JP4525369B2 - Beverage dispenser - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a beverage dispenser, and more particularly to an improvement in a beverage dispenser for providing effervescent beverages such as beer beverages.

  For example, beverage dispensers for providing effervescent beverages such as beer beverages are known in stores such as restaurants. When such a beverage dispenser pours a sparkling beverage through a beverage pouring nozzle with respect to a beverage container placed almost upright on a predetermined placement table, the sparkling beverage foams unnecessarily in the beverage container. Thus, the appearance impression of the sparkling beverage poured out into the beverage container is impaired, and the flavor of the sparkling beverage itself is impaired. As a result, the quality of the sparkling beverage may be deteriorated.

  Therefore, when an instruction to pour sparkling beverages is given, the beverage container is tilted with the mounting table on which the beverage container is placed being inclined from the substantially upright position. Thereafter, the sparkling beverage is poured out through the beverage dispensing nozzle toward the inner wall surface of the beverage container in the inclined position. Then, the table is moved from the inclined position to the substantially upright position while pouring out the sparkling beverage, and when the predetermined amount of sparkling beverage is poured out, the pouring of the sparkling beverage is terminated. Thereafter, a predetermined amount of foam is poured into the beverage container through a foam dispensing nozzle (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2003-335397 A

  However, in the beverage dispenser, the foam poured through the foam dispensing nozzle directly collides with the liquid level of the sparkling beverage in the beverage container in the substantially upright position, so that the sparkling beverage is foamed. was there. In this way, when the foam poured out from the foam dispensing nozzle collides with the foamed beverage that has already been poured out and the foamable beverage is foamed, the amount of foam in the beverage container becomes excessive, and The impression of appearance will be impaired, and the flavor of the sparkling beverage itself will be impaired, and eventually the quality of the sparkling beverage will be reduced.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a beverage dispenser that can dispense foam without causing a deterioration in quality of sparkling beverages.

To achieve the above object, a beverage dispenser according to claim 1 of the present invention, beverages and beverage delivery means for supplying the beverage to a container, dispensed beverage container beverage container for receiving a cradle in retaining, in the beverage dispenser and a container moving means for moving between a substantially upright position and the inclined position of the beverage container, the beverage extraction means, out beverage to dispense a beverage in the beverage container A nozzle and a foam dispensing nozzle that is capable of pouring foam into the beverage container and changing the foam dispensing angle, and the amount of the requested beverage dispensed is below a predetermined threshold The beverage container is allowed to move from the substantially upright position according to the dispensing instruction to the inclined position, and when the requested amount of the beverage to be dispensed exceeds the threshold, the beverage container is inclined from the substantially upright position according to the dispensing instruction. Movement restrictor prohibiting movement of beverage container to position Characterized by comprising a.

  According to the beverage dispenser of the present invention, the beverage pouring means is a beverage pouring nozzle for pouring the beverage into the beverage container, and the foam pouring capable of pouring foam into the beverage container and changing the foam pouring angle. Since the dispensing nozzle is changed, the pouring angle can be changed and the foam can be brought into contact with the inner wall surface of the beverage container, thereby reducing the foam momentum and unnecessarily foaming inside the beverage container. An excessive amount can be prevented, and a beverage having a desired quality can be provided. Therefore, there is an effect that the foam can be poured out without causing the quality of the sparkling beverage to deteriorate.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a beverage dispenser according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  1 and 2 show a beverage dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a schematic side sectional view and FIG. 2 is a front view. In these FIG.1 and FIG.2, the drink dispenser in embodiment of this invention provides effervescent drinks, such as 2 systems (2 types) beer, dispenser main body 10, drink extraction means 20, and The container moving means 30 and the operating means 40 are provided.

  The dispenser body 10 is a substantially rectangular casing, and has a machine room 10A and a storage room 10B. The machine room 10 </ b> A is provided below the dispenser body 10. The machine room 10A accommodates a compressor 11A, a condenser 11B, a heat radiating fan 11C, and the like that form a cooling unit. One gas inflow valve 12A, two gas outflow valves 12B, and two beer valves 12C are arranged outside the front side of the machine room 10A. The gas inflow valve 12A is connected to a carbon dioxide gas cylinder 1 filled with carbon dioxide gas via an input side gas hose 1A. Each gas outflow valve 12B is connected to a separate beer barrel 2 via an output side gas hose 1B. Each beer valve 12C is connected to each beer barrel 2 via a beer hose 2A.

  Carbon dioxide from the carbon dioxide cylinder 1 is fed into the machine room 10A via the input side gas hose 1A. In the machine room 10 </ b> A, the carbon dioxide gas fed by the pressure adjusting means (not shown) is divided into two systems to adjust the pressure. The conditioned carbon dioxide gas is sent to the outside of the dispenser main body 10 via the output side gas hose 1B and added to each beer barrel 2. And the beer accommodated in the beer barrel 2 is sent into the dispenser main body 10 via each beer hose 2A by adding carbon dioxide gas to each beer barrel 2.

  The accommodation chamber 10B accommodates a cooling water tank 13 and a stirring means 14 called an agitator. The cooling water tank 13 stores cooling water and is provided with an evaporator 11D. In such a cooling water tank 13, the refrigerant is circulated in the order of the compressor 11A, the condenser 11B, and the evaporator 11D, and the ice bank (ice block) is formed around the evaporator 11D. The temperature of the cooling water is kept at approximately 0 ° C. using the heat storage amount of the ice bank. The cooling water tank 13 is provided with two systems of beverage supply pipes 15 immersed in the cooling water. Each beverage supply pipe 15 is made of metal and is wound in a coil shape. Each of these beverage supply pipes 15 has a proximal end connected to the beer hose 2 </ b> A and a distal end connected to the beverage dispensing means 20.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 in an enlarged manner, the stirring means 14 includes a stirring rod 14B and a connecting member 14C in addition to a stirring motor 14A serving as a drive source. The stirring rod 14B is a long rod-shaped body made of metal such as stainless steel, and a stirring blade 14D is attached to the tip of the stirring rod 14B via a mounting pin P, thereby constituting a stirring member 14E.

  The connecting member 14C is made of a low heat transfer material such as acetal resin such as polyoxymethylene (POM), and connects the stirring member 14E and the stirring motor 14A. Although not clearly shown in the figure, the connecting member 14C has a first connecting recess having an inner diameter matching the outer diameter of the stirring rod 14B and a second connection having an inner diameter matching the outer diameter of the output shaft of the stirring motor 14A. And a recess. And after inserting the base end part of the stirring rod 14B in a 1st connection recessed part, while attaching it via the attachment pin P and inserting the output shaft of 14 A of stirring motors in a 2nd connection recessed part, it is an attachment pin. By attaching via P, the stirring member 14E (the stirring rod 14B and the stirring blade 14D) and the stirring motor 14A are connected. As a result, when the stirring motor 14A is driven, the stirring rod 14B rotates around the axis. That is, the connecting member 14C transmits the driving force from the stirring motor 14A to the stirring member 14E, while reducing the transmission of heat from the stirring member 14E to the stirring motor 14A.

  In addition, a plurality of fins F, each projecting radially outward, are provided on the side peripheral surface of the connecting member 14C. The fins F send the wind toward the stirring motor 14A as a result of the stirring motor 14A being driven, that is, when the stirring rod 14B is rotated about the axis, so that the connecting member 14C is similarly rotated. .

  As shown in FIG. 1, such a stirring means 14 is disposed in a state where substantially the entire area of the stirring member 14E (the stirring rod 14B and the stirring blade 14D) is immersed in the cooling water. As described above, the stirring motor 14A is driven and the stirring member 14E rotates around the axis of the stirring rod 14B, whereby the cooling water is stirred.

  A rectangular inlet 16 is formed on the upper surface of the storage chamber 10B, that is, the upper surface of the top plate constituting the storage chamber 10B. The charging port 16 is an opening for charging ice into the cooling water tank 13 as necessary. In addition, a charging lid 17 for opening and closing the charging port 16 is disposed on the upper surface of the storage chamber 10B. As shown in FIG. 5, the charging lid 17 is a flat plate having a size sufficient to cover the charging port 16, and is hinged (not shown) to the rear edge of the charging port 16. Yes. Normally, the charging lid 17 closes the charging port 16 so as to be flush with the upper surface of the storage chamber 10B. On the other hand, when the charging lid 17 is swung upward, the charging port 16 is opened. It will be established. That is, the insertion lid 17 opens and closes the insertion port 16 by swinging. Such a charging lid 17 is formed of, for example, stainless steel, and the back surface thereof, that is, the surface facing the cooling water tank 13 when the charging port 16 is closed is formed as a mirror surface. Further, a guide 18 is provided on the lower surface of the top plate constituting the accommodation chamber 10B. The guide 18 is a member for guiding the ice introduced through the insertion port 16 to the cooling water inside the cooling water tank 13.

  In such a storage chamber 10B, the beer fed into the dispenser main body 10 via each beer hose 2A is led to the two beverage supply pipes 15 arranged in the cooling water tank 13, and is then brought to approximately 0 ° C. It is cooled by the maintained cooling water.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the beverage dispensing means 20 is provided outside the dispenser main body 10 and has a dispensing valve 21 and a valve driving unit 22.

  The dispensing valve 21 includes a beer dispensing nozzle 23A, a foam dispensing nozzle 23B, and a dispensing lever 23C. The beer pouring nozzle 23A is for pouring beer into a beverage container (such as a mug) to be described later.

  The foam pouring nozzle 23B is for pouring foam into the beverage container. The foam dispensing nozzle 23B has a horizontal portion 23Ba extending from the dispensing valve 21 main body in the left direction (right direction in FIG. 2), and a hanging portion extending downward from the end of the horizontal portion 23Ba. Part 23Bb. The horizontal portion 23Ba is provided in the main body of the dispensing valve 21 so as to be rotatable around its axis. Thereby, as expanded and shown in FIG. 6, the bubble spout in the edge part of hanging part 23Bb can be moved along the front-back direction. That is, the bubble dispensing nozzle 23B is a variable type that can change the bubble dispensing angle in the front-rear direction.

  The dispensing lever 23C is for operating the beer dispensing nozzle 23A and the foam dispensing nozzle 23B to open and close.

  The valve drive unit 22 is provided in such a manner that the extraction lever 23C is tilted to one side or the other side by driving a valve motor (not shown) or the like.

  Such a beverage pouring means 20 pours beer from the beer pouring nozzle 23 </ b> A by tilting the pouring lever 23 </ b> C to one side (for example, the front side) by the valve drive unit 22. Also, the beverage pouring means 20 pours beer foam from the foam pouring nozzle 23 </ b> B by tilting the pouring lever 23 </ b> C to the other (for example, the rear side) by the valve drive unit 22. As shown in FIG. 2, two beverage dispensing means 20 configured as described above are prepared for each of the two systems of beer described above.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the container moving means 30 includes a container cradle 31 and a cradle drive unit 32. The container cradle 31 holds a beverage container that receives the beer poured out by the beverage dispensing means 20. The container cradle 31 includes a placement portion 33 and an inclined portion 34. The placing portion 33 is disposed at the lower end portion of the inclined portion 34 and is for placing a beverage container. The placement unit 33 includes an upper placement plate 33A and a lower placement plate 33B. As shown in FIG. 6, the upper placement plate 33 </ b> A is for placing a beverage container having a medium capacity or less, such as a glass or a mug, and is detachably provided on the inclined portion 34. As shown in FIG. 7, the lower placement plate 33B is provided below the upper placement plate 33A, and is for placing a large-capacity beverage container such as a pitcher.

  The inclined portion 34 has a substantially U-shaped cross section extending in the vertical direction so as to surround a part of the periphery of the beverage container. In addition, the inclined portion 34 is supported at its upper end with respect to a rotation shaft 36 provided in a casing 35 of the cradle drive unit 32 described later, and the lower end portion on which the mounting portion 33 is disposed is the rotation end. As shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the cradle drive unit 32 mainly includes a cradle motor 37 and an arm body 38. The cradle motor 37 is housed in a casing 35 fixed to the front side of the dispenser body 10. The arm body 38 is fixed on the output side of a speed reduction mechanism (not shown) that transmits the driving force of the cradle motor 37, and the free end side is in contact with the inclined portion 34 of the container cradle 31. . The arm body 38 is rotated from the position shown in FIG. 6 to the position shown in FIG. Then, the free end of the arm body 38 pushes the inclined portion 34 of the container cradle 31 forward to tilt the container cradle 31. For this reason, the container cradle 31 has a substantially upright position in which the drinking mouth of the beverage container placed on the placing part 33 is placed almost horizontally as shown in FIG. 6 and a placing part as shown in FIG. For example, the beverage container 33 placed at an angle is rotated between an inclined position inclined at 45 degrees, for example. The container moving means 30 holds the beverage container and moves the beverage container between a substantially upright position and an inclined position. As shown in FIG. 2, two container moving means 30 configured in this way are prepared corresponding to the two beverage pouring means 20 for pouring two systems of beer. Although not explicitly shown in the drawing, as a drive source for rotating the arm body 38 in the cradle drive unit 32, pneumatic drive or hydraulic drive may be used in addition to the cradle motor 37.

  In addition, on the front side of the dispenser main body 10, a tray T for receiving spilled beer is provided at the lower part of the container moving means 30.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the operation means 40 is arranged on an operation panel 41 </ b> B provided toward the front side with respect to a frame 41 </ b> A surrounding the front side of the valve drive unit 22. The operation panel 41B is provided with selection buttons 40Aa, 40Ab, 40Ac and a display lamp 40B. The selection buttons 40Aa, 40Ab, and 40Ac correspond to the amount of beer that is automatically dispensed. For example, the selection button 40Aa on the left side in FIG. Represents the amount of jug dispensed (medium amount dispensed), and the right selection button 40Ac corresponds to the amount dispensed by the pitcher (large amount dispensed).

  Further, the display lamp 40B indicates whether or not pouring can be performed. For example, beer can be poured out when the display lamp 40B is lit in blue, and beer is not poured out when the display lamp 40B is lit in red. It shows that it is possible.

  The beverage dispenser described above has a configuration in which two beer barrels 2 are connected to the dispenser main body 10 to individually pour out two systems of beer, and the carbon dioxide gas from one carbon dioxide gas cylinder 1 is temporarily dispensed. After being sent to 10, the pressure is divided into two systems and connected to each beer barrel 2. In the present invention, not limited to such a configuration, for example, two carbon dioxide gas cylinders 1 are prepared, and each beer barrel 2 is connected by a gas hose, and carbon dioxide gas is connected via a pressure regulating valve (not shown). It is good also as a structure which sends in a beer barrel 2 directly.

  FIG. 9 shows a control system of the beverage dispenser. As shown in FIG. 9, the beverage dispenser includes an operation system control unit 50 and a dispensing control unit 60.

  The operation system control unit 50 controls the operation of the selection buttons 40Aa, 40Ab, 40Ac and the display lamp 40B. Specifically, when beer cannot be poured out, the selection buttons 40Aa, 40Ab, and 40Ac are invalidated and the display lamp 40B is lit in red. On the other hand, when beer can be poured out, the display lamp 40B is lit in blue and the selection buttons 40Aa, 40Ab, and 40Ac are activated. Further, when the activated selection buttons 40Aa, 40Ab, 40Ac are pressed, a dispensing amount signal corresponding to the pressed selection buttons 40Aa, 40Ab, 40Ac is output to the dispensing control unit 60 described later.

  The dispensing control unit 60 controls each part of the beverage dispenser according to a program and data stored in advance in the memory 61 when a dispensing amount signal is output from the operation system control unit 50. Below, the process which the extraction | pouring control part 60 performs is demonstrated. For convenience of explanation, it is assumed that the beverage dispenser is in a state where beer can be poured out. Here, a case where a medium-sized mug is used as a beverage container will be described.

  First, when the selection buttons 40Aa, 40Ab, and 40Ac are not pressed, the dispensing controller 60 of the beverage dispenser is in a standby state as shown in FIG. In this standby state, the container moving means 30 has the mounting portion 33 of the container receiving base 31 in a substantially horizontal state. Further, in this standby state, the beverage pouring means 20 is in a state in which the beer and foam are not poured from the beer pouring nozzle 23A and the foam pouring nozzle 23B.

  When a mug is placed on the upper placement plate 33A from the standby state described above and the center selection button 40Ab is pressed, the operation system control unit 50 outputs a dispensing amount signal indicating a medium dispensing amount. As a result, the dispensing control unit 60 drives the cradle driving unit 32 of the container moving means 30 to move the mug from the substantially upright position to the inclined position.

  As shown in FIG. 8, when the mug reaches the inclined position, the dispensing control unit 60 stops driving the cradle driving unit 32 of the container moving unit 30. At the same time, the dispensing control unit 60 starts dispensing beer from the beer dispensing nozzle 23 </ b> A of the dispensing valve 21 by driving the valve driving unit 22 of the beverage dispensing unit 20.

  When the beer dispensing amount from the beer dispensing nozzle 23A reaches a certain amount, the dispensing control unit 60 drives the cradle driving unit 32 to move the mug from the inclined position toward the substantially upright position. Let When the mug reaches the substantially upright position, the dispensing control unit 60 stops driving the cradle drive unit 32. Furthermore, when the beer dispensing amount reaches a predetermined amount, the dispensing control unit 60 stops driving the valve driving unit 22. In this case, the timing at which the mug reaches the substantially upright position from the inclined position may be matched with the timing at which the beer dispensing amount from the beer dispensing nozzle 23A of the dispensing valve 21 reaches a predetermined amount.

  Then, in a state where a predetermined amount of beer has been poured out into a mug at an approximately upright position, the dispensing control unit 60 drives the valve driving unit 22 to cause bubbles from the foam dispensing nozzle 23B of the dispensing valve 21. Begins to dispense. In this case, as described above, since the bubble pouring nozzle 23B can change the pouring angle, the pouring angle is appropriately changed so that the bubble bubble is brought into contact with the inner wall surface of the mug. Can do. Thereafter, when the amount of foam discharged reaches a predetermined amount, the extraction control unit 60 stops driving the valve drive unit 22 as beer extraction is completed.

  In the beverage dispensing process executed by the dispensing control unit 60 as described above, the fixed amount of beer dispensed is the amount of beer dispensed that is close to the allowable amount that the mug at the inclined position can accept beer. It is. At this time, even if the beer being poured collides with the beer poured into the mug, the liquid level of the beer is rising, so there is no possibility that the beer bubbles unnecessarily. Moreover, the ratio of beer and foam is an appropriate ratio (for example, beer 7: foam 3 or beer 8: foam 2) as the predetermined amount of beer and the predetermined amount of foam. The amount of each dispensed.

  Next, processing of the dispensing control unit 60 when beer is poured into a large-capacity beverage container such as a pitcher will be described.

  When the upper placement plate 33A is removed from the standby state, the pitcher is placed on the lower placement plate 33B, and the right selection button 40Ac is pressed, the operation system control unit 50 increases the large amount of dispensing. The indicated dispensing amount signal is output. At this time, the dispensing control unit 60 positions the pitcher in a substantially upright position without driving the cradle driving unit 32 of the container moving unit 30, and drives the valve driving unit 22 of the beverage dispensing unit 20 to drive the beer. Beer dispensing starts from the outlet nozzle 23A.

  When the beer dispensing amount from the beer dispensing nozzle 23A reaches a predetermined amount, the dispensing control unit 60 stops driving the valve driving unit 22. Then, in a state where a predetermined amount of beer has been poured out into the pitcher in the substantially upright position, the dispensing control unit 60 drives the valve driving unit 22 to cause bubbles from the bubble dispensing nozzle 23B of the dispensing valve 21. Begins to dispense. In this case, as described above, since the bubble pouring nozzle 23B can change the pouring angle, the bubble pouring angle is appropriately changed so that the bubble bubble is brought into contact with the inner wall surface of the pitcher. Can do. Thereafter, when the amount of foam discharged reaches a predetermined amount, the extraction control unit 60 stops driving the valve drive unit 22 as beer extraction is completed.

  Moreover, the said dispensing control part 60 drives the motor of the stirring means 14 intermittently for every predetermined time separately from the drink dispensing process mentioned above. Thereby, the stirring means 14 stirs the cooling water of the cooling water tank 13 by intermittently rotating the stirring rod 14B (stirring member 14E) with the intermittent driving of the motor.

  According to the beverage dispenser as described above, since the foam dispensing nozzle 23B is a variable type capable of changing the foam dispensing angle in the front-rear direction, the foam dispensing angle according to the size of the beverage container The foam poured out can be brought into contact with the inner wall surface of the beverage container. By bringing the foam thus poured into contact with the inner wall surface of the beverage container, the momentum of the foam can be reduced, and the amount of foam can be prevented from being excessively increased inside the beverage container, A beer having a desired quality can be provided. Therefore, foam can be poured out without causing a reduction in the quality of beer.

  As described above, the beverage dispenser according to the present invention is useful for providing effervescent beverages such as beer in restaurants and the like.

It is the schematic sectional side view which showed the drink dispenser in embodiment of this invention. It is the front view which showed the drink dispenser in embodiment of this invention. It is the enlarged side view which expanded and showed the stirring means in FIG. It is the exploded view which expanded and showed the stirring means in FIG. It is the perspective view which expanded and showed the upper surface of the dispenser main body in FIG. It is the side view which showed the container moving means in FIG. It is the side view which showed the container moving means in FIG. It is the side view which showed the container moving means in FIG. It is the block diagram which showed the control system of the drink dispenser in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Dispenser main body 10B Accommodating chamber 13 Cooling water tank 14 Stirring means 14A Stirring motor 14B Stirring rod 14C Connecting member 14D Stirring blade 14E Stirring member 15 Beverage supply piping 16 Loading port 17 Loading lid 18 Guide 20 Beverage dispensing means 21 Extracting valve 22 Valve Drive part 23A Beer pouring nozzle 23B Foam pouring nozzle 23Ba Horizontal part 23Bb Hanging part 30 Container moving means 31 Container cradle 32 Receptacle driving part 33 Mounting part 34 Inclining part 40 Operating means 50 Operating system control part 60 Pouring control Part

Claims (1)

And the beverage extraction means for supplying the beverage to the beverage container,
A beverage dispenser comprising: a container container that holds a beverage container that receives the dispensed beverage, and a container moving unit that moves the beverage container between a substantially upright position and an inclined position.
The beverage dispensing means is
A beverage dispensing nozzle for dispensing the beverage into the beverage container;
A foam pouring nozzle for pouring foam into the beverage container and changing the pouring angle of the foam;
When the requested amount of the dispensed beverage is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold, the beverage container is allowed to move from the substantially upright position to the inclined position according to the dispensing instruction, while the requested amount of dispensed beverage is A beverage dispenser comprising movement restriction means for prohibiting movement of a beverage container from a substantially upright position according to a dispensing instruction to an inclined position when exceeding the threshold value.

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