JP3259913B2 - Beverage dispenser - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a beverage dispenser provided with a sterilizer for sterilizing a liquid by generating chlorine.

(B) Prior art Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-283391 discloses a sterilizing apparatus that applies a DC voltage to tap water as a beverage, generates chlorine from chlorine ions contained in the tap water, and sterilizes the tap water. A beverage dispenser with is shown.

By the way, the contamination of such a beverage dispenser by microorganisms and the like becomes more severe as the temperature rises, and accordingly, the consumption of chlorine for sterilization in water also increases.

However, in the beverage dispenser shown in the above publication, since such a temperature change is not considered at all,
For example, in summer when the temperature is high, the amount of chlorine generated is insufficient and the disinfecting effect becomes insufficient.On the other hand, in winter when the temperature is low, the amount of chlorine generated is excessive and the chlorine smell is so strong that it is not suitable for drinking. Occurs.

In addition, the beverage supply device has a built-in storage unit for storing the liquid, and a beverage manufacturing unit for manufacturing a beverage using the liquid supplied from the storage unit, and sterilization with chlorine is performed on the liquid stored in the storage unit. It is done for. However, pipes for guiding liquid are provided in these storage units and beverage production departments, etc., but sterilization operation is not performed on the liquid in the pipes, so especially when the temperature is high. In such a case, when the liquid accumulates in the piping for a long time, there is a problem that the sterilizing effect of the liquid in the piping is reduced and an unsanitary state is caused.

(C) Problems to be Solved by the Invention The present invention is to provide a beverage dispenser that can be sterilized under appropriate conditions even when there is a temperature change due to seasons and the like, and is kept in a good sanitary condition.

(D) Means for Solving the Problems The beverage dispenser of the present invention has, as a first configuration, a storage unit that stores a liquid, an injection unit that injects the liquid into the storage unit, and a storage unit that stores the liquid. A discharge unit that discharges the liquid, a beverage production unit that produces a beverage with the liquid supplied from the storage unit via the discharge unit, a chlorine generation unit that generates chlorine in the liquid in the storage unit, A temperature detector for detecting the temperature of the liquid in the reservoir, and controlling the operation of the chlorine generator in accordance with the detection result of the temperature detector for each injection of the liquid into the reservoir, and controlling the temperature of the liquid in the reservoir. Control means for increasing or decreasing the amount of chlorine generation in accordance with the condition.

Further, as a second configuration, a storage unit that stores the liquid,
An injecting unit for injecting a liquid into the storage unit, a discharge unit for discharging the liquid from the storage unit, and a beverage manufacturing unit for manufacturing a beverage with the liquid supplied from the storage unit via the discharge unit A circulating unit that circulates liquid from the beverage production unit to the storage unit, a chlorine generation unit that generates chlorine in the liquid in the storage unit, a temperature detection unit that detects temperature, and a measurement result of the temperature detection unit. Control means for controlling the operation of the circulation unit in accordance with

(E) Function According to the first configuration, each time the liquid is injected into the storage unit, the operation of the chlorine generation unit is controlled in accordance with the detection result of the temperature detection unit, and the amount of chlorine generated in accordance with the temperature of the liquid in the storage unit Is increased or decreased.

According to the second configuration, the circulation unit is controlled by the control unit in accordance with the detection result of the temperature detection unit, and the liquid in the pipe of the beverage control unit is circulated to the storage unit by the circulation unit, and the liquid is supplied to the pipe and the like. Does not accumulate for a long time.

(F) Embodiment The drawings show an embodiment of the beverage dispenser of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a beverage supply device. 1 is a cistern that is a storage unit for storing liquid and is open to the atmosphere.
Is a water pipe, 3 is a water injection solenoid valve as an injection section for injecting tap water from the water pipe 2 to the cistern 1, 4 is a discharge pipe as a discharge section for discharging from the cistern 1, and 5 is a discharge pipe. 4 is a beverage production section that produces beverages such as coffee and carbonated beverages using the water supplied from 4.

In the beverage production section 5, 6 is a carbonator for mixing carbon dioxide with water, 7 is a bypass line of the carbonator 6, 8
Is a cooler for cooling water from the carbonator 6 or the bypass line 7, 9 is a heating tank for heating water, 10, 11, 12
Is an electromagnetic valve for controlling water flow to the heating tank 9 and the cooler 8. Reference numeral 13 denotes an ice machine, which is supplied with water from cistern 1 to produce ice for beverage mixing.

Reference numeral 14 denotes a chlorine generating unit that generates chlorine in water in the cistern 1. In the chlorine generator 14, 15 and 16 are a pair of electrodes arranged so as to contact the water stored in the cistern 1, 17 is a DC power supply, and 18 is the voltage of the DC power supply 17
A relay contact applied to 6, and 19 is a variable resistor for limiting current.

Reference numeral 20 denotes a water quality sensor as a temperature detecting unit for detecting the chlorine concentration and temperature of water in the cistern 1, and 21 denotes a discharge line 4.
A pump for sending water from the pump 21 to the beverage production unit 5; and a circulation channel 22 for circulating the water sent from the pump 21 to the beverage production unit 5 to the cistern 1. The pump 21 not only sends the water from the discharge line 4 to the beverage production section 5 but also forms a circulation section together with the circulation water path 22, and transfers the water sent to the beverage production section 5 to the cistern 1.
Circulate.

23 is a microcomputer for controlling the operation of the relay contact 18 of the chlorine generator 14, the solenoid valves 10, 11, 12 and the pump 21 of the beverage producing unit 5, and 24 is a microcomputer.
23 is a memory for storing information for the 23 processes. memory
24 is a pump 21 for obtaining the driving data of the chlorine generator 14 for obtaining the optimum chlorine generation amount corresponding to the temperature detection result of the water quality sensor 20 and the optimal water circulation timing corresponding to the temperature detection result of the water quality sensor 20. Drive data. The microcomputer 23 and the memory 24 use the chlorine generator 14 and the pump 21 in accordance with the temperature detection result of the water quality sensor 20.
The control means for controlling the operation of (1) is constituted.

During the actual operation of the beverage supply device, tap water supplied to the cistern 1 from the water pipe 2 is sterilized by mixing chlorine (Cl ₂ ) during the production process. However, while the tap water is stored in the cistern 1, chlorine escapes to the air, changes to chlorine ions (Cl ⁻ ), or is affected by the effect of an activated carbon filter provided for the purpose of removing chlorine odor. Is lost and the bactericidal action is lost. However, in this beverage dispenser, the water in the cistern 1 is used by the unit consumption equivalent to one cup of drinking water in connection with the production and sale of cup-type drinking water, and new tap water is replenished by that amount. Then, the chlorine generator 14 is operated in accordance with the unit consumption, and a voltage is applied to the water in the cistern 1 to generate chlorine from chlorine ions contained therein, whereby chlorine in the cistern 1 is generated. Perform water sterilization. The amount of chlorine generated by the chlorine generator 14 varies depending on conditions such as the energizing time and the current. I do.

FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of a control program executed by the microcomputer 23 when the beverage supply device operates. The operation will be described below.

First, the microcomputer 23 resets a built-in timer (S1 step), and subsequently measures the temperature of water in the cistern 1 by the water quality sensor 20 (S2 step). Then, the circulation interval time t of the water to the circulation water channel 22 is determined based on the water temperature measurement result (Step S3). In the subroutine of this step S3, as shown in FIG. 3, if the water temperature is low, the circulation interval time t is lengthened, and if the water temperature is high, the circulation interval time t is shortened. This is stored in the memory 24. The operation is performed by referring to the driving data of the pump 21 for obtaining the optimal water circulation timing corresponding to the temperature detection result of the water quality sensor 20. For example, when the water temperature is 10 ° C or lower, the circulation interval time t is set to 3 hours and 10 ° C or higher. When the temperature is 25 ° C. or less, the circulation interval time t is 2 hours, and when the temperature is 25 ° C. or more, the circulation interval t is 1 hour.

When it is determined that the time t has elapsed by counting the time (step S4), the solenoid valves 10, 11, and 12 are closed, and the pump 21 is driven to drive the discharge line 4 and the beverage production unit 5
The water remaining in the piping near the inside is circulated from the circulation channel 22 to the cistern 1. That is, in the steps S3 and S4, the operations of the pump 21 and the circulating water passage 22, which are circulating units, are controlled according to the temperature detection result of the water quality sensor 20. With this configuration, the same water does not accumulate in the piping for a long time, and the circulation interval is shortened at high temperatures. The sterilizing effect of the liquid does not decrease, and it is possible to prevent the liquid from becoming unsanitary. And
After this circulation operation, the water quality sensor 20 checks the chlorine concentration of water in the cistern 1 (step S6), and returns to the step S1.

In step S4, if it is determined that the time t has not elapsed, it is determined whether or not a sales instruction such as insertion of money has been made (step S7). repeat.

When a customer sends a sales command signal to the microcomputer 23 to give a sales instruction, for example, by charging a currency counter (not shown), the pump 21 is driven and the solenoid valves 10, 11, 12 are activated. Under control, water of only one unit consumption (150 cc) is sent to the beverage production section 5 (S8 step), and the beverage is produced and supplied by the operation of the beverage production section 5 (S9 step). For example, when manufacturing and selling hot coffee,
The electromagnetic valves 11 and 12 are opened, and hot water is supplied to the coffee extractor (not shown) via the electromagnetic valve 12 and poured into a cup for sale. When manufacturing and selling carbonated beverages, the solenoid valve 10 is opened.

On the other hand, although the water in the cistern 1 has decreased by one unit consumption, the water injection solenoid valve 3 is opened immediately after the supply of the water to the beverage production section 5, and the same amount of water is discharged from the water pipe 2. 1
(S10 step).

After the replenishment operation, the temperature of the water in the cistern 1 is measured by the water quality sensor 20 as in the step S2 (S11).
Steps). And, based on the water temperature measurement result,
The time T for energizing the electrodes 15 and 16 of the chlorine generator 14 is determined (S12 step). The subroutine of this S12 step is
As shown in FIG. 4, the energization time T is shortened when the water temperature is low, and the energization time T is increased when the water temperature is high. This is stored in the memory 24. The operation is performed by referring to the driving data of the chlorine generating unit 14 for obtaining the optimum chlorine generation amount corresponding to the temperature detection result of the water quality sensor 20. For example, when the water temperature is 10 ° C. or less, the energizing time T is set to 10 seconds and 10 ° C. When the temperature is 25 ° C or less, the energizing time T is set to 15 seconds.
20 seconds.

Then, the microcomputer 23 closes the relay contact 18 for the determined energizing time T and applies a DC current to the electrodes 15 and 16 (S13).
Steps). That is, in the steps S12 and S13, the operation of the chlorine generator 14 is controlled according to the temperature detection result of the water quality sensor 20. With this configuration, the energization time T is long at high temperatures and the amount of generated chlorine is large, and the energization time T is low at low temperatures.
The amount of chlorine generated is short and the amount of chlorine generated is small.Therefore, even in summer when the temperature is high and chlorine consumption is large, the amount of chlorine generated is not insufficient and the sterilizing effect is not insufficient. Since the generated amount is not excessive, water suitable for drinking is obtained.

When the energization for the energization time T is completed, the process returns to step S6 to check the chlorine concentration, and then returns to steps S4 and S7 in the sales standby state via steps S1 to S3.

After circulating water in step S5, or
After confirming the chlorine concentration in step S6, if the amount of chlorine is likely to be insufficient, the chlorine generating unit 14 may be operated as necessary to additionally generate chlorine. In step S12, other energizing conditions other than the energizing time,
For example, by setting the magnitude of the conduction current according to the water temperature,
Thereby, the chlorine generation unit 14 may be controlled in step S13 to change the chlorine generation amount. Further, in the present embodiment, the temperature of the water in the cistern 1 is detected and measured by the temperature detection unit. However, for example, a configuration may be adopted in which the ambient air temperature is detected. It may be configured to connect from the position before 6 to cistern 1.

(G) Effects of the Invention According to the first configuration of the present invention, the operation of the chlorine generation unit is controlled in accordance with the detection result of the temperature detection unit every time the liquid is injected into the storage unit, and the temperature of the liquid in the storage unit is reduced. Since the amount of chlorine generated increases or decreases accordingly, sterilization is performed including the supplied liquid, and the temperature of the liquid is high and chlorine is not consumed in summer, when there is a large amount of chlorine consumption. There is no excess chlorine in winter when the chlorine consumption is low. Further, according to the second configuration of the present invention, the liquid in the pipe of the beverage supply section is circulated to the storage section by the circulation section in accordance with the detection result of the temperature detection section, and the liquid is stored in the pipe or the like for a long time. Therefore, even if there is a temperature change due to the season or the like, sterilization is performed under appropriate conditions, and a beverage dispenser that can be maintained in a good satellite state can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the configuration of the beverage supply device of the present invention, and FIG.
The figure is a flowchart of a control program executed by the microcomputer when the beverage dispenser operates, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are flowcharts showing the contents of subroutines in FIG. 1 ... cistern, 3 ... water injection solenoid valve, 4 ... discharge line, 5 ... beverage production part, 14 ... chlorine generation part, 20 ... water quality sensor, 21 ... pump, 22 ... circulating water passage, 23 ... microcomputer, 24 ... memory.

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-3-77692 (JP, A) JP-A-2-290293 (JP, A)

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] A storage unit configured to store the liquid, an injection unit configured to inject the liquid into the storage unit, a discharge unit configured to discharge the liquid from the storage unit, and a storage unit configured to store the liquid through the discharge unit. A beverage manufacturing unit that manufactures a beverage with the liquid supplied by the liquid supply unit, a chlorine generation unit that generates chlorine in the liquid in the storage unit, a temperature detection unit that detects the temperature of the liquid in the storage unit, Control means for controlling the operation of the chlorine generation unit in accordance with the detection result of the temperature detection unit for each liquid injection to increase or decrease the amount of chlorine generation in accordance with the temperature of the liquid in the storage unit. Beverage feeder. 2. A storage section for storing a liquid, an injection section for injecting the liquid into the storage section, a discharge section for discharging the liquid from the storage section, and a storage section via the discharge section from the storage section. A beverage manufacturing unit that manufactures a beverage with the liquid supplied by the liquid supply, a circulating unit that circulates the liquid from the beverage manufacturing unit to the storage unit, a chlorine generation unit that generates chlorine in the liquid in the storage unit, and detects a temperature. A beverage detector, comprising: a temperature detector that performs the operation; and a control unit that controls an operation of the circulation unit in accordance with a detection result of the temperature detector.