JP2000207631A - Beverage supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a beverage supply device where power consumption is reduced. SOLUTION: An ice detection circuit 24 outputs an ice detection signal to a control part when detecting ice 13a by selected one of a first IBC(ice bank control) sensor 21A and a second IBC sensor 21B which are arranged correspondingly to the quantity of ice to be prepared. The control part controls to turn on/off a compressor or the like for cooling based on the ice detection signal from the ice detection circuit 24.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a beverage supply device such as a cup-type vending machine and a beverage dispenser,
The present invention relates to a beverage supply device that saves power.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional beverage supply device, for example,
It is known to generate cooling water for cooling a beverage in a water tank by repeating a cycle of compression, condensation, and evaporation of a refrigerant. The beverage supply device includes a compressor for compressing the refrigerant, a condenser for condensing the refrigerant compressed by the compressor, a condenser fan motor for supplying cooling air to the condenser, and a condenser provided in the water tank. Pipe that evaporates the refrigerant condensed by the evaporator and forms ice around by the cold heat obtained during the evaporation to cool the water (cooling water) in the water tank, and a stirring motor that stirs the cooling water in the water tank. And IBC (Ice Bank Con) which detects ice formed around the evaporator tube
trol) sensor and a control unit for turning on / off the fan motor for the compressor and the condenser based on the detection signal of the IBC sensor. In the beverage supply device configured as described above, the control unit turns off the compressor and the condenser fan motor when the IBC sensor detects ice, and when the IBC sensor stops detecting ice, the control unit controls the compressor and the condenser fan. Turn on the motor. As a result, a certain amount of ice is formed in the water tank, so that even if the beverage is continuously supplied (sold), the cooling water of the ice cools the cooling water to a low temperature (for example, 4).
℃ or less).

[0003]

However, according to the conventional beverage supply device, the maximum amount of ice is always secured so as to correspond to the maximum sales amount per unit time. When the amount of ice is small, the amount of ice becomes too large as compared with the sales amount, so that when the ice is first formed, the ON time of the compressor becomes long and a large amount of electric power is required. Also, even when it is not sold, the cooling water in the water tank is stirred by the stirring motor, so the ice water is shaved by the water flow of the cooling water generated by the stirring, so the amount of ice shaved is cooled by the compressor. Since it is necessary to make up for this, the total on-time of the compressor becomes longer, resulting in waste of power consumption.

[0004] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a beverage supply device that saves power.

[0005]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, ice is formed in a water tank by cooling control by turning a compressor on and off, and cooling water in the water tank is cooled. In a beverage supply device that supplies a beverage cooled by water, the amount of ice is set according to the supply amount of the beverage,
When the ice reaches the ice amount, a beverage supply device is provided, comprising: a detection unit that outputs an ice amount signal; and a control unit that performs the cooling control until the ice amount signal is output. According to the above configuration, by setting the ice amount according to the beverage supply amount, the ice amount according to the beverage supply amount is formed.

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, ice is formed in a water tank by cooling control by turning a compressor on and off, cooling water in the water tank is cooled, and a beverage cooled by the cooling water is cooled. In the beverage supply device for supplying, a stirring means for stirring the cooling water in the water tank, and a control means for performing the cooling control and stopping the stirring means for a predetermined time at a predetermined timing are provided. And a beverage supply device. According to the above configuration, when the beverage is not supplied for a predetermined period of time, by stopping the stirring means, the ice in the water tank is hardly melted, and the total ON time of the compressor is shortened.

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, ice is formed in a water tank by cooling control by turning a compressor on and off, cooling water in the water tank is cooled, and a beverage cooled by the cooling water is cooled. In the beverage supply device for supplying, an ice amount is set according to the supply amount of the beverage, and when the ice reaches the ice amount, a detection unit that outputs an ice amount signal, and the cooling water in the water tank are provided. A beverage supply device comprising: a stirring means for stirring; and a control means for performing the cooling control until the ice amount signal is output, and stopping the stirring means for a predetermined time at a predetermined timing. provide. According to the above configuration, by setting the ice amount according to the beverage supply amount, the ice amount according to the beverage supply amount is formed. By performing the cooling control and stopping the stirring means, the ice in the water tank is hardly melted, and the total ON time of the compressor is shortened.

[0008]

FIG. 1 shows a beverage dispenser to which a beverage supply device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied. The beverage dispenser 1 has a substantially box-shaped dispenser main body 1A, and a front face of the dispenser main body 1A,
An openable door 2 having a plurality of selection switches 2a for selecting a drink and a drip tray 3 on which a plurality of cups C can be placed are provided.

Further, the beverage dispenser 1 comprises a cool box 5 for keeping a plurality of BIBs (Bag in Boxes) 4 containing various syrups inside a dispenser body 1A, and a BIB.
A multi-valve 6 for mixing the syrup in 4 with diluting water such as carbonated water or cold water and discharging the mixture into the cup C
A chilled water solenoid valve 7A for supplying chilled water via a multi-valve 6 and a carbonated water solenoid valve 7B for supplying carbonated water via a multi-valve 6 are provided. The cooled cooler 8 is arranged. In each BIB 4, a tube 9 is led out from below, and a syrup is pressure-fed from the BIB 4 by a tube pump 10. A cold water nozzle 1 is provided near the lower end of the tube 9.
1 is provided.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the beverage dispenser 1. As shown in FIG. The beverage dispenser 1 is provided with a pressurizing pump 12 for pressurizing and supplying tap water from a city water supply (not shown).
, A water tank 14 containing the cooling water 13, and a cooling unit 15 for cooling the cooling water 13 in the water tank 14.

In the water tank 14, a carbonator 16 for mixing carbonated water with tap water to generate carbonated water, and a stirring motor 17 for stirring the cooling water 13 by a stirring propeller 17a.
And a circulating pump 18 attached to the stirring motor 17
And a coil unit 19 composed of a carbonated water coil for passing carbonated water and a tap water coil for passing tap water.
And an evaporating pipe 153 constituting the cooling unit 15. Circulating pump 18 and cold water pipe 8a of cooler 8
And a cold water pipe 20A returning to the water tank 14 is connected to an outlet of the cold water pipe 8a of the cooler 8. The circulating pump 18 pumps the cooling water 13 in the water tank 14 through the cold water pipe 20 </ b> A to the cold storage 5 side, and circulates in the cold water pipe 8 a of the cooler 8, whereby the BI in the cold storage 5 is
B4 is kept cool.

The cooling unit 15 includes a compressor 150 for compressing the refrigerant, a condenser 151 for condensing the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 150, a condenser fan motor for supplying cooling air to the condenser 151, The evaporation pipe 153 includes a copper pipe that evaporates the refrigerant condensed by the condenser 151 and cools the surroundings during the evaporation.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show the structure of the main part in the water tank 14. FIG. In the water tank 14, a first I formed by a pair of conductive wires 22a, 22a arranged inside the evaporating pipe 153 is provided.
BC (Ice Bank Control) sensor 21A and evaporation tube 1
A second I made of a pair of conductive wires 22b, 22b disposed inside the pair 53 and outside the pair of conductive wires 22a, 22a.
BC sensor 21B, first and second IBC sensors 2
And a mounting plate 23 for mounting 1A and 21B to the evaporating tube 153. First and second IBC sensors 21A,
21B is connected to the ice detection circuit 24. The ice detection circuit 24 is provided with ice between the inner conductors 22a, 22a or between the outer conductors 22b, 22b of the first IBC sensor 21A or the second IBC sensor 21B selected by a switch (not shown). When the resistance value exceeds a predetermined value, an ice detection signal is output. When the stirring propeller 17a is rotated by driving the stirring motor 17, the cooling water 13 flows in the direction shown by the arrow in FIG.

FIG. 4 shows a main part of a control system of the beverage dispenser 1. The beverage dispenser 1 has a control unit 30 that controls the entire dispenser 1.
A timer 31 for measuring the elapsed time, and a chilled water solenoid valve 7.
A, a solenoid valve driving circuit 34 for driving a plurality of solenoid valves including the carbonated water solenoid valve 7B is connected. Further, the ice detection circuit 24, the selection switch 2a, the compressor 150, the condenser fan motor 152, the stirring motor 17, the circulation pump 18, the pressurizing pump 12, and the tube pump 10 are connected.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 5 shows the operation of the first embodiment.
First, the operator operates the changeover switch (not shown) in the ice detection circuit 24 to set the IBC sensors 21A and 21B to be used. Here, for example, it is assumed that the dispenser 1 is installed in a place where the sales volume per unit time is small. In this case, the operator sets the ice detection circuit 24 to use the second IBC sensor 21B.

When there is a sales request, the operator presses the selection switch 2a corresponding to the requested beverage. The selection switch 2a outputs a press signal S to the control unit 30.
The control unit 30 controls the solenoid valve drive circuit 34 to open and close the corresponding solenoid valve to supply the beverage corresponding to the press signal S to the cup C, and drives the corresponding tube pump 10 when necessary. I do. The requested beverage is supplied to the cup C. Further, the control unit 30 uses a timer 31 to measure the elapsed time from the arrival of the press signal S from the selection switch 2a. On the other hand, the control unit 30
4 is controlled. That is, the control unit 30
When the ice detection circuit 24 outputs the ice detection signal by the set second IBC sensor 21B, the compressor 150 and the evaporator fan motor 152 are turned off. When the ice detection circuit 24 stops outputting the ice detection signal, the compression is stopped. The machine 150 and the evaporator fan motor 152 are turned on.

The control unit 30, the count value of the timer 31 (time elapsed from pressing signal S is reached) a predetermined time (e.g., 10 minutes) to reach T _1, when the selection switch 2a is not pressed Then, the stirring motor 17 is turned off, the count value of the timer 31 is cleared, and the timer 31 measures the elapsed time. The count value of the timer 31 (the off time of the stirring motor 17) is a predetermined time (for example, 10 minutes) T
_When the number reaches ₂ , the stirring motor 17 is turned on.

According to the above-described first embodiment, when the sales volume per unit time is small, the amount of ice formed in the water tank 14 is reduced. Power consumption is reduced, and power consumption can be reduced. In addition, when the sales are not performed for a certain period of time, by turning on / off the compressor 150 and the evaporator fan motor 152 and stopping the stirring motor 17 for a predetermined period of time, the ice 13a becomes difficult to melt. The total ON time of the compressor 150 is shortened, and power can be saved.

FIG. 6 shows the operation of the beverage supply device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In this second embodiment,
The operator selects the second IBC sensor 21B in the low power rate time zone, for example, at night, and selects the first IBC sensor 21A in the other time zone in the daytime. In other respects, the configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment. According to the second embodiment, at night, the first IBC sensor 21A is selected, and as shown in FIG. 3B to FIG.
The amount of a increases. At this time, the ON time of the compressor 150 and the fan motor 152 for the condenser is temporarily increased, but in the daytime, the compressor 150 is not melted until the ice 13a is melted as shown in FIGS. In addition, the off time of the condenser fan motor 152 becomes longer. According to the second embodiment, the ice 1 is used by utilizing the time period of the low electricity rate.
The formation of 3a results in a reduction in the electricity charge.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be variously modified. For example, the selection of the first and second IBC sensors 21A and 21B may be automatically performed by a timer or the like without depending on the operator.

[0022]

As described above, according to the beverage supply device of the present invention, by setting the ice amount according to the beverage supply amount, the ice amount according to the beverage supply amount can be formed. If it is sufficient, the power consumption at the time of forming ice for the first time is reduced, and power saving can be achieved. Further, by stopping the stirring means at a predetermined timing, the ice in the water tank is hardly melted, so that the total ON time of the compressor is shortened, and power can be saved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a beverage dispenser according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the beverage dispenser according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows a structure of a main part in a water tank of the beverage dispenser according to the first embodiment.
(B) is a diagram showing the case of a small amount of ice

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a control system of the beverage dispenser according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing the operation of the beverage dispenser according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a timing chart showing the operation of the beverage dispenser according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Beverage dispenser 1A Dispenser main body 2 Door 2a Selection switch 3 Drip tray 4 BIB (Bag in Box) 5 Cold storage 6 Multi-valve 7A Cold water solenoid valve 7B Carbonated water solenoid valve 8 Cooler 8a Cold water pipe 9 Tube 10 Tube pump 11 Cold water Nozzle 12 Pressurizing pump 13 Cooling water 14 Water tank 15 Cooling unit 16 Carbonator 17 Stirring motor 17a Stirring propeller 18 Circulation pump 19 Coil unit 20A, 20B Cold water pipes 21A, 21B IBC (Ice Bank Control) sensors 22a, 22b Conducting wire 23 Mounting plate 24 ice detection circuit 30 control unit 31 timer 34 solenoid valve driving circuit 150 compressor 151 condenser 152 condenser fan motor 153 evaporation tube C Cup S depression signal T _1, T ₂ a predetermined time

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 3E044 AA01 CB03 CC10 DB12 DB16 FB11 3E047 AA01 BA04 DA02 DC05 DC08 FA05 FA07

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A beverage supply device for forming ice in a water tank by cooling control by turning a compressor on and off to cool the cooling water in the water tank and to supply a beverage cooled by the cooling water, wherein the beverage The ice amount is set according to the supply amount of the ice, and when the ice reaches the ice amount, a detection unit that outputs an ice amount signal; and a control unit that performs the cooling control until the ice amount signal is output. A beverage supply device characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. The ice detecting sensor according to claim 1, wherein said detecting means is provided at a plurality of positions corresponding to an amount of ice, and a plurality of ice detecting sensors for detecting said ice, and said ice detecting sensor selected from said plurality of ice detecting sensors. The beverage supply device according to claim 1, further comprising an ice detection circuit that outputs the ice amount signal by an ice detection circuit. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the detecting means includes:
The beverage supply device according to claim 1, wherein the maximum ice amount is set, and the ice amount other than the maximum ice amount is set in a second time zone other than the first time zone. 4. A beverage supply device for forming ice in a water tank by cooling control by turning on / off a compressor to cool the cooling water in the water tank and supply a beverage cooled by the cooling water, A beverage supply device, comprising: a stirring means for stirring the cooling water therein; and a control means for performing the cooling control and stopping the stirring means at a predetermined timing for a predetermined time. 5. The beverage supply apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said control means stops said stirring means for said predetermined time when said beverage is not supplied for a predetermined time. 6. A beverage supply device for forming ice in a water tank by cooling control by turning on / off a compressor to cool the cooling water in the water tank and supply the beverage cooled by the cooling water. The ice amount is set according to the supply amount of the ice, and when the ice reaches the ice amount, a detection unit that outputs an ice amount signal; a stirring unit that stirs the cooling water in the water tank; Control means for performing the cooling control until a signal is output and stopping the stirring means for a predetermined time at a predetermined timing.