level to the highest water level. According to the water level, the amount of hot water H' supplied to product A can be controlled.
This has great practical effects, such as preventing malfunctions such as empty drumsticks.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block wiring diagram of the same. H...Hot water, 1...Hot water tank, 3...
...Water supply valve, 4...Heater, 5...
...Thermometer, 7...Water level gauge, 9...
Hot water valve, S1...Temperature setting device, S2 ・
...Water level setting device, aLat...Analog electric signal.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Water level conversion means that converts water level changes in the hot water tank into analog electrical signals, temperature conversion means that converts hot water temperature changes in the hot water tank into analog electrical signals, and sets the highest and lowest water levels in the water level range used for hot water. A water level setting device to set the maximum and minimum temperature of the hot water temperature range, and a temperature setting device to determine whether the water level in the hot water tank is lower than the minimum water level set by the water level setting device or the hot water temperature setting in the hot water tank. If the water level in the hot water tank is lower than the maximum water level set in the water level setting device, the vending machine will stop the vending operation, and if the water level in the hot water tank is lower than the maximum water level set in the water level setting device, and the water level in the hot water tank is If the temperature is higher than the maximum temperature set in the hot water tank, open the water supply valve that supplies water to the hot water tank, and make sure that the water level in the hot water tank is lower than the minimum water level set with the water level setting device and the water temperature in the hot water tank is set with the temperature setting device. If the water temperature is lower than the maximum temperature set, close the water supply valve and check that the water level in the hot water tank is lower than the maximum water level set on the water level setting device, and lower than the maximum temperature set on the hot water temperature setting device in the hot water tank. In this case, it is a vending machine with a hot water supply device, which consists of a control unit that operates a heating device installed in a hot water tank.