JP2004284665A - Ice stored type drink spouting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ice stored-type drink spouting apparatus with which when a drink is spouted, the temperature of the drink can be maintained properly. <P>SOLUTION: After determination with YES at step 230 accompanying with finishing beer spouting, the normal driving treatment of a stirring motor (refer step 222) is maintained until the lapse of additional stirring time Δtb is determined as YES at step 240. When determination at step 40 becomes YES, the drive of the stirring motor is changed to a low driving treatment at step 241. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an ice storage type beverage dispensing device such as an ice storage type beer dispensing device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as this main ice storage type beverage dispensing apparatus, for example, there is one disclosed in Patent Document 1 below. In this beverage dispensing apparatus, an evaporating coil of a refrigerator, a beverage cooling coil, and a stirrer are disposed in a water tank, and the cooling water in the water tank is utilized by utilizing heat storage of ice that accumulates on the evaporating coil driven by the refrigerator. Is maintained at a low temperature, and the cooling water in the water tank is stirred by driving the stirrer to cool the beverage in the beverage cooling coil. Here, in the ice storage type beverage dispensing apparatus, in order to save power consumption by the stirrer, the stirrer is driven at a normal speed when selling the beverage, and the stirrer is driven at a normal speed except when the beverage is sold. The stop is repeated periodically or the stirrer is driven at a low speed.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2002-8118
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in the ice storage type beverage dispensing apparatus, when selling the beverage, when the cooled beverage in the beverage cooling coil is poured, the beverage in the beverage supply source is newly supplied into the beverage cooling coil. You.
[0005]
However, the fresh beverage thus supplied into the beverage cooling coil has not yet been cooled. Thus, of course, the temperature of the new beverage is higher than the temperature of the beverage already cooled in the beverage cooling coil.
[0006]
On the other hand, as described above, when the drive of the stirrer at the normal speed is limited to the time of selling the beverage, the stirrer is driven at the normal speed and the stop of the drive is repeated or the drive is stopped at the low speed at the end of the beverage sale. In addition, the effect of stirring the cooling water by the stirrer becomes insufficient.
[0007]
In this case, as described above, the new beverage supplied into the beverage cooling coil cannot be properly cooled, and the beverage is poured out of the beverage cooling coil with insufficient cooling at the next sale. The problem described above occurs.
[0008]
In view of the above, the present invention provides an ice storage type beverage dispensing system that maintains the temperature of the beverage properly at the time of dispensing the beverage, while saving power consumption. It is intended to provide a device.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an ice storage type beverage dispensing apparatus according to the present invention provides a beverage supply source (T, G, 100, 210) for storing beverages and cooling water (W) according to claim 1. A cooling water tank (30) for storing heat, a compression means (81) and an evaporating means (82) provided in the cooling water tank, and the refrigerant is circulated through the evaporating means by driving the compression means based on power supply from a power supply. Refrigeration means (80) for cooling the cooling water so that ice is deposited on the surface by the evaporation means, and stirring means (90, 91) for stirring the cooling water in the cooling water tank based on power supply from a power supply. , 92) and a beverage pipe circuit (40) having a beverage cooling pipe (40a) provided in the cooling water of the cooling water tank, and guiding the beverage supplied from the beverage supply source through the beverage cooling pipe to the discharging means. , A dispensing means (5) for dispensing a beverage from the beverage pipe circuit. , 60, 72) and an icing control means (120) for controlling the driving of the compression means to immerse the ice to a predetermined thickness so as to maintain the cooling state of the cooling water using the heat storage of the ice. , 300-320) and stirring control means (150, 222) for controlling the stirring means to be driven at a normal speed to stir the cooling water in conjunction with the dispensing of the beverage by the dispensing means. .
[0010]
In the ice storage type beverage dispensing apparatus, when a predetermined time passes without re-dispensing the beverage after the completion of the dispensing of the beverage by the dispensing means, the stirring control means includes a stirring unit until the predetermined time elapses. Is controlled so as to be driven at the normal speed, and after the predetermined time has elapsed, switching control is performed so that the stirring means is driven at a speed lower than the normal speed.
[0011]
According to this, when the predetermined time elapses without the beverage being again poured out after the beverage is poured out by the pouring means, the stirring means is driven at the normal speed until the predetermined time elapses. Therefore, even after the beverage is poured, the cooling water in the cooling water tank is sufficiently stirred by the stirring means. Therefore, the beverage newly supplied from the beverage supply source into the beverage cooling pipe of the beverage pipe circuit in association with the discharge of the beverage is higher than the temperature of the cooled beverage in the beverage cooling pipe, but the beverage in the beverage cooling pipe is The fresh beverage can be cooled with a high heat transfer rate, just like when the beverage is being dispensed, and cooled to the proper temperature.
[0012]
In addition, when a predetermined time has elapsed after the end of the dispensing of the beverage by the dispensing unit without re-dispensing the beverage, the driving of the stirring unit is switched to a speed lower than the normal speed. For this reason, saving of power consumption by the stirring means is ensured.
[0013]
As described above, the temperature of the beverage can be appropriately maintained at the time of dispensing the beverage while saving power consumption. In addition, when the beverage is not poured, the driving of the stirring means is maintained at a lower speed than the above-mentioned normal speed, so that the ice deposited on the evaporating means hardly becomes thinner than the predetermined thickness. For this reason, since the stop time of the compression unit becomes longer, the power consumption of the compression unit can also be reduced.
[0014]
When the icing detection means (120) detects that the ice has become thinner than the predetermined thickness, the icing detection means (120) drives the compression means to detect that the ice has reached the predetermined thickness. Then, by controlling the driving of the compression means in the icing control means so as to stop the driving of the compression means, the power consumption of the compression means can be more reliably reduced.
[0015]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the ice storage type beverage dispensing apparatus according to the first aspect, the predetermined time is accompanied by the start of the dispensing from the beverage supply source into the beverage cooling pipe. This is the additional stirring time for lowering the temperature of the newly supplied beverage to the temperature at which the beverage is easily consumed.
[0016]
Further, the stirring control means,
Time counting means (140, 232) for counting the elapsed time after the end of the dispensing of the beverage by the dispensing means, and judging whether or not the beverage has been dispensed again by the dispensing means after the timing of the timer is started. When the pour determination unit (250) and the pour determination unit determine that the beverage is not to be poured again before the time counted by the timer unit reaches the additional stirring time, the additional stirring time elapses. Switching control means (150, 241) for switching control so that the stirring means is sometimes driven at a lower speed than the normal speed,
When the spouting judging unit judges that the beverage is to be poured again before the time counted by the time counting unit reaches the additional stirring time, the stirring unit is controlled to maintain the drive at the normal speed. It is characterized by doing so.
[0017]
Thus, on the assumption that the predetermined time is an additional stirring time for lowering the temperature of the newly supplied beverage to a temperature suitable for drinking with the start of the pouring from the beverage supply source into the beverage cooling pipe, As described above, if the determination of the pour determination unit based on the clocking time of the timer unit and the switching control by the switching control unit are performed, while the beverage is being poured, the temperature of the beverage is maintained at a comfortable temperature, Power consumption can be saved.
[0018]
In addition, the code | symbol in the parenthesis of each said means shows the correspondence with the concrete means described in embodiment mentioned later.
[0019]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an example of an ice storage type beer automatic dispensing apparatus to which the present invention is applied. This automatic beer dispensing apparatus includes an apparatus main body B, a gas cylinder G, and a beer barrel T. As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus main body B includes a lower housing 10 installed on the installation surface L, and an upper housing 20 mounted and fixed on the lower housing 10.
[0020]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the apparatus main body B includes a cooling water tank 30 for storing cooling water W and a beverage pipe circuit 40, and the cooling water tank 30 is supported by a peripheral wall in the upper housing 20. I have.
[0021]
1 and 2, the beverage pipe circuit 40 includes a coiled beverage cooling pipe 40a, a beverage introduction pipe 40b, and a beverage pumping pipe 40c. The beverage cooling pipe 40a stands upright in the cooling water tank 30 and is immersed in the cooling water W, and the beverage cooling pipe 40a has a cooling water W and a lid 31 of the cooling water tank 30 at its inflow end. And extends upward from an opening (not shown) of the beverage introduction pipe 40b and is connected to the outflow end of the beverage introduction pipe 40b. Further, the beverage cooling pipe 40a is connected to the pouring cock 50 at the outflow end portion 42. The beverage cooling pipe 40a is formed of a stainless steel pipe.
[0022]
The beverage introduction pipe 40b is formed of the same material as the beverage cooling pipe 40a, and the inflow end of the beverage introduction pipe 40b projects outside through the lower portion of the rear wall 21 of the upper housing 20. The beverage pumping tube 40c is connected at its outflow end to the beverage introduction tube 40b at its inflow end and communicates therewith. The beverage pumping tube 40c introduces beer from a beer barrel T described later into a beverage. It is pumped to the pipe 40b. In addition, the said beverage pressurization pipe 40c is formed of a rubber pipe.
[0023]
The pouring cock 50 includes a cock main body 50a, and a column-shaped tilting lever 50b that is connected to the upper part of the cock main body 50a so as to be tiltable in the left and right directions in FIG. At the middle of the front wall 22 of the upper housing 20 in the vertical direction, a bracket 52 is fitted from the outside via a bracket 52, and passes through a part of the peripheral wall of the cooling water tank 30. The outflow end 42 is coaxially connected via the cap 53 and communicates with the beverage cooling pipe 40a.
[0024]
The cock body 50a has a built-in switching valve mechanism (not shown). The cock body 50a tilts the tilting lever 50b rightward from the neutral position shown in FIG. (Also referred to as tilting), the switching valve mechanism is switched so as to form air bubbles from the beer inside thereof, and the beer flowing from the beverage cooling pipe 40a through the inflow cylinder 51 is turned into air bubbles at a low flow rate. Discharge from the foam discharge nozzle 54.
[0025]
Also, the cock body 50a switches so as to dispense the switching valve mechanism with the tilting lever 50b tilting leftward from the neutral position shown in FIG. 1 (hereinafter, also referred to as liquid discharging tilting). Then, the beer flowing from the beverage cooling pipe 40a through the inflow cylinder 51 is discharged from the liquid discharging nozzle 55 in a liquid state. The cock main body 50a shuts off the bubble discharging nozzle 54 and the liquid discharging nozzle 55 from the inflow cylinder 51 with the switching valve mechanism in the non-switching state when the tilting lever 50b is in the neutral position shown in FIG. . This means that the pouring cock 50 closes the foam pouring nozzle 54 and the liquid pouring nozzle 55, that is, the pouring cock 50 closes.
[0026]
As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus main body B includes a cock drive unit 60. The cock drive unit 60 transmits the rotation of the pouring motor 61 to the pinion 63 after being reduced by the gear box 62. The rack 63 is moved along the pedestal 65 in the left-right direction in FIG. 1 to tilt the tilt lever 50b in the left-right direction.
[0027]
In the present embodiment, the pedestal 65 is fixed on the bottom wall in the casing 66. A tilting lever 50b of the pouring cock 50 is fitted in the connection hole 64a of the rack 64 through the bottom wall opening 65a of the pedestal 65 so as to be tiltable in the left-right direction. The gear box 62 is provided on a side wall of the casing 66. The gear box 62 includes a gear train including a plurality of spur gears. The pinion 63 is coaxially supported by an output spur gear in the gear box 62.
[0028]
The pouring motor 61 is supported on a side wall of the gear box 62. The pouring motor 61 is constituted by a DC motor, and is coaxially supported at its output shaft by an input spur gear in the gear box 62. Have been. The forward rotation of the pouring motor 61 corresponds to the rightward movement of the rack 64 shown in FIG. 1 (tilt of the tilting lever 50b to the right) in FIG. 1, and the reverse rotation of the pouring motor 61 corresponds to FIG. Corresponds to the illustrated leftward movement (the leftward tilting of the tilting lever 50b).
[0029]
As shown in FIG. 1, the operation panel 70 is provided on the front wall of the casing 66 of the cock drive unit 60. As shown in FIG. The system includes a dispensing button switch 72 and the like, and the business / washing changeover button switch 71 is switched to business or washing by a push-motion switching operation. The automatic dispensing button switch 72 is a push-type, self-returning, normally-open switch, which is turned on by its push and turned off by its release.
[0030]
Further, the operation panel 70 is provided with a sales lamp 73, and the lighting of the sales lamp 73 indicates a state in which beer can be automatically poured out (business state).
[0031]
As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerating device 80 is built in the lower housing 10 except for the evaporator 82, and the refrigerating device 80 drives a compressor (not shown) to store a refrigerant (not shown). By circulating an expansion valve (not shown) and the evaporator 82, the evaporator 82 exhibits a cooling function.
[0032]
Here, as shown in FIG. 1, the evaporator 82 is configured by forming an evaporator tube in a coil shape, and the evaporator 82 connects the beverage cooling tube 40 a from the outside in the cooling water tank 30. It is housed and supported so as to surround it. Thereby, the evaporator 82 cools the cooling water W in the cooling water tank 30. The cooling water W plays a role of cooling the beer in the beverage cooling pipe 40a. The evaporator 82 is connected to the expansion valve and the compressor of the refrigerating device 80 by piping through the bottom wall of the upper housing 20 and the upper wall of the lower housing 10.
[0033]
As shown in FIG. 1, the stirring device 90 includes a stirring motor 91 and a stirring propeller 92. The stirring motor 91 is fixed on the lid 31 of the cooling water tank 30, and the output shaft of the stirring motor 91 is rotatably suspended through a through hole (not shown) of the lid 31. As the stirring motor 91, for example, a condenser motor is used.
[0034]
The stirring propeller 92 is coaxially connected to the output shaft of the stirring motor 91 at its propeller shaft 92a, and is supported in the cooling water W in the beverage cooling pipe 40a. Accordingly, the stirring propeller 92 is driven by the stirring motor 91 via the propeller shaft 92a, and stirs the cooling water W in the cooling water tank 30 from the inside of the beverage cooling pipe 40a. The propeller shaft 92a hangs from the output shaft of the stirring motor 91 into the cooling water W in the beverage cooling pipe 40a.
[0035]
The electromagnetic on-off valve 100 is interposed at an intermediate portion of the gas introduction pipe 101. When the electromagnetic on-off valve 100 is opened, the electromagnetic on-off valve 100 is pressure-fed from a gas cylinder G into a gas hose G3 through a pressure regulating valve G2 as described later. High-pressure carbon dioxide gas is introduced into the gas introduction pipe 101 and supplied into the beer barrel T through the gas hose T1. This supply is shut off by closing the solenoid on-off valve 100. The gas introduction pipe 101 extends at an introduction end 101a thereof through an intermediate portion of the rear wall 21 of the upper housing 20 and is connected to a gas hose G3. It is located below the gas hose G3, extends through an intermediate portion of the rear wall 21 of the upper housing 20, and is connected to the gas hose T1.
[0036]
The gas cylinder G is filled with high-pressure carbon dioxide gas. The gas cylinder G sends the carbon dioxide gas into the gas hose G3 through the pressure regulating valve G2 by opening the cock G1. This pressure feeding is interrupted by the closing operation of the cock G1. The pressure regulating valve G2 regulates the pressure of the carbon dioxide gas fed from the gas cylinder G to a predetermined high pressure.
[0037]
The beer barrel T stores beer (hereinafter also referred to as beer Br) in the beer barrel T. The beer barrel T siphons carbon dioxide gas fed into the gas hose T1 with the opening operation of the handle cock T2. The beer Br is introduced from above the pipe T3 onto the liquid level of the beer Br, and the beer Br is pumped into the beverage pumping pipe 40c through the siphon pipe T3 and the handle cock T2. Further, the pressure feed of carbon dioxide from the gas hose T1 into the beer barrel T and the beer pressure feed from the beer barrel T into the beverage pumping tube 40c are shut off by closing the handle cock T2. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 110a indicates a jockey table, and reference numeral 110b indicates a tray.
[0038]
The control unit E is disposed in the lower housing 10 as shown in FIG. 1, and includes a microcomputer 130 and a timer 140 as main components as shown in FIG. I have. The microcomputer 130 executes the main control program according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 3, and during this execution, the microcomputer 130 performs the pressing operation of the business / washing changeover button switch 71 and the automatic dispensing button switch 72 and the time output of the timer 140. Various processes are performed based on the above. Along with the processing of the microcomputer 130, the control unit E controls the driving of the business lamp 73, the pouring motor 61, the inverter 150 for the stirring motor 91, and the electromagnetic on-off valve 100.
[0039]
Further, the microcomputer 130 executes an interrupt control program based on the detection output of the icing sensor 120 according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 4, and performs a drive stop process of the compressor motor 81 during this execution. The compressor motor 81 is driven by power supply from a commercial power supply (not shown) to drive the compressor. Therefore, the compressor discharges the compressed refrigerant, and the refrigeration circuit 80 circulates the refrigerant.
[0040]
In the present embodiment, the control unit E converts the AC power from the commercial power supply into a DC output by an inverter circuit (not shown) and outputs the DC output to the pouring motor 61. The motor switching drive circuit is configured to apply the AC power to the injection motor 61 so as to rotate the injection motor 61 forward and reverse under the switching control by the microcomputer 130, and to stop the injection motor 61. Then, the AC power is cut off from the discharge motor 61.
[0041]
The control unit E is supplied with power from the commercial power supply, forms a constant voltage by a constant voltage circuit (not shown), and applies the constant voltage to the microcomputer 130 to operate the microcomputer. The main control program and the interrupt control program are stored in advance in the ROM of the microcomputer 130 so as to be readable by the microcomputer.
[0042]
As shown in FIG. 1, the icing sensor 120 is supported between the evaporator 82 and the beverage cooling pipe 40a in the cooling water W in the cooling water tank 30. When the ice (described later) that lands on the surface of the ice 82 as the ice bank 82a becomes thinner than a predetermined thickness, this is detected. The timer 140 starts measuring time under the control of the microcomputer 130. The inverter 150 receives the AC power from the commercial power supply and drives the stirring motor 91 under the control of the microcomputer 130.
[0043]
The operation of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described. If the control unit E is being supplied with power from the commercial power supply, the microcomputer 130 executes the main control program according to the flowchart of FIG. Here, if the business / washing changeover button switch 71 has not been switched to the business without pressing the stop button switch (not shown) of the operation panel 70, the microcomputer 130 repeats the determination of NO in step 200. .
[0044]
Also, each time the icing sensor 120 detects that the ice bank 80a becomes thinner than the predetermined thickness, the microcomputer 130 executes an interrupt control program according to the flowchart of FIG. When the driving process of the compressor motor 81 is performed in step 300, the compressor motor 81 discharges the compressed refrigerant.
[0045]
Therefore, the refrigeration circuit 80 circulates the refrigerant, and the evaporator 82 cools the cooling water W. Therefore, the ice bank 82a that lands on the evaporator 82 grows to a predetermined thickness. Thereafter, when the ice bank 82a has a predetermined thickness and the result of the determination in step 310 is YES based on the output of the icing sensor 120, the process of stopping the compressor motor 81 is performed in step 320. Therefore, the compressor stops.
[0046]
By repeating the above-described interrupt processing, the ice bank 82a is maintained at the predetermined thickness. Therefore, the cooling water in the cooling water tank 30 is in a cooling state sufficient to cool the beverage cooling pipe 40a.
[0047]
At this stage, it is assumed that the beer Br is present in the beer barrel T, the handle cock T2 of the beer barrel T is open, and the cock G1 of the gas cylinder G is also open. It is assumed that the electromagnetic on-off valve 100 is in a closed state and the stirring device 90 is stopped.
[0048]
In such a state, when the sales / washing changeover button switch 71 is switched to sales by pushing the switch, the determination in step 200 becomes YES, and in step 210, the lighting process of the sales lamp 73 and the opening / closing of the electromagnetic on-off valve 100 are performed. A valve opening process is performed. Along with this, the control unit E puts the business lamp 73 in a lighting state. As a result, the beer automatic dispensing device enters a business state.
[0049]
At this time, when the control unit E opens the electromagnetic on-off valve 100, the carbon dioxide gas in the gas cylinder G is released from the handle cock T2 into the beer barrel T through the pressure regulating valve G1, the gas hose G3, the gas introduction pipe 101 and the gas hose T1. Pump. Along with this, the beer Br in the beer barrel T is pumped into the beverage cooling pipe 40a through the siphon pipe T3, the handle cock T2, the beverage pumping pipe 40c and the beverage introducing pipe 40b, and the cooling water in the cooling water tank 30 and the ice bank 82a. Is cooled. It is assumed that the beer cooled in this way has reached the switching valve mechanism in the pouring cock 50.
[0050]
In such a state, if the automatic dispensing button switch 72 is maintained in the off state without being pushed, the determination of NO in Step 220 is repeated. In other words, the determination of YES in step 200, the determination of NO in step 220 accompanying the turning on of the business lamp 73, the opening of the electromagnetic on-off valve 100, and the turning off of the automatic dispensing button switch 72 by the processing in step 210 The repetitive processing means a state in which beer can be automatically poured.
[0051]
When the automatic dispensing button switch 72 is turned on by pushing the jockey on the mug table 110a in the state where the jockey is placed, YES is determined in step 220, and the liquid in the dispensing cock 50 is determined in step 221. The dispensing process is performed, and in step 222, the normal driving process of the stirring motor 91 by the inverter 150 is performed, and in step 223, the timer 140 is reset-started.
[0052]
When the liquid pouring process of the pouring cock 50 is performed as described above, the cock driving unit 60, under the control of the control unit E, rotates the gear box 62, the pinion 63, and the rack 64 by the reverse rotation of the pouring motor 61. The tilting lever 50b of the pouring cock 50 is moved to the left via. Along with this, the pouring cock 50 switches its switching valve mechanism to liquid pouring, and automatically pours a predetermined amount Qo of beer from the liquid pouring nozzle 55 into the jockey in a liquid state. Start (see time t = t1 in FIG. 5).
[0053]
When the normal driving process of the stirring motor 91 is performed as described above, the inverter 150 drives the stirring motor 91 at the normal rotation speed N1 based on the electric power of the commercial power supply (time t = t1 in FIG. 5). reference). Therefore, the stirring propeller 92 rotates at the normal rotation speed N1 (for example, 2800 rpm to 3000 rpm) under the drive of the stirring motor 91, and cools the cooling water W in the cooling water tank 30. Stir. Accordingly, the cooling water W is sufficiently stirred in the cooling water tank 30 while flowing along the surface of the ice bank 82a. Thereby, the beer in the beverage cooling pipe 40a is cooled at a high heat transmission rate. Therefore, the beer poured into the jockey has a temperature suitable for drinking.
[0054]
Further, when the timer 140 is subjected to the reset start processing as described above, the timer 140 starts measuring time in accordance with the reset. Thereafter, when the time counted by the timer 140 reaches a predetermined dispensing time Δta (see t = t2−t1 in FIG. 5), YES is determined in step 230. Here, the dispensing time Δta refers to the time when the liquid dispensing amount by the dispensing cock 50 (hereinafter, also referred to as the liquid dispensing amount Q) reaches a predetermined dispensing amount Qo, and is, for example, 7 seconds to 9 seconds. Equivalent to.
[0055]
Prior to the determination of YES in step 230, the cock driving unit 60 moves the tilt lever 50b to the right under the control of the control unit E as described above. Accordingly, the pouring cock 50 switches the switching valve mechanism to foam pouring, and automatically pours a predetermined amount of beer from the foam pouring nozzle 54 into the jockey in a foamed state. .
[0056]
Along with the determination of YES in step 230, in step 231, a spout cock closing process is performed. Accordingly, under the control of the control unit E, the cock drive unit 60 moves the tilting lever 50b rightward to its neutral position via the gearbox 62, the pinion 63 and the rack 64 by the normal rotation of the pouring motor 61. The discharge cock 50 switches its switching valve mechanism to close the liquid discharge nozzle 55 together with the foam discharge nozzle 54.
[0057]
After the process in step 231, in the next step 232, a reset start process of the timer 140 is performed. Along with this, the timer 140 starts measuring time under the reset.
[0058]
Thus, in the next step 240, it is determined whether or not the predetermined additional stirring time Δtb has elapsed based on the time measured by the timer 140. Here, the predetermined additional stirring time Δtb is set such that the temperature of the beer newly pumped from the beer barrel T into the beverage cooling pipe 40a along with the pouring of the beer becomes an appropriate temperature (for example, This corresponds to the time (for example, 30 minutes) required to cool the new beer until the temperature reaches a comfortable drinking temperature of about 6 ° C.
[0059]
At this stage, since the time measured by the timer 140 has not reached the additional stirring time Δtb, the determination in step 240 is NO. Thereafter, in step 250, it is determined whether or not the automatic dispensing button 72 is on. Here, if the automatic dispensing button 72 is not turned on, the determination in step 250 is NO. Thereafter, the process of circulating through both steps 240 and 250 is repeated until the determination in step 240 becomes YES.
[0060]
Therefore, during this repetition processing, the stirring device 90 maintains the driving of the stirring motor 91 at the normal rotation speed N1. For this reason, even after the end of the above-mentioned pouring, the cooling water W is stirred in the cooling water tank 30 while flowing along the surface of the ice bank 82a, so that new beer in the beverage cooling pipe 40a has a high heat transmission rate. Cooled.
[0061]
Thereafter, if the time measured by the timer 140 reaches the additional stirring time Δtb before the determination in step 250 becomes YES, the determination in step 240 becomes YES. At this stage, the temperature of the fresh beer in the beverage cooling pipe 40a reaches a temperature at which it is easy to drink due to the stirring operation of the cooling water W by the stirring device 90 during the additional stirring time Δtb after the end of the pouring.
[0062]
After the determination of YES in step 240 as described above, in step 241, the inverter 150 performs low-speed driving processing of the stirring motor 91. Along with this processing, the inverter 150 drives the stirring motor 91 at the low rotation speed N2 based on the electric power of the commercial power supply (see t = t3 in FIG. 5). Therefore, the stirring propeller 92 rotates at a low rotation speed N2 under the driving of the stirring motor 91, and stirs the cooling water W in the cooling water tank 30. Accordingly, the cooling water W is stirred in the cooling water tank 30 while flowing along the surface of the ice bank 82a. Thus, it is possible to maintain the cooling of the beer in the beverage cooling pipe 40a and secure the temperature at which the beer can be drunk, and also to save power consumption by the stirring motor 91 of the stirring device 90.
[0063]
Further, if the automatic dispensing button switch 72 is not turned on in such a state, the rotation speed of the stirring motor 91 is maintained at the low rotation speed N2, so that the ice bank 82a that has landed on the evaporator 82 has the predetermined thickness. It is difficult to become thinner than it is. For this reason, the stop time of the compressor motor 81 becomes longer, so that the power consumption of the compressor motor 81 can also be reduced.
[0064]
However, the low rotation speed N2 described above is a rotation speed lower than the normal rotation speed N1, and maintains the temperature of the beer in the beverage cooling pipe 40a at the temperature (ease of drinking) at the time when the additional stirring time Δtb has elapsed. This is the rotation speed at which the cooling water W is agitated by the agitation propeller 92 so as to perform the cooling operation. After that, if the automatic dispensing switch 72 is not turned on, the determination of NO in step 260 is repeated, and the low-speed driving process of the stirring motor 91 is maintained.
[0065]
In such a state, when the automatic dispensing button switch 72 is turned on, the determination in step 260 becomes YES, the liquid dispensing process in step 221, the stirring motor normal driving process in step 222, and the stirring motor normal driving process in step 223. A timer reset start process is performed (see t = t4 in FIG. 5). Therefore, in the same manner as described above, the beer is discharged by the discharging cock 50 and the cooling water W is stirred by the stirring propeller 92 driven by the stirring motor 91 at the normal rotation speed N1. Therefore, even if the stirring motor 91 is being driven at a low speed, the automatic pouring button switch 72 is switched to the normal speed driving process when the automatic pouring button switch 72 is turned on. Can be done.
[0066]
After the time counting by the reset of the timer 140 is started along with the timer reset start processing, when the time counted by the timer 140 reaches the dispensing time Δta (see t = t5 in FIG. 5), the answer to YES in step 230 is made. Based on the determination, the spout cock closing process in step 231 and the reset start process of the timer 140 in step 232 are performed in the same manner as described above. Therefore, the closing of the liquid discharging nozzle 55 and the foam discharging nozzle 54 of the discharging cock 50 and the time counting by resetting the timer 140 are performed in the same manner as described above. At this time, in the stirring device 90, the normal driving of the stirring motor 91 is maintained as it is, as described above.
[0067]
In such a state, if the automatic pour button switch 72 is turned on before the additional stirring time Δtb elapses, the determination in step 250 is NO and the determination in step 250 is YES. Therefore, the liquid pouring process at step 221, the stirring motor normal driving process at step 222, and the timer reset start process at step 223 are performed (see t = t6 in FIG. 5).
[0068]
Accordingly, under the stirring of the cooling water W by the stirring propeller 92 driven by the stirring motor 91 at the normal rotation speed N1, the beer is poured by the pouring cock 50 and the time is measured by resetting the timer 140 in the same manner as described above. . Next, similarly to the above, after each processing in steps 231 and 232 is performed in the same manner as described above with the determination of YES in step 230, the determination in step 240 is made without the determination of YES in step 250. If the determination is YES (see t = t8 in FIG. 5), if the automatic dispensing button 72 has not been turned on, the stirring motor low-speed driving process in step 241 is maintained.
[0069]
In carrying out the present invention, the following various modifications are possible without being limited to the above-described embodiment.
(1) The handle cock T2 and the beverage pressurizing pipe 40c of the beverage pipe circuit 40 may be attached to the beer barrel T instead of the apparatus main body B.
(2) Instead of using the beer barrel T for storing the beer, instead of using the beer barrel for storing the sparkling beverage, the sparkling beverage is pumped to the apparatus body B in the same manner as in the above embodiment. You may. Further, the invention is not limited to beer barrels and sparkling beverage barrels, and a sparkling beverage supply source such as a container for storing beer and sparkling beverages may be employed.
(3) The timer 140 may be a soft timer built in the microcomputer instead of an external element of the microcomputer 130.
(4) The handle cock T2 of the beer barrel T may be constituted by an automatic opening / closing valve, and the automatic opening / closing valve may be automatically opened / closed similarly to the electromagnetic opening / closing valve 100, so that the electromagnetic opening / closing valve 100 may be omitted. .
(5) The beverage cooling pipe 40a is not limited to a coil-shaped one, and may be, for example, a zigzag-shaped one.
(6) The cock drive unit 60 may be abolished and the ice storage type beverage dispensing device may be a manual type.
(7) The icing sensor 120 may detect when the ice bank 82a has a predetermined thickness.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a partially broken side view showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electric circuit of the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a main control program executed by the microcomputer of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an interrupt control program executed by the microcomputer of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing changes in a liquid discharge amount of a discharge cock and a rotation speed of a stirring motor.
[Explanation of symbols]
G: gas tank, T: beer barrel, W: cooling water, 30: cooling water tank,
40 ... beverage pipe circuit, 40a ... beverage cooling pipe, 50 ... pouring cock
60 ... cock drive unit, 72 ... automatic dispensing button switch,
81 ... Compressor motor, 90 ... Agitator, 100 ... Electromagnetic on-off valve,
120: icing sensor, 130: microcomputer, 140: timer,
150 ... Inverter.

Claims (2)

A beverage supply source for storing beverages, a cooling water tank for storing cooling water, a compression means and an evaporating means provided in the cooling water tank, wherein the evaporating means evaporates the refrigerant by driving the compression means based on power supply from a power supply. Refrigeration means for cooling the cooling water so that ice is iced on the surface by the evaporation means and circulated through the evaporating means, and stirring means for stirring the cooling water in the cooling water tank based on power supply from the power supply. A beverage pipe circuit having a beverage cooling pipe provided in the cooling water of the cooling water tank, and guiding a beverage supplied from the beverage supply source through the beverage cooling pipe to the pouring means; and a beverage pipe circuit. And controlling the driving of the compression means to cause the ice to reach a predetermined thickness so as to maintain the cooling state of the cooling water using the heat storage of the ice. Icing control means and the dispensing hand In 蓄氷 beverage dispensing apparatus and a stirring control means for controlling to drive at normal speed the stirring means so as to stir the coolant in accordance with the dispense of by the beverage,
The stirring control means drives the stirring means at the normal speed until the predetermined time elapses after a predetermined time elapses after the end of the dispensing of the beverage by the spouting means without re-dispensing the beverage. An ice storage type beverage dispensing device, wherein after the predetermined time has elapsed, the stirring means is switched to be driven at a speed lower than the normal speed. The predetermined time is an additional stirring time for lowering the temperature of a newly supplied beverage to a temperature suitable for drinking with the start of the pouring from the beverage supply source into the beverage cooling pipe,
The stirring control means,
Timer means for measuring the elapsed time after the end of the dispensing of the beverage by the dispensing means, and dispensing determination for judging whether or not the beverage is dispensed again by the dispensing means after the start of timing of the timer means. Means, when it is determined by the dispensing determination means that there is no re-dispensing of the beverage before the time measured by the time measuring means reaches the additional stirring time, the stirring means when the additional stirring time has elapsed. Switching control means for performing switching control so as to drive at a speed lower than the normal speed,
When it is determined that the beverage is to be poured again before the time counted by the time counting means reaches the additional stirring time, the stirring means maintains the drive at the normal speed. The ice storage type beverage dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control is performed in such a manner.

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