JP2013015981A - Automatic vending machine for beverage, method for providing the same, storage for the same, and method for storing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the automatic vending machine for beverages for reducing power consumption, and for reducing an installation space.SOLUTION: An automatic vending machine 1 for beverage includes: storage 11A; a heating button 13A; a cooling button 13B; and a heating/cooling device 2. The storage 11A is configured to store bottled beverages at room temperature. The heating button 13A and the cooling button 13B are configured to make a purchaser select the heating or cooling of the bottled beverages. The heating/cooling device 2 is configured to heat the bottled beverages when the heating button 13A is pressed by the purchaser. Also, the heating/cooling device 2 is configured to cool the bottled beverages when the cooling button 13B is pressed by the purchaser.

Description

  The present invention relates to a beverage vending machine that provides a beverage containing a container to a purchaser, a method for providing the same, a store for the same, and a method for storing the same.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, beverage vending machines that provide beverages in containers to purchasers are known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the vending machine described in Patent Document 1, an induction heating device that heats the beverage in a container is disposed adjacent to the carry-out port. When a beverage in a container is designated by the purchaser, the vending machine carries the designated beverage in a container from the storage to the induction heating device. And after heating this container-containing drink with an induction heating apparatus, it is conveyed to the carry-out port. This allows the vending machine to provide the buyer with a warm containerd beverage.

  Here, in this vending machine, the beverage in a warm container is stored in a store kept warm at a constant temperature. Moreover, since this vending machine sells beverages in warm containers and cold beverages in cold containers, it is considered that the cold beverages in a container are stored in a store cooled to a predetermined temperature.

JP 2008-102584 A

  However, in such a vending machine, there is a problem that the power consumption increases because a device for controlling the temperature of the entire storage is provided in order to keep the temperature of the storage at a constant temperature. In addition, in such vending machines, in order to suppress the influence of the outside air temperature on the temperature of the storage, a heat insulating material or the like is provided so as to cover the storage, so the vending machine becomes larger, and consequently the vending machine. There is a problem that the space for installing the device becomes large.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a beverage vending machine, a method for providing the same, a store for the same, and a method for storing the same, which can reduce power consumption and reduce the installation space.

  In order to solve such a problem, the first invention provides a beverage vending machine that has a storage, a selection device, and a heating / cooling device, and provides a beverage in a container to a purchaser. The storage stores the beverage in a container at room temperature. The selection device allows the purchaser to select heating or cooling of the packaged beverage. The heating / cooling device heats or cools the beverage in a container carried out of the storage in accordance with the heating or cooling selected through the selection device.

  Here, in 1st invention, it is preferable that a heating-cooling apparatus has a Peltier device which is a thermoelectric conversion element which heats or cools a drink with a container. In this case, it is preferable that the heating / cooling device has a cylindrical portion that temporarily stores and holds the beverage in a container, and the Peltier element is disposed so as to cover the periphery of the cylindrical portion. In this case, it is preferable that the heating / cooling device has a rotation mechanism that relatively rotates the cylindrical portion and the beverage in a container around the central axis.

  2nd invention provides the provision method of the drink which has a normal temperature storage process, a selection process, and a heating-cooling process, and provides a purchaser with a container to a purchaser. In the room temperature storage step, the beverage in a container is stored at room temperature. In the selection step, the purchaser is allowed to select heating or cooling of the beverage in the container. In the heating and cooling process, the beverage in the container is heated or cooled according to the heating or cooling selected in the selection process.

  Here, in 2nd invention, it is preferable that a heating / cooling process heats or cools a drink with a container using a Peltier device.

  3rd invention provides the storehouse of the drink which has a storage body, a selection apparatus, and a heating-cooling apparatus, and stores a drink with a container. The storage body stores the beverage in a container at room temperature. The selection device allows the user to select heating or cooling of the packaged beverage. The heating / cooling device heats or cools the beverage contained in the container carried out of the storage body according to the heating or cooling selected via the selection device.

  Here, in 3rd invention, it is preferable that a heating-cooling apparatus has a Peltier device which heats or cools a drink with a container.

  4th invention provides the storage method of the drink which has a normal temperature storage process, a selection process, and a heating-cooling process, and stores a drink with a container. The room temperature storage step stores the beverage in a container at room temperature. In the selection step, the user selects heating or cooling of the beverage in the container. The heating and cooling step heats or cools the beverage in the container according to the heating or cooling selected in the selection step.

  Here, in 4th invention, it is preferable that a heating / cooling process heats or cools a drink containing a container using a Peltier device.

  In the first or third invention, the beverage vending machine or the beverage storage has a heating / cooling device that heats or cools the beverage in a container according to the heating or cooling selected through the selection device. ing. In the second or fourth invention, the beverage providing method or the beverage storage method includes a heating and cooling step of heating or cooling the beverage in a container according to the heating or cooling selected in the selection step. ing. Therefore, according to these inventions, the beverage in a container can be stored at room temperature, and the beverage in a container can be heated or cooled after the purchaser or the user selects heating or cooling of the beverage in the container. That is, since it is not necessary to provide a device for controlling the temperature of the entire storage, a heat insulating material covering the storage, and the like, power consumption can be reduced and installation space can be reduced.

  Furthermore, in these inventions, the use of a Peltier element, which is a thermoelectric conversion element, reduces the time required for heating or cooling the beverage in a container while the power consumption is small. Or you can spend less time waiting to receive a packaged beverage after choosing to cool.

The figure which shows the external appearance of the vending machine which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. Schematic showing the main part of the heating and cooling device Cross-sectional schematic diagram showing the main parts of the heating and cooling device Explanatory drawing about operation of heating and cooling device Flow chart showing a method of providing a beverage in a container by a vending machine

  FIG. 1 is a view showing the appearance of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. The vending machine 1 includes a case 11 formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, a plurality of exhibition rooms 12 provided on an upper portion of the case 11, a plurality of buttons 13 provided on the lower side of each exhibition room 12, A beverage vending machine having a settlement unit 14 provided in the middle part of the case 11 and a carry-out port 15 provided in the lower part of the case 11 and providing a beverage B (see FIG. 2) with a container to the purchaser. is there.

  Inside the case 11, a storage 11 </ b> A that stores the beverage D in a container at room temperature is provided. The exhibition room 12 displays a sample DS of the beverage D in a container. The plurality of buttons 13 are arranged in groups of two below the sample DS. Each of these sets corresponds to a sample DS located above the set. Here, the button 13 provided in the lower left of the sample DS is a heating button 13A for heating the beverage D in the container. Further, the button 13 provided at the lower right of the sample DS is a cooling button 13B for cooling the beverage D in the container.

  The purchaser selects a desired container-containing beverage D by referring to the sample DS, and then presses one of the buttons 13 corresponding to the sample DS of the container-containing beverage D. At this time, the purchaser presses the heating button 13A if he / she chooses to warm the beverage B in the container, and presses the cooling button 13B if he / she chooses to cool the beverage D in the container. . Accordingly, the purchaser can specify the desired container-containing beverage D and can select heating or cooling of the container-containing beverage D. In other words, in the present embodiment, the plurality of buttons 13 function as a selection device that allows the purchaser to select heating or cooling of the beverage D in the container.

  The settlement unit 14 is constituted by an electronic currency reader 14A and a bill and a curing inlet 14B, and performs settlement of a fee according to the containered beverage D designated by the purchaser. The container-containing beverage D designated by the purchaser is transported to the carry-out port 15. The vending machine 1 has a heating / cooling device 2 provided adjacent to the carry-out port 15 inside the case 11.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a main part of the heating / cooling device 2. The heating / cooling device 2 heats or cools the container-containing beverage D carried out from the storage 11 </ b> A according to the heating or cooling selected through the plurality of buttons 13. Specifically, the heating / cooling device 2 heats the beverage D in the container when the purchase button 13A is pressed by the purchaser. Moreover, the heating / cooling device 2 cools the drink D in a container, when the cooling button 13B is pushed down by the purchaser.

  The heating / cooling device 2 includes a cylindrical portion 21 that temporarily stores and holds the beverage D in a container, and a plurality of Peltier elements 22 that are attached so as to cover the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 21. The cylindrical portion 21 is configured to be openable and closable by combining a semi-cylindrical member 21A disposed on the vertically lower side and a semi-cylindrical member 21B disposed on the vertically upper side with a hinge. FIG. 2 shows a state where the cylindrical portion 21 is opened.

  In the cylindrical portion 21, one opening (opening on the left side in the drawing) is adjacent to the carry-out port 15. The material of the cylindrical portion 21 is preferably a material having high thermal conductivity, and aluminum is used in the present embodiment. The opening and closing of the cylindrical portion 21 is controlled by a motor (not shown).

  FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the main part of the heating / cooling device 2. Specifically, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view when the heating / cooling device 2 is cut along the axial direction of the cylindrical portion 21. The heating / cooling device 2 further includes one opening located on the carry-out port 15 side (left side in the drawing), a pedestal 23 provided between the carry-out port 15 and a rotating body 24 provided on the other opening side. Have.

  The pedestal 23 is configured to be slidable along a vertical vertical direction orthogonal to the central axis of the cylindrical portion 21 (arrow A in FIG. 3). The pedestal 23 is formed in a disk shape having a recess 23A having a circular cross section. A substantially disk-shaped rotating disk 23B is attached to the recess 23A via a bearing so as to be rotatable around the central axis. The turntable 23B has substantially the same outer diameter as the cylindrical portion 21. In addition, a disc-shaped rubber plate 23C having a slightly smaller diameter than the container-packed beverage D is attached to the surface of the cylindrical portion 21 on the rotary disc 23B.

  The rotating body 24 is formed in a columnar shape having a slightly smaller diameter than the beverage D in the container. The rotating body 24 is configured to be slidable along the central axis of the cylindrical portion 21 (arrow B in FIG. 3). The rotating body 24 is configured to be rotatable around the central axis of the cylindrical portion 21 (arrow C in FIG. 3). Furthermore, a disk-shaped rubber plate 24A is attached to the surface of the cylindrical portion 21 on the rotating body 24. The base 23 and the rotating body 24 slide by being driven by a linear actuator (not shown). The rotating body 24 rotates by being driven by a motor (not shown).

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the heating / cooling device 2. Hereinafter, the operation of the heating / cooling device 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 4. In a normal state in which the containered beverage D is not specified by the purchaser, as shown in FIG. 2, the cylindrical portion 21 is in a state where the semicylindrical member 21A and the semicylindrical member 21B are open. Further, in this normal state, as shown in FIG. 4A, the pedestal 23 is in a lowered state. Further, the rotating body 24 is in a state of moving in a direction away from the cylindrical portion 21 (right direction on the paper surface).

  When the purchaser specifies the beverage D in the container and the payment is made by the purchaser by the payment by the purchaser, the vending machine 1 sends the specified beverage D in the container from the storage 11A. Take it out. Then, the vending machine 1 places the beverage D contained in the container carried out from the storage 11A on the semi-cylindrical member 21A (the thick arrow in FIG. 2). When the containered beverage D is placed on the semi-cylindrical member 21A, the heating and cooling device 2 drives the motor to close the semi-cylindrical member 21A and the semi-cylindrical member 21B (arrows in FIG. 2). .

  When the cylindrical portion 21 is in a closed state, as shown by an arrow in FIG. 4A, the heating / cooling device 2 moves the pedestal 23 to a position where the rotation axis of the rotating plate 23 </ b> B and the central axis of the cylindrical portion 21 coincide. To raise. Next, the rotating body 24 is moved to the containered beverage D side. That is, the heating / cooling device 2 holds the beverage D in a container by the pedestal 23 and the rotating body 24 as shown in FIG.

  The heating / cooling device 2 heats or cools the cylindrical portion 21 by passing an electric current through the Peltier element 22 when the beverage D contained in the container is held. Specifically, when the purchase button 13A is pressed by the purchaser, the containered beverage D is heated by setting the direction of the current flowing through the Peltier element 22 to a predetermined direction. Moreover, when the cooling button 13B is pressed by the purchaser, the beverage D in the container is cooled by reversing the direction of the current flowing through the Peltier element 22 from that during heating. At this time, the heating / cooling device 2 rotates the beverage D in the container by rotating the rotating body 24 as indicated by an arrow in FIG. That is, in this embodiment, the heating / cooling device 2 constitutes a rotation mechanism that relatively rotates the cylindrical portion 21 and the beverage D in the container around the central axis by the pedestal 23 and the rotating body 24. . According to this, the containered drink D can be heated or cooled rapidly.

  When the heating / cooling device 2 finishes heating or cooling the beverage D contained in the container, the base 23 is lowered as shown in FIG. Next, the rotating body 24 is moved so as to push out the containered beverage D from one opening located on the carry-out port 15 side. Thereby, the heating / cooling device 2 transports the container-containing beverage D to the carry-out port 15.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method for providing the containerized beverage D by the vending machine 1. First, the vending machine 1 stores the beverage D in a container at normal temperature (step 1: normal temperature storage process). Next, the vending machine 1 determines whether or not the heating button 13A has been pressed (step 2). In Step 2, when it is determined that the heating button 13A is not pressed, the vending machine 1 determines whether or not the cooling button 13B is pressed (Step 3). In Step 3, when it is determined that the cooling button 13B has not been pressed, the vending machine 1 executes Step 1 again. That is, in this embodiment, Steps 2 and 3 correspond to a selection process in which the purchaser selects the heating or cooling of the beverage D in the container.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step 2 that the heating button 13A has been pressed, the vending machine 1 carries out the designated container-containing beverage D from the storage 11A, and the heating / cooling device 2 enters the container. Beverage D is heated (step 41). When it is determined in step 3 that the cooling button 13B has been pressed, the vending machine 1 carries out the designated container-containing beverage D from the storage 11A, and the heating and cooling device 2 removes the container-containing beverage D. Cool down (step 42). In other words, in the present embodiment, steps 41 and 42 correspond to a heating and cooling process in which the beverage D in a container is heated or cooled according to the heating or cooling selected in the selection process. Then, the heating / cooling device 2 conveys the container-containing beverage D to the carry-out port 15 (step 5). Thereby, the purchaser can receive the specified container-containing beverage D.

  Thus, according to this embodiment, since the vending machine 1 has the heating and cooling device 2, the container-containing beverage D is stored at room temperature, and heating or cooling of the container-containing beverage D is selected by the purchaser. After being done, the containered beverage D can be heated or cooled. That is, since it is not necessary to provide a device for controlling the temperature of the entire storage 11A, a heat insulating material covering the storage 11A, and the like, power consumption can be reduced and installation space can be reduced.

  Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, by using the Peltier element 22 that is a thermoelectric conversion element, the time required for heating or cooling the containered beverage D can be reduced while the power consumption is small. After selecting heating or cooling, less time is required to wait until receiving the beverage D in the container.

  In addition, in embodiment mentioned above, although the heating / cooling apparatus 2 had the Peltier element 22 which heats or cools the drink D with a container, you may heat or cool the drink D with a container by another structure. . For example, the heating and cooling device may be configured by providing a heater for heating the beverage in a container and a cooler for cooling the beverage in a container. In short, the heating / cooling device may be anything that heats or cools the beverage in a container.

  In the above-described embodiment, the heating / cooling device 2 has the plurality of Peltier elements 22 attached so as to cover the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical part 21, but the Peltier element 22 surrounds the cylindrical part 21. It does not need to be attached so as to cover, and it is sufficient that at least one is attached.

  Moreover, in embodiment mentioned above, although the heating / cooling apparatus 2 had the cylindrical part 21 which accommodates and hold | maintains the drink D with a container temporarily, it accommodates and hold | maintains a drink with a container temporarily. Any other shape may be used as long as it can be formed.

  Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the heating / cooling device 2 rotates the beverage D in the container by rotating the rotating body 24, but the cylindrical portion 21 may be rotated. In short, the heating / cooling device 2 only needs to have a rotation mechanism that relatively rotates the cylindrical portion 21 and the container-containing beverage D around the central axis. In addition, in the case where it is not necessary to rapidly heat or cool the beverage in a container, or in the case of a container that is difficult to rotate, the heating and cooling device may not have a rotation mechanism.

  As described above, the present invention can be applied to a beverage vending machine that transports a beverage in a container selected by a purchaser to a carry-out port, and a method for providing the beverage. In addition, the present invention is not limited to vending machines and methods for providing the same, and can be widely applied to, for example, a domestic beverage storage and a storage method thereof. In this case, the storage should just have the storage main body which stores a drink with a container at normal temperature, the selection apparatus mentioned above, and the heating-cooling apparatus mentioned above. According to this, the user can heat or cool immediately before taking out the beverage in a container.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vending machine 2 Heating / cooling device 11 Case 11A Storage 12 Exhibition room 13 Button (selection device)
13A Heating button 13B Cooling button 14 Settlement unit 14A Reader 14B Input port 15 Carriage exit 21 Cylindrical portion 21A, 21B Semi-cylindrical member 22 Peltier element 23 Base 23A Recessed part 23B Rotary plate 23C Rubber plate 24 Rotating body 24A Rubber plate D Beverage in container DS sample

Claims (10)

In beverage vending machines that provide beverages in containers to buyers,
A storage for storing the beverage in a container at room temperature;
A selection device that allows the purchaser to select heating or cooling of the beverage in the container;
A beverage vending machine comprising: a heating and cooling device that heats or cools the beverage in a container carried out of the storage in accordance with the heating or cooling selected through the selection device.   2. The beverage vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the heating and cooling device includes a Peltier element for heating or cooling the beverage in the container. The heating and cooling device is
A cylindrical portion for temporarily storing and holding the beverage in a container;
3. The beverage vending machine according to claim 2, wherein the Peltier element is disposed so as to cover the periphery of the cylindrical portion.   4. The beverage vending machine according to claim 3, wherein the heating / cooling device includes a rotation mechanism that relatively rotates the cylindrical portion and the beverage in a container around a central axis. In the method of providing a beverage for providing a beverage in a container to a purchaser,
A room temperature storage step for storing the beverage in a container at room temperature;
A selection step that allows the purchaser to select heating or cooling of the beverage in the container;
And a heating / cooling step of heating or cooling the beverage in a container according to the heating or cooling selected in the selection step.   The method for providing a beverage according to claim 5, wherein the heating and cooling step heats or cools the beverage in a container using a Peltier element. In the beverage storage for storing beverages in containers,
A storage body that stores the beverage in a container at room temperature,
A selection device that allows the user to select heating or cooling of the beverage in the container;
A beverage storage, comprising: a heating / cooling device that heats or cools the beverage in a container carried out of the storage body according to the heating or cooling selected through the selection device.   The beverage storage container according to claim 7, wherein the heating and cooling device includes a Peltier element that heats or cools the beverage in the container. In a beverage storage method for storing a containerized beverage,
A room temperature storage step for storing the beverage in a container at room temperature;
A selection step that allows the user to select heating or cooling of the beverage in the container;
A beverage storage method comprising: a heating and cooling step of heating or cooling the beverage in a container according to the heating or cooling selected in the selection step.   The said heating and cooling process heats or cools the said drink in a container using a Peltier device, The storage method of the drink described in Claim 9 characterized by the above-mentioned.

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