JP2001283317A - Composite automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a composite automatic vending machine(AVM) capable of providing both of a beverage sealed in a container and a beverage prepared in the AVM and attaining both of energy saving and space saving. SOLUTION: The composite AVM is composed of a sealed container beverage providing part 20 for selectively providing a sealed container beverage 22 stored in a housing box 21, a dispenser part 10 for preparing and providing a beverage by mixing an original material with hot water, cold water or ice cubes, a hot water tank 11 for generating and storing hot water to be used for the dispenser part 10, and a cold water generation part 13 for generating cold water to be used for the dispenser part 10. The AVM is provided also with a heater 26 for heating the housing box 21, a cooler 24 for cooling the housing box 21, a cooling circuit 3 for guiding low temperature fluid from a cooling system for the generation part 13 to the cooler 24 and using the fluid for the cooling of the housing box 21, and a heating circuit 4 for guiding hot water from the tank 11 to the heater 26 and utilizing the hot water for the heating of the housing box 21.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vending machine capable of providing both an enclosed container beverage and a beverage prepared in the machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a beverage vending machine, there are can-type vending machines for providing canned beverages such as canned juice and canned coffee,
2. Description of the Related Art Cup-type vending machines, which are prepared in a machine by mixing hot water or cold water with a raw material such as a cup of coffee or juice and provide drinks in a cup, are widely used. In addition,
Some vending machines handle beverage containers that are paper packs, bottles, or plastic bottles. These cans, paper packs, bottles,
Drinks are sealed in containers such as PET bottles,
Hereinafter, it is generically referred to as a sealed container beverage.

[0003] As another form, a tea dispenser installed on an office floor, a dining room, or the like is known, and a predetermined container is set in the tea dispenser to provide tea, cold water, and the like free of charge. It has become.

[0004]

As a usage form of a vending machine, for example, there is a case where it is desired to use both a canned beverage and a cup beverage at one place. Since both cup-type vending machines are installed side by side, there is a problem that a large installation space is required. Further, when it is desired to provide free tea at the same time, it is necessary to further install the above-mentioned tea machine, and the above-mentioned problem has become more remarkable.

[0005] Furthermore, cup-type vending machines and tea machines are used.
When installing in a place where a tap is not provided, since the method of arranging the water storage tank beside the device is adopted,
As a result, there is also a problem that the width of the entire apparatus becomes large. In some cases, a water storage tank is provided at the lower part of the apparatus, but in this case, there is a problem in that a sufficient tank capacity cannot be secured.

[0006] In addition, the can-type vending machine, the cup-type vending machine, and the tea dispenser all have a common function of cooling and warming the beverage, and are used side by side. In the embodiment, the functional components are duplicated, and there is a point to be improved when focusing on energy saving.

[0007] The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems of the prior art. One vending machine can provide both an enclosed container beverage and a beverage prepared in the machine, thereby saving energy and space. It is an object of the present invention to provide a composite vending machine capable of performing such operations.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a composite vending machine capable of providing both an encapsulated container beverage and a beverage prepared in the machine, comprising a storage for accommodating the encapsulated container beverage. A sealed container beverage providing unit for providing a sealed container beverage from a refrigerator, a dispenser unit for preparing and providing a beverage by mixing raw materials with hot water, cold water or ice, and generating and storing hot water used in the dispenser unit. A hot water tank, a cold water generator for generating cold water used in the dispenser unit, a heater for heating the storage, a cooler for cooling the storage, and a cooling system for the cold water generator or the cooling system for the same. A cooling circuit that guides the low-temperature fluid to the cooler and uses it for cooling the storage; and a heating circuit that guides hot water from the hot water tank to the heater and uses it for heating the storage.

According to the above configuration, it is possible to provide both a sealed container beverage and a beverage prepared in the machine with one vending machine.

[0010] In the cooling circuit, a low-temperature fluid is guided from the cold water generating section of the dispenser section or the cooling system for the same to the cooler and used for cooling the storage. Space can be saved.

[0011] In the heating circuit, the heater provided in the storage of the sealed container beverage providing section is heated by using the hot water used in the dispenser section. Energy saving and space saving can be achieved.

In the above-described composite vending machine of the present invention, when the water storage tank for supplying water to the hot water tank is arranged at the upper part of the main body, a large-capacity vending machine can be provided without increasing the installation area of the vending machine. A water storage tank can be provided, and space can be saved while increasing the water storage amount of the multi-function vending machine.

Further, if the water storage tank has a water supply structure in which water is supplied from an externally connected water supply tank by a suction pump, a large amount of water can be easily and reliably supplied to the water storage tank. .

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. A description of a known basic configuration of a vending machine is omitted.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an example of the configuration of a compound vending machine 1 according to the present invention.

The composite vending machine 1 is a cup-type dispenser unit 1 which prepares various kinds of beverages by mixing raw materials with hot water, cold water or ice and provides them with a cup 12.
0 and a storage 21 for storing various kinds of sealed container beverages 22
And a can-type bender unit 20 as an encapsulated container beverage providing unit for selectively providing the encapsulated container beverage 22 from the storage 21, and can provide both the encapsulated container beverage 22 and the cup beverage prepared in the machine It is assumed that. Here, the enclosed container beverage 22 refers to a beverage in which a beverage is enclosed in a container such as a can, a paper pack, a bottle, and a plastic bottle.

A water storage tank 30 for storing water is disposed at an upper portion of the main body 2, and a hot water tank 11 for generating and storing hot water used in the dispenser unit 10 is disposed below the water storage tank 30. The water storage tank 30 and the hot water tank 11 are connected by piping via a water purifier 31 and an electromagnetic valve 32.
Open the solenoid valve 32 to release the hot water tank 11 from the water storage tank 30.
The water is supplied to.

More specifically, the cup type dispenser unit 1
0 releases the cups 12 one by one, and in the case of regular coffee, grinds one cup of beans supplied from the raw material supply units 101 and 102, opens the electromagnetic valve 141 to the extractor 111, and opens the hot water tank 11. Hot water is injected to produce an extract, and the extract is added to the cream supply unit 109 and the sugar supply unit 1
The beverage and the sugar supplied from 10 are appropriately added, and the beverage stirred and cooked by the mixing bowl 112 is poured into the cup 12. Then, the used raw material is discharged from the extractor 111 to the bucket 126. In the case of an instant beverage, the cream and the sugar supplied from the cream supply unit 109 and the sugar supply unit 110 are appropriately added to the powder material of the instant beverage directly supplied from the raw material supply unit 108, and the electromagnetic valve 116 is opened. Hot water is injected from the hot water tank 11, and the beverage stirred and cooked by the mixing ball 112 is injected into the cup 12.

In the case of cocoa, powdered juice, etc., electromagnetic valves 117, 118 are opened to a predetermined amount of powdered raw material supplied from the raw material supply units 103, 104, hot water is injected from the hot water tank 11, and mixing balls 113, 114 are used. In the case of a beverage that is stirred and cooked or uses a syrup raw material, a predetermined amount of syrup raw material supplied from the raw material supply units 106 and 107 is stirred and cooked with cold water, carbonated water, or the like, and optionally an ice machine 121
Is supplied into the cup 12 to provide a beverage.

In the case of tea, the solenoid valve 119 is opened to inject hot water from the hot water tank 11 into a predetermined amount of tea raw material supplied from the raw material supply unit 105, and the tea is poured into a predetermined container set at the pouring position. It is provided free of charge. Also, for hot water, the electromagnetic valve 120 is opened to open the hot water tank 1.
Free hot water is provided from 1 and solenoid valve 35 for cold water.
, The water from the water storage tank 30 is cooled by the cold water generating unit 13 and is provided free of charge. It should be noted that such a setting of the use form can be easily made by an internal setting in the control device of the vending machine.

Here, the cold water is supplied to the water storage tank 3 by opening the solenoid valve 35 in the cold water generating unit 13 in which the cooling coil pipe 132 is disposed in the cooling tank 131 in which ice has been generated.
The cooling water is produced by passing water supplied from the cooling water through the cooling coil pipe 132, and the carbonated water is supplied from the water tank 30 by opening the solenoid valve 36 with the gas from the carbon dioxide gas cylinder 122 and the water reservoir 124 and the water pump. The water supplied through 125 is mixed and generated in the carbonator 123.

The cooling system for the cold water generator 13 includes an evaporator 133 immersed in water in a cooling tank 131 together with a cooling coil tube 132, a compressor 23, and a condenser 27.
Circuit 5 including a pressure reducing unit 28 composed of a capillary tube or the like.
The refrigerant circulating through the refrigerant circuit 5 is the evaporator 1
The heat is absorbed at 33 and the inside of the cooling tank 131 is cooled.

The can-type bender unit 20 is a storage 2 for storing an enclosed container beverage 22 such as canned juice or canned coffee.
The storage 21 is divided into a plurality of sections, and has a switching function of cooling or warming the enclosed container beverage 22 for each section by the cooler 24 and the heater 26. Incidentally, in FIG. 2, the storage 21
It is assumed that the section 21a is for heating and the section 21b is for cooling. The cooler 24 includes a cold water generator 1
The cooling circuit 3 for guiding a low-temperature refrigerant (low-temperature fluid) from a cooling system for the cooling water 3 is provided, and the heater 26 is provided with a heating circuit 4 for guiding hot water from the hot water tank 11. The pipe 41 of the heating circuit 4 is covered with a heat insulating material 43 to suppress heat radiation, and blowers 211 and 212 are provided near the cooler 24 and the heater 26, respectively.

More specifically, a refrigerant passage 29 branched from the refrigerant circuit 5 downstream of the decompression unit 28 is connected to a cooler (evaporator) 24 installed in the storage 21. An electromagnetic switching valve 25 that switches between supply and cutoff of the refrigerant to the cooler 24 is provided. The temperature sensor 2 provided in the section 21b of the storage 21
02, the inside temperature is detected, and while the detected temperature is higher than the predetermined temperature, the compressor 23 is operated to cool the inside of the
The control device performs control to close the electromagnetic switching valve 25 when the detected temperature of the section 21b of the section 21b reaches a predetermined temperature.
The inside temperature of b is kept constant and the enclosed container beverage 22 is cooled to a predetermined temperature.

Similarly, the cup type dispenser section 10
The cold water generator 13 also detects the temperature in the cooling tank 131 with a temperature sensor, and operates the compressor 23 to cool the inside of the cooling tank 131 while the detected temperature is higher than a predetermined temperature. When the detected temperature in the tank 131 reaches a predetermined temperature, the control device closes the electromagnetic switching valve 25 so as to maintain a state in which ice is generated in the cooling tank 131.

As described above, in the cooling circuit 3, by appropriately switching the electromagnetic switching valve 25, the cooling water generator 13 of the cup-type dispenser unit 10 and the cooler 24 of the can-type bender unit 20 can be controlled by one cooling system. Cooling can be performed, and energy saving and space saving of the composite vending machine 1 can be achieved by sharing the cooling unit.

In the heating circuit 4, the hot water generated by heating the hot water tank 11 of the cup-type dispenser section 10 with an electric heater or the like is supplied to a hot water circulation pump 42.
The boiler is circulated to the heater 26 of the can-type bender unit 20 by using a temperature sensor 201 provided in the section 21a of the storage 21 to detect the temperature in the storage. By operating the circulation pump 42 to heat the inside of the compartment, the control device performs control to stop the hot water circulation pump 42 when the detected temperature of the section 21a of the storage box 21 reaches a predetermined temperature, and performs control of the section 21a. The temperature inside the refrigerator is kept constant, and the canned beverage is heated to a predetermined temperature.

As described above, in the heating circuit 4, the heater 26 provided in the storage 21 of the can-type bender unit 20 is utilized by using the hot water used in the cup-type dispenser unit 10.
Is heated, and the energy saving and space saving of the composite vending machine 1 can be achieved by sharing the heat source.

Next, the structure 50 for supplying water to the water storage tank 30 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 1, the water storage tank 30 is disposed on the upper part of the main body 2. A water supply pipe 37 connected to the water storage tank 30 extends downward through the suction pump 33, 2 is guided to a predetermined position on the side surface, and a water supply connection port 51 is provided at the end thereof. The water supply connection port 51 has a structure that can be easily connected by a coupler 52 or the like.
3 is connected externally to supply water to the water storage tank 30 by the suction pump 33. This water storage tank 30
As shown in FIG. 2, a water storage amount detection float 39 is provided so that the water storage amount can be detected.

On the other hand, the drainage pipe 38 connected to the water storage tank 30 extends downward through the drainage cock 34 and is guided to a predetermined position on the side surface of the main body 2. A drain hose 56 is externally connected thereto by a coupler 55 or the like, and the drain cock 34 is opened to discharge waste water from the water storage tank 30 to the drain tank 58.

The water supply tank 57 and the drainage tank 58 can be easily transported on a transport wagon 59 together with a supply material 61 such as raw materials and maintenance tools. For this reason, it is possible to easily supply water to the water supply tank 57 by placing the water supply tank 57 on the transport wagon 59 and moving it to the vicinity of the nearest water tap faucet 60.

Therefore, according to the above-described composite vending machine 1, when installed and used in the form of a sale or a lease, the cup-type dispenser unit 10 including the supply of the tea ingredients to the tea supply function part is provided. A series of maintenance services such as replenishment of materials for replenishment such as raw materials, water supply to the water storage tank 30, and replenishment of the sealed container beverage 22 can be all performed by a trader called an operator. No maintenance by the operator is required. Specifically, for example, when using a conventional tea dispenser, the administrator and the user had to supply tea and supply water to the water storage tank, but according to the composite vending machine of the present invention, Even in the case of using free tea, the operator performs all maintenance services, so that no maintenance is required by the administrator or the user.

As described above, the composite vending machine of the present invention is not limited to the specific configuration of the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that the configuration may be modified, added or deleted as needed. .

For example, in the above description, an example in which the enclosed container beverage providing unit is a can type bender unit for handling canned beverages has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. , As a sealed container beverage, paper pack,
It may handle beverages sealed in containers such as bottles and PET bottles.

The cooling circuit 3 for the cooler 24 is
In the above embodiment, the refrigerant is guided from the cooling system for the chilled water generator 13, but the chilled water may be guided from the chilled water generator 13.

[0037]

As described above, according to the composite vending machine of the present invention, one vending machine can provide both the sealed container beverage and the beverage prepared in the machine. And
In the heating circuit, warm water used in the dispenser unit is used to heat the heater provided in the storage of the sealed container beverage providing unit, and the energy saving and energy saving of the multi-function vending machine are achieved by sharing the heat source. Space can be achieved. In the cooling circuit, the low-temperature fluid is guided from the cold water generating section of the dispenser section or the cooling system to the cooler to the cooler and used for cooling the storage cabinet. Space can be achieved.

Further, when the water storage tank for supplying water to the hot water tank is arranged at the upper part of the main body, a large-capacity water storage tank can be provided without increasing the installation area of the vending machine. Space can be saved while increasing the water storage capacity of vending machines.

If the water storage tank has a water supply structure in which water is supplied from an externally connected water supply tank by a suction pump, a large amount of water can be supplied to the water storage tank easily and reliably. Work becomes easy.

In addition, according to the composite vending machine of the present invention, when installed and used in the form of a sale or lease, the cup-type dispenser unit includes a supply of tea ingredients to the tea supply function part. A series of maintenance services, such as replenishment of replenishment products such as raw materials, water supply to water storage tanks, and replenishment of enclosed container beverages, can all be performed by a company called an operator. Even in the case of using tea, it is possible to eliminate the necessity of maintenance by a device manager or user.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an example of an internal configuration of a compound vending machine of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a principle diagram showing a configuration example of a compound vending machine of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Composite vending machine 2 Main body 3 Cooling circuit 4 Heating circuit 10 Dispenser part 11 Hot water tank 13 Cold water generation part 20 Can type bender unit (enclosed container drink provision part) 21 Storage 22 Enclosed container drink 23 Compressor 24 Cooler 25 Switching Valve 26 Heater 30 Water storage tank 33 Suction pump 42 Hot water circulation pump 50 Water supply structure 57 Water supply tank

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 3E044 AA01 FB11 3E047 BA01 BA02 FA01 FA02 FA04 FA05 GA10 3L045 AA04 BA01 CA01 DA02 EA03 GA07 HA01 PA04

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A composite vending machine capable of providing both an enclosed container beverage and a beverage prepared in the machine, comprising a storage for accommodating the enclosed container beverage, and providing the enclosed container beverage from the storage. An enclosed container beverage providing unit, a dispenser unit that prepares and provides a beverage by mixing raw materials with hot water, cold water or ice, a hot water tank that generates and stores hot water used in the dispenser unit, and the dispenser unit. A chilled water generator for generating chilled water for use in the storage, a heater for heating the storage, a cooler for cooling the storage, and a low-temperature fluid guided from the chilled water generator or a cooling system for the chiller to the cooler. And a heating circuit for guiding hot water from the hot water tank to the heater to heat the storage. Dynamic vending machine. 2. A vending machine according to claim 1, wherein a water storage tank for supplying water to said hot water tank is arranged at an upper portion of the main body. 3. The composite vending machine according to claim 2, wherein said water storage tank has a water supply structure in which water is supplied from an externally connected water supply tank by a suction pump.