JP6136275B2 - Beverage supply method and beverage server - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for supplying a heated beverage and a cooled beverage, and a beverage server.

  In the conventional beverage server, for example, as in the beverage server 20 shown in FIG. 3, the beverage introduced from the bottle 21 is cooled by the cooler 22 and stored in the cold water tank 23, and the beverage is heated by the heater 24. It is stored in the hot water tank 25 so that a cooled beverage and a heated beverage can be supplied arbitrarily.

  Beverage servers tend to proliferate over time in cold water tanks due to germs adhering to the attachment port of beverage bottles and contamination of germs by taking in outside air when beverage is supplied from the bottle. . For this reason, it is possible to attach a filter to the outside air intake port and to perform regular maintenance (for example, alcohol sterilization) of the attachment port of the beverage bottle, but it is not possible to reliably prevent contamination with germs. Therefore, various measures are taken to maintain the sanitary condition in the server (for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3).

  The beverage server (drinking water dispenser) of Patent Document 1 has a heat sterilizer attached to the beverage introduction route, the hot water tank, the cold water tank, and the beverage dispensing route, and the inside of both the tank and the route around the tank are regularly arranged. Sterilized by heat. Alternatively, the heated beverage in the hot water tank is circulated through the beverage pouring route, the cold water tank, and the beverage introduction route to heat sterilize the inside of the cold water tank and the route around this tank.

  The beverage server of Patent Document 2 is equipped with a heating device and a cooling device in a cold water tank and a hot water tank, and periodically uses the cold water tank as a hot water tank, while using the hot water tank as a cold water tank. The inside and the beverage extraction path of these tanks are heat sterilized.

  The beverage server of Patent Document 3 introduces a beverage supplied from a beverage bottle into a high temperature tank, heats it with a heater (heater heater) to obtain a heated beverage, and then introduces this heated beverage into the low temperature tank And it cools with the cooler and the cooling drink is obtained. In this apparatus, since the beverage that has been heat-sterilized in advance is introduced into the low-temperature tank, the growth of various germs in the tank can be suppressed.

JP-A-6-48488 JP 2004-131167 A JP 2005-170432 A

  Since the conventional beverage server described in these prior art documents 1 to 3 heats the cooled beverage with the heating device, the heated beverage is cooled with the cooling device. And the thermal efficiency of cooling is poor.

  In particular, the beverage server (drinking water dispenser) of Patent Document 1 has a configuration in which a heating device is attached to the beverage introduction route and the dispensing route of the cold water tank, so that the device becomes larger and the initial cost is increased. In addition, the running cost is increased. Further, since the cold water tank is directly heated by a heater or cooled by a cooler after introducing a heated beverage, the energy efficiency is poor in obtaining a cooled beverage.

  Since the beverage server of Patent Document 2 regularly uses a cold water tank as a hot water tank, it suppresses contamination of germs in the cold water tank and in the beverage dispensing path (conduit and faucet from the tank to the faucet) of this tank. be able to. However, since the heating device and the cooling device must be provided in the cold water tank and the hot water tank, the size of the device increases. Moreover, when using a cold water tank as a warm water tank, all the cooling beverages in a cold water tank must be heated with a heating apparatus, and when using a warm water tank as a cooling tank, the heated beverage in a warm water tank is used. Everything must be cooled by a cooling device. Therefore, the energy cost for obtaining the heated beverage and the cooled beverage is increased. In addition, the specification that the faucet to which the heated beverage is distributed periodically changes and the faucet of the heated beverage is changed depending on the timing of dispensing, although the lighting of the temperature / cold indicator is switched, There is a problem that it is difficult to secure safety by inducing a user's operational mistake.

  Since the beverage server of patent document 3 introduces the heated beverage into the low-temperature tank and then cools it with a cooler attached to the low-temperature tank to obtain a cooled beverage, it is the same as the beverage server of patent documents 1 and 2. In addition, it is not efficient in terms of energy consumption in obtaining a cooled beverage.

  This invention is made | formed in view of said situation, and makes it a technical subject to provide the drink supply method which can supply a thermally efficient and sanitary drink safely, and its apparatus.

Therefore, the beverage supply method of the present invention is a process of obtaining a heated beverage by heat sterilization after subjecting the beverage to heat exchange treatment, a step of cooling the heated beverage after being subjected to the heat exchange treatment, and obtaining a cooled beverage , While storing the heated beverage in the first heat retaining tank, while storing the cooled beverage in the second heat retaining tank, and supplying the heated beverage to the second heat retaining tank during sterilization in the second heat retaining tank Supplying the cooled beverage to the first heat retaining tank .

Further, the beverage server of the present invention introduces heat exchange means for heat exchange processing of the beverage, heating means for heat-sterilizing the heat-exchanged beverage to obtain a heated beverage, and introducing the heated beverage via the heat exchange means Cooling means for obtaining a cooled beverage by cooling , a first heat retaining tank for storing the heated beverage, a second heat retaining tank for storing the cooled beverage, and the heating means from the heating means during sterilization in the second heat retaining tank A valve for switching the supply destination of the heated beverage to the second heat retention tank while switching the supply destination of the cooled beverage from the cooling means to the first heat retention tank .

  According to the present invention, the beverage is heat-sterilized and heat-sterilized to obtain a heated beverage. On the other hand, the heated beverage is subjected to the heat-exchange treatment and then cooled to obtain a cooled beverage. Heated and cooled beverages can be supplied.

Further, in the above beverage supply method and the beverage server, wherein the time of sterilization of the second insulation tank, since the heating beverage is supplied to the second heat retaining tank had been storing the cooled beverage, said second insulation tank The inside can be sterilized by heating.

  Moreover, in the said beverage supply method, the 1st heat retention tank, the heat drink which used the drink in the said 2nd heat retention tank for the said heat sterilization, or the said heat exchange process of the said heat drink, and the cooling drink which passed through cooling are obtained. Then, it is good to return to the said 1st heat retention tank and the said 2nd heat retention tank. In addition, the beverage server includes a return path that circulates the beverage in the first heat retention tank and the second heat retention tank to the heating means, and is a heated beverage sterilized by the heating means, Alternatively, the cooled beverage that has passed through the heat exchange means and the cooling means of the heated beverage may be returned to the first heat retaining tank and the second heat retaining tank. According to this aspect, since the heated beverage or the sterilized cooled beverage is cyclically introduced into the first heat retaining tank or the second heat retaining tank, the waste of the beverage can be suppressed.

  As described above, according to the present invention, a thermally efficient and sanitary beverage can be safely supplied.

The schematic block diagram of the drink server in 1st embodiment of this invention. The schematic block diagram of the drink server in 2nd embodiment of this invention. The schematic block diagram of the conventional drink server.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[Embodiment 1]
The beverage server 1 of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1 obtains a heated beverage by heat sterilizing a beverage that has been subjected to heat exchange processing in advance, while performing a cooling treatment after the heated beverage is subjected to the heat exchange processing. Get a cold drink. Other drinks can be suitably applied to the server 1 without being limited to mineral water.

  The beverage server 1 includes a beverage container 2, a heat exchanger (heat exchange means) 3, a heater (heating means) 4, a cooler (cooling means) 5, a first heat retaining tank 6, a second heat retaining tank 7, and pumps P1, P2. , Switching valves V1 and V2, injection valves V3 and V4, and a control unit 8.

  The beverage container 2 is preliminarily filled with a heat-sterilized or aseptically filled beverage. As the beverage container 2, a back-in-box type container or a synthetic resin bottle exemplified by a plastic bottle is preferably used. The illustrated beverage container 2 is installed in the lower part of the beverage server 1, and the attachment port is arranged upward. One end of the primary path 11 of the pump P1 is connected to the suction tube 9 that is airtightly attached to the attachment port via a filter 10 for removing germs.

  The heat exchanger 3 heats the normal temperature beverage supplied from the beverage container 2 to a predetermined temperature range (for example, 40 to 50 ° C.) by heat exchange processing. Although not shown, the primary paths 11 and 12 of the pumps P <b> 1 and P <b> 2 are provided with flow rate adjusting means for adjusting the flow rate of the beverage supplied to the heat exchanger 3, and are discharged from the heat exchanger 3. The temperature of the beverage to be used can be adjusted to the temperature range. The heat exchanger 3 may be a known heat exchanger exemplified by a plate method or a double piping method.

  The heat exchanger 3 introduces the beverage at room temperature by the suction force of the pump P1, and introduces the beverage sterilized by the heater 4 by the suction force of the pump P2. Then, the heat-sterilized beverage is used as a heat source for the heat exchange treatment, and the normal temperature beverage is heated to the temperature range. The heat-sterilized beverage used as the heat source is cooled to the temperature region by a heat balance with the normal temperature beverage.

  The heater 4 heats and sterilizes the beverage that has passed through the heat exchanger 3. The heater 4 is attached to the rear stage of the heat exchanger 3 in the primary side path 11 and heats the beverage to a temperature (for example, 85 ° C. or higher) that can be sterilized by a control signal from the control unit 8.

  The cooler 5 introduces and cools the heat-sterilized beverage via the heat exchanger 3. The cooler 5 is attached to the rear stage of the heat exchanger 3 in the primary side path 12 and adjusts the temperature of the beverage to a predetermined value or less (for example, 5 ° C. or less) by a control signal from the control unit 8.

  The first heat retaining tank 6 stores the beverage sterilized by heating with the heater 4. This heated beverage is introduced into the first heat retaining tank 6 through the secondary path 13a, 13b of the pump P1 by the pumping force of the pump P1. The 1st heat retention tank 6 is accompanied with the heat insulating material 14 in order to maintain a heat retention state. The first heat retaining tank 6 includes a thermometer T1 for monitoring the temperature of the beverage in the tank 6 and a level switch L1 for monitoring the liquid level in the tank 6. Although not shown, the first heat retaining tank 6 is provided with a drain valve for discharging the beverage out of the system.

  The second heat retaining tank 7 stores the beverage cooled by the cooler 5. This cooled beverage is introduced into the second heat retaining tank 7 through the secondary path 15a, 15b of the pump P2 by the pumping force of the pump P2. The second heat retaining tank 7 is accompanied by a heat insulating material 14 in order to maintain a cold state. The second heat retaining tank 7 includes a thermometer T2 for monitoring the temperature of the beverage in the tank 7, a level switch L2 for monitoring the water level in the tank 7, and a drain valve (for discharging the beverage in the tank 7 out of the system). (Not shown). In addition, since the 1st heat retention tank 6 and the 2nd heat retention tank 7 should just be a structure which can maintain the temperature of the drink in a tank, they may be the same specification.

  The switching valve V1 is a four-way valve connected to the secondary paths 13a, 13b, 15a, 15b of the pumps P1, P2. The valve V1 can switch the supply destination of the heated beverage from the heater 4 side to the second heat retaining tank 7, while switching the supply destination of the cooled beverage from the cooler 5 to the first heat retention tank 6. .

  The switching valve V2 is a four-way valve connected to the extraction paths 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b of the first heat retaining tank 6 and the second heat retaining tank 7. The valve V2 can switch the beverage supply destination in the second heat retaining tank 7 to the dispensing valve V3 side, while switching the beverage supply destination in the first heat retaining tank 6 to the dispensing valve V4 side. ing.

  The control unit 8 controls the operation of the pumps and valves. In particular, in the control unit 8, in order to periodically sterilize the inside of the first heat retaining tank 6 and the second heat retaining tank 7, a time schedule for operating the pumps and valves is programmed to be appropriately changeable.

  For example, the switching time of the first heat retaining tank 6 and the second heat retaining tank 7 can be arbitrarily set, and for the sterilization process in the second heat retaining tank 7, the tank 7 is referred to as “tank for storing heated beverage”. "Can be transmitted to the switching valves V1, V2. On the other hand, when the first heat retaining tank 6 is used as a “tank for storing a cooled beverage”, the tank 6 is “a tank for storing a heated beverage” for the sterilization treatment in the first heat retaining tank 6. Can be transmitted to the switching valves V1 and V2. The switching time is set to a time zone where the use frequency of the beverage server 1 is low, for example, an arbitrary time zone such as nighttime.

  Hereinafter, an operation example of the beverage server 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

  The beverage in the beverage container 2 is introduced into the heat exchanger 3 by the suction force of the pump P1, and is heated to, for example, 40 to 50 ° C. and then introduced into the heater 4 and sterilized by heating at, for example, 85 ° C. or more. Is done. This sterilized heated beverage is transferred to the first heat retaining tank 6 via the secondary side paths 13a and 13b by the pumping force of the pump P1. In addition, the heated beverage is introduced into the heat exchanger 3 through the primary path 12 by the suction force of the pump P2, and after being cooled to, for example, 40 to 50 ° C., is introduced into the cooler 5, for example, 5 Cool to below ℃. This cooled beverage is transferred to the second heat retaining tank 7 via the secondary paths 15a and 15b by the pumping force of the pump P2.

  The liquid level of the beverage in the first heat retaining tank 6 and the second heat retaining tank 7 is monitored by level switches L1 and L2, and when reaching a predetermined liquid level, the pumps P1 and P2 are stopped. When the dispensing valve V3 is set to open, the beverage in the first heat retaining tank 6 is dispensed by the natural flow through the dispensing paths 16a and 16b. On the other hand, when the dispensing valve V4 is set to open, the beverage in the second heat retaining tank 7 is dispensed through the dispensing paths 17a and 17b by natural flow.

  And when the fall of the liquid level of the 1st heat retention tank 6 is detected by the level switch L1, after the pump P1 starts and the drink in the drink container 2 passes the heat exchanger 3, it heat-sterilizes with the heater 4 In this state, the first heat retaining tank 6 is supplied. On the other hand, when a drop in the liquid level in the second heat retaining tank 7 is detected by the level switch L2, the pump P2 is activated and the beverage in the beverage container 2 is transferred to the heat exchanger 3, the heater 4, the heat exchanger 3, and the cooler. It becomes a sterilized cooled drink through the order of 5 and is supplied to the second heat retaining tank 7.

  Moreover, the temperature of the drink in the 1st heat retention tank 6 and the 2nd heat retention tank 7 is monitored by thermometer T1, T2. When it is detected by the thermometer T1 that the temperature of the first heat retaining tank 6 has been lowered (for example, 1 ° C. or less from the set temperature) for a certain time (for example, five minutes), The drain valve (not shown) provided is opened, the beverage in the tank 6 is discharged out of the system, and the heated beverage that has passed through the above-described path is replenished to the first heat retaining tank 6. When the beverage reaches a predetermined temperature, the drain valve is closed to stop the replenishment of the beverage, and the temperature of the beverage in the tank 6 is maintained at a predetermined high temperature. On the other hand, when it is detected by the thermometer T2 that the temperature of the second heat retaining tank 7 has continued to rise (for example, 1 ° C. or more from the set predetermined temperature) for a certain time (for example, 5 minutes), the second heat retaining tank 7 is opened, the beverage in the tank 7 is discharged out of the system, and the sterilized cooled beverage that has followed the above-described path is supplied to the second heat retaining tank 7, When the beverage in the second heat retaining tank 7 reaches a predetermined temperature set, the drain valve is closed to stop the replenishment of the beverage, and the temperature of the beverage in the tank 7 is maintained at a predetermined low temperature.

  When the timer set at the predetermined time of the control unit 8 becomes the switching time of the first heat retaining tank 6 and the second heat retaining tank 7, the second heat retaining tank 7 is switched to “tank for storing heated beverage”. The first heat retaining tank 6 is switched to a “tank for storing a cooled beverage”.

  That is, in this switching, first, the drain valves (not shown) of the first heat retaining tank 6 and the second heat retaining tank 7 are opened, the beverages in the tanks 6 and 7 are discharged out of the system, When becomes empty, the valve is closed. Next, as shown in FIG. 2, the switching valve V1 switches the supply destination of the heated beverage from the heater 4 side to the second heat retaining tank 7 side, while the supply destination of the cooled beverage from the cooler 5 side is the first. Switch to the insulation tank 6 side. The switching valve V2 switches the beverage supply destination in the second heat retaining tank 7 to the dispensing valve V3 side, while switching the beverage supply destination in the first heat retaining tank 6 to the dispensing valve V4 side.

  Next, the pump P1 is activated, and the beverage in the beverage container 2 is heated and sterilized at a predetermined temperature (for example, 85 ° C. or higher) via the heat exchanger 3 and the heater 4 via the secondary side paths 13a and 15b. It is supplied to the second heat retaining tank 7. Also, the pump P2 is activated and the beverage sterilized by the heater 4 becomes a cooled beverage having a predetermined temperature (for example, 5 ° C. or less) via the heat exchanger 3 and the cooler 5, and the secondary side path 15a, It is supplied to the first heat retaining tank 6 through 13b. When the liquid level in the first heat retaining tank 6 and the second heat retaining tank 7 reaches a predetermined liquid level, the supply of the sterilized heated beverage and cooled beverage is stopped. As described above, since the heated beverage having the predetermined temperature is supplied to the second heat retaining tank 7, the inside of the tank 7 is sterilized.

  When the dispensing valve V3 is set to open, the heated beverage in the second heat retaining tank 7 can be dispensed through the dispensing channels 17a and 16b by natural flow. On the other hand, when the dispensing valve V4 is set to open, the cooled beverage in the first heat retaining tank 6 can be dispensed through the dispensing paths 16a and 17b by natural flow.

  After that, when the timer of the control unit 8 becomes the switching time of the first heat retaining tank 6 and the second heat retaining tank 7 again, the paths of the switching valves V1, V2, tanks 6, 7, the heated beverage and the cooled beverage are again It switches to the form shown in FIG. 1, and then the beverage in the first heat retaining tank 6 and the second heat retaining tank 7 is discharged out of the system. The operation of supplying the heated beverage and the cooled beverage from the beverage container 2 to the first insulated tank 6 and the second insulated tank 7 thereafter is the same as the supply of the heated beverage and the cooled beverage based on the level switches L1 and L2. Done.

  As described above, the first heat retaining tank 6 and the second heat retaining tank 7 are regularly used as “tanks for storing heated beverages”, whereby both the tanks 6 and 7 are heat sterilized.

  Thus, according to the beverage server 1 of the present invention, a beverage subjected to heat exchange treatment in advance is heat sterilized to obtain a heated beverage. On the other hand, the heated beverage is subjected to cooling treatment after being subjected to the heat exchange treatment. Therefore, a heated beverage and a cooled beverage can be supplied thermally and efficiently.

  Moreover, since it is possible to arbitrarily switch the first heat retaining tank 6 and the second heat retaining tank 7 to “tanks for storing cooled beverages and heated beverages”, it is possible to prevent both microbial contamination and multiplication in the tanks 6 and 7, Sanitary heated and cooled beverages can be safely provided.

  In addition, by installing the valve V2, even if the “tank for storing the heated beverage” is switched, the dispensing valve for the heated beverage and the cooled beverage is not changed, but is fixed at a certain location. Safety can be ensured by avoiding confusion.

[Embodiment 2]
A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  The beverage server 1 according to the second embodiment returns the beverage in the first heat retaining tank 6 and the second heat retaining tank 7 to the tanks 6 and 7 without discharging them out of the system, or the supply destination of the heated beverage is the first. By switching to the heat retaining tank 6 or the second heat retaining tank 7, the sanitary condition in the tanks 6 and 7 is maintained.

  That is, in addition to the apparatus configuration of the first embodiment, the first return path 18 for circulating the beverage in the second heat retaining tank 7 to the heater 4 and the beverage in the first heat retaining tank 6 are circulated to the heater 4 in a circulating manner. And a second return path 19 to be supplied.

  A pump P3 for transferring the beverage to the heater 4 is arranged in the first return path 18, and a pump P4 for transferring the drink to the heater 4 is arranged in the second return path 19. In addition, a valve (not shown) for blocking the beverage in the first heat retaining tank 6 and the second heat retaining tank 7 from being transferred to the beverage container 2 when the pumps P3 and P4 are operated is appropriately provided in the primary side path 11. Is arranged. Moreover, the valve | bulb (not shown) which avoids that the drink in the 2nd heat retention tank 7 transfers to the heat exchanger 3 at the time of operation | movement of the pump P3 is suitably arrange | positioned at the primary side path | route 12. Furthermore, a valve (not shown) that prevents the beverage in the first heat retaining tank 6 from moving to the second heat retaining tank 7 when the pump P4 is operating is appropriately disposed in the secondary side path 13a. These pumps and valves are detected by the time schedule set by the control unit 8 or the thermometers T1 and T2 of the first heat retaining tank 6 and the second heat retaining tank 7 as in the first embodiment. Operates based on temperature.

  Hereinafter, the operation example in the drink server 1 of this Embodiment 2 is demonstrated. In addition, since the supply operation | movement of the heating drink and the cooling drink from the drink container 1 to the 1st heat retention tank 6 and the 2nd heat retention tank 7 in this embodiment is the operation | movement similar to Embodiment 1, the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  When the timer of the control unit 8 becomes the switching time of the first heat retaining tank 6 and the second heat retaining tank 7, the second heat retaining tank 7 in which the cooled beverage is stored is switched to “tank for storing the heated beverage”, The first heat retaining tank 6 in which the heated beverage is stored is switched to “tank for storing the cooled beverage”.

  That is, in this switching, as shown in FIG. 2, the switching valve V1 first switches the supply destination of the heated beverage from the heater 4 side to the second heat retaining tank 7 side, while the cooled beverage from the cooler 5 is supplied. The supply destination is switched to the first heat retaining tank 6 side. The switching valve V2 switches the beverage supply destination in the second heat retaining tank 7 to the dispensing valve V3 side, while switching the beverage supply destination in the first heat retaining tank 6 to the dispensing valve V4 side.

  Next, the pump P <b> 3 is activated and the cooled beverage in the second heat retaining tank 7 is transferred to the heater 4 through the first return path 18. The beverage introduced into the heater 4 is sterilized by being heated to a predetermined temperature (for example, 85 ° C.) or higher. This heat sterilized beverage is returned to the second heat retaining tank 7 via the secondary side paths 13a and 15b by the pumping force of the pump P3.

  The inside of the tank 7 is heat sterilized by the cyclic supply of the heated beverage in the second heat retaining tank 7 via the first return path 18 and the heater 4 described above. This cyclic supply is executed until the heated beverage having the predetermined temperature (for example, 85 ° C.) or higher fills the predetermined liquid level monitored by the level switch L2 in the second heat-retaining tank 7, and the predetermined temperature or higher is reached. When the heated beverage of temperature fills the inside of the tank 7, the inside of the tank 7 is sterilized. When the filling and sterilization up to the predetermined liquid level are completed, the pump P3 is stopped.

  On the other hand, the heated beverage in the first heat retaining tank 6 is transferred to the heater 4 via the second return path 19 by the activation of the pump P4. The beverage introduced into the heater 4 is sterilized by being heated to a predetermined temperature (for example, 85 ° C.) or higher. The heat-sterilized beverage is supplied to the heat exchanger 3 through the primary side path 12, cooled to a predetermined temperature range (for example, 40 to 50 ° C.), and then supplied to the cooler 5 to be, for example, 5 ° C. or less. Until cooled. This cooled beverage is returned to the first heat retaining tank 6 through the secondary paths 15a and 13b by the pumping force of the pump P2.

  In the cyclic supply of the cooled beverage in the first heat retaining tank 6 via the heater 4, the heat exchanger 3 and the cooler 5, the temperature of the beverage in the tank 6 becomes a predetermined temperature (for example, 5 ° C.) or less. Will continue until. The pump P4 stops when the temperature of the beverage becomes equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature.

  The method for dispensing and replenishing the cooled beverage in the first heat retaining tank 6 and the heated beverage in the second heat retaining tank 7 is the same as the method for dispensing and replenishing the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

  After that, when the timer of the control unit 8 becomes the switching time of the first heat retaining tank 6 and the second heat retaining tank 7 again, the first heat retaining tank 6 in which the cooled beverage is stored is again the “tank for storing the heated beverage”. The second heat retaining tank 7 in which the heated beverage is stored is switched again to the “tank for storing the cooled beverage”. This switching operation is the same as that of the first embodiment described above, and the beverage supply path after the switching has the form shown in FIG.

  Next, the pump P3 is activated, the cooled beverage in the first heat retaining tank 6 is transferred to the heater 4 through the first return path 18, and the sterilized state of the heated beverage is transmitted through the secondary paths 13a and 13b. Is returned to the first heat insulation tank 6. The circulating supply of the heated beverage into the first heat retaining tank 6 and the sterilization in the tank 6 are the same as the supply of the heated beverage into the second heat retaining tank 7 and the sterilization method described above.

  On the other hand, the heated beverage in the second heat retaining tank 7 is transferred to the heater 4 through the second return path 19 by the activation of the pump P4, and the primary side path 12, the heat exchanger 3, the cooler 5, and the secondary side path. Via 15a, 15b, it is returned to the 2nd heat retention tank 7 as a heat-sterilized cooling drink. The cyclic supply of the cooled beverage into the second heat retaining tank 7 is the same as the method for supplying the cooled beverage into the first heat retaining tank 6 described above.

  In switching of beverages (heated beverages and cooled beverages) in the first heat retention tank 6 and the second heat retention tank 7 according to these time schedules, the heat retention of the beverages in the first heat retention tank 6 and the second heat retention tank 7 described above. The return to the tank 7 may be performed simultaneously or selectively as appropriate.

  In addition, the replenishment operation | movement of the drink from the drink container 2 when the liquid level of the drink in the 1st heat retention tank 6 and the 2nd heat retention tank 7 falls is the heated drink based on level switch L1, L2 of Embodiment 1 mentioned above. , It is performed in the same operation as replenishment of the cooled beverage.

  Moreover, also in this Embodiment 2, the temperature of the drink in the 1st heat retention tank 6 and the 2nd heat retention tank 7 is monitored by thermometer T1, T2. In the form in which the switching shown in FIG. 2 described above is performed and the first heat retaining tank 6 is a “tank for storing a cooled beverage”, the temperature rise of the cooled beverage in the tank 6 (for example, 1 ° C. or more from a set predetermined temperature) When the thermometer T1 detects that the state has continued for a certain time (for example, 5 minutes), the pump P4 is activated, and the cooled beverage in the tank 6 is transferred to the heater 4 via the second return path 19. The Thereafter, the sterilized cooled beverage is returned to the first heat retaining tank 6 through the primary side path 12, the heat exchanger 3, the cooler 5, and the secondary side paths 15a and 13b, and the beverage in the tank 6 is set. When the temperature reaches a predetermined temperature, the pump P4 stops to stop the circulation of the beverage, and the temperature of the beverage in the tank 6 is maintained at a predetermined low temperature.

  On the other hand, in the form in which the same switching is performed and the second heat-retaining tank 7 is a “tank for storing the heated beverage”, the state of the temperature decrease of the heated beverage in the tank 7 (for example, 1 ° C. or less from the set predetermined temperature) When it is detected by the thermometer T2 that it has continued for a certain time (for example, 5 minutes), the pump P3 is activated and the heated beverage in the tank 7 is transferred to the heater 4 via the first return path 18. . Thereafter, the sterilized heated beverage is returned to the second heat retaining tank 7 via the secondary side paths 13a and 15b, and when the beverage in the tank 7 reaches a predetermined temperature set, the pump P3 stops and the beverage And the temperature of the beverage in the tank 7 is maintained at a predetermined high temperature.

  In monitoring the predetermined temperature of the beverage (heated beverage, cooled beverage) in the first heat retaining tank 6 and the second heat retaining tank 7 by the thermometers T1 and T2, the first heat retaining tank 6 and the second heat retaining tank 7 described above are monitored. The return of the beverage to the heat retaining tanks 6 and 7 may be performed selectively or simultaneously as appropriate.

  As described above, the first heat retaining tank 6 and the second heat retaining tank 7 are used as a “tank for storing a heated beverage” regularly or when sterilization is necessary, whereby the insides of both the tanks 6 and 7 are heat sterilized. .

  Therefore, according to the beverage server 1 of the second embodiment, in addition to being able to supply a heated beverage and a cooled beverage thermally efficiently, in both the first heat retaining tank 6 and the second heat retaining tank 7 microbial contamination and multiplication Can be provided, and sanitary heated and cooled beverages can be provided safely. In particular, in the present embodiment, when the first heat retaining tank 6 and the second heat retaining tank 7 are switched or when the beverage temperature in the tanks 6 and 7 is outside a predetermined temperature set, the beverage in the tanks 6 and 7 is stored. Is subjected to heat sterilization, heat exchange, and cooling treatment in a cyclic manner, so that it is not necessary to drain the beverage in the tanks 6 and 7 out of the system, and beverage waste can be suppressed.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the beverage container 2 with the mounting opening disposed above is installed in the lower part of the beverage server 1, and the normal temperature beverage in the beverage container 2 is converted into the heat exchanger 3 by the suction force of the pump P 1. However, the present invention can also be applied to a form in which the beverage container 2 with the attachment opening disposed below is installed on the top of the beverage server 1.

  Moreover, although the illustrated filter 10 for removing germs is installed in the suction tube 9, it may be a path from the beverage container 2 such as the upper part of the beverage container 2 to the heat exchanger 3. Any location may be used.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Beverage server 2 ... Beverage container 3 ... Heat exchanger 4 ... Heater 5 ... Cooling machine 6 ... 1st heat retention tank 7 ... 2nd heat retention tank V1, V2 ... Switching valve 8 ... Control part 18, 19 ... Return path

Claims (4)

The process of heat-sterilizing the beverage after heat exchange treatment to obtain a heated beverage,
A process of cooling the heated beverage after the heat exchange treatment and obtaining a cooled beverage ;
Storing the heated beverage in the first heat retaining tank while storing the cooled beverage in the second heat retaining tank;
Supplying the heated beverage to the second heat retaining tank while sterilizing the second heat retaining tank, and supplying the cooled beverage to the first heat retaining tank. Method. The first heat-retaining tank, the second heat-retaining tank, the heated beverage subjected to the heat sterilization, or the heat-exchange treatment of the heated beverage, and the cooled beverage that has undergone cooling, the first heat-retaining tank, the second The beverage supply method according to claim 1 , wherein the beverage is returned to a heat retaining tank. Heat exchanging means for heat exchanging the beverage;
Heating means for obtaining a heated beverage by heat sterilizing the beverage subjected to the heat exchange treatment,
Cooling means for introducing the cooled beverage via the heat exchange means and cooling to obtain a cooled beverage ;
A first heat storage tank for storing the heated beverage;
A second heat retaining tank for storing the cooled beverage;
A valve for switching the supply destination of the heated beverage from the heating means to the second heat retention tank while sterilizing the second heat retention tank while switching the supply destination of the cooled beverage from the cooling means to the first heat retention tank; A beverage server comprising: A return path for circulating the beverage in the first heat retaining tank and the second heat retaining tank to the heating means;
The heated beverage sterilized by the heating means, or the heat exchange means of the heated beverage, the cooled beverage that has passed through the cooling means,
The beverage server according to claim 3 , wherein the beverage server is returned to the first heat retaining tank and the second tank.

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