JP2014015251A - Liquid thermal insulation spouting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid thermal insulation spouting device which prevents heating of a tank in an empty state while minimizing the amount of a liquid remaining at a tank bottom part after a dischargeable liquid is spouted and reduces contaminations of the liquid remaining at the tank bottom part during replenishing.SOLUTION: A liquid thermal insulation spouting device 1 includes: heating means 7 which heats a liquid 3 and a tank 6; spouting means 4 which spouts the liquid; and a pump 8 which circulates the liquid and supplies the liquid to the spouting means; and detecting means 9 which detects a residual amount of the liquid. The detecting means is provided near an inlet port 20 of the tank at the inner side of the tank and a bottom surface 25 of the tank inclines toward the detecting means.

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid heat and temperature dispensing device that is installed in a restaurant or the like and warms, retains, and stores liquids such as stock and beverages and is used to pour such liquids into a container. More specifically, it is possible to prevent emptying while minimizing the amount of liquid remaining at the bottom of the tank after the liquid that can be dispensed is dispensed, and it remains at the bottom of the tank when refilling with new liquid. The present invention relates to a liquid warming and dispensing device that can reduce liquid contamination.

  Conventionally, in a restaurant (especially a self-service udon store), a liquid heat-insulating device for pouring liquids such as soup stock and beverages into containers has been widely used, and various technologies have been disclosed. (See Patent Documents 1 to 5).

  And in such a liquid thermal insulation pouring device, normally, the heating means for heating and keeping the liquid in the tank, and the detection means for detecting the remaining amount of liquid in the tank (Patent Documents 1 to 3) The float sensor and photoelectric sensor are generally used), which prevents the increase in concentration and taste due to evaporation of liquid moisture and flavor components, or the empty space due to evaporation of the liquid itself. Prevents whispering.

  Here, in the liquid warming and pouring device, it is possible to efficiently perform work by replenishing new liquid after using up the liquid in the tank as much as possible. What detects in the state where there is as little liquid in a tank as possible is preferable.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-232800 JP-A-8-53198 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-698 JP-A-8-11993 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-72991

  However, as described in Patent Documents 1 to 5, all of the conventional liquid warming and dispensing devices have a horizontal bottom surface of the tank, so that the detection means such as a float sensor is used up with the liquid in the tank. If the detection means detects the end of the liquid, the amount of liquid remaining in the tank will be a small amount of several millimeters deep from the bottom. The problem of increased risk arises.

  On the other hand, if the detection means is to be installed at a position where it can be prevented from being sprinkled, it must be installed at a position somewhat above the bottom of the tank, and even when the detection means detects the end of the liquid, In this case, a certain amount of liquid having a depth of several centimeters from the bottom surface remains. If a new liquid is replenished with a large amount of liquid remaining in the tank in this way, contamination will occur between the liquid remaining in the tank and the new liquid, and the new liquid that has been replenished at a corner has a new liquid. The problem arises that the proper concentration and flavor are impaired.

  As described above, in the conventional liquid warming and dispensing apparatus, there is a so-called trade-off relationship between the installation position of the detection means and the contamination, and it has been difficult to satisfy both purposes.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and prevents emptying while minimizing the amount of liquid remaining at the bottom of a tank after pouring out liquid that can be poured out. Another object of the present invention is to provide a liquid warming and pouring device that can reduce the contamination of the liquid remaining in the bottom of the tank at the time of refilling.

  In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a liquid insulation and pouring device according to claim 1 of the present invention comprises a heating means for heating a liquid and a tank, a pouring means for pouring the liquid, and circulating the liquid. A liquid heat and temperature dispensing device having a pump for supplying to the dispensing means and a detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of the liquid, the detecting means being provided inside the tank and in the vicinity of the outlet of the tank, Furthermore, the bottom surface of the tank is inclined toward the detection means.

  The liquid warming and dispensing apparatus according to claim 2 of the present invention is characterized in that the depth of the tank in the vicinity of the detection means is deeper than the depth of the other part of the tank.

  The liquid warming and dispensing apparatus according to claim 3 of the present invention is characterized in that the heating means is a rubber heater provided on the entire outer surface of the bottom surface of the tank.

According to the liquid thermal insulation pouring device according to the present invention, the detection means (float sensor) is provided in the tank, and the bottom surface of the tank is inclined toward the detection means, whereby the liquid after pouring can be poured out. It is possible to prevent emptying while minimizing the amount of liquid remaining at the bottom of the tank.
Further, since contamination with the liquid remaining in the tank at the time of replenishment can be reduced, changes in the concentration and taste of the replenished liquid can be prevented.

  In addition, according to the liquid warming and dispensing apparatus according to claim 3 of the present invention, the entire bottom of the tank can be more efficiently heated by using the rubber heater as the heating means.

It is side surface sectional drawing of the liquid heat insulation dispensing apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the liquid thermal insulation pouring device concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is the perspective view which showed the internal structure of the main body of the liquid heat insulation dispensing apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is the perspective view which showed the installation position of the temperature sensor and thermostat which are used for the liquid heat insulation dispensing apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the use condition of the liquid heat insulation dispensing apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The embodiment described below is merely an example embodying the present invention, and does not limit the technical scope of the present invention.
FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view of a liquid warming and dispensing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a liquid warming and dispensing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the main body of the liquid warming and dispensing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is an installation position of the temperature sensor and thermostat used in the liquid warming and dispensing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. It is the perspective view which showed.

First, the structure of the liquid heat extraction apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated based on FIGS. 1-3.
As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, a liquid warming and pouring device 1 according to the present invention includes a main body 2, a pouring means 4 for pouring the liquid 3, and a pipe 5 that connects the main body 2 and the pouring means 4. It is configured as a main part. The pipe 5 in the present embodiment is a flexible hose that can be freely bent and deformed, such as a flexible tube.

  The main body 2 has a tank 6 for storing the liquid 3, a heating means 7 for heating and keeping the liquid 3 in the tank 6, and a pump 8 for circulating the liquid 3 and supplying it to the dispensing means 4. A detection means 9 for detecting the remaining amount of the liquid 3 in the tank 6 and a control means (not shown) for controlling them are configured as main components.

  As shown in FIG. 1 or 4, a temperature sensor 10 and a safety thermo 11 for detecting the temperature of the liquid 3 and operating the heating means 7 through the control means are provided at the bottom of the tank 6. As shown in FIG. 1, a motor valve 12 and a drain 13 for discharging waste liquid after washing the inside of the tank 6 with water or a washing liquid are connected by a pipe 14.

  The pouring means 4 includes a pouring outlet 17 having a heater portion 15 and a lever 16 as main components, and is fixed to a gantry 18 shown in FIG.

  The pump 8 is installed below the tank 6, and a suction port 19 is connected to an outlet 20 of the tank 6 described later, and a discharge port 21 is connected to the pipe 14.

  And these components are connected by the piping 5 and the piping 14, and it is comprised so that the liquid 3 may circulate through the inside of an apparatus. Specifically, the pipe 14 connected to the discharge port 21 of the pump 8 is connected to the pipe 5 after passing through the back surface of the main body 2 and connected to the pouring means 4 so as to meander the upper part of the main body 2. After that, it enters the main body 2 from the back surface of the main body 2 so as to meander by the pipe 5 connected to the pouring means 4 again, and is connected to the pipe 14 and connected to the inlet 22 of the tank 6.

  Furthermore, the caster 23 is provided in the liquid heat extraction device 1 so as to be movable, and in the vicinity of the caster 23 (in the present embodiment, the floor surface on which the liquid heat extraction device 1 is installed). Is provided with a guide member 24 for assisting and regulating the moving direction of the caster 23.

  Next, main structural requirements will be described.

(tank)
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the tank 6 used in the liquid warming and dispensing apparatus of the present invention has an outlet 20 for sending the liquid 3 to the pump 8 on the bottom surface 25 and the liquid 3 circulated in the apparatus. The inlet 22 for returning to the tank 6 is provided on the wall surface. In addition, the upper side of the tank 6 is an opening and is closed by a lid 26.

  Further, a heat insulating material (not shown) is provided outside the tank 6 and inside the lid 26 so that the temperature of the liquid 3 does not decrease.

  And the tank 6 used for the liquid thermal insulation pouring apparatus of this invention needs to incline toward the detection means 9 which the bottom face 25 mentions later, as shown in FIG.1 and FIG.3. By inclining the bottom surface 25 of the tank 6 toward the detection means 9 in this way, the amount of the liquid 3 remaining on the bottom of the tank 6 after the liquid 3 that can be poured out is minimized, while emptying. It can prevent whispering. Further, since the amount of the liquid 3 remaining in the tank 6 can be reduced, even when a new liquid 3 is replenished, the mixing amount of the previous liquid 3 can be reduced, and the concentration and taste due to contamination can be reduced. Changes can be prevented.

Furthermore, the bottom surface 25 of the tank 6 is not only inclined toward the detection means 9 but also as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the depth of the tank 6 at the outlet 20 portion is greater than that of the other portions. It is preferable that it is deep. Since the depth of the outlet 20 is deeper than the other parts in this way, the liquid 3 remaining in the tank 6 is reduced due to a synergistic effect with the inclination of the bottom surface 25 described above. Even in such a case, a sufficient amount of the liquid 3 is secured at the outlet 20 portion, and the remaining amount can be detected more accurately without impairing the sensitivity of the detection means 9.
Moreover, since the new liquid 3 can be replenished in a state where the amount of the liquid 3 in the tank 6 is reduced more efficiently, contamination can be prevented more effectively.

  Note that the degree of inclination of the bottom surface 25 of the tank 6 and the depth of the outlet 20 portion are not particularly limited, and are appropriately set as necessary.

  Further, the material of the tank 6 is not particularly limited, and is appropriately selected depending on the type of the liquid 3 to be stored. In addition, it is preferable to use metal materials, such as stainless steel and titanium, since the liquid heat | fever warming-and-pouring apparatus of this invention often stores an edible liquid.

(Detection means)
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the detection means 9 used in the liquid warming and dispensing apparatus of the present invention needs to be provided in the vicinity of the outlet 20 of the tank 6. By providing the detection means 9 in the vicinity of the outlet 20 of the tank 6 as described above, as described in paragraphs [0027] and [0028], the liquid 3 that can be poured out remains at the bottom of the tank 6 after being poured out. While the amount of the liquid 3 is minimized, it is possible to prevent emptying.
As long as the detection means 9 is provided in the vicinity of the outlet 20 of the tank 6, it does not prevent the detection means 9 from being provided at a position other than the place, and may be provided at a plurality of positions in the tank 6.

The type of the detection means 9 is not particularly limited as long as it can detect the remaining amount of the liquid 3 in the tank 6, and various detection means 9 such as a float sensor and a photoelectric sensor can be used alone. Or they can be used in combination.
In addition, since the liquid warming and dispensing apparatus of the present invention is often intended for edible liquids, a float sensor is used in that the remaining amount of liquid can be detected more reliably without being affected by the salt content of the liquid. It is preferable to use it.

  Further, when a float sensor is used as the detecting means 9, the liquid 3 in the tank 6 is used in several steps using a plurality of floats (two in FIGS. 1 and 3) as shown in FIGS. The remaining amount may be detected. If a plurality of floats are used in this way, finer detection can be performed, and liquid can be replenished more efficiently, such as preparation of a new liquid at an appropriate time.

(Heating means)
The warming means 7 used in the liquid warming and dispensing apparatus of the present invention is used for warming and warming the liquid 3, and various heating means such as a heater, a stove, and microwave irradiation can be used. . Among these, it is preferable to use a heating means 7 that can uniformly heat a wide area such as a rubber heater from the viewpoint that the liquid 3 in the tank 6 can be heated and kept warm. . Furthermore, when the heating means 7 such as a rubber heater is used, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, it is possible to prevent uneven heating by providing the heating means 7 on substantially the entire bottom surface 25 of the tank 6. preferable.

  The installation position of the heating means 7 in the tank 6 is not particularly limited, but it may be installed outside the tank 6 and on the bottom surface 25 of the tank 6 as shown in FIGS. preferable. By installing the heating means 7 at such a position, the liquid 3 can be heated without worrying that the heating means 7 may malfunction due to the influence of the salt content of the liquid 3. It is.

  Next, the operation and action of the liquid warming and dispensing apparatus 1 configured as described above will be described. FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a usage state of the liquid heat-retention dispensing device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

  First, the lid 26 of the liquid warming and dispensing apparatus 1 is opened, the liquid 3 is poured into the tank 6, the lid 26 is closed, and the switch in the switch panel 27 is turned on to drive the pump 8 and the heating means 7. Then, circulation and heating of the liquid 3 are started. In this way, the concentration and temperature of the liquid 3 are kept uniform. The liquid 3 may be heated in advance.

  And as shown in FIG. 5, the container 28 is arrange | positioned under a spout, and the lever 16 of the extraction means 4 is operated, and the liquid 3 is poured out into the container 28, The liquid heat insulation dispensing apparatus 1 of FIG. Use is made.

  Next, when the liquid warming and dispensing apparatus 1 is used and the amount of the liquid 3 becomes half of the capacity of the tank 6, the float above the float sensor (detecting means 9) floating by the liquid 3 first falls. Thus, it is detected that the volume of the liquid 3 has decreased.

  Further, when the amount of the liquid 3 in the tank 6 decreases, the float below the float sensor (detection means 9) also drops, and the operation of the pump 8 is stopped by the control means, and the switch panel 27 The warning light at will be lit.

  Here, since the bottom surface 25 of the tank 6 inclines toward the detection means 9 in the present invention, the water level of the liquid 3 in the tank 6 when the float below the float sensor (detection means 9) falls is as follows. 1 is held in the state indicated by the dotted line in FIG.

  Accordingly, the liquid 3 in the tank 6 can stop the operation of the pump 8 while leaving a minimum amount necessary for preventing the heating means 7 from emptying. Furthermore, since the remaining amount of the liquid 3 in the tank 6 can be further reduced, even when a new liquid 3 is replenished, the mixing amount of the previous liquid 3 can be reduced, and contamination can be prevented. It becomes.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is installed in a restaurant or the like, and can be used for a liquid thermal insulation pouring device that is used to warm, retain, and store liquids such as stocks and beverages and to pour such liquids into containers. .

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Liquid thermal insulation pouring apparatus 2 Main body 3 Liquid 4 Pouring means 5 Piping (flexible hose)
6 Tank 7 Heating means (rubber heater)
8 Pump 9 Detection means (float sensor)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Temperature sensor 11 Safety thermo 12 Motor valve 13 Drain 14 Piping 15 Heater part 16 Lever 17 Outlet 18 Base 19 Inlet 20 Outlet 21 Outlet 22 Inlet 23 Caster 24 Guide member 25 Bottom face 26 Cover 27 Switch panel 28 Container

Claims (3)

A tank for storing and keeping liquid, and
Heating means for heating the liquid and the tank;
A dispensing means for dispensing the liquid;
A pump for circulating the liquid and supplying the liquid to the extraction means;
A liquid warming and dispensing device comprising detection means for detecting the remaining amount of the liquid,
The detecting means is provided inside the tank and in the vicinity of the outlet of the tank;
Furthermore, the liquid thermal insulation pouring device, wherein the bottom surface of the tank is inclined toward the detection means. The depth of the tank in the vicinity of the detection means is
2. The liquid thermal insulation pouring device according to claim 1, which is deeper than the depth of the other part of the tank. The heating means is
The liquid thermal insulation pouring device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the liquid heater is a rubber heater provided on the entire outer surface of the bottom surface of the tank.