JP2003252399A - Electrode mounting mechanism and electrode protective cover of dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To know a correct cooled state of a beverage for appropriately cooling the beverage in a dispenser without causing a misoperation, and also to easily maintain the dispenser. <P>SOLUTION: The electrode mounting mechanism of the dispenser includes a beverage passage 18 in which the beverage supplied from a beverage tank flows and a coolant passage 16 in which a coolant flows provided inside a casing 2. The casing 2 receives cooling water 25 for transferring heat from the coolant flowing in the coolant passage 16 to the beverage flowing in the beverage passage 18. An electrode 33 is soaked in the cooling water 25 to detect a potential obtained from the electrode 33 to control operations in the dispenser 1. The electrode 33 is soaked in the cooling water 25 with its outer periphery covered with an electrode protective cover 40. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrode mounting mechanism for a dispenser and an electrode protective cover for controlling the operation of a dispenser that cools and supplies a beverage such as beer or soft drink.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, beverages such as beer and soft drinks have been cooled by a dispenser in a restaurant or the like, and the cooled beverage is poured into a cup.

6 and 7 show such a dispenser 1
It shows an outline of. The dispenser 1 has a box-shaped casing 2, a pouring portion 3 provided on a front surface portion 2a of the casing 2, and below the pouring portion 3, the front portion 2a of the casing 2 protrudes forward to form a cup. The tray portion 9 to be mounted and the beverage introduction port 10 for introducing the beverage supplied from a beverage tank (not shown) into the dispenser 1 are provided.

As shown in FIG. 7, a water tank 13 is provided inside the dispenser 1, and cooling water 25 is stored in the water tank 13. In addition, inside the water tank 13, a coil-shaped refrigerant passage 16 through which the refrigerant flows
Further, a beverage passage 18 is provided on the inner peripheral side of the refrigerant passage 16 and has a coil-shaped beverage passage 18 through which the beverage flows.

The lower part of the dispenser 1 is a machine room 14, and a refrigerating unit 22 is provided inside the machine room 14. The refrigerating unit 22 communicates with the refrigerant passage 16 and circulates a low-temperature refrigerant in the refrigerant passage 16. The coolant circulating in the coolant passage 16 cools the cooling water 25 contained in the water tank 13.

On the other hand, the lower portion of the beverage passage 18 communicates with the beverage introduction port 10 provided in the front face portion 2a of the dispenser 1, and the beverage supplied to the beverage introduction port 10 is connected to the beverage passage 1 by the same.
It has been introduced in 8. In addition, the upper part of the beverage passage 18 is
It communicates with the pouring portion 3 provided on the front surface portion 2 a of the casing 2.

A beverage supplied from an external beverage tank (not shown) is introduced into the dispenser 1 through the beverage introduction port 10, passes through the coiled beverage passage 18 provided in the water tank 13, and reaches the pouring portion 3. To do. The beverage is cooled by the cooling water 25 cooled by the refrigerant while passing through the coiled beverage passage 18.

In the dispenser 1 having such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 7, the cooling water 25 in a predetermined range around the refrigerant passage 16 is frozen to form tubular ice 28 along the shape of the refrigerant passage 16. It The cooling water 25 contains a large amount of electrolyte such as calcium salt, but when the cooling water 25 freezes, it becomes ice 28 that does not contain these electrolytes. Therefore, the electric resistance in the state of the ice 28 is larger than that in the state where the cooling water 25 is in the liquid state, and the potential difference between certain two points is correspondingly larger. The dispenser 1 utilizes this principle to detect the magnitude of the potential difference between the electrodes, judge the amount of ice corresponding to this potential difference, and control the operation of the refrigerator.

Conventionally, for example, two electrodes 30, 30 are provided at positions corresponding to the upper portion and the lower portion of the refrigerant passage 16, respectively.
By directly immersing the two in the cooling water 25,
The amount of ice was grasped from the strength of the potential difference detected by 0 and 30.

[0010]

However, when the operating time of the dispenser 1 elapses, the cooling water 25 in the water tank 13 is gradually contaminated and the electrodes 30, 30 are contaminated. Further, the electrodes 30, 30 have been damaged due to various causes. When such dirt is attached or damaged, the potential difference between the two points detected from the electrodes 30, 30 is detected to be larger than the actual potential difference. When such a phenomenon occurs, even though the ice 28 having a sufficient amount of ice is not formed around the refrigerant passage 16, it is sufficiently cooled and the same potential difference as that in the state where the ice 28 is formed is detected. Become. When the refrigeration unit 22 is controlled based on such a potential difference, its operation is stopped and the beverage cannot be cooled appropriately.

On the other hand, in a state where the ice 28 is still formed around the coolant passage 16, the electrodes 30,
Even if the user tries to remove 30, the electrodes 30 and 30 cannot be taken out because they are fixed by the ice 28. If it is forcibly taken out, the lead wires connected to the electrodes 30, 30 will be broken. In order to prevent inconvenience such as disconnection of the lead wire, the electrodes 30 and 30 had to be removed after the ice 28 melted. For this reason, the work took a very long time.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and accurately detects the magnitude of the potential difference between the electrodes to accurately grasp the amount of ice formed, and is suitable without causing a malfunction. (EN) Provided are an electrode attachment mechanism and an electrode protection cover for a dispenser, which can be controlled to a desired level and can be easily maintained.

[0013]

In the present invention, in order to solve the above problems, a beverage passage (18) through which a beverage supplied from a beverage tank flows and a refrigerant passage (16) through which a refrigerant flows.
Cooling water (25) for providing heat to the beverage flowing in the beverage passage (18) from the refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant passage (16) in the water tank (13).
The cooling water (25) and the electrodes (33, 7).
0, 75, 81, 82), and the electrodes (33,
70, 75, 81, 82) to detect an electric potential obtained from the electrodes (70, 75, 81, 82) and to control the operation in the dispenser (1).
3, 70, 75, 81, 82), the outer peripheral portion of which is covered with the electrode protection cover (40, 50, 60, 65, 85) and is immersed in the cooling water (25). The electrode mounting mechanism of is adopted.

According to the present invention, the electrodes (33, 70, 75, 81, 82) for detecting the electric potential are covered with the electrode protection cover (40, 50, 60, 65, 85). Therefore, the electrodes (33, 70, 75, 81, 8
Adhesion of impurities such as dust to the surface of 2) can be effectively suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to accurately detect the magnitude of the potential difference between the electrodes, form an appropriate amount of ice, and appropriately control the operation of the dispenser. In addition, the electrode protection cover (40,
50, 60, 65, 85) and electrodes (33, 70, 75,
By covering the periphery of 81, 82), it is possible to prevent the cooling water (25) from entering the inside of the electrode protection cover (40, 50, 60, 65, 85) from freezing.

In the electrode mounting mechanism of the dispenser (1), the electrode protection covers (40, 50,
60, 65, 85) and tubular protective tubes (41, 51, 6)
1, 66, 67, 86, 87) and the electrodes (33, 70, 75, 81, 82) inside the protection tube (41, 51, 61, 66, 67, 86, 87). The electrode (33,
70, 75, 81, 82) can be easily taken out. That is, as described above, the protection tubes (41, 5
Inside the 1, 61, 66, 67, 86, 87), freezing of the cooling water (25) is prevented. Therefore, the rod-shaped electrodes (33, 70, 75, 81, 82) are connected to the protection tubes (41, 5).
1, 61, 66, 67, 86, 87), the electrode protective cover (40, 50, 6) can be easily moved.
0,65,85) to electrodes (33,70,75,81,
82) can be extracted. According to this configuration,
The electrode (33, 70, 75, 81, 82) can be taken out from the dispenser (1) and the dispenser (1) can be easily maintained.

In the dispenser (1), the amount of ice formed on the basis of the potential difference between the two points of the ice (28) frozen by the cooling water (25) around the refrigerant passage (16). By grasping this, the operation of the dispenser (1) is controlled. Therefore, the electrodes (33, 70, 75,
It is desirable to keep 81, 82) in the vicinity of the refrigerant passage (16). Therefore, in the present invention, the electrode protection cover (40, 50, 60, 65, 85) is attached to and detached from the refrigerant passage (16). A mounting portion (42, 52) that can be freely attached is provided. This allows the electrodes (33, 7
0, 75, 81, 82) can be kept near the refrigerant passage (16). In addition, the mounting portion (42, 5
2) the electrode protection cover (4) for the refrigerant passage (16)
The electrodes (33, 70, 75, 81, 8) can be freely attached and detached.
2) Not only the electrode protection cover (40, 50, 60,
(65, 85) can be easily removed from the dispenser, and maintenance can be efficiently performed.

In the electrode mounting mechanism of the dispenser (1), the protective tubes (41, 51, 61, 66,
In the present invention, 67, 86, 87) are soaked in the cooling water (25) that they are arranged so that their axial directions extend vertically.

The electrodes (33, 70, 75, 81, 82) are connected to lead wires (34) for energizing the electrodes (33, 70, 75, 81, 82). The lead wire (34) is connected to the rod-shaped electrodes (33, 70, 75, 8).
1, 82) at the axial ends of the electrodes (33, 70, 7).
5, 81, 82). This form of electrode (3
3, 70, 75, 81, 82) with protective tubes (41, 51,
61, 66, 67, 86, 87) and when immersed in the cooling water (25), it is immersed with the connecting portion of the lead wire (34) facing upward. In this case, the electrodes (33,7
0, 75, 81, 82) and the lead wire (34) are soaked so that they are located above the liquid level (26) of the cooling water (25), the freezing of the connection part is surely prevented. it can.
On the other hand, protective tubes (41, 51, 61, 66, 67, 86,
87) is immersed in the state in which the connection part between the electrode and the lead wire is located, the connection part with the lead wire (34) is located below the liquid surface of the cooling water (25). Even
It is possible to prevent the connection portion from freezing. For this reason, put a hand from the upper part of the dispenser (1) and
Electrode (33, 81, 82)
70, 75, 81, 82) can be removed from the dispenser (1). In addition, electrodes (33, 70, 75,
81, 82) are electrode protection covers (40, 50, 60, 6)
It is possible to prevent breakage of the lead wire (34) when the lead wire (34) is pulled out from the cable (5, 85).

In the electrode mounting mechanism of the dispenser (1), the electrodes (33, 70, 75, 8)
The lower end of the protective pipe (4,
1, 51, 61, 66, 67, 86, 87) in a state of being projected from the lower end of the electrodes (33, 70, 75, 81,
82).

By adopting this structure, the protection tube (4
1, 51, 61, 66, 67, 86, 87) can be prevented from being frozen around the lower end. Therefore, the electrode (3
3, 70, 75, 81, 82) The tip of the rod is cooling water (2
It is possible to prevent sticking from the frozen ice (28) of 5). Further, the lower ends of the electrodes (33, 70, 75, 81, 82) are connected to the protective tubes (41, 51, 61, 66, 67, 86,
By slightly projecting from the lower end of 87), the potential can be detected with high sensitivity.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention further comprises electrodes (33, 70, 70) for detecting the electric potential at a predetermined position of the dispenser (1) by being immersed in cooling water contained in the dispenser (1). 75, 81, 82), and the electrode (3, 70, 75, 81, 82) so that the electrode (33, 70, 75, 81, 82) can be freely taken in and out.
3, 70, 75, 81, 82), the electrode protection cover (40, 50, 60, 65, 85) formed as a separate body is adopted.

The electrode protective cover (40, 5 according to the present invention
0,60,65,85), the electrodes (33,70,
(75, 81, 82) to prevent foreign matters from adhering to the surface of the electrode (33, 70, 75, 81, 82) and prevent damage to the electrodes (33, 70, 75, 81, 82). Thereby, the electric potential at a predetermined position in the cooling water can be accurately measured, and the cooling operation of the dispenser (1) and the like can be appropriately controlled based on this electric potential. Also,
Since the electrode protection cover (40, 50, 60, 65, 85) is provided as a separate body from the electrodes (33, 70, 75, 81, 82), the electrode (33, 7
Only 0,75,81,82) can be taken out.
Therefore, the dispenser (1) can be efficiently maintained.

In the present invention, the electrode protection cover (4
0, 50, 60, 65, 85), the electrode (3
3, 70, 75, 81, 82) and a cylindrical protective tube (41, 51, 61, 66, 67, 86, 87),
This protection tube (41, 51, 61, 66, 67, 86, 8
7) is integrally formed with this protection tube (41, 51, 6
1, 66, 67, 86, 87) in the state of extending in the vertical direction, and a mounting portion for detachably mounting to the dispenser (1).

According to this structure, the protective tubes (41, 5
If electrodes (33, 70, 75, 81, 82) to be inserted into 1, 61, 66, 67, 86, 87) are formed in a rod shape, the electrodes (33, 70, 75, 81, 82) are protected by a protective tube. (41, 51, 61, 66, 67, 86, 87) can be inserted and removed very easily. In addition, the electrode protection cover (40, 50, 60, 65, 85) is provided because it is provided with a device that can be freely attached to and detached from the dispenser (1)
It itself can be easily taken out from the dispenser (1), and efficient maintenance can be performed. Protective tube (4
1, 51, 61, 66, 67, 86, 87) are attached to the dispenser (1) so as to extend in the vertical direction, whereby the electrodes (33, 70, 75, 81, 8)
When only 2) is taken out, put a hand from the upper part of the dispenser (1) and simply put the electrodes (33, 70, 75, 81, 8).
2) the electrode protection cover (40, 50, 60, 65, 8)
It is only necessary to pull out from 5), and it is not necessary to perform complicated work inside the dispenser (1).

Further, in the electrode protection cover, a plurality of the protection tubes (61, 66, 67) are provided, and the protection tubes (61, 66, 67) and the mounting portion are integrally formed to protect the electrodes. Cover (40, 50, 60, 65, 8
It is possible to easily attach and detach 5). Further, by integrally forming, the distance between the electrodes (33, 70, 75, 81, 82) inserted into the protective tubes (61, 66, 67) can be always kept constant, and the electrodes ( 33, 70, 75, 8
1, 82), the relationship between the potential difference and the corresponding ice amount can be kept constant.

[0026]

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

FIG. 1 shows an electrode mounting mechanism of a dispenser 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The dispenser 1 itself in which this electrode attachment mechanism is used is the same as the dispenser 1 shown in FIG. 6 which has been conventionally used, and therefore its appearance will be described with reference to FIG.

This dispenser 1 has a box-shaped casing 2, and a front face portion 2a thereof is provided with a pouring portion 3 for filling a cup or the like with a beverage, and a front portion of the dispenser 1 is protruded forward. It has a rectangular tray portion 9.
Further, a beverage introduction port 10 to which a hose extending from a beverage tank (not shown) is connected is provided in the lower portion of the front surface portion 2a. The front surface 2a and the lower portion of the side surface of the casing 2 are provided with ventilation portions 11 and 12 formed of a plurality of slit-shaped holes. The ventilation parts 11 and 12 are provided to cool the refrigeration unit 22 installed inside the casing 2.

The dispenser 3 provided on the front face 2a of the dispenser 1 includes a pipe 4 extending forward from the front face 2a and a spout 4a having a tip extending downward from the pipe 4.
The pipe 4 includes an open / close valve (not shown) that controls the pouring or stopping of the beverage, and a lever 5 that extends upward from the pipe 4 to open / close the open / close valve.
When pouring the beverage into the cup, the opening / closing valve is opened by pushing down the lever 5 by a predetermined angle around the base of the lever 5. Thereby, the beverage is dispensed from the dispenser 1. On the other hand, if the tilted lever 5 is returned to the original state of vertically extending, the beverage that has been poured out stops.

Further, a tray portion 9 that projects forward from the lower portion of the casing 2 is provided to support a cup or the like from below. The tray unit 9 also has a function of, for example, receiving a beverage overflowing from the cup and preventing the beverage from leaking to the outside from the dispenser 1.

FIG. 1 shows the internal structure of the dispenser 1 having such an appearance. As shown in FIG. 1, the inside of the dispenser 1 is an aquarium 13 at the top,
The lower part is the machine room 14. The water tank 13 is provided with a refrigerant passage 16 having a large diameter and extending in a coil shape in the vertical direction, and a coiled beverage passage 18 disposed inside the refrigerant passage 16 and having a small diameter. ing. Cooling water 25 is stored in the water tank 13, and the refrigerant passage 16 and the beverage passage 18 are entirely immersed in the cooling water 25. On the other hand, a refrigeration unit 22 that supplies a refrigerant is built in the machine room 14 provided in the lower portion of the dispenser 1.

The lower end of the beverage passage 18 formed into a coil is in communication with the beverage introduction port 10, and the beverage supplied from a beverage tank (not shown) is introduced into the beverage passage 18 through the beverage introduction port 10. It On the other hand, the upper end of the beverage passage 18 communicates with the pouring portion 3. Further, the refrigeration unit 22 built in the machine room 14 is connected to the lower end portion and the upper end portion of the coil-shaped refrigerant passage 16,
The refrigerant cooled to the cryogenic temperature is circulated in the refrigerant passage 16.

Further, in the water tank 13, a water distribution pipe 20 for draining the cooling water 25 therein is provided below the front face portion 2a. Further, a drain pipe 19 for preventing the cooling water 25 from reaching a predetermined water level or more is provided in the water tank 13 so as to extend vertically, and extends from the back surface of the casing 2 to the outside.

According to the dispenser 1 having such a configuration, the beverage introduced from the beverage tank (not shown) into the dispenser 1 through the beverage introduction port 10 passes through the coiled beverage passage 18 and is discharged from the pouring portion 3. It is poured into a cup or the like.
This beverage is cooled by the cooling water 25 while passing through the coiled beverage passage 18. When the refrigerant cooled to the cryogenic temperature in the refrigeration unit 22 circulates in the refrigerant passage 16, heat is transferred between the refrigerant and the cooling water 25 via the refrigerant passage 16. This action cools the cooling water 25. The cooling water 25 cooled in this manner transfers heat via the beverage passage 18 to the beverage passing through the beverage passage 18,
The beverage is cooled to the proper temperature.

In order to cool the beverage to an appropriate temperature, it is necessary to control the circulation of the refrigerant cooled in the freezing unit 22. In this dispenser 1, the operation of the refrigeration unit 22 is turned on / off to control the flow of the refrigerant in the refrigerant passage 16. That is, when the beverage is appropriately cooled, the refrigerating unit 22 is operated and the refrigerant is passed through the refrigerant passage 1
Cycle to 6. On the other hand, when the cooling water 25 is sufficiently cooled, the operation of the refrigeration unit 22 is stopped, and the circulation of the refrigerant in the refrigerant passage 16 is stopped.

Here, a mechanism for controlling the refrigerating unit 22 will be described. When the coolant is circulated in the coolant passage 16, a predetermined range around the coolant passage 16 is cooled to an extremely low temperature. Therefore, the cooling water 25 is frozen around the predetermined range of the refrigerant passage 16 to form an annular ice 28 corresponding to the shape of the refrigerant passage 16. Many electrolytes such as calcium salts and sodium salts are dissolved in the cooling water 25. Therefore, the electric resistance of the cooling water 25 as a liquid is relatively small. However, if the cooling water 25 freezes,
The inside thereof is in a state of containing almost no electrolyte. For this reason, the electric resistance of the cooling water 25 that has been frozen and turned into ice 28 increases. In the dispenser 1, the refrigerant passage 16
Two electrodes 33 are arranged in the vicinity of the
The potential difference between the two points is measured by 3 and the amount of ice is grasped based on the magnitude of this potential difference. That is, when the potential difference is large, it means that the ice 28 with a small amount of electrolyte is sufficiently formed. In this case, it means that the beverage is sufficiently cooled by the cooling water 25, and the operation of the refrigeration unit 22 is stopped. On the contrary, when the potential difference is small, a large amount of electrolyte exists between the two points. That is, it is a state in which a sufficient amount of ice is not formed. In this case, the cooling is not sufficiently performed, and the refrigeration unit 22 is controlled to operate in order to appropriately cool the beverage.

In the dispenser 1, the potential detecting electrode 33 is immersed in the cooling water 25 so as to be covered with the electrode protection cover 40 as shown in FIG. The two electrodes are arranged inside the refrigerant passage 16 at positions substantially opposite to each other in the diametrical direction of the coiled refrigerant passage 16. Although FIG. 1 shows the case where the electrode protection cover 40 is attached to the inside of the refrigerant passage 16, it may be attached to the outside of the refrigerant passage.

The electrode protection cover 40 includes an elongated tubular protection tube 41 and holding hooks 42, 42 as attachment portions for detachably attaching the electrode protection cover 40 to the refrigerant passage 16.
And are integrally formed of resin. A hole penetrating in the axial direction is formed inside the protective tube 41, and the electrode protective cover 40 is detachably attached to the refrigerant passage 16 so that the axial direction of the protective tube 41 extends vertically. . In addition, the two holding hooks 42, 42 are provided in the protective tube 41.
Is provided so as to project radially outward from the outer peripheral surface in the same direction. Holding hooks 42, tip portion 4 of 42
3, 43 are curved so as to be parallel to the axial direction of the protection tube 41, and the curved tip portions 43, 43 and the protection tube 41 are curved.
Further plate-shaped members 44, 44
The holding hook 4 so that is parallel to the axial direction of the protective tube 41.
It projects from the bases of 2, 42, respectively. The shape of the tips of the holding hooks 42, 42 is not limited to a curved shape, and the shape is not particularly limited as long as it can be hung. The distance between the curved tip portions 43, 43 of the holding hooks 42, 42 and the plate-like members 44, 44 is formed to be approximately the same as the pipe diameter of the refrigerant passage 16, and the refrigerant passage 16 is sandwiched by this portion. As a result, the electrode protection cover 40 is attached to the refrigerant passage 16. When the electrode protection cover 40 is attached to the coolant passage 16, the upper end of the protection pipe 41 projects from the liquid surface 26 of the cooling water 25.

On the other hand, the electrodes 33 are made of stainless steel in the form of elongated rods (hereinafter, this electrode is referred to as the electrode rod 33), and are inserted into the protective tube 41 constituting the electrode protective cover 40 to cool the cooling water 25. Is soaked in. A lead wire 34 is connected to the upper end of each electrode rod 33 so that the potential difference between these two electrode rods 33 can be detected. Further, the electrode rod 33 is inserted into the protective pipe 41 so that the upper end thereof is located below the upper end of the protective pipe 41, and the connecting portion between the electrode rod 33 and the lead wire 34 is covered with the protective pipe 41. . For this reason, the connection portion between the lead wire 34 and the electrode rod 33 is prevented from directly contacting the ice 28 of the frozen cooling water 25.
It is needless to say that freezing of the connection portion can be surely prevented by positioning the connection portion above the liquid surface 26 of the cooling water 25 and immersing the electrode rod 33 therein.

On the other hand, the lower end of the electrode rod 33 slightly projects from the lower end of the protective tube 41. The length by which the electrode rod 33 is projected from the lower end of the protection tube 41 is slightly different depending on the outer diameter of the electrode rod 33 and the inner diameter of the protection tube 41, but is preferably 3 mm or less, preferably 2 mm or less. The electrode rod 33
The lower end of the protective tube 41 may be attached without protruding from the lower end of the protective tube 41.

Further, as described above, the lower end of the electrode rod 33 is slightly projected from the lower end of the protective tube 41, so that the protective tube 4
It is possible to prevent the cooling water 25 from being frozen in a predetermined range of the tip portion of 1. Therefore, even when the cooling water 25 around the coolant passage 16 is frozen, the electrode rod 33 can be easily pulled out from the electrode protection cover 40. Protection tube 4
Since the cooling water 25 is not frozen in the inside of No. 1, when the electrode rod 33 is pulled out from the electrode protection cover 40, even if the lead wire 34 is pulled, an unreasonable force does not act on the lead wire 34. Does not break. Further, by slightly projecting the lower end of the electrode rod 33 from the lower end of the protection tube 41, the potential difference between the two electrode rods 33 is detected with high sensitivity.

The mounting portion 52 for detachably mounting the electrode protection cover on the refrigerant passage 16 may be formed as shown in FIG. The mounting portion 52 shown in FIG. 2 is formed of resin integrally with the protection tube 51, and includes a holding plate 53 that is parallel to the axial direction of the protection tube 51. The holding plate 53 extends in the vertical direction and forms a right side plate 54 along the inner peripheral surface of the coil-shaped refrigerant passage 16 and a right side plate 54 at the upper end of the side plate 54. The mounting plate 5 on which the mounting portion 52 is mounted on the upper end of the coil-shaped refrigerant passage 16.
5 and a knob plate 56 extending further upward from the mounting plate 55 are integrally formed.

A connecting portion 57 that connects the outer peripheral surface of the protective tube 51 and the holding plate 53 is provided in the central portion of one side of the aligning plate 54. An engaging hook 58 for attaching the electrode protection cover 50 to the coolant passage 16 is provided on the lower portion of the other surface side. On the other hand, a member 59 having an L-shaped cross section is attached to the mounting plate 55. The member 59 has one surface attached to the lower surface of the mounting surface and the other surface protruding downward so as to be parallel to the aligning plate 54. The interval between the downwardly projecting portion 59a and the guide plate 54 is formed to be approximately the same as the pipe diameter of the refrigerant passage 16, and the refrigerant passage 16 can be sandwiched in this portion. There is. The knob plate 56 is for holding the electrode protection cover 50 by hand.

The mounting portion 52 is provided with a member 59a protruding downward from the mounting plate 55 which constitutes the holding plate 53 and the aligning plate 5.
4 and the engaging hook 58 are engaged with the refrigerant passage 16 and are detachably attached to the coiled refrigerant passage 16. When the electrode protection cover 50 integrally formed with the mounting portion 52 protection tube 51 is mounted in the refrigerant passage 16, the knob plate 56 is gripped and the holding plate 53 is attached to the plate 5.
4 is inserted inside the coil-shaped coolant passage 16. Then, the engaging hooks 58 are engaged with the refrigerant passages 16 located on the lower side, the placing plates 55 are placed on the uppermost refrigerant passages 16, respectively, and the holding plates 53 are pushed downward to engage. The mating hook 58 and the mounting plate 55 correspond to the corresponding refrigerant passage 1.
6 is engaged. On the other hand, to remove the electrode protection cover 50, the knob plate 56 is grasped by hand, the holding plate 53 is pulled up, and the engaging hook 58 and the mounting plate 55 are removed from the refrigerant passage 16.

Regarding the electrode protection cover 50 shown in FIG. 2, the electrode protection cover 50 itself can be easily attached and detached, and only the electrode rod 33 can be easily extracted from the electrode protection cover 50. Also in this case,
The breakage of the lead wire 34 is prevented.

The electrode protection cover may be formed as shown in FIG. 3 or 4.

The electrode protection cover 60 shown in FIG. 3 includes two protection tubes 61, 6 into which the electrode rods 70, 70 are inserted.
1 is integrally formed. Electrode protection cover 60
The two protective tubes 61, 61 are arranged in parallel, and their outer peripheral surfaces are in close contact with each other to be integrated.
Each of the protection tubes 61, 61 has an electrode rod 70, 70
The insertion hole is pierced along the axial direction so as to be inserted. Further, the mounting portion 52 is provided at a position corresponding to the connecting portion between the protection tubes 61, 61 in parallel with the axial direction of the protection tubes 61, 61. This electrode protection cover 60
Also in this case, the protection tubes 61, 61 and the mounting portion 52 are integrally formed of resin. The mounting portion 52 is similar to the electrode protection cover 60 shown in FIG. Since the structure of the mounting portion 52 is the same as that shown in FIG. 2, the description of the structure is omitted.

On the other hand, the protective tube 61 of the electrode protective cover 60,
The electrode rods 70, 70 inserted into the 61 are protective tubes 61, 6
The part projecting from the upper end of 1 is curved, and the parts 72, 72 on the front side are the parts 7 inserted in the protection tubes 61, 61.
It is formed so as to form a right angle with 1, 71. The curved portions 72, 72 with respect to the portions 71, 71 inserted into the protective tubes 61, 61 are arranged so as to be located above the liquid surface 26 of the cooling water 25, and the lead wire (not shown) and the electrode. The connection between the rods 70 and 70 is prevented from being immersed in the cooling water 25. The electrode rod to be used is not limited to one with its upper portion curved, and an electrode rod extending linearly may be used. On the other hand, the electrode rod 7
The lower ends of 0 and 70 slightly project from the lower ends of the protection tubes 61 and 61, respectively. Also in this case, the protruding length is within 3 mm, preferably within 2 mm. Also in this case, the electrode rods 70, 70 may not be projected at all.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, one electrode protection cover 60 can accommodate two electrode rods 70, 70, and a compact electrode mounting mechanism can be constructed. In this embodiment also, the two electrode rods 7
Since a potential difference occurs between 0 and 70, it is possible to control the operation of the refrigeration unit 22 that cools the refrigerant based on the potential difference detected from the electrode rods 70 and 70.

The electrode protection cover 65 and the electrode rods 70 and 75 shown in FIG. 4 are different from those of FIG. In the electrode protection cover 65 shown in FIG. 4, protection tubes 66 and 67 having different lengths are arranged in parallel, and the protection tubes 66 and 6 are protected from each other.
The outer peripheral surface of 7 is in close contact, and is integrally formed. The upper ends of the protective tubes 66 and 67 having different lengths are flush with each other, while the lower ends form a step. A mounting portion 52 extending in the axial direction of the protection tubes 66, 67 is provided at a position corresponding to the connecting portion of the protection tubes 66, 67. The mounting portion 52 is also configured similarly to the electrode protection cover 65 shown in FIG. The electrode protection cover 65 is also the protection tube 6
6, 67 and the mounting portion 52 are integrally formed of resin.

On the other hand, the protective tube 66 of the electrode protective cover 65,
The electrode rods 70 and 75 inserted in 67 have lengths corresponding to the lengths of the protective tubes 66 and 67 to be inserted, respectively. Also in these electrode rods 70 and 75, the portions projecting from the upper ends of the protection tubes 66 and 67 are curved, and the tip portions 72 and 77 thereof are substantially at right angles to the portions 71 and 76 inserted into the electrode protection cover 65. It is shaped like an eggplant. Note that this electrode rod is not limited to one whose upper portion is curved, and an electrode rod that extends linearly may be used. On the other hand, the lower ends of the electrode rods 70 and 75 slightly project from the lower ends of the protection tubes 66 and 67. Also in this case, the protruding length of each of the electrode rods 70 and 75 is within 3 mm, preferably within 2 mm. In this case as well, the electrode rods 70, 70 may not be projected at all.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the protective tubes 61 of the electrode protective covers 60 and 65 are
The upper ends of 66 and 67 are the cooling water 25 stored in the water tank 13.
It is attached so as to protrude from the liquid surface 26.

FIG. 5 shows an electrode attachment mechanism and an electrode protection cover used for the electrode attachment mechanism according to still another embodiment. In this embodiment, two electrode rods 81, 8
2 and the ground 83 are used to detect the potential.
Of these, the electrode rod 81 and the electrode rod 82 are used to determine the amount of ice corresponding to the potential difference between them, and the earth 83
Is used as an electrode for grounding. Electrode rod 81,
82 is immersed in the cooling water while being inserted into the electrode protection cover 85, while the earth 83 is connected to the beverage passage 1
It is attached by a binding band (not shown) or the like so as to directly contact with 8.

The electrode protection cover 85 for protecting the electrode rods 81, 82 includes two protection tubes 86, 87 for inserting the electrode rods 81, 82 therein and the electrode protection cover 85.
Is attached to the refrigerant passage 16. These protection tubes 86 and 87 are integrally formed, and the protection tubes 86 and 87 are respectively formed with through holes 86a and 87a penetrating vertically. On the other hand, the mounting portion 88 is connected to the protective tube 87 by the connecting body 89 and is integrally formed with the protective tubes 86 and 87. The mounting portion is formed by a member on a plate, and the upper end portion thereof is configured as a holding hook 88a which is curved like a fishing hook. This holding hook 88a is for hanging on the refrigerant passage 16,
The curvature is formed to be substantially the same as the diameter of the beverage passage 18. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the upper ends of the protection tubes 86 and 87 are attached to the refrigerant passage 16 so as to project upward from the liquid surface 26 of the cooling water 25.

The two electrode rods 81, 82 inserted into the protective tubes 86, 87 have lead wires 81a,
82a are respectively connected. This lead wire 81
a, 82a and the electrode rods 81, 82 are connected to the liquid surface 26
Is immersed in the cooling water 25 so as to be located above. On the other hand, the lower end of each electrode rod 81, 82 has a protective tube 86,
It slightly projects from the lower end surface of 87. Also in this embodiment, the protruding length of the lower ends of the electrode rods 81 and 82 is within 3 mm, preferably within 2 mm. However, it is not always necessary that the lower ends of the electrode rods 81 and 82 project from the lower ends of the protective tubes 86 and 87.

On the other hand, the earth 83 is attached so as to directly contact the beverage passage 18 as described above. A lead wire 83a is also connected to the upper end of the earth 83, and these connecting portions are connected to the liquid surface 26.
The ground 83 is immersed so that it is located above.
Although the earth 83 is attached to the beverage passage 18 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the present invention is not limited to this. The earth 83 is provided as a grounding electrode rod with a support fitting (not shown) provided in the water tank if it can be immersed in the cooling water 25 in a free state from ice and dirt.
It may be attached at any position in the water tank, such as being configured to be supported by this support fitting. In addition, when supporting with the support metal fittings, the whole ground 83 is not covered with ice, but is immersed so that a portion in contact with the cooling water is always present.

According to the electrode mounting mechanism having such a structure, the degree of ice formation around the electrode rod 81 and the electrode rod 82 is detected, the operation of the refrigerating unit 22 is controlled, and it is formed around the refrigerant passage 16. The amount of ice is adjusted.

Although the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 shows the electrode protection cover 85 integrally formed with the protection tubes 86 and 87 into which the two electrode rods 81 and 82 are inserted, the invention is not limited to this. However, a separate electrode protection cover may be provided for each electrode rod 81, 82.

As described above with reference to some embodiments of the present invention, the electrode protection cover may be provided separately for each electrode rod, and a plurality of protection tubes may be integrated as one electrode protection cover. You may use what was formed in. Further, although the electrode protection cover is made of resin and the electrode is made of stainless steel has been described, the electrode protection cover is not limited to the resin as long as it is a non-conductive material. However, it is not limited to stainless steel as long as it is conductive.

[0060]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the electrode is protected by the electrode protection cover, it is possible to prevent impurities from adhering to the electrode, accurately detect the potential, and perform control without malfunction. be able to. Further, by covering the electrode with the electrode protection cover, it is possible to prevent the cooling water inside the electrode protection cover from being frozen and to easily take out the electrode.
Further, since the electrode protection cover is detachably attached, the electrode can be removed together with the electrode protection cover.
Therefore, the dispenser can be maintained extremely easily.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an internal structure diagram of a dispenser showing an electrode attachment mechanism of the dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional side view showing an electrode protection cover according to another embodiment different from the electrode protection cover shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an electrode protection cover and an electrode rod according to still another embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which an electrode rod is inserted into an electrode protection cover according to another embodiment different from the electrode protection cover shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an embodiment of an electrode attachment mechanism and an electrode protection cover for a three-electrode type.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a conventional dispenser.

7 is a diagram showing an internal structure of the dispenser shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 dispenser 2 casing 3 pouring section 9 Tray section 10 Beverage inlet 13 aquarium 14 Machine room 16 Refrigerant passage 18 Beverage passage 22 Refrigeration unit 25 cooling water 26 Liquid level 28 ice 33, 70, 75, 81, 82 Electrode rod (electrode) 34 lead wire 40, 50, 60, 65, 85 Electrode protection cover 41,51,61,66,67,86,87 Protection tube 42 Holding hook (mounting part) 52 Mounting part 53 holding plate 54 plate 55 Mounting plate 56 knob plate 58 engagement hook 83 Earth 88 mounting part

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F term (reference) 3E082 AA02 AA04 BB01 CC01 DD20                       EE02                 3L045 AA05 BA01 CA01 DA02 FA02                       PA04

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A beverage passage through which a beverage supplied from a beverage tank flows, and a refrigerant passage through which a refrigerant flows are provided inside a water tank, and in the water tank, from a refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant passage to a beverage flowing through the beverage passage. In the electrode mounting mechanism of the dispenser for containing the cooling water for heat transfer, immersing the electrode in this cooling water, and controlling the operation of the dispenser by detecting the potential obtained from the electrode, the electrode has its outer periphery. An electrode mounting mechanism for a dispenser, characterized in that the part is immersed in the cooling water in a state of being covered with an electrode protection cover. 2. The electrode mounting of the dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the electrode protection cover includes a tubular protection tube, and the electrode is formed in a rod shape to be inserted into the protection tube. mechanism. 3. The electrode mounting mechanism of the dispenser according to claim 2, wherein the electrode protection cover is provided with a mounting portion for removably mounting the electrode protection cover to the refrigerant passage. . 4. The protective tube of the electrode protective cover is immersed in the cooling water in a state in which the protective tube is arranged so as to extend vertically in the axial direction.
The electrode attachment mechanism of the dispenser according to. 5. The electrode according to claim 2, wherein the electrode is held in a state where a lower end portion of the electrode protrudes from the lower end of the protection tube by a predetermined length. An electrode attachment mechanism for the dispenser described. 6. An electrode which is immersed in cooling water contained in a dispenser and covers the periphery of an electrode for detecting a potential at a predetermined position of the dispenser, and which can be freely taken in and out from the inside of the electrode. An electrode protective cover characterized by being formed as a separate body. 7. A cylindrical protection tube into which the electrode is inserted,
The electrode protection cover according to claim 6, further comprising: a mounting portion which is integrally formed with the protection tube and which is detachably mounted on the dispenser in a state of extending the protection tube in a vertical direction. 8. The electrode protection cover according to claim 7, wherein a plurality of the protection tubes are provided, and the protection tubes and the mounting portion are integrally formed.