JP2005230374A - Dispenser for liquid seasoning - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a dispenser for liquid seasoning by which the wasting quantity of the liquid seasoning is reduced markedly by automatically discharging a proper quantity of the liquid seasoning with the approach of food etc. <P>SOLUTION: A container body 2 is provided with at least: a container 3 for housing the liquid seasoning 4; a sending pipe 5 having its one end connected with the container 3; a discharging tube 6 whose proximal end side is connected with the sending pipe 5 and whose distal end side projects from the container body 2; a control tool 7 provided between the container 3 and the discharging pipe 6 for sending and stopping the liquid seasoning 4; and a sensor 8 for sensing arrival of a liquid reception body 9 which has to discharge the liquid seasoning 4 in the vicinity of the tip of the discharging pipe 6. The sensor 8 generates a sensing signal when the liquid reception body 9 arrives at a prescribed position. A controller 7 operates so as to discharge a prescribed quantity of the liquid seasoning 4 from a discharging port based on the sensing signal. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a desktop liquid seasoning discharge device that automatically discharges a predetermined amount of liquid seasoning such as soy sauce or sauce by bringing food or the like close thereto.

  Conventionally, in general households and restaurants, when a liquid seasoning such as soy sauce or sauce is required for food, for example, a container such as a soy sauce pouring container for storing the liquid seasoning is lifted by hand, A required amount of liquid seasoning has been discharged by tilting the provided discharge port with respect to the food. In the case of foods such as rice cakes and dumplings, for example, liquid seasonings such as soy sauce are once poured into a small dish, and the food is soaked in liquid seasonings.

  However, when liquid seasoning is poured into a small plate, more liquid seasoning is poured than necessary, so that the remaining liquid seasoning remains in the small plate after meal. In most cases, this liquid seasoning will be discarded, and the cumulative amount discarded will be tremendous. Particularly in restaurants, there is a problem that the amount of accumulated waste becomes large, and the accumulated loss due to this becomes enormous. However, in the above-described tabletop liquid seasoning discharge device, since there is no discharge device that can discharge an appropriate amount of liquid seasoning, there is a long-awaited appearance of a discharge device capable of reducing the amount of waste. It was.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to discharge a liquid seasoning that can significantly reduce the amount of liquid seasoning discarded by automatically discharging an appropriate amount of the liquid seasoning by bringing food or the like close to each other. To provide an apparatus.

In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1 is a liquid seasoning discharge device for discharging a liquid seasoning stored in a container of a container body from a discharge port,
The container body includes a container for containing the liquid seasoning, a delivery pipe having one end connected to the container, a discharge pipe having a proximal end connected to the delivery pipe and a distal end projecting from the container body. A controller provided between the container and the discharge pipe to send and stop the liquid seasoning, and a liquid receiving liquid to be discharged from the liquid pipe near the tip of the discharge pipe. At least a sensor for sensing,
The gist is to discharge a predetermined amount of the liquid seasoning to the receiving liquid based on the sensing signal of the sensor.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the control tool includes a fixed piece and a movable piece that is operated by electromagnetic driving means, and is always between the fixed piece and the movable piece. The gist is that the delivery pipe having elasticity inserted through is crushed and when the electromagnetic driving means is operated, the fixed piece and the movable piece are separated from each other and the delivery pipe is opened for a predetermined time.

  Further, in the invention described in claim 3, in the invention described in claim 1, the sensor includes a proximity sensor, and when the liquid receiving liquid comes within a predetermined range, a detection signal is generated by approach or contact. The gist is to generate.

  Furthermore, the invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control device is operated for a predetermined time based on a detection signal of the sensor, and is then operated for a predetermined time by the next detection signal. This is the summary.

  According to the present invention, when a receiving liquid such as a food to which liquid seasoning is to be discharged is brought close to the discharge device, the sensor can sense and automatically discharge a predetermined amount of liquid seasoning. Further, since an appropriate amount of liquid seasoning is discharged, the amount of waste can be greatly reduced.

  Further, according to the invention described in claim 2, since the delivery pipe is inserted between the fixed piece and the movable piece of the control tool, and the liquid seasoning is discharged and stopped, the liquid seasoning is It is possible to prevent the liquid seasoning from being contaminated or deteriorated by bacteria or the like without touching the control tool. Conversely, the liquid seasoning can prevent the control tool from being corroded or contaminated. Furthermore, since the control tool always crushes the delivery pipe to stop the discharge and operates only during the discharge, power saving can be achieved.

  Further, according to a third aspect of the present invention, the sensor is constituted by a proximity sensor, and after detecting that the received liquid has come within a predetermined range, the liquid seasoning is reliably discharged to the received liquid. It becomes possible to make it.

  Furthermore, according to the invention described in claim 4, since the controller is operated for a predetermined time based on the sensing signal of the sensor and then operated for a predetermined time by the next sensing signal, Since a predetermined amount of the liquid seasoning is discharged once for the discharge operation, the liquid seasoning is not discharged in a large amount, and the amount of liquid seasoning discarded can be greatly reduced.

  The liquid seasoning discharge device is a device for discharging the liquid seasoning stored in the container of the container main body from the discharge port, and the container main body has a container for storing the liquid seasoning and one end connected to the container. The liquid seasoning is delivered and stopped by providing a delivery pipe, a discharge pipe having a proximal end connected to the delivery pipe and a distal end projecting from the container body, and the container and the delivery pipe. And at least a sensor that senses that a liquid to be discharged from the liquid seasoning has arrived in the vicinity of the tip of the discharge pipe. The sensor generates a sensing signal when a receiving liquid such as food arrives at a predetermined position, and the controller operates to discharge a predetermined amount of liquid seasoning from the discharge port based on the sensing signal. .

  FIG. 1 shows a liquid seasoning discharging apparatus according to the present invention. The container body 2 of the discharge device 1 includes a container 3 for storing the liquid seasoning 4, a delivery pipe 5 connected at one end to the container 3, a proximal end side connected to the delivery pipe 5, and a distal end side at the container body 2, a discharge pipe 6 protruding from 2, a controller 7 provided between the container 3 and the discharge pipe 6 for sending and stopping the liquid seasoning 4, and a liquid seasoning being discharged near the tip of the discharge pipe 6 And at least a sensor 8 for sensing that a liquid to be received has arrived.

  Specifically, a cup-shaped container 3 is fitted to the upper end of the cylindrical container body 2. This container 3 contains liquid seasonings 4 such as soy sauce, sauce, vinegar and the like. A lid 3a is detachably fitted to the open end of the container 3. A through hole 3b is formed on the bottom surface of the container 3, and one end of a delivery pipe 5 made of a tube having elasticity and resilience, such as silicon rubber, is connected to the through hole 3b by fitting and fixing. Yes. The other end of the delivery pipe 5 is fitted and connected to the proximal end side of the discharge pipe 6. The discharge pipe 6 is formed of, for example, a stainless steel pipe, the base end side is inserted into the container main body 2 and fixed, and the distal end side protrudes in the radial direction. The tip of the discharge pipe 6 is slightly curved downward so that the liquid seasoning 4 is discharged downward. And the liquid seasoning 4 accommodated in the container 3 distribute | circulates the inside of the delivery pipe | tube 5 and the discharge pipe 6, and is discharged toward the downward direction from the front-end | tip of the discharge pipe 6. FIG.

  The liquid seasoning 4 flowing through the delivery pipe 5 is discharged and stopped by the control tool 7. The control tool 7 illustrated in FIG. 1 is a kind of solenoid valve, and discharges and stops by causing the delivery pipe 5 itself to be crushed and restored by electromagnetic action. The control tool 7 has, as a basic structure, an electromagnetic drive means (not shown) disposed in the case 7a, a movable piece 7b connected to the electromagnetic drive means, and a fixed piece 7c fixed to the case 7a. It has. The electromagnetic drive means is, for example, in the form of an electromagnet that displaces the movable part when energized, and the movable piece 7b is connected to the movable part. The delivery pipe 5 is disposed between the fixed piece 7c and the movable piece 7b. When the electromagnetic drive means is not energized, as shown in FIG. 2 (A), the movable piece 7b is urged toward the fixed piece 7c by a spring member (not shown). The liquid seasoning 4 is stopped from being crushed by the elasticity of the members. The control tool 7 is driven based on the sensing signal of the sensor 8.

  The sensor 8 is composed of, for example, an optical proximity sensor, and is a liquid receiving liquid 9 that requires the liquid seasoning 4, for example, a candy 9 a as shown in FIG. 1 for food, dumplings, etc. If so, it is sensed that the liquid seasoning 4 has come within a predetermined range from the tip of the discharge pipe 6 to the dish 9b, other cups, teacups, etc. as shown in FIG. The range sensed by the sensor 8 is a range as indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 3 and is set so as to sense when the receiving liquid 9 comes slightly closer to the sensor 8 than the tip of the discharge pipe 6. ing. Further, the opening angle detected by the sensor 8 is appropriately set depending on the size of the target liquid 9. Further, the angle in the vertical direction of the sensor 8 is also set as appropriate depending on the target liquid 9 to be received.

  On the other hand, since the liquid seasoning discharging apparatus 1 is normally installed on a table and used, a battery 10 as a power source is disposed on the lower end side of the container body 2. In addition, a control circuit 11 for controlling the above-described control tool 7, sensor 8, and the like is disposed inside the container body 2. Further, on the peripheral surface of the container body 2, a plurality of indicators 12 that indicate the operation state of the discharge device 1 are disposed.

  Next, the operation of the liquid seasoning discharging apparatus 1 described above will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, for example, when a bowl 9a placed on a plate 9b is brought close to the discharge pipe 6 of the container body 2 as indicated by an arrow, the sensor 8 is positioned at a point A where the bowl 9a has passed through the discharge pipe 6.鮨 9a is detected. At this time, the dish 9b is not detected because the target for discharging the soy sauce as the liquid seasoning 4 is the bowl 9a.

  The sensor 8 generates a sensing signal when it detects the bag 9a. The control circuit 11 receives this signal, and the control circuit 11 drives the control tool 7 so as to move the movable piece 7b. The control tool 7 moves the movable piece 7b by electromagnetic driving means, and separates it from the fixed piece 7c. Then, as shown in FIG. 2 (A), the delivery pipe 5 crushed between the movable piece 7b and the fixed piece 7c is opened as shown in FIG. 2 (B), and the delivery pipe 5 flows. It becomes possible. As a result, the liquid seasoning 4 stored in the container 3 flows through the discharge pipe 6 via the delivery pipe 5, and the liquid seasoning 4 is discharged from the tip of the discharge pipe 6 toward the bowl 9 a. Then, the rice cake 9a with the appropriate amount of soy sauce is pulled back and eaten. In the case of such a rice cake 9a, soy sauce is put on kneaded rice so that it can be tasted delicious.

  After a predetermined time, the control circuit 11 stops driving the control tool 7, so that the movable piece 7 b returns to its original position by the elasticity of the spring member, and the delivery pipe 5 is crushed again to allow the liquid seasoning 4 to flow. Stopped. Since the discharge amount of the liquid seasoning 4 is proportional to the time required to flow through the delivery pipe 5 and the discharge pipe 6, it can be arbitrarily adjusted by appropriately setting the time for driving the control tool 7 by the control circuit 11. Can do.

  As described above, after discharging a predetermined amount of the liquid seasoning 4, the liquid seasoning 4 is not discharged because the liquid seasoning 4 is not reset until the tub 9 a is moved away from the range sensed by the sensor 8. . Then, after resetting the bowl 9a away, the next sensing signal is generated by bringing the bowl 9a into a range where the sensor 8 senses, and a new amount of the liquid seasoning 4 can be discharged. . This prevents excessive application of the liquid seasoning 4.

  FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the liquid seasoning discharging apparatus according to the present invention. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment described above in that the sensor is a contact type switch. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, a switch body 13 as a sensor is disposed on the container body 2, and a contact 13 a provided on the switch body 13 is projected from the outer periphery of the container body 2.

  Then, for example, the bowl 9a placed on the plate 9b is brought close to the container body 2 and the contact 13a is pushed by the tip of the plate 9b to detect the arrival of the plate 9b and generate a detection signal. Thereafter, as in the first embodiment described above, the control circuit 11 receives the sensing signal, the control circuit 11 drives the control tool 7 to move the movable piece 7b, and opens the delivery pipe 5 that has been crushed. Then, the liquid seasoning 4 is distributed. As a result, the liquid seasoning 4 is discharged from the tip of the discharge pipe 6 toward the bowl 9a. Thus, while discharging the liquid seasoning 4 or after that, even if the plate 9b pushes the contact 13a of the switch body 13, it is not reset unless the plate 9b is separated from the contact 13a. The material 4 is not discharged. Also in this example, since a predetermined amount of the liquid seasoning 4 is ejected by the trigger signal generated when the plate 9b presses the contact 13a, excessive application of the liquid seasoning 4 is prevented.

  In each of the embodiments described above, the shape of the container body and the like can be changed as appropriate. Further, the controller for discharging and stopping the liquid seasoning may be changed to other means that can be opened and closed by an electric drive such as an electromagnetic valve, and the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. It can be modified without departing from the scope.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is applicable to a desktop liquid seasoning discharge device that automatically discharges a predetermined amount of liquid seasoning such as soy sauce or sauce.

It is sectional drawing which shows the 1st Example of the discharge device of the liquid seasoning concerning this invention. (A) (B) is explanatory drawing which shows operation | movement of the control tool in a 1st Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows the sensing range of the sensor concerning this invention. It is a schematic explanatory drawing which shows the 2nd Example of the discharge device of the liquid seasoning concerning this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Discharge apparatus 2 Container body 3 Container 4 Liquid seasoning 5 Delivery pipe 6 Discharge pipe 7 Control tool 7b Movable piece 7b Fixed piece 8 Sensor 9 Receiving liquid

Claims (4)

A liquid seasoning discharge device for discharging a liquid seasoning stored in a container of a container body from a discharge port,
The container body includes a container for containing the liquid seasoning, a delivery pipe having one end connected to the container, a discharge pipe having a proximal end connected to the delivery pipe and a distal end projecting from the container body. A controller provided between the container and the discharge pipe to send and stop the liquid seasoning, and a liquid receiving liquid to be discharged from the liquid pipe near the tip of the discharge pipe. At least a sensor for sensing,
An apparatus for discharging a liquid seasoning, wherein a predetermined amount of the liquid seasoning is discharged to the receiving liquid based on a detection signal of the sensor.   The control tool has a fixed piece and a movable piece that is operated by electromagnetic driving means, and normally, an elastic delivery pipe inserted between the fixed piece and the movable piece is crushed to operate the electromagnetic driving means. 2. The liquid seasoning discharge device according to claim 1, wherein when the liquid feeding is performed, the fixed piece and the movable piece are separated from each other to open the delivery pipe for a predetermined time.   The liquid seasoning discharge device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor includes a proximity sensor, and generates a detection signal by approach or contact when the received liquid comes within a predetermined range. 4. The liquid seasoning discharge device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is operated for a predetermined time based on a detection signal of the sensor, and is then operated for a predetermined time by a next detection signal.

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