JP3635731B2 - Coffee dispenser - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a coffee dispenser suitable for commercial use, and in particular, a coffee stock solution that has been concentrated and filled in a bag is diluted to a certain ratio with hot water or cooling water to obtain a certain amount in a tableware such as a coffee cup. It is related with the apparatus supplied one by one.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a conventional coffee dispenser, instant coffee, sugar, and powdered milk are diluted with hot water stored in a heat insulation tank or cooling water stored in a cold storage tank and poured into the dishes.
[0003]
The concentrated coffee stock solution is sold for commercial use. As shown in FIG. 4, the sales form is a cylindrical bag 43 made of a synthetic resin sheet or a synthetic resin sheet deposited with aluminum, and the end is connected to the bag 43 and the tip 45 is sealed. A concentrated coffee stock solution is put in a container connected to a flexible tube 44 and sold.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In a coffee dispenser, when concentrated coffee stock solution, hot water, or cooling water is placed in a tank and the solenoid valve is controlled to inject into a tableware such as a coffee cup, the pressure applied to the solenoid valve differs depending on the liquid level of each liquid. Therefore, even when the solenoid valve is opened for a set fixed time, the amount of liquid to be discharged is different, resulting in a significant difference in dilution concentration. In addition, when injecting each liquid by driving the pump for a set fixed time, if hot hot water is pumped, cavitation may occur in the pump, resulting in a pump transport error.
[0005]
The concentrated coffee stock solution has deteriorated once it is opened, so that it has to be cooled and stored, and has not been adopted in a coffee dispenser.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A coffee dispenser according to the present invention is connected to a coffee stock solution holding means for holding a bag filled with concentrated coffee stock solution, a hot water tank for keeping hot water and storing it, a coffee stock solution holding means and a hot water tank. Two supply means for injecting coffee undiluted solution and hot water into the tableware, a mounting table for placing the tableware, a load cell for detecting the weight of the mounting table together with the tableware, and an initial stage of the mounting table for loading one tableware Calculation means for calculating the difference between the weight and the weight including the coffee stock solution and hot water injected into the tableware, and the supply means until the difference calculated by the calculation means reaches a set value set for each coffee stock solution and hot water. And a control means for operating each of them separately.
[0007]
Further, the coffee stock solution holding means for holding the bag filled with the concentrated coffee stock solution, the cooling water tank for keeping the water cold and stored, and the coffee stock solution holding means and the cooling water tank are respectively connected to the coffee in one tableware. Two supply means for injecting undiluted solution and cooling water, a table for placing the tableware, a load cell for detecting the weight of the table together with the tableware, and an initial weight of the table for loading one tableware Calculation means for calculating the difference between the coffee stock solution injected into the tableware and the weight including the cooling water, and the supply means until the difference calculated by the calculation means reaches a set value set for each coffee stock solution and cooling water. And a control means for separately operating them.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
As shown in FIG. 1, the coffee dispenser of the present invention has a cooler 41 and a temperature sensor 42 for controlling the cooler 41 in a housing 1 having a window 11 for taking in and out a tableware 5 such as a coffee cup. The stock solution holding device 4, the heat retaining tank 3 for storing hot water provided with the heater 31 and the temperature sensor 32 for controlling the heater 31, and the tube 44 connected to the bag 43 of the coffee stock solution are inserted, and the middle of the tube 44 is inserted. A pinch valve 12 that controls the flow of the undiluted coffee by pressing or releasing with an electromagnetic solenoid, an electromagnetic valve 13 connected to the outlet of the heat retaining tank 3, a mounting table 8 on which the tableware 5 is placed, and the mounting table 8 together with the tableware 5 The load cell 2 detects the weight, the start switch 7, and a control device. The tip of the tube 44 connected to the bag 43 of the undiluted coffee is inserted into the discharge port 14 of the electromagnetic valve 13 and joined.
[0009]
As shown in FIG. 2, the control device includes an A / D converter 21 that converts an analog voltage output from the load cell 2 into a digital value, a CPU 22, data output from the A / D converter 21, and A PIO 23 that takes in the signal of the start switch 7 and operates the pinch valve 12, the electromagnetic valve 13, and the lamp, a ROM 24 that stores a processing program, and a RAM 25 that temporarily stores data are provided.
[0010]
The coffee stock solution in the coffee stock solution holding device 4 is kept at a constant low temperature by a cooler 41 controlled by a temperature sensor 42.
[0011]
Further, in order to prevent emptying of the heat retaining tank 3, a float switch 9 for detecting the liquid level is provided, and is configured to cut off the power supply to the heater 31 when the liquid level is significantly lowered. ing.
[0012]
Next, the operation of the liquid dispensing apparatus configured as described above will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.
[0013]
First, hot water is stored in the heat retaining tank 3, the coffee stock solution is held in the coffee stock solution holding device 4 together with the bag 43, the tube 44 is inserted into the pinch valve 12, and the tip of the tube 44 is cut to cut off the solenoid valve 13. This is inserted into the discharge port 14 to complete the preparation.
[0014]
Step 1: The weight C of hot coffee solution and the weight E of hot water to be put into the tableware 5 such as a coffee cup are set.
[0015]
Step 2: Place tableware 5 such as a coffee cup on the mounting table 8 of the load cell 2,
Step 3: Press start switch 7
Step 4: Turn on the indicator lamp of start switch 7,
Step 5: Set the timer,
Step 6: The output of the load cell 2 converted into a digital value by the A / D converter 21 is stored in the RAM 25 as data A,
Step 7: The pinch valve 12 is opened, and the coffee stock solution is poured from the coffee stock solution holding device 4 into the tableware 5 placed on the mounting table 8.
[0016]
Step 8: During the coffee stock solution injection period, the total weight of the tableware 5 and the coffee stock solution output from the load cell 2 is converted into a digital value by the A / D converter 21 and stored in the RAM 25 as data B.
Step 9: Subtract data A from data B to obtain data C.
[0017]
Step 10: Compare the data C with the set value set in Step 1, and continue to return to Step 7 until the data C reaches the set value.
Step 11: Press the pinch valve 12 to stop the injection of the coffee stock solution.
[0018]
Step 12: The electromagnetic valve 13 is opened, and hot water is poured from the heat retaining tank 3 into the tableware 5 placed on the mounting table 8.
[0019]
Step 13: During the hot water injection period, the total weight of the tableware 5, the coffee stock solution and hot water output from the load cell 2 is converted into a digital value by the A / D converter 21 and stored in the RAM 25 as data D.
Step 14: Data E is obtained by subtracting data C from data D.
[0020]
Step 15: Compare the data E with the set value set in Step 1 and continue to return to Step 12 until the data E reaches the set value. When the data E reaches the set value,
Step 16: The solenoid valve 13 is closed to stop hot water injection.
[0021]
Step 17: The start switch 7 is turned off and stopped.
[0022]
When the coffee stock solution and hot water are poured into the tableware 5 such as the coffee cup in this way, the amount of the coffee stock solution and hot water injected is constant even if the weight of the tableware 5 is different.
[0023]
In addition, when pouring into a coffee cup, a certain amount of the coffee stock solution and hot water can be poured in a state where the cup is placed on a plate with a spoon, sugar cubes, milk, or the like, or only in the cup.
[0024]
Further, in order to prevent the liquid flow from continuing due to a failure of the load cell 2 or the like, the control device is provided with a timer, and the pinch valve 12 and the electromagnetic valve 13 are opened in steps 7 and 12, and the coffee stock solution and Measure the time that hot water is poured into the tableware 5 and if the time until the data E reaches the set value in step 16 exceeds the time set in the timer, the time is up in step 18 As described above, the pinch valve 12 and the electromagnetic valve 13 are forcibly closed.
[0025]
(Other embodiments)
In the embodiment described above, the heater 31 is provided in the heat retaining tank and mainly serves hot coffee. However, in addition to the heat retaining tank, a cooling water tank including a cooler is provided to provide cold coffee. Can do.
[0026]
Further, by providing a heater and a cooler in one tank and switching the heater or the cooler depending on the season, hot coffee or cold coffee can be provided.
[0027]
When the daily sales volume is large and one bag of concentrated coffee stock solution is consumed within a short time, the operation of the cooler 41 of the coffee stock solution holding device 4 may be stopped.
[0028]
A solenoid valve is used to adjust the amount of liquid injected into the tableware from a tank installed in a high place, but the tank is installed in a low place, configured to be pumped up and injected into the tableware. The injection amount may be adjusted by controlling the above.
[0029]
An electromagnetic valve may be used in place of the pinch valve used for adjusting the flow rate of the concentrated coffee.
[0030]
【The invention's effect】
As is clear from the description based on the above embodiment, according to the coffee dispenser of the present invention, it is possible to accurately inject the concentrated coffee stock solution and hot water or cooling water having a preset weight irrespective of the weight of the tableware. it can. In addition, the concentrated coffee stock solution is cooled and stored, and the tube attached to the bag of coffee stock solution is used as a pipe so that the coffee stock solution does not touch anywhere in the device. is there.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side view showing the configuration of an embodiment of a coffee dispenser of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control circuit that controls the device shown in FIG. 1;
3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the apparatus shown in FIG.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of a sales form of concentrated coffee stock solution.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Housing 2 Load cell 3 Thermal insulation tank 4 Coffee stock solution holding device 5 Tableware 7 Start switch 8 Mounting stand 9 Float switch
11 windows
12 pinch valve
13 Solenoid valve
31 Heater
32, 42 Temperature sensor
41 Cooler
43 Bag of coffee stock solution
44 tubes

Claims (3)

Coffee stock solution holding means for holding a bag filled with concentrated coffee stock solution, a hot water tank for storing hot water and storing it, and connected to the coffee stock solution holding means and the hot water tank. Two supply means for injecting, a table for placing the tableware, a load cell for detecting the weight of the table together with the tableware, an initial weight of the table for placing one tableware, and a coffee stock solution injected into the tableware And calculating means for calculating a difference between the weight including hot water and control means for separately operating the supplying means until the difference calculated by the calculating means reaches a set value set for each of the coffee stock solution and hot water; A coffee dispenser characterized by comprising: Coffee stock solution holding means for holding a bag filled with concentrated coffee stock solution, a cooling water tank for storing water by cooling and storing, a coffee stock solution holding means and a cooling water tank, respectively. Two supply means for injecting cooling water, a mounting table for placing the tableware, a load cell for detecting the weight of the mounting table together with the tableware, and an initial weight and tableware for the mounting table The calculating means for calculating the difference between the injected coffee stock solution and the weight including the cooling water, and the supplying means are separated until the difference calculated by the calculating means reaches a set value set for each of the coffee stock solution and the cooling water. And a control means for operating the coffee dispenser. The coffee dispenser according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the coffee stock solution holding means is provided with cooling means for keeping the coffee stock solution at a low temperature.

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