JP3728968B2 - Frozen beverage dispenser and method for cleaning the beverage tank - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a frozen beverage dispenser that manufactures and sells a semi-frozen frozen beverage using syrup beverage as a raw material, and a method for cleaning a beverage tank mounted on the dispenser.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The frozen beverage dispenser mentioned above produces a frozen beverage that is semi-frozen in a sherbet by cooling and stirring the syrup beverage contained in the beverage tank mounted on the dispenser, and storing the frozen beverage in the beverage tank for dispensing. It is to be supplied to the cup and sold.
[0003]
Next, the structure of the conventional frozen drink dispenser is shown in FIG.
In the figure, 1 is a beverage tank (transparent container), which is a frozen beverage production unit mounted on the dispenser body, 1a is an upper lid of the tank 1, 2 is a manual that is drawn forward from the beverage tank 1 and placed above the bend stage 3 It is a sales valve (nozzle with cock) that opens and closes at The beverage tank 1 contains a cooler 5 with stirring blades that also serves as an auger type ice making machine combined with a refrigerator unit (condensing unit of a refrigerator) 4 mounted on the dispenser body.
[0004]
Here, the cooler 5 is a cylindrical evaporator arranged in the front-rear direction (flowing refrigerant between the inner and outer double walls and ice-making on the inner and outer peripheral surfaces) 5a, and the inner and outer peripheral surfaces of the evaporator 5a It has a structure combined with a stirring blade (agitator) 5b which also functions as a screw type auger (blade for scraping ice formed on the surface of the evaporator) arranged above, and the stirring blade 5b is connected to the gear box 6a of the stirring motor 6 Thus, it is driven to rotate in a fixed direction. In addition to the cooler 5, the beverage tank 1 detects the amount of beverage stored in the tank and controls the supply of syrup and dilution water, detects the hardness of the frozen beverage, and cools it. Equipped with a hardness detection sensor that controls the operation of the unit.
[0005]
With such a configuration, the beverage tank 1 is opened with the top lid 1a to supply a fixed amount of syrup (into the tank directly from the syrup container), and in this state, the refrigerator unit 4 and the agitation motor 6 are operated to operate the cooler 5 When cooled, the syrup freezes on the surface of the evaporator 5a. Here, the frozen ice beverage semi-frozen in a sherbet shape is produced by agitating the flake shaped ice cube and the liquid syrup while scraping the frozen ice with the stirring blades 5b, 5c serving also as augers. When the sales valve 2 is opened by placing a cup on the bend stage 3 at the time of sales, frozen beverage is discharged and supplied from the beverage tank 1 to the cup by the feeding action of the screw type stirring blade 5b assembled to the cooling cylinder 5.
[0006]
On the other hand, the frozen beverage dispenser described above is designed to sterilize and wash the beverage tank 1 at a rate of, for example, once a day from the viewpoint of hygiene management. For this reason, conventionally, the dispenser is operated after closing of the business hours. After stopping, the operator opens the sales valve 2 to discharge all the remaining beverage in the beverage tank 1 and empty it, and then the water and chemicals (chlorine-based disinfection) that are pumped into the beverage tank 1 The tank is sterilized and cleaned by storing it for a predetermined time.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in the conventional frozen beverage dispenser, when the beverage tank is washed, the valves necessary for washing are opened and closed, and the washing water and the medicine are all manually fed. It takes time and is troublesome. In addition, simply adding water and chemicals at room temperature does not completely remove dirt such as syrup cake adhering to the walls of the tank and screw-type stirring blades, and if the chemicals are used during cleaning, the dispenser restarts operation. The frozen beverage produced later has a problem of adversely affecting the quality of the beverage, for example, the odor of the drug is transferred and the flavor is lowered.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and the purpose thereof is to effectively sterilize and wash a beverage tank using hot water heated to a high temperature, and at the same time, a washing process can be performed simply by giving a command to start washing. It is an object of the present invention to provide a frozen beverage dispenser improved so as to be automatically performed, and a method for cleaning the beverage tank.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a frozen beverage dispenser that manufactures and supplies a semi-frozen frozen beverage using syrup beverage as a raw material, with a sales valve incorporating a cooler combined with a stirring blade In the beverage tank, the refrigerator unit of the cooler is mounted on the dispenser body, and the frozen beverage produced by cooling and stirring the syrup beverage stored in the beverage tank is supplied to the cup through the sales valve. ,
(1) In the first invention of the present invention, the upper cover inside the beverage tank through the water supply valve incorporates a wash water reservoir with a heater connected to a water and connected to the wash water reservoir during cleaning of the beverage tank Warm water heated by the heater through the outlet valve is directly injected into the tank for sterilization and washing with warm water (Claim 1 ).
[0010]
(2) In addition, the beverage tank cleaning method of the present invention according to the configuration of the above item (1) is configured to discharge the residual beverage from the beverage tank and then through an outlet valve connected to a washing water reservoir incorporated in the upper lid of the beverage tank. water washing step to wash the inside of the beverage tank directly supply water, following the water wash step by supplying the warm water heater directly beverage tank by the cleaning water reservoir divided into a hot water washing step of placing the reservoir a predetermined time In the warm water washing process, hot gas is allowed to flow from the refrigerator unit to the cooler built in the beverage tank, and the hot water stored in the beverage tank is kept warm and stirred by rotating the stirring blades of the cooler (claim) Item 2 ) where the hot gas supply to the cooler performed in parallel with the water washing step, the warm water washing step, and the warm water washing step, and the stirring blade The rotary drive is automatically performed giving cleaning command to the control unit (claim 3).
[0011]
(3) Moreover, in order to achieve the above-described object, in the second invention of the present invention, a shower nozzle connected to the water supply via a water supply valve at the top of the beverage tank, and from the standby position to the inside of the tank The heater installed so that it can be withdrawn is stored, and when the beverage tank is washed, the heater is pulled out to the inside of the tank, the washing water is sprayed into the tank through the shower nozzle, and the washing water collected in the tank is energized with the heater. And sterilizing and washing with warm water (claim 4 ). Specifically, a shower nozzle and a heater are incorporated into the upper lid of the beverage tank, and the heater is heated from the standby position to the upper lid with washing water. A heater moving lever that pulls out the position, a heater switch that responds to the heater pull-out, and a water supply switch are installed. Configuring comprises a temperature sensor for detecting the pre-wash water temperature (claim 5).
[0012]
(4) In the beverage tank cleaning method according to the present invention corresponding to the configuration of (3) above, after the remaining beverage is discharged from the beverage tank, the cleaning water is sprinkled into the tank through the shower nozzle while rotating the stirring blades. The water washing process is performed separately and the warm water washing process in which the washing water accumulated in the tank in the water washing process is heated by heater heating while stirring with stirring blades (Claim 6 ). As an aspect, the operation signal of the heater switch and the water supply switch is given to the control unit to start the cleaning process, and the water cleaning process and the hot water cleaning process are automatically performed based on the signals of the water level sensor and the temperature sensor ( Claim 7 ).
[0013]
As mentioned above, the beverage tank of the dispenser is equipped with a washing water reservoir with a heater, or a shower nozzle and a drawer moving heater, and when washing the beverage tank, the washing water is injected into the tank in the first half of the water washing process. After washing with water, the hot water heated by the reservoir in the subsequent hot water washing process is poured into the beverage tank, or the heater is pulled out of the standby position and the washing water accumulated in the tank is heated to a high temperature. The inside of the beverage tank can be effectively sterilized and washed using hot water without using a sterilizing agent that impairs the beverage flavor.
[0014]
In particular, as in the washing method in (2), the hot water stored in the beverage tank is maintained at a high temperature by flowing hot gas from the refrigerator unit to the cooler in the latter half of the hot water washing process. Heat sterilization can be performed effectively. In this case, it is confirmed that all germs and the like are killed by storing hot water of 68 ° C. or higher in the tank for 40 minutes or more. Further, in this warm water washing step, the stirring blades are rotated and the warm water stored in the tank is stirred to effectively wash every corner. In addition, by automating each of the above-described cleaning steps, the operator only needs to give a command to start cleaning, and the cleaning operation can be performed automatically without taking time and effort.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the illustrated examples. In the drawings of the embodiments, the same members corresponding to those in FIG.
[Example 1]
1 to 3 show an embodiment corresponding to claims 1 to 3 of the present invention. In this embodiment, as shown in the block diagram of FIG. 1, a washing water reservoir 7 is incorporated in the upper lid 1a of the beverage tank 1 mounted on the dispenser body. The washing water reservoir 7 is a sealed container, a heater 8, a water level sensor 9 for preventing overflow, a temperature sensor 10 for detecting hot water temperature, an outlet valve 11 for water injection drawn from the reservoir 7 toward the beverage tank 1, and steam. A relief valve 12 is provided, and a water inlet 15 is connected to the water supply port 15 via a water inlet valve 13 and a check valve 14 as a water supply valve.
[0016]
The refrigerator unit (condenser unit of the refrigerator) 4 includes a compressor 4a and a condenser 4b. The refrigerant pipe on the discharge side drawn out from the compressor 4a is connected to the condenser 4b and the condenser. A valve 16 and a hot gas valve 17 are connected to pipe lines that bypass 4b and lead to the cooling cylinder 5, respectively, and by operating the cooling unit 4 with the valve 16 closed and the hot gas valve 17 open, The hot gas discharged from the compressor 4a is directly supplied to the cooler 5 for heating.
[0017]
Further, a cleaning button 18 for giving a cleaning command is provided on the front surface of the dispenser body, and a control unit 19 (a control program for a cleaning process for the beverage tank is stored in the control unit) based on the command signal is described later. In addition, the water washing process and the hot water washing process for the beverage tank 1 are automatically performed. Reference numeral 20 denotes a temperature sensor for detecting hot water temperature provided in the beverage tank 1, and 21 denotes a water level sensor for preventing overflow.
[0018]
Next, the washing operation of the beverage tank 1 having the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 2 and the time chart shown in FIG. That is, when the beverage tank 1 of the dispenser is cleaned, the operator opens the sales valve 2 to discharge the frozen beverage remaining in the beverage tank 1 to make the tank 1 empty.
[0019]
Here, when the washing button 18 is pressed, the first water washing step is automatically performed. In this water washing process, the water inlet valve 13 connected to the washing water reservoir 7 and the outlet valve 11 are opened by a command from the control unit 19, and the water supplied to the reservoir 7 from the water tap 15 passes through the outlet valve 11 to the beverage tank 1. Water is poured into the tank to wash the tank with water. When the operator opens the sales valve 2 in this state, washing water flows out from the beverage tank 1, and dirt such as syrup cake adhering to the inner wall surface of the tank 1, the stirring blade 5b, etc. is roughly washed away. In this state, the steam relief valve 12 of the reservoir 7 is closed. Note that this water washing step is performed for about several minutes and is controlled by the controller 19 by a timer.
[0020]
When the operator presses the cleaning button 18 again after the water cleaning process is completed, the hot water cleaning process is started next. In this warm water cleaning step, the outlet valve 11 of the cleaning water reservoir 7 is closed and the steam relief valve 12 is switched to open according to a command from the control unit 19, and tap water is supplied to the reservoir through the water inlet valve 13. When the water level sensor 9 of the reservoir 7 detects a high water level, the water inlet valve 13 is closed and the heater 8 is energized to heat the water stored in the reservoir 7. When the water temperature in the reservoir 7 rises to a predetermined temperature (about 80 ° C.), the outlet valve 11 opens based on the signal from the temperature sensor 10, and high-temperature hot water heated by the reservoir 7 is poured into the beverage tank 1. .
[0021]
Further, when the warm water supplied to the beverage tank 1 reaches a predetermined water level by filling the washing water reservoir 7 with water, boiling water, and injecting the warm water into the beverage tank 1 several times, the water is continuously filled. The hot gas valve 17 connected to the refrigerant line of the cooling unit 4 is opened, the valve 16 is closed, the compressor 4a is started, the hot gas is allowed to flow directly to the evaporator of the cooling cylinder 5, and the cooling cylinder is heated to drink While keeping the warm water stored in the tank at a predetermined temperature (70 ° C. or higher), the stirring blade 5a of the cooling cylinder 5 is rotated to stir the warm water in the tank. In this state, warm water is stored in the beverage tank 1 for a predetermined time (about 1 hour), and the tank is sterilized and washed with warm water. During the hot water storage, the compressor 4a of the cooling unit 4 is controlled to operate and stop based on the signal from the temperature sensor 20, so that the hot water is kept at a predetermined temperature.
[0022]
The start of the hot water cleaning process can be switched to an operation mode in which the operator automatically switches from the water cleaning process to the hot water cleaning process by program control of the control unit in addition to pressing the cleaning button 18.
[0023]
This warm water cleaning removes stubborn dirt such as syrup cakes stuck to the beverage tank 1, the wall surface of the cooler 5, the stirring blade 5a and the like, and the germs are almost completely sterilized by the hot water. Then, when a predetermined hot water storage time elapses, the drive motors of the compressor 4 a and the stirring blade 5 b are stopped by the timer control of the control unit 19. When the operator opens the sales valve 2, the washing waste liquid of warm water is discharged out of the tank, and the washing of the beverage tank 1 is completed.
[0024]
[Example 2]
Next, an embodiment of the second invention corresponding to claims 4 to 7 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 5, members corresponding to those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.
In this embodiment, instead of the washing water reservoir 7 with heater in the first embodiment, a shower nozzle 22 and a movable heater (seeds heater) 23 are placed inside an upper lid 1 a placed on the beverage tank 1. Is incorporated. Here, the shower nozzle 22 is composed of a plurality of dispersed nozzles, and each nozzle is connected to the water supply port 15 via a water inlet valve 13 and a check valve 14 as a water supply valve as in the first embodiment.
[0025]
On the other hand, one end of the heater 23 is connected to a heater moving lever 24 attached to the upper lid 1a, and the lever is pulled out from a standby position represented by a real gland to a heating position (chain line) protruding inward of the beverage tank 1. . In addition, a heater switch (microswitch) 25 that is turned on corresponding to the drawing position of the heater 23 is provided. Further, the upper lid 1a is provided with a water supply switch 26 for giving a water supply command. Moreover, the temperature sensor 20 and the water level sensor (for example, float switch) 21 are equipped in the inside of the beverage tank 1 like FIG.
[0026]
Reference numeral 27 denotes a heater monitor (LED), which lights up or blinks as will be described later when the heater 23 is in use to notify the heater status to the outside. Reference numeral 28 denotes an open / close detection switch for the upper lid 1a.
Next, the washing operation of the beverage tank 1 with the above configuration will be described with reference to the time chart of FIG. First, prior to washing, the operator opens the sales valve 2 to discharge the frozen beverage remaining in the beverage tank 1, and the tank 1 is emptied.
[0027]
Subsequently, the heater moving lever 24 is operated to draw the heater 23 from the standby position (real gland) in FIG. 5 toward the inward direction of the beverage tank 1 to the chain line position (the heater switch 25 is turned on and the heater monitor 27 is turned on. In addition, the water supply switch 26 is turned ON and operation signals of the heater switch 25 and the water supply switch 26 are input to the control unit 19.
[0028]
On the other hand, the control unit 19 executes the following program control based on the signal. First, in the first half of the water washing step, the water inlet valve 13 is opened, and tap water is sprayed to the inner corners of the beverage tank 1 through the shower nozzle 22 to wash away the beverage baskets adhering to the tank wall surface. During the cleaning process, the refrigerator unit 4 is held in a forced stop state, and the stirring motor 6 is forcibly operated to rotate the stirring blade 5a (see FIG. 4) of the cooler 5 installed in the tank. Stir the poured wash water.
[0029]
When the water level of the washing water injected into the beverage tank 1 gradually rises to reach a predetermined high water level (when the heater 23 is immersed in the washing water at this high water level), the water inlet is detected by a signal from the water level sensor 21. The valve 13 is closed. This completes the first half of the water washing step, and then proceeds to the warm water washing step. In this warm water cleaning process, the heater 23 is energized to heat the cleaning water accumulated in the tank, and the temperature of the water is monitored by the temperature sensor 20 so that the hot water temperature is maintained at about 70 ° C. ON / OFF control is performed and this state continues for about 1 hour. During the warm water washing step, the stirring motor 6 is forcibly operated and the stirring blade 5a of the cooler 5 is continuously rotated to stir the warm water accumulated in the tank. Further, the heater monitor 27 changes to a blinking state.
[0030]
This warm water cleaning removes stubborn dirt such as syrup cakes stuck to the beverage tank 1, the wall surface of the cooler 5, the stirring blade 5a and the like, and the germs are almost completely sterilized by the hot water. When a predetermined cleaning time has elapsed, the stirring motor 6 is stopped by the timer control of the control unit 19, and the heater monitor 27 changes from flashing to a lighting state to notify the outside of the end of the hot water cleaning process. Then, the washing waste liquid of warm water stored in the beverage tank 1 by the operator opening the sales valve 2 is discharged out of the tank, and the cleaning is completed.
[0031]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a beverage tank mounted on a frozen beverage dispenser is equipped with a washing water reservoir with a heater, or a movable heater and a shower nozzle, and when the beverage tank is washed, the washing tank is washed with water at a high temperature. By washing the inside of the tank with warm water heated to a high temperature, the inside of the beverage tank can be effectively sterilized and washed using warm water without using a sterilizing agent that impairs the flavor of the frozen beverage.
[0032]
In addition, as a washing method for the beverage tank, the remaining beverage in the beverage tank is discharged, then poured into the tank, and the first half of the water wash step in which the inside of the beverage tank is washed away with water sprinkled, followed by the second half of the warm water wash step The beverage tank can be effectively sterilized and washed by washing separately. In addition, by automating each cleaning process, the operator can easily perform the sanitation work by simply giving a cleaning start command, compared to the conventional system where all beverage tank cleaning operations are performed manually. Serviceability can be improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a frozen beverage dispenser corresponding to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a cleaning process representing a method for cleaning a beverage tank according to the configuration of FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a conventional frozen beverage dispenser to be implemented by the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a frozen beverage dispenser corresponding to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Fig. 6] Fig. 6 is a time chart of a cleaning process representing a method for cleaning a beverage tank according to the configuration of Fig. 5. [Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Beverage tank 1a Top cover 2 Sales valve 3 Bend stage 4 Refrigerator unit 4a Compressor 5 Cooler 5a Evaporator 5b Stir blade 6 Stir motor 7 Wash water reservoir 8 Heater 13 Water inlet valve 15 Water inlet 17 Hot gas valve 18 Wash button 19 Control unit 20 Temperature sensor 21 Water level sensor 23 Heater 24 Heater moving lever 25 Heater switch 26 Water supply switch 27 Heater monitor

Claims (7)

A frozen beverage dispenser that manufactures and supplies semi-frozen frozen beverages using syrup beverage as a raw material, including a beverage tank with a sale valve incorporating a cooler combined with a stirring blade, and a refrigerator unit of the cooler mounted on, cooling the syrup beverages contained in the beverage tank, in the frozen beverage prepared by stirring those is supplied to the cup through the sales valve, the upper cover inside the beverage tank through the water supply valve A washing water reservoir with a heater connected to the water supply was incorporated , and when the beverage tank was washed, the heated water heated by the heater through the outlet valve connected to the washing water reservoir was directly injected into the tank for sterilization washing with hot water. Frozen beverage dispenser characterized by. A method for washing a beverage tank mounted on a frozen beverage dispenser according to claim 1, wherein after the residual beverage is discharged from the beverage tank, it is directly passed through an outlet valve connected to a washing water reservoir incorporated in the upper lid of the beverage tank. water washing step to wash the inside of the beverage tank supplying water, divided following the water wash step by supplying the warm water heater directly beverage tank by the cleaning water reservoir and hot washing step of placing the reservoir a predetermined time, In the hot water washing process, hot gas is supplied from the refrigerator unit to the cooler built in the beverage tank, and the stirring blades of the cooler are rotated to keep the warm water stored in the beverage tank warm and stirred. A method for cleaning a beverage tank of a frozen beverage dispenser. 3. A method for cleaning a beverage tank according to claim 2 , wherein a hot command is supplied to the cooler and the stirring blade is rotated in parallel with the water cleaning step, the hot water cleaning step, and the hot water cleaning step. A method for cleaning a beverage tank of a frozen beverage dispenser, characterized in that it is automatically performed by providing A frozen beverage dispenser that manufactures and supplies semi-frozen frozen beverages using syrup beverage as a raw material, including a beverage tank with a sale valve incorporating a cooler combined with a stirring blade, and a refrigerator unit of the cooler as a dispenser body The frozen beverage produced by cooling and stirring the syrup beverage stored in the beverage tank is supplied to the cup through the sales valve, and the water is supplied to the top of the beverage tank via a water supply valve. The shower nozzle connected to the heater and the heater installed so that it can be pulled out from the standby position to the inside of the tank are stored, and when the beverage tank is washed, the heater is pulled out to the inside of the tank and the washing water is sprayed into the tank through the shower nozzle. After that, the cleaning water accumulated in the tank is heated by energizing the heater and killed by warm water. Frozen beverage dispenser, characterized in that to perform the cleaning. 5. The beverage dispenser according to claim 4, wherein a shower nozzle and a heater are incorporated in the upper lid of the beverage tank, a heater moving lever for pulling out the heater from the standby position to the washing water heating position on the upper lid, and a heater responsive to the withdrawal of the heater. A frozen beverage dispenser comprising a switch, a water supply switch, and a water level sensor for preventing overflow and a temperature sensor for detecting a washing water temperature. 5. A method for washing a beverage tank mounted on a frozen beverage dispenser according to claim 4 , wherein after the residual beverage is discharged from the beverage tank, the washing water is sprinkled into the tank through a shower nozzle while rotating the stirring blades. Beverage tank of frozen beverage dispenser characterized in that washing is performed separately in a hot water washing step in which the washing water accumulated in the tank in the water washing step is stirred by a stirring blade and heated by heating with a heater Cleaning method. 7. The method for cleaning a beverage tank according to claim 6, wherein the operation signal of the heater switch and the water supply switch is given to the control unit to start the cleaning process, and the water cleaning process and the hot water cleaning process are performed based on the signals of the water level sensor and the temperature sensor. A method for cleaning a beverage tank of a frozen beverage dispenser, characterized in that:

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