JP4146981B2 - Container receiving device for beverage dispenser - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a container receiving device for a beverage dispenser, and more particularly, to a container receiving device for a beverage dispenser capable of placing two types of containers having different sizes for receiving beverages from a dispensing cock disposed in the dispenser body. It relates to a stand device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a device that dispenses sparkling beverages by lever operation, for example, a beer server, the beer pouring cock provided in the main body is provided with a lever for operation, and the lever is tilted in one direction by a driving device to give a predetermined amount of beer to a mug. After pouring, there is one having a function of tilting the lever in the opposite direction and pouring fine bubbles of the beer into the beer in the mug. The beer server having such a configuration includes a container cradle device below the beer pouring cock, and in a state where the mug is placed on the cradle provided in the cradle device, beer and foam are poured into the mug. It is configured to issue.
[0003]
Here, for the purpose of expanding the functions of the beer server, one corresponding to two types of large and small mugs with different sizes according to the user's selection has been proposed. This beer server extends horizontally in front of the container cradle device, and a small sized mug (above the lower cradle on which a large sized mug (hereinafter referred to as a `` large mug '') is placed. Hereinafter, an upper pedestal on which a small mug is placed is rotatably arranged, and the upper pedestal is configured to be variable between a horizontal posture and a retracted posture flipped upward. . That is, when beer and foam are poured out into a small mug, beer and foam are poured out by operating the driving device in a state where the small mug is placed on an upper pedestal in a horizontal posture. And when pouring beer and foam into a large mug, place the large mug on the lower cradle and flip the upper cradle in a horizontal position to change it to the retracted position. Is to be dispensed.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the beer server, the upper pedestal in a horizontal posture on which the small mug is placed is flipped up to the retracted posture, so that the large mug can be placed on the lower pedestal. Therefore, when beer and foam are poured out into a small mug after pouring out beer and foam into a large mug, the user returns the upper cradle in the retracted position to a horizontal position before loading the small mug. Will be placed. In other words, when changing the size of a mug that pours beer and foam from a small mug to a large mug or from a large mug to a small mug, the user needs to manually raise and return the upper cradle. It was troublesome.
[0005]
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been proposed to suitably solve the above-mentioned drawbacks inherent in the container receiving device of a beverage dispenser according to the prior art. It is an object of the present invention to provide a container receiving device for a beverage dispenser that can be placed without performing troublesome work.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the intended purpose, a container cradle device for a beverage dispenser according to the present invention comprises:
A cradle body is disposed below the pouring cock disposed in the dispenser body, and two receptacles extending forward are selectively placed on the cradle body on which two types of containers of different sizes are selectively placed. In a beverage dispenser in which a table is arranged vertically apart and can dispense a beverage from the dispensing cock into a corresponding container placed on a selected cradle,
The upper cradle on which the small container of small size is placed is pivotally supported with respect to the cradle body so as to be placed on the lower cradle on the lower side of the large container of large size. It is set so as to be rotatable between a retracted posture that is allowed to rotate upward and a horizontal posture in which downward rotation is restricted by the restricting means,
Further, the upper pedestal is always held in a standby posture that is inclined upward at a predetermined angle toward the front by elastic means, and the rotational force applied to the upper pedestal in the retracted posture and the horizontal posture is released. In this case, it is configured to return to the standby posture by the elasticity of the elastic means.
[0007]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, a container cradle device for a beverage dispenser according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings with a preferred embodiment. In this embodiment, a beer server will be described as an example of a beverage dispenser. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is a matter of course that a dispenser that dispenses juice or other beverages may be used.
[0008]
FIG. 1 shows the main part of a beer server according to a preferred embodiment, and FIG. 2 shows the beer server from the front, and the beer server 10 has two units on the front surface of the main body 12. Although a mechanism is provided, both mechanisms are the same, so only the configuration of the dispensing mechanism located on the right front side will be described.
[0009]
A beer pouring cock (pouring cock) 14 is disposed on the front surface of the server main body (dispenser main body) 12, and a beer supply pipe 16 extending horizontally from the server main body 12 is connected to the cock 14. Yes. The beer pouring cock 14 includes a cock body 18 incorporating various valve mechanisms (not shown) for opening and closing the flow path of beer and foam, and a beer that extends upward from the cock body 18 and tilts in the front-rear direction. And an operation lever 20 for switching the foam dispensing. Further, the cock body 18 includes a beer pouring nozzle 22 and a foam pouring nozzle 24 that extend obliquely downward in parallel. In FIG. 1, a rear (main body side) nozzle that extends obliquely downward from the cock body 18. Is the beer pouring nozzle 22, and the front nozzle is the foam pouring nozzle 24.
[0010]
A drive device 26 is disposed on the front surface of the server body 12 at a position facing the beer pouring cock 14, and the operation lever is provided by a drive mechanism (not shown) disposed in the drive device 26. The beer and the foam are poured out to mugs (containers) 30 and 32 placed on a container receiving device 28 described later by tilting the front and rear 20. The drive device 26 includes a control unit (not shown), and a dispensing button 34 connected to the control unit is provided at the front of the drive device 26 as shown in FIG. Is set to operate. Further, in the beer server 10 of the embodiment, the amount of beer and foam dispensed according to the capacities of the two types of mugs 30 and 32 having different sizes is set in advance, and according to the detection state of the reed switch 36 described later. When the pouring button 34 is operated, the beer and foam are automatically selected and the appropriate amount is poured into the respective mugs 30 and 32.
[0011]
As shown in FIG. 1, a container receiving device 28 on which the mugs 30 and 32 are placed is disposed on the front surface of the server main body 12 at a position below the beer pouring cock 14. In the container cradle device 28, a tilting plate 42 as a cradle body is pivotally supported on a front side of a housing 38 disposed in the server body 12 via a shaft 40 on the upper side thereof. The tilting plate 42 is tilted by a tilting mechanism (not shown) built in the casing 38 when the beer and foam are poured out until the lower end of the tilting plate 42 tilts at a predetermined angle toward the front upper side. It has become.
[0012]
As shown in FIG. 5, the tilting plate 42 is bent at both ends in the width direction of the front plate 44 formed in a rectangular shape so that a pair of side plates 46, 46 extend in a C shape toward the rear. In addition, an inclined edge 46a that is inclined downward from the rear end toward the front end is formed at the lower end of each side plate 46. The inclined edge 46a functions to smoothly guide the beer and foam overflowing from the mugs 30 and 32 and flowing down to the tilting plate 42 to the drain pan 48, which will be described later. In addition, a guide portion 50 that bends backward as it goes upward is bent at the upper end edge of the front plate 44, and this guide portion 50 is configured to beer pouring in the beer pouring cock 14 as shown in FIG. Located behind the outlet nozzle 22, the beer poured out from the nozzle 22 is prevented from hanging on the casing 38.
[0013]
Below the front plate 44 of the tilting plate 42, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, a lower pedestal 52 formed in an L shape extends horizontally with its mounting portion 52a facing forward. It is arranged in a posture. A large-sized large mug (large container) 30 is placed on the placement portion 52a of the lower cradle 52 (see FIG. 7). In addition, a plurality of discharge holes 52b are formed in the rear end edge portion of the placement portion 52a that is in contact with the tilting plate 42 so as to be spaced apart from each other in the width direction, and beer and foam overflowing from the large mug 30 can flow downward. It is configured as follows. An anti-slip member 53 is disposed on the upper surface of the mounting portion 52a so as to prevent it from moving easily when the large mug 30 is mounted.
[0014]
On the front plate 44 of the tilting plate 42, an upper pedestal 54 on which a small sized small mug (small container) 32 is placed at a predetermined height above the position where the lower pedestal 52 is disposed. It is arranged to be movable. That is, the front plate 44 is provided with a planar U-shaped support member 56 extending in the width direction, and a support piece constituting a pair of restricting means extending forward at both ends of the support member 56 in the width direction. An upper pedestal 54 is rotatably disposed between pins 56a and 56a via pins 58 and 58. The upper pedestal 54 has a pair of pivotal support parts 62, 62 bent downward at substantially right angles at both rear ends in the width direction of the flat plate-like main body part 60, and a support piece 56a corresponding to each pivotal support part 62. Are pivotally supported via pins 58 (see FIG. 4).
[0015]
Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a tension spring 64 as an elastic means is stretched between the upper pedestal 54 and the tilting plate 42 in the vicinity of one end portion in the width direction. Is set so as to be always kept in a standby posture incline upward as it goes forward by the tension (elasticity) of the tension spring 64. Then, as will be described later, the upper pedestal 54 is pushed from the front side by the large mug 30 and is flipped upward so that the front end of the main body portion can be rotated to a retracted position close to the front surface of the tilting plate 42. (See FIG. 7). Further, in this retracted posture, the tension spring 64 is set so as to urge the upper pedestal 54 in a direction to return the upper pedestal 54 to the standby posture. The upper pedestal 54 is configured to automatically return to the standby position by the tension (elasticity) of the tension spring 64 by being released. Note that the inclination angle of the upper cradle 54 in the standby posture is set to a value that allows the small mug 32 to be placed on the cradle 54 and to be flipped up by the large mug 30 easily.
[0016]
The lower end of one pivotal support 62 in the upper pedestal 54 is allowed to tilt the front end of the main body 60 upward, and when tilted downward, the lower end of the support piece 56a is contacted. A stopper 66 that constitutes a restricting means that contacts and restricts the position is formed to extend outward. That is, by placing the small mug 32 on the upper pedestal 54, when the front end of the main body 60 is tilted downward, the stopper 66 abuts against the support piece 56a and the main body 60 (upper cradle 54). ) In a horizontal position (see FIG. 6). The main body 60 is formed with a plurality of long holes 60a spaced apart in the width direction so that beer and foam overflowing from the small mug 32 can flow downward.
[0017]
A magnet 70 for operating a reed switch (proximity switch) 36 as a detecting means disposed on the front surface of the housing 38 is disposed on the main body 60 of the upper cradle 54, and the upper cradle 54 is retracted. Then, when the magnet 70 comes close to the reed switch 36, the switch 36 enters a detection state, and when the upper pedestal 54 returns to the standby position, the magnet 70 moves away from the reed switch 36 and the switch 36 Is set to be in a non-detection state. In the beer server 10 of the embodiment, when the reed switch 36 is in the detection state, it is determined that the large mug 30 is placed on the container receiving device 28, and the reed switch 36 is in the non-detection state. Sometimes, it is set to determine that the small mug 32 is placed on the container receiving device 28. The reed switch 36 is connected to the control unit of the driving device 26 and, as described above, if the reed switch 36 is in a detection state when the dispensing button 34 is operated, the dispensing amount corresponding to the large mug 30 is used. The drive mechanism is actuated to pour out the beer and foam, and the drive mechanism is actuated to pour out the beer and foam in the amount corresponding to the small mug 32 when the reed switch 36 is in the non-detection state. Has been.
[0018]
Note that the front surface of the front plate 44 of the tilting plate 42 is stably held above the position where the upper pedestal 54 is disposed, in a state where movement of the mugs 30 and 32 in the width direction is restricted. A member 72 is provided so that the mugs 30 and 32 are not easily moved in the width direction even when the tilting plate 42 is tilted when beer and foam are poured out.
[0019]
As shown in FIG. 2, the front surface of the server body 12 receives beer and foam dripping from the cradles 52 and 54 and the tilting plate 42 at positions below the two container cradle devices 28 and 28. A drain pan 48 is provided, and beer and foam collected in the drain pan 48 are discharged outside the machine through a drain pipe (not shown).
[0020]
[Effect of the embodiment]
Next, the operation of the beer server according to the embodiment will be described below. FIG. 1 shows a standby state in which the mugs 30 and 32 corresponding to the two pedestals 52 and 54 of the container cradle device 28 are not placed. At this time, the upper pedestal 54 is held in a standby posture in which the main body 60 is inclined upward by the tension of the tension spring 64. When pouring beer and foam into the small mug 32, the user places the small mug 32 on the upper cradle 54 from above, and the upper cradle 54 has pins 58, 58 depending on the weight of the small mug 32. And the stopper 66 is positioned in a horizontal posture where it abuts against the support piece 56a, and the setting of the small mug 32 is completed (see FIG. 6).
[0021]
Since the magnet 70 of the upper pedestal 54 is separated from the reed switch 36, the switch 36 is in a non-detection state, so that the control unit of the driving device 26 places the small mug 32 on the container cradle device 28. Judging that it has been. Accordingly, when the dispensing button 34 is operated, the drive mechanism is activated, and the amount of beer and foam corresponding to the small mug 32 is dispensed from the beer dispensing cock 14. When the small mug 32 into which beer and foam have been poured is separated from the upper pedestal 54, the upper pedestal 54 automatically returns to the initial standby position by the tension of the tension spring 64.
[0022]
Next, when beer and foam are poured into the large mug 30, as shown in FIG. 8, the large mug 30 is moved slightly toward the tilting plate 42 while being tilted slightly, so that the upper cradle in the standby posture 54 is pushed from the front side by the large mug 30 and rotated so as to jump up. This allows the large mug 30 to be placed on the lower pedestal 52, so that the setting of the large mug 30 is completed by placing the mug 30 on the placement portion 52a of the lower pedestal 52 ( (See FIG. 7).
[0023]
When the upper pedestal 54 is rotated to the retracted position by the large mug 30, the magnet 70 comes close to the reed switch 36 and the switch 36 enters a detection state. Therefore, the control unit of the driving device 26 determines that the large mug 30 is placed on the container cradle device 28, and the driving mechanism is operated by operating the pouring button 34 so that the beer pouring cock is operated. From 14, the amount of beer and foam according to the large mug 30 are poured out. When the large mug 30 into which beer and foam have been poured is moved away from the lower pedestal 52, the upper pedestal 54 automatically returns to the initial standby position by the tension of the tension spring 64.
[0024]
That is, in the container cradle device 28 of the embodiment, the upper cradle 54 on which the small mug 32 is placed is always held in a standby posture in which the front end of the main body portion is inclined upward by the tension of the tension spring 64. Therefore, when placing the large mug 30 on the lower cradle 52, the user can easily lift the upper cradle 54 with the large mug 30 itself without the user lifting up the upper cradle 54 with the other hand that does not hold the mug. It is possible to jump up to the retracted position and to work with one hand. In addition, the upper pedestal 54 is urged in a direction to return to the standby position by the tension of the tension spring 64 regardless of whether the upper pedestal 54 is in the retracted position or the horizontal position. When is released, it automatically returns to the standby position. That is, when the size of the mug for pouring beer and foam is changed from the small mug 32 to the large mug 30 or from the large mug 30 to the small mug 32, the user flips up the upper pedestal 54 manually. The returning work is unnecessary, and the dispensing work can be performed easily.
[0025]
Further, since the upper pedestal 54 is always inclined, beer and foam overflowing from the small mug 32 are difficult to collect on the cradle 54, and cleaning becomes easy. Further, since a plurality of discharge holes 52b are formed in the lower pedestal 52, the beer and foam overflowing from the large mug 30 are smoothly flowed down to the drain pan 48, and the beer and foam are scattered outside the apparatus. Can prevent the surrounding area from getting wet. In addition, beer and foam that adhere to the tilting plate 42 and flow down smoothly flow down to the drain pan 48 by the inclined edge 46a formed on the side plate 46, so that the surroundings can be prevented from getting wet. Thus, since the beer and foam flowing down from the lower pedestal 52 and the tilting plate 42 can be smoothly guided to the drain pan 48, the beer and foam can be prevented from scattering without increasing the size of the drain pan 48.
[0026]
Furthermore, in the beer server 10 of the embodiment, the size of the mug placed on the container cradle device 28 is automatically determined by the change in the posture of the upper cradle 54, so There is no need to provide a separate dispensing button for the large mug 30, and the single dispensing button 34 can also be used. Therefore, since the user does not accidentally operate a different dispensing button, the occurrence of a situation in which a large amount of beer or foam overflows from the small mug 32 or the beer or foam poured out to the large mug 30 is insufficient. Prevented in advance. Further, since the number of dispensing buttons can be reduced, the configuration of the operation part can be simplified.
[0027]
In the embodiment, the case where one tension spring is used as the elastic means has been described. However, the other ends of the two tension springs whose one ends are locked to the upper pedestal are locked at the upper and lower positions of the tilting plate. In addition, it is possible to employ a configuration in which the upper cradle is held in the standby posture by two tension springs and the tension applied in the retracted posture or the horizontal posture is borne by the corresponding tension springs. Further, the restricting means is not limited to the configuration in which the stopper is in contact with the support piece, but is configured in such a manner that the stopper is in contact with the tilting plate, or in the long hole provided in the pivotable swing rod provided in the tilting plate. Various means such as a configuration in which a pin protruding from the table is slidably inserted can be adopted.
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the container receiving device of the beverage dispenser according to the present invention, the upper receiving table on which the small container is placed is always held in the standby posture inclined upward by the elasticity of the elastic means. Therefore, when placing a large container on the lower cradle, the user can easily retract the upper cradle with the large container itself without the user lifting up the upper cradle with the other hand that does not hold the container. And can work with one hand. In addition, the upper pedestal is biased in a direction to return to the standby position by the elasticity of the elastic means regardless of the retracted position or the horizontal position, so that the rotational force applied to the upper pedestal is released. When it does, it automatically returns to the standby position. That is, when changing the size of the container for dispensing the beverage, there is no need for the user to manually flip up or return the upper cradle, and there is an advantage that the dispensing operation can be performed easily.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side view showing a main part of a beer server according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front view of a beer server according to an embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a side view of the container receiving apparatus according to the embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a front view showing an upper cradle in the container cradle device according to the embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing a tilting plate and a lower cradle of the container cradle device according to the embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a side view showing a state in which a small mug is placed on the upper cradle of the container cradle device according to the embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a side view showing a state where a large mug is placed on the lower cradle of the container cradle device according to the embodiment.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the upper cradle according to the embodiment is flipped up with a large mug.
[Explanation of symbols]
12 Server body (dispenser body)
14 Beer pouring cock (pouring cock)
30 large mugs (large containers)
32 Small mug (small container)
42 Tilt plate (base body)
52 Lower cradle 54 Upper cradle 56a Support piece (regulator)
64 Tension spring (elastic means)
66 Stopper (Regulator)

Claims (1)

A cradle body (42) is disposed below the pouring cock (14) disposed in the dispenser body (12), and the cradle body (42) includes two types of containers (30, 32) having different sizes. ) Is selectively placed, and two cradles (52, 54) extending forward are spaced apart from each other and correspondingly placed on the selected cradle (52, 54). In a beverage dispenser capable of dispensing a beverage from the dispensing cock (14) to the container (30, 32),
The upper upper pedestal (54) on which the small sized small container (32) is placed is pivotally supported with respect to the pedestal main body (42), and the large sized large container (30). Rotation between the retracted posture that allowed the placement on the lower cradle (52) on the lower side and the horizontal posture that restricted the downward rotation by the restricting means (56a, 66). Set to be movable,
Further, the upper pedestal (54) is always held in a standby posture inclined upward at a predetermined angle toward the front by the elastic means (64), and in the state of the retracted posture and the horizontal posture ( 54. A container receiving device for a beverage dispenser, wherein the container receiving device is configured to return to a standby position by the elasticity of the elastic means (64) when the rotational force applied to 54) is released.

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