JP2003109107A - Cup-type automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cup-type automatic vending machine in which a raw material and a diluent such as hot water or water are supplied to a cup, the stirring blade of a stirring device is inserted, a beverage is rotated and cooked, and the stirring blade can easily be cleaned. SOLUTION: The automatic vending machine is provided with the stirring device 9 having a stirring motor 91 rotating the stirring blade 9A, a hot water tank 5 supplying hot water and a vending control part 100 for controlling a hot water tank 5 to supply hot water to the cup and the stirring device 9 to immerse the stirring blade 9A into hot water in the cup so as to rotate it based on an instruction for cleaning the stirring blade 9A.

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 a cup beverage prepared by stirring a beverage comprising a raw material supplied to a cup and a diluting liquid such as hot water or water with a stirring device. is there.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a cup type vending machine which sells a cup beverage prepared by stirring and cooking a beverage containing a raw material supplied to a cup and a diluting liquid such as hot water or water.
In the cup-type vending machine, when a beverage purchaser inputs money and presses the beverage selection button, the cup supplied from the cup supply device is conveyed at any time, and the raw material and the diluting liquid are supplied to the cup and then the stirring device. It is controlled so that it is agitated into a cup beverage and carried out to the sales outlet. Among such conventional stirring devices, there is a non-contact type stirring device that stirs and cooks at a flow rate at which the diluent is supplied to the raw material supplied to the cup. However, in such a non-contact type stirring device, it may be difficult to surely dissolve the raw material in the diluent. Therefore, most of the conventional stirring devices are contact type stirring devices in which stirring blades are inserted into the raw material and the diluting liquid supplied to the cup and rotated to forcibly stir.

[0003]

However, in such a contact type stirring device, the raw material adheres to the stirring blade or the like. Therefore, the adhered raw materials may affect the taste and smell of the beverage to be sold, and it is not hygienic to use it in a dirty state, and it is necessary to wash it regularly.

Therefore, an object of the present invention relates to a cup-type vending machine which supplies a raw material and a diluting liquid such as hot water or water to a cup, inserts and rotates a stirring blade of a stirring device to cook a beverage. An object of the present invention is to provide a cup-type vending machine that can easily wash a stirring blade and the like.

[0005]

In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1 is a cup type automatic vending machine equipped with stirring blades for stirring a beverage consisting of a raw material supplied to a cup and a diluent. In the machine, the diluting liquid supply device supplies the diluting liquid to the cup based on the agitating device having the first driving unit for rotating the agitating blade, the diluting liquid supplying device for supplying the diluting liquid, and the instruction for cleaning the agitating blade. In addition, the stirring device is provided with control means for controlling so that the diluting liquid in the cup is immersed in the stirring blade and rotated.

The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the control means re-executes the cleaning operation in which the stirring device soaks the stirring blade in the diluting liquid in the cup and rotates the stirring blade after a certain period of time. is there.

In the invention according to claim 3, the stirring device has a second drive part for moving the stirring blade in the vertical direction, the diluting liquid supply device has a diluting liquid supply nozzle, and the control means is the stirring device. The diluting liquid in the cup is controlled so that the diluting liquid in the cup descends and is rotated, and then the diluting liquid in the cup is lifted and rotated. It is characterized by controlling so as to directly release the diluting liquid from.

In the invention according to claim 4, the stirring device has a second drive part for moving the stirring blade in the vertical direction, and the control means causes the stirring device to dip the diluting liquid in the cup into the descending water. In this state, the stirring blade is controlled so as to change at least one of the rotation direction and the vertical movement direction of the stirring blade.

The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that a cup cover for covering the stirring blade located above the diluting liquid level in the cup and the opening of the cup is provided.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the control means causes the agitating device to cause the diluting liquid in the cup to descend and soak the agitating blade to rotate, and then to raise and rotate the agitating blade from the diluting liquid in the cup. The cup cover is cleaned by controlling so that the diluting liquid supply device directly discharges the diluting liquid from the diluting liquid supply nozzle to the stirring blade.

The invention according to claim 7 is characterized in that an ultrasonic generator for vibrating the stirring blade is provided in the stirring device.

The invention according to claim 8 is characterized in that the diluting liquid is hot water.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a cup-type vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is a cup beverage prepared by stirring a beverage consisting of a raw material supplied to a cup and a diluting liquid such as hot water or water with a stirring device. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a cup-type vending machine that provides drinks to customers who purchase beverages from a sales outlet. This cup-type vending machine includes a cup supply device 1 for supplying a cup, a powder raw material supply device 2 for supplying powder raw materials such as coffee, cream and sugar, and a liquid raw material supply device for supplying liquid raw materials such as lemon syrup. 3, a diluting water supply device 4 for supplying diluting water such as water or carbonated water, a hot water tank 5 (diluting liquid supply device) for supplying hot water, and an ice making machine 6 for supplying ice made from drinking water
A cup holding device 7 having a cup tray 7A for supporting the cup and a cup holding arm 7B for holding the side surface of the cup, a cup carrying device 8 for carrying the cup holding device 7 in a horizontal direction, and raw materials supplied to the cup. A stirrer 9 that stirs the diluted liquid with a stirrer blade 9A connected to a stirrer motor (not shown) by a rotary shaft, and a stirrer blade 9 of the stirrer 9.
A waste material storage device 10 for storing a waste cup used for cleaning A and the like, and a sales port (not shown) for providing a cooked cup beverage to a beverage purchaser.
Water and carbonated water are cooled and supplied by a cooling device (not shown).

The cup conveying device 8 has a motor as a drive source and an endless belt driven by the motor therein, and the cup holding device 7 is fixed to the endless belt.
The motor rotates based on a signal output from a sales control unit (not shown), thereby driving the endless belt. The cup holding device 7 is conveyed to a predetermined position based on the driving of the endless belt.

Although FIG. 1 shows the cup transport device 8 for moving the cup holding device 7 in the reciprocating direction for ease of explanation, in an actual cup type vending machine, space saving is required. To achieve the X direction (horizontal direction)
And a cup transport device that freely transports the cup holding device 7 in the Y direction (depth direction).

The stirring device 9 stirs the beverage, which is received by the cup carried by the cup holding device 7, and which is made up of the raw material and the diluent, by rotating the stirring blade 9A.

FIG. 2 shows an agitator 9 of the present invention, which includes an agitating blade 9A for agitating a beverage containing a raw material and a diluent in a cup, and an agitating motor 91 for rotationally driving the agitating blade 9A.
(1st drive part), the stirring blade 9A is attached to the lower end, and the stirring motor 91 is attached to the upper end, and the rotating shaft 92 which transmits the rotational force of the stirring motor 91 to the stirring blade 9A and the stirring blade 9A.
An ultrasonic generator 92a for generating ultrasonic waves for oscillating and cleaning, a stirring motor 91 and an ultrasonic generator 92a.
An elevating base 93 to which is attached, and a rack 94 is provided on the elevating base 93. A plurality of guide shafts 96 for guiding the lifting and lowering of the lifting base 93 are provided in the case 95 so as to penetrate through the guide holes 93a provided in the lifting base 93, and the lifting motor 97 (second driving unit) attached to the case 95. ) The spur gear 98 attached to the output shaft of the rotation speed converting portion 97a for converting the rotation speed of (1) meshes with the rack 94 attached to the elevating base 93.

The stirring blade 9A is shaped so that the liquid (beverage) is diffused and flows downward by rotating clockwise (with respect to FIG. 2). Regarding the stirring blade, Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-0396 filed by the present applicant.
41 for details. Further, when rotated counterclockwise (with respect to FIG. 2), the liquid flows upward, and when the rotation speed of the stirring blade 9A is increased, the liquid can be vigorously ejected upward from the stirring blade 9A.

Below the case 95, a cup cover 99 for covering the cup opening is attached, and the cup cover 9
9 is provided with a hot water supply nozzle 52 (diluting liquid supply nozzle) for supplying the hot water stored in the hot water tank 5 through a hot water supply pipe 51, and the hot water supplied from the hot water supply nozzle 52 is rotated by a rotary shaft 92.
It flows down and is supplied to the cup.

When a signal is output from a sales control unit (not shown), the spur gear 98 is rotated to the right (as viewed from the right direction in FIG. 2) by the control rotation of the lifting motor 97, and the rack meshed with the spur gear 98. 94 descends and guide shaft 9
The stirring blade 9A descends along with the elevating base 93. Further, when the spur gear 98 is rotated counterclockwise (as viewed from the right direction in FIG. 2), the stirring blade 9A moves up. Stirring blade 9A
Is rotated by the control rotation of the stirring motor 91 to stir and cook the beverage consisting of the raw material and the diluting liquid in the cup.

The cup holding device 7 includes the cup supply device 1
A cup tray 7A for supporting the cups supplied from
A cup gripping arm 7B for gripping a side surface of the cup supported by the cup tray 7A, and the cup tray 7A raises the cup by a cup tray moving mechanism (not shown) so that the cup opening portion enters the inside of the cup cover 99. You can Further, when discarding the held cup, the cup holding device 7 tilts the tip of the cup tray 7A downward (in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 2), opens the cup gripping arm 7B, and opens the cup. Drop and discard.

FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of the cup-type vending machine according to the present invention, which is provided on a front panel (not shown) of the cup-type vending machine and is used for selecting a type of cup beverage. Button 80 and washing button 85 for instructing washing of the stirring device 9 provided inside the cup-type vending machine
, A sales control unit 100 (control means) that controls each operation of the cup type vending machine, a cup supply device 1 that receives a signal from the sales control unit 100 to supply a cup, and a hot water tank that supplies hot water. 5, a cup holding device 7 for holding the cup, and a cup carrying device 8 for carrying the cup holding device 7.
And a stirring device 9 for stirring the liquid supplied to the cup,
The cup-type vending machine has a memory 102 that stores control data of each unit, and a timer 103 that counts and counts clocks generated by a reference clock generation unit (not shown). The memory 102 stores control data for each operation of the cup-type vending machine, and the sales control unit 100 stores the memory 1
Based on the control data stored in 02, for example, the cup transport device 8 is controlled to transport the cup to each position for cooking a cup beverage, and the raw material and the diluent supplied to the cup by the stirring device 9 are supplied. Stir. In the timer 103, when the beverage selection button 80 is selected, the selection signal is the sales control unit 100.
When it is output to, the sales controller 100 is reset in response to the instruction and counts each for cooking the cup beverage.

With the configuration of the cup-type vending machine according to the above-described embodiment, for example, in order to cook and sell hot coffee, when a drink purchaser inputs money and the drink selection button 80 of hot coffee is pressed. , Sales control unit 1
00 outputs a signal for supplying, carrying, and stirring the cup, the raw material, and the diluting liquid which are set corresponding to the display of the beverage selection button 80. When the sales control unit 100 outputs a signal, the cup transport device 8 transports the cup holding device 7 from the standby position to below the cup supply device 1 to supply the cup. When the cup supplied from the cup supply device 1 is held by the cup tray 7A and the cup gripping arm 7B of the cup holding device 7, the cup is appropriately conveyed by the cup conveying device 8, and is conveyed below the powder raw material supplying device 2. It receives the supply of cream, coffee, and sugar and is conveyed below the stirrer 9. When the cup holding device 7 is conveyed below the stirring device 9, the cup tray 7A moves up and the cup opening enters the inside of the cup cover 99, so that the hot water stored in the hot water tank 5 is passed through the hot water supply pipe 51. When it is supplied from the hot water supply nozzle 52 and the stirring blade 9A is lowered and rotated clockwise (with respect to FIG. 2), the rotation of the stirring blade 9A causes the beverage raw material and hot water to diffuse downward to flow, and cream, Coffee, sugar and hot water are stirred to make hot coffee. When the cup of hot coffee that has been cooked is transported to the sales outlet and placed, it is received by the beverage purchaser.

The structure of the cup-type vending machine for supplying the raw material and the diluting liquid such as hot water or water to the cup and stirring and cooking the cup beverage with the stirring device has been described above. The control for cleaning the stirring blade 9A and the cup cover 99 of the cup stirring device 9 to which the cup type automatic vending machine of the invention is applied will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

In order to wash the stirring blade 9A of the cup stirring device 9 and the cup cover 99 in the cup type vending machine with the above-mentioned configuration of the cup type vending machine, when the washing button 85 is pressed, the sales control section 100 is pressed. First outputs a signal to feed and carry the cup. Sales control unit 1
When 00 outputs a signal, the cup transport device 8 transports the cup holding device 7 from the standby position to below the cup supply device 1, and the cup supply device 1 supplies the cup. The cup supplied by the cup supply device 1 is held by the cup tray 7A and the cup holding arm 7B of the cup holding device 7. next,
The cup carrying device 8 carries the cup held by the cup holding device 7 to the position of the stirring device 9 and stops. Then, the cup tray 7A is raised so that the cup opening portion enters the inside of the cup cover 99. Furthermore, the hot water supply nozzle 52
The hot water in the hot water tank 5 is supplied from the hot water tank 5 so that the cup is full, and the stirring blade 9A is lowered and rotated below the water surface as shown in FIG.
Hot water is spouted upward from the cup cover 99.
Clean the inner surface of the.

Next, as shown in FIG. 5, when the stirring blade 9A is rotated and lowered, the rotating shaft 92 is washed with the hot water in the cup. At this time, if the stirring blade 9A is rotated in the counterclockwise direction and the cleaning direction is changed in the clockwise direction, the flow of the hot water changes in the vertical direction, so that the cleaning effect can be further enhanced. Further, when the stirring blade 9A is repeatedly raised and lowered in hot water while changing the rotation direction of the stirring blade 9A counterclockwise and clockwise, the stirring with the inner surface of the cup cover 99 is performed as shown in FIG. While cleaning the blade 9A, as shown in FIG. 5, the stirring blade 9A and the rotating shaft 92
Since it can be washed, it is possible to efficiently enhance the washing effect. After performing this cleaning operation,
The cleaning effect can be further enhanced by performing the cleaning operation again after a lapse of a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds).

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, a stirring blade 9A
While being raised from the surface of the hot water and rotated in the cup cover 99, the hot water stored in the hot water tank 5 is supplied from the hot water supply nozzle 52 through the hot water supply pipe 51 so as to hit the stirring blade 9A. The hot water supplied to the rotating stirring blade 9A hits the stirring blade 9A and is scattered in all directions, and the hot water adhered to the surface of the stirring blade 9A is also scattered by the centrifugal force of the rotation of the stirring blade 9A to form a cup cover. The inner surface of 99 is washed.
Furthermore, since the hot water directly hits the rotating stirring blade 9A, the stirring blade 9A can be washed. Further, when the stirring blade 9A is rotated in the counterclockwise direction and then in the clockwise direction a plurality of times to perform the cleaning, the direction in which the hot water is scattered changes between the upward direction and the downward direction, so that the cleaning effect can be further enhanced. In addition, after performing this cleaning operation, a predetermined time (for example, 30
After the elapse of (seconds), the cleaning effect is further enhanced by performing the cleaning operation again.

Although the embodiment using hot water for cleaning has been described, the present invention may use water for cleaning. However, by using hot water for washing, the washing effect is enhanced and the sterilizing effect is obtained. Further, since the stirring blade 9A, the rotating shaft 92, and the cup cover 99 can be quickly dried, the hot water is used for washing. It is preferably used hygienically.

Further, the cleaning operation has been described in the embodiment in which the cleaning button 85 for instructing the cleaning is pressed, but the cleaning operation is controlled by the sales control unit 100 based on the cleaning time stored in the memory 102 in advance. May be performed.

Furthermore, when the stirring blade 9A is rotated to stir and cook the beverage, and when the beverage is washed, ultrasonic waves are generated by the ultrasonic generator 92a and transmitted to the stirring blade 9A via the rotating shaft 92. By vibrating the stirring blade 9A with ultrasonic waves, the effect of mixing the raw material and the diluting liquid is enhanced when cooking the beverage, and the cleaning effect of the stirring blade 9A and the rotary shaft 92 is further enhanced when cleaning the beverage. You can

For the cup used for cleaning, the tip of the cup tray 7A of the cup holding device 7 is tilted downward (the direction of the arrow in FIG. 2), and the cup gripping arm 7B is opened to open the cup and the waste cup storage device. Discard to 10.

In the above embodiment, when discarding the cup used for cleaning, the tip of the cup tray 7A of the cup holding device 7 is tilted downward (the direction of the arrow in FIG. 2) and the cup gripping arm 7B is opened. The cup disposal method of opening and discarding the cup was used, but not limited thereto.
That is, as the cup discarding method, any method capable of discarding the cup used for cleaning may be used. For example, a cup discarding plate is inserted between the cup holding device 7 and the cup, and the cup gripping arm 7B is opened to open the cup. It is also possible to use a cup discarding method in which the cup holding device 7 is moved and the cup is dropped from the cup tray 7A by the cup discarding plate while the above is opened.

As described above, the stirring blade 9 for stirring the beverage composed of the raw material and the diluent supplied to the cup.
In a cup type vending machine equipped with A, stirring blade 9A
A stirring device 9 having a stirring motor 91 for rotating the hot water, a hot water tank 5 for supplying hot water, and a hot water tank 5 for supplying hot water to the cup based on an instruction for cleaning the stirring blade 9A, and
The stirring device 9 is provided with a sales control unit 100 that controls the stirring blade 9A so that the stirring blade 9A is immersed in the hot water in the cup and is rotated, so that the stirring blade 9A and the like can be easily washed. It becomes possible to provide a vending machine.

The sales control unit 100 can further enhance the cleaning effect by performing the cleaning operation in which the stirring device 9 soaks the stirring blade 9A in the hot water in the cup and rotates it after a certain period of time. Become.

The stirring device 9 has an elevating motor 97 for moving the stirring blade 9A in the vertical direction, the hot water tank 5 has a hot water supply nozzle 52, and the sales control unit 100 causes the stirring device 9 to stir the hot water in the cup. The blade 9A is controlled so as to descend and soak and rotate, and then the stirring blade 9A is raised and rotated from the hot water in the cup, and the hot water tank 5 directly discharges the hot water from the hot water supply nozzle 52 to the stirring blade 9A. By controlling in this way, the stirring blade 9A can be washed with the hot water newly supplied.

The stirring device 9 has an elevating motor 97 for moving the stirring blade 9A in the vertical direction, the hot water tank 5 has a hot water supply nozzle 52, and the sales control unit 100 tells the stirring device 9 to stir the hot water in the cup. The inner surface of the cup cover 99, the stirring blade 9A, and the rotating shaft 92 are cleaned by controlling the blade 9A so that at least one of the rotating direction and the vertical moving direction of the stirring blade 9A is changed while the blade 9A is being submerged. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently enhance the cleaning effect.

When the beverage is cooked or the stirring blade 9A is washed, by providing the stirring blade 9A located above the diluted liquid level in the cup and the cup cover 99 for covering the opening of the cup. It is possible to prevent the scattering of beverages and hot water.

The sales control unit 100 controls the stirring device 9 so that the stirring blade 9A is lowered into the hot water in the cup and rotated, and then the stirring blade 9A is lifted from the hot water in the cup and rotated. By controlling the hot water tank 5 to directly discharge the hot water from the hot water supply nozzle 52 to the stirring blade 9A, the inner surface of the cup cover 99 can be washed.

By providing the stirring device 9 with the ultrasonic generator 92a for vibrating the stirring blade 9A, the mixing effect of the raw material and the diluting liquid is enhanced when the beverage is cooked, and the stirring blade is washed when the beverage is washed. It is possible to further enhance the cleaning effect on 9A and the rotating shaft 92.

Since the diluting liquid is hot water, the cleaning effect is enhanced and the sterilizing effect is exerted. Further, the stirring blade 9A is used.
The rotary shaft 92 and the cup cover 99 can be dried quickly.

[0042]

According to the present invention, a cup-type vending machine for supplying a raw material and a diluting solution such as hot water or water to a cup and inserting and rotating a stirring blade of a stirring device to cook a beverage is provided. It is possible to provide a cup-type vending machine that can easily wash stirring blades and the like.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

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

FIG. 3 is a control block diagram to which the cup type vending machine of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a cleaning operation of an embodiment to which the cup type vending machine of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a cleaning operation of an embodiment to which the cup type vending machine of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a cleaning operation of an embodiment to which the cup type vending machine of the present invention is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 cup feeder 2 Powder raw material supply device 3 Liquid raw material supply device 4 Dilution water supply device 5 hot water tank 6 ice machine 7 cup holder 8 cup carrier 9 Stirrer 9A stirring blade 10 Waste cup storage device 52 Hot water supply nozzle 80 Beverage selection button 85 Wash button 92a Ultrasonic generator 100 Sales Control Department

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) B67D 3/00 B67D 3/00 Z 4G078 A23L 2/00 X (72) Inventor Osamu Inoue Asakusabashi, Taito-ku, Tokyo 5-20-8 Sanyo Denki Vending Machine Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 3E047 EA04 GA06 3E082 AA01 BB04 CC04 CC10 DD20 FF01 FF05 4B017 LP18 LT02 4B053 AA01 BA14 BB01 BL03 4G037 DA14 EA04 4G078 AA17 AB09 BA05 DB08 DB08 DB08

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A cup-type vending machine equipped with a stirring blade for stirring a beverage composed of a raw material supplied to a cup and a diluent, and a stirring device having a first drive part for rotating the stirring blade, Based on a diluting liquid supply device that supplies the diluting liquid and an instruction to wash the stirring blade, the diluting liquid supply device supplies the diluting liquid to the cup, and the agitating device supplies the diluting liquid in the cup. A cup-type vending machine, further comprising: a control unit that controls so that the stirring blade is soaked in water and rotated. 2. The control means re-executes a cleaning operation in which the stirring device causes the diluting liquid in the cup to be immersed in the stirring blade for rotation and then rotated, after a lapse of a predetermined time. Cup type vending machine. 3. The stirrer has a second drive part for moving the stirrer blades in the vertical direction, the diluent supply device has a diluent supply nozzle, and the control means has the stirring device as the The diluting liquid in the cup is controlled so that the diluting liquid in the cup descends and is rotated, and then the diluting liquid in the cup is raised and rotated. 3. The cup-type vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the diluting liquid is directly discharged from the diluting liquid supply nozzle. 4. The stirring device has a second drive unit for moving the stirring blade in the vertical direction, and the control means causes the stirring device to dip the diluting liquid in the cup into the descending water. 4. The cup-type vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the stirring blade is controlled so as to change at least one of the rotation direction and the vertical movement direction of the stirring blade in the state. 5. A cup cover for covering the stirring blade located above the dilution liquid level in the cup and the opening of the cup, according to any one of claims 1 to 4. Cup-type vending machine described. 6. The control means causes the stirring device to raise the stirring blade from the diluting liquid in the cup and rotate the diluting liquid in the cup after rotating the dipping liquid. 6. The cup cover is cleaned by controlling so that the diluting liquid supply device directly discharges the diluting liquid from the diluting liquid supply nozzle to the stirring blade. Cup-type vending machine described. 7. The cup-type vending machine according to claim 1, wherein an ultrasonic wave generator for vibrating the stirring blade is provided in the stirring device. 8. The cup-type vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the diluent is hot water.