JP5200449B2 - Powder raw material supply equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a powder raw material supply device for automatically supplying a powder raw material for beverages to a cup set by a user, for example, supplying a powder raw material as a topping material to a cup containing beverages, The present invention relates to a powder raw material supply device for supplying powder raw material to a cup before and after supplying hot water.

  In recent years, beverages have become increasingly diverse in taste, and topping materials (such as cinnamon powder and almond chips) that are powdery or granular foods can be topped on beverages such as coffee and juice for flavoring and the like. Has been done. For example, in restaurants, customers select a container from multiple containers containing various topping materials according to their own preference or according to their order, and shake it on a cup containing beverages. The topping on the beverage is performed depending on the situation. As described above, the topping of the beverage is usually performed by a human hand. Therefore, conventionally, a topping-dedicated device (hereinafter referred to as a “topping-dedicated machine”) that automatically supplies the topping material to the beverage-containing cup. ) Does not exist.

  However, cup-type vending machines that sell beverages with topping material topped are known, and there is a topping material supply device built in such a vending machine that supplies topping material to a cup containing beverages. For example, it is disclosed in cited document 1. This topping material supply device includes a plurality of canisters arranged side by side in the left-right direction, and each of these canisters has a different topping material, specifically, cocoa powder, cinnamon powder, chocolate chip or almond chip. Etc. are housed. Each canister is provided with a cylindrical chute extending downward from a discharge port for discharging the topping material. At the time of sale, when a topping is selected, after the beverage is supplied to the cup, the cup is transported below the chute of the canister that contains the selected topping material. A predetermined amount of the topping material discharged from the canister is guided by the chute and supplied to the cup containing the beverage. The cup is then transported to the merchandise outlet and provided to the purchaser.

  When the topping material supply device as described above is adopted for a topping machine, similarly to a plurality of canisters, chutes corresponding to the canisters are also arranged in parallel in the left-right direction, and supply of the topping material supplied through the chutes The position varies depending on the topping material. For this reason, the user of the machine for exclusive use of a topping must set the cup with a drink in the supply position corresponding to a desired topping material. In this case, if the cup containing the beverage is erroneously set at a supply position different from the desired topping material, there is a possibility that a different one from the desired topping material is topped. In addition, if a large number of canisters are arranged in parallel in the left-right direction in order to increase the types of topping materials, the width of the dedicated topping machine increases accordingly and the size increases.

  Further, for example, Patent Document 2 discloses a raw material supply apparatus including a chute capable of supplying a plurality of types of powder raw materials to a common supply position. Similar to Patent Document 1, this raw material supply device is built in a cup-type vending machine, and includes three canisters arranged side by side in the left-right direction and a chute extending downward from these canisters. . The chute is tapered downward, and three raw material passages are partitioned in the chute by two partition plates provided inside and extending in the vertical direction. Therefore, the powder raw material discharged from each canister falls through the corresponding raw material passage, and is supplied to the cup conveyed to the common supply position directly under the chute.

  In the above chute, each partition plate extends between the upper end of the chute and a position near the center of the chute in the vertical direction, so that each raw material passage is completely partitioned in the upper half of the chute. ing. However, in the lower half of the chute, there is no partition plate, and a single raw material passage is formed by joining three raw material passages.

  When a material supply device equipped with such a chute is used in a dedicated machine for topping, the topping material at the previous and current toppings is different from each other, and the previous topping material remains in a single material passage at the bottom of the chute. If so, there is a possibility that the desired topping material to be topped is mixed with the previous topping material and supplied to the cup. Thus, when a topping to a beverage is performed in a state where a different topping material is mixed in a desired topping material, the flavor of the beverage is different from the desired one, and the quality of the entire beverage is degraded.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and can appropriately supply a desired powder raw material without mixing powder raw materials different from each other. As a result, the quality is high in variety. It aims at providing the powder raw material supply apparatus which can provide the drink of this.

JP 2002-260089 A JP 2001-307216 A

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is a powder raw material supply apparatus for supplying a powder raw material for beverages to a cup set by a user, wherein the powder is obtained from a plurality of different types of powder raw materials. The powder raw material selection unit operated to select the raw material and the powder raw material selection unit that are arranged in parallel with each other, and each of the plurality of types of powder raw materials are accommodated, and when the powder raw material selection unit is operated, A plurality of canisters that discharge a predetermined amount of powder raw material, a cup set unit that is provided below the plurality of canisters and in which a cup is set, and is disposed between the plurality of canisters and the cup set unit. A chute that guides the cup set in the cup setting portion, and the chute is formed in a cylindrical shape that opens upward and downward, and tapers downward. And cases removably attached to the case, a partition which divides extends throughout the vertical direction of the case, the inside of the case, a plurality of powder feed passages in which a plurality of types of powder material passes respectively discharged from the plurality of canisters And the partition portion is formed so as to be accommodated in the case in a state of being in contact with each other and fitted into the case as a whole, and a plurality of powder raw material passages between the inner surface of the case It is comprised by the some partition member which each defines .

According to this configuration, when the user sets the cup in the cup setting unit and operates the powder raw material selection unit, a predetermined amount of the powder raw material selected by the operation from the plurality of canisters arranged in parallel with each other. Discharged. The discharged powder raw material is guided by the chute and supplied to the lower cup. The chute has a cylindrical case that opens upward and downward, and a plurality of powder raw material passages through which a plurality of types of powder raw materials discharged from a plurality of canisters pass through a partition provided in the case. It is divided into. The case is formed in a tapered shape downward, and the partition portion extends over the entire vertical direction of the case. Thereby, each of the plurality of powder raw material passages is completely partitioned over the entire vertical direction and is in a state of being gathered downward. Therefore, by guiding the powder raw material discharged from the canister to the cup by the chute having such a plurality of powder raw material passages, a desired powder raw material is appropriately supplied to the cup without mixing different powder raw materials. be able to. As described above, according to the present invention, a desired powder raw material can be appropriately selected by arbitrarily selecting from a plurality of types of powder raw materials, and as a result, a high-quality beverage rich in variety is provided. Can do.
In addition, since the partition part is detachably attached to the case, the inner surface of the case can be easily cleaned by removing the partition part from the case during maintenance, and the removed partition part can be washed in a circle, etc. This allows easy and clean cleaning.
Further, since the plurality of partition members constituting the partition portion are formed so as to be accommodated in the case in a state of being in contact with each other and being fitted into the case as a whole, It can be easily attached while positioning at an appropriate position. Moreover, at the time of maintenance, it is possible to easily remove the partition members while disassembling them by simply pulling out the plurality of partition members from the case. Since these decomposed partition members are smaller than the case where the partition portions are integrally formed, round washing can be easily performed. Furthermore, by preparing multiple types of partition members in advance and combining the partition members appropriately according to the number of canisters and the discharge position of the powder material from the canisters, the size and layout of the powder material passage can be made easy. Can be changed.

The invention according to claim 2 is the powder raw material supply apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a chute holder that attaches and supports the chute detachably, and the case is detachable from each other. It has a case member.

  According to this configuration, during the maintenance, the chute is removed from the chute holder, and the case of this chute is disassembled into the first and second case members, and these are washed in the same manner as the partition portion. Can be washed easily and cleanly.

The invention according to claim 3 is the powder raw material supply apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the first and second case members are arranged in the front-rear direction, and the first case member is tapered downward. A first front plate portion having a trapezoidal shape, and left and right first side plate portions extending from the left and right end portions of the first front plate portion toward the second case member. A first case member having substantially the same shape and size as the front plate portion, facing the first front plate portion with a distance in the front-rear direction, and a left and right end portion of the second front plate portion. Left and right second side plate portions that are engaged with the left and right first side plate portions of the first case member in an overlapping state from one of the inner side and the outer side, respectively. .

  According to this configuration, each of the first and second front plate portions has a trapezoidal shape that is tapered downward, is formed in substantially the same shape and size, and is spaced from each other in the front-rear direction. Facing each other. In addition, the left and right second side plate portions of the second case member engage with the first case plate left and right first side plate portions in an overlapping state from one of the inside and the outside. That is, the case constituted by the first and second case members is configured to be relatively strong, with one of the first and second case members fitted into the other and attached in a substantially retaining state. In addition, the case can be easily disassembled and assembled during maintenance. That is, when disassembling the case, for example, by sliding one of the first and second case members having the left and right side plate portions on the inside upward from the other, both can be easily disassembled. . On the other hand, when assembling the case, the case can be easily assembled in the reverse order of the above.

The invention according to claim 4 is the powder raw material supply apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , further comprising a heater for heating the chute to a predetermined temperature.

  In general, when the humidity in the chute is high, the powder raw material tends to adhere to the wall surface when it passes through the powder raw material passage due to the humidity in the chute and may remain. Therefore, by heating the chute to a predetermined temperature with the heater, the humidity in the chute can be reduced, thereby greatly reducing the adhesion and remaining of the powder raw material on the wall surface of the powder raw material passage. it can.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the powder raw material supply apparatus according to the fourth aspect , each of the plurality of canisters has a discharge port for discharging the powder raw material substantially horizontally, and the chute discharges heat from the heater. In order to transmit to an exit, it has further the heat-transfer part which opposes the discharge outlet at predetermined intervals, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  According to this configuration, the heat transfer part of the chute is opposed to each discharge port of the plurality of canisters at a predetermined interval, and when the chute is heated by the heater, the heat is transferred to the heat transfer part, Furthermore, the heat of the heat transfer section is transmitted to the discharge port through a space between the discharge port. In general, when the humidity near the discharge port is high, the powder raw materials near the discharge port may stick to each other due to moisture and become so-called foolish. Therefore, by transferring the heat from the heater to the discharge port via the heat transfer section, the humidity near the discharge port can be reduced, thereby preventing the powder material near the discharge port from being fooled. Can do. As a result, it is possible to supply a high-quality powder raw material without waste. Further, since it is possible to prevent the powder material from being fooled in the vicinity of the discharge port only by providing the heat transfer portion on the chute, it is not necessary to provide a dedicated heater for preventing the trash from being generated.

The invention according to claim 6 is the powder raw material supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the exhaust device has a suction port near the lower end of the chute and discharges the air sucked from the suction port to the outside. Is further provided.

  According to this configuration, the air near the lower end of the chute is sucked from the suction port and discharged to the outside by the exhaust device. For example, when a cup containing a drink is set in the cup setting section, the moisture near the lower end of the chute usually increases, and steam rises particularly when the drink in the cup is a hot drink such as hot coffee. As a result, the humidity is further increased. In this case, due to the moisture, when the powder raw material passes through the powder raw material passage, it tends to adhere to the wall surface and may remain. Therefore, as described above, the air near the lower end of the chute can be sucked and discharged, thereby reducing the humidity near the lower end of the chute, whereby the powder raw material adheres and remains on the wall surface of the powder raw material passage. Can be greatly reduced. Further, in combination with the invention of claim 6, the effect of reducing the adhesion / residue of the powder raw material to the wall surface of the powder raw material passage can be further enhanced.

The invention according to claim 7 is the powder raw material supply device according to claim 6 , further comprising a control device for controlling the exhaust device, wherein the control device supplies the cup with the powder raw material discharged from the canister. Thereafter, the exhaust device is operated for a predetermined time.

  According to this configuration, after the powder raw material discharged from the canister is supplied to the cup, moisture near the lower end of the chute can be continuously reduced for a predetermined time. In addition, since the operation of the exhaust device is started after the powder raw material is supplied to the cup, the powder raw material is not sucked from the suction port.

The invention according to claim 8 is the powder raw material supply apparatus according to claim 7 , further comprising detection means for detecting whether or not the powder raw material selection unit has been operated, the control device during the operation of the exhaust device, The exhaust device is stopped when it is detected that the powder raw material selection unit has been operated.

  According to this configuration, during operation of the exhaust device, that is, when the exhaust device that has started operation after the supply of the powder raw material to the cup is continuously operating, the powder raw material selection unit has been operated. When detected, the exhaust device stops at that time. Thereby, the powder raw material discharged from the canister and passing through the powder raw material passage of the chute is not sucked from the suction port when supplied to the cup.

The invention according to claim 9 is the powder raw material supply apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8 , wherein the powder raw material is a topping material supplied to a cup containing beverage, and the powder raw material supply apparatus is a topping material It is a supply device.

  According to this structure, a user can topping a desired topping material appropriately and easily on a beverage simply by setting a cup containing a beverage in a cup setting unit and operating a powder raw material selection unit.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a flavor powder dispenser in which a powder raw material supply apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied as a topping material supply apparatus, and FIG. 2 shows its internal structure. The flavor powder dispenser 1 (hereinafter simply referred to as “powder dispenser”) is installed in, for example, a free drink corner of a family restaurant or a fast food restaurant, and a topping material is placed on a cup C containing a beverage set by a user or the like. The flavor powder (powder raw material) is automatically supplied and topped on the beverage. The beverage in the cup C is, for example, a soft drink such as cola or coffee, and the flavor powder is lemon powder, cinnamon powder, cocoa powder, or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the powder dispenser 1 is formed such that the front shape is formed in a vertically long rectangular shape, and the upper and lower ends are greatly projected forward. Moreover, the operation part 2 (powder raw material selection part) operated by a user is provided in the upper front surface of the powder dispenser 1, and the cup setting part 3 for setting the cup C containing a drink is provided in the lower part. It has been.

  The operation unit 2 has a total of six selection buttons 2a in three columns in the vertical direction and two columns on the left and right, and each selection button 2a corresponds to each of six canisters 4 to be described later. These selection buttons 2a are electrically connected to a control device 8 to be described later. In addition, on the outer side of each selection button 2a, a product name plate 2b on which product names of flavor powders are written is provided.

  The cup set portion 3 is opened upward and the upper surface is inclined forward and downward, and a case 3a having a predetermined depth, and a hook-like shape horizontally provided inside the case 3a in a state of floating from the bottom surface Cup tray 3b (see FIG. 2) and a cup guide 3c that is formed into a predetermined shape by bending a metal bar, etc., is erected on the cup tray 3b, and has an upper end that curves convexly backward. Have. In the cup set portion 3 configured as described above, the cup C containing the beverage is placed on the cup tray 3b in a state of being in contact with the upper end portion of the cup guide portion 3c from the front during topping. Thereby, the cup C with a drink is set in the common supply position which can supply all the multiple types of flavor powder through the chute | shoot 16 mentioned later.

  As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the powder dispenser 1 accommodates a plurality of different types of flavor powders and discharges a predetermined amount of flavor powder at the time of topping, and a lower end of a chute 16 described later. An exhaust fan 5 (exhaust device) for sucking near air, a chute heater 6 (heater) for heating the chute 16, a canister heater 7 for heating the canister 4, and a microcomputer for controlling them And a control device 8 (detection means) having

  As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of canisters 4 are arranged in parallel in the left-right direction, with three pairs each having two pairs symmetrical in the front-rear direction in the upper part in the powder dispenser 1, and are configured with a total of six canisters 4. ing. Each canister 4 is provided with a canister body 11 for containing flavor powder, and a feed screw for sending flavor powder to the outside at the bottom of the canister body 11 so as to be rotatable about a horizontal axis extending in the front-rear direction. 12 (only one end protruding from the canister body is shown), a motor 13 for driving the feed screw 12, a gear box 14, and the like. As shown in FIG. 1, these canisters 4 are covered with a canister cover 1 a that constitutes a part of the outer case of the powder dispenser 1. The canister cover 1a is configured to be rotatable about a horizontal axis extending in the left-right direction via a hinge 1b provided at the rear end portion of the top plate portion, and the canister body 11 is supplemented with flavor powder. Sometimes, the operating unit 2 and the operation unit 2 are opened in a state of being rotated rearward.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the canister body 11 has a predetermined capacity (for example, 0.05 liter), and a lower part is provided with a discharge port 11a that protrudes horizontally and discharges flavor powder horizontally. Yes. In addition, one end portion of the delivery screw 12 projects outward from the canister body 11 on the side opposite to the discharge port 11 a of the canister body 11, and the one end portion is connected to the gear box 14 via the joint 15. ing. Therefore, when the motor 13 is operated, the delivery screw 12 is rotated, whereby the flavor powder in the canister body 11 is discharged horizontally from the discharge port 11a. The detailed structure of the discharge port 11a and the delivery screw 12 will not be described, but the delivery screw 12 is operated at a predetermined angle in a predetermined direction by operating the motor 13 for a predetermined time (for example, 2.5 seconds). Thus, a minute amount (for example, 0.2 g) of flavor powder is discharged from the discharge port 11a.

  Further, as described above, the front and rear canisters 4, 4 of each set are arranged symmetrically in the front-rear direction, and their discharge ports 11 a, 11 a face each other with a predetermined interval. Accordingly, the flavor powder discharged from the front canister 4 through the discharge port 11a is discharged backward, while the flavor powder discharged from the rear canister 4 through the discharge port 11a is discharged forward. The And these flavor powders are guided by the chute | shoot 16 and are supplied to the cup C containing a drink below. The configuration of the chute 16 will be described later.

  Below the canister 4, a chute holder 17 that supports the chute 16 is provided. The chute holder 17 is made of a metal plate having a predetermined shape, and extends from the vicinity of the bottom of the rear canister body 11 so as to incline forward and downward. The chute 16 is detachably attached to the front side of the chute holder 17 via the left and right hooks 16a, 16a on the upper side of the rear side, while the chute heater 6 is attached to the rear side of the chute holder 17. ing. The chute heater 6 heats the chute 16 to a predetermined temperature (for example, 40 to 50 ° C.) via the chute holder 17 by generating heat.

  The canister heater 7 (only the right one is shown in FIG. 2B) is disposed on the left and right sides of the canister 4. When these canister heaters 7 generate heat, the canister body 11 is brought to a predetermined temperature (for example, 40 ° C.) via a metal support plate (not shown) on which the canister body 11 is placed. Heat. Thereby, the flavor powder in the canister body 11 can be prevented from sticking to each other and becoming a lump.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the exhaust fan 5 is connected to a suction nozzle 18 disposed on the back side of the chute holder 17 via a suction duct 19. The suction nozzle 18 has a downward suction port 18 a located near the lower end of the chute 16. The exhaust fan 5 is connected to an exhaust duct 20 that extends downward and slightly protrudes downward from the bottom plate of the outer case of the powder dispenser 1. Therefore, when the exhaust fan 5 operates, the air near the lower end of the chute 16 is sucked from the suction port 18a and discharged to the lower side of the powder dispenser 1 through the suction duct 19 and the exhaust duct 20. Reference numeral 10 shown in FIG. 1 denotes a chute cover that covers the periphery of the chute 16 and the suction nozzle 18. The chute cover 10 has an opening corresponding to the chute 16 and the suction port 18 a at the bottom, and a powder dispenser. 1 is detachably attached to the exterior case.

  Next, the configuration of the chute 16 will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the chute 16 is formed in a cylindrical shape that opens upward and downward, and has a case 21 tapered downward, and six powder passages 22 (powder raw materials) in the case 21. It is comprised with the partition part 23 partitioned off into a channel | path.

  FIG. 6 shows a state where the chute 16 is disassembled. As shown in the figure, the case 21 includes a front case member 24 (first case member, second case member) and a rear case member 25 (second case member, first case member) arranged in the front-rear direction. On the other hand, the partition portion 23 is composed of six partition members 26 having a predetermined shape. These front and rear case members 24 and 25 and the six partition members 26 are each formed by bending a stainless plate having a predetermined shape.

  The front case member 24 is rearward from the front front plate portion 24a (first front plate portion, second front plate portion) having a tapered trapezoidal shape downward and the left and right end portions of the front front plate portion 24a. The left and right side plate portions 24b and 24b (first side plate portion and second side plate portion) are bent and extended substantially at right angles to each other, and the planar shape is formed in a U shape that opens rearward. The rear case member 25 includes a rear front plate portion 25a (second front plate portion, first front plate portion) having substantially the same shape and size as the front front plate portion 24a, and left and right sides of the rear front plate portion 25a. Left and right side plate portions 25b, 25b (second side plate portion, first side plate portion) extending from the end portion by bending at a substantially right angle to the front, and from the front end portions of these side plate portions 25b, 25b, substantially perpendicular to the inside. And bent plate portions 25c and 25c that are slightly extended. Note that the hooks 16 a and 16 a are provided at the left and right ends of the upper part on the back side of the rear case member 25.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the front case member 24 and the rear case member 25 are fitted inside the rear case member 25, and the left and right side plate portions 24 b and 24 b of the former 24 are The left and right side plate portions 25b and 25b of the latter 25 are engaged with each other in an overlapping state from the inside. Accordingly, the case 21 is configured to be relatively strong, with the front case member 24 attached to the rear case member 25 in a substantially non-removable state.

  As shown in FIG. 6, each partition member 26 has a front plate portion 26 a having a trapezoidal shape that is tapered downward, and from the left and right end portions of the front plate portion 26 a to the front or rear in the same direction. The left and right side plate portions 26b and 26b are bent and extended at right angles, and the upright portion 26c (heat transfer portion) extends slightly bent upward from the upper end portion of the front plate portion 26a. The front plate portion 26a of each partition member 26 has a width dimension of about 1/3 with respect to the front front plate portion 24a of the front case member 24 and the rear front plate portion 25a of the rear case member 25 described above. The dimensions are almost the same. Further, the left and right side plate portions 26b of each partition member 26 have a depth dimension substantially ½ and a height dimension substantially the same as the left and right side plate portions 24b and 25b of the front case member 24 and the rear case member 25. It has become.

  Further, the six partition members 26 are in contact with each other and are formed so as to be accommodated in the state in which the partition members 26 are fitted into the case 21 as a whole. The sets are juxtaposed in the left-right direction in contact with each other. Specifically, the front and rear partition members 26, 26 are such that the front plate portions 26a, 26a and the upright portions 26c, 26c are in contact with each other back to back, and both the upright portions 26c, 26c include the front plate portion 26a. It is slightly bent forward with respect to the plane. Further, the central partition member 26 of the three sets includes the left and right side plate portions 26b and 26b contacting the side plate portions 26b and 26b of the adjacent left and right partition members 26 and 26, while the left and right side partition members. The outer side plate portions 26b and 26b of 26 and 26 are in contact with the side plate portions 24b and 24b of the front case member 24, respectively.

  In the chute 16 configured as described above, the six canisters described above are provided between the six partition members 26, the front front plate portion 24a of the front case member 24, and the rear front plate portion 25a of the rear case member 25. Six powder passages 22 respectively corresponding to 4 are defined. Each of these powder passages 22 extends over the entire vertical direction in the case 21 and is tapered downward so as to be completely partitioned.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2B, the chute 16 is attached along the chute holder 17 so as to be inclined forward and downward. In this state, the upright portions 26c and 26c of the front and rear partition members 26 and 26 are located in the center between the corresponding discharge ports 11a and 11a of the front and rear canisters 4 and 4, and in the front and rear direction to the corresponding discharge port 11a. Opposing each other at a predetermined interval.

  Next, an operation method and operation of the powder dispenser 1 configured as described above will be described. First, a user sets the cup C containing a drink in the cup setting unit 3 as described above. The user then presses a desired flavor powder selection button 2a. As a result, the motor 13 of the canister 4 containing the selected flavor powder operates for a predetermined time, and a predetermined amount of flavor powder is discharged from the discharge port 11a of the canister 4. The discharged flavor powder falls through the corresponding powder passage 22 of the chute 16 and is supplied to the cup C below. Thereby, the topping to a drink is completed.

  After completion of the topping, the exhaust fan 5 operates for a predetermined time (for example, 5 minutes). As a result, air near the lower end of the chute 16 where the moisture has been relatively increased due to the cup C containing the beverage being set in the cup setting unit 3 is sucked from the suction port 18a and discharged to the outside of the powder dispenser 1. Is done. Thereby, moisture near the lower end of the chute 16 can be reduced, whereby the flavor powder can be significantly reduced from adhering to and remaining on the wall surface of the powder passage 22. Since the operation of the exhaust fan 5 is started after the topping is completed, the flavor powder is not sucked from the suction port 18a.

  Further, when the selection button 2a is pressed during the operation of the exhaust fan 5, this is detected by the control device 8, and the exhaust fan 5 is stopped. Thereby, when the flavor powder that has passed through the powder passage 22 of the chute 16 is supplied to the cup C, it is not sucked from the suction port 18a. Note that after the flavor powder is supplied to the cup C, the exhaust fan 5 operates again for a predetermined time.

  As described above in detail, according to the present embodiment, the chute 16 is completely partitioned by the six partition members 26 into the six powder passages 22 over the entire vertical direction. The flavor powder discharged from the canister 4 is also appropriately supplied to the cup C containing the beverage without being mixed with other flavor powders. Therefore, the powder dispenser 1 can arbitrarily select from a plurality of types of flavor powders, and can top the desired flavor powder on the beverage. As a result, a high-quality beverage rich in variety can be provided.

  When cleaning the chute 16 during maintenance, the chute 16 is removed from the chute holder 17 after removing the chute cover 10 from the powder dispenser 1. Then, the chute 16 is disassembled into the front case member 24, the rear case member 25, and the six partition members 26. In this case, the chute 16 can be easily disassembled by pulling the six partition members 26 upward from the chute 16 and then sliding the front case member 24 upward from the rear case member 25. Then, each part can be easily and cleanly washed by, for example, washing the parts. Moreover, when assembling the chute 16 with each disassembled component, the chute 16 can be easily assembled in the reverse procedure to the above. As described above, the chute 16 can be easily disassembled and assembled during maintenance.

  Further, since the chute 16 is heated to a predetermined temperature by the chute heater 6, the humidity in the chute 16 can be reduced, and thereby the flavor powder is greatly prevented from adhering to and remaining on the wall surface of the powder passage 22. Can be reduced. Further, the heat from the chute heater 6 is transmitted to the discharge port 11a of the canister 4 through the upright portion 26c of the partition member 26, whereby the humidity near the discharge port 11a can be reduced. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the flavor powder in the vicinity of the discharge port 11 from becoming so-called fooling, and as a result, it is possible to top the beverage with good quality flavor powder without fooling.

  Moreover, in this powder dispenser 1, since six canisters 4 are arranged in parallel in the left-right direction, with two sets of two symmetrical in front and back as one set, all canisters 4 are simply arranged in parallel in the left-right direction. Compared with the case, the width dimension of the powder dispenser 1 can be shortened. Thereby, the powder dispenser 1 can be reduced in size as a whole, and as a result, it can be installed in a relatively small space.

  In addition, this invention can be implemented in various aspects, without being limited to the said embodiment described. In the embodiment, the powder dispenser 1 as a dedicated machine for topping has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, powder raw materials such as matcha tea and fruit juice powder are used before and after supplying hot water to the cup. Of course, it is also possible to apply to a dispenser that supplies the cup. In this case, beverages such as tea and juice juice are cooked by the user himself / herself stirring the powder raw material and hot water in the cup.

  In the embodiment, the case where flavor powder is used as the topping material has been described. Of course, a granular material (for example, almond chip) may be used. Moreover, although the chute | shoot 16 was comprised with several components, this invention is not limited to this, As long as each powder channel | path 22 in the chute | shoot 16 is completely partitioned over the whole up-down direction, Alternatively, the entire chute 16 may be integrally formed, or the case 21 and the partition portion 23 may be integrally formed.

  Furthermore, in the embodiment, the inside of the case 21 is partitioned into the six powder passages 22 by the six partition members 26, but the number and layout thereof are not particularly limited. For example, by preparing a plurality of types of partition members in advance and appropriately combining the plurality of partition members in accordance with the number of canisters 4 and the discharge position of flavor powder from the canister 4, the size and layout of the powder passages can be appropriately adjusted. It is also possible to change. In addition, the detailed configuration of the powder dispenser 1 shown in the embodiment, particularly the configuration of the chute 16 is merely an example, and can be appropriately changed within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

It is a figure which shows the flavor powder dispenser to which the powder raw material supply apparatus by one Embodiment of this invention is applied, (a) is a front view, (b) is a right view. It is a figure which shows the internal structure of the flavor powder dispenser of FIG. 1, (a) is a front view, (b) is a right view. It is a block diagram which shows typically the main apparatuses of a flavor powder dispenser. It is a figure which shows a chute | shoot, (a) is a front view, (b) is a right view. It is a figure which shows a chute | shoot, (a) is a top view, (b) is a perspective view. It is a perspective view which decomposes | disassembles and shows a chute | shoot.

Explanation of symbols

1 Flavor powder dispenser (powder raw material supply device, topping material supply device)
2 Operation part (Powder raw material selection part)
2a selection button 3 cup setting part 4 canister 5 exhaust fan (exhaust device)
6 Chute heater (heater)
7 Canister heater 8 Control device (detection means)
11 Canister body 11a Discharge port 16 Chute 17 Chute holder 18a Suction port 21 Case 22 Powder passage (powder raw material passage)
23 Partition 24 Front case member (first case member, second case member)
24a Front front plate (first front plate, second front plate)
24b Side plate (first side plate, second side plate)
25 Rear case member (second case member, first case member)
25a Rear front plate (second front plate, first front plate)
25b Side plate (second side plate, first side plate)
26 Partition member 26c Upright part (heat transfer part)
C cup

Claims (9)

A powder raw material supply device for supplying a powder raw material for beverages to a cup set by a user,
A powder raw material selection unit operated to select a powder raw material from a plurality of different powder raw materials;
A plurality of canisters that are arranged in parallel with each other and each of the plurality of types of powder raw materials is discharged, and when the powder raw material selection unit is operated, a predetermined amount of the powder raw material selected by the operation is discharged.
A cup setting portion provided below the plurality of canisters and set with a cup;
A chute that is arranged between the plurality of canisters and the cup set part and guides the discharged powder raw material to a cup set in the cup set part,
The shoot is
A cylindrical case that opens upward and downward, and a tapered case toward the lower side;
A partition that is detachably attached to the case, extends across the entire vertical direction of the case, and divides the case into a plurality of powder raw material passages through which the plurality of types of powder raw materials discharged from the plurality of canisters respectively pass. And
Have,
The partition portion is formed so as to be accommodated in the case in a state of being in contact with each other and fitted into the case as a whole, and the plurality of powder raw material passages are respectively provided between the inner surface of the case. A powder raw material supply apparatus comprising a plurality of partition members to be defined . A chute holder that detachably attaches and supports the chute is further provided,
The powder raw material supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the case includes first and second case members that are detachable from each other . The first and second case members are arranged in the front-rear direction,
The first case member is
A first front plate portion having a tapered trapezoidal shape downward,
Left and right first side plate portions extending from the left and right end portions of the first front plate portion toward the second case member,
The second case member is
A second front plate portion having substantially the same shape and size as the first front plate portion, and facing the first front plate portion with a distance in the front-rear direction;
The second front plate portion extends from the left and right end portions toward the first case member, and engages with the left and right first side plate portions of the first case member in an overlapping state from one of the inside and the outside. The powder raw material supply apparatus according to claim 2 , comprising left and right second side plate portions . The powder raw material supply apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , further comprising a heater that heats the chute to a predetermined temperature . Each of the plurality of canisters has a discharge port for discharging the powder raw material substantially horizontally,
The powder according to claim 4 , wherein the chute further includes a heat transfer portion facing the discharge port at a predetermined interval in order to transfer heat from the heater to the discharge port. Raw material supply equipment. The powder according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , further comprising an exhaust device that has a suction port near a lower end of the chute and discharges air sucked from the suction port to the outside. Raw material supply equipment. A control device for controlling the exhaust device;
7. The powder raw material supply apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the control device operates the exhaust device for a predetermined time after the powder raw material discharged from the canister is supplied to the cup . Detection means for detecting whether or not the powder raw material selection unit has been operated,
8. The powder raw material supply device according to claim 7 , wherein the control device stops the exhaust device when it is detected that the powder raw material selection unit is operated during operation of the exhaust device. The powder raw material is a topping material supplied to a cup containing beverages,
The powder material supply device, the powder material supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a topping material supply device.

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