JP2019006504A - Beverage supplying device - Google Patents

Abstract

To effectively increase choices of tastes of beverages, and to appropriately adjust the taste of the beverage even when syrups of a plurality of tastes are mixed.SOLUTION: A beverage supplying device 100 includes: syrup tanks 10 for storing syrup; an operation acceptance part 2 for accepting selection operation of main syrup constituting a main beverage and topping syrup added to the main beverage; and a mixing part which, when the syrup is selected as the main syrup, dilutes the syrup with water or carbonated water to produce the main beverage and further supplies another syrup selected as the topping syrup to the main beverage and mixes with the main beverage to produce and supply the beverage, meanwhile, when the syrup is selected as the topping syrup, dilutes another syrup selected as the main syrup with the water or the carbonated water to produce the main beverage and further supplies the syrup to the main beverage and mixes with the main beverage to produce and supply the beverage.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a beverage supply device for supplying a beverage.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a beverage supply device that manufactures a beverage by mixing syrup and dilution water and supplies the manufactured beverage is known. Such a beverage supply device can usually produce and supply a plurality of types of beverages.

  Specifically, the beverage supply device includes a button for accepting an operation for selecting a beverage to be manufactured, and when the button is pressed, the beverage is selected from different types of syrup stored in a plurality of syrup tanks. The syrup necessary to produce the is discharged. At the same time, the beverage supply device discharges dilution water and mixes syrup and dilution water to produce a beverage.

  As an example of such a beverage supply device, Patent Document 1 discloses that syrup is applied by applying gas pressure to syrup stored in a syrup tank and intermittently opening and closing an electromagnetic valve provided in the supply path of the syrup. A technique for discharging and diluting the discharged syrup with water is disclosed.

Japanese Patent No. 3947914

  However, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a problem that the choice of beverage taste is limited. This is because the type of syrup used to produce a beverage is limited to one. In addition, in order to increase the choice of beverage taste, it is conceivable to mix two types of syrups, but the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 is not supposed to mix two types of syrups in the first place. There is no disclosure on how to mix them.

  For example, it is difficult to produce a beverage in which the taste of two types of syrup can be felt in a balanced manner simply by mixing two types of syrup. Therefore, development of the technique which can manufacture easily the drink from which the taste of two types of syrups feels in good balance was desired.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a beverage supply device capable of effectively increasing beverage taste options and appropriately adjusting the beverage taste even when a plurality of taste syrups are mixed. .

  In the beverage supply device of the present invention, a syrup tank that stores syrup, a main syrup that constitutes the main beverage, an operation reception unit that accepts a selection operation of topping syrup added to the main beverage, and the syrup is selected as the main syrup. The syrup is diluted with water or carbonated water to produce the main beverage, and other syrups selected as the topping syrup are supplied to the main beverage and mixed with the main beverage to produce and supply the beverage. When the syrup is selected as the topping syrup, the main syrup is diluted with water or carbonated water to produce the main beverage, and the syrup is supplied to the main beverage and mixed with the main beverage. And a mixing section for producing and supplying beverages.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, while the choice of the taste of a drink can be increased effectively, even if the syrup of a some taste is mixed, the taste of a drink can be adjusted appropriately.

The front view of the drink supply apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention The front view which shows an inside when the front door of the drink supply apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention is opened. The figure which shows the external structure of the drink supply apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. Functional block diagram of a beverage supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention The figure which shows the table used for control of the drink supply apparatus of embodiment of this invention.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  First, an example of the configuration of the beverage supply device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a front view of a beverage supply apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view showing the inside of the beverage supply device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention when the front door is opened. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an external configuration of the beverage supply device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the beverage supply device 100 includes a touch panel 2 on a front door 1 that can be opened and closed. The touch panel 2 is an operation reception unit that displays beverage options to the user of the beverage supply apparatus 100 and receives a beverage selection operation by the user.

  Specifically, the touch panel 2 displays the main syrup options diluted with carbonated water to form the main beverage, and the topping syrup options added to the main beverage as a flavor, and the main syrup and topping syrup An operation for selecting is received from the user.

  As shown in FIG. 1, physical buttons 3 a to 3 c are provided below the touch panel 2. The physical buttons 3a to 3c receive an operation for instructing to discharge a beverage from the user. Moreover, the container storage places 4a-4c in which a user mounts containers (glass, cups, etc.) are respectively provided below the physical buttons 3a-3c.

  The physical button 3a corresponds to the container storage place 4a and corresponds to the dilution water nozzle 5a and the syrup nozzle 40 shown in FIG. The physical button 3b corresponds to the container storage place 4b and corresponds to the nozzle 5b shown in FIG. The physical button 3c corresponds to the container storage place 4c and corresponds to the dilution water nozzle 5c, the syrup nozzle 41, and the carbonated water nozzle 42 shown in FIG.

  The user performs a beverage selection operation on the touch panel 2, and then places the container on any of the container storage locations 4a to 4c and presses any of the physical buttons 3a to 3c.

  For example, when the physical button 3a is pressed, the syrup in the back-in box (hereinafter referred to as BIB) 6 shown in FIG. 2 is discharged from the syrup nozzle 40 via the BIB tube pump 26 to form a discharge flow. The discharge flow of this syrup collides with the discharge flow of dilution water discharged from the dilution water nozzle 5a and is mixed. Thereby, a drink is manufactured. The beverage produced in this way is supplied to the container placed in the container storage place 4a.

  Further, for example, when the physical button 3b is pressed, the syrup is mixed with the dilution water and / or carbonated water in the nozzle 5b to produce a beverage. The beverage produced in this way is discharged from the nozzle 5b and supplied to the container placed in the container storage place 4b.

  For example, when the physical button 3c is pressed, the syrup in the BIB 7 shown in FIG. 2 is discharged from the syrup nozzle 41 via the BIB tube pump 27 to form a discharge flow. The discharge flow of this syrup collides with the discharge flow of dilution water discharged from the dilution water nozzle 5c and / or the discharge flow of carbonated water discharged from the carbonated water nozzle 42 and mixed. Thereby, a drink is manufactured. The beverage produced in this way is supplied to the container placed in the container storage place 4c.

  Each beverage described above is supplied to the container while the physical buttons 3a to 3c are pressed.

  Further, the carbonated water nozzle 42 described above may be provided on the BIB 6 side, or may be provided on both the BIB 6 side and the BIB 7 side.

  Further, the above-described BIBs 6 and 7 are provided in the refrigerated area. The BIBs 6 and 7 store syrups that need to be refrigerated. Further, syrups that do not need to be refrigerated are stored in a syrup tank 10 described later with reference to FIG.

  Here, the syrup as used in the present embodiment includes not only a concentrated solution containing a sugar content but also a concentrated solution containing no sugar content (for example, a stock solution such as green tea or black tea).

  In addition, the nozzle 5b described above mixes water or carbonated water and main syrup in a predetermined ratio to produce a main beverage, and mixes the undiluted topping syrup with the main beverage (hereinafter referred to as flavor). It is a mixing part for manufacturing an additive beverage). The flavor-added beverage produced by the nozzle 5b is discharged from the nozzle 5b to the container placed on the container storage place 4b.

  In this way, by confusion between the two types of main syrup and topping syrup, it is possible to greatly increase the choice of beverage taste to be provided to the user. As the topping syrup, a syrup similar to the main syrup, that is, a general syrup having a dilution ratio of 1: 3 to 1:10 is used. A general syrup is not a syrup dedicated to topping (dilution ratio is 1: 120 to 1: 180) but is a syrup that can be consumed by a user as it is even if diluted alone.

  Here, the main syrup and the topping syrup are stored in a syrup tank 10 shown in FIG. The nozzle 5b discharges only water or carbonated water in addition to discharging the flavor-added beverage.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the beverage supply device 100 includes a purification filter 8, a carbon dioxide gas cylinder 9, and a plurality of syrup tanks 10.

  The purification filter 8 purifies the tap water supplied from the blade tube 11 and supplies the purified water to the inside of the beverage supply device 100 via the blade tube 12. The blade tube 12 is connected to, for example, a carbonator (not shown), dilution water nozzles 5a and 5c, and a nozzle 5b provided in the beverage supply apparatus 100.

  The carbon dioxide cylinder 9 stores carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide gas is supplied to the carbonator through the blade tube 14 at a predetermined pressure (for example, 0.6 MPa) set in the gas regulator 13. The carbon dioxide gas is supplied to each syrup tank 10 through the blade tube 15 at a predetermined pressure (for example, 0.2 MPa) set in the gas regulator 13.

  The plurality of syrup tanks 10 store different syrups. These syrups are used as a main syrup or a topping syrup as described above. These syrups are pushed out by the pressure of the gas supplied from the carbon dioxide gas cylinder 9 and supplied to the nozzle 5 b through the blade tube 16.

  Next, the function of the beverage supply device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention and the beverage supply control process will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the beverage supply apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  In addition to the touch panel 2 and the physical buttons 3a to 3c described in FIG. 1, the beverage supply apparatus 100 includes a control unit 20, a storage unit 21, a water electromagnetic valve 23, a carbonated water electromagnetic valve 24, a syrup electromagnetic valve 25, and a BIB tube. Pumps 26 and 27 are provided.

  The control unit 20 is a control device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The control unit 20 controls each functional unit provided in the beverage supply device 100. The storage unit 21 is a memory device such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) or a RAM (Random Access Memory). The storage unit 21 stores a table 22 and the like described later.

  The control unit 20 performs control of the touch panel 2 and beverage supply (production, discharge) based on the data read from the storage unit 21.

  When an operation of selecting a beverage by the user on the touch panel 2 is performed, the control unit 20 reads data regarding the selected beverage from the storage unit 21 and manufactures the beverage based on the read data.

  This data includes, for example, data on the dilution ratio of water, carbonated water, main syrup, and topping syrup registered in association with the combination of main syrup and topping syrup, and each solenoid valve according to the dilution ratio. These are setting data for controlling the opening and closing of the (water electromagnetic valve 23, carbonated water electromagnetic valve 24, syrup electromagnetic valve 25), setting data for controlling the driving of the BIB tube pumps 26 and 27, and the like.

  For example, the beverage providing apparatus 100 mixes water or carbonated water and main syrup at a predetermined ratio to produce a main beverage, and mixes the topping syrup with the main beverage in an undiluted state to produce a beverage. The control unit 20 changes the predetermined ratio when mixing water or carbonated water and the main syrup in accordance with the combination of the main syrup and the topping syrup.

  Thereby, regardless of the combination of the main syrup and the topping syrup, the sugar content and the like of the beverage to be manufactured can be kept within a certain range.

  In the following, a case where supply control of water, carbonated water, main syrup, and topping syrup is performed by opening and closing each solenoid valve will be described, but supply control by a pump or the like may be performed.

  The control unit 20 reads the table 22 from the storage unit 21 when an operation for selecting a beverage is performed by the user on the touch panel 2. The table 22 is information indicating the physical buttons 3a to 3c corresponding to the beverage selected by the user.

  An example of this table 22 is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, in this table 22, physical buttons 3a to 3c (containers for discharging beverages of that brand) corresponding to nozzles 5a to 5c that discharge beverages of that brand in association with beverage brands. Information of the physical buttons 3a to 3c) corresponding to the storage places 4a to 4c is registered. In FIG. 5, brands are indicated by alphabets.

  For example, in the table 22, the brand D and the physical button 3a are associated with each other. Therefore, when the user selects a brand D beverage and the physical button 3a is pressed, the container in which the brand D beverage manufactured as described above is placed in the container storage 4a corresponding to the physical button 3a. Will be supplied.

  In the table 22, the brand G and the physical button 3c are associated with each other. Therefore, when the user selects the brand G beverage and presses the physical button 3c, the container in which the brand G beverage manufactured as described above is placed in the container storage 4c corresponding to the physical button 3c. Will be supplied.

  Furthermore, in the table 22, brands A to C, E, F, H to J, water, carbonated water, and physical buttons 3b are associated with each other. Therefore, when the user selects one of the brands A to C, E, F, H to J, water, and carbonated water and presses the physical button 3b, the beverage manufactured as described above ( For example, flavor-added beverage, water, carbonated water) is supplied to a container placed in the container storage place 4b corresponding to the physical button 3b. Although water and carbonated water are not brands, in the present embodiment, water and carbonated water are treated as a kind of brand for convenience.

  Further, when the control unit 20 detects that any of the physical buttons 3a to 3c is pressed, the control unit 20 controls at least one of opening and closing of the electromagnetic valves 23 to 25 and driving of the BIB tube pumps 26 and 27, Water, carbonated water, main syrup, or topping syrup is supplied to the nozzles (dilution water nozzles 5a, 5c, nozzle 5b, syrup nozzles 40, 41) corresponding to the pressed physical buttons 3a to 3c.

  For example, when one of the brands A to C, E, F, and H to J is selected by the user and the physical button 3b is pressed, the control unit 20 controls the syrup (main syrup) of the selected brand. The syrup electromagnetic valve 25 provided between the syrup tank 10 storing the water and the nozzle 5b is opened, and the water electromagnetic valve 23 and / or the carbonated water electromagnetic valve 24 are opened. In addition, when making the water solenoid valve 23 and the carbonated water solenoid valve 24 open, the control unit 20 alternately opens the water solenoid valve 23 and the carbonated water solenoid valve 24. You may let them.

  Thereby, syrup and water and / or carbonated water are mixed in the nozzle 5b, and the drink obtained as a result is discharged from the nozzle 5b.

  When the flavor-added beverage is selected by the user, the control unit 20 is selected by the user in addition to the syrup solenoid valve 25 provided between the syrup tank 10 storing the main syrup and the nozzle 5b. The syrup solenoid valve 25 provided between the syrup tank 10 storing the topping syrup of the flavor (for example, fruit flavors such as orange and grape) and the nozzle 5b is opened.

  Thereby, in addition to the main syrup, a topping syrup can be supplied to the nozzle 5b, and a flavor-added beverage can be produced by mixing these with water and / or carbonated water.

  In this case, the topping syrup is intermittently added to the main beverage produced by mixing water or carbonated water and main syrup at a predetermined ratio without being diluted, and mixed with the main beverage.

  When water is selected by the user and the physical button 3b is pressed, the control unit 20 opens the water electromagnetic valve 23 provided between the purification filter 8 and the nozzle 5b. Thereby, water is discharged from the nozzle 5b.

  Furthermore, when carbonated water is selected by the user and the physical button 3b corresponding to the nozzle 5b is pressed, the control unit 20 opens the carbonated water electromagnetic valve 24 disposed between the carbonator and the nozzle 5b. Let Thereby, carbonated water is discharged from the nozzle 5b.

  Similarly, when the brand D beverage is selected by the user and the physical button 3a is pressed, the control unit 20 is provided between the BIB 6 storing the selected brand D syrup and the syrup nozzle 40. The BIB tube pump 26 is driven under predetermined conditions. At the same time, the control unit 20 opens the water electromagnetic valve 23 and discharges the dilution water from the dilution water nozzle 5a.

  Thereby, the beverage in which the brand D syrup and the dilution water are mixed is supplied to the container placed in the container storage 4a.

  When the user selects a brand G beverage and presses the physical button 3c, the control unit 20 is provided between the BIB 7 storing the selected brand G syrup and the syrup nozzle 41. The BIB tube pump 27 is driven under predetermined conditions. At the same time, the control unit 20 opens the water electromagnetic valve 23 and / or the carbonated water solenoid valve 24 to discharge the diluted water and / or carbonated water from the diluted water nozzle 5 c and / or the carbonated water nozzle 42.

  As a result, the beverage in which the brand G syrup and water and / or carbonated water are mixed is supplied to the container placed in the container storage 4c.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the topping syrup is added in an undiluted state to the main beverage produced by mixing water or carbonated water and main syrup at a predetermined ratio, and mixed with the main beverage. It was decided.

  Thus, by confusion between the two types of main syrup and topping syrup, it is possible to greatly increase the choice of beverage tastes to be provided to the user.

  Since the topping syrup is added as a flavor, the addition amount may be small. If the addition amount is too large, the balance of the taste between the main syrup and the topping syrup will be lost. Therefore, it is necessary to accurately add a predetermined amount of topping syrup.

  For this reason, in the present embodiment, the topping syrup is added in an undiluted state, and variations in concentration due to dilution are eliminated.

  Further, when such a small amount of topping syrup is continuously added for a long time, it becomes difficult to control the amount of topping syrup added. Therefore, it is desirable to add the topping syrup in as short a time as possible. For this reason, in this embodiment, the topping syrup is intermittently added.

  This makes it possible to accurately add a predetermined amount of topping syrup and to prevent the balance of taste from being lost. As a result, a beverage having a taste as intended by the beverage manufacturer can be provided to the user.

  The present invention is useful for a beverage supply apparatus that supplies a beverage.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Front door 2 Touch panel 3a, 3b, 3c Physical button 4a, 4b, 4c Container storage place 5a, 5c Dilution water nozzle 5b Nozzle 6, 7 Back-in box 8 Purification filter 9 Carbon dioxide cylinder 10 Syrup tank 11, 12, 14, 15, 16 Blade tube 13 Gas regulator 20 Control unit 21 Storage unit 22 Table 23 Water electromagnetic valve 24 Carbonated water electromagnetic valve 25 Syrup electromagnetic valve 26, 27 BIB tube pump 40, 41 Syrup nozzle 42 Carbonated water nozzle 100 Beverage supply device

Claims (5)

A syrup tank that stores syrup,
An operation accepting unit that accepts a selection operation of the main syrup constituting the main beverage and the topping syrup added to the main beverage;
When the syrup is selected as the main syrup, the syrup is diluted with water or carbonated water to produce the main beverage, and another syrup selected as the topping syrup is supplied to the main beverage, When the syrup is selected as the topping syrup, the main beverage is diluted with water or carbonated water when the syrup is selected as the topping syrup. Producing and supplying the syrup to the main beverage, mixing with the main beverage to produce and supply a beverage,
Beverage supply apparatus having. A syrup tank that stores syrup,
An operation accepting unit that accepts a selection operation of the main syrup constituting the main beverage and the topping syrup added to the main beverage;
When the syrup is selected as the main syrup, the syrup is diluted with water or carbonated water to produce the main beverage, while when the syrup is selected as the topping syrup, the syrup is used as the main beverage. A mixing section to supply to,
Beverage supply apparatus having. Further comprising another syrup tank for storing the other syrup,
The beverage supply apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. The topping syrup is supplied intermittently,
The drink supply apparatus in any one of Claim 1 to 3. The topping syrup is supplied undiluted.
The drink supply apparatus in any one of Claim 1 to 3.

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