JP2002251667A - Cup type automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cup type automatic vending machine preventing soiling of a cup outer surface or a cup conveying mechanism and deterioration of beverage quality by positively inputting ice into a cup and preventing scattering of beverage due to inputting of the ice when preparing a beverage with ice by inserting an impeller of an agitating mechanism inside the cup inputted with a raw material and a diluting solution, agitating and dissolving the raw material in the diluting solution, and inputting ice stored after production by ice making machinery into the cup by self-weight dropping of the ice via an ice supplying pipe. SOLUTION: An ice chute 72a changing a dropping direction of the ice supplied via the ice supplying pipe 75, reducing a dropping speed of the ice, slanted at an angle α to the dropping direction of the ice and provided with a corrugated uneven part 72d, an ice dropping face 72b dropping the ice into the cup C, and an ice passage opening 72c for passing the ice are provided on an ice supply guide 72.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cup-type vending machine for selling drinks in a cup prepared by adding ice to a raw material and a diluent such as hot water or water.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is known a cup-type vending machine which sells a cup beverage prepared by stirring a beverage comprising a raw material put into a cup and a diluent such as hot water or water by a stirring mechanism. In order to cook an iced beverage by this beverage cooking method, an impeller of a stirring mechanism is inserted into a cup into which the raw material and the diluent have been charged and stirred, and the raw material is dissolved in the diluent. The ice making and the storing ice are thrown into the cup by the gravity of the ice falling through the ice supply pipe to cook the iced beverage.

[0003]

However, in a cup-type vending machine, the installation location of an ice maker is limited due to the dimensional restrictions of the machine body. When ice stored in the machine is supplied to the cup by its own weight drop of ice through the ice supply pipe, the falling speed of the ice falling down the ice supply pipe increases, and the ice is vigorously thrown into the beverage in the cup. , The beverage splatters around,
There has been a problem that the outer surface of the cup and the cup transport mechanism are soiled.

[0004] In addition, when the beverage is scattered, the concentration of the beverage becomes non-uniform, which results in a decrease in the quality of the beverage.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cup-type automatic dispenser in which raw materials and a diluent such as hot water or water are charged into a cup, stirred by a stirring mechanism, and then ice is supplied to sell cooked iced beverages. Regarding the vending machine, insert the impeller of the stirring mechanism into the cup into which the raw material and the diluent have been charged, stir this, dissolve the raw material in the diluent, and then make the ice that has been stored after ice making with an ice machine, When cooking iced drinks by putting ice into the cup by its own weight falling through the ice supply pipe, ensure that the ice is poured into the cup and prevent the drink from splashing due to the introduction of ice, so that the outer surface of the cup or the cup It is an object of the present invention to provide a cup-type vending machine that eliminates dirt on a transport mechanism and that does not deteriorate beverage quality.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cup-type vending machine which sells a beverage in a cup prepared by adding ice to a raw material and a diluent. An ice maker for supplying ice is provided, and an inclined surface for changing a falling direction of the ice is provided in a passage for supplying ice formed between the ice maker and the cup.

The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that corrugated irregularities are provided along the inclined surface.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ice falling surface for supplying ice whose falling direction has been changed on an inclined surface into a cup.

The invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that, after ice is supplied to the beverage in the cup, the beverage in the cup is stirred by an impeller.

[0010] The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that a cup cover for covering the opening of the cup is provided below the inclined surface.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The cup-type vending machine of the present invention is different from the method in which the beverage is cooked (mixed) in the vending machine, and the cooked beverage in the cup cooked in the vending machine is conveyed to the vending machine to the beverage purchaser. The provided beverage cooking method is employed.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a cooking unit for cup beverages as an embodiment of the cup-type vending machine of the present invention. The cooking unit 1 includes a transport mechanism 2 extending in a horizontal direction.
And a cup supply device 3 for supplying a cup C, and a cup C
A canister 4a, 4b, 4c for supplying ingredients such as cream, coffee, and sugar therein; a hot water tank 5 for supplying hot water into the cup C; and a stirring mechanism 6 for stirring (cooking) the ingredients and hot water. And an ice maker 7 for making and storing ice used for cooking iced beverages.

The transport mechanism 2 includes a support frame 22 that extends horizontally in a horizontal direction (with respect to FIG. 1) and a drive pulley 23 and a driven pulley 24 that are rotatably supported at both ends of the support frame 22. A main transport unit 21 including an endless transport belt 25 stretched between the two pulleys, a transport motor 26 for operating the drive pulley 23, and a sub-frame 27 provided in parallel with the support frame 22; Is fixed to the transport belt 25, and the other end is
A support frame 31 provided with a drive pulley 29 and a driven pulley 30 rotatably supported at both ends thereof, an endless transport belt 32 stretched between both pulleys, and a drive pulley A transfer motor 33 for operating the transfer frame 29, a roller 34 provided so that the support frame 31 rolls on the surface of the support frame 22 with the operation of the transfer belt 25, and a roller 34 provided for rolling on the surface of the sub-frame 27 And a roller 35 for holding the cup holding mechanism
8 and a cup holding mechanism 36 fixed to the conveyor belt 32 of the cup holding mechanism conveyor 28.

When the conveyor belt 25 operates, the roller 34 rolls on the support frame 22 and the roller 35 rolls on the sub-frame 27, and the cup holding mechanism conveyor 28 moves in the left-right direction. Will be moved smoothly. The cup holding mechanism 36 is fixed to a predetermined portion of the conveyor belt 32, and a roller 37 is attached to the fixed portion. When the conveyor belt 32 operates, the rollers 37 roll on the surface of the support frame 31, and the cup holding mechanism 36 is smoothly moved in the front-rear direction (as compared to FIG. 1).
The cup holding mechanism transport unit 28 can be moved in the left and right direction by the action of a transport motor 26 operated by a signal from a control unit (not shown).
The cup holding mechanism 36 fixed to the conveyance belt 32 can also be moved in the front-rear direction by the action of the conveyance motor 33 operated by a signal from the control unit. As a result, the cup holding mechanism 36 can move freely in the front, rear, left, and right directions based on a signal from the control unit.

Further, the cup holding mechanism 36 has a cup receiving table 3 for receiving the cup C supplied from the cup supplying device 3.
8 and a cup gripping arm 39 for gripping the body of the cup C
, And are protruded, and the cup receiver 38 is moved by a cup receiver moving mechanism (not shown) to measure the size (large, medium,
Small) can be moved in the cup height (up and down) direction according to. The cup gripping arm 39 can be opened and closed by an arm opening / closing mechanism (not shown) so that the arm interval can be set according to the size (large, medium, or small) of the cup C.
The cup C received by the cup holder 38 is used to hold the cup C
9 is designed to grip.

The cup supply device 3 accommodates a large number of three types of cups C, large, medium and small, and has a cup unloading device (not shown) at the bottom. On the basis of the sales instruction, a large, medium, or small cup C is unloaded one by one from the cup unloading device from the cup supply device 3 and transferred to the cup holding mechanism 36.

The cream canister 4a, the coffee canister 4b, and the sugar canister 4c store cream, coffee, and sugar as raw materials, respectively, and a predetermined amount of each raw material is supplied to a cup C by a supply mechanism 41 provided below. To supply. A raw material shooter 42 is provided below each supply mechanism 41, and the raw materials in the canisters 4 a, 4 b, and 4 c are supplied to the cup C conveyed below each raw material shooter 42 by the raw material shooter 42. Supplied via

The hot water tank 5 is provided with a heater (not shown) therein and supplies hot water to the cup C from above the hot water tank. The hot water supply port 51 has a hot water supply electromagnetic valve 52 and a hot water supply electromagnetic valve 52.
And a hot water supply pipe 53 communicating with the hot water supply pipe. When the hot water supply solenoid valve 52 is turned on (opened) by the sales instruction, the hot water supply pipe 5
A predetermined amount of hot water is supplied to the cup C via the control unit 3. The hot water supplied via the hot water supply pipe 53 flows from the impeller 61 into the cup C, and after stirring and mixing the raw material and the diluting liquid, the impeller 61 is washed when the impeller 61 is raised.

The ice maker 7 includes an ice maker 7a for producing ice,
An ice storage section 7b for storing ice produced by the ice making section 7a; and an ice supply guide 72 (to be described later) (an ice supply pipe 75 and an ice supply guide) for storing the ice stored in the ice storage section 7b via an ice supply pipe 75. 72 to form a passage for supplying ice) to the cup C.

FIG. 2 shows the stirring mechanism 6 and the cup holding mechanism 36 of the present invention. The stirring mechanism 6 includes an impeller 61 for stirring and mixing a beverage composed of the raw material and the diluent in the cup C, and an impeller 61. A stirring motor 63 that is driven to rotate, an impeller 61 at the lower end, and a stirring motor 63 attached to the upper end, and a rotating shaft 62 that transmits the rotational force of the stirring motor 63 to the impeller 61.
, A lifting base 64 to which a stirring motor 63 is attached, and a rack 65 provided on the lifting base 64. A plurality of guide shafts 67 for guiding the elevating base 64 up and down are provided in the case 66.
a, and was attached to the case 66.
Rotation speed conversion unit 68a that converts the rotation speed of lifting motor 68
The spur gear 69 attached to the output shaft of the second gear meshes with the rack 65 attached to the lifting base 64. Case 66
The cup cover 70 that covers the opening of the cup C is provided below the
A hot water supply nozzle 71 for supplying hot water from the hot water tank 5 through the hot water supply pipe 53 is provided on the cup cover 70,
Hot water supplied from the hot water supply nozzle 71 flows through the rotating shaft 62 and flows from the impeller 61 to the cup C. After stirring and mixing the raw material and the diluent, the rotating shaft 62 and the impeller 61 are moved when the impeller 61 is raised. Wash. Further, an ice supply guide 72 for supplying ice used for cooking the iced beverage to the cup C is provided at an upper portion of the cup cover 70.

The ice supply guide 72 includes an ice supply pipe 75.
An ice chute 72a (inclined surface) inclined at an angle α (for example, 75 degrees) with respect to the ice falling direction by changing the falling direction of the ice supplied through the An ice falling surface 72b for dropping the ice bounced at 72a in (downward) direction of the cup C, and an ice or ice falling surface 7 having a falling speed reduced by the ice chute 72a.
Ice passage 72 through which ice falling downward by 2b passes
c.

When a signal is output from a control unit (not shown), when the spur gear 69 is rotated clockwise (as viewed from the right in FIG. 2) by the control rotation of the elevating motor 68, the rack 65 meshed with the spur gear 69 is rotated. Descends, and the guide shaft 67
Along with the lift base 64, the impeller 61 descends. Further, the spur gear 69 is rotated left (as viewed from the right direction in FIG. 2).
Then, the impeller 61 rises. The impeller 61 is rotated by the control rotation of the stirring motor 63, and stirs and mixes the beverage including the raw material and the diluent in the cup C.

The cup holding mechanism 36 has a cup holder 3 for receiving the cup C supplied from the cup supply device 3.
8 and a cup gripping arm 39 for gripping the cup C received by the cup tray 38. The cup tray 38 is adjusted to the size (large, medium, small) of the cup C by a cup tray moving mechanism (not shown). The moving amount L can be moved in the corresponding cup height (vertical) direction. The cup gripping arm 39 can be opened and closed by an arm opening / closing mechanism (not shown) so that the arm interval can be set according to the size (large, medium, small) of the cup C.
Is held by the cup holding arm 39.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a corrugated plate-like uneven portion 72d along an ice chute 72a provided on an ice supply guide 72 of the cup-type vending machine of the present invention. FIG. 3A shows a state in which a corrugated plate-like uneven portion 72d along the ice chute 72a is viewed from a plane direction, and FIG. 3B shows a state in which a cross section taken along a line AA in FIG. It is. The ice chute 72a has a corrugated plate-like uneven portion 72d in the direction of the ice falling surface 72b (for example,
(Height of unevenness 1 to 3 mm). The ice supplied from the ice maker 7 through the ice supply pipe 75 is melted by the heat in the cup-type vending machine, but when melted, a thin water film is formed on the ice surface. If ice having a thin film of water formed on the surface comes into close contact with the smooth surface, the ice may stick and become immobile due to surface tension generated between the surface and the ice. However, in the case of the ice chute 72a having the corrugated irregularities 72d, since the ice chute 72a is always in contact with the surface of the ice with a line, the generation of surface tension can be prevented. Further, since the ice chute 72a having the corrugated plate-shaped irregularities 72d is inclined (for example, 15 degrees) in the direction of the ice falling surface 72b, the ice supplied from the ice maker 7 through the ice supply pipe 75 is The thin water film formed on the surface slides down along the corrugated irregularities 72d without stopping on the ice chute 72a, and is thrown into the cup C from the ice passage opening 72c.

As described above, according to the present invention, a cup-type vending machine for putting a raw material and a diluent such as hot water or water into a cup, stirring the mixture with a stirring mechanism, and then adding ice to sell a cooked iced beverage. Has been described. Next, the operation thereof will be described by taking ice coffee cooking as an example.

With this configuration, in order to put the raw material and the diluting liquid into the cup C in the cup-type vending machine, stir the mixture with the stirring mechanism, and then put ice and sell the cooked iced coffee, the beverage selection button ( (Not shown), the cup C supplied from the cup supply device 3 to the cup holding mechanism 36 first receives the cup C and the cup gripping arm 39.
Is held and fixed. When the cup holding mechanism 36 holds the cup C, the operation of the transport motor 26 and the transport motor 33 causes the cup holding mechanism 36 to be step-advanced as appropriate, receive the supply of cream from the cream canister 4a, and receive coffee from the coffee canister 4b. Upon receiving the supply, the sugar is supplied from the sugar canister 4c and transported to the position of the stirring mechanism 6. Here, the cup C is moved to a predetermined height position according to the size of the cup C by moving the cup receiving table 38. Thereafter, the hot water is supplied from the hot water tank 5 to the cup C, and the stirring mechanism 6 is operated.
When the impeller 61 inserted at the most appropriate position for stirring the beverage is rotated for a predetermined time (for example, 3 seconds), the cup C
The above raw materials and hot water are stirred and mixed therein. After rotating the impeller 61 for a predetermined time to dissolve each raw material in hot water, the ice maker 7
When the ice stored in the ice is supplied to the ice supply guide 72 through the ice supply pipe 75 by the own weight of the ice, the ice supplied by the own weight drop of the ice through the ice supply pipe 75 as shown in FIG. Is dropped from the position D in the ice supply pipe 75 in the direction of the arrow, and the falling speed is absorbed by the ice chute 72a (position E) having the inclined corrugated plate-shaped irregularities 72d. At the falling surface 72b (F position), the impeller 61 is rotated from the ice passage opening 72c to be poured into the beverage in the cup C (G position) in which each raw material is dissolved in hot water. Or, an inclined corrugated plate-like uneven portion 72d of the ice chute 72a.
, And is poured into the beverage in the cup C from the ice passage opening 72c. After the ice is put into the cup C, the impeller 61 is further rotated to stir and mix the beverage and the ice.
By rotating the impeller 61 to uniformly lower the temperature of the beverage,
When the cooking of the iced coffee is completed, the impeller 61 is raised. The iced coffee that has been cooked in this manner is further conveyed to a sales outlet (not shown) in a state filled with the cup C, received by the cup beverage purchaser, and the selling operation ends.

Although the description has been given of the embodiment in which iced coffee is cooked, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to cooking in which an iced drink composed of another raw material and a diluent such as water or hot water is mixed.

As described above, a cup-type vending machine for selling a drink in a cup prepared by adding ice to a raw material and a diluent is provided with an ice maker 7 for supplying ice. An ice chute 72a for changing the falling direction of ice is provided in an ice supply guide 72 for supplying ice through an ice supply pipe 75 formed between the cup C and the raw material and the diluent. Stirring mechanism 6
After the impeller 61 is inserted and stirred to dissolve the raw material in the diluent, the ice stored in the ice making machine 7 and then stored ice is dropped into the cup C by its own weight falling through the ice supply pipe 75. When the iced beverage is cooked, the ice is reliably injected into the cup C, and the splash of the iced beverage is prevented to prevent the outer surface of the cup C and the transport mechanism 2 from being stained. It is possible to provide a cup-type vending machine in which a decrease in the number of cups is eliminated.

The provision of the corrugated plate-shaped irregularities 72d along the ice chute 72a allows the ice chute 7 having the corrugated plate-shaped irregularities 72d even if a thin water film is formed on the surface of ice.
Since 2a is always in contact with the surface of the ice with a line, it is possible to prevent surface tension from being generated, so that sticking of ice can be prevented and ice can be reliably poured into the cup C.

The ice chute 72a is provided with an ice falling surface 72b for supplying the ice whose falling direction has been changed into the cup C, so that even if the ice dropped by its own weight bounces on the ice chute 72a, it hits the ice falling surface 72b. Since the ice is put into the cup C through the ice passage 72c, it is possible to reliably put the ice into the cup C.

After the ice in the cup C is supplied to the beverage in the cup C, the beverage in the cup C is stirred by the impeller 61, thereby making it possible to cook the iced coffee in which the temperature of the beverage is uniformly reduced.

By providing the cup cover 70 for covering the opening of the cup C below the ice chute 72a, it is possible to reduce the scattering of the drink due to the introduction of ice and to prevent the outer surface of the cup C and the transfer mechanism 2 from being stained. Will be possible.

[0033]

According to the present invention, the impeller of the stirring mechanism is inserted into the cup into which the raw material and the diluting liquid have been charged and stirred, and the raw material is dissolved in the diluting liquid. When cooking iced beverages by putting the stored ice into the cups by dropping the ice by its own weight via the ice supply pipe, ensure that the ice is poured into the cups and prevent the splashing of the beverages due to the introduction of ice Accordingly, it is possible to provide a cup-type vending machine in which the stain on the outer surface of the cup and the cup transport mechanism is eliminated and the deterioration of the beverage quality is eliminated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a cooking unit to which a cup-type vending machine of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a stirring mechanism and a cup holding mechanism to which the cup-type vending machine of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a view showing an ice chute of the cup-type vending machine of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram for supplying ice to a cup in the cup-type vending machine of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cooking part 2 Transport mechanism 3 Cup supply device 4a Cream canister 4b Coffee canister 4c Sugar canister 5 Hot water tank 6 Stirring mechanism 7 Ice machine 21 Main transport part 28 Cup holding mechanism transport part 36 Cup holding mechanism 38 Cup holder 39 Cup holding arm 61 Impeller 62 Rotating shaft 63 Stirring motor 64 Elevating base 64a Guide hole 65 Rack 67 Guide shaft 68 Elevating motor 68a Revolution converting part 69 Spur gear 71 Hot water supply nozzle 72 Ice supply guide 72a Ice chute 72b Ice falling surface 72c Ice passage 72d Corrugated irregularities 75 Ice supply pipe

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 3E047 AA02 AA04 BA03 CA06 DA03 DB08 EA04 EB01 FA07 GA03 3L045 AA04 BA01 CA01 CA04 DA02 GA07 KA00 PA04

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A cup-type vending machine for selling a drink in a cup prepared by adding ice to a raw material and a diluting liquid, comprising: an ice maker for supplying the ice; and between the ice maker and the cup. A cup-type vending machine characterized in that an inclined surface for changing a falling direction of the ice is provided in a passage for supplying the ice to be formed. 2. The cup-type vending machine according to claim 1, further comprising a corrugated plate-shaped uneven portion provided along the inclined surface. 3. The cup-type vending machine according to claim 1, further comprising an ice falling surface for supplying the ice whose falling direction is changed on the inclined surface into the cup. 4. After supplying ice to the beverage in the cup,
4. The cup-type vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the beverage in the cup is agitated by an impeller. 5. The cup-type vending machine according to claim 1, wherein a cup cover that covers an opening of the cup is provided below the inclined surface.