JP4031242B2 - Beverage dispensing device remote monitoring system and beverage dispensing device enabling remote monitoring - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a monitoring system for a beverage supply device such as a draft beer server by remote monitoring, a system for attaching various sensors to the beverage supply device, and remotely monitoring the beverage supply device based on information from the sensor, and a beverage used for the system It relates to a supply device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
When selling alcoholic beverages such as beer, sparkling liquor, soft drinks, etc. at restaurants, etc., beverage supply devices (hereinafter referred to as `` Jug '' etc.) "Beverage server"). What is important in such a beverage server is a machine that directly handles food, so it is necessary to strictly carry out daily maintenance inspections and always manage them in an appropriate operating state. Previous server maintenance inspections are performed by the server user for daily maintenance inspections such as cleaning of beer distribution channels, etc., and specialized maintenance inspections or failures are requested by the server user. Server maintenance specialists were to respond.
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, it is difficult to efficiently deal with the above-described maintenance inspection system. In other words, if a sudden failure is monitored by a person with daily expertise, it may be possible to cope with the failure before the failure from the signs that appear before the failure occurs. In addition, depending on the type of failure or malfunction, an appropriate instruction can be transmitted to the user and the solution can be easily solved without having to go to the site. Therefore, in order for the server to be managed in an appropriate state at all times, it is necessary for a specialized maintenance company to grasp the detailed health status of the server on a daily basis. It must always be sticking, and it is virtually impossible.
[0003]
According to the present invention, even if a specialist who is to perform maintenance is away from the beverage server to be inspected and maintained, the health condition of the beverage server is remotely monitored, so that failure can be prevented and efficient maintenance and inspection can be performed. A beverage server monitoring system and a beverage server having the monitoring system are provided.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
One aspect of the present invention is that a variety of sensors for monitoring the operating status of a beverage server are attached to a beverage server installed in a restaurant, and information about the various sensors is separated using a communication line such as a telephone line. It is a system that monitors from the management department in.
[0005]
Another aspect of the present invention is a beverage server that enables remote monitoring, and separates various sensors for monitoring the operating status of the beverage server and information obtained from these various sensors from the installation position of the beverage server. A communication means for transmitting to the management center at the specified position via the communication means.
[0006]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Examples are given below to explain the present invention in more detail.
[Example]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a beer server monitoring system according to the present invention.
[0007]
The monitoring system includes a monitoring device 10 owned by a server maintenance specialist 1 for monitoring a beer server as a beverage supply device installed in each restaurant, a beer server 20 and beer installed in the restaurant 2. It is comprised by the communication line 5 which connects the portable terminal 40 which the worker 4 who performs the maintenance inspection of a server has, the monitoring apparatus 10, the beer server 20, and the portable terminal 40. The monitoring device 10 includes a computer server 11, a data storage device 12, a terminal device 13, and a communication circuit 14. A firewall 15 is installed between the communication circuit and the computer server 11, the data storage device 12, and the terminal device 13 to prevent unauthorized entry from outsiders.
[0008]
The computer server 11 includes an arithmetic processing unit (CPU) that performs information processing and a memory unit, and is a central device that controls the operation of the entire beer server monitoring system, and mainly performs the following operations.
(A) Regularly monitor the beer server at each store. Sensor information stored in the beer server is read via a communication line and stored in the data storage device 12 of the monitoring device 10.
(A) The failure information from the beer server 20 is received.
(C) By automatically determining failure information and information stored in the data storage device 12, an abnormality instruction is given to the beer server and displayed on the terminal device 13 of the monitoring device. The monitoring department looks at the displayed content and issues a business trip instruction to the restaurant through the portable terminal of the worker 4 as necessary. Moreover, the abnormality of a beer server is displayed on the display part of a beer server, and the response instruction to a restaurant is performed.
(E) By connecting the worker 4 to the mobile terminal via a telephone line, the worker can view the abnormality history of the beer server when he / she travels to the site.
[0009]
FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the beer server 20. The beer server 20 includes a control unit 21, a storage unit 22, an A / D converter unit 23, various measurement means 23 or sensors 24 for grasping the usage status of the beer server and the status of the beer server, a communication circuit 25, a GSP 26, a voice. An input unit 27, an operation switch unit 28, a display unit 29, an audio output unit 30, and a power supply circuit 31 are provided. As various measuring means or sensors (hereinafter simply referred to as “sensors”) 24 for grasping the usage status of the beer server and the status of the beer server, a dirt detection sensor, a flow meter, a gas pressure meter, a beer liquid type sensor, Input beer temperature, poured beer temperature, voltage drop meter, filter replacement sensor, leakage sensor, water level meter, water quality meter, and the like are used.
[0010]
In the beer server 20 having the above-described configuration, the control unit 21 grasps the management status such as the usage status of the beer server or the presence or absence of the abnormality of the beer server based on information from the various sensors 24, and appropriately determines the results. The data is output to the display unit 29 and the audio output unit 30.
[0011]
The voice input unit 27 and the operation switch unit 28 are used, for example, for setting a threshold when an abnormality occurrence alarm is issued by the output of various sensors.
[0012]
Example of monitoring of beer server Next, a specific example of abnormality detection for monitoring the beer server using various sensors of the beer server will be described.
[0013]
FIG. 3 shows examples of various sensors attached to the beer server. In addition, although the beer server 20 is provided with a control part, a communication circuit, etc. similarly to the beer server 20 shown in FIG. 2, those description is abbreviate | omitted here.
[0014]
The beer server 20 has a water tank 31 inside, and beer is poured into the water tank 31 by a pouring tap 33 through a coil tube 32 for cooling beer. A hose 36 from a beer barrel 35 is connected to the beer server 20, and beer is supplied to the coil tube 32. The via barrel 35 is pressurized to a predetermined pressure by a carbon dioxide gas cylinder 36. The beer supplied from the beer barrel 35 is cooled in the process of passing through the cooling coil 32, and the cooled beer is poured out from the pouring tap 33. Cooling means (not shown) is provided in the water tank 31 to produce ice 37 for cooling the water tank 31.
[0015]
The beer server 20 includes various sensors for monitoring the beer server. In s1, the outlet temperature of beer is monitored by a temperature sensor attached to the dispensing tap 33. s2 is a temperature sensor for measuring the water tank temperature. s3 is an ice making amount sensor for monitoring the amount of ice in the water tank. s4 is a sensor for measuring the inlet temperature of beer to the beer server. s5 is a flow meter for measuring the sales volume of beer. s6 is a position detector (PHS) that detects the installation position of the beer server. s7 is a voltmeter that measures the power supply voltage. s8 is a conductivity meter for detecting the type of liquid flowing through the coil tube in the beer server.
[0016]
Hereinafter, a specific example of monitoring a beer server using a sensor will be described.
[0017]
Case 1. Detection of anomalous ice making amount FIG. 4 explains the principle of the ice making amount sensor s3. As shown in the figure, the ice making amount sensor s3 is arranged in the water tank at an interval of about 10 mm. It has electrodes A, B, C, and D in which the length of the book is sequentially increased. The length of D is the longest. The amount of ice is detected by the presence or absence of current flowing through each electrode. When the electrode is in the ice, no current flows. When the electrode is exposed to the water tank, the current flows. When the position of the ice in which the currents flowing through the electrodes A, B, C, and D respectively do not reach the tip of the minimum ice amount electrode A, an “ice making amount underabnormality” occurs. When the position of the ice flowing through the electrodes B, C, and D is between the minimum ice amount and the maximum ice amount, the “appropriate ice amount” is obtained. When the maximum ice amount with the electrodes C and D exposed is exceeded, ice making is stopped. If ice making is continued due to some failure and the ice reaches an abnormal ice amount with only the electrode D exposed, an “abnormal ice making amount abnormality” occurs.
[0018]
Therefore, when the detection result by these electrodes is “abnormality of ice making amount” or “abnormality of ice making amount” occurs, the management department is automatically notified.
[0019]
As a result, the cooling capacity in the water tank can be properly maintained, and the beer flow path in the beer server can be prevented from being destroyed due to abnormal freezing of the cooling water.
[0020]
Case 2. Beer sales management The sales volume of beer can be grasped by measuring the flow rate of beer flowing through the beer server. The flow rate of beer is measured by the flow meter s5. At the same time, the liquid flowing through the flow path is beer, that is, the liquid type is also determined. The determination of the liquid type is performed based on the detection values of the conductivity meter s8 and the temperature sensor s4. The conductivity of beer or water varies depending on the temperature, and the relationship between the conductivity of the liquid flowing into the beer server and the liquid flowing into the beer server by grasping these relationships in advance for each type of liquid (beer type, water, etc.) The liquid type can be determined based on the temperature. However, since the change with respect to the temperature of water is small, temperature correction is not necessarily required. Therefore, it is possible to grasp the sales volume for each type of beer from these data.
[0021]
Case 3. Cleaning frequency management The beer server needs to be washed at an appropriate interval in order to keep the quality of the poured beer good according to the use situation. Washing is performed by passing wash water through the beer passage of the beer server. As described in the case 2, the type of liquid flowing in the beer server can be determined by the conductivity and the temperature sensor.
[0022]
Therefore, it is possible to determine that the flowing liquid is wash water based on the measured value of the conductivity meter s8 and the inlet temperature or the conductivity threshold value by the temperature sensor s4. Therefore, it is possible to know the frequency at which the washing water is flowed from these detection results, thereby monitoring the washing frequency of the beer server and managing the washing frequency of the beer server. Moreover, the management by the number of days interval in which the washing water flows may be used.
[0023]
Case 4. Management of position information of beer server The beer server 100 includes a position detection sensor s6. The position detection sensor of this embodiment uses the position information service of the mobile phone PHS, but it is also possible to use position detection by GPS using satellite communication.
[0024]
When the beer server is installed, the initial position information is transmitted to the management department by the position detection sensor s6. The management department can monitor whether or not the beer server has moved by periodically monitoring whether or not the position information has changed.
[0025]
It is also possible to estimate that the beer server has been moved by constantly monitoring the power supply voltage and detecting a decrease in power supply voltage over a long period of time.
[0026]
The above is an example of acquiring information regarding the use status or state of the beer server based on the sensor information. With this information, a display or alarm is displayed through the display unit of the beer server itself or the voice output unit (see FIG. 2). It becomes possible to output.
[0027]
As described with reference to FIG. 1, the beer server of the present embodiment can remotely monitor the beer server via communication means using information obtained from various sensors. Therefore, next, in the case 2 described above. 2. Sales management of beer; An example of monitoring the cleaning frequency management from a remote management department will be described more specifically.
[0028]
FIG. 5 shows the exchange of information between the beer server 20 installed in the restaurant and the monitoring device 10 of the monitoring department.
[0029]
As described above, the beer server 20 can measure the amount of liquid that has passed through the beer path using a flow meter, and can also use a conductivity meter and a temperature sensor to combine the liquid type (type of beer and Water). Therefore, the beer server 20 can record the type and amount of beer that has been distributed, that is, sold, and this is recorded over time in the storage unit 22 (see FIG. 2) of the beer server (record A in the figure). . Record A records the sales amount and sales date of beer A and beer B in a predetermined period, the amount of water flowing into the beer server, and the date.
[0030]
In the monitoring department 1, data stored in the beer server 20 is read through the telephone line 5 using the communication circuit 14 of the monitoring device 10 and stored in the data storage device 12 of the monitoring device 10. Data read from the beer server is accumulated for a certain period of time. For example, beer can be summarized as the monthly sales volume. Moreover, about water, it becomes possible to check whether the beer server was washed after beer sale by investigating whether it was poured on the same day as the day when beer was poured out. In the illustrated record A and record B, only the date of sale is shown, but the time can also be recorded, so that a more detailed usage history can be checked.
[0031]
In the example shown in the figure, it can be seen from record B that 2 to 3 L of water is always poured out when using beer, and it can be confirmed that water is being washed every day at the store where this beer server is installed. It can be confirmed that the maintenance of the beer server is good. If beer is sold but water is not used, it indicates that water washing has not been performed.
[0032]
When the monitoring department 1 determines that the water washing is not performed from the periodic reading data, the monitoring device 10 displays on the display unit 29 of the beer server, for example, It seems that it has not been done. Please wash with water after selling beer. "
In this case, the terminal device 13 of the monitoring device 10 is also notified that it has been displayed on the display unit 29 of the beer server.
[0033]
Further, if necessary, it is possible to notify the mobile terminal 40 (see FIG. 1) of an outside worker (worker) of a monitoring department in charge of such a restaurant through a communication line. The records recorded in the data storage device of the monitoring device 10 can be browsed by the terminal device 13 of the monitoring device, and the outside workers can also browse through the communication line.
[0034]
The example of remotely monitoring the beer circulation amount and the frequency of water washing through the beer server has been described above. In addition, monitoring of the ice making amount in the water tank for cooling the beer server, beer pouring temperature It is possible to monitor the operating status or operating status of the beer server by information from various sensors. As a result, the beer server can always be operated in an appropriate state, and the work burden for monitoring the beer server can be reduced.
[0035]
The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, but the present invention is not limited to such specific embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be made within the scope of the present invention described in the claims. It can be changed.
[0036]
【The invention's effect】
As is clear from the detailed description above,
The beer server of the present invention includes various sensors for grasping the operation status of the beer server, and by displaying information obtained from each sensor on the display device, the state of the beer server can be always grasped. .
[0037]
Moreover, according to the beer server monitoring system of the present invention, the operation status of the beer server can be monitored in a remote management department, and the work burden associated with the maintenance check of the beer server can be reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a beverage dispensing apparatus monitoring system.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a beverage dispensing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing specific examples of various sensors of the beer server.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an ice making amount sensor.
FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a sales management and water washing frequency monitoring method of a beer server.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Monitoring department 2 Drink shop 4 Worker 5 Communication line 10 Monitoring apparatus 20 Beer server 24 Sensor 40 Portable terminal

Claims (4)

It comprises a beverage dispensing device that cools and dispenses a supplied beverage, a monitoring device that monitors the operating status of the beverage dispensing device, and a communication means that connects the beverage dispensing device and the monitoring device. ,
The beverage dispensing device includes an operation measuring unit or sensor for monitoring an operating state of the beverage dispensing device, a control unit for processing operation information obtained by the measuring unit or sensor, and the monitoring device. A communication control unit for exchanging information via a communication means, and the monitoring device is a communication control unit for exchanging information via the communication means with the beverage dispensing device; A monitoring control unit that performs arithmetic processing on information obtained through the communication unit, and a display unit that displays processing information of the monitoring control unit to a monitor, and is obtained from the measurement unit or sensor of the beverage dispensing device. In the beverage dispensing device monitoring system for displaying information representing the operating status of the beverage dispensing device based on the information obtained,
The beverage dispensing device comprises a temperature sensor that measures the temperature of the liquid flowing into the beverage dispensing device, a conductivity meter that measures the conductivity of the liquid, and a flow meter that measures the inflow amount of the liquid ,
The monitoring device is dispensed by obtaining liquid type information and a dispensed amount of a beverage dispensed from the beverage dispensing device based on measurement data from the temperature sensor, the conductivity meter, and the flow meter. Beverage dispensing monitoring system that records and monitors the liquid flow rate for each liquid type. 2. The beverage dispensing monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring device counts a determination unit that determines that the liquid to be dispensed is a cleaning liquid based on the liquid type information, and a frequency at which the cleaning liquid is detected. Beverage dispensing monitoring, comprising: counting means; and judgment means for judging the presence / absence of washing and the number of washings from the count value of the counting means, and monitoring the presence / absence of washing and the number of washings for the beverage dispensing device System . The beverage dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein the beverage dispensing device further comprises an ice amount sensor for monitoring the amount of ice in the water tank for cooling the beverage. Monitoring system. 2. The beverage dispensing monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the beverage dispensing device further includes a position detection sensor that detects a position of the beverage dispensing device .

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