JP3499426B2 - Potion dispenser control device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a potion dispenser control device for dispensing a fixed amount of beverage into a beverage container. 2. Description of the Related Art In a so-called potion dispenser for dispensing a constant amount of beverage such as beer into a beverage container such as a mug, a beverage dispensing valve is required in accordance with the size of the beverage container in order to dispense a constant amount of beverage. Open time is controlled. However, foamed beverages such as beer have different foaming amounts depending on the liquid temperature. Therefore, the liquid level or the foam level may not be the appropriate height for the beverage container only by controlling the opening time of the beverage discharging valve.
For this reason, there is a possibility that the beverage or the foam overflows from the container when the beverage is poured. Therefore, in order to prevent the overflow of the beverage, a liquid level detecting device provided with an infrared sensor or the like monitors the liquid level of the actually dispensed beverage and controls the dispensing amount. [0003] As such an apparatus, beverage infusion is started in a state where a mug is tilted by a table tilting apparatus, and when the liquid level detecting device detects that a predetermined liquid level has been reached, the tilt of the mug is returned and the beverage is dispensed. Continue to dispense, and then close the beverage dispensing valve when the liquid level reaches the specified level, or open the valve and set the liquid level until the liquid level reaches the specified level after starting the beverage dispense. There is known an apparatus that controls the dispensing amount by detecting the liquid level, monitors the liquid level, and controls the dispensing of the beverage until the liquid level reaches a predetermined level. [0004] The conventional control device for a portion dispenser has the following problems. For example, a liquid level detection device using an infrared sensor detects the liquid level based on the amount of a reflected signal received according to the reflectance of the liquid level. On the other hand, for example, when the color of beer such as black or red, the type of beer such as barrel, or the brand is changed, the reflectance of the liquid surface may be different even if the liquid surface height is the same. For this reason, for example, in the case of beer having a low reflectance, even if the liquid level rises as the beverage is dispensed, the change in the amount of received light is small, so that it is difficult to accurately detect the liquid level. As a result, there was a possibility that the beverage could overflow from the container because an appropriate amount of the beverage could not be poured out. [0005] Further, if the liquid level cannot be measured correctly due to contamination of the sensor unit, abnormal operation or failure of the liquid level detecting device, etc., there is a possibility that the beverage is continuously poured out and overflows from the beverage container. Object of the present invention, Te potions dispenser odor, is to prevent excessive overflow beverage from the beverage container even when the liquid level sensing device is not working properly. A control device for a portion dispenser according to a first aspect of the present invention is a control device for a portion dispenser for dispensing a fixed amount of a beverage into a beverage container by a beverage dispensing valve. And the foam of the beverage
A liquid level storage means for storing a predetermined liquid level height, the liquid level detecting means for detecting a liquid level of the beverage, setting is in accordance with the liquid temperature
The prescribed opening time of the beverage and the prescribed foam of the beverage
Valve opening time storage means for storing the opening time , the opening time of the beverage dispensing valve from the start of beverage dispensing , and foam dispensing of the beverage
And a clock means for counting an opening time of the beverage dispensing valve from the start, after starting out beverage, liquid level detected by the liquid level detection means is stored in the liquid level storage means beverages
Or reaches a predetermined liquid level height, or, if the opening time of the timed beverage dispense valve by the clock unit reaches a beverage predetermined opening time stored in the valve opening time storage unit, a predetermined value to whichever when reached, close the beverage dispense valve, then
The liquid detected by the liquid level detection means after the start of foaming of the beverage
The location of the foam of the beverage whose surface height is stored in the liquid level storage means
Reach constant liquid level or timed by clock means
Opening time of the beverage dispensing valve is stored in the valve opening time storage means.
Either reaching the stored foam opening time for the beverage,
When it reaches a predetermined value to the pressure destination, it closes the beverage dispense valve. [0007] Thus, in potions dispenser, even when the liquid level sensing device does not operate normally, after a predetermined time since closing beverage dispense valve, it is not name too overflow beverage from the beverage container. And the beverage dispensing valve
The predetermined opening time of the beverage and the predetermined opening time of the foam of the beverage depend on the liquid temperature.
Set. [0008] Thus, in potions dispenser, even when the liquid level sensing device does not operate normally, after a predetermined time closes beverage dispense valve, moreover overflow amount may turn less. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. Here, the case where the beverage is beer will be described, but other beverages can be similarly applied. Reference numeral 1 denotes a main control device for controlling the entire dispenser, a CPU 2 for controlling the entire device, a ROM 3 for storing a control program for calculating and determining the liquid level and the dispensing time of the beverage, a RAM 4 for storing various control data, Beer dispense time timer T for measuring beer dispense time and foam dispense time respectively
1, a foam discharge time timer T2. The following devices are connected to the CPU 2 via an interface (not shown) such as an input / output unit and a relay. That is, the sales push button 5 for beverage selection, C
A beer valve 6 that opens a valve for a predetermined time according to a command of PU2 to dispense beer, a foam valve 7 that similarly dispenses foam,
The ultrasonic sensor 8 detects the liquid level of beer. Note that, instead of the ultrasonic sensor 8, an infrared sensor or the like can be used depending on the beverage. FIG. 2 is an external view showing an example of a dispenser on which the above-described device is mounted. When the main control device 1 is mounted in the dispenser body 9 and the sales push button 5 is pressed, the beer is first poured into the mug 10 from the beer valve 6 to a predetermined liquid level, and then the beer is discharged from the foam valve 7. Is poured out to a predetermined liquid level. At this time, the ultrasonic sensor 8 detects the liquid level of the beer and the liquid level of the foam, respectively. An ultrasonic wave is transmitted from the ultrasonic sensor 8 toward the surface of the beverage liquid injected into the mug 10.
By detecting the time until the sound wave is reflected on the beer liquid surface or foam liquid surface and becomes an echo and is received by the sensor,
The distance between the ultrasonic sensor 8 and the beer or foam liquid surface is calculated, converted into, for example, an analog signal and transmitted to the main controller 1. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the main operation of the control device according to the present invention. The operation will be described with reference to FIGS. Before selling the beverage, beer pouring time T1b,
Predetermined values for the foam pouring time T2b, the beer liquid level H1b, and the foam liquid level H2b are stored and set in the RAM 4. Here, the beer dispensing time T1b and the foam dispensing time T2b are different depending on the pressure and the liquid temperature of the liquid pressurized with carbon dioxide gas or the like, so that a predetermined dispensing time is set according to the liquid pressure and the liquid temperature. . For example, a sensor for detecting a liquid pressure or a liquid temperature (not shown) is provided.
The PU2 may calculate the beer pouring time T1b and the foam pouring time T2b. When the sales push button 5 is depressed during the beverage dispensing standby (step S1), the CPU 2 opens the beer valve 6 in response to a sales command and starts beer dispensing into the mug 10 (step S2). At the same time, the beer discharge time timer T1 starts measuring the beer extraction time (step S3). Next, the CPU 2 uses the signal transmitted from the ultrasonic sensor 8 to change the beer liquid level (h1) to the set value H1.
b is determined (step S4). If it has reached (branch Y), the beer dispensing of the beer valve 6 is stopped (step S6). If not reached (branch N)
The beer pouring time (t) is set by the beer pouring time timer T1.
It is determined whether 1) has reached the set value T1b (step S5). If it has not reached (branch N), the process returns to step S4, but if it has reached (branch Y), the beer dispensing is stopped (step S6). ). In this case, when an abnormality occurs in the device such as the ultrasonic sensor 8 for detecting the liquid level of the beer and the liquid level is not properly detected, the beer pouring time timer T1 is used.
Is activated, the beverage pouring stops after the predetermined time T1b even if the liquid level cannot be detected. This prevents beer from being poured out and overflowing from the mug. Next, the CPU 2 opens the foam valve 7 and causes the mug 10 to start foam ejection (step S7), and at the same time, the foam ejection time timer T2 starts measuring the foam ejection time (step S8). Next, the CPU 2 uses the signal transmitted from the ultrasonic sensor 8 to change the foam liquid level (h2) to the set value H2.
b is determined (step S9). If it has reached (branch Y), the foam ejection of the foam valve 7 is stopped (step S11). If it has not reached (branch N), it is determined by the foam discharge time timer T2 whether the foam discharge time (t2) has reached the set value T2b (step S10).
If it has not reached (branch N), the process returns to step S9, but if it has reached (branch Y), foam ejection is stopped (step S1).
1) End. Also in this case, as in the case of the above-described beer liquid pouring, even if an abnormality occurs in the ultrasonic sensor 8 or the like, it is possible to prevent the foam from continuing to be poured and overflowing from the mug. According to the present invention, the beverage dispenser monitors the beverage height and the valve opening time during beverage extraction, and closes the beverage extraction valve when the beverage dispenser reaches a predetermined value any time. Therefore, even when the liquid level detection device does not operate normally, the beverage brewing valve is closed after a predetermined time, so that it is possible to reliably prevent the beverage from continuing to overflow from the beverage container, and there is no wasteful beer that overflows and is discarded. [0020] In addition, if the beer dispensing time and foam dispensing time to be set in accordance with the liquid temperature, Ru can be used to further reduce the overflow amount.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an external view showing an example of a dispenser based on the invention of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an operation based on the invention of FIG. [Description of References] 1 ... Main control device, 2 ... CPU, 3 ... ROM, 4 ... RA
M, 5: Sales push button, 6: Beer valve, 7: Foam valve, 8: Ultrasonic sensor, 9: Dispenser body, 10 ...
Mug, T1: Beer discharge time timer, T2: Foam discharge time timer.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claim 1] In a control device of a portion dispenser for dispensing a fixed amount of a beverage into a beverage container by a beverage dispensing valve, a prescribed liquid level of the beverage and a prescribed liquid of foam of the beverage are provided. a liquid level storage means for storing Mendaka of a liquid level sensing means for sensing the liquid level of the beverage, the beverage given opening time of beverage dispense valve is set in accordance with the liquid temperature and the beverage of Valve opening time storage means for storing a predetermined foam opening time ; opening time of the beverage discharging valve from the start of beverage discharging;
Clock means for measuring the opening time of the beverage dispensing valve from the start of the foam injection of the beverage , and the liquid level detected by the liquid level detecting means after the start of the beverage dispensing is stored in the liquid level height storing means. reached or a predetermined liquid level height of the stored beverage or opening time of timed beverage dispense valve is stored in the valve opening time storage unit by the clock means
When the beverage reaches the predetermined opening time or reaches the predetermined value, whichever comes first, the beverage dispensing valve is closed, and then the foam dispensing of the beverage is opened.
After the start, the liquid level detected by the liquid level detecting means is the liquid level
Reaches a predetermined liquid level of the foam of the beverage stored in the storage means.
Or the beverage dispense bar timed by clock means
The opening time of the lube is stored in the valve opening time storage means.
To the specified value, whichever comes first, or
When reaching the controller potions dispenser, characterized in Rukoto close the beverage dispense valve.