JP3687239B2 - Beverage vending machine - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a beverage vending machine that provides beverages such as draft beer.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a conventional apparatus for providing beverages such as draft beer, periodic cleaning is necessary for hygiene purposes, and an operator removes the dispense head attached to the draft beer barrel, cleans it, and then attaches it again to the barrel.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in a beverage vending machine that provides draft beer or the like, it is a heavy burden for an operator to perform the above-described cleaning work periodically, and costs such as labor costs.
In particular, a draft beer vending machine requires a cleaning operation once a day in order to maintain the taste of beer.
Furthermore, the bend stage on which the glass is placed is unsanitary if it remains dirty with beer.
[0004]
Therefore, the present invention is intended to provide a beverage vending machine that has a function of automatically cleaning a beverage supply circuit, a bend stage, and the like without requiring a cleaning operation by an operator.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problem, the invention according to claim 1
A dispensing head that allows the beverage to be extracted from the beverage storage container and supplied to the beverage supply circuit;
A water piping facility including a water pump for directing cleaning water to a circuit to be cleaned which is a beverage supply circuit;
A water inlet valve for introducing water to the water pump;
A drain valve disposed between the water inlet valve and the water pump;
A blow valve provided between a gas cylinder storing a gas used for beverage extraction or a separately provided gas and a water piping facility;
A shower circuit including a shower nozzle, a shower valve for selectively flowing wash water from a water pump to the shower nozzle, and
Dispensing head, the blow valve, shea Yawabarubu, and a control means for performing an operation as well as operation and stop of the water pump of the water drain valve,
The control means comprises
Means for closing the dispensing head and disconnecting the storage container and the circuit to be cleaned;
After disconnecting the storage container and the circuit to be cleaned, means for operating the water pump, causing the cleaning water to flow through the circuit to be cleaned, and discharging the cleaning water to clean the circuit to be cleaned;
After the water pump is stopped and the circuit to be cleaned is finished , the gas is guided to the circuit to be cleaned by opening the blow valve, and the cleaning water in the circuit to be cleaned is removed by the pressure.
After the cleaning water in the circuit to be cleaned is removed , the water pump is operated after selectively switching the shower valve to the shower circuit, and the cleaning water from the water pump flows to the shower circuit to bend the cleaning water from the shower nozzle. Means for spraying the stage to clean the bend stage;
After stopping the water pump and finishing the bend stage, the blow valve is opened, gas is passed through the shower circuit, and the washing water in the shower circuit is removed by the pressure;
Means for removing the wash water from the water inlet valve to the water pump by opening the drain valve after removing the wash water in the shower circuit with gas;
It is characterized by providing.
[0006]
The invention according to claim 2 is the beverage vending machine according to claim 1,
Control means, said cleaning or washing water removal process monitoring, storing, when the process has been interrupted, and wherein the Rukoto restarts the cleaning or wash water removed from the interrupted step.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a beer supply circuit and a cleaning circuit of a draft beer vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0010]
First, a circuit for supplying beer will be briefly described.
In this embodiment, two beer barrels 1 a and 1 b are arranged, and beer is supplied from one beer barrel by selection of the switching dispense heads 2 a and 2 b and the switching valve 3.
[0011]
FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the switching dispense heads 2a and 2b.
The switching dispense heads 2a and 2b are arranged at the upper and lower sides of the sleeve 34 fixed to the spout 32 of the beer barrels 1a and 1b, the dip tube 35 inserted in the center of the sleeve 34, and the dip tube 35. A movable beer lead-out probe 43, a valve body 41 provided in the dip tube 35 and pressed against the dip tube by a spring 42, and a carbonic acid provided in a gap between the sleeve 34 and the dip tube 35 And a gas passage 44.
When the beer outlet probe 43 is pushed down with respect to the dip tube 35 and the valve body 41, a connection passage is formed between the beer outlet probe 43 and the beer barrel 31, and the beer passes through the beer outlet probe 43. Extracted. At the same time, a connection passage is also formed between the carbon dioxide gas passage 44 and the beer barrel 31, and the carbon dioxide gas is effectively introduced into the beer barrel and acts as a beer extraction pressure.
[0012]
Here, for convenience of explanation, only the case of supplying beer from the beer barrel 1a will be described. It is assumed that the beer barrel 1b is on standby until the beer in the beer barrel 1a runs out.
In principle, the following operations are performed by a control device (not shown) including a microcomputer.
[0013]
The switching dispense head 2a provided in the beer barrel 1a is opened by an air valve 4a. On the other hand, the switching dispense head 2b provided in the beer barrel 1b is closed by the air valve 4b. The switching valve 3 selects a circuit from the beer barrel 1 a and connects the circuit to a circuit toward the beer nozzle 12.
Carbon dioxide gas from the carbon dioxide gas cylinder 6 passes through the gas regulator 7, passes through the gas valve 8 a, is guided into the beer barrel, and acts as beer extraction pressure. The gas valve 8b is closed.
[0014]
The beer extracted from the beer barrel 1a through the beer derivation probe of the switching dispense head 2a passes through the beer sold-out sensor 9a, passes through the switching valve 3, passes through the beer coil 10 and the beer valve 11, and passes through the beer nozzle. 12 is poured into a cup 13 placed on the bend stage 5.
Further, the beer valve 11 is closed, the foam valve 17 is opened for a certain period, and a predetermined amount of foam is poured into the cup 13. The foam valve 17 also has a function of creating foam from beer.
The bubble removal valve 14a provided in the circuit is closed.
The beer coil 10 is for cooling beer.
[0015]
Next, the cleaning circuit of FIG. 1 will be described.
By pressing an auto or manual button (not shown in FIG. 1), the cleaning process starts.
The control device (not shown) confirms the presence or absence of beer in the pipe by using the beer sold-out sensors 9a and 9b, and cleans only the beer supply circuit that has confirmed the presence of beer.
FIG. 2 shows a case where beer is present in both circuits passing through the beer sold-out sensors 9a and 9b, the circuit passing through the beer sold-out sensor 9a is used as a circuit for supplying beer, and the circuit passing through the beer sold-out sensor 9b is in a standby state. 2 is a time chart for performing cleaning.
[0016]
After confirming the presence or absence of beer in the circuit by the beer sold-out sensors 9a and 9b, the control device drives the switching dispense head 2a with the air valve 4a, closes the switching dispense head 2a, and supplies a circuit and beer barrel. Disconnect from 1a.
Thereby, the circuit of the carbon dioxide gas which acts as the extraction pressure of the beer is connected to the beer supply circuit without going through the beer barrel 1a.
[0017]
And a control apparatus operates the water pump 16, opens the water valve 15a and the beer valve 11, and guides water in piping.
The time difference T1 between the switching dispense head 2a and the water pump 16 shown in FIG. 2 takes into account the time required for the switching dispense head 2a to operate.
T4 hours after the beer valve 11 is opened, the beer valve 11 is closed, the foam valve 17 is opened, and the foam valve 17 to the foam nozzle 18 are further washed.
After T2 time has elapsed since the water pump 16 was operated, the water pump 16 is stopped, and the cleaning of the circuit for supplying beer with water is terminated.
[0018]
Next, cleaning water removal will be described.
The control device opens the blow valve 19 at the same time as stopping the water pump 16. The blow valve 19 is connected to the carbon dioxide gas cylinder 6. By opening the blow valve 19 for T5 time, the carbon dioxide gas removes the cleaning water remaining in the circuit by its pressure.
Then, after a lapse of T5 time since the water pump is stopped, the water valve 15a is closed and the removal of the washing water is finished.
[0019]
As described above, the reason for removing the cleaning water remaining in the circuit after the circuit is cleaned is as follows.
In the beer vending machine, water is used only for washing, so the remaining washing water in the circuit stays for a while.
Therefore, if the water is left unattended, germs grow in the water, and these germs enter the beer supply circuit, which may impair the taste of beer and may cause undesirable results in public health.
Therefore, in this embodiment, water is removed from the circuit as much as possible.
[0020]
In preparation for selling beer, a process of filling the circuit with beer will be described.
The control device operates the gas regulator 7 and opens the gas valve 8a simultaneously with closing the water valve 15a.
Then, the control device opens the switching dispense head 2a and connects the beer barrel 1a and the beer supply circuit. At this point, the beer valve 11 is closed and the foam valve 17 is open, so that the beer is filled up to the foam nozzle 18.
The control device closes the foam valve 17 (T6 time has elapsed since the foam valve was opened) and opens the beer valve 11 for T8 hours. As a result, the beer is filled up to the tip of the beer nozzle 12, and the beer can be sold immediately after the main cleaning process is completed. Moreover, the problem that the supply amount of beer immediately after selling beer does not occur.
[0021]
Next, the cleaning of the circuit passing through the beer sold-out sensor 9b in the standby state and the removal of cleaning water will be described.
The circuit in the standby state refers to a circuit from the gas valve 8b to the switching valve 3 through the switching dispensing head 2b and the beer sold-out sensor 9b in FIG.
[0022]
The control device closes the switching dispense head 2b, operates the water pump 16 again, and opens the water valve 15b and the bubble removal valve 14b.
The water pump 16 is operated for T9 hours, and the circuit is washed with water.
The water that has washed the circuit is discharged to the drainage bucket 20 through the bubble removal valve 14b.
[0023]
Then, after the water pump 16 is stopped, the control device opens the blow valve 19 for T10 time and removes the cleaning water remaining in the circuit.
[0024]
Further, the switching dispense head 2b is opened, the gas regulator 7 and the gas valve 8b are opened for T12 hours, and beer is filled in the circuit.
Close the bubble removal valve 14b (after opening the bubble removal valve, T14 hours have elapsed).
[0025]
Finally, a process of cleaning the bend stage 5 with a shower will be described.
The shower valve 21 using a three-way valve is normally open on the moisture piping side, but is switched to the shower circuit side only during the shower cleaning (time period T15 in FIG. 2).
The shower circuit refers to a circuit from the shower valve 21 to the shower nozzle 22.
[0026]
After switching the shower valve, the water pump 16 is operated for T13 time, and the bend stage 5 is washed with the shower water from the shower nozzle 22.
After the water pump 16 is stopped, the blow valve 19 is opened for T17 hours, and the washing water remaining in the shower circuit is removed.
[0027]
In this embodiment, water is opened by opening the water inlet valve 23 at the beginning of washing for T18 hours. In addition, after all the above-described cleaning steps are completed, the water drain valve 24 is opened for T16 hours, and water from the water inlet valve 23 to the water pump 16 is discharged.
Therefore, no water remains in all the circuits after the water inlet valve 23.
[0028]
In FIG. 1, the water reservoir is provided between the water inlet valve 23 and the water drain valve 24, but is not an essential element of the present invention.
[0029]
The above-described cleaning process is performed by the control device. However, if the cleaning process is interrupted due to a power failure or the like, water may remain in the circuit.
Therefore, in another embodiment of the present invention, the control device monitors and stores a process performed during cleaning. As a result, if the process is interrupted, the process can be restarted from the interrupted process.
[0030]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is convenient and hygienic because a cleaning operation by an operator is not required and the beverage supply circuit, the bend stage, and the like can be automatically cleaned.
[0031]
In addition, according to the present invention, since water does not remain in the beverage supply circuit of the vending machine, the taste of the beverage can be maintained and it is hygienic.
[0032]
Further , according to the present invention, even if the cleaning or cleaning water removal process is interrupted, the cleaning or cleaning water removal can be started again from the interrupted process. It does not remain, can maintain the taste of the beverage, and is hygienic .
[0033]
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a time chart of a cleaning process.
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a switching dispense head.
[Explanation of symbols]
1a, 1b Beer barrel 2a, 2b Switching dispense head 3 Switching valve 4a, 4b Air valve 5 Bend stage 6 Carbon dioxide gas cylinder 7 Gas regulator 8a, 8b Gas valve 9a, 9b Beer sold-out sensor 10 Beer coil 11 Beer valve 12 Beer nozzle 13 Cup 14a, 14b Foam vent valves 15a and 15b Water valve 16 Water pump 17 Foam valve 18 Foam nozzle 19 Blow valve 20 Drain bucket 21 Shower valve 22 Shower nozzle 23 Water inlet valve 24 Water vent valve 32 Spout port 34 Sleeve 35 Dip tube 41 Valve body 42 Spring 43 Beer outlet probe 44 Carbon dioxide gas passage

Claims (2)

A dispensing head that allows the beverage to be extracted from the beverage storage container and supplied to the beverage supply circuit;
A water piping facility including a water pump for directing cleaning water to a circuit to be cleaned which is a beverage supply circuit;
A water inlet valve for introducing water to the water pump;
A drain valve disposed between the water inlet valve and the water pump;
A blow valve provided between a gas cylinder storing a gas used for beverage extraction or a separately provided gas and a water piping facility;
A shower circuit including a shower nozzle, a shower valve for selectively flowing wash water from a water pump to the shower nozzle, and
Dispensing head, the blow valve, shea Yawabarubu, and a control means for performing an operation as well as operation and stop of the water pump of the water drain valve,
The control means comprises
Means for closing the dispensing head and disconnecting the storage container and the circuit to be cleaned;
After disconnecting the storage container and the circuit to be cleaned, means for operating the water pump, causing the cleaning water to flow through the circuit to be cleaned, and discharging the cleaning water to clean the circuit to be cleaned;
After the water pump is stopped and the circuit to be cleaned is finished , the gas is guided to the circuit to be cleaned by opening the blow valve, and the cleaning water in the circuit to be cleaned is removed by the pressure.
After the cleaning water in the circuit to be cleaned is removed , the water pump is operated after selectively switching the shower valve to the shower circuit, and the cleaning water from the water pump flows to the shower circuit to bend the cleaning water from the shower nozzle. Means for spraying the stage to clean the bend stage;
After stopping the water pump and finishing the bend stage, the blow valve is opened, gas is passed through the shower circuit, and the washing water in the shower circuit is removed by the pressure;
Means for removing the wash water from the water inlet valve to the water pump by opening the drain valve after removing the wash water in the shower circuit with gas;
A beverage vending machine comprising: The beverage vending machine according to claim 1,
Control means monitors a step of the washing or cleaning water removal, and stored, if the process is interrupted, beverage dispensing, characterized in Rukoto restarts the removal of the washing or cleaning water from the interrupted step Vending machine.

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