JP3894151B2 - Cup-type beverage vending machine - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a cup-type beverage vending machine, and more particularly to a cup-type beverage vending machine that produces and sells a sherbet-like frozen beverage by stirring ice and coffee or syrup supplied to a container such as a cup. It is.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as a cup-type beverage vending machine, there is one that supplies ice produced by an ice making machine to a beverage-containing cup to produce a cold beverage containing ice (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0003]
As shown in FIG. 11, the cup-type beverage vending machine includes an ice making machine 1, a hot water tank 2, a syrup tank 3, a canister 4, a coffee beverage cooking device 5, and a stirring device 6. The ice making machine 1 manufactures and stores ice having a preset size using drinking water supplied from a water supply device (not shown). The ice making machine 1 is provided with an ice discharge port 1a for discharging stored ice so as to be openable and closable. The hot water tank 2 stores the drinking water supplied from a water supply device (not shown) heated to approximately 97 ° C. by a heater or the like. The syrup tank 3 stores syrup. The canister 4 stores powder ingredients such as sugar, cream and instant coffee. The coffee beverage cooking device 5 extracts coffee beverages using ground coffee beans and hot water (heated water or hot water) from the hot water tank 2. The stirring device 6 has a stirring blade 6a configured to be movable back and forth with respect to the cup C and to be rotatable around an axis.
[0004]
In this cup-type beverage vending machine, for example, when a sales command for a cold beverage is output, the syrup and water supply device (not shown) in the syrup tank 3 is supplied to the cup C supplied from a cup supply device (not shown). Water) is supplied. When syrup and drinking water are supplied to the cup C, the stirring blade 6a of the stirring device 6 is rotated in the cup C, and the syrup and drinking water are mixed and stirred to form a mixed solution. Thereafter, when the ice from the ice making machine 1 is supplied to the cup C and the stirring blade 6a is rotated again, the liquid mixture and ice are mixed and stirred in the cup C to produce a cold beverage containing ice. (Not shown) to the buyer.
[0005]
In the cup-type beverage vending machine shown in FIG. 11, instead of the above-described mixed liquid, a mixed liquid of powder raw material from the canister 4 and hot water from the hot water tank 2 or a coffee beverage cooking device 5 is used. Using the extracted coffee beverage, an iced cold beverage is produced in the same manner as described above.
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-6253
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, recently, due to diversification of tastes for beverages, for example, sherbet-like frozen beverages have come to be favored as cold beverages with a good taste and a refreshing feeling. In order to manufacture this frozen beverage, it is required to mix fine ice (for example, ice having a size of approximately rice grains) and beverage (for example, the above-described mixed liquid).
[0008]
However, in the conventional cup-type beverage vending machine described above, the ice produced by the ice making machine 1 is put into the cup C as it is. Since this ice is intended to cool the cold beverage as long as possible, it has a size of approximately 10 mm square, for example. That is, in the configuration of the conventional cup-type beverage vending machine, there is no fine ice for producing the frozen beverage, and the frozen beverage cannot be produced.
[0009]
In order to obtain fine ice for producing frozen beverages, for example, it is conceivable to include an ice processing means for pulverizing ice produced by the ice making machine 1 to produce fine ice. However, the ice supplied from the ice making machine 1 to the ice processing means and the fine ice obtained from the ice are not equal to each other, and the amount of fine ice is smaller than the amount of ice. For this reason, even if the same amount of ice as the desired amount of fine ice is supplied to the ice processing means, the desired amount of fine ice cannot be obtained, so it is difficult to make the amount and taste of the frozen beverage constant.
[0010]
In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a cup-type beverage vending machine that can always reproduce the amount and taste of a frozen beverage by obtaining a desired amount of fine ice.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a cup type beverage vending machine according to claim 1 of the present invention is an ice processing means for crushing stored ice to make fine ice, and supplying ice to the ice processing means. A supply amount of ice to the ice processing means obtained from an elapsed time after the stop of the ice processing means, the amount of ice reduction not obtained as fine ice from the ice supplied to the ice processing means It is characterized by adjusting.
[0012]
A cup-type beverage vending machine according to claim 2 of the present invention is the cup-type beverage vending machine according to claim 1, further comprising drying means for drying the ice processing means, and is obtained as fine ice from the ice supplied to the ice processing means. The amount of ice that is not lost is acquired from the elapsed time after the stop of the ice processing means accompanying the operation of the drying means, and the amount of ice supplied to the ice processing means is adjusted.
[0013]
The cup-type beverage vending machine according to claim 3 of the present invention comprises ice processing means for pulverizing stored ice to make fine ice, and ice supply means for supplying ice to the ice processing means, Adjusting the amount of ice supplied to the ice processing means by obtaining an ice reduction amount that cannot be obtained as fine ice from the ice supplied to the ice processing means by comparison with an ice amount supplied to the ice processing means; Features.
[0014]
The cup-type beverage vending machine according to claim 4 of the present invention comprises ice processing means for pulverizing stored ice to make fine ice, and ice supply means for supplying ice to the ice processing means, The ice reduction amount that cannot be obtained as fine ice from the ice supplied to the ice processing means is acquired from the drive time of the ice processing means, and the amount of ice supplied to the ice processing means is adjusted.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of a cup-type beverage vending machine according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a cup-type beverage vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0016]
As shown in FIG. 1, the cup-type beverage vending machine includes a cup transport device 10, a water reservoir 20, a hot water tank 40, a coffee beverage cooking device 50, an ice maker 60, an ice sorting device 70, and ice processing as an ice processing means. The apparatus 80, the syrup tank 90, the canister 100, the stirring apparatus 110, and the drainage container 120 are provided.
[0017]
The cup transport device 10 transports the cup C supplied by a cup supply device (not shown). As a position which conveys the cup C, there are a cooking position for cooking a beverage (a position of the cup C illustrated in FIG. 1) and a sales position leading to a sales outlet (not shown). In addition, the position where the cup conveying device 10 conveys the cup C includes a receiving position for receiving various raw materials. In addition, the drain port 11 for drainage is provided in the cooking position.
[0018]
The water reservoir 20 stores water supplied from the water supply via the water supply valve 21. A water supply pipe 22 and an ice making water pipe 23 are connected to the water reservoir 20.
[0019]
The water supply pipe 22 is provided with a three-way valve 24 at the tip extending from the water reservoir 20. A water pipe 25 is connected to one side of the three-way valve 24, and a hot water tank water pipe 26 is connected to the other side. In this way, the water supply pipe 22 is branched and connected to the water pipe 25 and the hot water tank water pipe 26.
[0020]
The three-way valve 24 can be individually opened and closed with respect to the water pipe 25 or the hot water tank water pipe 26, and is normally kept closed with respect to each. The three-way valve 24 is opened as necessary, and connects the water supply pipe 22 and the water pipe 25 or connects the water supply pipe 22 and the hot water tank water pipe 26. The water pipe 25 is disposed so that its tip faces the cup C at the cooking position. That is, when the three-way valve 24 is opened and the water supply pipe 22 and the water pipe 25 are connected, the water in the water reservoir 20 is supplied to the cup C at the cooking position. The hot water tank water pipe 26 is connected to the hot water tank 40. That is, when the three-way valve 24 is opened and the water supply pipe 22 and the hot water tank water pipe 26 are connected, the water in the water reservoir 20 is supplied to the hot water tank 40.
[0021]
The ice making water pipe 23 is connected to the ice making machine 60. That is, the water in the water reservoir 20 is supplied to the ice making machine 60.
[0022]
The hot water tank 40 incorporates a heater 40a and heats and stores the water supplied by the hot water tank water pipe 26. In the hot water tank 40, the heater 40a is driven to keep the temperature of the hot water (heated water or hot water) at 93 to 97 ° C., for example. A hot water pipe 41 and a coffee cooking hot water pipe 42 are connected to the hot water tank 40.
[0023]
The hot water pipe 41 is arranged so that the tip of the hot water pipe 41 faces the cup C at the cooking position. In the middle of the hot water pipe 41, a hot water valve 41a for opening and closing the flow path of the hot water pipe 41 is provided. That is, when the hot water valve 41a is in the open state, hot water in the hot water tank 40 is supplied to the cup C at the cooking position, and when the hot water valve 41a is in the closed state, supply of hot water through the hot water piping 41 is stopped. The hot water piping 42 for coffee cooking is connected to the coffee beverage cooking device 50. A hot water valve 42 a that opens and closes the flow path of the hot water piping 42 for coffee cooking is provided in the middle of the hot water piping 42 for coffee cooking. That is, the hot water in the hot water tank 40 is supplied to the coffee beverage cooking device 50 when the hot water valve 42a is open, and the hot water supply by the hot water piping 42 for coffee cooking is stopped when the hot water valve 42a is closed.
[0024]
The coffee beverage cooking device 50 extracts the coffee beverage using the ground coffee beans and the hot water supplied by the hot water piping 42 for coffee cooking. A coffee pipe 51 is connected to the coffee beverage cooking device 50. The coffee pipe 51 is arranged so that its tip faces the cup C at the cooking position. That is, the coffee beverage extracted by the coffee beverage cooking device 50 is supplied to the cup C at the cooking position.
[0025]
The ice making machine 60 produces and stores ice using the water supplied from the water reservoir 20 through the ice making water pipe 23 described above. This ice has a preset size, and is manufactured to be approximately 10 mm square, for example. Hereinafter, the ice produced by the ice making machine 60 is called ice cube. The ice making machine 60 has an ice discharge port 61 as an ice supply means configured to be openable and closable. The ice discharge port 61 is connected to the ice sorting device 70. When the ice discharge port 61 is in the open state, the ice cubes are supplied to the ice sorting device 70, and when the ice discharge port 61 is in the closed state, the supply of ice cubes is stopped.
[0026]
The ice sorting device 70 incorporates an ice sorting mechanism 71 that can move between an ice piping posture (illustrated by a broken line in FIG. 1) and an ice processing device posture (illustrated by a solid line in FIG. 1). The ice sorting device 70 forms one or the other passage according to each posture of the ice sorting mechanism 71. One passage is connected to the ice pipe 72, and the other passage is connected to the ice processing device 80. The ice pipe 72 is arranged so that the tip thereof faces the cup C at the cooking position. The ice sorting device 70 opens one passage when the ice sorting mechanism 71 is in the ice piping posture, and supplies ice cubes from the ice making machine 60 to the cup C at the cooking position via the ice piping 72. . In addition, the ice sorting device 70 supplies the ice cubes from the ice making machine 60 to the ice processing device 80 when the ice sorting mechanism 71 is in the ice processing device posture and the other passage is opened. As described above, the ice sorting device 70 selectively sorts and supplies the ice from the ice making machine 60 to the ice pipe 72 (cup C at the cooking position) or the ice processing device 80.
[0027]
The ice processing device 80 pulverizes the ice supplied by the ice sorting device 70 to produce, for example, small ice so as to be approximately the size of a rice grain, and further supplies this ice to the cup C at the cooking position. Hereinafter, the ice produced by the ice processing apparatus 80 is referred to as fine ice. The ice processing apparatus 80 includes an ice processing unit 81 and a shooter 82.
[0028]
The ice processing unit 81 has an ice inlet 81b on the upper surface of a substantially mortar-shaped container 81a. A rotary blade 81c is provided inside the container 81a. A plurality of rotating blades 81c are provided (three in this embodiment) with respect to the rotating shaft provided at the bottom of the mortar shape of the container 81a, and the mortar-shaped inner peripheral surface of the container 81a is centered on the rotating shaft. It can be rotated along. The rotating blade 81c rotates by driving a motor 81d as an ice processing driving unit provided outside the container 81a. Further, a thin ice discharge port (not shown) and a cutting blade (not shown) provided at the position of the fine ice discharge port are provided on a part of the mortar-shaped peripheral surface of the container 81a. Furthermore, a drain port 81e is provided at the bottom of the mortar shape of the container 81a. In the ice processing unit 81, ice cubes manufactured by the ice making machine 60 are put into the container 81a through the ice throwing port 81b via the ice sorting mechanism 71. Thereafter, when the rotating blade 81c rotates by driving the motor 81d, the ice cubes are pressed against the mortar-shaped inner peripheral surface of the container 81a by the rotating blade 81c. As a result, the square ice is crushed by the sharpening blade at the position of the fine ice discharge port to become fine ice (for example, ice having a size of approximately rice grains) and discharged from the fine ice discharge port to the outside of the container.
[0029]
The shooter 82 is provided outside the container 81a and connected to the fine ice outlet. The shooter 82 has a cylindrical body with a substantially rectangular cross section. The mouth of the tip of the shooter 82 faces the opening of the cup C in the cooking position.
[0030]
The ice processing device 80 is provided with a drying means 84. The drying means 84 is composed of, for example, a blower fan. The drying means 84 sends wind from the ice inlet 81 b of the ice processing unit 81. The wind from the drying means 84 passes through the inside of the container 81 a and passes through the shooter 82. In this manner, by blowing air into the container 81a, the drying in the container 81a is promoted, so that the state in which the container 81a and the shooter 82 are exposed to water can be reduced, and a hygienic state can be maintained. become.
[0031]
The syrup tank 90 stores syrup. A syrup pipe 91 is connected to the syrup tank 90. The syrup pipe 91 is arranged so that the tip thereof faces the cup C at the cooking position. In the middle of the syrup pipe 91, there is a syrup valve 91a for opening and closing the flow path of the syrup pipe 91. That is, when the syrup valve 91a is in the open state, the syrup in the syrup tank 90 is supplied to the cup C in the cooking position, and when the syrup valve 91a is in the closed state, the supply of syrup through the syrup pipe 91 is stopped. Note that three syrup tanks 90 in the present embodiment are shown in FIG. 1, and each stored syrup can be supplied to the cup C through each syrup pipe 91.
[0032]
The canister 100 stores, for example, sugar, cream, instant coffee and cocoa as powder raw materials. The canister 100 feeds the stored powder raw material to the cup C at the receiving position. Note that three canisters 100 in the present embodiment are shown in FIG. 1, and each stored powder raw material is quantitatively supplied to the cup C.
[0033]
The stirring device 110 includes a stirring blade 111 configured to be movable back and forth with respect to the cup C in the cooking position and to be rotatable around an axis. When the stirring blade 111 is rotated, the stirring device 110 lowers the stirring blade 111 and places it in the cup C. In other cases, the stirring blade 111 is lifted and held at a position where the stirring blade 111 exits the cup C. To do.
[0034]
The drainage container 120 stores drainage. The drainage container 120 is connected to an ice processing drainage pipe 121 and a cooking drainage pipe 122. The ice processing drain pipe 121 is connected to the drain port 81e of the ice processing unit 81 described above, and sends the water in the container 81a of the ice processing unit 81 to the drain container 120. The cooking drain pipe 122 is connected to the drain port 11 provided in the above-described transport path (for example, cooking position) of the cup C, and sends water on the transport path to the drainage container 120.
[0035]
In the cup-type beverage vending machine configured as described above, an operation for producing, for example, a sherbet-like frozen beverage as a cold beverage having a good mouthfeel and a refreshing feeling will be described in detail below.
[0036]
For example, when a sales button (not shown) is operated by the purchaser and a frozen drink sales command is sent, the cup transport device 10 cooks the cup C supplied by the cup supply means (not shown). Transport to position.
[0037]
When the cup transport device 10 transports the cup C to the cooking position, the syrup valve 91a is temporarily opened to discharge and supply a predetermined amount of syrup to the cup C.
[0038]
During this time, the ice discharge port 61 of the ice making machine 60 is temporarily opened, and a predetermined amount of ice cubes is supplied to the ice sorting device 70 through the ice discharge port 61. At this time, the ice sorting device 70 holds the ice sorting mechanism 71 in the ice processing device posture, and supplies the ice cubes from the ice making machine 60 to the ice processing unit 81.
[0039]
When ice cubes from the ice making machine 60 are supplied to the ice processing unit 81 by the ice sorting device 70, the ice processing device 80 drives the motor 81d of the ice processing unit 81 to operate the rotating blades 81c, thereby operating the ice cubes. Is crushed into fine ice and supplied to the cup C in the cooking position through the shooter 82.
[0040]
When the fine ice is supplied to the cup C by the ice processing device 80, the stirring device 110 lowers the stirring blade 111 and places it in the cup C, and rotates the stirring blade 111 in the cup C. That is, stirring is performed with the stirring blade 111 while supplying fine ice to the syrup previously supplied into the cup C. As a result, syrup and fine ice are mixed and stirred in the cup C to produce a frozen beverage.
[0041]
When the production of the frozen beverage is completed in this way, the stirring device 110 raises the stirring blade 111 and holds it at a position where it comes out of the cup C. Thereafter, the cup C is transported to the sales position by the cup transport device 10. And the cup C by which the frozen drink was cooked is delivered to a purchaser from a sales outlet (not shown).
[0042]
Thus, according to the cup type beverage vending machine of the present embodiment, the ice processing unit 81 that crushes the ice cube from the ice making machine 60 is provided, and the fine ice crushed by the ice processing unit 81 is put into the cup C. Since the beverage is manufactured by supplying, a cold beverage (frozen beverage) having a good mouthfeel and a refreshing feeling can be manufactured regardless of the size of the ice cubes manufactured by the ice making machine 60.
[0043]
In addition, the frozen drink which can be manufactured in the cup-type drink vending machine mentioned above is not limited to the thing using syrup. For example, a frozen beverage can be produced from a mixture using a powdered raw material of the canister 100 and hot water in the hot water tank 40 or a coffee beverage extracted by the coffee beverage cooking device 50. Hereinafter, the syrup, the mixed solution, and the coffee beverage for producing a frozen beverage are referred to as a raw material liquid.
[0044]
Further, the cup-type beverage vending machine according to the present embodiment includes the ice sorting device 70 that can selectively supply the ice from the ice making machine 60 to the ice processing device 80 and the ice pipe 72. Cold drinks with ice cubes can be produced in the same way as those. In this case, if the ice from the ice maker 60 is distributed and supplied to the ice pipe 72 by the ice distributing device 70, the ice from the ice maker 60 is supplied to the cup C as it is through the ice pipe 72.
[0045]
By the way, in the above-described cup-type beverage vending machine, the amount of ice cubes discharged from the ice outlet 61 and supplied to the ice processing unit 81 and the fine ice obtained from the ice cubes are not equal to each other. The amount of fine ice is less than the amount of ice cubes. As this factor, it is conceivable that ice cubes and fine ice melt in the process of making fine ice in the ice processing unit 81. For this reason, since the desired amount of fine ice for cooking frozen beverages cannot be obtained, the amount and taste of frozen beverages are not constant.
[0046]
Therefore, in the cup type beverage vending machine in the present embodiment, the amount of ice cubes supplied to the ice processing device 80 is controlled. In addition, as control of the amount of ice cubes supplied to the ice processing apparatus 80, there exist three forms, 1st form-3rd form.
[0047]
First, the first form of control of the amount of ice cubes will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the control means in the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the ice discharge driving unit 62, the ice sorting driving unit 73, the ice processing driving unit 83, the drying driving unit 85, the ice supply amount detecting unit 131, and the time measuring unit 132 are connected to the control unit 130. is there.
[0048]
The ice discharge driving unit 62 opens and closes the ice discharge port 61 according to a control command sent from the control means 130. The ice sorting drive unit 73 switches the attitude of the ice sorting mechanism 71 according to the control command sent from the control means 130. The ice processing drive unit 83 drives the motor 81d of the ice processing unit 81 according to the control command sent from the control means 130 to rotate the rotary blade 81c. The drying drive unit 85 drives the drying unit 84 according to a control command sent from the control unit 130.
[0049]
The ice supply amount detection means 131 detects the ice cubes supplied to the ice processing device 80 in order to obtain the ice cube amount supplied to the ice processing device 80. The ice supply amount detecting means 131 is provided with, for example, a light sensor composed of a light projecting element and a light receiving element at the ice outlet 61. In the ice supply amount detection means 131, the passage of ice cubes is detected by the optical sensor, and this detection signal is output to the control means 130. As described above, ice cubes are manufactured in a preset size (for example, approximately 10 mm square). Further, the amount of one 10 mm square ice cube is considered to be equivalent to 1 g. For this reason, the control means 130 counts the number of ice cubes from the total time (voltage change time) for blocking the optical sensor based on the detection signal from the ice supply amount detection means 131 and supplies it to the ice processing device 80. Get ice cubes.
[0050]
The time measuring means 132 measures the elapsed time from when the motor 81d of the ice processing unit 81 in the ice processing apparatus 80 is stopped and the fine ice has been crushed until the motor 81d is driven again. That is, the time measuring means 132 measures the elapsed time from when the frozen beverage is cooked to when the next frozen beverage is cooked, and after the ice processing unit 81 is stopped. Then, the time measuring unit 132 outputs elapsed time data to the control unit 131.
[0051]
Further, the control means 130 stores data such as a desired amount of fine ice according to the size of the various cups C, the amount of fine ice produced according to the driving time of the motor 81d, and the amount of supplemented ice cube according to the elapsed time. Is stored in advance.
[0052]
The replenishment ice cube amount corresponding to the elapsed time is caused by the degree of drying in the container 81a after the drive of the ice processing unit 81 is stopped. As shown in FIG. 3 (a), immediately after cooking of the frozen beverage, the inside of the container 81a is exposed to water melted from ice, so that when the next frozen beverage is cooked, There is little decrease in ice melting. In addition, since the water in the container 81a is retreated and dried with the passage of time after the cooking of the frozen beverage is finished, the ice is not produced when the next frozen beverage is cooked until the degree of drying increases to some extent. The amount of melting ice will gradually increase. That is, the replenishment ice cube amount according to the elapsed time is an ice reduction amount that cannot be obtained as thin ice from the ice cube supplied to the ice processing unit 81. The control means 130 stores a table of ice reduction amount (replenishment ice cube amount) corresponding to the elapsed time shown in FIG.
[0053]
The operation of supplying ice cubes to the ice processing device 80 under the control of the control means 130 will be described below. FIG. 4 is a flowchart according to the ice cube supply operation in the first embodiment.
[0054]
In the control means 130, for example, when a purchase button is operated by a purchaser to send a frozen drink sales command, a desired amount of fine ice according to the size of the cup C used, And the elapsed time is acquired in advance.
[0055]
First, the ice reduction amount (replenishment ice cube amount) corresponding to the elapsed time is drawn from the table (step S1). Next, the sum of the set ice cube amount and the ice reduction amount (replenishment ice cube amount) equal to the desired fine ice amount is obtained as the ice cube supply amount (step S2). Next, the ice cube supply amount is supplied to the container 81a (step S3). Finally, the ice processing unit 81 is driven to make fine ice and supply it to the cup C (step S4), and this control is finished.
[0056]
As described above, in the cup type beverage vending machine that controls the amount of ice cubes in the first embodiment, the ice reduction amount that cannot be obtained as fine ice from the ice cubes supplied to the ice processing device 80 is reduced. Acquired from the elapsed time after the stop. The ice reduction amount (replenishment ice cube amount) is adjusted in addition to the set ice cube amount equal to the desired fine ice amount, and supplied to the ice processing device 80 as the ice cube supply amount. As a result, the ice cubes with the corrected amount of ice reduction are supplied and the desired amount of fine ice is obtained, so that the amount and taste of the frozen beverage can always be reproduced.
[0057]
In the control of the amount of ice cubes in the first embodiment, the drying means 84 is driven after cooking of the frozen beverage is finished or continuously regardless of the cooking of the frozen beverage. By driving the drying means 84 to dry the inside of the container 81a, the degree of drying can be accurately grasped, and the relationship between the elapsed time and the amount of ice reduction can be held as more accurate data. The table of FIG. 3B is an example when the drying means 84 is driven.
[0058]
Next, a second mode of controlling the ice cube amount will be described. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the control means in the second embodiment. In the second embodiment of the control of ice cube amount described below, the same components as those in the first embodiment of ice cube control described above are denoted by the same reference numerals.
[0059]
As shown in FIG. 5, an ice discharge driving unit 62, an ice sorting driving unit 73, an ice processing driving unit 83, and an ice supply amount detection unit 131 are connected to the control unit 130.
[0060]
The ice discharge driving unit 62 opens and closes the ice discharge port 61 according to a control command sent from the control means 130. The ice sorting drive unit 73 switches the attitude of the ice sorting mechanism 71 according to the control command sent from the control means 130. The ice processing drive unit 83 drives the motor 81d of the ice processing unit 81 according to the control command sent from the control means 130 to rotate the rotary blade 81c.
[0061]
The ice supply amount detection means 131 detects the ice cubes supplied to the ice processing device 80 in order to obtain the ice cube amount supplied to the ice processing device 80. The ice supply amount detecting means 131 is provided with, for example, a light sensor composed of a light projecting element and a light receiving element at the ice outlet 61. In the ice supply amount detection means 131, the passage of ice cubes is detected by the optical sensor, and this detection signal is output to the control means 130. As described above, ice cubes are manufactured in a preset size (for example, approximately 10 mm square). Further, the amount of one 10 mm square ice cube is considered to be equivalent to 1 g. For this reason, the control means 130 counts the number of ice cubes from the total time (voltage change time) for blocking the optical sensor based on the detection signal from the ice supply amount detection means 131 and supplies it to the ice processing device 80. Get ice cubes.
[0062]
In addition, the control means 130 is responsive to a desired amount of fine ice according to the size of the various cups C, the amount of fine ice produced according to the driving time of the motor 81d, and the amount of ice cubes supplied to the ice processing device 80. Data such as the amount of supplemental ice cubes is stored in advance.
[0063]
The replenishment ice cube amount is an ice reduction amount that cannot be obtained as fine ice from the ice cube supplied to the ice processing device 80. As shown in FIG. 6, the ice reduction amount (replenishment ice cube amount) increases in proportion to the ice cube amount supplied to the ice processing device 80 and processed. The control means 130 stores a table of ice reduction amount (replenishment ice cube amount) corresponding to the ice cube amount supplied to the ice processing device 80.
[0064]
The operation of supplying ice cubes to the ice processing device 80 under the control of the control means 130 will be described below. FIG. 7 is a flowchart according to the ice cube supply operation in the second embodiment.
[0065]
In the control means 130, for example, when a purchase button is operated by a purchaser to send a frozen drink sales command, a desired amount of fine ice according to the size of the cup C to be used is set. Obtain in advance.
[0066]
First, the ice reduction amount (replenishment ice cube amount) corresponding to the ice cube amount supplied to the ice processing device 80 is drawn from the table (step S11). Next, the sum of the set ice cube amount and the ice reduction amount (replenishment ice cube amount) equal to the desired fine ice amount is obtained as the ice cube supply amount (step S12). Next, the ice cube supply amount is supplied to the container 81a (step S13). Finally, the ice processing unit 81 is driven to make fine ice and supply it to the cup C (step S14), and this control is finished.
[0067]
As described above, in the cup-type beverage vending machine that controls the amount of ice cubes in the second embodiment, the ice processing device 80 supplies the ice reduction amount that cannot be obtained as fine ice from the ice cubes supplied to the ice processing device 80. It is obtained by comparing with the amount of ice cubes to be supplied and processed. The ice reduction amount (replenishment ice cube amount) is adjusted in addition to the set ice cube amount equal to the desired fine ice amount, and supplied to the ice processing device 80 as the ice cube supply amount. As a result, the ice cubes with the corrected amount of ice reduction are supplied and the desired amount of fine ice is obtained, so that the amount and taste of the frozen beverage can always be reproduced. In particular, this control is effective when the amount of ice cubes supplied to the ice processing device 80 changes as the desired amount of fine ice changes depending on the size of the cup C. The amount and taste can always be reproduced.
[0068]
Next, a third mode of controlling the ice cube amount will be described. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the control means in the third embodiment. In the third embodiment of ice cube amount control described below, the same components as those in the above-described first embodiment of ice cube amount control are denoted by the same reference numerals.
[0069]
As shown in FIG. 8, an ice discharge driving unit 62, an ice sorting driving unit 73, an ice processing driving unit 83, an ice supply amount detecting unit 131 and a time measuring unit 133 are connected to the control unit 130.
[0070]
The ice discharge driving unit 62 opens and closes the ice discharge port 61 according to a control command sent from the control means 130. The ice sorting drive unit 73 switches the attitude of the ice sorting mechanism 71 according to the control command sent from the control means 130. The ice processing drive unit 83 drives the motor 81d of the ice processing unit 81 according to the control command sent from the control means 130 to rotate the rotary blade 81c.
[0071]
The ice supply amount detection means 131 detects the ice cubes supplied to the ice processing device 80 in order to obtain the ice cube amount supplied to the ice processing device 80. The ice supply amount detecting means 131 is provided with, for example, a light sensor composed of a light projecting element and a light receiving element at the ice outlet 61. In the ice supply amount detection means 131, the passage of ice cubes is detected by the optical sensor, and this detection signal is output to the control means 130. As described above, ice cubes are manufactured in a preset size (for example, approximately 10 mm square). Further, the amount of one 10 mm square ice cube is considered to be equivalent to 1 g. For this reason, the control means 130 counts the number of ice cubes from the total time (voltage change time) for blocking the optical sensor based on the detection signal from the ice supply amount detection means 131 and supplies it to the ice processing device 80. Get ice cubes.
[0072]
The time measuring means 133 is a driving time of the motor 81d of the ice processing unit 81 in the ice processing device 80, and measures the processing time of the fine ice. Then, the time measuring means 133 outputs the driving time data to the control means 131.
[0073]
The control means 130 also includes a desired amount of fine ice according to the size of each cup C, the amount of fine ice produced according to the driving time of the motor 81d, and a replenishment angle according to the driving time of the ice processing device 80. Data such as the amount of ice is stored in advance.
[0074]
The replenishment ice cube amount is an ice reduction amount that cannot be obtained as fine ice from the ice cube supplied to the ice processing device 80. As shown in FIG. 9, the ice reduction amount (replenishment ice cube amount) changes according to the drive time of the ice processing device 80. In this case, the amount of ice reduction increases until a certain driving time, but since the inside of the container 81a is cooled with ice and exposed to water, the increase in the ice reduction amount subsides. The control means 130 stores a table of ice reduction amount (replenishment ice cube amount) corresponding to the driving time of the ice processing device 80.
[0075]
The operation of supplying ice cubes to the ice processing device 80 under the control of the control means 130 will be described below. FIG. 10 is a flowchart according to the ice cube supply operation in the third embodiment.
[0076]
In the control means 130, for example, when a purchase button is operated by a purchaser to send a frozen drink sales command, a desired amount of fine ice according to the size of the cup C to be used is set. Obtain in advance.
[0077]
First, the ice reduction amount (replenishment ice cube amount) corresponding to the drive time of the ice processing device 80 is extracted from the table (step S21). Next, the sum of the set ice cube amount and the ice reduction amount (replenishment ice cube amount) equal to the desired fine ice amount is obtained as the ice cube supply amount (step S22). Next, the ice cube supply amount is supplied to the container 81a (step S23). Finally, the ice processing unit 81 is driven to make fine ice and supply it to the cup C (step S24), and this control is finished.
[0078]
As described above, in the cup type beverage vending machine that controls the amount of ice cubes in the third embodiment, the ice reduction amount that cannot be obtained as fine ice from the ice cubes supplied to the ice processing device 80 is reduced. It is obtained from the driving time (processing time of fine ice). The ice reduction amount (replenishment ice cube amount) is adjusted in addition to the set ice cube amount equal to the desired fine ice amount, and supplied to the ice processing device 80 as the ice cube supply amount. As a result, the ice cubes with the corrected amount of ice reduction are supplied and the desired amount of fine ice is obtained, so that the amount and taste of the frozen beverage can always be reproduced.
[0079]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the cup type beverage vending machine according to claim 1 of the present invention, the amount of ice reduction that cannot be obtained as fine ice from the ice supplied to the ice processing means is indicated after the stop of the ice processing means. Adjust the amount of ice supplied to the ice processing means, acquired from the time. Thereby, since the ice with the reduced amount of ice is supplied to the ice processing means to obtain a desired amount of fine ice, the amount and taste of the frozen beverage can always be reproduced.
[0080]
According to the cup-type beverage vending machine according to claim 2 of the present invention, the amount of ice reduction that cannot be obtained as fine ice from the ice supplied to the ice processing means is measured after the ice processing means is stopped along with the operation of the drying means. Obtained from the time, the supply amount of ice to the ice processing means is adjusted. As a result, the degree of drying of the ice processing means can be accurately grasped, and the relationship between the elapsed time and the amount of ice reduction can be held as more accurate data.
[0081]
According to the cup type beverage vending machine according to claim 3 of the present invention, the ice reduction amount that cannot be obtained as fine ice from the ice supplied to the ice processing means is obtained by comparison with the ice amount supplied to the ice processing means. Adjust the amount of ice supplied to the ice processing means. Thereby, since the ice with the reduced amount of ice is supplied to the ice processing means to obtain a desired amount of fine ice, the amount and taste of the frozen beverage can always be reproduced. In particular, this adjustment is effective when the amount of ice supplied to the ice processing means changes as the desired amount of fine ice changes depending on the size of the cup. The taste can always be reproduced.
[0082]
According to the cup type beverage vending machine according to claim 4 of the present invention, the ice reduction amount that cannot be obtained as fine ice from the ice supplied to the ice processing means is obtained from the driving time of the ice processing means and is sent to the ice processing means. Adjust the ice supply. Thereby, since the ice with the reduced amount of ice is supplied to the ice processing means to obtain a desired amount of fine ice, the amount and taste of the frozen beverage can always be reproduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a cup-type beverage vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing control means in the first embodiment.
FIG. 3A is a diagram showing a relationship between elapsed time and ice reduction amount, and FIG. 3B is a diagram showing a table of ice reduction amounts corresponding to elapsed time.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart according to the ice cube supply operation in the first embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing control means in a second embodiment.
FIG. 6 shows the relationship between the amount of ice cubes supplied to the ice processing device and the amount of ice reduction.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart according to the ice cube supply operation in the second embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing control means in a third embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the relationship between the drive time of the ice processing device and the amount of ice reduction.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart according to the ice cube supply operation in the third embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional cup-type beverage vending machine.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Cup conveyor
11 Drain outlet
20 water reservoir
21 Water supply valve
22 Water supply piping
23 Water pipe for ice making
24 3-way valve
25 Water piping
26 Water piping for hot water tank
40 hot water tank
40a heater
41 Hot water piping
41a hot water valve
42 Hot water piping for coffee cooking
42a hot water valve
45 Valve drive
50 Coffee drink cooking device
51 Coffee piping
60 ice machine
61 Ice outlet
62 Ice discharge drive
70 Ice sorting device
71 Ice distribution mechanism
72 Ice piping
73 Ice distribution drive unit
80 Ice processing equipment (ice processing means)
81 Ice processing department
81a container
81b Ice slot
81c Rotary blade
81d motor
81e Drain port
82 Shuta
83 Ice processing drive
84 Drying means
85 Drying drive
90 syrup tank
91 Syrup piping
91a syrup valve
100 canister
110 Stirrer
111 stirring blade
120 Drainage container
121 Ice processing drainage piping
122 Cooking drainage pipe
130 Control means
131 Ice supply detection means
132,133 Timekeeping means
C cup

Claims (4)

Ice processing means for crushing the contained ice to make fine ice;
Ice supply means for supplying ice to the ice processing means;
An ice reduction amount that cannot be obtained as fine ice from the ice supplied to the ice processing means is acquired from an elapsed time after the ice processing means is stopped, and the amount of ice supplied to the ice processing means is adjusted. A cup-type beverage vending machine characterized by A drying means for drying the ice processing means is provided, and an ice reduction amount that cannot be obtained as fine ice from the ice supplied to the ice processing means is obtained from an elapsed time after the ice processing means is stopped due to operation of the drying means. The cup-type beverage vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the supply amount of ice to the ice processing means is adjusted. Ice processing means for crushing the contained ice to make fine ice;
Ice supply means for supplying ice to the ice processing means;
The ice reduction amount that cannot be obtained as fine ice from the ice supplied to the ice processing means is obtained by comparison with the ice amount supplied to the ice processing means, and the amount of ice supplied to the ice processing means is adjusted A cup-type beverage vending machine. Ice processing means for crushing the contained ice to make fine ice;
Ice supply means for supplying ice to the ice processing means;
An ice reduction amount that cannot be obtained as fine ice from the ice supplied to the ice processing means is obtained from the drive time of the ice processing means, and the amount of ice supplied to the ice processing means is adjusted. A cup-type beverage vending machine.

Images