JP2918493B2 - Liquid supply device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid supply device for discharging liquid such as food or drink filled in a container, and more particularly to a liquid supply device for detecting and displaying a remaining amount in a mounted container. Things.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, food and beverage supply devices used for providing palatable drinking water and the like are provided with liquid food or beverage filled in a container in addition to the can juice type. However, there are many products that are supplied out of the container into paper cups or the like according to demand. In particular, the latter can be provided in paper cups and the like that are easy to handle and do not need to be collected, such as coffee, juice, and shakes provided in fast food restaurants, and can be used at low cost. It is actively used. by the way,
A food and drink supply device of the type that pours out the contents filled in such a container is required to be dispensed in a fixed amount each time, unlike a device that is previously packed in cans and sold. . In this type of food and beverage supply device, for example, a predetermined amount of undiluted solution is supplied to a cup, and diluting water such as water is replenished to complete a juice or the like, but if the amount of undiluted solution fluctuates, the same taste is provided. Because you can't.

[0003] Therefore, what should be noted in the food and drink supply device of the pouring type is to always pour out a constant amount of the undiluted solution. In particular, when the undiluted solution in the container is low, there is a possibility that the last one does not reach the predetermined dispensed amount, and there is a possibility that proper food and drink cannot be provided. This can occur not only when provided by a vending machine, but also when used in a fast food store or the like. This is because even if the worker is careful, the slight difference in the amount cannot be recognized. Providing such an imperfect item is a matter that requires special attention because it damages the credibility of the store. On the other hand, when the remaining amount in the container has become equal to or less than a certain amount, a display is performed, and by urging an operator to prepare for replacing the container, it has been attempted to reduce a time loss associated with the container replacement as much as possible. I have.

[0004] Therefore, in the food and drink supply device, when the remaining amount of food and drink in the container becomes equal to or less than a certain amount, a warning to stop selling and a warning to replace the container are issued. Therefore, a weight detection method, a light detection method, or a capacitance detection method has been conventionally used for the remaining amount detection. The weight detector is equipped with a weight sensor to constantly detect the weight of the entire container, and when the weight falls below a certain amount, sends the detection signal to a predetermined display, and displays the display for discontinuation or replacement. Lights up. In addition, the light detection system provided a transmission optical sensor in the middle of the pipe from the container to the spout, detected the presence or absence of food flowing through the pipe, and detected the amount of light when there was no food. At times, the detection signal is sent to a predetermined display, and a sales stop warning display is turned on.

[0005] In the capacitance detection method, an electrode of a capacitance type sensor is provided so as to be in contact with an output tube connected to a container, and receives electrostatic induction due to the presence of a stock solution in the tube. And receives a signal from the electrode that is polarized. According to this method, when the stock solution is filled in the output tube, a negative charge appears in the stock solution. Therefore, the positive charge of the electrode receiving the induction of the negative charge increases, and the capacitance of the electrode increases. On the other hand, when the undiluted solution in the container is reduced and the final surface of the undiluted solution passes through the position of the tube where the electrodes of the capacitance type sensor are installed, the capacitance of the electrodes drops rapidly, and the positive charge of the electrodes is reduced. And the capacitance of the electrode decreases. Therefore, this capacitance is detected, and the sales stop warning display is turned on.

[0006]

However, the liquid supply device provided with the detection device for detecting the remaining amount of liquid such as food and drink has the following disadvantages. (1) For example, when the installation position of the container installed in the food and drink supply device deviates from a predetermined reference position, the remaining amount detected by the weight sensor differs each time, and the remaining amount cannot be accurately detected. there were. In addition, the container containing food and drink usually transports a vinyl or plastic container into which food and drink is directly put in a cardboard box, and is inserted as it is in a cardboard box when it is attached to a liquid supply device. In this case, during the rainy season, the cardboard becomes excessively heavy due to the moisture content, and in winter, the cardboard becomes dry and lighter than usual. Was difficult to detect accurately.

[0007] In addition, in the weight detecting device, the detection result varies, and the replacement time is notified in a state where the food and drink in the container has a certain amount of remaining amount because the accuracy is basically low. Must be. At this time, there is no food or drink remaining in the container to be disposed of.
It will be useless. This is a waste of resources, which causes an increase in cost.

(2) On the other hand, when a transmission type optical sensor is used, it is necessary to transmit light in principle at a detection location.
There was a problem that detection was not possible depending on the material of the container or tube. In other words, in the food and drink supply device, since some food and drink provided do not normally receive light, they are stored in a non-transparent container such as black and are often conveyed by a non-transparent tube such as a black tube. It is.

(3) When a capacitance-type sensor is used, since a signal from an electrode which is polarized by receiving electrostatic induction due to the presence of the stock solution in the tube is detected and detected, the stock solution to be poured is used. There is a problem that the detection is affected by the type of the detection. In other words, the tube is filled with the undiluted solution, and the positive charge is increased by the induction of a charge having a different polarity from the undiluted solution, so that the capacitance of the electrode is increased. Accurate detection becomes difficult.

An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid supply apparatus capable of accurately detecting the remaining amount of a liquid without being affected by the environment, the properties of the liquid, and the like, in order to solve such a problem.

[0011]

The liquid supply device of the present invention has the following configuration. (1) A roller that has an output tube and is capable of attaching and detaching a container filled with liquid, and that discharges the liquid in the output tube into an external container by rotating a roller pump that presses against the output tube. A liquid supply device having a pump, comprising: (a) a rotation number detecting means for detecting a rotation number of a roller pump; (b) a liquid volume storage means for previously storing a liquid volume in a container; and (c) a rotation number. The liquid consumption is calculated from the number of revolutions detected by the detection means , and the liquid capacity storage means compares and calculates the remaining amount of liquid in the container by comparing with the liquid capacity in the container. Notice means for issuing a notice warning when the amount becomes equal to or less than the amount.

(2) In the liquid supply device described in (1), the driving source for rotating the roller pump is a pulse motor, and the rotation number detecting means integrates the number of pulses to the pulse motor. , The rotation speed of the roller pump is detected. (3) In the liquid supply device described in (1), the rotation number detecting means is a magnetic sensor that detects a magnet attached to a predetermined portion of the roller.

(4) In any one of the liquid supply devices described in (1) to (3), the notice means may determine a remaining amount of the liquid in the container based on a thickness of the output tube. The operation is performed. (5) In the liquid supply device described in (4), the notice means is configured to obtain the thickness of the output tube from a barcode attached to the container.

The liquid supply device having the above configuration operates as follows. A clerk at a fast food store or the like sets the container at a predetermined position in the liquid supply device, and also sets the output tube at a predetermined position on the roller pump. And
The roller pump pressed against the output tube rotates and the liquid in the output tube is discharged. The tube has a uniform inner diameter and the amount of liquid squeezed out by the roller pump is always uniform. Therefore, it is possible to always supply a fixed amount of liquid as a stock solution. The liquid supply device makes a beverage by diluting a fixed amount of the undiluted solution with water or carbonated water. Since the amount of the undiluted solution is always constant, it is possible to provide a beverage according to the standard.

Here, the rotation speed detecting means detects the rotation speed of the roller pump. For example, if the roller pump is driven by a pulse motor, the number of pulses supplied to the pulse motor and the number of rotations of the roller have a linear relationship. The number of rotations of the roller can be counted. In addition, the number of rotations of the roller pump can be detected by attaching a magnet to a predetermined portion of the roller pump and counting the number of times the magnet is detected by the magnetic sensor. In this case, if two or more magnets are attached to the outer periphery of the roller pump and the detection is performed, the rotation speed of the roller pump can be grasped to the decimal point.

On the other hand, the volume of the liquid in the container is determined in advance, and is inputted and stored in the liquid volume storage means. This input may be set by a person using a switch or the like, or the liquid supply device may read a bar code attached to the container. Further, the inner diameter of the tube may vary depending on the type of liquid. If the inner diameter of the tube is different, the amount of liquid extracted by the rotation of the roller pump changes.
Therefore, the inner diameter of the tube is known by detecting the outer diameter and thickness of the tube, and thereby the amount of liquid consumed per rotation of the roller pump is calculated. The inner diameter of the tube can also be read from a bar code attached to the container.

By counting the number of rotations of the roller pump, the amount of liquid consumption can be calculated. When the value approaches the liquid volume stored in the liquid volume storage means, a warning warning lamp is turned on. Give advance warning. As a result, a clerk or the like can pay attention to the amount of liquid to be extracted, and can notice the decrease in the amount of liquid when supplying the last liquid, and can discard it. In addition, the next container can be transported in advance from a warehouse or the like to the vicinity of the liquid supply device to prepare for replacement.

[0018]

Next, an embodiment of a liquid supply apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view showing the overall configuration of the food and beverage supply device 1 with the front door 2 opened. In the present embodiment, an orange juice is manufactured by diluting a concentrated stock solution with water. The food and drink supply device 1 is mainly divided into a container storage portion 3 arranged at an upper portion, and food and drink in a container 6 stored in the container storage portion 3 (in the present embodiment, a concentrated undiluted solution of orange juice). , Hereinafter referred to as “stock solution”)
And a water supply unit 5 for receiving the discharged undiluted solution. In the present embodiment, the food and drink supply device 1 in which the container 6 and the food and drink pouring section 4 are set as one set is illustrated, but it is needless to say that two or three or more sets are provided. Good.

The container storage section 3 has a partitioned internal space for storing the container 6, and has an insertion hole (not shown) through which a tube is passed. Here, the container 6 stored in the container storage section 3
There are various forms such as plastic containers, vinyl containers, and paper containers. In each case, a tube 7 as an output tube for discharging the stock solution filled in the container is connected downward. Has been established.

Next, the food and drink pouring section 4 will be described in detail. FIG. 2 is an enlarged front view of the food and beverage discharging section 4. The food and beverage discharging section 4 is fixed to a substrate 8 to which a tube 7 from a container 6 is attached. In particular,
A roller pump 10 provided with three rollers 9 on the outer periphery at equal intervals via a torsion spring 11 is formed at the upper center. The roller 9 has a role of pressing the tube 7 to squeeze out the undiluted solution inside. Roller pump 10
Is rotatably held around the roller pump shaft 13 and is configured to be driven by a pulse motor 41 which is a drive motor. The tube guide 12 provided alongside the roller pump 10 is curved along the outer periphery of the roller pump 10. The tube guide 12 is mounted so as to be rotatable around a tube guide shaft 19. However, in order to prevent the tube guide 12 from rotating too much and approaching the roller pump 10, the tube guide stopper 1
4 are provided. Thus, the tube guide 12
Is screwed to the position shown in the figure by a tube guide lock 15.

At a position downstream of the tube guide 12 and the roller pump 10, a pinch guide 16 and a pinch valve (not shown) for closing and opening the tube 7 near the spout of the tube 7 by crushing the tube 7 are provided. Have been. In the food and beverage discharging section 4 formed in this way, the conduit in which the tube 7 is arranged is determined as shown in the figure. The diluting water supply nozzles 17 provided near both sides of the spout of the tube 7 are rotatably inserted into a nozzle receiver 17a attached to the substrate 8, and the diluting water is discharged by the rotating operation. The direction can be changed. The dilution water supply nozzle 17 is connected to a water distribution pipe (connected to a water supply or the like) in a device for supplying dilution water.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the water supply section 5 has a container 6 below the tube 7 and the dilution water supply nozzle 17.
A bracket 18 is provided for supporting the discharge of the stock solution therein. The bracket 18 is a plate-shaped member fixed at the upper portion and provided such that the lower end portion is inclined forward. As shown in FIG. 2, a power switch 21 and an adjustment knob 22 for adjusting a syrup discharge amount are provided on the food and drink dispensing section 4.

Next, detection of the remaining amount, which is a feature of the present invention, will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the notice warning device 43. The notice warning device 43 includes a pulse motor driver circuit 44 for driving the pulse motor 41, a sold-out notice detection circuit 45 as notice means, and a control circuit 55 for controlling the dispenser body.
A pulse motor 41 is connected to the pulse motor driver circuit 44, and a sold-out notice circuit 45 is
An indicator 42 such as an ED lamp or a buzzer is connected. The pulse motor driver circuit 44 includes an oscillation circuit 4
6, a signal distribution circuit 47, an output circuit 48, and a frequency dividing circuit 49 are provided. In addition, the sold-out notice detection circuit 4
5 includes a pulse count circuit 50, an output control circuit 51,
A display circuit 52, a backup battery 53, and a reset switch 54 are provided.

Next, the operation of the above circuit will be described in relation to the detection of the remaining amount of the container 6. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow from replacement of the container 6 to detection of the remaining amount and subsequent replacement of the container 6. In this flowchart, not only the operation of the circuit but also external work and the like are expressed. First, before driving the food / drink supply device 1, the container 6 containing the undiluted solution is mounted in the container storage unit 3, and the tube 7 connected to the container 6 is mounted on a predetermined path of the food / drink discharge unit 4. (S1). Specifically, the tube guide 12 is opened, and the tube 7 is applied to an insertion hole (not shown) formed when the tube guide 12 comes into contact with the tube guide stopper 14. Then, the tube 7 is mounted along the circumference of the roller pump 10, and the tip is dropped downward so as to contact a pinch valve (not shown) on the back of the pinch guide 16. After the arrangement of the tubes 7 is determined in this way, the tube guide 12 is rotated counterclockwise so as to cover the tubes 7. Then, the tube 7 is pressed against the roller 9 by the tube guide 12. However, at this time, the rotation of the tube guide 12 is restricted by the tube guide stopper 14, and an excessive load on the tube 7 is prevented. And it is fixed by the tube guide lock 15 in that position.

When the food and beverage supply apparatus 1 confirms that the container 6 has been set (S2, YES), the sales lamp is turned on (S3). Thereby, the clerk sells the beverage using the food and beverage supply device 1 (S4). Hold the cup 25 against the bracket 18 and press the dispensing command button.
Thereby, the food and beverage discharging unit 4 is driven as follows,
Orange juice is made and served in the cup 36. Each of the rollers 9, 9, 9 acts in the radial direction of the roller pump 8 by a spring 11. Therefore, when the tube 7 is disposed in the food and drink discharging section 4, a closed portion 7a of the tube 7 that is compressed by the two rollers 9, 9 and the tube guide 12 is formed.

When a beverage supply command is issued, the roller pump 10 is rotated by a predetermined angle (120 °) in the direction of arrow A in FIG. When the roller pump 10 rotates 120 ° in the direction of arrow A, the two closed locations 7
It is sent downward so that only the amount of the stock solution filled during a is squeezed. At this time, the undiluted solution from the container 6 flows between the closed portions 7a to which the undiluted solution has been sent out, and is closed again by the next rollers 9,9. Therefore, the amount of the undiluted solution discharged in one rotation is only the amount existing between the closed portions 7a.

A pinch guide 16 is provided at a position downstream of a position between the tube guide 12 of the tube 7 and the roller pump 10, and a pinch valve (not shown) and a driving mechanism thereof are provided on the back side of the pinch guide 16. Is provided. In order to maintain the cleanliness of the tube 7, when there is no beverage supply command, the pinch valve presses the tube 7 against the back of the pinch guide 16 to hermetically close the tube 7, thereby preventing the beverage in the tube 7 from contacting the outside air. The roller pump 10 is opened simultaneously with the rotation of the roller pump 10.

When the undiluted solution is discharged from the spout at the lower end of the tube 7, dilution water for diluting the undiluted solution is simultaneously discharged from the dilution water supply nozzle 17. Dilution water supply nozzle 17
Is rotatably inserted into a nozzle receiver 17a attached to the substrate 8, so that the direction of dilution water discharge can be changed by its rotation operation. The supply source of the dilution water may be a supply from a water supply such as a water supply, or a supply of the mineral water or the like stored in the food and drink supply device 1 and supplied.

Here, the operation of the circuit of FIG. 3 will be described. The drive pulse generated by the oscillation circuit 46 is supplied to the pulse motor 41 via the signal distribution circuit 47 and the output circuit 48 to rotate the roller pump 10. The stock solution in the tube 7 is pressed and extracted by the roller 9. At this time, since the roller 9 continuously squeezes the tube 7, a constant amount of the undiluted solution can always be supplied accurately.
Here, since the dilution ratio differs depending on the beverage, a certain amount of the stock solution squeezed out by the roller 9 differs depending on the type of the stock solution. As shown in FIG. 5, by having a plurality of types of tubes 7, a thick tube 7 is used for a stock solution to be supplied with a large fixed amount, and a stock solution to be supplied with a small fixed amount is used.
A thin tube 7 is used.

On the other hand, the pulse generated by the oscillation circuit 46 is
The frequency dividing circuit 49 divides the number of pulses necessary for rotating the roller pump 10 by a predetermined angle. That is, the frequency dividing circuit 49 generates a signal for each bundle of pulse numbers necessary for one roller 9 of the roller pump 10 to rotate by a predetermined angle corresponding to the amount of squeezing from the top to the bottom of the tube 7. The pulse count circuit 50 counts the rotation angle and the number of rotations of the roller pump 10 by counting the signals. As shown in FIG. 5, there are a plurality of types of inner diameters of the tube 7, but the storage amount of the stock solution in the container 6 is the same. Therefore, if the type of the tube 7 is known, it is known in advance how many times the roller pump 10 should rotate before the stock solution in the container 6 runs out. In the present embodiment, the specified number of revolutions is determined four or five times before completely disappearing. In order to set the specified number of revolutions, a method of preliminarily storing set values corresponding to various stock solutions and switching the setting each time according to the stock solution installed, and a second method of automatically setting by detecting the thickness of the tube with a sensor or the like. Alternatively, a third method may be adopted in which a barcode is provided in a container containing the undiluted solution, and the barcode is read and automatically set. In the present embodiment, the second
The thickness of the tube 7 is measured by a photoelectric switch (not shown).

When the rotation speed reaches the specified rotation speed (S5, YES),
The display circuit 52 turns on the display 42 (S6). The determination of S5 is made by the output control circuit 51. When the display 42 is turned on, the clerk prepares the next container 6 and continues selling while paying attention to the amount of the undiluted solution. Then, when it is determined that the undiluted solution does not reach the predetermined amount, the stock solution is replaced with the next container 6 (S
7). At the same time, the accumulated number of rotations is reset by the reset switch 54 (S8). Thereby, the display 42 is turned off (S9). The backup battery 53
This is a backup power supply when the power is turned off.

As described above, according to the food and beverage supply apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the number of rotations of the roller pump is detected by the number of pulses supplied to the pulse motor 41, and (b) the liquid volume in the container 6 A display 42 that gives a warning notice when the pulse number reaches the specified number of revolutions.
Therefore, the remaining amount can be accurately detected without being affected by the physical properties of the stock solution, the environment, and the like. In addition, since different types of undiluted liquids are distinguished by the thickness of the tube 7 and the specified number of rotations is determined for each of them, accurate remaining amount detection is possible regardless of the type of food to be provided.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The feature of the second embodiment is that the number of rotations of the roller pump 10 is detected only by detecting the magnet attached to the roller pump 10, so only that point will be described and other description will be omitted. . FIG. 1 or FIG.
As shown in the figure, a detection sensor 31 for detecting the remaining amount
Is disposed so as to overlap the roller pump 10.
Specifically, when the supply of the food and drink supply device 1 is stopped, the closed portions 7a and 7a of the tube 7 compressed by the two rollers 9 and 9 and the tube guide 12 are formed. Are arranged so as to overlap with other unrelated rollers 9. The detection sensor 31 is a magnetic sensor, and a magnet is attached to each of the rollers 9, 9, and 9.

By detecting this magnet, the number of times the roller pump 10 squeezes out the tube 7 is counted, the amount extracted is obtained, and the remaining amount of the undiluted solution remaining in the container 6 can be detected. According to the second embodiment, the number of times the roller pump 10 actually operates is counted, so that the remaining amount warning can be more accurately performed.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, although the detection sensor 31 is configured to detect the rollers 9, 9, the detection may be performed by attaching a magnet directly to the roller pump 10. Further, the detection sensor 31 may be not only a magnetic sensor but also an optical sensor or the like. Further, the remaining amount of the undiluted solution may be displayed by an indicator by setting the pulse count number finely. Further, for example, although the LED is used as the display means, other optical means such as a lamp may be used. Further, even if the outer diameter of the tube 7 is not detected, the outer diameter of the tube 7 used may be obtained by attaching a barcode to the container 6.

[0036]

According to the present invention, the number of rotations when the roller pump is rotated and the liquid is poured into the external container from the pressed tube is detected, and when the total number of rotations reaches the specified number of rotations. Since the warning is issued, it is possible to provide a liquid supply device capable of accurately detecting the remaining amount of the liquid without being affected by the use environment, the properties of the liquid, and the like. Further, in the present invention, since the detecting means is performed by counting the number of pulses supplied to the pulse motor, or by using a magnetic sensor for detecting a magnet attached to a predetermined portion of the roller pump, the use environment and liquid It has become possible to provide a liquid supply device capable of accurately detecting the remaining amount of liquid without being affected by the properties of the liquid supply. Further, the present invention provides a liquid supply device capable of accurately detecting the remaining amount of various liquids because the specified number of revolutions is changed based on the thickness of the tube connected to the container with the counting means. It has become possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of a food and beverage supply apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a pouring section of the food and drink supply device.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a detection circuit.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a notice method.

FIG. 5 is a data diagram showing types of tubes 7;

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 food and drink supply device 4 food and drink discharge section 6 container 7 tube 9 roller 10 roller pump 31 detection sensor 41 pulse motor 42 display 49 frequency dividing circuit 50 pulse count circuit 51 output control circuit

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A liquid-filled container having an output tube is detachable, and the liquid in the output tube is poured into an external container by rotating a roller pressed against the output tube. In a liquid supply device having a roller pump, a rotation number detection unit that detects a rotation number of the roller pump, a liquid volume storage unit that stores a liquid volume in the container in advance, and a rotation number detected by the rotation number detection unit Liquid consumption from
Is calculated and compared Starring the remaining amount of liquid in the container by comparison with the liquid volume in the container for storing said liquid storage means
And a notice means for issuing a notice warning when the remaining amount becomes equal to or less than a predetermined amount. 2. The liquid supply device according to claim 1, wherein the drive source for rotating the roller pump is a pulse motor, and the rotation number detecting means integrates the number of pulses to the pulse motor. A liquid supply device for detecting a rotation speed of the roller pump. 3. The liquid supply device according to claim 1, wherein the rotation number detecting means is a magnetic sensor that detects a magnet attached to a predetermined portion of the roller pump. . 4. The liquid supply device according to claim 1, wherein the notice unit is configured to determine a position of the output tube based on a thickness of the output tube.
A liquid supply device for calculating a remaining amount of the liquid in the container. 5. The liquid supply device according to claim 4, wherein the notice means obtains the thickness of the output tube from a bar code attached to the container.