JP2605242Y2 - Cup-type vending machine hot water tank - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hot water tank for heating hot water for a cup-type vending machine to produce and store hot water.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 2 shows a typical structure of a conventional hot water tank of this kind. As shown in the figure, the hot water tank 21 includes a tubular tank body 22, a water supply pipe 3 for supplying water to the tank body 22, a float 4 for adjusting the water level of the tank body 22 to a constant level, Tank body 2
2, a heater 5 for heating the water in the tank 2, a water temperature sensor 6 for detecting the temperature of the water in the tank body 22, and a hot water supply pipe 27 with a hot water electromagnetic valve 13 for supplying hot water in the tank body 22 when selling hot beverages. It is comprised including.

The water supply pipe 3 is connected to the bottom wall of the tank body 22, and the heater 5, the water temperature sensor 6 and the hot water supply pipe 27
They are arranged on the side wall of the tank body 22 in order from the bottom. The hot water supply pipe 27 is horizontally attached to an outlet formed near the center of the side wall of the tank body 22, and has one end protruding into the tank body 22. The heater 5, the water temperature sensor 6, and the solenoid valve 13 are connected to the control device 15.

With such a configuration, this hot water tank 2
In 1, the water supplied from the bottom into the tank main body 22 through the water supply pipe 3 is heated by the heater 5 to hot water having a temperature equal to or higher than the set temperature under the control of the control device 15 according to the detection signal of the water temperature sensor 6. Then, the convection of the heated hot water keeps the temperature of the hot water in the tank body 22 at or above the set temperature. In this state, when the product purchaser selects a hot beverage, the control device 15 opens the solenoid valve 13 so that a predetermined amount of water flows under the natural flow due to the drop H between the water surface and the position of the hot water supply pipe 27. Is supplied from the hot water supply pipe 27. When the water temperature detected by the water temperature sensor 6 is lower than the set temperature, the control device 15 stops selling the hot beverage.

[0005]

As described above, in the above-described conventional hot water tank, the heater 5 and the water temperature sensor 6 are provided.
Are arranged below the hot water supply pipe 27 at intervals from the bottom. If the water is not sufficiently heated by the heater 5 if the water supplied to the bottom of the tank body 22 is not sufficiently heated due to frequent sales of hot beverages unless the water temperature sensor 6 is disposed, for example, the water temperature sensor 6 Cannot be detected, and hot water lower than the set temperature is supplied from the hot water supply pipe 27. Further, in the conventional hot water tank, the outflow pressure for supplying a certain amount of hot water is obtained by the head between the water surface and the position of the hot water supply pipe 27. It is necessary to secure the above height. As a result, the conventional hot water tank becomes longer in both the vertical direction with the hot water supply pipe 27 as the center, and there is a problem that it is difficult to reduce the size. This is an obstacle to miniaturization of vending machines that have been required in recent years.

Further, the water above the hot water supply pipe 27 only contributes to securing a predetermined head H for supplying hot water, and cannot be directly used as hot water for drinking. As a result, since the water above the hot water supply pipe 27 becomes an extra heat load for the heater 5, there is a problem that the heating efficiency is reduced by that much.

As another conventional hot water tank, for example, one disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 64-31478 is known.
In this hot water tank, a water supply pipe and a heater are inserted from above the tank main body. Water introduced through a water supply pipe from near the bottom of the tank main body is heated by a heater in the vicinity of the water supply pipe and a heater. The configuration in which the water temperature is detected by the water temperature sensor disposed below is similar to the configuration of the above-described hot water tank, and thus has the same problem as described above.

[0008] The present invention has been made to solve such problems, while retaining the functions required for the hot water tank, with FIG be improved compactness and heating efficiency of the hot water tank, Reduce the temperature when supplying hot water
And to provide a hot water tank of the cup type automatic vending machine that can you to prevent.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, a hot water tank for a vending machine according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a tank body for introducing and storing hot beverage water from near the bottom. attached to the outlet provided on a side surface of the tank body, extends through the tank body upwardly, and the hot water supply pipe intake of the upper end faces immediately below the water surface of the tank body, outlet
A heating device that is horizontally installed at approximately the same height as the above and heats the water introduced into the tank body, and a position higher than the outlet
And a control device for controlling the operation of the heating device in accordance with the detection result of the water temperature sensor.

[0010]

[0011]

[0012]

According to the hot water tank according to the first aspect, the water introduced near the bottom of the tank body has substantially the same height as the outlet before reaching the water inlet of the hot water supply pipe facing directly below the water surface.
While being heated by the horizontally disposed a heating device position, coolant temperature of the higher position than the outlet of the tank body, its
Is detected by the water temperature sensor disposed at the position of . Then, in accordance with the detection result of the water temperature sensor, the control device controls the operation of the heating device, so that the temperature of the hot water near the intake port of the hot water supply pipe, that is, the temperature of the hot water supplied for the hot beverage, for example, , Can be kept above the set temperature. Therefore, the water temperature sensor and the heating device
Eliminates the need for installation at a position lower than the outlet of the tank body , making the hot water tank more compact and heating efficiency
Can be improved . Further, since the intake port of the hot water supply pipe faces directly below the water surface, the outflow pressure of the hot water at the time of supply is ensured by the head between the water surface and the outlet of the tank body.

A heating device is provided on the side of the tank body.
It is located at approximately the same height as the
To heat the water near the outlet inside the body, connect the outlet to a tank
Even near the bottom of the body, water near the outlet was introduced
It was not overcooled by fresh water, but
When hot water is supplied, the hot water taken from the upper intake
Can prevent the temperature drop when reaching the lower exit
You.

Further, the heating device is disposed horizontally.
Because of the unevenness of the planar temperature distribution of water in the tank body
And the heat generated by the heating device
As it is transmitted, the temperature detected by the water temperature sensor installed above
Can accurately grasp the temperature of the water near the intake.
Wear.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the entire configuration of a hot water tank of a vending machine to which the present invention is applied. 2, the same components as those of the conventional hot water tank shown in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

As shown in FIG. 1, a hot water tank 1 of this embodiment has a water supply pipe 3 for replenishing the tank body 2 with water and a water level in the tank body 2. Float 4 for constant adjustment, heater 5 for heating water in tank body 2, water temperature sensor 6 for detecting water temperature in tank body 2, and supply of hot water in tank body 2 when selling hot beverages A hot water supply pipe 7 is provided.

The tank body 2 has an inlet 9 at the center of the bottom wall 8 and an outlet 11 at about 1/3 below the side wall 10.
Are formed respectively. The water supply pipe 3 has one end connected to the inlet 9 of the tank body 2 and the other end connected to a cistern (not shown). The hot water supply pipe 7 has a short section 7a.
And an L-shaped tube comprising a long portion 7b, and the short portion 7a is attached to the outlet 11 so as to pass through the outlet 11 of the tank body 2. The long portion 7 b of the hot water supply pipe 7 extends upward in the tank body 2, and the water intake port 12 at the upper end faces directly below the water surface adjusted by the float 4. The hot water supply pipe 7 faces a cooking unit (not shown) via a normally-closed electromagnetic valve 13 for opening and closing the hot water supply pipe. The solenoid valve 13 is connected to a control device 15, and its operation is controlled by the control device 15.

The heater 5 is mounted at a position substantially at the same height as the outlet 11 of the side wall 10 of the tank body 2 so as to be opposed to the outlet 11, and the heater 5a is inserted horizontally into the tank body 2. I have. The water temperature sensor 6 is formed of a thermistor or the like, and is provided on the side wall 10 of the tank body 2 above the heater 5, and the detection unit 6 a is also horizontally inserted into the tank body 2. . Heater 5
And the water temperature sensor 6 are connected to the control device 15,
The detection signal of the water temperature sensor 6 is input to the control device 15, and the heater 5 is turned on / off by the control signal from the control device 15.

Next, the operation of the hot water tank 1 having the above configuration will be described. Water is supplied to the tank body 2 from the bottom through a water supply pipe 3, and the water level is kept constant by the float 4. The water supplied to the tank body 2 is heated by the heater 5 near its bottom. The operation of the heater 5 is controlled by the control device 15 according to the detection result of the water temperature sensor 6.
Control is performed such that the temperature of the hot water becomes equal to or higher than the set temperature.

In this state, when the purchaser selects a hot beverage such as hot coffee, the controller 15 outputs a drive signal to the solenoid valve 13 in response to the selection, and
Is opened for a predetermined time. As a result, the hot water near the water surface in the tank body 2 is supplied from the water inlet 12 near the water surface to the hot water supply pipe 7 by the head pressure caused by the head H between the water surface kept constant by the float 4 and the outlet 11 of the tank body 2. And is supplied to the cooking unit through the electromagnetic valve 13. The supply amount of hot water at this time is determined by the opening time of the solenoid valve 13 and the head H
Is kept constant since it is constant.

If sales are frequent and the heating by the heater 5 cannot keep up, and the water temperature in the tank body 2 has not risen to the set temperature, the control unit 15 determines this state by the detection signal of the water temperature sensor 6. For example, the fact that the hot beverage is sold out or in an unsellable state is displayed on the display unit of the vending machine to stop selling the hot beverage. As a result, it is possible to reliably prevent the sale of the lukewarm hot beverage due to the supply of the hot water having the temperature equal to or lower than the set temperature.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the hot water supply pipe 7 is extended upward in the tank body 2 and
Is arranged near the water surface, the pressure required to cause the hot water to flow naturally can be ensured by the head H between the water surface and the outlet 11 of the tank body 2. In addition, while the water introduced near the bottom of the tank body 2 reaches the water intake 12 near the water surface, the water is heated by the heater 5 provided at substantially the same height as the outlet 11 of the tank body 2, The higher water temperature sensor 6 can detect the temperature of the hot water. The control of the control device 15 in accordance with the detection result of the water temperature sensor 6 controls the water temperature in the tank body 2 to be equal to or higher than the set temperature, and stops the supply when the temperature of the hot water is lower than the set temperature. can do.

That is, the water surface of the tank body 2 and the outlet 11
In this case, the head required for the supply of hot water can be secured and the water can be monitored by monitoring the temperature of the water.
Portions below the outlet 11 can be omitted, and the length of the tank body 2 can be shortened. In addition, since the heat load of the heater 5 is reduced due to the decrease in the capacity of the tank body 2, the heating efficiency is improved accordingly, and for example, the heater 5 can be configured with a smaller power.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but can be implemented in various modes. For example. In the embodiment, the hot water supply pipe is an L-shaped pipe, which is attached to the side wall of the tank main body. However, this may be a straight pipe, attached to the bottom wall of the tank main body, and the upper end thereof faces the vicinity of the water surface.

[0025]

[Effects of the Invention] As described in detail above, the hot water tank of the present invention aims at reducing the size of the hot water tank and improving the heating efficiency while maintaining various functions required for the hot water tank.
And at the same time , have an effect of preventing a decrease in temperature when supplying hot water .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a configuration of a hot water tank of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a hot water tank of a conventional vending machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Hot water tank 2 Tank main body 3 Water supply pipe 5 Heater 6 Water temperature sensor 7 Hot water supply pipe 11 Outlet 12 Water intake 15 Control device

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A tank body for introducing and storing hot beverage water from near the bottom , and an outlet provided on a side surface of the tank body, extending upward in the tank body, and having a water intake port at an upper end. A hot water supply pipe facing directly below the water surface of the tank body, a heating device disposed horizontally at substantially the same height as the outlet, and heating water introduced into the tank body, a position higher than the outlet And a water temperature sensor for detecting a water temperature at a position higher than the outlet , and a control device for controlling the operation of the heating device according to the detection result of the water temperature sensor. Vending machine hot water tank.