JP3020314B2 - 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 a vending machine with an induction heating device for inductively heating beverages in cans such as coffee (hereinafter referred to as canned beverages) at the time of sale and selling them hot (hereinafter referred to as HOT sales). Things.

[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 disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 23695, there is an apparatus provided with an induction heating device that controls the heating time according to the capacity of a canned beverage, stops the induction heating at a predetermined heating time, and sells the product at a predetermined temperature.

[0003]

However, in such a configuration, the temperature after heating may change depending on the initial temperature of the canned beverage, or the heating device may not be heated due to a failure of the heating device. Not only can not be sold at the same time, but also has a problem that it sells without heating at all and troubles customers.

[0004] In view of the above problems, the present invention raises a canned beverage to a certain appropriate HOT selling temperature without being affected by the initial temperature of the canned beverage, and if the heating device is not heated due to failure, determines that the device is broken and refunds. It is another object of the present invention to provide a vending machine with an induction heating device, which stops sales.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a vending machine with an induction heating device according to the present invention is provided with a receiving tray for receiving a canned beverage, and an arc-shaped plate wound side by side with the receiving tray. A heating coil, a high-frequency power conversion device for supplying a constant high-frequency power for induction heating to the heating coil, and a non-contact can wall temperature of a body of the canned beverage to be induction-heated in the cradle. A temperature detector that detects and sends an output, an amplifier that amplifies the output of the temperature detector, compares the output of the amplifier with a determination value for terminating induction heating, and if the output of the amplifier becomes a determination value, First determining means for determining the end of heating; output change measuring means for measuring a change in output of the amplifier for a certain period of time from the start of heating; and determining whether the output change measured by the output change measuring means is a predetermined output change. A second determining means; Stop signal generating means for generating a stop signal for stopping the high-frequency power conversion device based on the determination results by the first and second determining means, and determining that a predetermined output change has not been reached by the second determining means And a sales stop signal generating means for stopping sales when it is done.

Further, a temperature detector for detecting the temperature of the product by irradiating infrared rays is attached to the door, and a cradle of the product provided with the induction heating coil is inclined so as to intersect the irradiation axis of the temperature detector. Things.

[0007]

The vending machine with the induction heating device of the present invention detects the can wall temperature of the body of the canned beverage being heated in a non-contact manner by the temperature detector, and if the can wall temperature reaches a predetermined temperature. First
The heating means is judged by the judging means, and a stop signal for stopping the high-frequency power converter is generated to control the high-frequency power converter, so that the canned beverage can be set at an appropriate HOT selling temperature regardless of the initial temperature. It can be sold. Further, a change in the output of the temperature detector for a certain period of time from the start of heating of the can is detected by the output change measuring means, and the second determining means determines whether the output change is a predetermined output change. If it is determined that the predetermined output change has not been reached due to the failure of the high frequency power converter, a stop signal for stopping the high frequency power converter is generated, the high frequency power converter is stopped, and a sales stop signal is generated by the sales stop signal generating means. The money will be refunded and sales stopped.

Further, by tilting the pedestal so as to intersect with the irradiation axis of the temperature detector, the temperature of the can can be accurately determined.

[0009]

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 output signal. Has been entered. Amplifier 6
Amplifies the signal of the temperature detector 5 and outputs a signal corresponding to the can wall temperature.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a control device, which is an output change measuring means 8 for measuring a change in the output of the amplifier 6 for a fixed time from the start of heating.
A first determination unit 9 for determining whether the output of the amplifier 6 has reached a determination value, and a stop signal for generating a stop signal for stopping the high-frequency power conversion device 3 based on the determination result by the first determination unit 9 Heating control means 1 for operating / stopping generating means 10 and high-frequency power converter 3 at a predetermined heating output
1, second determining means 12 for determining whether the output change detected by the output change measuring means 8 is a predetermined output change, and if the predetermined output change is not reached, the coin mechanism 14 is refunded and sales are stopped. And a sales stop signal generating means 13 for sending a sales stop signal.

The stop signal generating means 10 is connected to the heating control means 11 and inputs a stop signal to the heating control means 11. Further, a HOT sales switch group 15 is connected to the heating control means 11. Second determination means 12
Is also connected to the stop signal generating means 10.

FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are schematic structural views, wherein 16 is a storage device for storing the canned beverage 2 and 17 is a receiving stand for receiving the canned beverage 2. Reference numeral 18 denotes a carry-out device attached to a lower portion of the storage device 16. The receiving table 17 is located below the unloading device 18 and is attached with the bottom surface inclined.
Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the heating coil 1 is attached to the cradle 17 side by side.

The temperature detector 5 is attached to the outer wall 19 so that the temperature of the body of the canned beverage 2 can be detected when the canned beverage 2 enters the cradle 17. The cradle 17 is inclined so as to intersect with the irradiation axis of the temperature detector 5.

With such a configuration, the HOT sales switch group 1
When 5 is pressed, the carry-out device 18 is opened, and the canned beverage 2 is put into the cradle 17. Then, the heating control means 11 starts heating the canned beverage 2. Then, the output of the temperature detector 5 is amplified by the amplifier 6 and input to the first determining means 9 to stop heating when the temperature reaches a predetermined temperature.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a specific circuit of a main part.
Detailed description of the same parts as in FIG. 1 is omitted. The control device 7 includes a microcomputer 20 and peripheral circuits. The microcomputer 20 has a CP
This is a so-called one-chip microcomputer having a U, a ROM, a RAM, and an input / output unit. The temperature detector 5 is an amplifier 6
The output is amplified by the A / D converter 21 and connected to the input unit of the microcomputer 20. Thus, the temperature signal from the temperature detector 5 is converted into a binary code and read into the microcomputer 20. HOT
The sales switch group 15 is input to the microcomputer 20 to determine whether or not the switch has been pressed. Also,
The output of the microcomputer 20 is connected to the high-frequency power converter 3 and the coin mechanism 14.

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 sale (start) signal is input from the HOT sale switch group 15 (step 101), canned beverages are stored in the ROM of the microcomputer 20 according to the procedure of the program shown in the flowchart of FIG. 2 is started.

First, the microcomputer 20 opens the unloading device 18 and unloads the canned beverage 2 in the storage device 16 into the receiving table 17 (step 102). Next, the microcomputer 20 outputs a heating start signal to the high frequency power converter 3 and heating is started with a predetermined heating output (step 10).
3). Then, the temperature detection signal from the temperature detector 5 is taken into the microcomputer 20 as a digital signal by the A / D converter 21 via the amplifier 6, and the can wall temperature is detected (step 104). Microcomputer 20
Measures the change in the output of the amplifier 6 at a fixed time after the start of heating (step 105) and compares it with the reference output change (step 106). If the output change has reached the reference, the heating device or the temperature detector Heating is normal without any abnormalities, etc., and it is judged that normal detection is performed, and heating is continued (step 1).
07) Then, it is determined whether or not the output of the amplifier 6 has reached the set determination value, that is, whether or not the can wall temperature has reached a predetermined temperature (step 108). When the judgment value is reached, the microcomputer 20 sets the high-frequency power converter 3
, The high-frequency power converter 3 stops, and the induction heating ends (step 109). And HOT
The sale is completed (Step 110).

If the change in the output of the amplifier 6 does not reach the reference in step 106, it is determined that there is an abnormality in the heating device, the temperature detector, and the like, and that the heating is not normal or that the temperature detector is abnormal. The HOT is stopped (step 111), the money is returned (step 112), and the HOT sale is stopped (step 113).

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the temperature detector 5 detects the can wall temperature of the body of the can beverage 2 being heated in a non-contact manner, and the can wall temperature reaches a predetermined temperature. Then, since the high-frequency power converter 3 is controlled so as to stop the heating and stop the high-frequency power converter 3, the canned beverage 2
Can be sold at the appropriate HOT sales temperature regardless of the initial temperature of the HOT. In addition, in order to detect a change in the output of the temperature detector 5 for a certain period of time from the start of heating and determine whether the change is a predetermined output,
When it is determined that the predetermined output change has not been reached due to a failure in the heating device, the temperature detector, or the like, the high-frequency power converter 3 is stopped, and a sales stop signal is generated by the sales stop signal generating means, and the price is refunded. The suspension of sales will not cause any inconvenience to customers.

Further, since the pedestal 17 is provided so as to intersect the irradiation axis of the temperature detector 5, erroneous detection of the ambient temperature is less likely.

[0022]

As is apparent from the above embodiments, the vending machine with the induction heating device according to the present invention comprises: A heating coil wound side by side in an arc plate for inductively heating a canned beverage in parallel, a high-frequency power conversion device for supplying a constant high-frequency power for induction heating to the heating coil, and induction heating in the cradle. The temperature of the can wall of the body of the canned beverage is detected in a non-contact manner, and a temperature detector for sending out an output, an amplifier for amplifying the output of the temperature detector, and terminating the output of the amplifier and induction heating. First determining means for comparing the determination values and determining the end of heating when the output of the amplifier becomes the determination value; output change measuring means for measuring the output change of the amplifier for a certain period of time from the start of heating; Output change measured by measuring means A second determination unit for determining whether the output is a predetermined output change, a stop signal generation unit for generating a stop signal for stopping the high-frequency power conversion device based on a determination result by the first and second determination units; And a sales stop signal generating means for stopping sales when it is determined that the predetermined output change has not been reached by the determining means of (2).
It can be sold at the OT selling temperature, and in the event of a failure in the heating device or the temperature detector, the heating is stopped and the price is refunded to stop the sale, so that there is no trouble for the customer.

Further, since the receiving table is inclined so as to intersect with the irradiation axis of the temperature detector 5, the ambient temperature is hardly detected and the detection can be performed reliably.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a vending machine.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a canned beverage receiving tray.

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 8 Output change measuring means 9 First judging means 10 Stop signal generating means 12 Second judging means 13 Sales stop signal generating means 17 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 constant high-frequency power for induction heating to the coil, and a non-contact detection of a can wall temperature of a body of a canned beverage to be induction-heated in the cradle, and output. Temperature detector, an amplifier for amplifying the output of the temperature detector, and comparing the output of the amplifier with a determination value for terminating induction heating, and determining the end of heating when the output of the amplifier becomes the determination value. (1) determining means, an output change measuring means for measuring the output change of the amplifier for a certain period of time from the start of heating, and a second determining means for determining whether the output change measured by the output change measuring means is a predetermined output change. , The first and second determinations A stop signal generating means for generating a stop signal for stopping the high-frequency power conversion device based on the determination result by the means, and a sales stop when the second determination means determines that the predetermined output change has not been reached. A vending machine with an induction heating device, comprising a stop signal generating means. 2. A door is provided with a temperature detector for irradiating infrared rays toward the inside of the refrigerator to detect the temperature of the product, and a pedestal of the product having an induction heating coil intersects an irradiation axis of the temperature detector. The vending machine with an induction heating device according to claim 1, wherein the vending machine is inclined.