JP2002179193A - Control device of beverage dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify adjustment of the syrup flow rate in a beverage dispenser which dilutes a plurality of kinds of syrup with water at each predetermined dilution ratio and feed beverage. SOLUTION: A correlation table between the dilution ratio A of each syrup, the flow rate B of a diluted water pump 4, the number of rotation of a syrup motor 22 for the typical syrup and the syrup discharge flow rate of the syrup pump 12 is set in a ROM 18. When the beverage is fed, the required flow rate C of the syrup is operated by a formula C=B/A, the number of rotation of the syrup motor to meet the syrup flow rate C is determined from the correlation table, and the syrup motor 22 is controlled at this rotational speed. Since the discharge flow rate need not be adjusted for each syrup, the adjustment time can thus be shortened.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a beverage dispenser control device for diluting a syrup obtained by concentrating a beverage material at a predetermined dilution ratio with dilution water comprising water or carbonated water, and providing the diluted syrup as a beverage.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a beverage dispenser of this kind (hereinafter simply referred to as a dispenser), a dilution ratio when a syrup is diluted with dilution water is different for each type of syrup. Therefore, conventionally, a flow regulator is provided in each of the syrup and dilution water pipes, and the respective flow rates are adjusted by the flow regulators so that a predetermined dilution ratio can be obtained.

[0003]

However, in order to adjust the flow rate in this way, the operation of actually discharging the syrup or dilution water and adjusting the flow rate adjuster must be performed until the desired result is obtained. This has to be repeated many times, so that it takes a lot of time for adjustment, and the syrup and water discharged at that time are discarded, so that there is a problem that the product is wasted. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to simplify the work of adjusting the flow rate, shorten the work time, and reduce waste of goods.

[0004]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a plurality of types of syrup containers and a plurality of syrups provided for each of the syrup containers and driven by a variable speed syrup motor. Having a pump and
A syrup discharged from each syrup container by the syrup pump is diluted with dilution water at a dilution rate corresponding to a syrup type, and in a beverage dispenser control device that supplies the beverage, a means for setting a flow rate of the dilution water. Means for setting a dilution rate of each of the syrups, means for calculating an appropriate flow rate of each syrup from a set flow rate of the dilution water and a set dilution rate of each syrup, a rotation speed of the syrup motor and a syrup pump. Means for setting a phase relationship with the discharge flow rate of the syrup motor, and an appropriate rotation speed of each syrup motor based on the phase relationship and the calculated appropriate flow rate of each syrup. Control means is provided (claim 1).

According to the first aspect of the present invention, only the flow rate of the dilution water is actually measured, and the measured value is input as a set value. While calculating the appropriate flow rate, the rotation speed of the syrup motor corresponding to the syrup flow rate is determined from the phase relationship between the motor rotation speed and the syrup discharge flow rate which are set in advance, and the syrup motor is driven at this rotation speed. Control. According to the first aspect, since it is not necessary to adjust the flow rate for each syrup, the adjustment time is reduced,
In addition, waste of syrup due to adjustment is reduced.

[0006] In the first aspect, the phase relationship between the motor rotation speed and the syrup discharge flow rate can be determined in common for all syrups (claim 2). In this case, the inter-phase relationship shall consist of a correspondence relationship between the rotation speed of the syrup motor continuously changed and the discharge flow rate of the syrup pump actually measured for a representative syrup for each rotation speed. (Claim 3).

When one phase relationship between the motor rotation speed and the syrup discharge flow rate is determined in common for all syrups, the syrup discharge flow rate based on the phase relation and the actual discharge rate from the syrup pump are determined by the difference in viscosity depending on the syrup type. There is a case where a deviation occurs from the syrup discharge flow rate to be performed. In this case, it is preferable to provide a means for correcting the determination value of the rotation speed of the syrup motor for each syrup (claim 4).

In a preferred embodiment, the means for correcting the determination value includes means for setting an actually measured value of a syrup discharge flow rate at an appropriate sampling rotation speed of the syrup motor.
It is preferable that the phase relationship be corrected by a difference between the actual measurement value and the syrup discharge flow rate due to the phase relationship at the sampling rotation speed (claim 5). Alternatively, the means for correcting the determination value may be a means for setting an actually measured value of the syrup discharge flow rate at an appropriate sampling rotation speed of the syrup motor, and the syrup discharge flow rate based on the phase relationship at the sampling rotation speed. A means for correcting the inter-phase relationship by a predetermined offset value based on the shift may be provided (claim 6).

In the second aspect, the phase relationship between the motor rotation speed and the syrup discharge flow rate is determined in common for all syrups, but this phase relationship can also be determined for each syrup. Item 7). In this case, it is troublesome to measure the syrup discharge flow rate many times continuously for each syrup. In this case, the phase relationship between the motor rotation speed and the syrup discharge flow rate may be estimated from some typical rotation speeds of the syrup motor and the actual measured value of the syrup discharge flow rate at each rotation speed. (Claim 8).

[0010] On the other hand, in claim 1, the flow rate of the dilution water is appropriately measured and measured, and the measured value is used as the set value.
A flow sensor for detecting the flow rate of the dilution water is provided, and the calculating means of the syrup discharge flow rate calculates the flow rate of each syrup from the flow rate detected by the flow rate sensor and the set value of each dilution ratio. (Claim 9). Accordingly, even when the flow rate of the dilution water changes due to aging, an accurate dilution ratio corresponding to the actual flow rate of the dilution water can be maintained.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention in a dispenser for supplying non-carbonated beverages such as oolong tea and juice will be described below with reference to FIGS. First, FIG. 3 is a piping diagram showing a schematic configuration of the dispenser. In FIG. 3, a beverage supply nozzle 1 for each beverage is provided on a beverage take-out stage of the dispenser, and the beverage is discharged to a cup 2 thereunder. The beverage is prepared by diluting the syrup stored in the syrup container 3 with water. The dilution water is sucked from a water inlet 5 through a water inlet valve 6 by a common water pump 4 for each beverage, and is discharged to each beverage supply nozzle 1 via a header 7. A flow controller 8 is inserted into the upstream pipe of the header 7,
A dilution water valve 9 is inserted into a downstream pipe of the header 7. Reference numeral 10 denotes a cooling water tank stored by a refrigerator (not shown). The dilution water discharged from the water pump 4 is cooled by passing through a heat exchange coil 11 in the cooling water tank 10.

The syrup is discharged from the syrup pump 12 to the beverage supply nozzle 1. This syrup is stirred and mixed with the dilution water in the beverage supply nozzle 1 and supplied to the cup 2. The syrup container 3 is formed of a flexible closed bag called BIB (Bag in Box), and is compressed at atmospheric pressure as the syrup is taken out. This syrup container 3 is kept cool in a cooling chamber 13. The syrup pump 12 has a structure called a tube pump, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing its appearance. In FIG. 4, the syrup pump 12
Is for discharging a beverage by squeezing a tube 15 leading to the syrup container 3 with a roller 16 directly connected to a motor (not shown). When the rotation speed is reduced, the flow rate of the syrup decreases, and when the rotation speed is increased, the flow rate increases. In addition,
In the case of carbonated beverages, carbonated water made with a carbonator is used as the dilution water.

FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram of the control device.
In FIG. 1, a CP 17 controls the entire dispenser.
U and 18 denote ROMs storing control programs, 19 denotes a RAM for inputting control data, and 20 denotes an input / output unit. 2
Reference numeral 1 denotes a speed control unit that makes the rotation speed of the syrup motor 22 variable, and is mainly composed of a D / A converter. 2
Reference numeral 3 denotes a motor control unit which controls a speed setting signal output from the speed control unit 21 and an ON / OF signal output from the input / output unit 20.
The syrup motor 22 is rotated by the F signal. 2
Reference numeral 4 denotes a driver for driving the relay 25.
By N, the water motor 26 and the dilution water valve 9 directly connected to the water pump 4 are turned on. 27 is a push button for starting beverage supply. When the push button 27 is turned on, the syrup motor 22 and the water motor 26 of the selected beverage are activated,
At the same time, only the dilution water valve 9 of the corresponding beverage is opened. Thereby, the dilution water and the syrup are sent to the beverage supply nozzle 1 of the selected beverage. The time during which the beverage is discharged can be selected either while the push button 27 is being pressed or during a certain time after the push button 27 is turned on.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a phase relationship between the rotation speed (rotation speed setting signal) of the syrup motor 22 and the syrup discharge flow rate. The rotation speed of the syrup motor 22 depends on the rotation speed setting signal from the speed control unit 21.
It is controlled by the motor control unit 23. In FIG. 2, the horizontal axis represents the rotation speed setting signal (current value mA in this case), and the vertical axis represents the flow rate (ml / sec). This inter-phase relationship is obtained by selecting a representative one from a plurality of types of syrups and actually measuring and plotting the flow rate while continuously changing the rotation speed. After the actual measurement, the phase relationship is set and input to the ROM 18 (FIG. 1) as a table showing the correspondence between the rotation speed (rotation speed setting signal) and the syrup discharge flow rate.

On the other hand, the syrup dilution ratio of each beverage differs depending on the syrup type. This dilution ratio (for example, 10) is A,
Assuming that the flow rate of the dilution water is B and the proper discharge flow rate of the syrup is C, the syrup discharge flow rate C can be obtained by a formula of C = B / A. In FIG. 1, the dilution ratio A is set and input to the ROM 18 for each syrup as a set value. The dilution water flow rate B is appropriately measured by the flow rate regulator 8 and then accurately measured.
Has been entered.

In FIG. 1, when the push button 27 is pressed, the CPU 17 determines the appropriate discharge flow rate C of the corresponding syrup from the set values of the dilution ratio A and the dilution water flow rate B of the selected beverage by the above formula. Calculate. Then, FIG.
The appropriate rotation speed (rotation speed setting current) of the syrup motor 22 corresponding to the syrup discharge flow rate C is determined from the interphase relationship shown in FIG. As a result, the syrup motor 22 is rotated at a rotation speed that matches the syrup, the discharge flow rate of the syrup pump 12 is optimized, and the beverage can be supplied with the dilution ratio optimized. In addition, since the measurement of the phase relationship between the motor rotation speed and the syrup discharge flow rate may be performed for one of a plurality of types of syrups, the adjustment is more expensive than the conventional apparatus that adjusts the discharge flow rate for each syrup. The time is shortened, and waste of commodities to be discarded due to the adjustment work is reduced. Further, even when the type of syrup is changed, it is possible to easily cope with the situation simply by resetting the dilution ratio.

In the above-described embodiment, one phase relationship between the motor rotation speed and the syrup discharge flow rate is determined in common for a plurality of types of syrups. Of the syrup discharge flow rate may be shifted. In that case, it is desirable to correct the determination value of the appropriate rotation speed. As a correction method, first, an appropriate rotation speed (for example, a rotation speed setting current of 10 mA) is sampled, an actual discharge flow rate at this sampling rotation speed is actually measured, and this actual measurement value is calculated as R
Set to OM18. Thus, the CPU 17 corrects the parallel relationship by translating the phase relationship set as shown by the broken line in FIG. 2 by the deviation ΔC between the actual measurement value and the syrup discharge flow rate due to the set phase relationship at the sampling rotation speed. The determination of the rotational speed corresponding to the discharge flow rate C is performed based on the corrected phase relationship.

The above-described method of correcting the judgment value is to correct the set inter-phase relation by using the deviation ΔC of the discharge flow rate by the actual measurement as it is, but to divide the width of the deviation ΔC into several ranges. Then, an offset value may be determined for each section, and the inter-phase relationship already set with the offset value corresponding to the section to which the deviation ΔC found by actual measurement belongs may be corrected.

In the above-described embodiment, one phase relationship between the motor rotation speed and the syrup discharge flow rate is determined in common for a plurality of types of syrups. The rotation speed control becomes more accurate. However, it is troublesome to actually measure the correlation between all the syrups as shown in FIG. In this case, the syrup discharge flow rate at several typical rotation speeds of the syrup motor 22, for example, two rotation speeds, is actually measured, and an appropriate curve or a straight line is used to estimate a phase relation between the syrup discharge rates. Can be set for each syrup. As a result, it is possible to determine a phase relationship suitable for each syrup while saving the trouble of actual measurement.

In the above-described embodiment, the dilution water flow rate is set to a flow rate obtained by actual measurement or the like, and the set value is used for the calculation of the syrup discharge flow rate. Is provided with a flow rate sensor 28 for detecting the flow rate of the dilution water, and the flow rate B detected by the flow rate sensor 28 is provided.
It is also possible to calculate the syrup discharge flow rate C from the setting value A of the dilution ratio. By using the actually measured value for the dilution water flow rate as described above, an accurate syrup discharge flow rate can always be calculated even when the dilution water flow rate changes due to aging or the like.

[0021]

As described above, according to the present invention, the dilution water flow rate, the dilution ratio, and the interrelationship between the syrup motor rotation speed and the syrup discharge flow rate are set, and when the beverage is supplied, the dilution water flow rate and the dilution ratio are set. By determining the rotation speed of the syrup motor corresponding to the syrup discharge flow rate calculated from the above-described phase relationship, and controlling the drive of the syrup motor with this determination value, it is possible to obtain a beverage with high dilution accuracy with minimum flow rate adjustment work. In addition, it is possible to suppress waste of merchandise disposal during flow rate adjustment.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram of a beverage dispenser control device showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a phase relationship between a rotation speed of a syrup motor (rotation speed setting current) and a discharge flow rate of a syrup pump.

FIG. 3 is a piping diagram of a beverage dispenser showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the syrup pump in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Drink supply nozzle 2 Cup 3 Syrup container 4 Dilution water pump 8 Flow rate regulator 9 Dilution water valve 12 Syrup pump 22 Syrup motor 27 Push button 28 Flow rate sensor

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A syrup pump comprising a plurality of types of syrup containers and a plurality of syrup pumps provided for each of the syrup containers and driven by a variable-speed syrup motor, respectively. The control device of the beverage dispenser that dilutes the syrup to be discharged with the dilution water at a dilution rate corresponding to the syrup type and supplies the diluted syrup with a dilution rate, and sets a flow rate of the dilution water, and sets a dilution rate of each of the syrups. Means for calculating the appropriate flow rate of each syrup from the set flow rate of the dilution water and the set dilution rate of each syrup, and setting the phase relationship between the rotation speed of the syrup motor and the discharge flow rate of the syrup pump. Means, and the appropriate rotational speed of each syrup motor from the phase relationship and the calculated appropriate flow rate of each syrup. Means for making a determination and controlling the driving of each of the syrup motors based on the determination value. 2. The beverage dispenser according to claim 1, wherein one phase relationship between the motor rotation speed and the syrup discharge flow rate is determined in common for all syrups. 3. The phase relationship between the motor rotation speed and the syrup discharge flow rate is determined by continuously changing the rotation speed of the syrup motor and the rotation speed of the syrup pump measured for the representative syrup for each rotation speed. 3. The beverage dispenser according to claim 2, wherein the beverage dispenser has a correspondence relationship with a discharge flow rate. 4. The beverage dispenser control device according to claim 3, further comprising means for correcting the determination value of the proper rotation speed in accordance with the type of syrup. 5. The criterion value correcting means includes means for setting an actual measured value of a syrup discharge flow rate at an appropriate sampling rotational speed of the syrup motor, and syrup discharge based on the actual measured value and the phase relation at the sampling rotational speed. 5. The beverage dispenser according to claim 4, further comprising means for correcting the inter-phase relationship by a deviation from the flow rate. 6. A means for setting an actual measured value of a syrup discharge flow rate at an appropriate sampling rotational speed of the syrup motor, and a syrup discharge based on the phase relationship between the actual measured value and the sampling rotational speed. 5. The beverage dispenser according to claim 4, further comprising means for correcting the inter-phase relationship by a predetermined offset value based on a difference from the flow rate. 7. The beverage dispenser according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of phase relationships between the motor rotation speed and the syrup discharge flow rate are determined for each syrup. 8. The phase relationship between the motor rotation speed and the syrup discharge flow rate is estimated from some typical rotation speeds of the syrup motor and actual measurement values of each syrup discharge flow rate at each rotation speed. 7. The method according to claim 7, wherein
A control device for a beverage dispenser according to the preceding claims. 9. A flow rate sensor for detecting a flow rate of the dilution water is provided in place of the dilution water setting means, and the flow rate calculation means of the syrup is configured to set the flow rate detected by the flow rate sensor and each of the syrups. 2. The control device for a beverage dispenser according to claim 1, wherein an appropriate flow rate of each of the syrups is calculated from a dilution rate.