JP3020304B2 - Vending machine with induction heating device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic vending machine with an induction heating device for inductively heating canned beverage products such as coffee (hereinafter referred to as canned beverages) at the time of sale and selling them hot (hereinafter referred to as HOT sales). It is about the machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, there has been proposed a vending machine in which canned beverages are induction-heated at the time of sale by applying induction heating technology to sell HOT.
As described in JP-A-76097, each time a canned beverage enters the heating coil with a cylindrical heating coil, a thermosensitive element such as a thermocouple is provided as a temperature detector on the can wall as a temperature detector. The temperature of the content beverage cannot be directly detected, so that the temperature of the can wall is detected and the temperature of the content beverage is indirectly determined, and the Some include an induction heating device that stops induction heating when the beverage reaches the HOT selling temperature, releases contact of the temperature detector, and sells the beverage at a predetermined temperature.

[0003]

However, in such a configuration, the mechanical life is short because the temperature detector is in contact with the can wall of the canned beverage, or the actual can wall depends on the degree of contact of the temperature detector. In some cases, the temperature cannot be detected correctly, and there is a problem that canned beverages cannot be sold at an appropriate HOT selling temperature. In addition, in recent years, the types of canned beverages have increased, and there are various types of canned diameters and canned lengths. A short canned length is hidden in a heating coil, so that there is a problem that the temperature cannot be detected. Was.

When the temperature of the can wall is detected in a non-contact manner at the time of heating, the difference in the infrared emissivity between the welded portion and the paint portion existing in the body of the can causes the infrared radiation of the paint portion to be different. If the temperature of the weld is detected at the same temperature, the output will decrease even at the same temperature, and if the heating is stopped at the same output, the temperature of the canned beverage will increase, and the canned beverage will be heated at the appropriate HOT selling temperature. There was a problem that it could not be sold.

[0005] In view of the above problems, the present invention firstly ends heating at the same can temperature without fail even if the temperature of a portion having a different infrared emissivity is detected, and raises the can beverage to a certain appropriate HOT selling temperature. It is an object to provide a vending machine with an induction heating device.

Second, even for canned beverages having different capacities, heating at the same canned temperature is surely completed even if the temperature of a portion having a different infrared emissivity is detected, and the canned beverage is brought to a certain appropriate HOT selling temperature. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vending machine with an induction heating device.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a vending machine with an induction heating device according to the present invention is a high-frequency power conversion device for supplying a constant high-frequency power to a heating coil for induction-heating a canned beverage. A temperature detector that detects the temperature of the can wall of the body of the canned beverage that is induction-heated in the cradle in a non-contact manner and sends out an output; an amplifier that amplifies the output of the temperature detector; Output change measuring means for measuring an output change, a judgment value varying means for changing a judgment value for terminating induction heating by an output of the output change measuring means, and a judgment means for judging whether or not the output of the amplifier has reached a judgment value. And a stop signal generating means for generating a stop signal for stopping the high-frequency power converter based on the result of the determination by the determining means.

Further, a high-frequency power converter for supplying a constant high-frequency power to a heating coil for inductively heating a canned beverage, a capacity detecting means for detecting a capacity of the canned beverage, and induction heating in a cradle. A temperature detector that detects the can wall temperature of the body of the canned beverage in a non-contact manner and sends out an output, an amplifier that amplifies the output of the temperature detector, and an output change measuring unit that measures an output change of the amplifier, A judgment value varying means for changing a judgment value for terminating induction heating based on an output of the output change measuring means and an output of the capacity detecting means, a judgment means for judging whether the output of the amplifier has reached the judgment value, and a judgment by the judgment means And a stop signal generating means for generating a stop signal for stopping the power conversion device based on the result.

[0009]

The vending machine with an induction heating device according to the present invention detects the temperature of the can wall of the body of a canned beverage being heated in a non-contact manner by a temperature detector. The output change of the detector is detected by the output change measuring means, and if the output change is small, it is determined that the welded portion having a low infrared emissivity is detected, and the determination value is controlled by the determination value changing means to reduce the determination value. It is determined whether or not the output of the amplifier has reached the determination value.

Then, a stop signal for stopping the high-frequency power converter is generated based on the result of the determination, and the high-frequency power converter is controlled. Can be sold at an appropriate HOT selling temperature.

Further, the problem of the mechanical life is eliminated, and the case where the actual can wall temperature cannot be correctly detected due to the contact state of the temperature detector can be eliminated. The heating coil is changed from the conventional cylindrical shape to an arc plate shape. Therefore, there is no possibility that a short can is hidden in the heating coil and the temperature cannot be detected.

Further, a determination value for ending each heating is set by the capacity detecting means, and the temperature of the can wall of the body of the canned beverage being heated in a non-contact manner is detected by the temperature detection, whereby the can is heated. The output change of the temperature detector for a certain period of time is detected by the output change measuring means, and if the output change is small, it is determined that a welded part having a low infrared emissivity is detected.

The judgment value varying means controls to reduce the judgment value determined for each capacity of the can. The judgment means judges whether or not the output of the amplifier has reached the judgment value. Based on the judgment result, the high-frequency power conversion is performed. Since the stop signal for stopping the device is generated and the high-frequency power converter is controlled, it is possible to set an appropriate judgment value even for the difference in the capacity of the canned beverage, and to set the canned beverage at an appropriate HOT selling temperature. It can be sold.

[0014]

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

FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a heating coil for inductively heating a canned beverage 2, which is wound in an arc plate shape along a cylindrical can wall. Reference numeral 3 denotes a high-frequency power converter that converts low-frequency power from the commercial power supply 4 and supplies a constant high-frequency power to the heating coil 1.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a temperature detector for detecting the temperature of the can wall of the body of the canned beverage 2 in a non-contact manner, and is a thermopile or the like for converting the amount of infrared rays from the can wall into an electric force-loss signal. The output is input to the amplifier 6. The amplifier 6 amplifies the signal of the temperature detector 5 and outputs a signal corresponding to the can wall temperature.
At this time, when the amplifier 6 detects the paint portion of the canned beverage 2,
That is, the amplification degree is set when the infrared emissivity is high.

Reference numeral 7 denotes an output change measuring means for measuring a change in the output of the amplifier 6 for a fixed time after the start of heating. Reference numeral 8 denotes a capacity detecting means for detecting and outputting the capacity of the canned beverage 2 to be heated. Numeral 9 denotes a judgment value varying means which determines a judgment value for terminating heating based on the outputs of the output change measuring means 7 and the capacity detecting means 8. The judgment value changing means 9 first sets a reference judgment value according to the capacity of the can, based on the output of the capacity detection means 8 before the start of heating.

This reference determination value is a value when the temperature of the content beverage is at an appropriate temperature if heating is terminated when the output of the amplifier 6 reaches this value when the paint portion of the canned beverage 2 is detected. In addition, the criterion determination value changes depending on the capacity. This is because in the single-hour heating by induction heating, the convection of the content drink differs depending on the capacity of the can, and thus the correlation between the temperature of the content drink and the can wall temperature differs.

The control unit 10 determines whether or not the output of the amplifier 6 has reached the determination value.
A stop signal generating means 12 for generating a stop signal for stopping the high-frequency power converter 3 based on the determination result by 1;
And a heating control means 13 for operating / stopping the high-frequency power converter 3 at a predetermined heating output. The stop signal generating means 12 is connected to the heating control means 13 and inputs a stop signal to the heating control means 13. Further, a HOT sales switch group 14 is connected to the heating control means 13.

The output change measuring means 7 is connected to the output of the heating control means 13 and measures the output change of the amplifier 6 for a certain time after the output of the heating start signal. The judgment value changing means 9 changes the reference judgment value set for each capacity before heating by the output of the output change measuring means 7. This is based on the output change when the paint portion is detected, and if the output change is smaller than that, it is judged that a portion where the infrared emissivity is low is detected, and the judgment value is reduced as much as the output change.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view, and FIG.
Is a storage device for storing the canned beverage 2, and 16 is a cradle for receiving the canned beverage 2. Reference numeral 17 denotes a carry-out device attached to a lower portion of the storage device 15. The cradle 16 is the unloading device 1
7 and is attached with the bottom surface inclined. In addition, as shown in FIG.
6 is attached side by side. Further, the capacitance detecting means 8
Is composed of a can diameter detection switch 18, a first can size detection switch 19, and a second can size detection switch 20, and can detect five types of sizes currently on sale. The operation is as shown in Table 1. become.

[0022]

[Table 1]

The temperature detector 5 is mounted so that the temperature of the body of the canned beverage 2 can be detected when the canned beverage 2 enters the cradle 16. 21 is an outer wall of the vending machine.
When the HOT sales switch group 14 is pressed in such a configuration, the unloading device 17 is opened, and the canned beverage 2 is put into the receiving tray 16. Then, the heating control means 13 starts heating the canned beverage 2. Then, the output of the temperature detector 5 is amplified by the amplifier 6 and input to the judging means 11, and when the temperature reaches a predetermined temperature, the heating is stopped.

FIG. 4 shows a specific circuit diagram of the main part. FIG.
A detailed description of the same parts as those described above will be omitted. The control device 10 includes a microcomputer 22 and peripheral circuits. The microcomputer 22 has a CP
This is a so-called one-chip microcomputer having a U, a ROM, a RAM, and an input / output unit. The output of the temperature detector 5 is amplified by the amplifier 6 and connected to the input section of the microcomputer 22 via the A / D converter 23.

As a result, the temperature signal from the temperature detector 5 is converted into a binary code and read into the microcomputer 22. The HOT sales switch group 14 is connected to the microcomputer 22 to determine whether or not the switch has been pressed. The capacitance detecting means 8 is also connected to the microcomputer 22. The output of the microcomputer 22 is connected to the high-frequency power converter 3.

Next, the operation of the induction heating device of the vending machine configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

When a HOT sales (start) signal is input from the HOT sales switch army 14 (step 101), canned beverages are stored in the ROM of the microcomputer 22 according to the procedure of the program shown in the flowchart of FIG. 2 is started.

First, the microcomputer 22 opens the carry-out device 17 and carries out the canned beverage 2 in the storage device 15 into the receiving table 16 (step 102). Next, the capacitance detecting means 8
Is input, and a reference value for ending the heating according to the detected capacity is set (step 103). Then, the microcomputer 22 outputs a heating start signal for operating at a predetermined heating output to the high-frequency power converter 3, and heating is started (step 104).

Then, the temperature detection signal from the temperature detector 5 is taken into the microcomputer 22 as a digital signal by the A / D converter 23 via the amplifier 6 (step 105). The change in the output of the amplifier 6 is measured (step 10).
6) Compare with the reference output change, and change the judgment value by a value corresponding to the measured output change (step 107).

Next, it is determined whether the detected output of the amplifier 6 has reached the set determination value (step 1).
08) When the determination value is reached, the microcomputer 22 sends a stop signal to the high-frequency power converter 3, the high-frequency power converter 3 stops, and the induction heating ends (step 10).
9). Then, HOT sales are completed (step 11).
0).

As described above, according to the present invention, since the heating coil 1 is changed from a conventional cylindrical shape to an arc plate shape, there is no possibility that a short-length can is hidden in the heating coil 1 and the temperature cannot be detected. . In addition, the temperature detector 5 detects the can wall temperature of the body of the canned beverage 2 being heated in a non-contact manner, measures the temperature rise for a certain period of time from the heating floor, and sets the temperature rise value before heating. The reference determination value corresponding to the inserted can capacity is changed, and the determination means determines whether the output of the amplifier 6 has reached the determination value.

Since the heating is stopped based on the determination result, the heating is terminated at a constant can wall temperature regardless of the volume of the can beverage 2 regardless of the volume of the can. Can be done. Further, the problem of the mechanical life is eliminated, and the case where the actual can wall temperature cannot be correctly detected due to the degree of contact of the temperature detector 5 can be eliminated.
The canned beverage 2 can be sold at an appropriate HOT selling temperature.

When the canned beverage 2 is heated by the inclined receiving table 16 when the bottom surface and the pull-top surface of the canned beverage 2 come below the inclined surface, the heating is performed for a certain period of time. There was a difference in the can wall temperature when the temperature of the content beverage was constant, and it became higher when the pull-top surface came. If the output of the amplifier 6 is stopped at a constant value and the pull-top surface comes, the temperature of the contents beverage will be lowered. However, even in such a case, according to the present embodiment, the temperature rise value is detected, and if the temperature rise value is high, the control can be performed so as to raise the determination value, so that the heating can be terminated at a certain temperature of the content beverage.

[0034]

As is apparent from the above embodiments, the present invention is directed to a pedestal formed of an electric insulator for receiving canned beverage and having a bottom surface inclined, and an arc for juxtaposing the pedestal for induction heating the canned beverage. A heating coil wound in a plate shape, a high-frequency power converter that supplies a constant high-frequency power to the heating coil for induction heating, and a can wall temperature of the body of a canned beverage that is induction-heated in a cradle. Temperature sensor that detects and outputs the output in a non-contact manner, an amplifier that amplifies the output of the temperature detection, an output change measuring unit that measures the output change of the amplifier, and induction heating by the output of the output change measuring unit. A judgment value varying means for changing the judgment value to be ended, a judgment means for comparing the output of the amplifier with the judgment value, and judging the end of heating when the output of the amplifier becomes the judgment value; Stop to stop the converter Since those having a stop signal generating means for generating a signal, there is no fact that can not be temperature detecting short cans lengths is hiding in the heating coil.

Further, regardless of which part of the circumference of the canned beverage is being measured, the heating can be completed at a constant can wall temperature, eliminating the problem of mechanical life and eliminating the contact of the temperature detector. It is possible to eliminate the case where the actual can wall temperature cannot be correctly detected depending on the condition, and the can beverage can be sold at an appropriate HOT selling temperature.

The apparatus further comprises a capacity detecting means for detecting the capacity of the canned beverage, and a judgment value changing means for changing a judgment value for terminating the induction heating based on the output of the output change measuring means and the output of the capacity detecting means. Therefore, regardless of the volume of the can, the heating can be completed at a constant can wall temperature regardless of which part on the circumference of the can beverage is measured.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a vending machine with an induction heating device showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a main part in a vending machine.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the cradle;

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of a main part of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Heating coil 2 Canned drink 3 High frequency power converter 5 Temperature detector 6 Amplifier 7 Output change measuring means 8 Capacity detecting means 9 Judgment value variable means 11 Judging means 12 Stop signal generating means 16 Cradle

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A receiving table formed of an electric insulator for receiving a canned beverage and having a bottom surface inclined, a heating coil wound in an arcuate plate in parallel with the receiving table and inductively heating the canned beverage; A high-frequency power converter for supplying a predetermined high-frequency power for induction heating to the coil; and a non-contact detection of the can wall temperature of the body of the canned beverage to be induction-heated in the cradle, and output. Temperature detector, an amplifier for amplifying the output of the temperature detector, an output change measuring means for measuring an output change of the amplifier, and a determination value for terminating the induction heating by the output of the output change measuring means. Judgment value changing means,
The output of the amplifier is compared with a determination value, and if the output of the amplifier becomes the determination value, a determination unit that determines the end of heating, and a stop signal that stops the high-frequency power converter based on the determination result by the determination unit is generated. A vending machine with an induction heating device, comprising: 2. A pedestal formed of an electric insulator for receiving canned beverage and having a bottom surface inclined, a heating coil wound in an arc plate shape in parallel with the pedestal and inductively heating the canned beverage; A high-frequency power converter for supplying a predetermined high-frequency power for induction heating to the coil, a capacity detecting means for detecting a capacity of the canned beverage, and a can wall of a body of the canned beverage to be induction-heated in the cradle. A temperature detector that detects a temperature in a non-contact manner, sends an output, an amplifier that amplifies the output of the temperature detector, an output change measuring unit that measures an output change of the amplifier, and an output change measuring unit. A judgment value varying means for changing a judgment value for terminating the induction heating based on the output and the output of the capacity detection means; comparing the output of the amplifier with the judgment value; judging the end of heating if the output of the amplifier becomes the judgment value; Determining means; And a stop signal generating means for generating a stop signal for stopping the high-frequency power converter based on the determination result.