JP2002321778A - Fixed quantity extraction device for granular dry ice - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device capable of distributing a granular dry ice to a predetermined quantity with a simple operation. SOLUTION: A stirrer 6 is rotatably arranged in a granular dry ice storing chamber 1 formed in a thermal insulating structure. A dry ice delivering port 5 is opened at part of the bottom wall of the granular dry ice storing chamber 1, and a rotary measuring device 7 having a rotatable measure member 9 is arranged at the lower part of the granular dry ice storing chamber 1. An opening corresponding to the dry ice delivering port 5 is formed in a vertically penetrated shape at an upper surface plate of the rotary measuring device 7, and a dry ice discharging port 14 is formed at the other phase position than a formed position of the dry ice deducing port 5 at the lower surface plate of the rotary measuring device 7. The granular dry ice extraction vessel 16 is extractably arranged corresponding to the dry ice discharging port 14. The stirrer 6 and the measuring member 9 are formed synchronously rotatable. The extraction quantity is formed so as to adjust gradually by detachably fitting and installing a die member 26 into a measuring space 10 formed at the measuring member 9.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for taking out a fixed amount of granular dry ice.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When frozen foods, frozen desserts, cakes and the like are purchased at general stores, supermarkets and department stores, dry ice is included as a cooling material. Conventionally, in this case, block-shaped dry ice has been used.
In this case, there is a problem that it is difficult to accurately obtain a necessary weight, and there is also a problem in terms of safety because the dry ice is caught by hand when breaking the dry ice block.

[0003] Therefore, in recent years, granular dry ice formed into a cylindrical pellet shape has been provided, and it has become possible to easily and accurately measure the weight.

[0004]

However, even when granular dry ice is used, since granular dry ice is distributed as a service when a particular product is purchased, granular dry ice is provided at each cash register. The cashier puts the dry ice in a small bag and puts it in a small bag. For this reason, dry ice is stored in small lots, and there is a problem that there is much loss due to sublimation. Also, if you want to subdivide at the cash register,
Variations are likely to occur in the provided amount, and since the dry ice and the low-temperature dry ice scooping tool are directly handled, the distribution at the cash register has been troublesome.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus capable of distributing granular dry ice into a predetermined amount by a simple operation.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a stirrer is rotatably disposed in a granular dry ice storage chamber formed in a heat insulating structure. A dry ice outlet is opened at a part of the bottom wall of the dry ice storage chamber, and a rotary measuring device rotatably housing a measuring member having a measurement space formed therein is disposed below the granular dry ice storage chamber. An opening having a size corresponding to the dry ice outlet is formed in the upper plate of the rotary measuring device in a vertically penetrating manner, which is different from the formation location of the dry ice outlet in the lower plate of the rotary measuring device. A dry ice discharge port is formed at the phase position, a granular dry ice take-out container is disposed so as to be able to move out and retreat corresponding to the dry ice discharge port, and the stirrer and the measuring member are configured to be synchronously rotatable, and the measuring member is Formed into A metric space by mounting the fitting piece member detachably, and characterized by being configured so as to be adjusted stepwise extraction of granular dry ice.

[0007]

According to the present invention, a granular dry ice outlet is formed in the bottom wall of a granular dry ice storage chamber formed in a heat insulating structure, and a box member is rotatably stored below the granular dry ice storage chamber. Since the rotary weighing device is located, the dry ice storage chamber is filled with granular dry ice, and when the weighing space formed in the rotary box member matches the granular dry ice outlet, The granular dry ice flows down into the measuring space to contain a certain amount of granular dry ice, and further rotation of the measuring space allows the measuring space and the dry ice discharge port to match to measure the granular dry ice in the measuring space volume. In this state, a fixed amount is taken out. In addition, since the stirrer that rotates in synchronization with the rotation of the measure member is disposed in the dry ice storage chamber, the stirrer rotates in the dry ice storage chamber, and the dry ice is cross-linked in the dry ice storage chamber. Even if it does, the rotating stirrer will break the bridge.

Further, in the present invention, the fitting piece member is detachably mounted in the measuring space formed in the measuring member so that the volume of the measuring space can be adjusted. Accordingly, the amount of granular dry ice to be taken out at one time can be changed.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows an apparatus for taking out a fixed amount of granular dry ice to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 1 is a perspective view thereof, and FIG. This apparatus for taking out a fixed amount of granular dry ice includes a casing main body (2) having a dry ice storage chamber (1) formed in an open top shape, and a dry ice storage chamber (1).
The casing body (2) and the lid (3) are each formed in a heat insulating structure.

The dry ice storage chamber (1) is formed in the shape of a quadrangular pyramid having a truncated head cut off, and a dry ice outlet (5) is opened at a portion of the bottom wall (4) near one side. It is formed. A fork-like stirrer (6) formed of a metal rod having a circular cross section that prevents the cross-linking of dry ice and breaks the cross-link when cross-linking is formed inside the dry-ice storage chamber (1). It is arranged to be rotatable.

The casing body (2) includes a dry ice storage chamber.
A rotary measuring device (7) is arranged below the bottom wall of (1). As shown in FIG. 3, the weighing device (7) is formed by rotatably mounting a disk-shaped polyacetal resin box member (9) inside a housing (8) formed of polyacetal resin. An arc-shaped metering space (10) having both ends cut off is formed to penetrate a part of the rotary measuring member (9). A communication port (12) communicating with the dry ice outlet (5) is formed in a portion of the top plate (11) of the housing (8) near one side, and an opening is formed. The opening shape of the space (10) matches the shape of the dry ice outlet (5).

A dry ice outlet (14) conforming to the shape of the dry ice outlet (5) is also formed on the lower plate (13) of the housing (8). The dry ice discharge port (14) is formed so as to have a different phase in the rotational direction of the measuring member (9) from the place where the communication port (12) is formed on the upper wall (11). The communication port (12) and the dry ice discharge port (11) and (13) formed on the upper and lower plates of the housing (8) on the upper and lower plates of the housing (8), respectively, without forming the measuring space (10) of the measuring member (9). By covering 14), communication with the measuring space (10) is cut off.

A granular dry ice take-out port (15) is formed in one side wall of the casing body (2), and a granular dry ice take-out container formed in a scooping tool shape at the granular dry ice take-out port (15). (16) is mounted in a state where it can be withdrawn, and the dry ice discharge container (16) inserted in the normal posture is open at the upper surface of the dry ice discharge port (14).
Dry ice take-out path (17) placed in communication with
Open corresponding to. Then, a limit switch (18) for detecting that the granular dry ice take-out container (16) is mounted in a proper posture is provided on the lower surface at the back end of the take-out container insertion area at the granular dry ice take-out port (15). It is arranged.

The fork-shaped stirrer (6) and the measuring member (9) of the measuring device (7) arranged inside the dry ice storage chamber (1) are fixed to the same rotating shaft (19). The shaft (19) is operatively connected to an electric drive motor (20). Therefore, the stirrer (6) and the box member (9) rotate together. A drive motor (2) for driving the stirrer (6) and the cell member (9).
In the power supply circuit (21) of (0), a medal timer (22) is interposed as a start switch. When a coin-shaped medal is inserted, the stirrer (6) and the box member (9) rotate once. The driving motor (20) is operated to rotate.

In the apparatus for taking out a fixed amount of granular dry ice, a limit switch (23) for detecting that the lid (3) is closed is mounted. ) And the lid detection limit switch (23) are inserted in series in the power supply circuit (21) of the drive motor (20), the lid (3) is securely closed, and the dry ice take-out container (16) The drive motor (20) can be rotated only when the is mounted in the normal posture.

Further, the casing main body (2) is provided with a rotation accumulator (24) for accumulating and displaying the number of actuations of the drive motor (20), and the drive motor (20) rotates by a preset number of revolutions. In such a case, the medal insertion port of the medal timer (22) is closed so that the medal cannot be inserted, and a lamp or the like for notifying that it is time to replenish the dry ice in the dry ice storage chamber (1). The notification means (25) is operated. Then, the rotation integrator (24) is refilled with the particulate dry ice in the dry ice storage chamber (1) and reset so that the particulate dry ice can be continuously taken out.

The present invention is directed to frozen foods and frozen desserts,
In the case of dry ice as a cooling material bundled when purchasing cakes etc., the sublimation speed will fluctuate depending on the outside temperature (atmospheric temperature), so the low temperature condition is the same in summer when the outside temperature is high and in winter when the outside temperature is low The amount of dry ice required to maintain the temperature fluctuates. For this reason, a fitting piece (26) for adjusting the space volume is detachably mounted in the measuring space (10) of the rotary basin member (9).

As shown in FIG. 5, this fitting piece (26)
It is formed in a bowl shape with an open lower surface, and on its upper surface is formed a subarc-shaped picking ridge (27) and a concave portion (28) formed at the base of the ridge (27). It is configured so that it can be attached to one side of the measuring space (10) formed in the formula box member (9) in a one-sided manner. Then, the weighing space (1) is set so that the fitting piece (26) remains at that position while being attached to the weighing space (10).
0) are formed vertically on the side wall portion, and the engaging ridge (29) is formed on the side wall portion forming the arc portion and the chord portion of the fitting piece (26). An engagement groove (30) that fits with the groove is formed. In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of types of the inserted pieces (26) having different opening angles formed by side portions connecting the arc portion and the string portion are prepared. By selecting one from (26) and fitting it into the measuring space (10), the amount of dry ice taken out can be adjusted.

Reference numeral (31) in the figure is used to receive the fitting piece (26) fitted on the inner peripheral surface of the arc-shaped side wall and the lower peripheral edge of the chordal side wall of the measuring space (10) formed in the rotary type box member (9). And (32) an air damper located between the casing body (2) and the lid (3) so as to prevent the lid (3) from closing suddenly.

A description will be given of a method of using the quantitative dry ice removing device having the above-described configuration when the device is installed in a supermarket. First, if necessary, a rotary weighing device
Attach the selected insertion piece (26) to the measuring space (10) formed in the measuring member (9) of (7), and adjust the volume of the measuring space (10) to a size suitable for the season. And dry ice storage room
(1) After putting a certain amount of granular dry ice into the lid,
(3) is securely closed, and the dry ice storage chamber (1) is sealed. If there is a person who has purchased a product that includes dry ice, the cashier will hand over the required number of medals to the product purchaser in accordance with the return time and the size of the packing container. The product purchaser hands a medal to a store clerk at the place where a fixed quantity take-out device for granular dry ice, such as a service counter, is installed, or performs a dry ice take-out operation. The unloading operation is carried out by confirming that the granular dry ice unloading container (16) is attached to the dry ice unloading opening (15) in a proper posture, inserting a medal into the medal timer (22), and driving the drive motor ( 20) is operated to remove the required amount of granular dry ice from the dry ice storage chamber (1)
(16), and transfer the granular dry ice in the granular dry ice container (16) to an attached synthetic resin bag.

If the number of times of taking out the dry ice reaches a preset number of times, the medal timer (20) is disabled from dispensing medals, thereby making the taking out operation inoperable and notifying means. To request replenishment of dry ice. In the present invention, the measure member
Since a fixed amount of dry ice is always taken out in (9), the relationship between the amount of dry ice put into the dry ice storage chamber (1) and the volume of the measuring space (10) of the basin member (9) is obtained. You can predict how many times it will be paid out,
By setting the number of times in anticipation of weight loss due to sublimation and wall adhesion in the dry ice storage chamber (1), the replenishment time can be reliably known.

In addition, a human body sensor is installed in front of the dry ice quantitative supply device, and when a person who needs dry ice stands on the front of the device, the human body sensor is activated and the operation procedure is sounded. You may be made to guide by.

In the above embodiment, a rod fork-like stirring tool made of a metal rod having a circular cross section is used as the stirring tool (6). The stirrer (6) preferably has a fork shape in consideration of rotational resistance and the like, as long as it can be easily broken. In this case, the cross-sectional shape of the fork portion may be square or wing-shaped.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the fitting pieces (26) having several kinds of volume dimensions are prepared, and the fitting pieces (26) are selectively inserted into the measuring space (10) according to the time of use. By mounting, the volume of the measuring space (10) is adjusted, but a plurality of fitting pieces (26) of one size are prepared,
The volume of the measuring space (10) may be adjusted by connecting and fitting several fitting pieces (26).

[0025]

According to the present invention, a rotary weighing device that rotatably stores a cell member is disposed below the granular dry ice storage chamber formed in the heat insulating structure, and is synchronized with the rotation of the cell member. The rotating stirrer is placed in the dry ice storage chamber, so that the rotating dry stirrer eliminates the cross-linking of the dry ice, and allows the granular dry ice in the dry ice storage chamber to flow down into the measuring space formed in the rotary box member. Then, by further rotating the measuring space, the particulate dry ice in the measuring space can be taken out from the dry ice outlet and taken out into the container. Thereby, a fixed amount of granular dry ice can always be easily obtained.

Since the dry ice is hardly touched during the subdivision of the granular dry ice, the operational safety is also improved.

Further, since dry ice provided as a service product is centrally managed, loss of dry ice due to sublimation can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for quantitatively removing granular dry ice to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional front view of the apparatus for quantitatively removing granular dry ice.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a main part of a rotary type measuring device, which is partially cut out and partially cut away.

FIG. 4 is a schematic power supply circuit diagram of a drive motor.

5 (a) is a plan view, FIG. 5 (b) is a view on arrow B of FIG. 5 (a), and FIG. 5 (c) is a view of C of FIG. 5 (a). -C
It is a longitudinal section.

FIG. 6 is a drawing showing the insertion pieces of different sizes;
FIG. 6A is a plan view of a medium-sized insertion piece, and FIG. 6B is a plan view of a small-sized insertion piece.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Granular dry ice accommodation room, 3 ... Lid, 5 ... Dry ice outlet, 6 ... Stirrer, 7 ... Rotary measuring device, 9 ... Measuring member, 10 ... Measuring space, 14 ... Dry ice outlet, 15 ... Granular dry ice take-out port, 16 ... Granular dry ice take-out container, 17 ... Door, 20 ... Drive motor, 21 ... Power supply circuit to drive motor, 22 ... Medal timer, 18/23 ... Detector, 26 ... .

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A stirrer (6) is rotatably arranged in a granular dry ice storage chamber (1) formed in a heat insulating structure, and dry ice is formed on a part of a bottom wall of the granular dry ice storage chamber (1). The outlet (5) is opened, and a granular dry ice storage chamber
(1) A rotary measuring device (7) in which a measuring member (9) is rotatably accommodated is disposed below the rotary measuring device.
An opening having a size corresponding to the dry ice outlet (5) is formed in the upper plate of (7) in a vertically penetrating manner, and the dry ice outlet (5) is formed on the lower plate of the rotary measuring device (7). )
Dry ice outlet (1
4) is formed, and a granular dry ice take-out container (16) is disposed so as to be able to move out and retreat corresponding to the dry ice discharge port (14), and the agitator (6) and the box member (9) are synchronously rotated. Configure as possible,
A fixed amount of granular dry ice is configured such that a fitting piece (26) is detachably attached to the measuring space (10) formed in the basin member (9) so that the amount of granular dry ice to be removed can be adjusted stepwise. apparatus. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the stirrer (6) and the box member (9) are driven by the same drive motor (20). 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a medal timer (22) is arranged as a start switch in a power supply circuit (21) for the drive motor (20). 4. A detecting element (23) for detecting that the lid (3) of the granular dry ice storage chamber (1) is closed, and detecting that a granular dry ice container (16) is mounted. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a detecting element (18) for performing the measurement is interposed in a power supply circuit (21) of the drive motor (20).