JP2568469Y2 - Beverage mixing equipment - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a beverage mixing device provided in a beverage dispensing system of a beverage vending machine, for example.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In such a beverage mixing apparatus, a powdery raw material and hot and cold water are supplied into a mixing ball.
This is mixed to prepare a beverage, and the beverage is derived from the outlet. Powdered materials for various beverages are supplied into the mixing ball according to the selection operation by the beverage purchaser. However, if a portion of the powdered material left in the previous mixing remains on the inner wall surface of the mixing ball, there is a problem in terms of hygiene. Not only that, there is a risk that the aroma may be transferred to the next drink and impair the flavor.Therefore, in the mixing ball, hot water for cleaning is supplied at a higher water level than at the time of preparing the beverage by setting the cleaning mode. The inside of the mixing ball is washed with the hot water.

The mixing ball is provided with an exhaust port, through which the moisture in the mixing ball is discharged to the outside. When the powder raw material is dropped into the mixing ball from above, the powder is supplied to the mixing ball. The fine powder of the raw material may adhere to the upper portion of the mixing ball, that is, to the wall surface above the supply level of the hot water for cleaning due to the airflow of the exhaust, and in such a case, the hot water for cleaning may be used. It becomes difficult to wash it away.

Therefore, as shown in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. Sho 63-36458, an air flow control plate is provided in the mixing ball at a position lower than the level of hot and cold water for cleaning and at a portion facing the exhaust port. Means have been proposed in which an airflow control plate allows the exhaust airflow to flow in the lateral direction to prevent the fine powder from adhering to the upper portion of the inner wall of the mixing ball.

[0005]

However, since the fine powder of the powder raw material floats in the mixing ball, it is difficult to put all of the fine powder into the exhaust air flow and discharge it only through the flow path of the air flow. Some of them may float on the upper part of the mixing ball and adhere to the upper part of the inner wall and remain, which is insufficient in reliability.

The present invention has been made in view of such a point. The purpose of the invention is to ensure that even if the fine powder of the powder raw material adheres to any part in the mixing ball, it is surely washed off. An object of the present invention is to provide a beverage mixing device that can be kept clean.

[0007]

In order to achieve such an object, the present invention includes a mixing ball, and supplies a powdered raw material of a beverage and hot and cold water into the mixing ball in a beverage mode, and mixes the mixture in a cleaning mode. A device for supplying hot and cold water for cleaning into a ball, wherein a water receiving portion is formed on an outer periphery of the mixing ball, and hot water to be supplied into the mixing ball in a cleaning mode overflows from an upper end edge of the mixing ball into the water receiving portion. It is intended to be.

[0008]

In the beverage mode, a powdered raw material and hot water are supplied into a mixing ball, and these are mixed to form a beverage. On the other hand, in the cleaning mode, hot and cold water for cleaning is supplied into the mixing ball. The hot water overflows from the upper edge of the mixing ball and flows into the water receiving portion. Therefore, even if the fine powder of the powder raw material adheres and remains on the upper portion of the inner wall of the mixing ball, the fine powder is reliably washed away by the overflowing hot water.

[0009]

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

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a mixing ball, and an outlet 2 is formed at the center of the bottom surface of the mixing ball 1, and an outlet pipe 3 is connected to the outlet 2. An outer wall 4 is integrally formed on the upper outer periphery of the mixing ball 1 along the circumferential direction thereof. The upper edge of the outer wall 4 extends above the upper edge of the mixing ball 1, and a water receiving portion 5 is formed between the outer wall 4 and the peripheral wall of the mixing ball 1. An outlet 6 is formed in a part of the bottom surface of the water receiving section 5, and a drain pipe 7 is connected to the outlet 6.

An upper portion of the outer wall 4 is covered with a cover 8. An exhaust port 9 is formed at the center of the upper surface of the cover 8, and an exhaust pipe 10 is connected to the exhaust port 9. An exhaust fan 11 is provided in the exhaust pipe 10. The operation of the exhaust fan 11 allows moisture in the mixing ball 1 to be exhausted to the outside through the exhaust pipe 10.

A raw material supply pipe 12 and a liquid supply pipe 13 are inserted into the upper surface of the mixing ball 1 through the cover 8.
4 are provided. When the diameter of the liquid supply pipe 13 is D and the diameter of the outlet 2 of the mixing ball 1 is d, the relation of D> d is established.

In such a configuration, when the beverage mode is set, a predetermined amount of powdered raw material is supplied into the mixing ball 1 through the raw material charging pipe 12, and
Hot water (hot water or cold water) is supplied through the liquid supply pipe 13, and the hot water and the powder material are mixed in the mixing ball 1 to prepare a beverage. The amount of hot and cold water supplied into the mixing ball 1 is controlled by the flow control device 14,
Thus, a beverage having a predetermined concentration is prepared.

The mixing of the powdery raw material and the hot water is performed not only by natural mixing with the inflow of the hot water, but also by providing a stirring mechanism in the mixing ball 1 and mechanically stirring by the stirring mechanism. Is also good. The moisture in the mixing ball 1 is sequentially discharged to the outside through the exhaust pipe 10 by the operation of the exhaust fan 11.

In this way, a beverage is prepared in the mixing ball 1, and the beverage is discharged from the outlet 2 through the outlet pipe 3 into a cup set in a vending machine (not shown) of the vending machine.

On the other hand, when the washing mode is set, as shown in FIG. 2, hot water is supplied to the mixing ball 1 through the liquid supply pipe 13 via the flow control device 14 for a longer time than in the beverage mode. You. Here, the liquid supply pipe 1
Since the diameter D of the mixing ball 3 and the diameter d of the outlet 2 of the mixing ball 1 have a relationship of D> d, hot and cold water is gradually stored in the mixing ball 1 and a part of the hot and cold water is It overflows from the upper edge and flows into the water receiving section 5. When the supply of hot water from the liquid supply pipe 13 is stopped, the hot water in the mixing ball 1 flows out of the outlet 2 and the mixing ball 1 is emptied, and the hot water in the water receiving section 5 also flows out of the outlet 6. It flows out and the inside of the water receiving part 6 becomes empty.

As described above, in the cleaning mode, the hot water supplied into the mixing ball 1 overflows from the upper edge thereof, so that the powdery raw material in the beverage mode adheres and remains on the upper inner wall of the mixing ball 1. Even it can be washed off reliably. Needless to say, the powder raw material adhering to the middle and bottom portions of the inner wall of the mixing ball 1 can also be washed off reliably.

In the above embodiment, the hot and cold water for preparing the beverage and the hot and cold water for washing are supplied into the mixing ball 1 by using the common liquid supply pipe 13. However, these are supplied to separate systems. It may be configured to be supplied separately, or it may be configured to supply hot and cold water containing a cleaning agent other than hot and cold water for beverage preparation into the mixing ball 1 in the washing mode. Further, the means for storing hot water for washing in the mixing ball 1 and causing it to overflow is not limited to the case of the relation of D> d as in the above-described embodiment, and for example, a valve mechanism is provided at the outlet 2 of the mixing ball 1. It is also possible to employ means or means for increasing the amount of hot water supplied to the mixing ball 1 per hour.

[0019]

As described above, according to the present invention, even if the fine powder of the powder material adheres to any part in the mixing ball, it can be surely washed off and kept clean, and therefore, the sanitary condition can be maintained. This makes it easy to manage the beverage, and there is an advantage that it is possible to surely prevent the inconvenience that the aroma of the previous beverage is transferred to the next beverage.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a beverage mixing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between a supply amount of hot water in a beverage mode and a supply amount of hot water in a cleaning mode in the beverage mixing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1. Mixing ball 5. Water receiving part

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A mixing ball comprising a mixing ball, wherein a beverage powder material and hot water are supplied into the mixing ball in a drink mode, and hot and cold water for cleaning is supplied into the mixing ball in a wash mode. A beverage mixing device, wherein a water receiving portion is formed on the outer periphery, and hot water supplied into the mixing ball in the washing mode overflows from the upper end edge of the mixing ball into the water receiving portion.