JP4189376B2 - Beverage vending machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a beverage vending machine that injects a beverage into a cup for sale.

Conventionally, this type of beverage vending machine includes a straw unloader that unloads straws one by one, and a straw chute that guides the straw unloaded from the straw unloader to a cup containing beverage, There is known one in which one end of the direction is directed downward and the straw is dropped from above and inserted into the cup (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP-A-3-290794

  However, in the conventional beverage vending machine, since the straw is dropped and inserted into the cup containing the beverage, it is generated by scraping the beverage containing solid grain ice or solid ice. When a straw is dropped and carried out into a cup containing a semisolid beverage produced by mixing ice-sharp and liquid ingredients, the straw is brought into contact with the upper surface of the solid granular ice or semisolid beverage. There is a problem in that it cannot be fully inserted into the cup and the straw cannot be provided together with the cup containing the beverage.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a beverage vending machine capable of reliably inserting a straw into a cup regardless of the type of beverage in the cup. There is.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is provided with an unloader for unloading straw-shaped members such as straws and muddlers one by one, and the rod-shaped members dropped and unloaded from the unloader are inserted into a cup containing beverages from the lower end side. In the beverage vending machine, the abutting member that can abut on the upper end of the rod-shaped member dropped into the cup from above and the abutting member abuts on the upper end of the rod-shaped member so that the rod-shaped member is in the cup. And a moving means for moving one of the contact member and the cup in a predetermined direction so as to be inserted toward the bottom surface of the contact member, and the contact portion can contact the upper end of the rod-shaped member from above And a lower end side provided in the vicinity of the contact portion, and a guide portion that guides the rod-shaped member carried out from the unloader into the cup, and the rod-like member carried out by the unloader serves as the guide portion. Inserted into the cup through Thereafter, one of the contact member and the rod-shaped member is moved in a predetermined direction until the upper end of the rod-shaped member passes the lower end of the guide portion, and is moved in the predetermined direction until the upper end of the rod-shaped member is located below the contact portion. The rod-shaped member is moved in a predetermined direction so that the rod-shaped member is inserted toward the bottom surface in the cup while the upper end of the rod-shaped member is in contact with the contact portion .

  As a result, the rod-shaped member is inserted toward the bottom surface in the cup while the upper end of the rod-shaped member dropped into the cup by the moving means is in contact with the abutting portion, so that it is reliable regardless of the type of beverage in the cup. A rod-shaped member is inserted into the cup.

  According to the present invention, the bar-shaped member can be surely inserted into the cup regardless of the type of beverage in the cup, and the straw is not carried out when selling a beverage that provides a bar-shaped member such as a straw or a mudler. Problems can be prevented.

  1 to 9 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a front view of a beverage vending machine, FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram inside the main body, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control system, and FIG. Fig. 5 is a side sectional view of the straw unloader and the contact member, and Figs. 5 to 9 are operation explanatory views showing the insertion operation of the straw.

  This beverage vending machine is produced, for example, by mixing a liquid material such as coffee liquid or the like, which is generated by shaving solid ice, in addition to hot beverages and iced beverages such as coffee, tea, and cocoa. Semi-solid frappe beverages can be sold. In addition, ice drinks and frappe drinks are sold by inserting a straw B as a rod-like member into the cup A.

  This beverage vending machine includes a main body 1, a cup unloader 2 for unloading cup A, a hot water generator 3 for generating hot water, a first raw material storage 4 for storing coffee beans as raw materials, and coffee beans. A coffee extractor 5 for extracting coffee liquid, a plurality of second raw material storages 6 for storing powdered raw materials, an ice making machine 7 for making solid granular ice, and an ice machine made from ice. An ice grinder 8 that generates ice, a stirrer 9 that stirs the beverage, a straw unloader 10 as a unloader that unloads the straw B into the cup A containing the beverage, and the straw B is inserted into the cup A. A contact member 11 for holding, a holder moving machine 12 as a moving means for moving the cup holder 12 a holding the cup A, and a control unit 13.

  The main body 1 includes a door 1a that opens and closes a front opening of a cabinet having a front opening. On the front surface of the door 1a, a bill insertion slot 1b, a coin insertion slot 1c, a return lever 1d, a coin return slot 1e, a liquid crystal display 1f, and a plurality of operation buttons 1g arranged on the left and right of the liquid crystal display 1f Is provided. Further, below the liquid crystal display 1f on the front surface of the door 1a, a vertically long rectangular cup carry-out port 1h, a pair of left and right sliding doors 1i for opening and closing the cup carry-out port 1h, and the outside of the cup carry-out port 1h are provided. A cup mounting table 1j and a simple table 1k provided so as to project forward on the front surface of the door 1a are provided.

  The cup unloader 2 has a well-known configuration that accommodates a beverage sales cup A having an inverted frustoconical outer shape, and drops and unloads the cups A one by one.

  The hot water generator 3 generates hot water of about 90 ° C. with a heater (not shown), and discharges a predetermined amount of hot water into the cup A from the nozzle 3a.

  The first raw material storage 4 has a mill for grinding coffee beans, and carries out a predetermined amount of raw material (ground beans) measured by a measuring instrument to the coffee extractor 5.

  The coffee extractor 5 has a well-known configuration for extracting coffee liquid from raw materials (ground beans) using hot water supplied from the hot water generator 3, and the coffee liquid is injected into the cup A from the nozzle 5a. ing.

  Each second raw material storage 6 contains powder raw materials such as black tea, cocoa, cream and sugar, and a predetermined amount of raw materials are put into the cup A through the shooter 6a.

  The ice making machine 7 has a well-known configuration for making ice cubes of a predetermined size, and the ice making machine ice is carried out to the ice cutter 8.

  The ice maker 8 can generate ice shave by shaving the grain ice with a cutting blade, and can also transport the grain ice to the outside without generating the ice slicing. As a result, if necessary, the grain ice and the shaved ice are selected and put into the cup A.

  The agitator 9 agitates the beverage in the cup A by rotating a screw-like agitating member 9a by a motor 9b, and moves up and down by an elevating mechanism (not shown).

  The straw unloader 10 includes a case 10a that accommodates a plurality of straws B with its axis oriented in the horizontal direction, and a carry-out roller 10b that is provided on the lower end side of the case 10a and that extends in the axial direction of the straw B. Have. The carry-out roller 10b is rotatably supported by the case 10a, and at least one or more grooves 10c in which only one straw B is accommodated are formed on the outer periphery thereof. Further, a motor 10e is connected to the support shaft 10d of the carry-out roller 10b. By rotating the carry-out roller 10b by the motor 10e, the straw B accommodated in the groove 10c is dropped and carried out one by one. It has become. The discharged straw B is guided to the cup A by the shooter 10f with the axial end of the straw B facing downward.

  The contact member 11 is provided at the lower end of the straw unloader 10, and is formed so as to extend in the vertical direction and to increase in width in the front-rear direction toward the lower end side. Further, a guide hole 11a as a guide portion that guides the cup B through the straw B carried out from the shooter 10f on the upper end side in the abutting member 11 in the vertical direction with the shaft tilted backward. A space that communicates with the guide hole 11a is formed on the lower end side, and a contact portion 11b that can contact the upper end of the straw B from above is formed on the lower back side of the guide hole 11a. ing. Further, a straw detection sensor 11c as a rod-like member detection sensor such as a transmission photoelectric switch that detects the presence or absence of the straw B is provided on the lower end side in the guide hole 11a.

  The holder moving machine 12 is moved to the cup holder 12a formed in a C shape to hold the cup A by a motion converting mechanism such as a ball screw and a nut that converts the rotational motion of the motor into a linear motion. The main body 1 can be moved in the ± X direction (left-right direction), ± Y direction (front-back direction), and ± Z direction (up-down direction).

  The control part 13 is comprised with the microcomputer, and as shown in FIG. 3, the operation button 1g, the cup unloader 2, the hot water production | generation machine 3, the 1st raw material storage 4, the coffee extractor 5, the 2nd raw material storage 6 , Ice making machine 7, ice grinder 8, stirrer 9, straw unloader 10, straw detection sensor 11c, and holder moving machine 12. In addition, the memory of the control unit 13 stores an operation program related to the production of beverage and the provision of the straw B.

  In the beverage vending machine configured as described above, the beverage sales operation will be described.

  First, when a beverage is selected by the purchaser and necessary money is inserted, the cup holder 12a is moved to the unloading position of the cup unloader 2 by the holder moving device 12, and dropped and unloaded from the cup unloader 2. The cup A is held by the cup holder 12a. The cup holder 12a holding the cup A moves in the main body 1 in a predetermined order, and a beverage is generated in the process of moving the cup A. For example, when coffee containing sugar and milk is selected as a beverage, powdered sugar and milk are put into the cup A from each second raw material storage 6 and the coffee liquid extracted by the coffee extractor 5 is used. Are injected into the cup A and moved in the main body 1 in such a sequence that they are stirred by the stirrer 9.

  Here, when the beverage selected by the purchaser is an iced beverage or a frappe beverage, the following operation is performed after the beverage is generated. First, the cup holder 12a holding the cup A in which the beverage is generated is moved to the carry-out position of the straw B by the holder moving machine 12, and the straw B is dropped and carried out by the straw carry-out machine 10, as shown in FIG. Thereby, the carried straw B falls into the cup A from the lower end side through the shooter 10f and the guide hole 11a of the contact member 11. At this time, the dropped straw B is not inserted to the bottom surface side in the cup A, and the lower end is in contact with the surface of the grain ice or semi-solid frappe beverage covering the liquid surface of the ice beverage in the cup A. It becomes the state inserted into the upper side of the beverage. Next, as shown in FIG. 7, when the cup holder 12a is moved in the −Z direction by the holder moving machine 12 and the straw detection sensor 11c detects that the upper end of the straw B has passed the lower end of the guide hole 11a − Stop moving in the Z direction. At this time, the straw B in contact with the surface of the grain ice or frappe beverage can not maintain the posture by passing through the guide hole 11a, but the axis of the guide hole 11a tilts backward, The straw B that has passed through the guide hole 11a is tilted to the back side and is leaned against the lower inner wall of the contact portion 11b of the contact member 11. As shown in FIG. 8, the cup holder 12a moves a predetermined distance in the -Y direction, and then moves a predetermined distance in the + Z direction as shown in FIG. At this time, the cup holder 12a moves a predetermined distance in the -Y direction, whereby the upper end of the straw B inserted into the upper part of the beverage in the cup A moves below the contact part 11b. Further, when the cup holder 12a moves in the + Z direction, the upper end of the straw B comes into contact with the contact portion 11b of the contact member 11, and the straw B is moved until the lower end of the straw B is positioned on the bottom surface side in the cup A. Plugged in.

  After carrying out such a straw B carrying out and inserting operation, the cup holder 12a carries out a predetermined carrying out operation, and the cup carrying outlet of the main body 1 with the straw B inserted into the cup A in which the beverage has been generated. Unload from 1h and end selling operation.

  Thus, according to the present embodiment, the cup holder 12a holding the cup A by the holder moving machine 12 is moved upward so that the upper end of the straw B dropped into the cup A is brought into contact with the contact member 11. Since the straw B is inserted into the beverage while being in contact with the portion 11b, the straw B can be reliably inserted into the cup A regardless of the type of beverage in the cup A, and the straw B is provided. When selling beverages, it is possible to prevent problems such as the straw B not being carried out.

  In addition, after the straw B dropped from the shooter 10f of the straw unloader 10 is inserted into the cup A through the guide hole 11a of the contact member 11, the cup holder 12a holding the cup A is guided by the upper end of the straw B. The cup 11 is moved downward until it passes through the lower end of the hole 11a, and moved backward until the upper end of the straw B is positioned below the contact portion 11b. Since the straw B is moved upward so that the straw B is inserted toward the bottom surface of the straw, the straw B dropped from the shooter 10f of the straw unloader 10 is reliably guided into the cup A by the guide hole 11a, and The posture of the straw B can be maintained, and the straw B can be reliably inserted into the cup A.

  Further, a straw detection sensor 11c that detects the presence or absence of the straw B is provided at the lower end side of the guide hole 11a of the contact member 11, and the cup holder 12a is placed in the guide hole 11a while the straw B is located in the guide hole 11a. When the straw detection sensor 11c detects that the upper end of the straw B has passed the lower end side of the guide hole 11a when moving downward until it passes, the cup holder 12a is stopped. The downward movement of the cup holder 12a can be stopped according to the position, and when the height dimension of the cup A is different or when the straw B carried out from the straw carry-out machine 10 falls into the cup A, The straw B can be reliably inserted into the cup A even when the dimensions inserted into the cup are different.

  Further, since the shaft of the guide hole 11a is formed to tilt backward, the straw B passed through the guide hole 11a can be tilted to the contact portion 11b side, and the insertion posture of the straw B is held by the beverage. Even without this, the insertion operation can be performed reliably.

  Further, since the straw B dropped into the cup A by the holder moving machine 12 is inserted into the beverage, the straw B can be inserted into the cup A without the need for a separate driving means for inserting the straw B. The manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  In the embodiment, the cup holder 12a of the holder moving machine 12 is moved so that the upper end of the straw B dropped into the cup A is brought into contact with the contact portion 11b of the contact member 11 while the straw B is cupped. Although shown what was inserted in A, without moving the cup holder 12a, the contact member 11 is moved, and the contact part 11b is made to contact the upper end of the straw B which fell in the cup A. However, even if the straw B is inserted into the cup A, the straw B can be reliably inserted into the cup A as in the above embodiment.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, the contact part 11b which can contact | abut the upper end of the straw B from upper direction, and the guide part 11a for guiding the straw B carried out from the straw unloader 10 in the cup A are contact members. 11 is provided as a unit, but the abutting member provided only for abutting the upper end of the straw B from above and the straw B carried out from the straw unloader 10 are guided into the cup A. Even if the guide member is provided separately, the straw B can be guided into the cup A by the guide member as in the above-described embodiment, and can be brought into contact with the upper end of the straw B from above by the contact member. .

The front view of the drink vending machine which shows one Embodiment of this invention Schematic configuration diagram inside the body Block diagram showing the control system Side cross-sectional view of straw unloader and contact member Operation explanatory diagram showing plugging operation of straw Operation explanatory diagram showing plugging operation of straw Operation explanatory diagram showing plugging operation of straw Operation explanatory diagram showing plugging operation of straw Operation explanatory diagram showing plugging operation of straw

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Straw unloading machine, 11 ... Contact member, 11a ... Guide hole, 11b ... Contact part, 11c ... Straw detection sensor, 12 ... Holder moving machine, 12a ... Cup holder, 13 ... Control part, A ... Cup, B …straw.

Claims (4)

In a beverage vending machine equipped with an unloader that unloads bar-shaped members such as straws and muddlers one by one, the rod-shaped member dropped and unloaded from the unloader is inserted into a cup containing beverage from the lower end side,
An abutting member capable of abutting from above on the upper end of the rod-shaped member dropped into the cup;
A moving means for moving the abutting member and one of the cups in a predetermined direction so that the abutting member abuts on the upper end of the rod-shaped member and the rod-shaped member is inserted toward the bottom surface side in the cup ;
A contact portion that can contact the upper end of the rod-shaped member from above, and a guide portion that has a lower end side provided in the vicinity of the contact portion and guides the rod-shaped member unloaded from the unloader into the cup. Provided,
After the rod-shaped member carried out by the unloader is inserted into the cup through the guide portion, the moving means is inserted into the cup until one of the contact member and the rod-shaped member passes through the lower end of the guide portion. The rod-shaped member is moved in a predetermined direction and moved in a predetermined direction until the upper end of the rod-shaped member is positioned below the contact portion, and the rod-shaped member is moved toward the bottom surface in the cup while the upper end of the rod-shaped member is in contact with the contact portion. A beverage vending machine configured to move in a predetermined direction so as to be inserted . A rod-shaped member detection sensor that is provided on the lower end side of the guide portion and detects the presence or absence of the rod-shaped member;
When the rod-shaped member is positioned in the guide portion, the moving means moves one of the contact member and the cup in a predetermined direction until the upper end of the rod-shaped member passes the lower end of the guide portion. When that has passed through the lower side to detect by rodlike member detection sensor, beverage vending machine according to claim 1, further comprising a control means for stopping the movement in the same direction by the moving means. The beverage vending machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the guide portion is formed so that the rod-shaped member is guided in a state of being tilted toward the contact portion side. The beverage vending machine according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the moving means is configured to move the cup with respect to the contact member.

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