JP2008189327A - Beverage dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a beverage dispenser capable of supplying a beverage of uniform syrup concentration and sanitarily managing nozzles. <P>SOLUTION: In a beverage nozzle 20, a nozzle attachable/detachable section 21 provided with beverage inflow pipes 21a, 21b, 21c, and 21d to which the final ends of a plurality of syrup pipes 11 are connected is fixed to a nozzle fixing metal-fitting 40 by means of screws 41. A syrup nozzle 22 includes an elastic member 24 fixed inside a nozzle body 23 with a projection 23c formed on the nozzle body 23, and a syrup discharge nozzle 25 fixed to the elastic member 24 and the internal face of the nozzle body 23 and can be detached from the beverage nozzle 20. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a beverage supply apparatus such as a beverage dispenser or a cup-type vending machine that supplies a diluted beverage by mixing a syrup and a diluent.

  Conventionally, a beverage dispenser generally has a structure in which a beverage in which a syrup and a diluent (diluted water or carbonated water) are mixed in a mixing nozzle flows down to a cup (beverage container). In the case of such a structure that mixes beverages, diluted syrup adheres to the inner wall surface of the mixing nozzle and remains, so there is a risk that germs will easily propagate, and daily nozzle cleaning is essential for hygiene management. Met. Further, since the syrup nozzle cannot be removed, it has been difficult to clean it.

On the other hand, since it is difficult to perform daily nozzle cleaning in a cup-type vending machine, the nozzle that discharges syrup and the nozzle that discharges diluent are each independent, and the discharged syrup and diluent are mixed on the inner wall surface of the cup. It is said. In the case of this method, the syrup that remains in the syrup nozzle discharge port and is not diluted can maintain a strong acidity (pH <7) concentration at which miscellaneous bacteria do not propagate (see, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-139498 JP 2001-118140 A

Thus, since the nozzle of the cup type vending machine is provided with the syrup nozzle and the diluting liquid nozzle independently, there is no possibility that various germs propagate.
However, since the cups used in the beverage dispenser have different shapes and the positions where the cups are placed are not constant, it is not possible to adopt a method of mixing syrup and diluent on the inner wall surface of the cup.

There is also a method in which the syrup discharged from the nozzle and the diluent are directly mixed and allowed to flow down into the cup. However, since this method does not allow the syrup and diluent to mix sufficiently, the beverage at the bottom of the cup is syrup. The concentration is high (for example, sugar content 14), the upper beverage has a low syrup concentration (for example, sugar content 6), and the syrup concentration is uneven (for example, sugar content difference 8).
In view of the above circumstances, the present invention provides a beverage dispenser or a cup-type vending machine that supplies a diluted beverage by mixing syrup and a diluting solution to supply a beverage having a uniform syrup concentration and sanitize the nozzle. It is an object of the present invention to provide a beverage supply device that can be managed easily.

In order to achieve the above object, a beverage supply device according to claim 1 of the present invention is a beverage supply device for supplying a diluted beverage by mixing a syrup and a diluent,
A syrup nozzle that discharges the syrup; and a diluent nozzle that discharges the diluent in the vicinity of the syrup nozzle;
A beverage nozzle is provided in which the syrup nozzle and the diluent nozzle are arranged so that the syrup discharged from the syrup nozzle and the diluent discharged from the diluent nozzle collide and mix in the air. It is characterized by.

Moreover, the drink supply apparatus which concerns on Claim 2 of this invention provides the nozzle attachment / detachment part which attaches the said syrup nozzle removably to the said drink nozzle in Claim 1 mentioned above, The said syrup nozzle is removed from the said drink nozzle It is possible to do this.
A beverage supply device according to claim 3 of the present invention is characterized in that, in claim 1 or claim 2 described above, the syrup nozzle is provided with a plurality of syrup discharge nozzles, and a plurality of beverages can be supplied. To do.

A beverage supply device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the beverage supply device according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the syrup discharge direction of the plurality of syrup discharge nozzles depends on the distance from the discharge port of the diluent nozzle. It is characterized by having changed.
The beverage supply device according to claim 5 of the present invention is the beverage supply apparatus according to claim 3 described above, wherein the syrup discharge nozzle is provided with a plurality of syrup discharge ports, and the syrup discharge ports are arranged so that the discharged syrup is concentrated. It is characterized by that.

  The beverage supply device according to claim 6 of the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-described claim 1, a buffer space for absorbing the expansion of carbonated water is provided in the pipe line connected to the diluent nozzle. .

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the syrup nozzle for discharging the syrup and the diluent nozzle for discharging the diluent are provided independently, the syrup that remains in the discharge port of the syrup discharge nozzle and is not diluted Since a strongly acidic (pH <7) concentration can be maintained, there is no possibility of various bacteria breeding, and a beverage supply device capable of hygienically managing the nozzle can be provided.

Further, according to the invention of claim 2, since the nozzle attaching / detaching portion for detachably attaching the syrup nozzle to the beverage nozzle is provided, the syrup nozzle can be easily removed from the beverage nozzle for cleaning, and the nozzle can be sanitized. The drink supply apparatus which can be managed can be provided.
According to the invention of claim 3, since a plurality of syrup discharge nozzles are provided in the syrup nozzle, a plurality of beverages can be supplied.

According to the invention of claim 4, since the syrup discharge direction of the plurality of syrup discharge nozzles is changed according to the distance from the discharge port of the dilution liquid nozzle, the syrup discharged from each syrup discharge nozzle is optimal. It can be mixed by colliding with the diluting liquid in the air at various positions, and a beverage having a uniform syrup concentration can be supplied.
According to the invention of claim 5, since the syrup discharge direction is inclined inward so that the syrup discharged from the syrup discharge ports of the plurality of syrup discharge nozzles is concentrated, the dilution liquid and the air The syrup that collided with can be prevented from scattering around.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the pipe line connected to the diluent nozzle is provided with a buffer space for absorbing the expansion of carbonated water. Since it is absorbed, carbonated water discharged from the diluent nozzle can be prevented from splashing even when a weak carbonated beverage is supplied by the beverage supply device.

Exemplary embodiments of a beverage supply device according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.
FIG. 1 is an external view of a beverage dispenser (beverage supply device) 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a beverage dispenser 1 includes a dispenser body 2 having an opening on the front surface, and a front door supported on one side of the front surface of the dispenser body 2 in such a manner that the front opening of the dispenser body 2 can be opened and closed. 3 and an operation panel 4 having a beverage selection button is disposed on the front door 3. In addition, a beverage nozzle for supplying beverage and a tube type pump are disposed below the inner side of the front door 3, and a cup rest 5 serving as a table for a cup serving as a beverage container, a splattered beverage, and the like are disposed below the front door 3. A collecting drip tray 6 is provided. Furthermore, the leg part 7 which is the leveling adjustment leg which supports the drink dispenser 1 and can adjust height is provided.

  FIG. 2 is a view showing the front surface of the dispenser body 2 by opening the front door 3 of the beverage dispenser 1. The dispenser body 2 includes a tube-type pump 10 that pumps a predetermined amount of syrup stored in a BIB (Bag In Box) 9 housed in a refrigerator 8, and a syrup tank that uses carbon dioxide gas pressure supplied from a carbon dioxide gas cylinder (not shown). A syrup solenoid valve 14 provided in the middle of each of a plurality of syrup conduits 11 (four syrup conduits 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d in the embodiment of the present invention) through which syrup fed under pressure is passed. (In the embodiment of the present invention, four syrup solenoid valves 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d), dilution provided in the middle of the pipeline of the dilution water pipeline 12 through which the dilution water (diluent) supplied from the water is passed Carbonated water (diluent) supplied from a water solenoid valve 15 and a carbonator that stores carbonated water obtained by dissolving carbon dioxide supplied from a carbon dioxide cylinder in water A carbonated water solenoid valve 16 provided in the middle of the carbonated water pipeline 13 through which the gas flows is provided. These syrup pipelines 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d, the dilution water pipeline 12, and the terminal ends of the carbonated water pipeline 13 are Connected to the beverage nozzle 20.

  When the beverage selection button on the operation panel 4 is pressed, the syrup stored in the BIB 9 is supplied when the tube-type pump 10 is driven based on the pressed beverage selection button. Alternatively, when the syrup solenoid valve 14 and the dilution water solenoid valve 15 or the carbonated water solenoid valve 16 are opened, the beverage nozzle 20 is supplied with syrup and dilution water or carbonated water, collides in the air, and is mixed and diluted. Flows down to a cup (not shown) placed on the drip tray 6.

  3 is a front view of the beverage nozzle 20, FIG. 4 is a right side view thereof, FIG. 5 is a sectional front view of the AA portion of FIG. 4 viewed in the arrow direction, and FIG. 6 is an arrow of the BB portion of FIG. FIG. 7 is a bird's-eye view of the beverage nozzle 20 as viewed obliquely from above, FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the beverage nozzle 20 as viewed from obliquely below, and FIG. 9 shows a state where the syrup nozzle 22 is removed from the beverage nozzle 20. FIG. The beverage nozzle 20 has a nozzle fixing bracket 40 with a nozzle attachment / detachment portion 21 provided with beverage inflow pipes 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d and nozzle attachment holes 21e to which end portions of the syrup conduits 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d are connected. It is fixed with screws 41. The syrup nozzle 22 is an elastic member (for example, silicone) that is fixed in the nozzle body 23 by a nozzle body 23 in which the nozzle body right 23a and the nozzle body left 23b are coupled, and a protrusion 23c provided on the nozzle body right 23a and the nozzle body left 23b. (Formed of rubber) 24, and an elastic member 24 and a syrup discharge nozzle 25 fixedly attached to the inner surface of the nozzle body 23, and the hinges 23d and 23e are inserted into the nozzle mounting holes 21e of the nozzle attaching / detaching portion 21 from below. Thus, it can be attached to the nozzle attaching / detaching portion 21 and can be detached from the nozzle attaching / detaching portion 21 by pressing the upper portions of the hinges 23d and 23e inward. As described above, since the nozzle attaching / detaching portion 21 for detachably attaching the syrup nozzle 22 to the beverage nozzle 20 is provided, the syrup nozzle 22 can be easily removed from the beverage nozzle 20 and cleaned, and the nozzle can be managed hygienically. It is possible to provide a beverage supply device capable of performing the above.

  The diluting water pipe 12 connected to the diluting water electromagnetic valve 15 and the carbonated water pipe 13 connected to the carbonated water electromagnetic valve 16 are merged on the way, and the terminal portion thereof is connected to the diluting liquid connecting pipe 26, and the diluting liquid connecting pipe 26 is inserted into an elastic pipe (for example, formed of silicone rubber) 27 and attached. A gap C (for example, 12 mm) is provided in the elastic pipe 27 and a diluent pipe 28 is inserted and attached to form a buffer space D above the pressure reducing section 29. The diluent pipe 28 fixes the attachment section 28a to the nozzle. It is inserted into the metal fitting 40 and attached. The pressure decompression unit 29 functions to depressurize the carbonated water passing through the diluent pipe 28 and suppress a decrease in the volume of carbonated water supplied into the cup. The pressure depressurization unit 29 is formed in a dodecagonal prism, and is in contact with the inner wall surface of the diluent pipe 28 at the twelve corners. Circulate. The diluent nozzle 30 is attached by being inserted into the diluent nozzle attachment rib 21f of the nozzle attaching / detaching portion 21. When the diluent nozzle 30 is attached, the diluent pipe 28 is inserted therein.

  Thus, since the syrup nozzle 22 that discharges the syrup and the dilution liquid nozzle 30 that discharges the diluting liquid are provided independently, the syrup that remains in the discharge port of the syrup discharge nozzle 25 and is not diluted is strongly acidic. (PH <7) Since a density | concentration can be maintained, there is no possibility that miscellaneous bacteria will propagate and it is possible to provide a beverage supply device capable of hygienically managing the nozzle. Further, in the beverage dispenser 1, a non-carbonated beverage is supplied with syrup and diluted water supplied from the syrup conduit 11 and the diluted water conduit 12, and a strong carbonated beverage is supplied with syrup and carbonated water supplied from the syrup conduit 11 and the carbonated water conduit 13, Weak carbonated beverages are supplied with the syrup, dilution water and carbonated water supplied from the syrup pipeline 11, the dilution water pipeline 12 and the carbonated water pipeline 13. When supplying this weak carbonated beverage, the dilution water solenoid valve 15 and the carbonated water solenoid valve 16 are alternately opened, and the dilution water in the dilution water line 12 and the carbonated water in the carbonated water line 13 are alternately used as the dilution liquid nozzle. Supply a weak carbonated drink. However, when diluting water and carbonated water are alternately supplied, carbonated water in which carbon dioxide gas is dissolved foams and expands, and carbonated water splatters when discharged from the diluent nozzle 30. Since the buffer space D that absorbs the expansion of carbonated water is provided inside the elastic pipe 27 connected to 30, the expansion is absorbed in the buffer space D even if the carbonated water expands and expands. Even when carbonated beverages are supplied, the carbonated water discharged from the diluent nozzle 30 can be prevented from scattering.

  When the syrup nozzle 22 is attached to the nozzle attaching / detaching portion 21, four syrup discharge nozzles 25 are provided at positions communicating with the beverage inflow pipes 21a, 21b, 21c, and 21d (see FIG. 6). A plurality of types of beverages can be supplied by discharging from the discharge nozzle 25. Further, since the mounting angles of the plurality of syrup discharge nozzles 25 are changed according to the distance from the discharge port 30a of the diluent nozzle 30, and the syrup discharge direction is changed according to the distance from the discharge port 30a, The syrup discharged from the syrup discharge nozzle 25 can be mixed by colliding with the diluting liquid in the air at an optimal position, and a beverage having a uniform syrup concentration can be supplied.

  Furthermore, the syrup discharge nozzle 25 is provided with syrup discharge ports 25a and 25b, and as shown in FIG. 5, the syrup discharge direction of the syrup discharge ports 25a and 25b is inclined inward so that the discharged syrup is concentrated. Since the syrup discharge direction is inclined inward so that the syrup discharged from the syrup discharge ports 25a and 25b of the syrup discharge nozzle 25 is concentrated in this way, the syrup colliding with the dilution liquid in the air is prevented from being scattered around. be able to.

It is an external view of the drink dispenser which is an embodiment of the invention. It is a figure which opens the front door of the drink dispenser shown in FIG. 1, and shows the front surface of a dispenser main body. It is a front view of the drink nozzle of the drink dispenser shown in FIG. It is a right view of the drink nozzle of the drink dispenser shown in FIG. It is a cross-sectional front view of the drink nozzle of the drink dispenser shown in FIG. It is a cross-sectional side view of the drink nozzle of the drink dispenser shown in FIG. It is a bird's-eye view of the drink nozzle of the drink dispenser shown in FIG. It is the bottom view which looked at the drink nozzle of the drink dispenser shown in FIG. 1 from diagonally downward. It is a figure which shows the state which removed the syrup nozzle from the drink nozzle of the drink dispenser shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 Beverage dispenser (beverage supply device)
2 Dispenser body 3 Front door 8 Refrigerator 9 BIB
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Tube type pump 20 Beverage nozzle 21 Nozzle attachment / detachment part 22 Syrup nozzle 23 Nozzle main body 24 Elastic member 25 Syrup discharge nozzle 25a Syrup discharge port 25b Syrup discharge port 28 Diluent pipe 29 Pressure decompression part 30 Diluent nozzle D Buffer space

Claims (6)

In a beverage supply apparatus for supplying a diluted beverage by mixing a syrup and a diluent,
A syrup nozzle that discharges the syrup; and a diluent nozzle that discharges the diluent in the vicinity of the syrup nozzle;
A beverage nozzle is provided in which the syrup nozzle and the diluent nozzle are arranged so that the syrup discharged from the syrup nozzle and the diluent discharged from the diluent nozzle collide and mix in the air. A beverage supply device characterized by the above.   The beverage supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the beverage nozzle is provided with a nozzle attaching / detaching portion for detachably attaching the syrup nozzle, and the syrup nozzle is removable from the beverage nozzle.   The beverage supply apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the syrup nozzle is provided with a plurality of syrup discharge nozzles so that a plurality of beverages can be supplied.   The beverage supply apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the syrup discharge direction of the plurality of syrup discharge nozzles is changed according to the distance from the discharge port of the diluent nozzle.   The beverage supply device according to claim 3, wherein the syrup discharge nozzle is provided with a plurality of syrup discharge ports, and the syrup discharge ports are arranged so that the discharged syrup is concentrated.   The beverage supply device according to claim 1, wherein a buffer space for absorbing expansion of carbonated water is provided in a pipe line connected to the diluent nozzle.

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