JP3681040B2 - Beverage dispenser - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a beverage dispenser in which a powder raw material and a drinking liquid are supplied to a mixing container provided in a main body and mixed by stirring to produce a beverage.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A tea dispenser using powdered tea is known as this type of beverage dispenser. As shown in FIG. 8, this type of tea dispenser is provided with a canister 1 for storing powdered tea T at the upper part in the main body, and powdered tea T and hot water (or A mixing container 2 is provided for mixing (cold water). A screw device 3 is provided at the bottom of the canister 1 for supplying powder tea T in a fixed quantity, and the powder tea T discharged from the canister 1 is supplied into the mixing container 2 through a square tube-like shooter 4. ing.
Then, hot water (or cold water) is supplied to the mixing container 2 from a liquid supply pipe (not shown), and the powdered tea T and hot water supplied into the mixing container 2 are stirred by the rotation of the impeller 5. Tea is produced by mixing and is poured out from a spout 6 formed at the bottom of the mixing container 2. A filter 7 for preventing the undissolved powder tea T from flowing out as it is is attached to the spout 6 portion.
[0003]
Further, on the back side of the mixing container 2, a steam removing device 9 including a suction fan and a fine powder removing filter 8 (only a part of the lower end is shown) is provided in the case. Connected through a hose 10. Thereby, after the tea is poured out, the steam (steam) remaining in the mixing container 2 and the fine powder of the powdered tea T are sucked and removed by the steam removing device 9.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above configuration, the overflow of the mixing container 2 is not taken into consideration, and the spout 6 portion (filter 7) is temporarily clogged, or the valve for supplying liquid to the mixing container 2 fails. If the liquid level in the mixing container 2 rises abnormally, the liquid flows into the vapor removing device 9 through the hose 10, and the suction fan or the like breaks down or overflows from the mixing container 2. There is a risk of damaging the inside of the equipment and damaging other equipment. Moreover, in the said conventional structure, although there exists a situation where the fine powder of the sucked powdered tea T adheres and accumulates on the inner wall of the hose 10, it is difficult to clean the inside of the case of the hose 10 or the steam removing device 9. It was.
The present invention has been completed based on the above circumstances, and its purpose is to satisfactorily remove the vapor remaining in the mixing container and fine powder of the powder raw material, and the liquid level in the mixing container is abnormal. The liquid is discharged smoothly when it is raised.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
As a means for achieving the above object, the invention of claim 1 is a beverage in which a powder raw material and a drinking liquid are supplied to a mixing container provided in a main body and mixed by stirring to produce a beverage. In the dispenser, an upper end portion is connected to the mixing container, and a steam vent pipe also serving as an overflow pipe, and a lower container side of the steam vent pipe is connected in a vertical direction through a connection port of the upper wall portion to form a thin container shape . A duct and a suction device for exhausting air from the mixing container through the steam vent pipe and the duct, and the duct has an inclined inner bottom surface and is provided with a drain outlet at its lowest part. And an exhaust port connected to the suction device is provided at a position higher than the drain port.
[0006]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the duct is configured to be detachably attached to the duct main body and is detachably attached to the main body. Has characteristics.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the inner bottom portion of the duct is located between the connection portion of the steam vent pipe and the exhaust port, and the upper wall of the duct. It is characterized in that a partition wall that rises in a state where there is a gap between the two is provided.
[0007]
[Action and effect of the invention]
<Invention of Claim 1>
When the suction device is driven, the steam in the mixing container is sucked through the steam vent pipe and duct, exhausted from the exhaust port of the duct, and fine powder of the powder raw material remaining in the mixing container is also removed from the steam vent pipe. And is sucked into the duct. Since the steam vent pipe also serves as the overflow pipe, when the liquid level in the mixing container rises abnormally, the liquid overflows from the steam vent pipe and flows down into the duct. The liquid flowing down into the duct flows to the lower side on the inner bottom surface of the inclined duct, and is discharged from a drain outlet provided at the lowest part. At this time, the exhaust port for discharging the steam is provided at a position higher than the drain port, so that the liquid is not discharged from the exhaust port, and the liquid and the steam are separated in the duct and drained. It is discharged from the mouth and exhaust port, respectively.
Therefore, according to the first aspect of the invention, it is possible to remove the vapor remaining in the mixing container and the fine powder of the powder raw material, and to discharge the liquid when the liquid level in the mixing container rises abnormally. it can. In addition, since both the steam discharge and the overflow liquid discharge can be performed by one steam vent pipe and duct, the structure is simplified.
[0008]
<Invention of Claim 2>
The duct can be easily removed from the main body, and the lid can be easily removed from the duct. Therefore, cleaning of the fine powder of the powder raw material adhering to the inside of the duct can be easily performed.
<Invention of Claim 3>
Since the partition wall is located between the connection part of the steam release pipe and the exhaust port, the partition wall prevents the liquid flowing into the duct from flowing into the exhaust port during overflow. The liquid can be more reliably prevented from entering the exhaust port. Further, the steam can be discharged from the exhaust port through the upper gap without being blocked by the partition wall.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a tea machine will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7.
FIG. 2 schematically shows the entire configuration of the main body 11 of the tea dispenser as a beverage dispenser according to the present embodiment. The tea machine main body 11 has a vertically long rectangular box shape as a whole, and a beverage receiving portion 12 whose front surface is opened is provided at a lower portion thereof. The beverage receiving portion 12 is provided with a placement portion 13 for placing a cup A that receives a beverage (tea). In addition, a beverage dispensing switch (not shown) is provided on the front surface of the tea machine main body 11.
[0010]
The tea machine main body 11 is provided with a canister 14 or the like for storing powdered tea T as a powder raw material in the upper part, and located in the middle stage for powdered tea T and drinking liquid (hot water or cold water). ) Is mixed to produce tea. The canister 14 has a shape that becomes narrower as the front side goes downward, and a discharge port 16 that protrudes forward is provided at the lower end of the front side. The discharge port 16 has a tip that is bowl-shaped and opens downward, and the top surface on the tip side is also open. In addition, a heater 17 for removing moisture is disposed at the upper portion of the upper surface opening at the tip of the discharge port 16.
[0011]
In the discharge port 16, a screw device 18 which is a fixed amount discharge device is provided so that the stored powdered tea T can be discharged quantitatively. The powdered tea T discharged from the discharge port 16 falls into the mixing container 15 through a rectangular tube-like shooter 19 extending in the vertical direction. Thereby, the raw material supply mechanism which supplies the powdered tea T in the mixing container 15 is comprised.
[0012]
The mixing container 15 is made of plastic, for example, and as shown in FIG. 1, the mixing container 15 has a vertically long rectangular shape as a whole, and has a box shape in which the upper end portion bulges rearward. Thereby, in the mixing container 15, the mixing part 20 in which powder tea T and hot water (or cold water) are mixed is provided in the front side, and this mixing is located in the back bulging part. An inflow passage 21 is provided which extends continuously rearward from the upper rear surface side of the portion 20. The lower end portion of the above-described shooter 19 is connected to the front portion of the upper wall portion of the mixing container 15 so that the powdered tea T is supplied into the mixing portion 20 from above.
[0013]
In addition, a liquid supply pipe 22 constituting a drinking liquid supply mechanism is provided at the rear part of the tea machine main body 11. The front end portion of the liquid supply pipe 22 is connected to the rear end portion of the upper wall portion of the mixing container 15 so as to supply hot water (or cold water) as a drinking liquid via the valve 23. Hot water supplied from the liquid supply pipe 22 flows into the mixing unit 20 from the rear side of the inflow path 21 through the inflow path 21. At this time, a steam vent pipe 24 that also serves as an overflow pipe is provided in the middle of the inflow path 21 so as to divide the hot water flowing in the inflow path 21 to the left and right.
[0014]
Further, a drive shaft 25 (see FIG. 1) extending forward from the rear wall surface is provided at a lower portion in the mixing container 15 (mixing unit 20), and an impeller 26 is attached to the drive shaft 25. A driving force of a motor 27 provided outside the mixing container 15 is transmitted to the driving shaft 25 via a magnet coupling. Furthermore, a spout 28 that protrudes downward is provided at the center of the bottom of the mixing container 15, and this spout 28 faces the upper part of the beverage receiver 12. A filter 29 is provided above the spout 28. Although not shown in detail, two sets of the canister 14, the shooter 19, the mixing container 15, the liquid supply pipe 22 and the like are provided side by side in the tea machine main body 11, and different types of tea. Can be generated.
[0015]
As shown in FIG. 1, the above-described steam vent pipe 24 has a cylindrical pipe shape, and the wall portion constituting the bottom portion of the inflow path 21 (the bulging portion toward the back side) of the mixing container 15 extends in the vertical direction. It is provided so as to penetrate. The steam vent pipe 24 has an upper end protruding into the inflow passage 21 and a lower end located outside the mixing container 15. Further, on the back side of the mixing container 15 (below the bulging portion), for example, a plastic duct 30 is provided in which the lower end portion of the steam release pipe 24 is connected. Therefore, the upper end portion of the steam release pipe 24 opens at a position slightly lower than the upper wall portion in the mixing container 15. One duct 30 is provided for two sets of mixing containers 15 (two steam vent pipes 24).
[0016]
3 to 7 show the configuration of the duct 30. FIG. The duct 30 as a whole has a substantially rectangular container shape (box shape) that is thin in the vertical direction and horizontally long in the left-right direction, and its left end portion projects forward by a slight amount as shown in FIG. It has a shape (widened in the front-rear direction). As shown in FIG. 3, the duct 30 is configured to be detachably provided with a plate-like lid portion 32 that closes the upper surface opening with respect to the duct body 31 having an upper surface opened.
[0017]
Although not shown in detail, the duct 30 is detachably attached to the tea machine body 11 from the left side surface side of the tea machine body 11. When the duct 30 is attached to the tea machine body 11, the protruding portion at the left end is located on the left side of the left mixing container 15, and the portion excluding the left wide portion (narrow in the front-rear direction and left and right) The horizontally long portion is positioned so as to straddle the back sides of the two left and right mixing containers 15. Here, the above-described lid portion 32 is formed with two right and left connection ports 33 that are located near the front portion of the narrow portion and in which the lower ends of the two steam vent pipes 24 are connected to each other. Has been.
[0018]
On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the duct main body 31 is formed with a small drainage groove 34 extending almost entirely in the left-right direction along the edge on the back side of the inner bottom. As shown in FIG. 5, the bottom surface of the drain groove 34 is gently inclined downward toward the left side, and a drain port 35 is formed at the left end (the lowest part of the inner bottom surface of the duct 30). . The drain port 35 has a cylindrical shape that protrudes by a small amount downward, and a drain hose (not shown) is connected to the lower end of the drain port 35, and the drain hose is connected to, for example, a drainage facility outside the tea machine body 11. It is like that.
[0019]
The inner bottom surface of the duct body 31 has an inclined surface 36 where the portion excluding the drainage groove 34 is gently inclined downward toward the back side, that is, the drainage groove 34 as shown in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, etc., a relatively large circular exhaust port 37 is formed at the left end portion (the wide portion protruding forward) of the inner bottom surface (inclined surface 36) of the duct body 31. Yes. The exhaust port 37 has a cylindrical shape that protrudes a small amount downward, and its lower end is connected to a suction device such as a suction fan via a suction hose (not shown), for example. The upper end of the exhaust port 37 is provided at a position higher than the drain port 35.
[0020]
Further, the inner bottom surface (inclined surface 36) of the duct body 31 is provided between the wide portion and the narrow portion, that is, between the connection portion of the steam vent pipe 24 and the exhaust port 37, as shown in FIGS. A partition wall portion 38 is integrally provided so as to be positioned between them and to partition them left and right. The partition wall portion 38 extends in the entire front-rear direction of the inclined surface 36 except for the drainage groove portion 34, and as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the partition wall portion 38 is almost half the height of the space in the duct 30. It is provided to stand up. Therefore, a gap is formed between the upper end of the partition wall portion 38 and the upper wall portion (lid portion 32) of the duct 30 so that steam can flow.
[0021]
Then, the effect | action of this embodiment is demonstrated. When the beverage pouring switch is turned on, the screw device 18 provided in the canister 14 is driven for a predetermined time, and a predetermined amount of powdered tea T is discharged from the discharge port 16 and falls through the shooter 19 to be mixed. It is supplied to the container 15 (mixing unit 20). At the same time, the valve 23 is opened for a predetermined time, and a predetermined amount of hot water (or cold water) is supplied from the liquid supply pipe 22. The hot water flows through the inflow path 21 and is supplied to the mixing unit 20. Further, the impeller 26 is rotationally driven by the motor 27, and the hot water supplied to the mixing unit 20 and the powdered tea T are stirred and mixed, and the powdered tea T is dissolved in the hot water to produce tea. The tea produced by the mixing unit 20 is poured from the spout 28 into the cup A of the beverage receiving unit 12.
[0022]
Then, after this beverage dispensing operation, the suction device (suction fan) is driven for a certain time. Thereby, steam (steam) and fine powder of powdered tea T remaining in the mixing container 15 are sucked into the duct 30 from the connection port 33 through the steam vent pipe 24, and further, the arrow of the chain line in FIG. As shown by the line, the air flows through the duct 30 to the left, is discharged from the exhaust port 37, and is removed from the mixing container 15. At this time, as described above, the partition wall portion 38 does not hinder the flow of steam in the duct 30. Further, the fine powder of powdered tea T sucked into the duct 30 adheres to the inner wall surface (inclined surface 36) of the duct 30 as shown in FIG.
[0023]
On the other hand, if the spout 28 (filter 29) is clogged or the valve 23 for supplying liquid to the mixing container 15 fails, the liquid level in the mixing container 15 may rise abnormally. . However, since the above-described steam vent pipe 24 also serves as an overflow pipe, when the liquid level in the mixing container 15 rises abnormally, the liquid overflows from the steam vent pipe 24 and is connected to the duct 30 from the connection port 33. It flows down to the inner inclined surface 36. As shown by the solid arrow in FIG. 4, the overflow liquid flows backward through the inclined surface 36 and flows into the drain groove 34, and further flows leftward within the drain groove 34 and is provided at the lowest part. It is discharged from the drain outlet 35.
[0024]
At this time, since the exhaust port 37 for discharging the steam is provided at a position higher than the drain port 35, the overflow liquid does not flow into the exhaust port 37, and the overflow liquid is temporarily inclined 36. Even if the liquid flows to the left, the liquid is blocked by the partition wall portion 38 and is reliably prevented from reaching the exhaust port 37. Thus, although both the steam and the overflow liquid flow into the duct 30, the steam and the overflow liquid can be separated in the duct 30 and discharged from the exhaust port 37 and the drain port 35, respectively. .
[0025]
Furthermore, as the use continues, the inside of the duct 30 gradually becomes dirty with the powdered tea T sucked into the duct 30 and the like. Therefore, it becomes necessary to clean (wash) the inside of the duct 30, but the duct 30 can be easily removed from the tea machine body 11, and the lid portion 32 is easily removed from the duct body 31 in the duct 30. be able to. Therefore, cleaning (hand washing) of the fine powder of powdered tea T adhering to the inside of the duct 30 can be easily performed in such a state that the duct 30 is removed and the lid portion 32 is further separated. In addition, by supplying a large amount of hot water (water) into the mixing container 15 and intentionally overflowing, automatic cleaning in the mixing container 15 and the duct 30 (adhering to the inner surface of the mixing container 15, the inner surface of the duct 30, etc.) It is also possible to wash off the powdered tea T).
[0026]
As described above, according to this embodiment, the mixing vessel 15 is provided with the steam vent pipe 24 that also serves as an overflow pipe, and the duct that separates and discharges the steam and the overflow liquid that have flowed through the steam vent pipe 24. 30 is provided, the steam remaining in the mixing container 15 and the fine powder of the powdered tea T can be removed, and the liquid can be discharged when the liquid level in the mixing container 15 rises abnormally. In addition, both the discharge of the steam and the discharge of the overflow liquid can be performed by one steam vent pipe 24 and the duct 30, and the structure can be simplified.
[0027]
Moreover, since the duct 30 can be easily removed from the tea machine main body 11, and since the cover part 32 can be easily removed from the duct main body 31 in the duct 30, the duct 30 can be easily cleaned. it can. Further, since the partition wall 38 is provided at the inner bottom portion of the duct 30 between the connection portion of the steam vent pipe 24 and the exhaust port 37, the overflow liquid is discharged from the exhaust port 37 while ensuring the circulation of the steam. It is also possible to obtain an advantage that the entry can be prevented more reliably.
[0028]
<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention, and further, other than the following, within the scope not departing from the gist. Various expansions and modifications are possible.
(1) In the above embodiment, the partition wall portion 38 is provided in the duct 30, but it is not always necessary to provide the partition wall portion, and rises in a circle (semi-circle) so as to surround the exhaust port 37. A partition wall may be provided.
(2) The present invention is not limited to the tea dispenser, and can be widely applied to all types of beverage dispensers in which raw material powder is dissolved in a drinking liquid to obtain a beverage.
[Brief description of the drawings]
1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a mixing container and a duct portion according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a tea machine body. FIG. 3 is a rear view of a duct with a part of the duct body broken. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the duct body. FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the duct body along the line XX in FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is an exploded sectional view of the duct along the line YY in FIG. FIG. 7 is an exploded sectional view of a duct along the line ZZ in FIG. 4. FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a conventional example.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Tea machine main body 14 ... Canister 15 ... Mixing container 19 ... Shooter 20 ... Mixing part 21 ... Inflow path 22 ... Liquid supply pipe 24 ... Steam vent pipe 28 ... Outlet 30 ... Duct 31 ... Duct main body 32 ... Cover part 33 ... Connection port 34 ... Drainage groove 35 ... Drainage port 36 ... Inclined surface part 37 ... Exhaust port 38 ... Partition wall T ... Powdered tea (powder raw material)

Claims (3)

In a beverage dispenser that supplies a powder raw material and a drinking liquid to a mixing container provided in the body and generates a beverage by stirring and mixing,
An upper end connected to the mixing vessel, and a steam vent pipe also serving as an overflow pipe;
A duct in the vertical direction form a thin container shape lower end of the steam vent pipe is connected through a connection port of the upper wall portion,
A suction device for evacuating the mixing vessel through the steam vent pipe and duct;
The duct is configured such that the inner bottom surface is inclined and a drain port is provided at the lowest part, and an exhaust port connected to the suction device is provided at a position higher than the drain port. Beverage dispenser featuring.   2. The beverage dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the duct is configured to be detachably attached to the duct main body and is detachably attached to the main body.   A partition wall portion is provided at the inner bottom portion of the duct, which is positioned between the connection portion of the steam vent pipe and the exhaust port, and rises with a gap between the upper wall portion of the duct. The beverage dispenser according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the beverage dispenser is provided.

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