JP2001202561A - Beverage supply system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a beverage supply system capable of adjusting syrup concentration (ratio of syrup/dilution water) in accordance with the selection of a customer in each sale. SOLUTION: This beverage supply system supplying concentrated syrup extracted from a syrup tank 10 on the basis of a command and the dilution water to a cup 21 through a beverage nozzle 4, is provided with a selecting means which adjusts the syrup concentration be higher/lower than a reference value according to customer taste, also respectively connects a syrup valve 13, a dilution water valve 18 and flow sensors 22 and 23 to a syrup circuit 7 and a dilution water circuit communicating with the nozzle 4, starts beverage supply by simultaneously opening each magnetic valve of the syrup and dilution water circuits when beverage is sold, fetches the flow rates of the syrup and the dilution water detected by each flow rate sensor into a controller 25, performs opening/closing control of the magnetic valve in accordance with the total amount and concentration (ratio of syrup/dilution water) of the beverage designated by the selecting means and supplies the beverage mixed to designated ratio to the cup.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a beverage dispenser or a cup-type beverage vending machine. The concentrated syrup extracted from a syrup tank based on a sales order is mixed with cold water or diluted carbonated water to form a cup. The present invention relates to a beverage supply system adapted to supply a beverage.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 shows a system diagram of a conventional beverage supply system using a beverage dispenser for carbonated beverages (weakly carbonated beverages and strongly carbonated beverages) as an example. In the figure, a beverage dispenser 1 is equipped with a bend stage 1a at the lower front part of a main body cabinet, a refrigerator unit 2 and a cooling water tank 3 inside the cabinet, and a bend stage 1a.
Above is a plurality of beverage nozzles corresponding to various syrup-based beverages (spout nozzles with beverage stirring function)
4 are side by side. The operation panel 5 arranged on the front upper portion of the cabinet 1a is provided with a selection button 6 for sale corresponding to various syrup beverages.

[0003] Further, the machine is provided with a syrup circuit 7 communicating with the beverage nozzle 4 and a cold water circuit 8 and a carbonated water circuit 9 constituting a dilution water circuit. Here, a syrup circuit 7 drawn from a syrup tank 10 containing concentrated syrup has a cooling coil 1 immersed in water of a cooling water tank 3.
1, a flow regulator 12 for adjusting a flow rate and a syrup valve (electromagnetic valve) 13 are connected. The cooling water circuit 8 has a water pump 1 connected to a water supply.
4, a cooling coil 15 immersed in the cooling water tank 3, a blend regulator 16 for mixing carbonated water and cold water, a flow regulator 17, and a dilution water valve (electromagnetic valve) 18 are connected. Further, the carbonated water circuit 9 is drawn out of a carbonator 19 for producing carbonated water, and is piped between the blend regulator 16 and the flow regulator 17 (strong carbonated beverage circuit). Reference numeral 20 denotes a carbon dioxide gas cylinder which pressurizes and supplies carbon dioxide to each of the syrup tanks 10 and the carbonator 19.

Next, the beverage supply operation of the dispenser will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. That is, the operator or the customer selects a desired syrup (flavor) and cup size (beverage amount), sets the cup 21 on the bend stage 1a, presses the selection button 6 corresponding to the beverage, and turns on the sales switch. Then, the syrup beverage discharge amount s corresponding to the cup size selected by the controller (microcomputer), the syrup-to-dilution water reference ratio 1 which is defined in advance as a standard beverage concentration for each type of syrup : A,
And flow regulator 1 for syrup and dilution water circuit
After the discharge time t of the beverage is determined based on the known flow rate value fixedly set in the steps 2 and 17, the syrup valve 13 and the dilution water valve 18 corresponding to the selected beverage are set to O.
An N command is given to open simultaneously, and a beverage supply operation is started.
When a predetermined discharge time t elapses, the syrup valve 1
3. The dilution water valve 18 is turned off and the valve is closed.

By the above-described supply operation, concentrated syrup having a discharge amount of 1 × t is discharged from the syrup tank 10 through the syrup circuit 7 to the beverage nozzle 4, and at the same time, cold water and carbonated water are blended through the chilled water circuit 8 and the carbonated water circuit 9. The dilution water having the discharge amount a × t blended by the regulator 16 is discharged to the beverage nozzle 4, and the syrup and the dilution water are mixed and supplied to the cup 21 in the beverage nozzle. When a strong carbonated beverage is selected, syrup and carbonated water are mixed and supplied to the cup 21.

The above-mentioned ratio of concentrated syrup to dilution water (the ratio of concentrated syrup to dilution water is set to a standard ratio such as 1: 5, 1: 8, etc. depending on the type (flavor) of the syrup. In the case of finishing the beverage), the user operates the adjusting screws of the flow regulators 12 and 17 to set the beverage in a fixed manner in advance for each beverage.

Although the above description has been made with respect to the beverage dispenser, the beverage supply system of the cup-type beverage vending machine basically has the same circuit configuration as the beverage dispenser.
When a customer inserts a coin at the time of sale and presses a desired beverage selection button, the cup is automatically carried out to the bend stage, and the selected fixed amount of syrup beverage is discharged and supplied to the cup through the beverage nozzle. .

[0008]

As described above, in a syrup beverage sold by a conventional beverage dispenser and a cup-type beverage vending machine, the ratio between the concentrated syrup and the dilution water is fixed in advance by a flow regulator as a standard value. Is set. On the other hand, recently, due to diversification of beverage types, even among syrup beverages of the same type, there are various types of beverages such as preferring a beverage having a strong taste or a refreshing beverage having a low syrup concentration depending on the user. In this regard, in a cup-type vending machine that sells beverages produced by dissolving powdered raw materials in hot water, such as coffee, the customer can select the desired density by using the increase / decrease buttons for the raw materials provided on the operation panel. There is something like that. However, in conventional beverage dispensers and cup-type beverage vending machines that sell syrup beverages, the syrup / dilution water ratio is fixedly set as described above. It cannot be selectively adjusted to customer's preference.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and adjusts the concentration of syrup beverage (the ratio of syrup / dilution water) to "strong" or "thin" according to customer's preference for each beverage sale. It is an object of the present invention to provide a beverage supply system having a new function which has not been available.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a selection means for designating a cup size and a density of a finished beverage, and a beverage arranged on a bend stage. An electromagnetic valve and a flow rate sensor are connected to the syrup circuit and the dilution water circuit connected to the nozzle, respectively, and the electromagnetic valves of the syrup circuit and the dilution water circuit are opened based on the sales order to start the beverage supply, and the above-mentioned flow rates are set. The syrup and dilution water flow rate detected by the sensor are taken into the controller, and the solenoid valves of the syrup circuit and dilution water circuit are individually opened and closed according to the total amount of the finished beverage specified by the selection means and the syrup / dilution water ratio. The syrup beverage mixed in the specified ratio is supplied to the cup (Claim 1). Specifically, the syrup beverage is supplied to the cup. The total amount of the finished beverage X, 1 pair reference ratio of dilution water and syrup established for each beverage Y,
Assuming that the ratio correction value of the syrup concentration is Z, at the time of sale, the dilution water of the discharge amount X (Y + Z) / (1 + Y + Z) is continuously supplied to the cup through the dilution water circuit, and through the syrup circuit in parallel with the dilution water supply. Discharge amount X / (1 + Y +
The syrup of Z) is subdivided into a plurality of times and intermittently supplied to the cup (claim 2).

Based on the total amount of the finished beverage corresponding to the selection of the cup size and the syrup / diluted water ratio selected according to the customer's preference, the discharge amount of the syrup and the discharge amount of the dilute water are calculated by the controller. After the determination, the electromagnetic valve is opened to start the beverage supply, and during the beverage supply operation, the flow rates detected by the flow rate sensors of the syrup circuit and the dilution water circuit are taken into the controller, and the electromagnetic valves of the syrup circuit and the dilution water circuit are opened. By individually controlling the opening and closing, it is possible to supply the syrup beverage whose concentration is adjusted according to the customer's selection to the cup. In this case, while continuously discharging the dilution water from the start to the end of the sales, the concentrated syrup is divided into a plurality of times during the supply and intermittently discharged, so that the whole process from the start to the end of the beverage supply is performed. As a result, the syrup and the dilution water are mixed in the specified ratio on average and supplied to the cup, thereby providing a syrup beverage having a uniform concentration as a whole.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a selection means for designating a cup size and a strength of a finished beverage, and a syrup circuit and a dilution water circuit leading to a beverage nozzle arranged on a bend stage. The syrup circuit is connected to a positive displacement electric pump driven by a variable speed motor, and the dilution water circuit is connected to an electromagnetic valve and a flow sensor.
The pump of the syrup circuit is started based on the sales command, and the electromagnetic valve of the dilution water circuit is opened to start the supply of the beverage, and the dilution water flow rate detected by the flow rate sensor is taken into the controller, and the finished beverage designated by the selection means is selected. And the number of pumps in the dilution water circuit and the solenoid valve in the syrup circuit are individually controlled in accordance with the total amount of syrup / dilution water and the syrup beverage mixed to the specified ratio is supplied to the cup. (Claim 3).

[0013] As described above, by controlling the syrup supply flow rate by adjusting the rotation speed of the positive displacement pump connected to the syrup circuit in parallel with the discharge of the dilution water at the time of selling the beverage, the first invention is described. The syrup beverage whose concentration is adjusted according to the ratio of syrup / dilution water designated for each sale can be supplied to the cup.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on illustrated embodiments. In the drawings of the respective embodiments, members corresponding to those in FIG. 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. [Embodiment 1] FIG. 1 shows a beverage supply circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, the carbonated water circuit in FIG. 6 is omitted as the dilution water circuit, and only the cold water circuit 8 is shown. Here, in the syrup circuit 7 and the chilled water circuit 8, instead of the flow regulators 12 and 13 in FIG. 6, flow sensors 22 and 23 and a flow washer (fixed throttle for flow adjustment) 24 are provided with a syrup valve (electromagnetic valve) 13. , Is connected upstream of a dilution water valve (electromagnetic valve) 18.

When the beverage is sold, the flow sensor 22,
A controller 25 for controlling the flow rate detected at 23
The syrup valve 13 and the dilution water valve 18 are controlled to open and close in accordance with the syrup / dilution water ratio selection command specified for each sale as described later. A cup 21 for mixing the discharged concentrated syrup and the dilution water and supplying the mixture to the cup
To supply.

The beverage dispenser and the cup-type beverage vending machine equipped with the beverage supply circuit of the present invention are operated so that the syrup beverage concentration and the beverage volume can be selected according to the customer's preference. On a panel (for example, the operation panel of the beverage dispenser shown in FIG. 6), a cup selection button for selecting the size of the cup, a cup selection button for selecting the size of the cup, and the thickness of the finished syrup beverage (mixing ratio of syrup / dilution water) ) Is provided with a density selection button for selecting “dark” or “light” with respect to the standard density according to preference.

Next, FIG. 3 shows a control system of the beverage circuit including the controller 25, and FIG.
This will be described with reference to (b) and the flowchart of FIG. First, the controller 25 comprises a CPU, an input unit, an output unit, a memory, and a communication control unit, as shown in the figure, and the user operates the buttons on the operation panel at the time of selling the beverage according to the type of beverage, the cup size, and the preference. When the syrup beverage concentration is selected, a selection signal is provided to the valve control controller 25 through the main control unit (master), and a routine as shown in FIG. 5 is executed.

That is, the total amount of the finished beverage to be supplied to the cup 21 (depending on the cup size) is X, and the reference ratio of syrup and dilution water set for each type of beverage is 1: Y.
(The reference ratio is predetermined and stored in the memory of the controller 25), and the syrup density ratio correction value designated by the customer according to his / her preference is set to Z (when “dark” is selected, the value of Z is Controller 2 as a negative value, and a positive value when “thin” is selected).
5 is a syrup discharge amount X1 = X / (1 + Y + Z) in which the total amount X is shared, and a dilution water discharge amount X2.
= X (Y + Z) / (1 + Y + Z) is calculated.
In addition, the syrup valve 1
3. An ON command is given to the dilution water valve 18 at the same time to open each valve to start beverage supply, and the syrup flow rate and the dilution water flow rate detected by the flow rate sensors 22 and 23 connected to the syrup circuit 7 and the dilution water circuit 8, respectively. Into the controller 25, and through the following steps, the syrup valve 1
3. Open / close control of the dilution water valve 18 is performed.

That is, while the dilution water circuit 8 keeps the dilution water open from the start to the end of the beverage supply operation while keeping the dilution water valve 18 open, the syrup circuit 7 opens and closes the syrup valve 13 intermittently. And supply the syrup in small portions. Here, each time the count value of the syrup flow rate detected by the flow rate sensor 22 reaches the syrup discharge amount W for one predetermined arbitrarily set syrup valve 1
3 is turned off once, and this operation is repeated V times in accordance with the count cycle of the dilution water discharge amount described below, and this is stored in the memory of the controller 25. On the other hand, the dilution water circuit 8
Each time the flow rate sensor 23 counts the diluting water discharge amount W (Y + Z) of the specified ratio corresponding to the above-described subdivision syrup discharge amount W, the syrup valve 13 is turned on again by the signal and the count value is reset. This is repeated V times and stored in the memory. Finally, the syrup valve 13 is turned on again, and the remaining fractional amount X /, which is the difference between the syrup flow rate integrated value V × W from the start of beverage supply and the syrup discharge amount X1 corresponding to the total beverage discharge amount X, is obtained. After supplying (1 + Y + Z) -VW, the syrup valve 13 is turned off to complete the supply of syrup. In the dilution water circuit, the amount X (Y
After counting + Z) / (1 + Y + Z) -VW (Y + Z), the dilution water valve 18 is closed to complete the supply of the dilution water, and one beverage selling operation is completed, and the controller 25 resets all the count values. To return to the standby state for the next sale.

As a result, as shown in the time chart of FIG. 4B, the syrup is intermittently supplied in small portions in parallel with the continuous supply of the diluting water with the lapse of time from the start of the supply of the beverage, and the sales operation ends. At this point, a total amount X of beverage mixed in the specified syrup / dilution water ratio 1: Y + Z will be supplied to the cup. In addition, by supplying the syrup intermittently in parallel with the supply of dilution water,
The beverage can be supplied to the cup in a state where the syrup and the dilution water are evenly mixed in the process from the start to the end of the beverage supply.

[0021] For the user, for each syrup beverage of various flavors to be sold by the beverage dispenser and the vending machine, the syrup concentration (reference ratio of syrup and diluting water 1: Y) serving as a sales standard is sent to the controller 25. It can be set arbitrarily by input from the connected keyboard. [Embodiment 2] Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In this example,
A syrup is extracted from the syrup tank 10 by a pump. The syrup circuit 7 is connected to a syrup pump 26 serving as a variable-speed positive displacement electric pump that controls the number of rotations of a motor by inverter control or the like. On the other hand, as in FIG.
8, a flow sensor 23 and a flow washer 24 are connected, and the operation of the syrup motor 26 is controlled by an output command from the controller 25 at the time of beverage sales as follows.

That is, as in the first embodiment, when the user presses a button on the operation panel to select the type of beverage, the cup size (total amount of the finished beverage), and the syrup concentration as desired, a selection signal is displayed. Is given to the controller 25 through the main control unit (master). In the controller 25, the total amount of beverage to be supplied to the cup (depending on the cup size) is X, and the reference ratio of syrup and dilution water set for each type of beverage is 1: Y. , And the syrup density ratio correction value designated by the customer as Z, and the CPU of the controller 25 discharges the syrup X1 = X / (1 + Y + Z) sharing the total amount X, and discharges the dilution water. X2 = X (Y + Z) / (1 + Y + Z) is calculated.

Subsequently, in response to a command from the controller 25, the dilution water valve 18 is opened and simultaneously the syrup pump 2
6, the syrup and diluting water are started to be discharged to the beverage nozzle 4 through the syrup circuit 7 and the diluting water circuit 8, and the diluting water circuit is sent to the syrup pump 26 based on the syrup concentration ratio described above. The number of rotations of the drive motor is controlled so that the discharge amount X1 of the syrup and the discharge amount X2 of the dilution water end almost at the same time in accordance with the count value of the dilution water flow rate detected by the flow rate sensor 23 of No. 8. When the count value of the dilution water flow rate detected by the flow rate sensor 24 of the dilution water circuit reaches the predetermined discharge amount X2, the dilution water valve 18 is closed and the syrup pump 26 is stopped to terminate the beverage supply operation. I do.

In this way, the syrup and the dilution water are uniformly mixed in accordance with the syrup concentration (the ratio of the syrup / dilution water) specified by the customer at the time of selling the beverage, and the syrup beverage having the total amount X is supplied to the cup 21. be able to.

[0025]

As described above, according to the beverage supply system of the present invention, the syrup and the dilution water are uniformly distributed in accordance with the syrup concentration (ratio of cup / dilution water) of the beverage specified for each sale. Can be mixed and supplied to the cup. Therefore, by installing this beverage supply system in a beverage dispenser or a cup-type beverage vending machine, a syrup beverage to be sold in the beverage dispenser or the beverage vending machine is adjusted to a concentration selected by a user according to his / her preference. Can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of a beverage supply system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of a beverage supply system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control system corresponding to FIG. 1;

4 shows a time chart of the beverage supply operation according to FIG. 3, wherein (a) shows the opening and closing operation of a syrup valve and a dilution water valve,
(b) is a diagram showing the progress of the syrup, dilution water, and beverage discharge corresponding to the diagram in (a).

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a beverage supply operation by the beverage supply system of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a beverage system diagram of a beverage dispenser equipped with a conventional beverage supply system.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the beverage supply operation of FIG. 7;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Beverage dispenser 1a Bend stage 4 Beverage nozzle 7 Syrup circuit 8 Cold water circuit (dilution water circuit) 9 Carbonated water circuit (dilution water circuit) 10 Syrup tank 13 Syrup valve (electromagnetic valve) 18 Dilution water valve (electromagnetic valve) 20 Carbon dioxide gas cylinder 21 cup 22, 23 flow rate sensor 25 controller 26 syrup pump (displacement type electric pump)

Claims (3)

[Claims] Claims 1. A beverage supply system for mixing a concentrated syrup extracted from a syrup tank based on a sales instruction with cold water or carbonated water and discharging the mixture into a cup. A solenoid valve and a flow rate sensor are connected to the syrup circuit and the dilution water circuit connected to the beverage nozzle arranged on the bend stage, respectively. The supply of the beverage is started by opening the electromagnetic valve, and the syrup and the dilution water flow rate detected by the respective flow rate sensors are taken into the controller, and the total amount of the finished beverage designated by the selection means,
And syrup circuit according to syrup / dilution water ratio,
And a beverage supply system wherein the electromagnetic valves of the dilution water circuit are individually opened and closed to supply a syrup beverage mixed at a specified ratio to the cup. 2. The beverage supply system according to claim 1, wherein the total amount of the finished beverage to be supplied to the cup is X, the reference ratio of syrup and dilution water set for each beverage is 1: Y, and the ratio correction value of the syrup concentration is Z. At the time of sale, the dilution water of the discharge amount X (Y + Z) / (1 + Y + Z) is continuously supplied to the cup through the dilution water circuit, and the discharge amount X / (1 + Y + Z) is supplied through the syrup circuit in parallel with the supply of the dilution water.
A beverage supply system wherein the syrup is divided into a plurality of portions and supplied to the cup intermittently. 3. A beverage supply system which mixes cold water or diluted carbonated water with concentrated syrup extracted from a syrup tank based on a sales order and discharges and supplies the mixture to a cup. Of the syrup circuit and the dilution water circuit leading to the beverage nozzle arranged on the bend stage.
The syrup circuit is connected to a positive displacement electric pump driven by a variable speed motor, the dilution water circuit is connected to an electromagnetic valve and a flow rate sensor, and the syrup circuit pump is started based on the sales order. To start the beverage supply, take in the dilution water flow rate detected by the flow rate sensor into the controller, and adjust the pump rotation speed of the dilution water circuit according to the total amount of the finished beverage designated by the selection means and the syrup / diluent water ratio. And a solenoid valve of the syrup circuit is individually controlled to supply a syrup beverage mixed at a specified ratio to the cup.