JP3106980B2 - Liquid metering pump - 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 dispensing pump for use in a box storage bag (hereinafter abbreviated as BiB) type beverage dispenser or the like. (Hereinafter, referred to as a tube pump).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a beverage dispenser used in a restaurant or a hamburger shop, a tube type pump is combined with BiB, and a concentrated beverage injected from BiB through a flexible discharge tube is supplied to a cold water circuit in the course of the beverage flowing down. The one that is mixed with the supplied diluted cold water and supplied to the cup is, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-4227.
It is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 1 and is known.

FIG. 5 shows a configuration example of a beverage circuit of a beverage dispenser. BiB 1 is a bag 1a containing a concentrated beverage made of a flexible plastic sheet housed in a box-shaped case 1b, and a discharge tube 2 made of a flexible resin is connected to the bag 1a. A tube type pump (liquid fixed amount supply pump in the figure) 3 is disposed on the piping path of the discharge tube 2, and the lower end of the tube type pump 3 at the open end of the discharge tube 2 surrounds the open end to mix the beverage. The device 5 is arranged. Further, a chilled water circuit 21 is connected to the beverage mixing device 5. The chilled water circuit 21 has a water reservoir 6 as a water supply source, a water pump 7 for sending water, and a water cooling water. A cooling coil 8 and a cold water valve 8 for controlling the amount of water are connected.

[0004] The tube type pump 3 has a tube guide 3a having an arcuate inner peripheral surface and a plurality of rollers 3b on the periphery.
Are arranged at equal intervals with the rotor 3c, and the discharge tube 2 extends along the inner peripheral surface of the tube guide 3a.
It is arranged so as to be sandwiched between the roller 3b. The rotor 3c is connected to a drive motor (not shown).

[0005] In the beverage dispenser having such a configuration, when the cup 10 is set at the outlet of the beverage mixing device 5 and a beverage supply command is given by a push button operation or a lever operation of pressing the cup 10, the tube pump 3 is turned on.
Starts, the rotor 3c rotates in the direction of the arrow, and the roller 3b presses the discharge tube 2 against the inner peripheral surface of the tube guide 3a,
After being flattened and ironed, the concentrated beverage in the tube 2 is discharged from the distal end of the tube 2 into the beverage mixing device 5. At the same time, the water pump 7 of the chilled water circuit 21 is started and the chilled water valve 8 is opened to supply a fixed amount of diluted chilled water into the beverage mixing device 5. The concentrated beverage and the diluted cold water thus supplied are mixed and adjusted in the beverage mixing device 5, and the beverage is supplied to the cup 10.

In the tube type pump 3 , the discharge tube 2 disposed inside the pump is easily pressed and squeezed by the rollers 3b and is easily damaged, and is replaced with a new tube in a relatively short time. It is necessary to Further, when the discharge tube 2 is attached to the BiB 1 , when the empty BiB 1 is replaced, it is necessary to replace the discharge tube 2 with the tube pump 3 . Therefore, in the tube pump 3 , it is desired that the replacement of the discharge tube 2 can be performed easily in a short time in order to simplify maintenance.

FIG. 6 shows the structure of a conventional tube pump having a structure different from that of the tube pump shown in FIG. 5, in which the replacement of the discharge tube is simplified, and (a) is a plan view. (B) is a sectional view, and (c) is a perspective view of a rotor assembly. The discharge tube 2 is provided along the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical pump case 3d, and the pump case 3d
The rotor 3c having a rotation axis on the same axis as the center axis is provided with a pair of rollers 3b which press the discharge tube 2 and are pressed. The roller 3b is rotatably held on one linear portion of a U-shaped roller shaft 3e. The other linear portion of the roller shaft 3e is a roller shaft support portion on the center side of the rotor 3c.
E is inserted into the support hole 3f of the roller shaft
It is rotatably supported by a stop ring 3j. During operation of the pump, the roller shaft 3e has its leading end on the roller holding side fitted into a hole 3g formed in the rotor 3c, and maintains its position by a spring 3h which biases the roller shaft 3e toward the rotor 3c. Have been.

When replacing the discharge tube 2, the roller shaft 3e was pulled out from the hole 3g, and the roller 3b was moved from the pressing position in the use state shown by the solid line to the pressing release position shown by the chain line to replace the discharge tube 2. Later, again, the roller shaft
The tip of 3e is fitted into the hole 3g and reset to the pressed position.
The tube pump having the structure shown in FIG. 6 is structurally robust because the discharge tube is not replaced using pins or screws.

[0009]

Among the conventional tube pumps described above, in the case of the pump shown in FIG. 5, every time the discharge tube 2 is replaced, the screw 3m is removed and the tube guide 3a is removed. It is necessary to move the discharge tube 2 outside with the pin 3n as a fulcrum, and it takes time to replace the discharge tube 2. In addition, since the tube guide 3a has a structure in which the pin 3n is movably supported by the pin 3n, the fitting portion of the pin 3n has a backlash, and the pressing force during the pump operation is received by the pin 3n and the screw 3m. There is a problem that the pin 3n is easily damaged.

In the case of the pump shown in FIG.
It is necessary to insert the tip of the roller shaft 3e once pulled out into the hole 3g of the rotor 3c and reset it to the roller pressing position during operation every time the replacement is performed, but the hole 3g is hidden behind the roller 3b and is difficult to see Therefore, the reset operation of the roller shaft 3e is troublesome and time-consuming. Further, there is a concern that an operation error may be caused such that the operation is terminated without the roller shaft 3e being set correctly in the hole 3g. In this case, a trouble that the pump does not operate occurs.

Further, in the case of the conventional tube type pump, the discharge tube 2 is set to the near side, and the rollers 3b
May not be set at the position where it is completely pressed, and in this case, since a part of the discharge tube 2 is not crushed, the liquid leaks and the function as the fixed amount supply pump is lost. May damage the discharge tube 2 at the end.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and provides a structurally robust tube pump which can easily and reliably replace the discharge tube without causing an operation error. The task is to provide.

[0013]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a roller is rotatably held on one of the linear portions, and the other linear portion is supported by a roller shaft supporting portion located on the center side of the rotor. A plurality of U-shaped roller shafts rotatably supported, and a roller shaft supporting portion is formed on a fixed direction side of the rotation of the rotor from a position where the roller shaft supporting portion is extended in a radial direction of the rotor. An arc-shaped groove formed in the rotor into which the tip is inserted.

The roller holding side of the roller shaft is guided by this groove, and can move in an arc around the roller shaft support.
Therefore, when replacing the discharge tube, by moving the roller holding side to the center side of the rotor, the roller does not hinder the replacement of the tube, and the replacement of the discharge tube can be easily performed. In addition, when the rotor is rotated in a fixed direction after replacing the tube, the roller comes into contact with the discharge tube, etc., and the friction causes the roller shaft to be guided outward along the groove, and is held at the outer end of the groove. Presses the discharge tube and is kept in a squeezed state, so that the normal function as the metering pump is secured.

In the second aspect of the invention, the roller shaft is slidably fitted into the U-shaped roller shaft, and is fitted to the roller shaft supporting portion with a spring mounted on the U-shaped bent side of the roller shaft. The roller has a fitting portion that presses the tube to fix the roller shaft at a squeezed position, and includes a roller shaft supporting portion and a shaft fixing member urged toward the roller by the spring.

The spring and the shaft fixing member having a fitting portion for the roller shaft supporting portion allow the roller to be moved to a position where the discharge tube can be easily replaced by removing the fitting. Since the discharge tube is pressed and fixed at a squeezed position, and the position is maintained by the spring, the roller position during operation is more reliably secured, and the normal function of the metering pump is secured.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, a lid to be put on the pump case, a switch provided in either the pump case or the lid, and a switch provided in the pump case or the lid in which the switch is not provided. A member that presses the cover, and a projection disposed on the lid, and in a state where the shaft fixing member is normally fitted to the roller shaft support portion, the lid covers the pump case to operate the switch, In a state where the shaft fixing member is not properly fitted to the roller shaft supporting portion, the protrusion abuts on the shaft fixing member so that the lid does not cover the pump case, and the switch is not operated.

With such a combination of the lid, the switch and the projection, the shaft fixing member is normally fitted to the support portion, and the pump is operated only when the roller is securely pressed against the discharge tube and is in a squeezed state. A constant supply of liquid is reliably performed. When the fitting with the supporting portion is incomplete, the switch is not turned on, so that the incomplete fitting can be detected.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lid for covering the pump case. The lid is placed on the pump case at a position corresponding to the entrance / exit portion of the tube of the pump case. A projection is provided for pushing and fixing the projection. With this projection on the lid, when the lid is properly placed on the pump case, the position of the discharge tube is always held and fixed at the normal position, and the roller presses the discharge tube at the normal position to secure the squeezed state Can be.

[0020]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to examples. [First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a structural view showing a first embodiment of a liquid metering pump according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a discharge tube 2 is arranged along the inner peripheral surface of a cylindrical pump case 31, and a rotor 32 having a rotation axis on the same axis as the center axis of the pump case 31 includes:
A pair of rollers 34 for pressing the discharge tube 2 is provided, the rotor 32 is connected to a drive motor (not shown) via a rotor drive shaft 33, and the roller 34 is connected to one straight line of a U-shaped roller shaft 35. Is rotatably held by the
The roller shaft 35 having a character shape is inserted into a roller shaft support hole 37 formed in a roller shaft support portion 36 on the center side of the rotor 32 so that the linear portion that does not hold the roller 34 is rotatably supported. ing. A groove 38 is formed in the rotor 32 in an arc shape centering on the support portion from the position where the roller shaft support portion 36 is extended in the radial direction of the rotor 32 to the fixed direction of rotation of the rotor 32 (direction A in the drawing). The leading end of the roller shaft 35 on the roller holding side is inserted into the groove 38.

The roller holding side of the roller shaft 35 is guided by the groove 38 and can move in an arc around the roller shaft support hole 37. Therefore, when replacing the discharge tube 2, the roller holding side is moved to the center side of the rotor 32, and the discharge tube 2 can be easily replaced without the roller 34 obstructing the replacement of the tube 2. In addition, when the rotor 32 is rotated in a fixed direction after the replacement of the discharge tube 2, the roller 34 comes into contact with the discharge tube 2 and the like, and the friction of the roller shaft 35 moves to the outside of the rotor 32 due to the friction. , The roller 34 presses the discharge tube 2 to maintain the squeezed state, and the pump 3 functions normally as a liquid fixed-rate supply pump.

In this embodiment, a spring for urging the roller shaft 35 toward the rotor 32 as in the prior art is used.
Since 3h is not required, the number of parts is reduced. [Second Embodiment] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the structure of the main part of a second embodiment of the liquid metering pump according to the present invention.

In this embodiment, the normal operation state in the first embodiment is ensured more reliably.
In addition to the embodiment, a spring 40 is slidably fitted on the U-shaped bent side of the roller shaft 35, and the spring 40 causes the shaft fixing member 41 to
It is urged toward the rollers 36 and 34. This shaft fixing member 41
Is provided with a fitting portion 42 fitted to the roller shaft support portion 36. The fitting portion 42 of the shaft fixing member 41 is a roller
A structure that can be fitted to the roller shaft support portion 36 in a state where the discharge tube 2 presses the discharge tube 2 and is in an extremely position.
That is, a portion corresponding to a portion of the outer periphery of the roller shaft support portion 36 except for a portion overlapping the portion where the rotor drive shaft 33 is inserted at the center of the rotor 32, and a portion centered on the roller shaft support hole 37. The end of the fitting portion 42 on the rotor drive shaft insertion portion side regulates the direction of the fitting portion 42, and by fitting, the roller shaft 35 is rotated. Is to press the discharge tube 2 and fix it in a stiff state. The tip of the portion of the roller shaft 35 inserted into the roller shaft support hole 37 is rotatably held by an E-stop ring.

The position at which the discharge tube 2 can be easily replaced if the fitting between the support portion 36 and the fitting portion 42 is released by the spring 40 and the shaft fixing member 41 having the fitting portion 42 with the support portion 36. The roller 34 can be moved until the roller 34 is pressed, and the roller 34 presses the discharge tube 2 to be fixed at a squeezed position, and the fitted state is maintained by the spring 40. Is secured more reliably, and a normal function as a metering pump is secured.

Further, since the spring 40 and the shaft fixing member 41 press the roller 34 against the surface of the rotor 32, the position of the roller 34 on the roller shaft 35 is regulated, and the roller position becomes accurate. Third Embodiment FIGS. 3 and 4 show the structure of a third embodiment of the liquid metering pump according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the pump with the lid opened, and FIG. FIG.

In this embodiment, the normal operation state in the second embodiment is ensured more reliably.
In addition to the embodiment, the lid 43 to cover the pump case 31
And a switch 46 provided in the pump case 31 and a lid 43
A45 as a member to press the switch provided in the
And a projection B47 provided at the center of the lid 43, and a lid corresponding to the entrance and exit of the discharge tube 2 to and from the pump case 31.
A projection C48 is provided at a position 43, and the lid 43 and the pump case 31 are connected to each other by a shaft so as to be freely opened and closed.

The protrusion B47 is formed to have such a size as to leave a slight gap from the shaft fixing member 41 when the fitting portion 42 of the shaft fixing member 41 is normally fitted to the roller shaft supporting portion 36. . The protruding portion A45 is formed in such a size that the switch 46 is pressed and operated when the lid 43 is properly covered on the pump case 31. Therefore, when the fitting portion 42 of the shaft fixing member 41 is normally fitted to the roller shaft support portion 36, the lid 43 is properly covered on the pump case 31, and the projection A45 pushes the switch 46 to operate. However, the fitting portion of the shaft fixing member 41
In a state where 42 is not normally fitted to the roller shaft supporting portion 36, the shaft fixing member 41 is raised by an amount corresponding to insufficient fitting of the fitting portion 42, so that the projection B47 abuts on the shaft fixing member 41, Lid 43 is properly pump case 31
The switch 46 does not operate because the protrusion A45 cannot normally press the switch 46.

By the combination of the switch 46 and the protrusion A45 and the protrusion B47 provided on the lid 43, the fitting portion 42 of the shaft fixing member 41 is normally fitted to the support portion 36, and the roller 34 is connected to the discharge tube. The pump is operated only in the state of being pressed and firmly pressed, and the fixed amount of liquid is reliably supplied. When the fitting is incomplete, the pump is not operated, and the incomplete fitting can be detected.

Further, the projection C48 provided on the lid 43 is
When the lid 43 is placed on the pump case 31, the discharge tube 2 is formed to have such a size as to press and hold the discharge tube 2 to a position where the discharge tube 2 is normally pressed by the roller 34 and squeezed. Therefore, if the lid 43 is properly placed on the pump case 31, the position of the discharge tube 2 is at a predetermined position, and the discharge tube 2 is normally pressed by the roller 34 and squeezed, so that the pump operates normally and the discharge tube 2 Can avoid abnormal damage.

In the above embodiment, the lid 43 and the pump case 31
Are open and closed freely by a shaft,
A fitting structure may be used. Also, the positions of the switch 46 and the member 45 for pushing the switch 46 may be reversed. In the above embodiment, the case of a pair of rollers has been described. However, the present invention can be similarly implemented with three or more rollers.

[0032]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the roller is rotatably held by one of the linear portions, and the other linear portion is rotatably supported by the roller shaft support at the center of the rotor. A plurality of U-shaped roller shafts that are supported and a roller shaft supporting portion are formed on a fixed direction side of the rotation of the rotor from a position where the roller shaft supporting portion is extended in a radial direction of the rotor, and a tip of one linear portion of the roller shaft is inserted. With the arc-shaped groove formed in the rotor to be formed, the roller holding side of the roller shaft can move in an arc around the roller shaft support hole, so that when replacing the discharge tube, the roller holding side is It can be moved to the center side of the rotor, the roller does not hinder the replacement of the discharge tube, and the replacement of the discharge tube can be easily performed. In addition, when the rotor is rotated in a fixed direction after the replacement of the discharge tube, the roller comes into contact with the discharge tube and the like, and the roller holding side is guided outward along the groove by the friction, and is held at the outer end of the groove. The roller presses the discharge tube and is kept in a squeezed state, so that the normal function as the metering pump is secured.

According to the second aspect, the roller shaft is slidably fitted into the U-shaped roller shaft, and is fitted to the roller shaft supporting portion with the spring mounted on the U-shaped bent side of the roller shaft. The roller has a fitting portion that presses the tube to fix the roller shaft at a squeezed position, and includes a roller shaft supporting portion and a shaft fixing member urged toward the roller by the spring. If the mating part is removed, the roller can be moved to a position where the replacement of the discharge tube can be easily performed, and if it is fitted, the roller presses the discharge tube and the roller shaft can be fixed at an extremely high position, and the spring As a result, the position is maintained, so that the roller position during operation is more reliably secured, and the normal function of the metering pump is secured.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the lid to be placed on the pump case, the switch provided in either the pump case or the lid, and the switch provided in the pump case or the lid where the switch is not provided are provided. It has a member that presses the switch and a projection disposed on the lid, and in a state where the shaft fixing member is normally fitted to the roller shaft support, the lid covers the pump case to operate the switch. In a state where the shaft fixing member is not properly fitted to the roller shaft supporting portion, the protrusion abuts on the shaft fixing member and the lid does not cover the pump case,
By not operating the switch, the fitting part is correctly fitted to the roller shaft support part, and the pump is operated only when the roller is pressed firmly and the discharge tube is in a stiff state, ensuring the constant supply of liquid Is done. When the fitting with the supporting portion is incomplete, the switch is not turned on, so that the incomplete fitting can be detected.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the pump case is provided with a lid, and when the lid is placed on the pump case at a position corresponding to the entrance / exit portion of the tube of the pump case in the lid, the tube is placed in a normal state. By providing the protrusions which are pushed in and fixed at the positions, the rollers can always press the discharge tube at the normal position to secure an intense state.

As described above, according to the present invention, the problems of the prior art can be solved, and the work of replacing the discharge tube can be performed simply and reliably without causing any operation error.
A structurally robust tube pump can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a structural diagram of a first embodiment of a liquid metering pump according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the structure of a second embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a structural diagram of a third embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a third embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a beverage circuit diagram of a BiB-type beverage dispenser using a conventional liquid metering pump.

FIGS. 6A and 6B show a configuration of a liquid fixed-rate supply pump according to another related art different from FIG. 5, where FIG. 6A is a plan view, FIG.
(C) is a perspective view of the rotor assembly.

[Description of Signs] 1 BiB 1a Bag 1b Box-shaped case 2 Discharge tube 3 Liquid supply pump 31, 3d Pump case 32, 3c Rotor 33, 3i Rotor drive shaft 34, 3b Roller 35, 3e Roller shaft 36, 3k Roller shaft Support part 37, 3f Roller shaft support hole 38 Groove 39, 3j E-stop ring 40, 3h Spring 41 Shaft fixing member 42 Fitting part 43 Lid 44 Shaft 45 Projection A 46 Switch 47 Projection B 48 Projection C 3a Tube guide 3g hole 3m screw 3n pin 5 drink mixing device 6 water tank 7 water pump 8 water cooling coil 9 chilled water valve 10 cup 21 chilled water circuit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) F04B 43/00-47/14 B67D 1/10

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A rotor having a pump case having a cylindrical inner peripheral wall, and a plurality of rollers having a center of rotation coaxial with the central axis of the inner peripheral wall of the pump case and arranged at equal intervals along the inner peripheral wall of the case. And a flexible liquid discharge tube provided in contact with the inner peripheral wall surface of the pump case. By rotating the rotor in a fixed direction, the tube is pressed by a roller to squeeze and discharge the liquid in the tube. In the liquid supply pump, a roller is rotatably held on one of the linear portions, and the other linear portion is rotatably supported by a roller shaft supporting portion on the center side of the rotor. A roller shaft and a roller shaft supporting portion are formed on a fixed direction side of the rotation of the rotor from a position where the roller shaft supporting portion is extended in a radial direction of the rotor, and are formed on a rotor into which a tip of one linear portion of the roller shaft is inserted. A fixed-quantity liquid supply pump comprising: 2. A roller, which is slidably fitted on a U-shaped roller shaft, is fitted on a spring mounted on a U-shaped bent side of the roller shaft, and a roller shaft supporting portion, whereby the roller forms a tube. 2. A fitting portion for pressing and fixing a roller shaft at an extreme position, comprising a roller shaft supporting portion and a shaft fixing member urged toward the roller by the spring. The liquid metering supply pump according to 1. A cover provided on the pump case, a switch provided on either the pump case or the cover, and a member for pressing a switch provided on a side of the pump case or the cover on which the switch is not provided; A projection provided on the lid, and in a state where the shaft fixing member is normally fitted to the roller shaft supporting portion, the lid covers the pump case to operate the switch. The liquid metering device according to claim 2, wherein in a state where the switch is not properly fitted to the shaft support portion, the protrusion abuts on the shaft fixing member, the lid does not cover the pump case, and the switch does not operate. Feed pump. 4. A projection which is provided with a lid which covers the pump case, and which pushes and fixes the tube to a normal position of the pump case when the lid is placed on the pump case at a position corresponding to the entrance and exit of the tube of the pump case. The liquid metering supply pump according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a unit.