JP2000074539A - Drink cooling and pouring device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the decrease of quantity of ice formed in the periphery of a pipe located in the vicinity of the uppermost step of an evaporating pipe. SOLUTION: In a water tank 20 for storing cooling water, a spirally wound drink pipe 30 in which a drink passes and a spirally wound evaporating pipe 40 in which a refrigerant passes to cool cooling water are coaxially provided. Ice detecting sensors S1 and S2 are arranged between the drink pipe 30 and the evaporating pipe 40. When both the ice detecting sensors S1 and S2 are exposed in the cooling water, a compressor starts a refrigerating operation. When either of them is covered with ice, the compressor stops the refrigerating operation. Further, the compressor is continuously operated irrespective of the detected results of the ice detecting sensors S1 and S2, until the lapse of prescribed time after the operation of the compressor is started. Thus, a refrigerant having a cooling capacity is supplied throughout the evaporating pipe 40 to prevent the quantity of ice from decreasing in the periphery of the upper part of the evaporating pipe 40.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a beverage cooling and dispensing apparatus for instantly cooling and dispensing a beverage such as beer, and in particular, a beverage pipe and an evaporation pipe are arranged in a water tank for storing cooling water. The present invention relates to a beverage cooling and dispensing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In this type of beverage cooling and dispensing apparatus, a beverage is supplied to a beverage tube and passed through the beverage tube, and is cooled by cooling water at that time. On the other hand, the refrigerant from the refrigerating device including the compressor is supplied to the evaporating tube to grow ice around the evaporating tube, and the cooling water is cooled by heat exchange between the ice and the cooling water. I have. The ice is grown around the evaporator tube so that the beverage to be cooled can be sufficiently cooled even if the beverage to be cooled is supplied continuously and in large quantities.

[0003] In such a beverage cooling and dispensing device, the ice grown around the evaporating tube freezes the beverage when it comes into contact with the beverage tube, so that the beverage may not be dispensed.
For this reason, generally, an ice detection sensor for detecting the presence or absence of ice is provided between the beverage pipe and the evaporating pipe, and when the sensor does not detect ice, the compressor is operated to supply the refrigerant to the evaporating pipe. When the ice is detected, the compressor is deactivated to prevent further growth of the ice.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned conventional beverage cooling and dispensing apparatus, when the frequency of cooling the beverage is high,
The amount of heat exchange between the beverage and the cooling water, and thus between the cooling water and the ice, increases, thereby slowing the growth of ice. As a result, the compressor is operated continuously, and a refrigerant (generally, a liquid) having a cooling capacity flows through the entire evaporating tube, and a sufficient amount of ice having a substantially uniform thickness grows around the cooling tube. I do.
On the other hand, when the frequency of cooling the beverage is low, the refrigerant having the cooling capacity does not flow to the entire evaporating tube because the operation continuation time of the compressor is shortened due to the high ice growth rate, As a result, there was a problem that sufficient ice did not grow around the evaporator tube.

[0005] In this regard, the water tank 20 of the beverage cooling and dispensing apparatus is described.
This will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 9 shows a normal state in which the ice IC has sufficiently grown around the evaporating tube 40 coaxially arranged with the beverage tube 30. In this state, since the ice detection sensors S1 and S2 for detecting the presence or absence of ice detect the ice IC surrounded by the ice IC, the compressor (not shown) is stopped. In the beverage cooling and pouring device shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, the refrigerant from the refrigerating device including the compressor is supplied to the lowermost pipe of the evaporating pipe 40 and is supplied from the uppermost pipe. It is returned to the freezer.

After a lapse of time from this state, the cooling water whose temperature has risen due to the heat of the atmosphere and the like gradually melts the ice IC from above, so that the ice detection sensor S1 is exposed to the water as shown by the solid line in FIG. I do. However, the ice detection sensor S2
Still does not operate the compressor to detect ice IC. When the time further elapses, the ice IC becomes the state shown by the broken line in FIG. 10, and the ice detection sensor S2 is also exposed to the water. As a result, the compressor starts operating and supplies the refrigerant into the evaporating tube 40, so that ice starts growing.

At this time, if the cooling frequency of the beverage is high, the growth of ice is slow, so that the compressor continues to operate (for example, 40 to 50 minutes), so that the refrigerant having the cooling capacity reaches the uppermost pipe of the evaporating tube 40. . Thereby, the evaporating tube 40
The whole is cooled, and the ice grows substantially uniformly and in a sufficient amount around the evaporator tube 40. This is the state shown in FIG.

[0008] However, when the cooling frequency of the beverage is low, such as in winter, the growth of ice is accelerated.
Within 8 minutes), the ice detection sensor S2 is covered, and the compressor stops its operation in a short time. For this reason, the evaporating pipe 40 far from the lowermost pipe of the evaporating pipe 40 which is the supply end of the refrigerant
The refrigerant having the cooling ability cannot reach the pipe located at the upper part of the pipe, and as a result, the upper ice does not grow sufficiently as shown by the solid line in FIG.

When time elapses again in such a situation, the ice detection sensor S2 is exposed to the water and the compressor starts operating. However, as shown by a broken line in FIG. It decreases more and more. If the above-described situation is repeated, there is no ice IC in the upper part of the evaporating tube 40, and as a result, the total amount of ice is reduced and the continuous cooling and pouring ability of the apparatus is reduced. .

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and a first feature thereof is that it is arranged between a beverage pipe and an evaporating pipe to detect the presence or absence of ice at the same position. Based on the output of the ice detection sensor, when it is determined that there is no ice, the compressor is operated to supply the refrigerant into the evaporating tube, and when it is determined that there is ice, the operation of the compressor is stopped and the supply of the refrigerant is stopped. In a beverage cooling and dispensing apparatus provided with a control circuit including a compressor control means to perform,
The control circuit includes compressor operation continuation means for continuously operating the compressor regardless of the output of the ice detection sensor for a predetermined time after the start of operation of the compressor.

According to the first feature, the predetermined time after the operation of the compressor is once started, even if it is determined that there is ice based on the output of the ice detection sensor during that time, the operation of the compressor is started. The operation is not stopped, and the compressor continues to operate at least until a predetermined time has elapsed.
Thereby, the refrigerant having a cooling ability from the refrigerating device including the compressor flows over the entire evaporating tube to cool the evaporating tube. Therefore, the evaporating tube at a position distant from the supply end of the refrigerant can be sufficiently cooled and ice can grow around the evaporating tube, so that the beverage cooling and dispensing apparatus can maintain a large amount of ice. .

According to a second feature of the present invention, in the beverage cooling and pouring apparatus described above, the compressor is driven by a motor rotated by electric power from a commercial AC power supply, and the control circuit controls the electric power of the electric power. An operation duration changing means for setting the predetermined time to be shorter as the frequency is higher is provided.

According to the second feature, since the compressor motor is driven by electric power from a commercial AC power source, the capacity (refrigeration capacity) of the compressor becomes larger at 60 Hz at 50 Hz and 60 Hz, for example. The amount of ice growth is appropriately controlled by switching the operation duration of the compressor according to the frequency. Thereby, it is possible to prevent ice growing around the evaporator tube from reaching the beverage tube within the predetermined time.

A third feature of the present invention is that the first and the second
In the beverage cooling and pouring device having the feature of the above, the tubular heat pipe in which the working fluid for heat transfer moves passes through the space between the ice detection sensor and the beverage pipe, and the water tank from the upper surface of the water tank. And a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the heat pipe above the liquid surface is provided, and the control circuit determines that the rate of temperature increase detected by the temperature sensor is a predetermined rate. In the above case, there is provided a forced stopping means for forcibly stopping the operation of the compressor.

A working fluid is movably accommodated in the heat pipe, and heat is transferred by the working fluid. When the heat pipe comes into contact with ice, the working fluid at a contact portion with the ice freezes. Therefore, the movement of the hydraulic fluid is hindered, so that the temperature of the upper portion of the heat pipe detected by the temperature sensor does not become the temperature of the cooling water, and the same portion is heated by the atmosphere. Accordingly, since the temperature detected by the temperature sensor rises at a predetermined rate of rise, it is possible to detect that a part of the ice has reached the heat pipe by detecting this rise.

In the third aspect, since the heat pipe extends vertically between the ice detecting sensor and the beverage pipe and in the water tank, the ice comes in contact with the heat pipe at any position. Even if it does, the contact of the ice can be reliably detected, and the operation of the compressor is forcibly stopped based on the detection result. Therefore, even if the ice grows more than expected within the predetermined time, it is possible to reliably prevent the ice from coming into contact with the beverage tube, and to prevent the freezing of the beverage.

A fourth feature of the present invention is that the first and the second
The ice detection sensor in the beverage cooling and dispensing apparatus having the feature described above is a temperature sensor having a heat pipe described in the third feature, and the compressor control means determines that the temperature rise rate detected by the temperature sensor is high. Is determined to be ice when the rate is equal to or higher than a predetermined rate, and is determined to be absent when the rate of increase is equal to or lower than the predetermined rate.

As described in the third aspect, the temperature sensor provided with the heat pipe makes it possible for the maximum growth portion of the ice to grow in the beverage pipe regardless of where the ice grows most in the depth direction of the water tank. Is accurately detected to a predetermined distance (distance between the beverage pipe and the heat pipe). According to the beverage cooling and dispensing apparatus having the fourth feature, it is possible to optimize the operation stop timing of the compressor. This makes it possible to prevent ice from coming into contact with the beverage tube within the predetermined time.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. A beverage cooling and pouring apparatus 10 of the present invention shown in FIG. , Evaporating pipe 40, cooling water stirring blade 50, cock 60,
A refrigerating device 70 and the water tank 2 placed on the refrigerating device;
A main body 80 for accommodating 0 and the like is provided. FIG. 2 is a plan view of a main part of the water tank 20.

The water tank 20 is for storing cooling water and has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape with a bottom and an open upper surface.
The side wall and the bottom wall of the water tank 20 are heat insulating materials (polystyrene foam)
It is surrounded by 21.

The beverage pipe 30 is for passing a beverage, such as beer, pumped from the outside of the main body 80 and cooling the beverage with cooling water in the water tank 20.
A coil portion 30a formed by spirally winding a stainless steel pipe erected substantially at the center of the tube, and a beverage injection tube portion 30b
And a beverage discharge pipe portion 30c. Coil section 30
a is connected to the outside of the water tank 20 at the upper part of the water tank 20 and is connected to the coil section 30a.
Is connected to a beverage infusion tube portion 30b extending downward at an inner peripheral portion of the tube. The pipe located at the top of the coil section 30a is connected to a beverage pouring pipe section 30c connected to the cock 60.

The evaporating tube 40 cools the cooling water by storing ice around the evaporating tube 40. The evaporating tube 40 has a coil portion 40a in which a copper pipe is spirally wound. The coil portion 30 is provided on the outer peripheral side of the coil portion 30a of the beverage pipe 30.
It is arranged coaxially with a. The pipe located at the lowermost stage of the coil portion 40a extends vertically along the inner wall surface of the water tank 20, extends from the upper opening of the water tank 20 to the outside of the water tank 20, and descends along the outer wall surface of the water tank 20. The refrigerant supply pipe 40b connected to the refrigeration apparatus 70 is connected to the refrigeration apparatus 70.
Further, a water tank 20 is provided at the uppermost pipe of the coil portion 40a.
A refrigerant discharge pipe 40c extending from the upper opening to the outside of the water tank 20 and descending along the outer wall surface of the water tank 20 and connected to the refrigeration apparatus 70 is connected.

Between the coil sections 30a and 40a, ice detecting sensors S1 and S2 for detecting ice growing around the coil section 40a are arranged at a distance in the vertical direction. Each of the ice detection sensors S1 and S2 is formed of a conductor piece, and is connected to the control circuit 100 of the refrigerating device 70 as shown in FIG.

The cooling water stirring blade 50 is fixed to the upper part of the water tank 20 so as to be located on the inner peripheral side (center part) of the beverage pipe 30 (coil part 30a) and at a depth approximately half of the water tank 20. Is fixed to the tip of a rotating shaft 52 that extends through the transparent mounting plate 51 and extends in the central axis direction of the beverage pipe 30. The rotation shaft 52 is connected to a drive shaft of a stirring motor 53 fixed to the mounting plate 51, and is driven to rotate by the stirring motor 53. Therefore, the cooling water stirring blade 50
Is rotated with the rotation of the rotating shaft 52 by the stirring motor 53, and the cooling water in the water tank 20 flows downward of the water tank 20 to stir the cooling water.

The cock 60 is a well-known manual open / close valve fixed to the wall surface of the main body 80, and one end of its passage is connected to the beverage discharge pipe section 30c. Thus, when the user rotates the lever 60a of the cock 60, the beverage pressurized outside the main body 80 is supplied to the cock 60 via the beverage pipe 30, and the beverage is supplied from the spout 60b of the cock 60 to the outside. Is poured out.

The refrigerating apparatus 70 constitutes a well-known refrigerating cycle together with the evaporating pipe 40, and includes a compressor, a condenser, a cooling fan, a dryer, a capillary tube having an expansion valve function, etc., all of which are not shown. ing. The cooling mechanism of the refrigeration cycle will be briefly described. The refrigeration apparatus 70 cools and liquefies the refrigerant gas, which has been compressed by the compressor and has become high temperature and high pressure, by the action of the cooling fan in the condenser, and passes through the dryer. Dispense into a capillary tube. The diameter of the capillary tube is smaller than the diameters of the other refrigerant passages, and thus has a throttling function (decompression function). Therefore, the pressure of the refrigerant is reduced by the capillary tube, and the coil section 40 is connected to the refrigerant supply pipe 40b of the evaporating pipe 40 connected to the capillary tube.
a is supplied to the lowermost pipe.

The refrigerant supplied to the lowermost pipe of the coil section 40a evaporates while rising inside the coil section 40a and heats from the surroundings to cool the cooling water. The refrigerant evaporated in the coil part 40a is sucked and collected by the compressor through the refrigerant discharge pipe 40c connected to the uppermost pipe of the coil part 40a, is pressurized again, and is liquefied in the condenser. The refrigeration operation is repeated.

The control circuit 100 shown in FIG. 3 includes a microcomputer 101, an AD converter 102 connected to the microcomputer 101 via a bus, a relay X1 that opens and closes (on / off) by an output from the microcomputer 101, and an oscillation circuit 103. , Amplifiers 104, 105,
Rectifier / smoothing circuits 106 and 107 are provided. The oscillation circuit 103 is connected to the ice detection sensor S1 via the amplifier 104, and the ice detection sensor S2 is connected to the AD converter 102 via the amplifier 105 and the rectification / smoothing circuit 106 connected to the amplifier 105. . The two input terminals of the rectifier / smoothing circuit 107 are connected to the commercial power supply 110.
(AC, 100V) and the output terminal is AD
Connected to converter 102.

The power supply lines L1 and L2 are connected to the same commercial power supply 11 as the power supply input to the aforementioned rectifier / smoothing circuit 107.
0 is connected. A stirring motor 53 for rotating the cooling water stirring blade 50 is connected to these power lines L1 and L2, and the stirring motor 53 keeps rotating at all times.

The power supply line L1 is connected to one end of a relay contact constituting the relay X1. The other end of the relay contact is connected to one end of a compressor motor CM that drives a compressor of the refrigeration apparatus 70 and one end of a fan motor FM that sends cooling air to a condenser of the refrigeration apparatus 70. Also,
The other end of the compressor motor CM and the fan motor FM
Is connected to the power supply line L2.

Next, the operation of the beverage cooling and dispensing apparatus 10 configured as described above will be described.
2 (hereinafter simply referred to as “microcomputer”) will be described with reference to a program shown as a flowchart in FIG.

When a power switch (not shown) is turned on and power is supplied to the microcomputer, the microcomputer starts processing from step 200 in FIG. 4, and in step 205 via the rectifying / smoothing circuit 107 and the AD converter 102. Then, it is determined whether the frequency (power frequency) of the commercial power supply 110 supplied to the compressor motor CM is 50 Hz or 60 Hz based on the input information.

The microcomputer has a power supply frequency of 5
If it is 0 Hz, the process proceeds to step 210, where CM
The reference time TH (predetermined time) for determining whether or not the on-timer has completed the time measurement is set to 30 minutes. If it is 60 Hz, the process proceeds to step 215, and the reference time TH is set to 20 minutes. This is to cope with the fact that the rotation speed of the compressor motor CM (compression capability of the compressor) varies depending on the power supply frequency, and details will be described later.

Next, the microcomputer proceeds to step 220, resets the CM off timer used to secure the stop time of the compressor motor CM, and starts measuring time. In step 225, the CM off timer determines the compressor stop time ( Here, it is determined whether (3 minutes) has been counted. At this point, since three minutes have not elapsed since the start of the timing of the CM off timer, the microcomputer repeats the determination of step 225.

After a predetermined time has elapsed, the CM off timer
After counting the minutes, the microcomputer proceeds to step 22.
5 is determined as “Yes” and the process proceeds to step 230 where the amplifier 105 and the rectifying / smoothing circuit 1
The signal obtained through the signal 06 is converted into an analog signal and taken in. The resistance value between the ice detection sensors S1 and S2 is set to a predetermined value S0.
(For example, 80 KΩ) or more.

By the way, in a state where no ice exists between the ice detection sensors S1 and S2 and only the cooling water exists, the impurities contained in the cooling water cause an impurity between the ice detection sensors S1 and S2. Is easy to flow current,
As a result, the resistance value between the ice detection sensors S1 and S2 decreases. On the other hand, when one of the ice detection sensors S1 and S2 is buried in the ice and ice is present between the ice detection sensors S1 and S2, the ice contains few impurities, so that the ice detection sensors S1 and S2 are small. Current hardly flows between S2 and the resistance value between the ice detection sensors S1 and S2 increases. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a high-frequency voltage having a predetermined amplitude is applied to the ice detection sensor S1 from the oscillation circuit 103, and the current flowing between the ice detection sensors S1 and S2 is measured via the rectification / smoothing circuit 106. Ice detection sensors S1, S
The resistance value between the two is detected, and the presence or absence of ice is determined from the resistance value.

At this stage, since the power has just been turned on, no ice has grown around the evaporating tube 40 (coil portion 40a). Accordingly, since the resistance between the two ice detection sensors S1 and S2 is smaller than the predetermined value S0, the microcomputer makes a “No” determination at step 230 and proceeds to step 235, where the microcomputer operates the compressor motor CM. To close relay X1. Due to the closing operation of the relay X1, the compressor CM and the fan motor FM start operating, the refrigeration apparatus 70 sends a refrigerant having a cooling capacity to the evaporating pipe 40, and the evaporating pipe 40 starts cooling the cooling water.

Next, the microcomputer resets the CM ON timer used to secure the operation continuation time of the compressor motor CM in step 240 and starts time counting, and thereafter proceeds to step 245. In step 245, the microcomputer detects the ice detection sensor S
It is determined whether the resistance value between S1 and S2 is greater than a predetermined value S0. At this stage, since the ice has grown since the compressor motor CM has just started operating, the microcomputer determines “No” in step 245 and repeats the determination to monitor the ice growth.

Thereafter, when ice grows around the evaporating tube 40 and either of the ice detection sensors S1 or S2 is buried in the ice,
The microcomputer determines "Yes" in step 245.
Then, the process proceeds to step 250, where it is determined whether or not the CM-on timer has counted the predetermined time TH set in the previous step 210 or step 215. Since this stage is a case where cooling of the cooling water is started in a state where no ice is present, since the sufficient time has elapsed since the start of the operation of the compressor motor CM, the microcomputer determines “Yes” in step 250. Step 25
Then, at step 255, the relay X1 is opened to stop the operation of the compressor motor CM and the fan motor FM. As described above, a sufficient amount of ice grows around the evaporating tube 40, and the beverage can be cooled continuously and in a large amount.

Thereafter, the microcomputer resets the CM-off timer at step 260 to start timing, and returns to step 225 to monitor whether the CM-off timer has counted three minutes. As a result, after the compressor motor CM is temporarily stopped, a stop time of at least 3 minutes is secured, and the compressor and the compressor motor CM are protected.

In this state, the lever 6 of the cock 60
0a is operated, the beverage pressurized outside the beverage cooling and dispensing apparatus 10 flows through the beverage pipe 30, and the beverage is cooled by performing heat exchange with the cooling water and then cooled. 60
From the spout 60b. At the same time, the cooling water exchanges heat with the ice growing around the coil portion 40a to melt the ice. As a result, when the amount of ice gradually decreases and both of the ice detection sensors S1 and S2 are exposed to the cooling water, the microcomputer determines “No” in step 230 and proceeds to step 235 and thereafter to proceed to the compressor motor CM.
And the above-described refrigeration operation is repeated.

In particular, even in a situation where the frequency of the beverage passing through the cooling pipe 30 is low, such as in winter, the amount of ice decreases as the compressor motor CM continues to be stopped. This is because the cooling water takes heat from the atmosphere, and the heat melts the ice. In such a case, since the ice melts from above, the ice detection sensor S1 is first exposed to water, and then the ice detection sensor S2 is exposed to water. In such a case as well, the microcomputer determines “No” in step 230 and operates the compressor motor CM in step 235 as described above,
Resets the CM on timer and starts timing.

Thus, the coil portion 40a of the evaporating tube 40
Since the refrigerant is supplied to the lowermost pipe, the coil portion 40a is sequentially cooled from the lowermost pipe toward the upper stage, and the ice detection sensor S2 located below the ice detection sensor S1 is first cooled. Buried in ice. In this case, since the amount of beverage to be cooled per unit time is small, the amount of heat exchange between the beverage and the cooling water is small, and as a result, the amount of heat exchange between the cooling water and ice is also small. Therefore, ice is relatively short (e.g., 7 minutes to 8 minutes).
(Min) until the ice detection sensor S2 is covered.

On the other hand, in such a short-time operation of the compressor motor CM, the refrigerant evaporates before reaching the upper portion (near the uppermost stage) of the coil portion 40a (ie, the depth of the water tank 20 of the coil portion 40a). Evaporating only at the lower or central portion in the vertical direction), and it is not possible to cool the upper portion of the coil portion 40a. For this reason, ice around the upper part of the coil part 40a cannot grow.

If the operation of the compressor motor CM is stopped at this time, when the ice detection sensor S2 is again exposed to the water, the ice around the upper portion of the coil portion 40a is further reduced, but the compressor is again shortly operated. Since the motor CM is operated, it cannot grow for the same reason as described above. When such a situation is repeated, the amount of ice on the upper part of the coil portion 40a gradually decreases, and the entire amount of ice also decreases.

Therefore, in this embodiment, at step 245, the resistance between the ice detection sensors S1 and S2 is larger than the predetermined value S0, and the microcomputer
Even if it is determined that there is ice around 0a,
If it is determined in step 250 that the CM on timer has not counted the predetermined time TH, the compressor motor C
The process does not proceed to step 255 in which the operation of M is stopped, and the determination in steps 245 and 250 is repeated. As a result, during the predetermined time TH, the compressor motor CM
Is continuously operated, so that the coil portion 40 of the evaporating tube 40 is
The refrigerant having a cooling capacity also flows over the upper part a, and the part is sufficiently cooled and ice grows around.
It should be noted that the predetermined time TH is set between the ice detection sensors S1 and S2 and the beverage pipe 3
In consideration of the distance from the coil unit 30a to the zero point, the growth rate of ice, and the like, a predetermined time TH after the start of operation of the compressor.
However, even if it is operated continuously, ice is not
Is chosen at a time that is estimated not to be reached.

The operation of the beverage cooling and dispensing apparatus 10 described above
FIG. 5 shows a time chart. FIG. 5A shows that the amount of drink per hour is relatively large, for example, in the summer season, the ice detection sensors S1 and S2 are exposed to the water, and the operation of the compressor motor CM is stopped at time t0. It shows a case where it takes a long time until either one of the ice detection sensors S1 and S2 is covered with ice and it is determined that there is ice at time t2 from the start. In this case, at the time when it is determined that there is ice at the time t2, the predetermined time TH has elapsed from the operation start time t0 of the compressor motor CM. The operation of the CM is stopped.

FIG. 5 (B) shows that the amount of drink per hour is relatively small as in winter, and at time t0 both ice detection sensors S1 and S2 are exposed to the water and the compressor motor C
At time 3 after the start of the operation of M, the ice detection sensors S
1 shows a case where the time until one of S1 and S2 is covered with ice and it is determined that there is ice is short. In this case, the compressor motor C at the time t3 is determined.
Since the predetermined time TH has not elapsed since the operation start time t0 of M, the compressor motor CM is stopped at time t4 after the predetermined time TH has elapsed.

FIG. 5 (C) shows that the amount of beverage to be dispensed per unit time is relatively small as in FIG. 5 (B). A case is shown in which the time from when the operation of the CM is started to when it is determined at time t5 that one of the ice detection sensors S1 and S2 is covered with ice and ice is present is short. In this case, when it is determined that “there is ice” at the time t5, a predetermined time TH from the operation start time t0 of the compressor motor CM.
Has not elapsed, the operation of the compressor motor CM is continued.

In the case of FIG. 5C, both ice detection sensors S1 and S2 are exposed to the water at time t7 when a predetermined time TH has elapsed from the operation start time t0 of the compressor motor CM. It is determined that there is no ice, and the operation of the compressor motor CM is further continued. However, when ice is detected at time t8, the operation of the compressor motor CM is immediately stopped because the predetermined time TH has elapsed from the operation start time t0 of the compressor motor CM at this time.

Such a situation occurs when the beverage is continuously poured immediately after the ice covers the ice detection sensor S2 at time t5, and the ice detection sensor S2 is again exposed to water at time t6. It can happen. In this case, if the configuration is such that the compressor motor CM is continuously operated from the time t6 until the predetermined time TH is measured, the ice grows too much and the
(Coil portion 30a). Therefore,
In the present embodiment, the start of timing of the predetermined time TH is set to the time t0 when the operation of the compressor motor CM is started.

FIG. 5 (D) shows a case similar to FIG. 5 (C), in which the presence of ice is short for a predetermined time TH from the time t0 when the operation of the compressor motor CM is started. (Time t9 to time t10), the operation of the compressor motor CM is not stopped, and the presence of ice is detected when a predetermined time TH has elapsed (time t12). CM
1 shows a case where the operation of is stopped.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the operation continuation time (minimum operation continuation time) of the compressor motor CM is guaranteed, so that the coil portion 40a of the evaporating tube 40 is
The whole can be cooled, so that a sufficient amount of ice is secured irrespective of the state of dispensing the beverage.

In this embodiment, if the frequency (power frequency) of the commercial power supply 110 supplied to the compressor motor CM that determines the rotation speed of the compressor motor CM is high, the predetermined time TH is shortened (for example, 20).
Minute), and if it is low, the predetermined time TH is lengthened (for example, 30).
Minutes). This is the ice detection sensor S
1 and S2 are both exposed to the water and the compressor motor C
The predetermined time TH after the start of the operation of the M is determined by the compressor motor CM regardless of the detection results of the ice detection sensors S1 and S2.
During the operation, the ice is generated during this time by the coil portion 3 of the beverage pipe 30.
The cooling capacity based on the compressor motor CM, that is, the growth rate of ice is taken into consideration so as not to reach 0a.

Next, a modified example of the present embodiment will be described.
9 is different from the above-described embodiment only in that the temperature sensor 90 with a heat pipe shown in FIG. 8 is added and the microcomputer 102 executes the program shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8 instead of FIG.

The temperature sensor 9 added in this modified example
The 0 heat pipe 91 is a straight copper pipe extending between the upper part of the liquid level of the water tank 20 and the vicinity of the bottom surface of the water tank 20 through between the ice detection sensors S1 and S2 and the coil portion 30a of the beverage pipe 30. Are located in Same heat pipe 91
The working fluid that transfers heat by moving inside the heat pipe 91 is sealed in the inside. This working fluid freezes at the temperature of ice. Further, a temperature sensor 9 is provided on a portion of the heat pipe 91 above the cooling water level.
2 is provided, and the temperature of the same portion is controlled by the microcomputer 10 via the AD converter 102 of the control circuit 100.
1 is input.

In the heat pipe 91, since the internal working fluid normally moves, the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 92 is equal to the cooling water temperature. On the other hand, when the ice that grows around the coil portion 40a reaches a part of the heat pipe, the hydraulic fluid freezes at that portion, so that the hydraulic fluid cannot reach the portion where the temperature sensor 92 is disposed, and Temperature rises. FIG. 7 shows how the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 92 changes when part of the ice reaches the heat pipe 91 at time t20. As is clear from FIG. 7, the rate of increase of the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 92 with the passage of time is greater after time t20 than before.

Next, the operation of the present modification will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 8. The flowchart of FIG. 8 differs from the flowchart of FIG. 4 only in that step 265 is added. The other points are the same as those in the flowchart of FIG. Therefore, FIG.
The same steps as those described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, detailed description thereof will be omitted, and only matters related to step 265 will be described.

In FIG. 8, the microcomputer comprises:
If it is determined in step 230 that there is no ice, step 23 is executed.
5, 240 and Step 245 are executed to operate the compressor motor CM. Next, the microcomputer determines the presence or absence of ice and C by executing steps 245 and 250.
It monitors whether the M-on timer has counted a predetermined time TH. During the execution of this monitoring operation repeatedly, the microcomputer determines in step 245 that there is ice,
In step 250, the CM ON timer sets the predetermined time TH.
If it is determined that the time has not been counted, the process proceeds to step 265, where it is determined whether or not the rate of increase of the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 92 with respect to time is greater than a predetermined rate S1.

As described above, if the rate of increase is equal to or less than the predetermined rate S1, no ice has reached the heat pipe 91, so the microcomputer returns to step 245 without stopping the operation of the compressor motor CM. return,
The above monitor operation is repeated.

On the other hand, if the ice has reached the heat pipe 91 at the time of the determination in step 265, the microcomputer determines “Yes” in step 265. Since the heat pipe 91 is arranged closer to the coil portion 30a of the beverage pipe 30 than either of the ice detection sensors S1 and S2, the ice reaches the coil portion 30a when the operation of the compressor motor CM is further continued. High risk. Therefore, the microcomputer proceeds to step 255, forcibly stops the operation of the compressor motor CM, and proceeds to step 260 and subsequent steps.

That is, in this modified example, even if the CM on-timer has not yet counted the predetermined time TH, if it is detected that ice has reached the heat pipe 91, the operation of the compressor motor CM is forced. Will stop temporarily,
The problem that ice reaches the coil portion 30a and freezes the beverage is avoided. Further, according to the temperature sensor with a heat pipe 90 used in the present modification, even if the ice becomes maximum at any position in the depth direction of the water tank 20, it can be reliably detected. For this reason, prevention of freezing of the beverage is further ensured.

The temperature sensor 90 with the heat pipe can be used instead of the ice detection sensors S1 and S2 in the above embodiment. In this case, the oscillation circuit 103, the amplifier 104, and the both ice detection sensors S1, S2, shown in FIG.
The temperature sensor 90 with a heat pipe is directly used for the AD converter 1 instead of the amplifier 105 and the rectifying / smoothing circuit 106.
02. Further, the determination in steps 230 and 245 of the flowchart shown in FIG. ) ". In such a modification, the use of the temperature sensor 90 with a heat pipe makes it possible to reliably detect that the distance between the ice and the coil portion 30a is less than or equal to a predetermined distance (the distance between the coil portion 30a and the heat pipe 91). The operation stop timing of the compressor motor CM can be optimized,
It is possible to reliably prevent the ice from reaching the coil portion 30a within the predetermined time TH.

In the above-described embodiment and modified examples,
Although it has been described that the ice near the uppermost stage of the coil section 40a of the evaporating tube 40 is prevented from being reduced, this is because the refrigerant from the refrigerating device 70 starts to be supplied from the lowermost pipe of the coil section 40a. Depends. Therefore, in the beverage cooling and pouring device of the type in which the refrigerant is supplied from the uppermost pipe of the coil section 40a, the use of the present invention reduces the amount of ice that grows around the pipe near the lowermost section of the coil section 40a. That can be prevented. That is, according to the present invention, it is possible to sufficiently cool the evaporating tube portion far from the supply point of the refrigerant from the refrigerating device 70, and to grow ice around the same portion.

In the above embodiment and the modified example, the coil portion 3 in which the beverage pipe 30 and the evaporating pipe 40 are both spirally wound.
0a and 40a, wherein the present invention is applied to a beverage cooling and pouring device in which the coil portion 40a is coaxially arranged so as to surround the outer peripheral side of the coil portion 30a. The shape and arrangement of the evaporating tubes 40 are not limited to those described above. That is, the present invention provides the coil unit 3
0a (beverage pipe) is coaxially arranged adjacently so as to surround the outer peripheral side of the coil section 40a (evaporation pipe), or what kind of shape is the spirally wound evaporation pipe? A beverage cooling and pouring device (for example, a beverage tube in which a thin tube is connected in a wave shape, and a coil portion 40a of the evaporating tube 40 surrounds the outer periphery of the beverage tube) As described above, the present invention can also be applied to a beverage cooling and pouring device that is disposed adjacent to the above.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a main part of an embodiment of a beverage cooling and dispensing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a main part of the water tank shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an electrical diagram of the beverage cooling and dispensing device shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a program executed by a microcomputer of the control circuit shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a time chart showing the operation of the refrigerator of the beverage cooling and dispensing apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a water tank according to a modification of the embodiment shown in FIG.

7 is a diagram showing how the detected temperature changes with time of the temperature sensor with a heat pipe shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a program executed by the microcomputer of the modification shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of a water tank of a conventional beverage cooling and dispensing apparatus, showing ice growth.

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of a water tank of a conventional beverage cooling and dispensing apparatus, showing ice growth.

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of a water tank of the conventional beverage cooling and dispensing apparatus, showing ice growth.

[Explanation of symbols]

10: beverage cooling and dispensing device, 20: water tank, 30: beverage pipe,
40: evaporating tube, 50: cooling water stirring blade, 60: cock, 7
0 ... Refrigeration equipment.

Continued on the front page. (72) Inventor Eno Furuno, 3-16 Hoshizaki Electric Co., Ltd., Sakaemachi Minami-kan, Toyoake-shi, Aichi Prefecture F term (reference) 3L045 AA02 BA01 CA01 DA02 FA02 GA02 HA01 LA05 LA17 MA19 NA16 PA01 PA03 PA04 PA06

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A beverage pipe through which a beverage passes through a water tank for storing cooling water, an evaporating pipe through which a refrigerant from a refrigerating device including a compressor passes, and which is disposed adjacent to the beverage pipe, and a beverage pipe. And an ice detection sensor disposed between the evaporator tubes and for detecting the presence or absence of ice at the same position, and when the absence of ice is determined based on the output of the ice detection sensor, the compressor is operated. And a control circuit including compressor control means for stopping the operation of the compressor and stopping the supply of the refrigerant when it is determined that ice is present based on the output of the ice detection sensor while supplying the refrigerant into the evaporating tube. In the beverage cooling and dispensing apparatus, the control circuit continuously operates the compressor for a predetermined time after the start of operation of the compressor regardless of an output of the ice detection sensor. A beverage cooling and dispensing device comprising a compressor operation continuation means for operating the cooling device. 2. A beverage cooling and dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said compressor is driven by a motor rotated by electric power from a commercial AC power supply, and said control circuit sets said predetermined time to said electric power. A beverage cooling and dispensing device comprising an operation duration changing means for setting a shorter frequency as the frequency is higher. 3. A beverage cooling and dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a tubular heat pipe in which a working fluid for heat transfer moves moves between the ice detection sensor and the beverage pipe. Disposed so as to extend from above the liquid surface of the water tank to near the bottom surface of the water tank, and a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the heat pipe at the liquid surface upper position is provided, and the control circuit is controlled by the temperature sensor. A beverage cooling and dispensing apparatus comprising a forced stopping means for forcibly stopping the operation of the compressor when a detected temperature rise rate is equal to or higher than a predetermined rate. 4. The beverage cooling and dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ice detection sensor contains a hydraulic fluid for performing heat transfer, and is near a bottom surface of the water tank from a liquid level above the water tank. A heat pipe disposed so as to extend to a temperature above the liquid surface of the heat pipe and a sensor for detecting a temperature at a position above the liquid surface of the heat pipe, wherein the compressor control means increases the temperature detected by the temperature sensor. When the rate is equal to or more than a predetermined rate, it is determined that there is ice, and when the rate of temperature increase detected by the temperature sensor is equal to or less than a predetermined rate, it is determined that there is no ice. Beverage cooling and dispensing device.