JP4565764B2 - Dispenser - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the present invention, a plurality of squeeze members are provided on the outer periphery of a rotor that is supported so as to be able to drive and rotate around an axis, and the squeeze member and a fixed guide disposed along the movement locus of the squeeze member are possible. The present invention relates to a dispenser configured to sandwich a flexible tube and send out fluid in the tube by movement of a squeeze member accompanying drive rotation of the rotor, and more particularly to a technique for controlling rotation of the rotor.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a technique similar to the dispenser configured as described above, there are those disclosed in JP-A-7-54776 and JP-A-8-35487, and a squeeze member is provided for the belt instead of the rotor. A related one is disclosed in JP-A-8-210257.
[0003]
Of these conventional examples, the first configuration has a plurality of rollers (squeeze members) supported on a roller support member that is driven and rotated by a motor, and fluid in a tube that is in pressure contact with the rollers is supplied to the motor. The pump is configured to be pumped by rotation, and information about the revolution angle of the roller is stored in the ROM, and the revolution angle of the roller can be controlled by designating the address of the ROM, and the tube has been used for a long time. In order to eliminate the inconvenience of reducing the pumping amount due to permanent deformation of the tube, it is possible to adjust the roller revolution angle by setting the address or to change the address to the initial state when the tube is replaced. It is configured so that an appropriate amount of pumping can be performed.
[0004]
Further, the second configuration of the conventional example is a tube pump in which three or more rollers can be driven by a DC motor, and a magnetic sensor for detecting the magnetism of a permanent magnet fixed to the rollers is provided. It is configured so that the amount of rotation of the roller can be measured, and even when the rotation speed decreases, such as when the voltage supplied to the DC motor decreases, the amount of rotation of the roller is counted by counting the number of signals from the magnetic sensor. Is accurately grasped and the tube pump can supply the required amount of liquid.
[0005]
The third configuration of the conventional example includes four discharge rollers on a toothed belt wound around a pair of sprockets, and sends the liquid fluid in the tube by pressing the discharge rollers against the tube. The toothed belt is rotated by ¼, and a certain amount of liquid fluid can be sent out.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described at the beginning, a dispenser with a structure in which a flexible tube is sandwiched between a squeeze member and a fixed guide, and the fluid in the tube is sent by moving the squeeze member with the rotational force of the rotor sells beverages. Often used in vending machines. Moreover, in the dispenser used for a vending machine, the end part on the discharge side of the tube may communicate with a nozzle or the like and be used in an open form. In a dispenser having this structure, for example, a device that cannot control the rotation angle of the rotor, such as one that uses a DC motor to rotationally drive the rotor, when the rotation of the rotor is stopped, It can be considered as a phenomenon that the squeeze member is located at a position slightly deviated from the end to the lower position in the fluid delivery direction. When the rotation of the rotor stops in such a state, the squeeze member comes into contact with the tube at a position deviated from the fixed guide, so that the flow of the fluid in the tube is suppressed and curved along the fixed guide. The beverage or undiluted beverage solution remains in the tube in the closed state and is left in contact with the air that has entered from the end of the tube, and the quality is easily deteriorated or altered by oxidation. There is room for improvement.
[0007]
Considering this inconvenience in comparison with the above-described conventional example, the first configuration of the conventional example only allows adjustment of the amount of rotation of the rotor, and the conventional configuration of the second configuration uses the rotor. In the third configuration of the related art, the rotor can be rotated by a fixed amount, but the fluid in the tube is stopped at the timing when the rotation of the rotor is stopped. Is not kept in contact with air, and there is room for improvement.
[0008]
An object of the present invention is to rationally configure a dispenser that does not contact the air that has entered from the end of the tube with the fluid in the tube at the timing when the rotation of the rotor is stopped.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The features, actions and effects of the dispenser according to claim 1 of the present invention are as follows.
〔Characteristic〕
A flexible tube is provided between the squeeze member and a fixed guide disposed along the movement locus of the squeeze member. In the dispenser configured to feed the fluid in the tube by the movement of the squeeze member accompanying the drive rotation of the rotor, when the rotation of the rotor is stopped, the squeeze member is rotated in the rotation direction of the rotor of the fixed guide a control means for stopping the end position of the downstream side in,
A fluid storage unit that supplies fluid to the tube, a measuring unit that measures the remaining amount of fluid in the fluid storing unit, and a decrease in the remaining amount of fluid based on the measurement result of the measuring unit are recognized. It is in the point provided with the alerting | reporting means which act | operates at the time .
[0010]
[Action / Effect]
According to the above feature, when the rotation of the rotor is stopped, the control means sets the squeeze member at the lower end position in the rotation direction of the fixed guide rotor, and the rotor is fixed when the rotor is stopped. The squeeze member contacts the end position of the guide and the tube is sandwiched. In this state, since the tube located on the lower side in the delivery direction with respect to the pinching position is not restrained by the fixed guide or the squeeze member, it is easy to make the tube hang down smoothly. It is possible to drain the fluid by its own weight. As a result, in a state where the rotation of the rotor is stopped, not only is it difficult for the fluid to remain in the tube on the lower side from the squeeze member, but also the air entering from the end of the tube and the fluid remaining in the tube A dispenser that can reliably avoid contact was reasonably constructed. In particular, by rotating the rotor, the fluid stored in the fluid storage unit is sent out, and the measurement unit measures the remaining amount of the fluid stored in the fluid storage unit and recognizes a decrease in the remaining amount. In this case, the operator or the like is made to recognize the decrease in the remaining amount by the operation of the notification means. As a result, replenishment of the fluid to the fluid storage part and replacement of the fluid storage part can be reliably performed, and the inconvenience that the fluid cannot be supplied can be solved.
[0011]
The features, actions and effects of the dispenser according to claim 2 of the present invention are as follows.
〔Characteristic〕
2. The dispenser according to claim 1, further comprising: a sensor that can determine that the squeeze member has reached the lower end position in the rotational direction of the rotor of the fixed guide; and an electric motor that drives and rotates the rotor. The control means is configured to set the timing for stopping the electric motor based on the discrimination result of the sensor.
[0012]
[Action / Effect]
According to the above feature, when stopping the rotation of the rotor, the electric motor is stopped at the timing when the sensor determines that the squeeze member has reached the lower end position in the rotation direction of the rotor of the fixed guide. An inexpensive DC motor can be used as the electric motor. As a result, the rotation stop position of the rotor can be set with high accuracy while enabling cost reduction of the motor for driving and rotating the rotor.
[0013]
The features, actions and effects of the dispenser according to claim 3 of the present invention are as follows.
〔Characteristic〕
2. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein an electric motor capable of controlling a rotation angle of the rotor based on a control signal is used as a drive source for driving and rotating the rotor, and the squeeze member is the fixed guide. The control device is configured to perform a process of stopping the electric motor at the timing when the lower end position in the rotation direction of the rotor is reached.
[0014]
[Action / Effect]
According to the above feature, when the rotation of the rotor is stopped, the electric motor is stopped at a timing at which the squeeze member reaches a rotation angle at which the squeeze member reaches the lower end position in the rotation direction of the fixed guide rotor. There is no need to use sensors for measuring the rotation angle. As a result, the rotation stop position of the rotor can be set with high accuracy while eliminating the need for sensors for measuring the rotation angle of the rotor and enabling cost reduction.
[0015]
The features, actions and effects of the dispenser according to claim 4 of the present invention are as follows.
〔Characteristic〕
The dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a fluid feed mode is set so as to feed the fluid in the tube by sandwiching the tube between the two squeeze members and the fixed guide, and the control means. When a signal for starting the delivery of fluid is input, the fluid quantity in the tube sandwiched between the two squeeze members is used as a unit of measurement, and an amount that is an integral multiple of this unit of measurement is sent. The processing mode is set so that the rotation of the rotor is stopped after the rotor has been rotated by the amount to be performed.
[0016]
[Action / Effect]
According to the above feature, when the fluid is delivered by the dispenser, the rotor is rotated by an amount necessary for delivering the fluid of an integral multiple of the unit of measurement. After the fluid is delivered by this rotation, the squeeze is performed. The member reaches the lower end position in the rotation direction of the rotor of the fixed guide and stops rotating. As a result, an arbitrary amount of fluid that is an integral multiple of the unit of measurement can be delivered.
[0019]
The features, actions and effects of the dispenser according to claim 5 of the present invention are as follows.
〔Characteristic〕
In the dispenser of any one of claims 1-4, in that the squeezing member is constituted by a roller which is idly supported around the axis of orientation parallel to the rotational axis of the rotor.
[0020]
[Action / Effect]
According to the above feature, the squeeze member is composed of a roller, so that the frictional force is reduced to smoothly rotate the rotor, and at the same time, the wear of the tube and the squeeze member itself are suppressed. Become. As a result, it is not necessary to use a large motor, and it can be properly operated over a long period of time.
[0021]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, a dispenser is configured to deliver a set amount of a fluid typified by beverages such as concentrated coffee and concentrated juice stored in a fluid storage section A as necessary. This dispenser is mainly provided in a vending machine for beverages, and is connected to the fluid reservoir A at the upper end of a tube 1 in a vertically oriented posture, and the fluid is metered and sent to an intermediate portion of the tube 1. The metering part B to be taken out is arranged, and the nozzle 2 is connected to the lower end of the tube 1. The tube 1 is made of a flexible material that elastically deforms relatively easily, such as rubber or soft resin, and has a hollow cylindrical shape in a natural state (a state where no external force acts). Has been. Further, in the figure, a nozzle 3 for sending hot water or cold water for diluting the fluid sent from the nozzle 2 is disposed at a close position, and a paper cup, a resin cup, etc. are provided below the nozzles 2 and 3, respectively. The container 4 is set.
[0022]
The fluid storage section A is configured as a refrigeration chamber 6 for storing a pack 5 made of a flexible resin sheet material in which a beverage is enclosed. The refrigeration chamber 6 includes a table 7 on which the pack 5 is placed. The pack 5 is configured to be replaceable with respect to the upper end of the tube 1, and the table 7 is supported so as to be swingable around a support shaft 8 in a horizontal posture. Further, by providing a spring 9 for biasing the swing end of the table 7 upward and a remaining amount sensor 10 for detecting that the table 7 swings upward, the remaining amount of fluid in the pack can be reduced. A remaining amount sensor 10 as a measuring means is configured to measure the reduction to less than the fixed amount based on the decrease in weight. In this embodiment, the remaining amount sensor 10 is configured to detect a decrease in the remaining amount of fluid in the pack based on the weight. However, the storage unit includes a tank and measures the liquid level in the tank. It is also possible to configure the remaining amount sensor 10 as described above.
[0023]
The measuring unit B includes a circular rotor 13 rotatably supported via a drive shaft 12 in a horizontal posture with respect to the frame 11, and a posture parallel to the drive shaft 12 with respect to the outer peripheral portion of the rotor 13. Three squeeze rollers (an example of a squeeze member) are rotatably supported around the shaft body 14 and an arcuate fixed guide 16 that is coaxial with the axis of the rotor 13 is positioned near the outer periphery of the rotor 13. Direct current type that is fixed to the frame 11 via connecting pins 17 and 18 at the upper and lower positions, the tube 1 is disposed between the fixed guide 11 and the outer peripheral portion of the rotor 13, and transmits the rotational force to the drive shaft 12. The electric motor M is provided in the frame 11. And it is comprised so that the fluid in a tube can be sent below by rotating the rotor 13 in the direction shown by the arrow in FIG. The connecting pins 17 and 18 are both detachably attached to the frame 11. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the other end of the fixed guide 16 is made free by removing the upper connecting pin. Thus, the crimping of the squeeze roller 15 to the tube 1 can be released, and the fixing guide 16 can be detached from the frame 11 by extracting each of the connecting pins 17 and 18.
[0024]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fixed guide 16 includes an arcuate guide surface 16G that is coaxial with the axis of the drive shaft 12 of the rotor 13, and the rotation of the rotor 13 on the guide surface 16G. The timing at which the squeeze roller 15 reaches an end E at the lower position in the direction (hereinafter referred to as “lower end E”), that is, a straight line connecting the axis of the drive shaft 12 and the lower end E In order to stop the rotor 13 at the timing when the shaft 14 of the squeeze roller 15 reaches L, a cam portion 19 is formed on the outer periphery of the rotor 13 so as to detect contact with the cam portion 19. The rotational attitude sensor 20 is arranged close to the outer periphery of the rotor 13. This rotational attitude sensor 20 uses a sensor that reaches the ON state when it contacts the cam portion 19 (or may be one that reaches the OFF state).
[0025]
And this dispenser is provided with the following control systems. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the remaining amount sensor 10, the rotation posture sensor 20, and the fluid delivery amount are set for a control device 21 (an example of control means) provided with a microprocessor (not shown). An input system is formed in which a signal from each of the setting switches 22 composed of a dip switch, a rotary switch, or the like that can set a signal of a plurality of bits is input and a trigger signal for starting transmission is input. At the same time, an output system for outputting a signal to each of the non-supplyable lamp 23 as a notification means made of a light emitting diode and the switching transistor 24 for controlling the electric power from the power source for the electric motor M is formed.
[0026]
In this dispenser, the amount of fluid enclosed in a region sandwiched in the circumferential direction of the rotor 13 by a pair of squeeze rollers 15 and 15 is used as a unit of measurement, and the setting switch 22 sets the flow rate delivered by this dispenser. Used to do. Specifically, when the setting switch 22 has a 4-bit output, the setting switch 22 is set to “0001” to send one weighing unit, and the setting switch 22 is set to “0101” to send five weighing units. The processing mode of the control device 21 is set so as to perform the above, and the outline of the control mode can be expressed as shown in the flowchart of FIG.
[0027]
That is, when a trigger signal is input, the count value n is set to “0”, the measurement unit K is set to the value of the setting switch 22, and then the electric motor M is supplied with electric power to drive and rotate the rotor 13. To start. The count value n is incremented every time the rotation attitude sensor 20 reaches the ON state due to this rotation (the process of adding +1 is performed), and at the timing when the count value n reaches the measurement unit K (n = K), the electric motor M Is stopped to stop the rotation of the rotor 13 (steps # 101 to # 105). In particular, in this process, the sending amount is set by reading the setting state of the setting switch 22 when sending is started. Instead, an input for loading the setting value to the control device 21 is performed. It is also possible to adopt a structure including a system, save the input value in this way by a process such as writing to the EEPROM, and set the processing operation to set the fluid delivery amount based on the saved value. Is possible.
[0028]
Although not shown in this flowchart, when the remaining amount of fluid in the pack is lower than a preset amount in the fluid reservoir A, the swing end of the table 7 is lifted upward by the biasing force of the spring 9. The remaining amount sensor 10 detects this state. In this way, the processing mode of the control device 21 is set so as to perform the process of turning on the supply disable lamp 23 when the remaining amount sensor 10 reaches the detection state. This process is performed in the same manner even when the remaining amount sensor 10 is configured to measure the liquid level. In particular, in the present invention, when the remaining amount of fluid in the pack is lower than a preset amount in the fluid reservoir A, the supply disable lamp 23 is turned on and the rotor 13 is turned on even when a trigger signal is input. It is also possible to set the processing mode of the control device 21 so that the rotation is not performed.
[0029]
Thus, by stopping the rotation of the rotor 13 at the timing when the rotation posture switch reaches the ON state, the tube 1 is connected by the lower end E of the fixed guide 16 and the squeeze roller 15 as shown in FIG. Since the tube 1 hangs in a state where the tube 1 is not regulated by the fixed guide 16 at the lower side portion in the feeding direction from this, the fluid in the tube is sent out by its own weight at this hanging portion, and the fluid does not remain in the tube It becomes. Moreover, since the nozzle 2 has an open structure, air enters the inside of the tube 1 from the nozzle 2, but outside air does not enter the upper side of the delivery direction from the pinching position, and this part In other words, there is no inconvenience of oxidizing or changing the quality of the fluid, that is, concentrated coffee or concentrated juice.
[0030]
[Another embodiment]
In the present invention, in addition to the above embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, a stepping motor M is used in place of the DC motor M of the above embodiment, and the rotational attitude sensor 20 of the above embodiment is omitted. It is also possible to adopt. That is, each of the setting switches 22 including a remaining amount sensor 10 and a dip switch or a rotary switch that can set a multi-bit signal for setting the fluid delivery amount to the control device 21 including the microprocessor. Is a controller that controls the electric power from the power supply to the non-supplyable lamp 23 and the stepping motor M, which are formed of light emitting diodes. An output system for outputting a signal to each of 27 is formed, and the control mode is set as shown in the flowchart of FIG.
[0031]
When the trigger signal is input, the value P of the rotation amount of the rotor 13 is set to “0”, the measurement unit K is set based on the setting switch 22, and then the drive signal is sent to the controller 27 of the stepping motor M. Is output to start driving rotation of the rotor 13. During this rotation, the rotation amount value P is integrated based on the drive signal, and at the timing when this value P reaches the measurement unit K (P = K), the output of the drive signal is stopped and the rotation of the rotor is stopped ( Steps # 201 to # 205). In this process, the number of pulses of the drive signal is used as the rotation amount value P, and the number of pulses set as the rotation amount value P in this way is the number of pulses of the drive signal output from the control device 21. Processing to stop the rotation of the stepping motor M is performed at a timing that matches the number.
[0032]
In this way, when the stepping motor M is used, sensors for obtaining the rotational attitude of the rotor 13 are not required, and processing can be performed with high accuracy without causing control failure when the sensor fails.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view showing a dispenser provided in a vending machine. FIG. 2 is a front view showing a dispenser while a rotor is rotating. FIG. 3 is a block circuit diagram of a control system. FIG. 5 is a block circuit diagram of a control system in another embodiment. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a control operation of a control device in another embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tube 10 Measuring means 13 Rotor 15 Squeeze member and roller 16 Fixed guide 20 Sensor 21 Control means A Fluid storage part M Electric motor

Claims (5)

A flexible tube is provided between the squeeze member and a fixed guide disposed along the movement locus of the squeeze member. A dispenser configured to deliver fluid in the tube by movement of a squeeze member accompanying drive rotation of the rotor,
Control means for stopping the squeeze member at the lower end position in the rotation direction of the rotor of the fixed guide when stopping the rotation of the rotor ,
A fluid storage unit that supplies fluid to the tube, a measuring unit that measures the remaining amount of fluid in the fluid storing unit, and a decrease in the remaining amount of fluid based on the measurement result of the measuring unit are recognized. Dispensers provided with notification means that operate when   A sensor capable of determining that the squeeze member has reached the lower end position in the rotational direction of the rotor of the fixed guide, and an electric motor for driving and rotating the rotor. The dispenser of Claim 1 comprised so that the timing which stops an electric motor might be set based on a discrimination | determination result.   As a drive source for driving and rotating the rotor, an electric motor capable of controlling the rotation angle of the rotor based on a control signal is used. The dispenser of Claim 1 comprised using the control apparatus which performs the process which stops an electric motor at the timing which reached the edge part position of a lower side.   The fluid feeding mode is set so as to feed the fluid in the tube by sandwiching the tube between the two squeeze members and the fixed guide, and the control means receives a signal for starting fluid delivery. In this case, the amount of fluid in the tube sandwiched between the two squeeze members is used as a unit of measurement, and the rotor is rotated by an amount that delivers an amount that is an integral multiple of this unit of measurement. The dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a processing form is set so as to stop the rotation of the liquid. The dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the squeeze member is constituted by a roller that is idle-supported around an axis in a posture parallel to the rotation axis of the rotor.

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