JP2003132422A - Beverage providing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a beverage providing device capable of shortening the time required for a beverage providing operating even concerning the kind of beverage with a large quantity of raw materials necessary for single beverage provision. SOLUTION: The kind of raw materials in which the time required for the feeding of prescribed amounts of raw materials necessary for a single beverage service from a raw materials supplying means 44 is longer than the time required for the movement of the cup holding part of a carrying means 28 from a fixed position to a raw material receiving position is set as an object to be preferentially fed. As for the kind of raw materials to be preferentially fed, the raw materials are fed from a raw material supplying means 44 and held by a raw material holding means 51 before the next beverage service operation. When the cup holding part is moved to the raw material supplying position in the beverage service operation, the raw materials held by the raw material holding means 51 are immediately supplied to a cup. Thus, the time required for the beverage service operation can be shortened even concerning the kind of beverage with the large quantity of raw materials necessary for a single service operation.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a beverage providing device for providing a beverage in a cup.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a beverage providing device, there is a cup type beverage vending machine that provides and sells beverages in cups. In this cup type beverage vending machine, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-99554 is disclosed. As described, a configuration that employs a cup transport system is known.

In such a cup type beverage vending machine,
A sales outlet for taking out a cup containing a beverage is arranged on the front surface of the machine body, and a cup holding portion for holding the cup in the machine body,
Conveying means for moving the cup holding part in the front and rear direction and left and right direction in the body, cup supplying means for supplying the cup, storing the beverage ingredients for each type, and supplying a predetermined amount of the ingredients corresponding to one beverage provision. A plurality of raw material supply means for sending out, hot water supply means for supplying hot water or cold water, and the like are housed.

Generally, the cup holder is on standby at the position of the cup station or the cup supply position inside the selling port, and when the user inserts coins to select a drink, first, the cup holder is held. Part receives the cup supplied from the cup supply means at the cup supply position, then the cup holding part moves to the raw material supply position corresponding to the selected beverage, and the raw material supplied from the raw material supply means into the cup. Then, the cup holder moves to the cup station via the hot water supply position, or directly to the cup station if the hot water supply position is at the cup station, and the hot or cold water supplied from the hot water supply means is received. Into the cup, mix the ingredients with hot water or cold water in the cup with stirring to prepare a beverage, and take out the cup with the beverage from the sales outlet. It has to.

However, at the time of the beverage providing operation, when the cup holder moving after receiving the cup at the cup supply position reaches the raw material supply position, the raw material supply means starts to deliver the raw material, so that the cup holder is There is a problem that it is necessary to wait until the delivery of the raw material is completed, that is, it takes a long time to receive the raw material in the cup during the beverage providing operation, and it is not possible to immediately shift to the next step of the beverage providing operation, resulting in a long sales time. .

[0006] Therefore, there is a configuration in which a raw material holding means for receiving and holding the raw material sent from the raw material feeding means for each raw material feeding means and using the raw material holding means capable of collectively discharging the held raw material to the beverage supply position. In this case, at the start of the beverage providing operation, the delivery of the raw material from the raw material supply means for accommodating the selected type of raw material is started immediately and is held in the raw material holding means to receive the cup at the cup supply position. When the cup holder that moves after reaching the raw material supply position reaches the raw material supply position, the raw material held in the raw material holding means can be collectively discharged into the cup and supplied into the cup. The time can be shortened, the next step of the beverage providing operation can be immediately started, and the selling time can be shortened.

[0007]

However, in the case of using the raw material holding means, for a beverage type that requires a small amount of raw material for one serving of the beverage, the raw material is stored at the time when the cup holder reaches the raw material supply position. The batch discharge from the ingredient holding means is possible immediately after completion of the delivery of the beverages. However, for beverage types such as cocoa that require a large amount of ingredients to serve one beverage at the start of the beverage serving operation. Even when the delivery of the raw material from the beverage providing means is started, the delivery of the raw material may not be completed yet at the time when the cup holding part reaches the raw material supply position, and the cup holding part keeps the completion of the delivery of the raw material. You have to wait, that is, the process of receiving the ingredients in the cup during the beverage serving operation takes time,
There is a problem that it takes a long time to sell because the next step of the beverage providing operation cannot be immediately performed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a beverage providing apparatus capable of shortening the time required for a beverage providing operation even for a beverage type in which a large amount of raw material is required to provide one beverage. The purpose is to provide.

[0009]

A beverage providing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a cup holding portion for holding the cup, wherein the cup holding portion is provided when the raw material of the beverage is received in the cup during the beverage providing operation. Conveying means for conveying the raw material of the beverage from the fixed position to the cup, and a plurality of raw materials for accommodating the raw material of the beverage for each type and delivering a predetermined amount of the raw material corresponding to one serving of the beverage. A feed means, a raw material holding means for receiving and holding the raw material sent from the raw material feeding means, and discharging the reserved raw material into the cup while the cup holding portion has reached the raw material feeding position by the carrying means; When the time required to deliver the predetermined amount of the raw material required for providing the beverage once from the raw material supply means is required for the cup holding part of the conveying means to move from the fixed position to the raw material receiving position. Setting means that sets the longer raw material type to the first-out target, and sets the shorter raw material type to the non-first-out target, and the next beverage provision for the raw material type set to the first-out target by this setting means It is provided with a control means for sending the raw material from the raw material supply means in advance before the operation, and for the raw material type set as the non-advanced object, sending the raw material from the raw material supply means at the next beverage providing operation. is there.

In this structure, the time required to deliver the predetermined amount of the raw material required for providing the beverage once from the raw material supply means is such that the cup holding part of the conveying means moves from the fixed position to the raw material receiving position. Raw material types that are longer than the required time are set as first-out targets, and the raw material types set as first-out targets are sent out from the raw material supply means in advance and held in the raw material holding means before the next beverage serving operation. Therefore, when the cup holding portion reaches the raw material supply position, the raw material held in the raw material holding means can be immediately discharged into the cup, and the kind of beverage that requires a large amount of raw material for one serving of beverage Also, the time required for the beverage providing operation is shortened.

A beverage providing apparatus according to a second aspect is the first aspect.
In the beverage providing apparatus described above, the control means moves the cup holding part of the conveying means from the fixed position to the raw material receiving position with respect to the raw material type of the advance target, from a predetermined amount of the raw material required for one serving of the beverage. The minimum amount of the raw material less the amount that can be delivered within the time required for is delivered from the raw material supply means in advance before the next beverage providing operation, and the remaining amount required for one beverage provision during the next beverage providing operation. The amount of the raw material is additionally delivered from the raw material supply means.

[0012] With this configuration, it is necessary for the cup holding portion of the conveying means to move from the fixed position to the raw material receiving position with respect to the type of raw material to be first served, from the predetermined amount of raw material required for one serving of beverage. The minimum amount of raw material less the amount that can be delivered within the time is sent out from the raw material supply means in advance before the next beverage providing operation, and the remaining amount required for one beverage provision at the time of the next beverage providing operation. Since the raw material is additionally delivered from the raw material supply means, the influence of the moisture of the raw material which is stored in the raw material storage means in advance can be minimized.

A beverage providing device according to a third aspect of the present invention is the beverage providing device according to the first aspect.
Alternatively, in the beverage providing apparatus according to the item 2, there is provided schedule means for setting a schedule for prohibiting the advance delivery to be sent from the raw material supply means in advance before the next beverage providing operation, with respect to the raw material type of the advance delivery target, and the control means With respect to the type of raw material to be released, based on the schedule means,
Prior to the next beverage providing operation, advance delivery to be delivered from the raw material supply means is permitted and prohibited.

In this configuration, the raw material supply is performed in advance before the next beverage providing operation based on the schedule set in consideration of the type of raw material to be served in advance, for example, the night hours and holidays of the office. Since the first-out delivery to be sent from the means is prohibited, the raw material is prevented from being held in the raw material holding means for a long time, and the influence of moisture or the like on the raw material due to being held in the raw material holding means in advance is prevented. .

A beverage providing apparatus according to a fourth aspect is the beverage providing apparatus according to the first aspect.
3. The beverage providing device according to any one of 3 to 3, further comprising provision frequency determining means for determining the provision frequency from the number of servings per predetermined time immediately before regarding the raw material type to be first served, and the control means is the raw material type to be first served. With regard to the above, when the providing frequency determining means determines that the providing frequency is less than or equal to a predetermined value, the first-out delivery to be delivered from the raw material supplying means in advance before the next beverage providing operation is prohibited.

[0016] In this configuration, when the serving frequency of the raw material type to be first served is less than or equal to the predetermined number based on the number of servings per predetermined time immediately before, the raw material feeding means sends the raw material in advance before the next beverage providing operation. Since the first-out is prohibited, it is possible to prevent the raw material from being held in the raw material holding means for a long time, and to prevent the influence of moisture or the like on the raw material due to holding the raw material in the raw material holding means in advance.

The beverage providing device according to claim 5 is the same as that according to claim 4.
In the beverage providing apparatus described, the control means causes the raw material holding means to discharge the raw material reserved when the provision frequency determination means determines that the provision frequency is less than or equal to a predetermined value with respect to the raw material type of the first-out target. Is.

With this configuration, when it is determined that the supply frequency is less than or equal to a predetermined value for the type of raw material to be first-out, the raw material held in the raw material holding means is discharged and discarded. It is possible to prevent the raw material from being affected by moisture and the like when it is held.

[0019]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the beverage providing device, FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a state where the cup holding portion of the beverage providing device is located at the cup station, and FIG. 3 is a cup holding portion of the beverage providing device at the cup supply position. Schematic plan view of the position,
4 is a schematic front view of the beverage providing device, FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of the beverage providing device, FIG. 6 is a front view of the beverage providing device, FIG. 7 is a side view of a raw material holding means and a cup holding portion of the beverage providing device, FIG. 8 is a flow chart for explaining the control operation by the control means regarding the step of receiving the raw material in the cup in the beverage providing operation of the beverage providing apparatus.

2 to 7, the beverage providing device is a cup-type beverage vending machine that provides and sells a beverage in a cup C, and has a machine body 11, and the machine body 11 has a front opening. A main body 12 and a door body 13 that opens and closes the front surface of the main body 12 are provided.

A sales port 16 is formed in the door body 13 substantially in the center thereof, and a cup station 17 is disposed inside the sales port 16. A sales opening door 18 that can close the sales opening 16 is attached to the sales opening 16 so as to be openable and closable.
The door 18 is automatically opened / closed by a door opening / closing means (not shown), and is locked and unlocked by a locking means (not shown) in a closed state.

A plurality of beverage type display sections 19 for displaying the types of beverages to be sold are provided in the upper area of the door body 13, and a selection button 20 is provided for each of these beverage type display sections 19. In addition,
Depending on the type of beverage, a plurality of selection buttons for selecting detailed types such as coffee black, sugar-containing, cream-containing, sugar-cream containing, ice presence / absence, cup size etc. Twenty are arranged.

A coin insertion slot 21, a bill insertion slot 22, a coin return slot 23, a return lever 24, and the like are arranged in the right side area of the door body 13, and behind these are identification and counting and return of bills and coins. A money handling device (not shown) for paying out the change is provided.

Further, in the machine body 11, a cup station
Behind 17 is provided a cup holding means 27 for holding the cup C by a conveying means 28.

The cup holding means 27 has a body portion 29 and a cup holding portion 30 protruding from the side surface of the body portion 29,
The cup C is placed and held on the cup holder 30. The cup holding part 30 can be moved up and down by an elevating mechanism (not shown) incorporated in the main body part 29.
A pair of flaps (not shown) are provided on the upper side of the cup holding portion 30 from the main body portion 29, and the pair of flaps are opened and closed by a flap drive mechanism provided in the main body portion 29, and the cup is closed in a closed state. The cup C is held by sandwiching it from both sides, and the cup C can be taken out in the open state.

The cup holding means 27 has a turning means 31,
It is mounted on the conveying means 28 via the rotating means 31.
The rotation means 31 is a rotation center point that is substantially the center of the main body 29.
The entire cup holding means 27 is rotated about a center 32 in a substantially horizontal plane. The cup holding portion 30 is directed to the first rotation position and the cup holding portion 30 is located on the right side from the first rotation position. It is turnable between a second turning position that turns 90 degrees toward one side.

The conveying means 28 has a guide rail 33 arranged in the front-rear direction of the machine body 11, and a cup holding means 27 is mounted on a slider 34 sliding along the guide rail 33 via a rotating means 31. It is installed. The slider 34 is reciprocally moved along the guide rail 33 by a drive mechanism (not shown). The transport means 28 includes a rotating means 31 for rotating the cup holding part 30 to move the cup holding part 30 to each required position.

The cup holding portion of the cup holding means 27
The movement path of the center of the cup holding portion 30 when the 30 moves in the front-rear direction at the first rotation position facing forward is the first imaginary line 35.
And the cup holder 30 is moved in the front-rear direction at the second rotation position in which the cup holder 30 is rotated 90 ° to the right.
The movement locus of the center of 30 is configured as a second virtual line 36, and the first virtual line 35 and the second virtual line 36 are parallel to each other. Further, a range in which the cup holding part 30 is movable between the first virtual line 35 and the second virtual line 36 is configured as a cup holding part moving area 37.

Further, at a position near the cup station 17, a cup supply means 40 for supplying the cup C on the second virtual line 36 is arranged. In this cup supply means 40, for example, two different sizes of cups C are stored,
One cup C of each size is thrown downward one by one from two ejection mechanism parts 41 arranged on the second imaginary line 36, and each cup C of each size is placed on each second imaginary line 36. It is supplied to the supply position.

Further, a plurality of raw material supply means 44 for supplying the raw material of the beverage are arranged in the front-rear direction on the first virtual line 35, and a plurality of similar raw material supply means on the second virtual line 36.
44 are arranged behind the cup supply means 40 in the front-rear direction. Each of these raw material supply means 44 stores, for example, powdered raw materials of beverages such as instant coffee, green tea, black tea, cocoa, sugar and milk for each type,
A raw material container 45 that stores the raw material, a delivery mechanism unit 46 that delivers the raw material from the bottom of the raw material container 45, a drive unit 47 that drives the delivery mechanism unit 46, and a raw material that is delivered by the delivery mechanism unit 46 It has a raw material chute 48 leading to.

Further, the raw material chute 48 of each raw material supply means 44
At the tip of each of the raw material supply means 44, the raw material sent from each raw material supply means 44 is received and stored, and the reserved raw material is stored in the first virtual line 35
A raw material holding means 51 for collectively discharging the raw material is arranged at each raw material supply position on the second virtual line 36. Regarding the types of raw materials to be supplied together, such as sugar and cream of coffee, one raw material holding means 51 is arranged in common to each raw material chute 48.

The raw material holding means 51 has a holding chute 52 for receiving the raw material sent from the raw material supply means 44 through a raw material chute 48. The holding chute 52 is formed in a vertically penetrating cylindrical shape, and a shutter 53 is arranged therein so as to be openable and closable around a shutter shaft 54 as a fulcrum. The shutter 53 is normally biased in a closing direction by a spring (not shown). Are kept closed. A shutter lever 55 is attached to one end of the shutter shaft 54.

The holding chute 52 is supported by a supporting portion 56, and a rod 57 is slidably arranged in the supporting portion 56 so as to be slidable in the vertical direction.
It is supported by both ends of a support frame 58 having a substantially U-shaped cross section, which is attached to a fixed portion on the side. The support frame 58 includes
A shutter opening portion 59 that opens the shutter 53 by contacting the shutter lever 55 when the holding chute 52 and the support portion 56 move downward along the rod 57 is attached.

A retaining chute is provided on the outer surface of the support frame 58.
A drive unit 60 is attached that lowers or raises 52 to open or close the shutter 53. This drive 60
Has a motor 61, the drive force from the motor 61 is transmitted to a drive shaft 62 that enters the support frame 58, a pinion 63 is fixed to the drive shaft 62, and a rack 64 that meshes with the pinion 63 is formed. It is formed on the side surface of the support portion 56 along the vertical direction. Therefore, the pinion 63 is rotated by the drive of the motor 61, and the retaining chute 52 is vertically moved integrally with the support portion 56 through the meshing of the pinion 63 and the rack 64.

Although not shown in the machine body 11, hot water supply means for supplying hot water, cold water supply means for supplying cold water to the inside of the cup C conveyed to the cup station 17,
An ice supply means for supplying ice and a stirring means for stirring the contents in the cup C to prepare a beverage are arranged.

Further, a drain pan for collecting the spilled raw material and water, drain water generated in the machine body, etc. is provided in the lower area of each raw material supply means 44, the lower area of the cup holding section 30, and the lower area of the cup station 17. 67 is arranged, and a drain container 68 for collecting the drain water collected in the drain pan 67 is arranged below the drain pan 67.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, it has a control means 71 for controlling the cup type vending machine, and the control means 71 has a setting means 72, a scheduling means 73, a supply frequency judging means 74, and a conveying means. 28, cup supply means 40, raw material supply means 4
4, and the raw material holding means 51 are connected.

As shown in Table 1 below, the setting means 72 holds the cup in which the time t required to deliver the predetermined amount of the raw material required for providing the beverage once from the raw material supply means 44 is in a fixed position. The part 30 compares the time T required to move from the cup C to the raw material receiving position after receiving the cup C from the cup supply means 40. For example, regarding the raw material type B having a long time T such as cocoa, While setting it as an output target,
The raw material types A and C having a short time T are set as non-advanced targets. These settings can be manually set arbitrarily and can be automatically set based on the relationship between time t and time T as a function of the control means 71. The fixed position of the cup holder 30 is the position of the cup station 17 or the cup supply position, but in this embodiment it is the cup supply position.

[0040]

[Table 1]

Then, the control means 71 causes the raw material supply means 44 to deliver the raw material in advance for the raw material type set by the setting means 72 as the first-out target and sets it as the non-first-out target. With respect to the kind of the raw material thus obtained, it has a function of sending the raw material from the raw material supply means 44 at the next beverage providing operation. Furthermore, regarding the type of raw material targeted for the advance,
The minimum amount of the raw material is subtracted from the predetermined amount of the raw material required for serving the beverage once, and the amount that can be delivered within the time T required for the cup holder 30 to move from the fixed position to the raw material receiving position. It has a function of sending out from the raw material supply means 44 in advance before the beverage providing operation, and additionally sending out the remaining amount of raw material required for one beverage supply from the raw material supply means 44 at the time of the next beverage providing operation. .

Further, the schedule means 73 sets and stores a schedule for prohibiting the first-out delivery to be sent out from the raw-material supply means 44 in advance before the next beverage providing operation with respect to the first-out target raw material type. This schedule is, for example,
When a cup-type beverage vending machine is installed in a business office, etc., it shall be the time zone from 9:00 pm to 7:00 am on weekdays when there are no users, and on holidays such as Sundays and holidays.
The scheduling means 73 can also be provided as a function of the control means 71.

Based on the schedule means 73, the control means 71 permits and prohibits the advance delivery to be sent out from the raw material supply means 44 in advance before the next beverage providing operation based on the schedule means 73.

Further, the supply frequency judging means 74 judges the supply frequency, that is, the sales frequency, from the number of times of supply per predetermined time immediately before regarding the kind of raw material to be served, for example, even once before 6 hours. If there is no sale, it is determined that the sale frequency is less than or equal to a predetermined frequency. It should be noted that the reference value for determining that the sales frequency is less than or equal to a predetermined value can be arbitrarily set according to the type of raw material.

Then, when the provision frequency determining means 74 determines that the provision frequency is less than or equal to the predetermined value with respect to the type of raw material to be served, the control means 71 preliminarily supplies the raw material supply means 44 before the next beverage providing operation. It has the function of prohibiting the first-out sending. Furthermore, regarding the type of raw material subject to advance,
The supply frequency determining means 74 has a function of causing the raw material holding means 51 to discharge the raw material when the supply frequency is determined to be less than or equal to a predetermined value.

Further, a timer means (not shown) for setting a schedule and judging the providing frequency is provided.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

First, the overall selling operation of the cup type beverage vending machine will be described.

During the stand-by for sale, the cup holding portion 30 of the cup holding means 27 is rotated 90 ° to the right and positioned on the second virtual line 36, and at the cup feeding position from the cup feeding means 40. ing.

Then, by the user inserting coins and pressing the selection button 20 to select the type of beverage,
One cup C is discharged from the cup supply means 40 to the cup supply position, and the cup holding section 30 receives and holds this cup C.

When the cup C is received by the cup holding part 30, the cup holding means 27 is moved by the carrying means 28 and the rotating means 31 so that the cup holding part 30 is located at the raw material supply position of the selected type.

At this time, when the raw material is supplied from the raw material supply means 44 having the raw material supply position on the second virtual line 36,
The cup holding means 27 is moved backward by the conveying means 28,
That is, the cup holder 30 moves rearward along the second imaginary line 36, stops at the corresponding raw material supply position, and has already been delivered from the raw material supply means 44 and stored in the raw material holding means 51. In a cup C. On the other hand, when the raw material is supplied from the raw material supply means 44 having the raw material supply position on the first imaginary line 35, the turning means 31 moves the cup holding portion 30 of the cup holding means 27 to the left so that the cup holding portion 30 faces forward. 90
While rotating, the cup holding portion 30 is further moved by the carrying means 28 toward the corresponding raw material supply position. That is, the cup holding unit 30 moves on the first imaginary line 35 and stops at the corresponding raw material supply position, and the raw material already delivered from the raw material supply means 44 and stored in the raw material holding means 51 is stored in the cup C. Accept to.

For example, in the case of a beverage prepared by mixing coffee, sugar and milk, when accepting the raw materials delivered from a plurality of raw material feeding means 44, the raw material is sequentially moved to the corresponding raw material feeding position and already fed. Each raw material supply means 44
The raw material that has been sent from and stored in the raw material holding means 51 is received in the cup C.

When all the necessary raw materials have been received in the cup C, the cup holding means 27 is moved forward by the carrying means 28, and the cup holding part 30 and the cup C are moved into the cup station 17.

At this time, the cup holder 30 is moved to the first phantom line 35.
When located above, the cup holding means 27 is
And the cup holder 30 moves toward the first phantom line 35.
Move forward along the top and enter the cup station 17. On the other hand, when the cup holding portion 30 is located on the second imaginary line 36, the turning means 31 turns the cup holding portion 30 leftward by 90 ° so as to face forward, and further by the carrying means 28. The cup holding means 27 moves forward, whereby the cup holding portion 30 moves onto the first imaginary line 35 and enters the cup station 17.

In the cup station 17, hot water is supplied from the hot water supply means, cold water is supplied from the cold water supply means, and ice is supplied from the ice supply means to the cup C according to the type of beverage, and the contents in the cup C are supplied by the stirring means. Stir and mix the ingredients to formulate a beverage.

Then, the cup C containing the beverage in the cup station 17 can be taken out through the selling port 16.

Next, the control operation by the control means 71 regarding the step of receiving the raw material in the cup C in the beverage providing operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In the stand-by state of the sale, the raw material is sent from the raw material supply means 44 in advance and is held in the raw material holding means 51 with respect to the kind of raw material to be put out. At this time, the amount of the reserved raw material can be delivered within the time T required for the cup holding unit 30 to move from the cup supply position to the raw material reception position with respect to the predetermined amount of the raw material required for one serving of beverage. It is considered to be the minimum amount after deducting the amount. Further, all the raw material holding means 51 are in a state in which the shutter 53 in the holding chute 52 is closed, and the raw material supply means is preliminarily related to the raw material type of the advance target.
The raw material sent from 44 is the shutter 53 in the holding chute 52.
Reserved on top. On the other hand, the raw material is not delivered from the raw material supply means 44 in advance with respect to the raw material type of the non-first-out target.

When the user inputs money and the selection button 20 is pressed to generate a sales command (step 1), the raw material supply means of the selected type is supplied.
The feed of the raw material from the raw material 44 is started (step 2), and the raw material fed from the raw material supply means 44 is received and reserved in the raw material holding means 51. At this time, regarding the type of the raw material to be first served, the remaining amount of the raw material which is subtracted from the predetermined amount of the raw material required for serving the beverage once and which is already reserved in the raw material retaining means 51 is used. The raw material supply means 44 additionally feeds the raw material, and the raw material supply means 44 feeds a predetermined amount of raw material necessary for one beverage supply.

At the same time as the sales instruction, the cup supply means
Eject cup C from 40 (step 3)
Is received by the cup holder 30, and the cup holder 30 having received the cup C is moved to the raw material supply position for the selected raw material type (step 4).

When the cup holding portion 30 reaches the raw material supply position (step 5), the raw materials held in the raw material holding means 51 are discharged all at once (step 6), and the raw material is supplied into the cup C.

At this time, when the cup holding unit 30 reaches the raw material supply position, regarding the raw material type of the advance target, there are the raw materials previously reserved in the raw material retaining means 51 and the additionally delivered raw materials. A predetermined amount of the raw material required for providing the beverage once has been stored in the raw material storage means 51.
With respect to the raw material types that are not the first-out target, the raw material holding means 51 has completed holding a predetermined amount of raw material required for providing the beverage once. Therefore, when the cup holding unit 30 reaches the raw material supply position, the raw materials held in the raw material holding means 51 can be immediately discharged all at once, and the raw materials can be supplied into the cup C.

When the raw materials collectively discharged from the raw material holding means 51 are received in the cup C, the cup holder 30 moves to execute the next step of the above-mentioned beverage providing operation.

When one beverage providing operation is completed (step 7), if the type of the beverage for which the beverage providing operation has been performed this time is not the type of the raw material to be advanced (step 8), the next beverage providing operation is waited. It becomes a state.

If the kind of raw material is the first-out target, the schedule means 73 confirms whether it is a time zone or a day of the week on which the first-out is prohibited (step 9). If the first beverage is not ready, the next beverage providing operation is in a standby state. On the other hand, if it is not the time period in which the first delivery is prohibited, as described above, the raw material supply means 44 delivers the minimum amount of raw material and the raw material holding means 51. (Step 10), the standby state for the next beverage providing operation is set.

Further, regarding the raw material type of the advance target, the provision frequency judging means 74 monitors whether or not there is a raw material type whose provision frequency is equal to or lower than a predetermined number based on the number of times of provision per a predetermined time immediately before (step 11). For example, if the product has not been offered and sold even once within the past 6 hours, the raw material held in the raw material holding means 51 is discharged to the drain pan 67 (step 12), the first-for-first target setting is cleared, and the non-first-out target is set. Is automatically set (step 13), and the standby state for the next beverage providing operation is set.

As described above, the time t required to deliver the predetermined amount of the raw material required for providing the beverage once from the raw material supply means 44 changes from the cup supply position where the cup holder 30 is in the fixed position to the raw material reception position. The raw material type longer than the time T required to move is set as a first-out target, and the raw material type set as the first-out target is made to be delivered from the raw material supply means 44 in advance before the next beverage providing operation. Raw material holding means
In order to hold the raw material in the cup 51, the raw material held in the raw material holding means 51 can be immediately discharged into the cup C when the cup holding unit 30 reaches the raw material supply position. The time required for the beverage providing operation can be shortened even with respect to many types of beverages.

In addition, regarding the type of raw material to be first served, 1
Transport means 28
The minimum amount of the raw material obtained by subtracting the amount that can be delivered within the time T required to move the cup holding portion 30 from the cup supply position, which is the fixed position, to the raw material receiving position is stored in advance before the next beverage serving operation. The raw material is supplied from the supply means 44, and the remaining amount of the raw material required for providing the beverage once at the time of the next beverage supply operation is additionally sent from the raw material supply means 44. The influence of moisture etc. can be minimized.

Regarding the type of raw material to be served, the raw material is supplied from the raw material supply means 44 in advance before the next beverage providing operation based on, for example, a schedule set in consideration of the night hours and holidays of the business establishment. Since the first-out method for sending out the raw material is prohibited, it is possible to prevent the raw material from being held in the raw material holding means 51 for a long time, and to prevent the influence of moisture or the like on the raw material due to holding the raw material in the raw material holding means 51 in advance. .

With respect to the type of raw material to be served first, when the service frequency per predetermined time immediately before is below a predetermined level, the first-out delivery to be delivered from the raw material supply means 44 in advance before the next beverage providing operation is prohibited. It is possible to prevent the raw material from being held in the raw material holding means 51 for a long time, and to prevent the influence of moisture or the like on the raw material due to holding the raw material in the raw material holding means 51 in advance.

Further, when the supply frequency is less than or equal to a predetermined value with respect to the type of raw material subject to advance, the raw material reserved means 51 discharges and discards the raw material.
It is possible to prevent the raw materials from being affected by moisture and the like while being held in 51.

The configuration shown in the above-described embodiment is not limited to the form of an automatic vending machine that provides and sells cupped beverages with the insertion of coins, but the cups can be inserted without the insertion of coins. It can also be applied to a beverage providing device that provides beverages.

[0074]

According to the beverage providing device of claim 1,
Regarding the type of raw material, the time required to deliver the predetermined amount of raw material required for providing the beverage once from the raw material supply means is longer than the time required for the cup holding part of the transport means to move from the fixed position to the raw material receiving position. It is set as a first-out target, and with respect to the raw material type set as the first-out target, since the raw material is preliminarily sent out from the raw material supply means and held in the raw material holding means before the next beverage providing operation, the cup holding unit When the raw material supply position is reached, the raw material held in the raw material holding means can be immediately discharged into the cup, and the time required for the beverage providing operation can be shortened even for beverage types in which a large amount of raw material is required to provide one beverage. it can.

According to the beverage providing apparatus of the second aspect, in addition to the effect of the beverage providing apparatus of the first aspect, a predetermined amount of the raw material required for one serving of the beverage with respect to the type of the raw material to be first served. The minimum amount of raw material less the amount that can be delivered within the time required for the cup holding part of the transport means to move from the fixed position to the raw material receiving position is delivered from the raw material supply means in advance before the next beverage serving operation. In addition, since the remaining amount of the raw material required for serving the beverage once at the time of the next beverage serving operation is additionally delivered from the raw material supply means, the influence of moisture or the like on the raw material due to being reserved in the raw material holding means in advance is minimized. Can be suppressed to

According to the beverage providing device of claim 3, in addition to the effect of the beverage providing device of claim 1 or 2, regarding the type of raw material to be first-out, for example, the night hours and holidays of business establishments, etc. Based on the schedule set in consideration, the first-out delivery to be sent out from the raw material supply means in advance is prohibited before the next beverage providing operation, so that the raw material is kept in the raw material holding means for a long time. It is possible to prevent the influence of moisture or the like on the raw material due to the fact that the raw material is stored in advance in the raw material storage means.

According to the beverage providing apparatus of claim 4, in addition to the effect of the beverage providing apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 3, regarding the kind of the raw material of the advance target, the providing frequency per a predetermined time immediately before is increased. When it is less than or equal to a predetermined value, the advance delivery to be sent from the raw material supply means in advance before the next beverage providing operation is prohibited, so that the raw material is prevented from being held in the raw material holding means for a long time, and the raw material is preliminarily prepared. It is possible to prevent the influence of moisture or the like on the raw material due to the holding in the holding means.

According to the beverage providing device of claim 5, in addition to the effect of the beverage providing device of claim 4, when it is determined that the serving frequency is less than or equal to a predetermined value with respect to the raw material type of the advance target, Since the raw material held in the holding means is discharged and discarded, it is possible to prevent the raw material from being affected by moisture or the like while being held in the raw material holding means.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a beverage providing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view showing a state in which the cup holder of the beverage providing device is located at the cup station.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing a state in which the cup holder of the beverage providing device is located at the cup supply position.

FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of the above beverage providing apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of the above beverage providing apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the above beverage providing apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the raw material holding means and the cup holding portion of the above beverage providing apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a control operation by the control means regarding a step of receiving the raw material in the cup in the beverage providing operation of the beverage providing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

28 Transport means 30 cup holder 44 Raw material supply means 51 Raw material holding means 71 Control means 72 Setting method 73 Schedule means 74 Provision frequency judgment means C cup

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Mitsuo Suzuki             180 Furuichi-cho, Maebashi City, Gunma Prefecture Toshiba Equipment Corporation             Inside the company (72) Inventor Hiroshi Yoshimoto             11 Hiiragiyama, Obu-cho, Obu-shi, Aichi Co., Ltd.             In Apex F term (reference) 3E047 AA02 CA02 CC03 DA01 DB05

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A cup holder for holding a cup,
At the time of receiving the beverage raw material into the cup accompanying the beverage providing operation, a transport means for transporting the cup holding portion from a fixed position to the raw material supply position for receiving the beverage raw material in the cup, and storing the beverage raw material for each type In addition, a plurality of raw material supply means for delivering a predetermined amount of raw material corresponding to one-time beverage provision, and the raw material delivered from the raw material supply means are received and held and the cup holding portion is provided by the transport means at the raw material supply position. And a time period required for delivering a predetermined amount of raw material required for one beverage supply from the raw material supply means, and a cup holding part of the conveying means. Is set as a first-come-first-served basis for raw material types that are longer than the time required to move from the fixed position to the raw-material receiving position, and as a non-first-delivered target for short raw material types Regarding the setting means to be set and the raw material type set to the first-out target by this setting means, the raw material is previously sent from the raw material supply means before the next beverage providing operation, and the raw-material type set to the non-first-out target is set. Is provided with a control means for sending out the raw material from the raw material supply means at the next beverage providing operation. 2. The control means is required for the cup holding part of the conveying means to move from the fixed position to the raw material receiving position with respect to the type of raw material to be first served, from a predetermined amount of the raw material required for one serving of beverage. The minimum amount of raw material less the amount that can be delivered within the time is sent out from the raw material supply means in advance before the next beverage providing operation, and the remaining amount required for one beverage provision at the time of the next beverage providing operation. The beverage providing device according to claim 1, wherein the raw material of (1) is additionally delivered from the raw material supply means. 3. The raw material type of the first-out target, the schedule means for setting a schedule for prohibiting the first-out to be sent from the raw material supply means in advance before the next beverage providing operation, the control means, the control means, the raw material of the first-out target. 3. Regarding the type, the beverage providing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, based on the schedule means, advance advance to be delivered from the raw material supply means is permitted and prohibited before the next beverage providing operation. 4. The supply frequency judgment means for judging the supply frequency from the number of times of supply per a predetermined time immediately before regarding the kind of the raw material targeted for advance, wherein the control means judges the supply frequency for the kind of raw material targeted for the advance. The beverage provision according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein when the means determines that the provision frequency is less than or equal to a predetermined value, advance delivery to be delivered from the raw material supply means in advance is prohibited before the next beverage provision operation. apparatus. 5. The control means causes the raw material holding means to discharge the held raw material when the providing frequency determining means determines that the providing frequency is less than or equal to a predetermined value with respect to the raw material type of the advance target. The beverage providing device according to claim 4.