JP2017202101A - Cup-type automatic dispenser and agitation tool therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cup-type automatic dispenser which can prevent foam clusters from remaining on a surface of beverage without addition of a new component.SOLUTION: There is provided a cup-type automatic dispenser of in-cup mixing type. A beverage agitation device 8 comprises a defoaming process for eliminating foam floating on a surface of beverage with an agitation tool 80 after beverage adjustment in which the agitation tool 80 is rotated in the cup C to agitate and mix the beverage for adjusting the beverage, so as not to deteriorate a visual impression of the beverage due to residue of foam floating on the beverage surface, which occurs when the agitation tool 80 is rotated in the cup C to agitate and mix the beverage for adjusting the beverage. Thus, clusters of foam floating on the surface of the beverage can be eliminated without addition of a new component.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention includes a stirrer that descends so as to enter the cup by an elevating mechanism of the beverage agitator, and that rises so as to come out of the cup from inside the cup, and the beverage is agitated in the cup by the stirrer. -The present invention relates to a cup-type vending machine with mixing in a cup and a stirring device for a cup-type vending machine.

  A cup-type vending machine that adjusts instant coffee etc. and sells it as a cup drink has many different types of cups of different capacities (for example, large, medium, and small) in a cabinet with an open front. A cup supply device that is stacked and stored, a canister that stores various powder raw materials (for example, cream, coffee, sugar, etc.) by type, a cup transport device that grips and transports the cup, and an agitator that can be moved vertically by a lifting mechanism Beverage stirrers, bend stages (product sales outlets), hot water tanks, cold water tanks, ice machines, etc. are installed, product selection buttons for selecting beverages on the door that closes the cabinet opening, and adjusting the concentration of ingredients An adjustment button to be used, a product outlet to face the bend stage, and the like are provided. The cup conveying device grips the cup (large, medium or small cup) supplied from the cup supply device and conveys it to the bend stage facing the product sales port via the canister and the beverage stirring device. It is configured. The cup transport device is configured to stop once when the gripped cup reaches the position of the canister and beverage agitator (beverage adjustment position). At the canister position, powder raw materials such as cream, coffee, and sugar are injected into the cup. At the beverage adjustment position, hot water (at the time of hot beverage sales) is injected into the cup from the hot water tank through the hot water supply nozzle, and the agitator is lowered by the beverage agitator, and the powder raw material and hot water are agitated and mixed. And configured to adjust the coffee beverage. When selling regular coffee as a cup beverage, a coffee bean canister that stores coffee beans by type, a mill that grinds coffee beans carried out from the coffee bean canister into a powder, hot water supply from crushed coffee beans and hot water tank A coffee brewer that is injected through a nozzle and extracts regular coffee liquor using hot water is additionally equipped.Regular coffee liquor extracted from the coffee brewer is poured into the cup, and if necessary, a stirrer is provided by a beverage agitator. After being lowered, the raw material powder and the regular coffee liquid are agitated and mixed to adjust the coffee beverage.

  The cup-type vending machine that mixes drinks such as regular coffee and instant coffee with sugar and cream as described above in the cup, after the agitator of the beverage agitator has entered the cup at the beverage adjustment position. It is configured to stir and mix by causing a flow in the beverage by rotating, and after the beverage is adjusted, the rotation of the stirrer is stopped and then the stirrer is raised out of the cup by the lifting mechanism (for example, Patent Document 1). In addition, in cup-type vending machines that sell coffee drinks such as cappuccino and latte with foaming cream on top of coffee, the stirrer of the beverage stirrer is inserted into the cup and then rotated. Foaming cream is produced by taking air into the bottle, and after the beverage is adjusted, the rotation of the stirring tool is stopped and then the stirring tool is lifted out of the cup by the lifting mechanism (for example, Patent Document 2).

JP-A-6-251241 JP 2002-334374 A

  The invention disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above is excellent in that stirring and mixing are performed by causing the beverage to stir after the stirrer of the beverage stirrer has entered the cup and causing the beverage to flow. However, when the beverage is stirred and mixed by the rotation of the stirring tool, air is taken into the beverage and relatively large bubbles are generated, and these bubbles are combined vertically and horizontally to form a lump of foam that rises like a mountain. It has a problem that it remains as a group (for example, a lump pattern of bubbles blown on the surface) and floats on the surface of the beverage to impair the visual impression (appearance). Moreover, in the invention disclosed in Patent Document 2, it is excellent in that a foaming foaming cream is generated by rotating the stirrer of the beverage stirrer into the cup and then taking in air into the beverage. However, when foam larger than foamed foam foam is generated, it becomes a lump group of foam and remains on the surface of the milk foam without being buried in the foam. It has the problem of losing. In addition, the stirrer disclosed in Patent Document 2 is suitable for forming foaming cream because the wire wound in a coil shape is formed in an annular shape, but the raw material is easily stored in the gaps of the coil. Due to the structure, there is a problem that it is difficult to cleanly wash away the raw material stored when the stirrer is washed.

  In order to solve this problem, it is conceivable to eliminate the foam in a lump by blowing air after adjusting the beverage with the agitator, but in order to eliminate the foam, a new air injection device must be additionally equipped. However, there is a problem that an increase in cost cannot be avoided.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to prevent the foam group from remaining on the surface of the beverage without adding new parts. Another object of the present invention is to provide an agitator for a vending machine and a cup type vending machine that can be easily cleaned.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 1 is moved down so as to enter the cup by the elevating mechanism of the beverage agitator, and ascended so as to go out of the cup from inside the cup. In a cup-type vending machine of a mixing type cup with a stirrer that stirs and mixes and adjusts the beverage, the beverage stirrer rotates the stirrer in the cup and stirs and mixes the beverage to adjust It is characterized by comprising a foam extinguishing step for eliminating foam floating on the beverage surface with a stirrer after adjustment.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the cup-type vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the foam erasing step is performed after raising the stirring tool by a predetermined distance in a state where the rotation of the stirring tool is stopped after the beverage adjustment. The stirring tool is rotated.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the cup-type vending machine according to claim 2, characterized in that the rotation time of the stirrer in the foam erasing step is shorter than the rotation time at the time of beverage adjustment. To do.

  Further, the invention according to claim 4 is the cup cup type vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the defoaming step is such that the rotation speed of the agitator is lower than the rotation speed at the time of beverage adjustment after the beverage adjustment. The stirring tool is moved up and down in the beverage after the low speed.

  Further, the invention according to claim 5 is lowered so as to enter the cup by the elevating mechanism of the beverage agitating device, rises so as to come out of the cup from inside the cup, and the beverage is stirred and mixed in the cup. The stirrer is a slit that extends radially around the rotation shaft and the base end connected to the rotation shaft through the body of the body with the fringed dish lying down. A plurality of holes are formed in the circumferential direction.

  According to the cup type vending machine according to claim 1 of the present invention, the cup is lowered so as to enter the cup by the elevating mechanism of the beverage agitating device, and is lifted so as to come out of the cup from the inside of the cup. In the cup-type vending machine of the mixing type cup with a stirrer that stirs and mixes the beverage in the cup, the beverage stirrer adjusts the beverage by stirring and mixing the beverage by rotating the stirrer in the cup It is generated at the time of beverage adjustment using a stirrer that stirs and mixes the beverage in the cup and is adjusted by providing a foam erasing step that eliminates the bubbles floating on the beverage surface by the stirrer after the beverage is adjusted. Since the group of bubbles floating on the surface can be erased, it is possible to eliminate the group of bubbles floating on the surface of the beverage without additional equipment, and the group of bubbles floats on the surface of the beverage. Remaining There is an effect that there is no prejudice to the visual impression (appearance).

  Further, the invention according to claim 5 is lowered so as to enter the cup by the elevating mechanism of the beverage agitating device, rises so as to come out of the cup from inside the cup, and the beverage is stirred and mixed in the cup. The stirrer is a slit that extends radially around the rotation shaft and the base end connected to the rotation shaft through the body of the body with the fringed dish lying down. By forming a plurality of holes in the circumferential direction, when the stirrer is washed with warm water, the through-hole formed at the base end of the stirrer acts so that the warm water after washing is dropped. There exists an effect that it can prevent that warm water remains in a base end part.

It is a mimetic diagram of a cup type vending machine concerning an embodiment of the invention. It is a control block diagram which shows the control structure of the cup type vending machine of FIG. It is a block diagram of the drink stirring apparatus of FIG. It is a perspective view of the stirring tool of FIG. 3, and a rotating shaft. FIG. 5A shows a part of the operation process of the beverage agitator, and FIG. 5A is an operation explanatory diagram of the process of agitating and mixing the beverage in the cup with the agitator at the time of beverage adjustment. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the foam extinction process after stirring and mixing the drink in a cup with a stirring tool and adjusting a drink. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing which shows the modification of the foam elimination process after stirring and mixing the drink in a cup with a stirring tool, and adjusting a drink.

  Hereinafter, cup type vending machines according to embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a cup-type vending machine 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Here, the cup type vending machine 100 shown in FIG. 1 is a raw material for various powders (for example, cream, coffee, sugar, etc.) or roasted coffee supplied in the cup C during the transfer to the beverage adjustment position. In-cup mixing method for adjusting the beverage by stirring and mixing the regular coffee beverage extracted from the beans and fed into the cup which has been transferred to the beverage adjustment position and the hot water discharged into the cup at the beverage adjustment position Although it is a vending machine, the present invention is not limited to the cup type vending machine of this embodiment.

  A cup type vending machine 100 shown in FIG. 1 includes a water reservoir 1, an auger type ice maker 2, a hot water storage tank 3, a coffee bean canister 4, and a powder raw material housed in a vending machine body (not shown) whose front is open. A canister 5, a cup supply mechanism 6, a cup transport mechanism 7, a beverage agitator 8, a powder tray 9, a waste liquid bucket 10, and the like are provided on a door (not shown) attached to the front opening of the vending machine body so as to be freely opened and closed. A take-out port 11 having an automatic opening / closing door is provided.

  The water reservoir 1 stores water supplied from the water pipe by opening and closing the water supply valve V1, and detects an abnormality with the water supply sensor S1 that detects the water level in conjunction with a float that moves up and down according to the stored water level. A sensor S2 is provided. The water supply sensor S1 includes a microswitch that detects the upper limit water level stored in the water reservoir 1, and the microswitch actuator rotates against the biasing force of the spring as the water level stored in the water reservoir 1 rises. When the switch is pressed, an ON signal is output, and when the water level stored in the water reservoir 1 is lowered, the microswitch actuator is rotated by the biasing force of the spring and separated from the switch, and an OFF signal is output. The abnormality detection sensor S2 includes a microswitch that detects a lower limit water level (abnormality) of water stored in the water reservoir 1, and when the water level stored in the water reservoir 1 drops to the lower limit water level, the actuator of the microswitch is attached with a spring. When the switch is rotated against the force and the switch is pressed, an ON signal is output. When the water level stored in the water reservoir 1 rises above the lower limit water level, the actuator of the microswitch is rotated by the spring urging force from the switch. When it is separated, an off signal is output. The water supply valve V1 is configured to control the opening and closing of the valve based on an on / off signal of the water supply sensor S1, and the water supply sensor S1 opens the valve by an off signal to start water supply, and the water supply sensor S1 is turned on. The valve is closed by the signal to stop water supply. By such opening and closing operation of the water supply valve V1, the water stored in the water reservoir 1 is kept at the upper limit water level and within a predetermined range. The abnormality detection sensor S2 outputs an ON signal when the water stored in the water reservoir 1 becomes a lower limit water level (abnormal) due to water breakage or the like, and an auger type ice making to be described later based on the ON signal. The machine 2 is forcibly stopped.

  The auger type ice making machine 2 includes an ice making part 21 having a heat insulating structure for making ice pieces from the water supplied from the water reservoir 1 via the pipe P1, and an ice storage having a heat insulating structure for storing the ice pieces that have been made on a cocoon. Part 22.

  The ice making unit 21 is iced on the inner wall surface of the ice making cylinder by an evaporation pipe constituting a refrigeration cycle wound around the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical ice making cylinder, and is disposed in the ice making cylinder and via a speed reducer. The ice affixed to the inner wall surface of the ice making cylinder is cut into flakes and pushed up by an auger (screw-like rotary cutting blade) that is rotated by a drive motor connected in parallel, and the ice compression extrusion provided above the auger After being solidified by compression by the head, it is configured to cut at the tip of the extrusion head to form chip-like ice, and by surrounding the periphery of the evaporation pipe wound around the ice making cylinder with a heat insulating material, It is formed as a heat insulating structure.

  The ice storage unit 22 disposed at the upper part of the ice making unit 21 is formed of a heat insulating wall having a circular cross section for storing the chip-shaped ice formed in the ice making unit 21 and has a spider for placing an ice piece on the bottom. The ice storage chamber has a laid ice storage chamber, and is placed inside the ice storage chamber and agitated with an agitator for ice agitation mounted on the axis of the rotation axis coaxial with the auger to fix the ice together to form a large ice mass. It is comprised so that it may become. At the bottom of the ice storage chamber is provided a drainage port for draining the melted water. The melted water is introduced from the drainage port through the pipe P2 into the lower part of the ice making unit 21, and the pipes P1 and P2 are connected through the pipe P3. Connected to the water pump PMP. An ice outlet (not shown) is formed on the side wall of the ice storage chamber, and an ice carry-out door 23 for opening and closing the ice outlet is provided. The ice carry-out door 23 is controlled to be opened and closed by a solenoid driven by an ice carry-out command output from a sales control unit 20a (see FIG. 2), which will be described later, in conjunction with the sale operation, and the solenoid is driven to move the ice carry-out door. When 23 is opened, the ice stirred by the agitator is supplied to the cup C transferred to the beverage adjustment position via the hose H. An ice amount detection disk that moves up and down according to the displacement of the ice storage amount is provided in the ice storage chamber, and an ice making start signal is output when the ice storage amount decreases and the ice amount detection disk descends to the ice storage amount lower limit position. There is provided a start switch and an ice making stop switch for outputting an ice making stop signal when the ice making operation proceeds and the ice amount detection disk is pushed up to the ice storage amount upper limit position.

  While the auger type ice making machine 2 does not have a water level adjusting function by itself, the auger type ice making machine 2 keeps the water level in the ice making unit 21 within the range between the appropriate upper limit water level and lower limit water level in order to make good quality ice pieces. Because it is necessary, the water level in the ice making unit 21 is set side by side in the water reservoir 1 in the vending machine body so that the water level in the ice reservoir 21 is the same as the water level in the water reservoir 1.

  The hot water storage tank 3 energizes the heater 31 based on the output of the temperature sensor S5 provided inside by supplying water supplied from the water reservoir 1 through the pipe P4 by driving the water pump PMP, for example, a desired temperature, for example, A water supply start sensor S3 and a water supply stop sensor S4 are provided that detect the water level in conjunction with a float that moves up and down according to the stored water level. The water supply start sensor S3 detects the lower limit water level of the hot water stored in the hot water storage tank 3, while the water supply stop sensor S4 detects the upper limit water level of the hot water stored in the hot water storage tank 3. The driving of the water pump PMP is controlled based on the on / off signals from the water supply start sensor S3 and the water supply stop sensor S4, and the water pump PMP is driven by the on signal of the water supply start sensor S3 to start water supply. The drive is stopped by the ON signal of the stop sensor S4 and the water supply is stopped. By such drive control of the water pump PMP, the hot water stored in the hot water storage tank 3 is kept at a water level within a predetermined range. Further, the hot water stored in the hot water storage tank 3 is poured into the cup C by a fixed amount every time when beverage is sold through the hot water supply valves V2 and V3 during beverage adjustment. Although the capacity | capacitance of the hot water storage tank 3 changes according to the specification of the cup-type vending machine 100 (for example, about 500 ml-10L), in this embodiment, it is comprised so that 3L warm water can be stored. The water reservoir 1 is configured to store 1 L of water.

  The coffee bean canister 4 stores roasted coffee beans as a raw material for regular coffee. The coffee mill 12 into which the coffee beans discharged from the coffee bean canister 4 are input through a shooter (not shown) is used to pulverize the input coffee beans into powdered coffee beans of a predetermined particle size with a pulverizing blade. To do.

  The coffee brewer 13 into which the ground coffee beans pulverized by the coffee mill 12 are charged is provided with a cylindrical extraction container, a paper filter, a filter block, and a valve mechanism for opening and closing the upper end opening of the extraction container. Each is provided with an air inlet for supplying air therein. In order to extract the coffee liquid with the coffee brewer 13, first, the extraction container is lowered, a filter block is attached to the lower end opening via a paper filter, and then the upper end opening of the extraction container is opened by a valve mechanism. Then, the ground coffee beans are introduced from the top opening of the extraction container, the hot water supply valve V3 of the hot water storage tank 3 is opened and a predetermined amount of hot water is supplied through the pipe P6, and then the top opening of the extraction container is closed by the valve mechanism. After that, when air is supplied from the lower air inlet of the extraction container and the mixed liquid of ground coffee beans and hot water is stirred, the coffee liquid containing the coffee components filtered by the paper filter is extracted, and the extracted coffee liquid is extracted. , And is poured into the cup C transferred to the beverage adjustment position via the pipe P7. A vase bucket (not shown) is provided in the main body of the vending machine so that the coffee grinder and the paper filter are discarded.

  The powder raw material canister 5 includes a coffee canister 51 for storing a powdered coffee raw material, a cream canister 52 for storing a powdered cream raw material, and a sugar canister 53 for storing a powdered sugar raw material. The powder raw material canister 5 is selected according to the user's preference when selling beverages, so that the powder raw material is discharged from each of the canisters 51 to 53 and thrown into a cup C transferred by a cup transport mechanism 7 described later. To do.

  The cup supply mechanism 6 stores a large number of cups of different capacities (for example, three types of large, medium, and small) by stacking and storing the cups with capacities according to the user's selection at the time of beverage sales. It is thrown out to the cup conveyance mechanism 7 shown.

  The cup transport mechanism 7 includes an arm for gripping the cup dispensed from the cup supply mechanism 6 and the cup gripped by the arm passes through a beverage adjustment position where the powder raw material canister 5 and the beverage agitator 8 are disposed. It is transferred to the bend stage of the sales outlet 11 and is configured to stop once at the beverage adjustment position where the powder raw material canister 5 and the beverage stirring device 8 are arranged.

  The beverage agitating device 8 arranged at the beverage adjustment position is lowered so as to enter the cup C by an elevating mechanism having an elevating motor 82 (see FIG. 3 to be described later), and comes out of the cup C from the inside of the cup C. And a stirrer 80 having a rotating shaft 81 that is rotated and driven by a stirring motor 84 (see FIG. 3). When the cup C is transferred to the beverage adjustment position by the cup transport mechanism 7, the beverage stirring device 8 drives the lifting motor 82 to lower the stirring tool 80 into the cup C, while the hot water storage tank 3 supplies the hot water supply valve V <b> 2. When the hot water supplied via is discharged to the rotary shaft 81, the stirrer 80 is rotated by driving the stirrer motor 84 to stir and mix the beverage in the cup C. The configuration of the beverage stirring device 8 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  The powder tray 9 is a synthetic resin molded product that prevents liquids such as powder raw materials and coffee drinks from dropping to the lower part of the vending machine main body. The powder tray 9 is composed of a shallow tray main body portion 91 having an open top surface and a cup housing portion 92 connected to the tray main body portion 91. The peripheral portion of the tray main body portion 91 is hung on a predetermined position in the vending machine main body. It is attached by fastening or screwing. The tray main body 91 is formed so that its planar shape is slightly larger than the area of the transfer range of the cup C transferred by the cup transport mechanism 7, and the bottom surface is inclined toward the cup housing portion 92. The cup housing portion 92 is formed in a concave shape having a predetermined depth downward, and a waste liquid port 92a for discharging liquid is provided at the bottom. The cup container 92 is a bend to prevent the cup C left on the bend stage without being taken out from the outlet 11 at the time of beverage sales from dropping (discarding) on the powder tray 91 to miss the sales opportunity. The cup C and the liquid that are the waste discarded from the stage are accommodated, and the liquid that falls from the beverage adjustment position is also accommodated. Although detailed description of the disposal of the cup C left on the bend stage is omitted, the cup C left on the bend stage is detached from the bend stage using the cup transport mechanism 7 and dropped onto the powder tray 91. It is comprised so that it may make it. The waste liquid port 92a is connected to the waste liquid bucket 10 via the waste liquid tube 92b, and the liquid flowing into the cup housing portion 92 is collected in the waste liquid bucket 10 via the waste liquid port 92a and the waste liquid tube 92b.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system of the cup type vending machine 100 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the cup type vending machine 100 includes a control device 20 that comprehensively controls the cup type vending machine 100. The control device 20 includes a sales control unit 20a, a water reservoir control unit 20b, an ice maker control unit 20c, a hot water tank control unit 20d, and a storage unit 20e. Connected to the control device 20 are an input device (input means) 28 including a keyboard and numeric keypads, and a display device 29 including a liquid crystal display.

  The sales control unit 20a includes a bill insertion port provided on the front surface of the door, a money insertion signal from the money insertion unit 24 having a coin insertion port, a beverage selection signal from the beverage selection button 25, and a cup from the cup selection button 26. Based on the type selection signal, the raw material selection signal from the powder raw material selection button 27, etc., the auger type ice maker 2, coffee bean canister 4, powder raw material canister 5, coffee mill 12, coffee brewer 13, hot water supply valves V2, V3, cup supply The mechanism 6, the cup transport mechanism 7, the ice carry-out door (solenoid) 23, the elevating motor 82 and the agitating motor 84 of the beverage agitating device 8 are driven and controlled to control the adjustment / sales of the selected beverage.

  The water reservoir control unit 20b monitors the on / off signal from the water supply sensor S1, and when the on signal is input from the water supply sensor S1, the water reservoir control unit 20b opens the water supply valve V1 and starts water supply from the water pipe to the water reservoir 1. When water supply to the water reservoir 1 proceeds and an off signal is input from the water supply sensor S1, control is performed to close the water supply valve V1 and stop water supply from the water pipe to the water reservoir 1. The water level stored in the water reservoir 1 is maintained at a constant water level by the control of the water reservoir control unit 20b.

  The ice making control unit 20c receives an on / off signal from an ice making start switch SW1 for detecting an ice storage amount lower limit position and an ice making stop switch SW2 for detecting an ice storage amount lower limit position provided in the ice storage unit 22 of the auger type ice making machine 2. When an on signal is input from the ice making start switch SW1, the compressor constituting the refrigeration cycle is driven to start ice making in the ice making unit 21 and the motor is driven to rotate the auger to supply ice pieces to the ice storage unit 22. Store. When the ice making operation proceeds and an on signal is input from the ice making stop switch SW2, control is performed to stop the ice making operation by stopping the motor for driving the compressor and auger of the refrigeration cycle. The ice storage amount of the ice storage unit 22 of the auger type ice making machine 2 is maintained within a predetermined range by the control of the ice making machine control unit 20c.

  The hot water storage tank control unit 20d controls energization of the heater 31 installed in the hot water storage tank 3 based on the hot water temperature measured by the temperature sensor S5 installed in the hot water storage tank 3, and is stored in the hot water storage tank 3. Control is performed to heat and maintain water at a desired hot water temperature. The hot water storage tank control unit 20d monitors the water supply start sensor S3 and the water supply stop sensor S4, and when the ON signal is input from the water supply start sensor S3, the water pump PMP is driven to start water supply. When this water supply advances and an ON signal is input from the water supply stop sensor S4, the water pump PMP is stopped to stop the water supply. By such drive control of the water pump PMP, the hot water stored in the hot water storage tank 3 is kept at a water level within a predetermined range.

  The storage unit 20e is a memory storing control programs in the sales control unit 20a, water reservoir control unit 20b, ice machine control unit 20c, hot water tank control unit 20d, control water level of the water reservoir 1, hot water tank 3, and the storage tank 3 This is a memory storing various data such as the control temperature.

  The input device 28 is input means for inputting various setting changes and setting data. In addition, the display device 29 includes a sold-out lamp that displays a sold-out display of a predetermined beverage, a count-down display (count-down display device) that counts down the time required to complete cooking of the beverage, and the like.

  In this cup vending machine, when a beverage of an instant coffee beverage (with powdered raw materials such as cream and sugar) using a powdered coffee raw material is selected as the coffee beverage (hot), the sales operation is the cup type selection sales signal. Based on the cup supply mechanism 6, the corresponding capacity cup C is thrown out to the arm portion returning to the standby position in the cup transport mechanism 7 located below the cup supply mechanism 6. The cup transport mechanism 7 holds the thrown cup C with an arm and then starts to transfer the cup C toward the lower side of the powder raw material canister 5, and the cup C reaches the lower side of the powder raw material canister 5. At that time, the transfer of the cup C is once stopped. At this time, a certain amount of instant coffee, cream and sugar powder materials are carried out from the coffee canister 51, the cream canister 52 and the sugar canister 53 of the powder material canister 5 and put into the cup C. When the powder raw material is charged into the cup C, the cup transport mechanism 7 resumes the transfer of the cup C toward the bend stage below the beverage stirring device 8 which is the beverage stirring position, and the cup C is in the vicinity of the bend stage. When the adjustment position is reached, the transfer of the cup C is stopped again.

  When the cup C reaches the beverage adjustment position in the vicinity of the bend stage and stops, the beverage agitator 8 lowers the agitator 80 so as to enter the cup C by driving the elevating motor 82. In parallel with the above operation, the hot water supply valve V2 connected to the hot water storage tank 3 is opened for a predetermined time. When the hot water supply valve V2 is opened, the hot water in the hot water storage tank 3 is discharged through the pipe P5 toward the rotating shaft 81 of the stirrer 80, flows down along the rotating shaft 81, and drops from the stirrer 80 to the cup C. Stored inside. When the hot water discharge is finished, the stirring motor 84 of the beverage stirring device 8 is driven to rotate the stirring tool 80 (for example, 5000 rpm), and the powder raw material (instant coffee, cream, sugar, etc.) charged into the cup C is added. ) And warm water are mixed by stirring and mixing.

  At the time when the adjustment of the beverage is completed, the stirring motor 84 of the beverage stirring device 8 is stopped and the elevating motor 82 is reversely rotated so that the stirring tool 80 comes out of the cup C. At that time, the hot water supply valve V <b> 2 is opened and the hot water is discharged to the rotary shaft 81 to clean the rotary shaft 81 and the stirring tool 80. Thereafter, the cup transport mechanism 7 transfers the cup C from the beverage adjustment position toward the bend stage of the outlet 11 and provides it to the purchaser, and then returns the arm to the standby position.

  On the other hand, the regular coffee beverage sales operation is the same as the instant coffee beverage sales operation except that the following points are different from the instant coffee beverage sales operation. That is, in the operation of selling instant coffee beverages, the instant coffee powder raw material is fed into the cup C from the coffee canister 51 of the powder raw material canister 5 and the hot water (diluted liquid) from the hot water supply valve V2 is poured directly into the cup C. On the other hand, in the operation of selling regular coffee beverages, hot water from the hot water supply valve V3 is discharged to the coffee brewer 13 and then the regular coffee beverage extracted by the coffee brewer 13 is poured into the cup C. Since the operation is the same as that for instant coffee beverages, the regular coffee beverage sales operation is omitted here.

  FIG. 3 shows the beverage stirring device 8 disposed at the beverage adjustment position. The beverage agitator 8 includes an agitator 80 for agitating and mixing a beverage made of the raw material in the cup C and regular coffee liquid extracted from hot water or coffee brewer, an agitation motor 84 for rotating the agitator 80, The rotating shaft 81 transmits the rotational force of the stirring motor 84 to the stirring tool 80, the lifting base 83 to which the stirring motor 84 is attached, and the lifting motor 82 that moves the lifting base 83 up and down. The stirrer 80 and the rotating shaft 81 are made of a non-resin material such as metal or ceramic. The structure of the stirring tool 80 and the rotating shaft 81 will be described later with reference to FIG. The elevating base 83 is attached to a plurality of shafts (not shown) extending in the vertical direction provided in the case of the beverage agitator 8 so as to be movable in the vertical direction, and a rack 830 is provided. A rotation speed conversion unit (gear mechanism) 85 for converting the rotation speed of the lift motor 82 is provided on the rotation shaft of the lift motor 82, and is provided on the output shaft 850 of the rotation speed conversion unit (gear mechanism) 85. A spur gear (not shown) is configured to mesh with the rack 830 of the elevating base 83. Here, the elevating motor 82, a spur gear (not shown) provided on the output shaft 850 of the rotation speed conversion unit (gear mechanism) 85, and the rack 830 of the elevating base 83 constitute an elevating mechanism of the beverage stirring device 8. A cup cover 14 that covers the opening of the cup C is provided at the bottom of the case of the beverage agitator 8. A hot water nozzle 15 that discharges hot water supplied from a hot water storage tank 3 (see FIG. 1) via a hot water supply valve V2 to the cup C and a regular coffee liquid extracted from the coffee brewer 13 are discharged to the cup C. A coffee nozzle 16 or the like is provided.

  The structure of the stirring tool 80 and the rotating shaft 81 is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the stirrer 80 and the rotating shaft 81 are integrally formed of a non-resin material such as metal or ceramic. The stirrer 80 includes a main body 800 having a base end portion 801 and a trunk portion 802 to which a rotary shaft 81 extending in the vertical direction serving as a rotation center is connected. The shape of the main body 800 is a shape in which an edged dish is turned down. A plurality of through holes 801 a are formed in the base end portion 801 of the main body 800 in the circumferential direction along the outer periphery of the rotation shaft 81. A plurality of slits 802a extending radially about the rotation shaft 81 are formed in the circumferential direction in the body portion 802 coupled to the rotation shaft 81 by ribs 801b between the plurality of through holes 801a. The ends of the ribs 802b between the plurality of slits 802a are connected so that the mechanical strength of the ribs 802b is maintained.

  Here, the reason why the plurality of through holes 801a are formed in the base end portion 801 is as follows. That is, when the slit 802a formed in the body 802 extends to the rotating shaft 81, the slit width of the slit 802a near the rotating shaft 81 is extremely small, so that the raw material is clogged or the surface tension of the liquid There is a risk that the beverage may remain. In this case, if the width of the slit 802a is increased, clogging of raw materials can be solved, but the number of ribs 802b is reduced. The ribs 802b contribute to the agitation and mixing of the beverage during beverage adjustment, and it is necessary to secure a predetermined number of ribs 802b. In order to form the slit 802a while maintaining a balance with the number of ribs 802b, the end portion of the slit 802b near the rotation shaft 81 may be formed away from the rotation shaft 81, while the slit 802b is closer to the rotation shaft 81. When the end portion of the rotating shaft 81 is formed apart from the rotating shaft 81, a flat base end portion 801 is formed along the outer periphery of the rotating shaft 81, and hot water (attached to the rotating shaft 81 and the stirrer 80 is attached to the base end portion 801. This causes a problem that hot water discharged to wash away the beverage) remains. Therefore, a plurality of through holes 801a are formed in the base end portion 801 in the circumferential direction along the outer periphery of the rotating shaft 81, and hot water for cleaning the rotating shaft 81 and the stirring tool 80 is formed in the base end portion 801 through the through holes 801a. It is configured to be dripped through, and is prevented from remaining on the base end portion 801.

  When the cup C is transferred to the beverage adjustment position by the cup transport mechanism 7 of FIG. 1, the beverage stirring device 8 provided with the stirring tool 80 having such a configuration drives the lift motor 82 to place the stirring tool 80 in the cup C. Lower. When the stirrer 80 is lowered to the state indicated by the alternate long and short dash line (near the bottom surface of the cup C), hot water is discharged from the hot water nozzle 15 to the rotating shaft 81 of the stirrer 80 and flows down along the rotating shaft 81 and flows from the stirrer 80. It is stored in the cup C. When the discharge of hot water from the hot water nozzle 15 is completed, the stirrer 80 is rotated by driving the stirring motor 84 to stir the beverage in the cup C. After stirring and mixing the raw material and hot water supplied to the cup C to adjust the beverage, the stirring motor 84 is stopped, the elevating motor 82 is reversed to raise the stirring tool 80, and the standby position (solid line position) Return to. When the stirrer 80 is raised, warm water is discharged from the hot water nozzle 15, and the rotating shaft 81 and the stirrer 80 are cleaned by this hot water. In this case, since the through hole 801a is formed in the base end part 801 of the stirring tool 80, warm water does not remain in the base end part 801.

  Now, when the beverage is agitated by the rotation of the stirrer 80, air is taken into the beverage to generate relatively large bubbles, and these bubbles are vertically and horizontally joined together to form a lump of bubbles that rise like a mountain. The beverage stirring device of the cup vending machine in this embodiment because it remains in a manner that floats on the surface of the beverage (for example, a lump of foam lump pattern) and damages the visual impression (look) In addition to the publicly known beverage adjustment step described above, No. 8 includes a foam eliminating step shown in FIG.

  FIG. 5 shows a part of the operation process of the beverage agitator 8, and FIG. 5A is an operation explanatory diagram of the process of agitating and mixing the beverage in the cup C by the agitator 80 at the time of the beverage adjustment described above. (B) of FIG. 5 is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the foam elimination process after stirring and mixing the drink in the cup C with the stirring tool 80, and adjusting a drink.

  As shown in FIG. 5 (a), in the step of stirring and mixing the beverage in the cup C by the stirring tool 80, the stirring motor 84 is driven to rotate the stirring tool 80 and the beverage is stirred and mixed. In this case, when the stirrer 80 is rotated, a swirl around the position of the stirrer 80 is formed, and the peripheral portion of the beverage (portion along the inner surface of the cup C) runs up. However, since the stirrer 80 is positioned near the bottom surface of the cup C, the beverage overflows from the cup C even if the stirrer 80 is rotated at a high speed (for example, 5000 rpm). There is no. Therefore, the beverage can be stirred and mixed in a short time by the high-speed rotation of the stirring tool 80. At the time of such beverage adjustment, when the beverage is stirred and mixed by the high-speed rotation of the stirring tool 80, air is taken into the beverage to generate a relatively large bubble, and after the beverage adjustment shown in FIG. The foams are combined vertically and horizontally to form a lump of foam that rises like a mountain (for example, a lump pattern of foam that blows away), and remains on the surface of the beverage.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5B, after the beverage is adjusted, the agitation motor 84 is stopped and the rotation of the agitation tool 80 is stopped to reverse the elevating motor 82 so that the agitation tool 80 is placed on the beverage surface in the cup C. It is lifted by a predetermined distance to LT and stopped once. Then, the stirrer 80 is driven for about 1 second by driving the stirrer motor 84 with the stirrer 80 positioned on the beverage surface LT. In this case, the beverage in the cup C has a spiral flow in which the beverage surface LT draws a gentle conical curve when viewed in cross section, but the stirring device 80 in a state where the rotation has stopped is provided. While rising, the liquid level LT becomes flat, and a group of bubbles remaining on the beverage surface by the spiral flow gathers at the center of the spiral. Therefore, the group of bubbles is divided by the rotation of the stirring tool 80, and the divided bubbles are destroyed and disappear. As described above, after the beverage adjustment, the stirring motor 84 is stopped and the rotation of the stirring tool 80 is stopped, and the lifting motor 82 is reversed to raise the stirring tool 80 to the beverage surface LT in the cup C by a predetermined distance. By providing a foam erasing step that drives the agitation motor 84 and rotates the agitator 80 after being stopped, the foam remaining in a manner floating on the surface LT of the beverage can be eliminated, so that the surface LT of the beverage It is possible to prevent the visual impression (appearance) from being damaged by bubbles remaining in a floating state.

  FIG. 6 is an operation explanatory view showing a modified example of the defoaming step after the beverage in the cup C is stirred and mixed by the stirring tool 80 to adjust the beverage. In the modification shown in FIG. 6, the rotation speed of the stirring motor 84 is decreased from a high speed to a low speed after beverage adjustment, and the rotation speed of the stirring tool 80 is lower than the rotation speed at the time of beverage adjustment (for example, 5000 rpm). The elevating motor 82 is reversed in a state of low speed (for example, 2500 rpm) to raise the stirring tool 80 to the vicinity of the beverage surface LT, and then the elevating motor 82 is switched to normal rotation to lower the stirring tool 80 (beverage (The position above the position at the time of adjustment), the reciprocating operation for switching the elevating motor 82 to reverse again and raising the agitator 80 to the vicinity of the beverage surface LT is repeated a plurality of times. The rotating direction is switched every predetermined time, and the stirring tool 80 is moved up and down a plurality of times in the beverage stored in the cup C. In this case, the beverage in the cup C has a spiral flow that draws a gentle conical curve when viewed in cross-section because the stirrer 80 rotates at a low speed. The group of bubbles remaining on the beverage surface collects in the center of the swirl. When the stirrer 80 is lowered, the pressure on the back surface of the stirrer 80 is temporarily reduced, and the beverage on the back surface of the stirrer 80 sinks into the beverage in combination with the temporary pressure reduction and the spiral flow of the beverage. As a result, a group of bubbles remaining on the beverage surface LT is drawn into the beverage. The group of foam drawn into the beverage is broken by water pressure and the broken foam breaks down. Thus, by moving the stirring tool 80 rotating at a low speed up and down a plurality of times in the beverage, the foam group is divided and the foam is destroyed and disappears. In this way, by providing a foam erasing step for moving the stirring tool 80 up and down in the beverage after setting the rotation speed of the stirring tool 80 to a low speed lower than the rotation speed during beverage adjustment after the beverage adjustment, Since the foam remaining on the surface of the beverage can be eliminated, it is possible to prevent the visual impression (appearance) from being impaired by the foam remaining on the surface of the beverage.

  The stirrer 80 shown in FIG. 4 is suitable for adjusting coffee drinks such as cappuccino and latte on which foaming cream foamed on the coffee is placed. As shown in FIG. When rotating after the stirrer of the beverage stirrer has entered the beverage, the stirrer 80 generates a swirling flow so that decompression is induced below the stirrer 80 and the main body 800 of the stirrer 80 is When exposed from the above, air is taken into the beverage from the through-hole 801a and the slit 802a, and a foaming foaming cream can be generated. The stirrer 80 shown in FIG. 4 connects the tips of the ribs 802b between the plurality of slits 802a to maintain the mechanical strength of the ribs 802b. It is not necessary to connect the tips of the ribs 802b whose mechanical strength is maintained by selecting the wall thickness.

  As described above, according to the cup type vending machine according to this embodiment, the beverage agitating device 8 is lowered to enter the cup C by the elevating mechanism, and also comes out of the cup from the cup C. In the cup-type vending machine of the mixing type in the cup provided with the stirring tool 80 that stirs and mixes and adjusts the beverage in the cup C, the beverage stirring device 8 has the stirring tool in the cup C. The drink is stirred and mixed in the cup C to be adjusted by providing a defoaming step for eliminating bubbles floating on the beverage surface by the stirring tool 80 after the beverage is adjusted by rotating and stirring and mixing the beverage. Since the group of bubbles generated at the time of beverage adjustment using the stirrer 80 and floating on the surface of the beverage can be erased, the group of bubbles floating on the surface of the beverage can be erased without additional equipment. Made possible Group of foam in a manner floating on the surface of the beverage remains an effect that is not impaired visual impression (appearance).

  In addition, according to the stirring device of the cup type vending machine according to this embodiment, the cup is lowered so as to enter the cup by the elevating mechanism of the beverage stirring device, and also rises out of the cup from inside the cup. A stirrer 80 that stirs and mixes the beverage in the cup and adjusts the beverage, and the stirrer 80 extends radially around the rotating shaft 81 to the body portion 802 of the body with the fringed dish lying down. By forming a plurality of through holes 801a in the circumferential direction in the base end 801 connected to the existing slit 802a and the rotating shaft 81, when the stirrer 80 is washed with warm water, Since the through-hole 801a formed in the base end part 801 acts so that the warm water after washing is dropped, there is an effect that it is possible to prevent the hot water from remaining in the base end part 801.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Water reservoir, 2 ... Ogre type ice maker, 3 ... Hot water storage tank, 4 ... Coffee bean canister, 5 ... Powder material canister, 6 ... Cup supply mechanism, 7 ... Cup conveyance mechanism, 8 ... Beverage stirring device, 80 ... Stirring , 81 ... rotating shaft, 82 ... elevating motor, 84 ... stirring motor, 800 ... main body, 801 ... base end, 802 ... trunk, 801a ... through hole, 802a ... slit, 801b, 82b ... rib.

Claims (5)

A cup provided with an agitator that descends so as to enter the cup by the elevating mechanism of the beverage agitator, and rises so as to come out of the cup from the inside of the cup, and agitates and mixes the beverage within the cup. In a cup vending machine with an internal mixing system, the beverage agitating device is a foam that erases bubbles floating on the beverage surface by the agitator after the beverage is adjusted by rotating the agitator in the cup and agitating and mixing the beverage. A cup-type vending machine characterized by comprising an erasing process. The cup type vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the foam eliminating step is to rotate the stirrer after raising the stirrer by a predetermined distance in a state where the rotation of the stirrer is stopped after the beverage adjustment. A cup-type vending machine that is characterized. The cup type vending machine according to claim 2, wherein the rotation time of the stirrer in the defoaming process is shorter than the rotation time at the time of beverage adjustment. A cup-type vending machine characterized by 2. The cup type vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the defoaming step includes setting the rotation speed of the agitator after the beverage adjustment to a low speed with a low rotation speed relative to the rotation speed during the beverage adjustment, and A cup-type vending machine characterized by being moved up and down. A stirrer that is lowered so as to enter the cup by the elevating mechanism of the beverage stirrer, and that rises so as to come out of the cup from inside the cup, and stirs and mixes the beverage in the cup, The stirrer is formed by forming a plurality of through holes in the circumferential direction at the base end portion connected to the slit and the slit extending radially around the rotation axis in the body portion of the main body of the shape with the fringed dish. A stirrer for a cup-type vending machine, characterized by comprising

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