JP2004239476A - Drink dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To secure a sufficient extraction amount, improve cooling performance and prevent the extraction stop of drinking water due to the occurrence of cotton ice, while restricting an increase in the size of a device. <P>SOLUTION: An evaporation pipe 20 for forming ice blocks therearound is housed in a water tank 16 storing cooling water. Two cooling pipes 32, 34 branch from a branch joint 30 through which a water supply pipe 28 is communicating with an external city water source is connected in communication. Both cooling pipes 32, 34 are rolled into cylindrical coils different in diameter and housed in the water tank 16 in an approximately concentric manner. A combination joint 36 with which both cooling pipes 32, 34 are connected in communication is connected in communication with an extraction cock 40 via an extraction pipe 38. By opening the extraction cock 40, drinking water circulated in both cooling pipes 32, 34 and cooled is extracted out of the extraction cock 40. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a beverage dispenser, and more particularly, to an ice storage type beverage dispenser that instantaneously cools drinking water using latent heat of ice blocks frozen around an evaporating tube arranged in a water tank.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The water cooler as the ice storage-type beverage dispenser is obtained by accommodating an evaporating tube of a refrigerating device in a water tank and freezing a part of the cooling water stored in the water tank around the evaporating tube. The cooling water cooled by the ice blocks is configured to indirectly cool the drinking water flowing through the cooling pipe for supplying drinking water accommodated in the water tank so as to be immersed in the cooling water. Further, the cooling pipe is connected to a pouring cock, and by opening the cock, the drinking water circulated through the cooling pipe and cooled is discharged through the pouring cock ( For example, see Patent Document 1).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-133109 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the chiller, the cooling pipe is connected to an external water supply, and drinking water is supplied to the cooling pipe by its supply pressure. Therefore, if the supply pressure of the drinking water is low, there is a possibility that a sufficient amount of water cannot be secured. Therefore, conventionally, the pipe diameter of the cooling pipe is set to be large. For this reason, it is pointed out that the cooling pipe itself becomes large, and the apparatus main body also becomes large. In addition, in order to ensure the cooling performance of the water chiller, it is necessary to set the pipe length of the cooling pipe to be long, but in this case, the processing of the cooling pipe becomes complicated and the same as when the pipe diameter is set to be large. In addition, the cooling pipe itself becomes large, which causes an increase in the size of the apparatus main body.
[0005]
Further, in the chiller, when the cooling water is poured in a supercooled state, drinking water is generated in the cooling pipe, and a situation may occur in which the drinking water cannot be discharged. is there. In order to prevent this, conventionally, operation is controlled by controlling the refrigerating device or the like according to the water temperature.However, this control is complicated, and the discharge of the drinking water is prohibited or the drinking water is more than necessary. Are pointed out.
[0006]
[Object of the invention]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been proposed in view of the above-mentioned problems inherent in the conventional technology, and has been proposed to appropriately solve the problem. It is another object of the present invention to provide a beverage dispenser capable of improving the cooling performance and preventing the stoppage of the drinking water due to the generation of cotton ice, thereby stably dispensing the beverage.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to overcome the above-described problems and appropriately achieve the intended purpose, the beverage dispenser according to the present invention includes:
A water tank that stores cooling water, an evaporating tube that is housed in the water tank and freezes a part of the cooling water, and a drinking water that is housed in the water tank while being immersed in the cooling water and supplied from a water supply pipe In a beverage dispenser composed of a cooling pipe through which a cooling pipe flows and a pouring cock that pours out drinking water cooled through the cooling pipe,
The cooling pipe is branched into a plurality of pipes, and the cooled drinking water flowing through the plurality of cooling pipes is merged and discharged from the pouring cock.
[0008]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Next, a beverage dispenser according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings by way of preferred embodiments.
[0009]
FIG. 1 shows the entire structure of a water cooler as a beverage dispenser according to an embodiment. In the water cooler 10, a gantry disposed on an inner bottom plate 12a of a housing 12 as an apparatus body that opens upward. A water tank 16 having a heat insulating structure is placed on the water tank 14, and cooling water (tap water), which is a liquid for heat exchange, is stored in the water tank 16 in a substantially full state. Further, inside the water tank 16, an evaporating pipe 20 derived from a refrigerating device 18 disposed in the housing 12 is disposed in a state of being wound in a cylindrical coil shape. It is configured to freeze the stored cooling water around the evaporating tube 20.
[0010]
A water valve 22 for water supply is disposed below the gantry 14, and a water supply hose 24 connected to an external water supply is connected to an inlet side of the valve 22 via a water supply pressure reducing valve 26. I have. One end of a water supply pipe 28 is connected to the outlet side of the water valve 22 in communication, and the other end of the water supply pipe 28 is connected to a branch joint 30 disposed above the water tank. One end of each of the cooling pipes 32 and 34 is connected to the branch joint 30 so that the cooling pipes 32 and 34 are branched, and supplied from an external water source via the water supply pipe 28. Drinking water is branched and supplied from the branch joint 30 to the cooling pipes 32 and 34, respectively.
The two cooling pipes 32 and 33 are wound and formed into cylindrical coils having different diameters, and as shown in FIG. Are immersed in the cooling water of the water tank 16 in a state in which the cooling pipes 34 are accommodated and arranged substantially concentrically. That is, the cooling water can be circulated between the cooling pipes 32 and 34. The pipe diameters of the cooling pipes 32 and 34 themselves are set substantially the same in the embodiment, but may be set differently.
[0011]
The second cooling pipe (outermost cooling pipe) 34 is disposed substantially concentrically inside the evaporating pipe 20 with a predetermined interval therebetween, and also between the second cooling pipe 34 and the evaporating pipe 20. The cooling water is configured to circulate. The thickness of the ice block frozen on the evaporating tube 20 is maintained at a constant thickness that does not come into contact with the second cooling pipe 34 by controlling the operation of the refrigerating device 18 by control means (not shown).
[0012]
As shown in FIG. 1, the other ends of the cooling pipes 32 and 34 are connected to a joining joint 36 disposed above the water tank, and are cooled by cooling water while flowing through the cooling pipes 32 and 34. Each drinking water is configured to join at the joining joint 36. One end of an outlet pipe 38 vertically connected so that the inside of the first cooling pipe 32 is immersed in cooling water is connected to the junction joint 36, and the other end of the outlet pipe 38 is It is communicatively connected to a pouring cock 40 disposed at the front of the housing 12. An operation lever 42 that opens and closes the cock 40 is tiltably disposed on the pouring cock 40, and detects that the operation lever 42 is opened (for example, detects a magnet disposed on the operation lever 42). A detection switch 44 for dispensing is provided on the housing 12. While the detection switch 44 detects the open state of the operation lever 42, the water valve 22 is controlled to be opened. At this time, the drinking water from the external water source is supplied by the water supply hose 24, The water is supplied to the pouring cock 40 via the water supply pipe 28, the cooling pipes 32 and 34, and the pouring pipe 38, and is discharged from the cock 40 into a container such as a cup (not shown).
[0013]
A circulation pump 46 communicating with the internal space of the water tank 16 is provided on the gantry 14, and the pump 46 circulates the cooling water to make the thickness of ice blocks frozen on the evaporating tube 20 uniform, The cooling water is configured to indirectly cool drinking water flowing through the cooling pipes 32 and 34. A condenser 48 and a fan motor (not shown) constituting the refrigeration system 18 are arranged in a vertical relationship on the rear side inside the housing 12, and a compressor 50 of the refrigeration system 18 is mounted thereon. A suction port (not shown) is formed in the bottom plate 12a to be placed. The condenser 48 is air-cooled by the external air sucked from the suction port by the rotation of the fan motor, and the heat-exchanged air is discharged from the outlet 52a of the top panel 52 described later. Legs 54 are provided at each corner on the lower surface of the bottom plate 12a, and the legs 54 define a suction space on the lower surface of the bottom plate for allowing the external air to be sucked from the suction port. It is configured as follows.
[0014]
A top panel 52 is detachably mounted on the upper part of the housing 12, and the top opening of the housing 12 is closed by the top panel 52. In the top panel 52, a plurality of outlets 52a are formed at positions corresponding to the condenser 48, and air exchanged by the condenser 48 is discharged to the upper portion through the outlet 52a. is there.
[0015]
Operation of the embodiment
Next, the operation of the water cooler according to the above-described embodiment will be described. In the chiller 10, when the refrigerating device 18 starts the cooling operation, the refrigerant is circulated and supplied to the evaporating tube 20. As the refrigerant is circulated and supplied, the evaporating tube 20 is gradually cooled, and a part of the cooling water stored in the water tank 16 starts freezing from the surface of the evaporating tube 20. The ice that grows on the surface of the evaporating tube 20 is connected to each other to form a cylindrical ice block, and the latent heat cools the cooling water stored in the water tank 16 with time. Further, when the circulation pump 46 is operated at a predetermined timing from the start of operation of the refrigeration system 18, the cooling water stored in the water tank 16 circulates around the ice block and is efficiently cooled. Then, the drinking water in the cooling pipes 32 and 34 is cooled by the cooling water.
[0016]
When the drinking water is poured in the above-described state, the operation lever 42 of the discharging cock 40 is opened. As a result, the detection switch 44 is in the detection state, the water valve 22 is opened, and drinking water is supplied to the branch joint 30 via the water supply hose 24 and the water supply pipe 28 by the water supply pressure from the external water supply source. . The drinking water supplied to the branch joint 30 is branched and supplied to the cooling pipes 32 and 34, and the drinking water is cooled to a predetermined temperature in the course of flowing through the cooling pipes 32 and 34. After the drinking water cooled by the cooling pipes 32 and 34 is joined at the joining joint 36, the drinking water is supplied to an outlet cock 40 via the outlet pipe 38, and is discharged from the cock 40 into a container such as a cup. It is. When the operation lever 42 is closed, the detection switch 44 is in a non-detection state, the water valve 22 is closed, and the discharging of drinking water is stopped.
[0017]
In the water cooler 10 of the embodiment, as described above, the drinking water is cooled by the plurality of branched cooling pipes 32 and 34, so that the combined pipe diameter is sufficient even when the supply pressure is low. The pipe diameter of each of the cooling pipes 32 and 34 can be set to a small value as long as a sufficient amount of pouring can be ensured. By reducing the diameters of the cooling pipes 32 and 34, the cooling efficiency of the drinking water flowing through the pipes 32 and 34 is improved, and the cooling performance of the chiller 10 is improved. Further, in the case of the cooling pipes 32 and 34 having a small pipe diameter, the processing becomes easy and the curvature of the pipes can be reduced, so that the cooling pipes can be made compact and the device itself can be downsized. It becomes possible.
[0018]
Here, if the cooling water is poured in a supercooled state, drinking ice may be generated in the cooling pipe as described above. However, in the embodiment, since the cooling pipe is branched into two and disposed in the water tank, conditions such as a difference in an arrangement position of the two cooling pipes 32 and 34 and a distribution path of the drinking water are different. In addition, cotton ice does not occur in both cooling pipes 32 and 34 at the same time. Therefore, for example, even when cotton ice is generated in one of the cooling pipes and the drinking water ceases to flow, the cooled drinking water is discharged through the other cooling pipe and the branch joint 30 is discharged. The heat of normal-temperature (warm to the cooling water) drinking water supplied to the refrigerator is transferred to one cooling pipe, which can melt the cotton ice early and make it impossible to discharge drinking water. The occurrence is prevented.
[0019]
[Modification example]
In the embodiment, the configuration in which the cooling pipe is branched into two is described, but the number of branches may be three or more. In the embodiment, the cooling water is circulated by the circulation pump to stir the cooling water. However, a configuration in which the screw disposed to be immersed in the cooling water is rotated by a motor to stir the cooling water may be adopted.
[0020]
If a water stop valve is attached to the water valve side of the branch joint and the water stop valve can be opened and closed while the top panel is open, even when the water valve or the spout cock fails, the beverage Water leakage can be prevented.
Further, in the embodiment, the case where the drinking water is supplied to the cooling pipe by the water supply pressure from the external water source has been described.
In the embodiment, as the beverage dispenser, a chiller configured to supply only drinking water to the spout cock has been described as an example, but a concentrated beverage or the like is separately supplied to the spout cock, and the cooled drinking water is supplied. The beverage dispenser may be configured to dilute the concentrated beverage.
[0021]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the beverage dispenser according to the present invention, since the cooling pipe is configured to branch into a plurality of pipes to cool the drinking water, the pipe diameter of all the pipes is sufficient even when the supply pressure is low. The diameter of each cooling pipe can be set to be small as long as the output can be secured. And, by reducing the diameter of the cooling pipe, efficient cooling of the drinking water flowing through each pipe is achieved, and the cooling performance can be improved. In addition, the entire cooling pipe can be compacted, thereby making it possible to reduce the size of the device itself.
[0022]
Further, by branching the cooling pipe into a plurality, the cooling conditions of the drinking water flowing through each pipe are different, and even if the cooling water is discharged in a supercooled state, all the cooling pipes are discharged. In this way, cotton ice is not generated, and stable drinking of drinking water can be performed with a simple configuration without performing complicated control. Even if cotton ice is generated in any one of the cooling pipes, if the drinking water is flowing through the other cooling pipes, the heat of the normal-temperature drinking water supplied to the cooling pipes flows through the branch portion. Through the cooling pipe where the cotton ice is generated, the cotton ice can be melted.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a water chiller according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a main part of the water cooler according to the embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
16 water tank, 28 water supply pipe, 32 first cooling pipe, 34 second cooling pipe 40 pouring cock

Claims (2)

A water tank (16) for storing cooling water, an evaporating pipe (20) housed in the water tank (16) for freezing a part of the cooling water, and a water tank (16) immersed in the cooling water. A beverage dispenser comprising a cooling pipe accommodated therein, through which drinking water supplied from a water supply pipe (28) flows, and a pouring cock (40) flowing through the cooling pipe, and discharging cooled water. At
The cooling pipe is branched into a plurality of pipes, and the plurality of cooling pipes are circulated through the plurality of cooling pipes (32, 34) to join the cooled drinking water and to be discharged from the discharge cock (40). Beverage dispenser. The beverage dispenser according to claim 1, wherein each of the cooling pipes (32, 34) is formed in a cylindrical coil shape having a different diameter, and is disposed substantially concentrically in the water tank (16).

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