JPH02127293A - Carbonated beverage supply valve apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate the manufacture of the subject apparatus, prevent the leakage of carbonated beverage easily and permit a reduction in its size by providing a stopper for controlling an open position of an actuating member to set the opening of a beverage passage, an operating shaft slidably retained by an adjusting screw in a predetermined direction and an energizing means for pressing the actuating member into a closed position. CONSTITUTION:When beverage is not being supplied, an energizing means 22 holds an operating shaft 17 against an actuating member 16, which, in turn, is pressed into a closed position to close a beverage passage 3. When the operating shaft 17 is moved by an operating lever 24 against the energizing means 22, the position maintaining pressure exerted on the actuating member 16 is released and, therefore, it is moved into an open position and stopped by engagement with a stopper 23. At this time, the open position of the actuating member 16 is unequivocally set by the stopper 23, independently of the movement length of the operating shaft 17. If an adjusting screw 21 is moved, the position in which the actuating member 16 is stopped by engagement with the stopper 23 moves, changing the open position thereof and, therefore, the opening of the beverage passage 3 can be adjusted by the adjusting screw 21.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a carbonated beverage supply valve device suitable for use in a post-mix carbonated beverage dispensing device called a post-mix type.

[Prior Art] This type of carbonated beverage supply valve device is known, for example, from Utility Model Publication No. 51-1
As shown in the '8189 publication, it includes a body defining one or more beverage passages. Each beverage passage is equipped with a valve mechanism for opening and closing it, as well as an adjustment screw for adjusting the degree of opening. The valve mechanism is made operable by an operating bar on the front of the body. Meanwhile, the adjustment screw is located inside the cabinet of the post-mix carbonated beverage dispensing device.

Incidentally, a beverage such as carbonated water, diluted water, or syrup is introduced into a communication port at one end of the beverage passage, and is discharged from a nozzle under control by a valve mechanism and an adjustment screw.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in conventional carbonated beverage supply valve devices, the valve mechanism is one in which the operating part that actually opens and closes the beverage passage and the operating part that receives the operating force from the operating lever are integrated. Therefore, not only does it require a large number of processing steps, but it also requires a large number of sealing parts. There is also a great risk of carbonated beverages leaking.

Furthermore, since the adjustment screw must be provided at a location separate from the valve mechanism, the size of the carbonated beverage supply valve device increases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a carbonated beverage supply valve device that is easy to manufacture, can easily prevent leakage of carbonated beverages, and can be miniaturized.

[Means for Solving the Problems] According to the present invention, there is provided a body having a communication port connected to a beverage source, a nozzle for discharging a beverage, and a beverage passage communicating these, and a valve for opening and closing the beverage passage. A carbonated beverage dispensing valve device including a mechanism and an operating lever provided on the body for operating the valve mechanism, wherein the valve mechanism is held on the body so as to face the beverage passageway and opens the beverage passageway. an operating member movable in a predetermined direction between an open position and a closed position; a sealing device interposed between the body and the operating member to prevent beverage leakage; and a sealing device movable in the predetermined direction on the body. an adjusting screw held in the predetermined direction, a stopper interposed between the adjusting screw and the operating member in the predetermined direction to limit the open position of the operating member and determining the opening degree of the beverage passage; and the adjusting screw. an actuating shaft that is held movably in the predetermined direction, one end of which engages with the operating lever, and the other end of which is movably opposed to the open position end of the operating member; There is obtained a carbonated beverage supply valve device characterized in that it has a biasing means for pressing the operating member to the closed position with a bias toward the member.

[Function] In the carbonated beverage supply valve device of the present invention, when a beverage is not being supplied, the biasing means pushes the actuating shaft toward the action member and presses the action member to the closed position. The active member thus closes the beverage channel.

When the operating lever is operated to move the operating shaft against the biasing means, the pressing force on the operating member is released, so the operating member moves to the open position and is locked by the stopper. The open position of the operating member at this time is uniquely determined by the stopper, regardless of the amount of movement of the operating shaft.

When the adjustment screw is moved, the position where the stopper locks the action member also moves, and therefore the open position of the action member changes. Therefore, the degree of opening of the beverage passage when opened can be adjusted by operating the adjustment screw.

[Embodiment] FIGS. 1 to 3 show a carbonated beverage supply valve device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The illustrated valve device is a dispensing valve device for a post-mix carbonated beverage dispensing device, and includes a body 2 fixed to a frame (not shown) with bolts 1. The body 2 may be made of a combination of several parts. The body 2 is formed with a central syrup passage 3, and dilution water passages and carbonated water passages 4 and 5 on the left and right sides of the syrup passage 3. syrup aisle 3
The dilution water passage 4 and the carbonated water passage 5 communicate with a nozzle 6 at the lower end of the body 2.

A communication lower at the upper end of the syrup passage 3 is connected to a syrup container 8 installed at the upper part of the body 2. The dilution water passage 4 is connected to a dilution water source (not shown) via a dilution water pipe (not shown).

The carbonated water passage 5 is also connected to a carbonated water source (not shown). Therefore, the syrup, dilution water and carbonated water can be mixed and discharged from the nozzle 6. A valve mechanism 12 that can open and close the syrup passage 3 is provided in the middle of the syrup passage 3. Valve mechanisms 1 are also provided in the dilution water passage 4 and the carbonated water passage 5.
3 are provided. Since these valve mechanisms 12, 13 are the same, only one of the valve mechanisms 12 will be described here.

The valve mechanism 12 includes an actuating member 16 and an actuating shaft 17, which are held movably relative to the body 2 in the directions of arrows 14 and 15. The working member 16 has a seal 18 at one end. The seal 18 faces the syrup passage 3 and opens and closes the syrup passage 3 by moving the operating member 16 in the directions of arrows 14 and 15.

FIG. 1 shows the operating member 16 in the closed position, closing the syrup passage 3. The action member 16 is a compression spring 19
is biased in the direction of arrow 14. In body 2,
A sealing member 2o is held that prevents syrup from leaking by slidingly contacting the operating member 16.

On the other hand, the actuation shaft 17 is held in a state passing through the cylindrical adjustment screw 21 and faces the other end of the action member 16 . The adjustment screw 21 is screwed into the body 2 so as to partially protrude.

Therefore, by rotating the adjusting screw 21, its position can be adjusted in the directions of arrows 14 and 15.

Moreover, since the adjusting screw 21 has a large diameter, its rotation operation can be easily performed with a small force.

A compression spring 2 is provided inside the adjustment screw 21 as a biasing means.
2 are provided. This compression spring 22 urges the actuating shaft 17 in the direction of arrow 15 to press the actuating member 16 to the closed position.

Here, the biasing force of the compression spring 19 is set smaller than the biasing force of the compression spring 22.

A stopper 23 is provided at the end of the adjustment screw 21 in the direction of arrow 15.
is fixed. The stop 23 may be freely movable away from the adjusting screw 21 in the direction of arrows 14 and 15. Since the position of the adjusting screw 21 is adjustable, the position of the stopper 23 is also variable. The stopper 23 defines an open position in which the syrup passage 3 is opened by engaging with the operating member 16. That is, this open position is the adjustment screw 2
By rotating 1, it can be adjusted as desired. Therefore, the opening degree of the syrup passage 3 can be adjusted.

Furthermore, an operating lever 24 is provided on the front surface of the body 2. The operating lever 24 is rotatably supported by a support portion 25 at a slightly upper portion of its lower end via a horizontal shaft 26 . Further, the substantially lower end of the operating lever 24 is removably engaged with a shaft 27 at the front end of the operating shaft 17.

Now, as shown in FIG. 4, when the operating lever 24 is pushed in the direction indicated by the arrow 28, the operating shaft 17 is moved in the direction of the arrow 14 by the lever principle. Following this, the working member 16
also moves in the direction of arrow 14 to open syrup passage 3. As a result, the syrup in the syrup container 8 is supplied to the nozzle 6 from the water guiding member 29 through the syrup passage 3. Note that the operation of the operating lever 24 is detected by the arm 31 operating the detection switch 32.

As described above, the diluted water passage 4 and the carbonated water passage 5 are also provided with the same structure, so that by operating each operating lever, a beverage containing an appropriate mixture of syrup, carbonated water, and diluted water is passed through the nozzle 6. Can be provided. Needless to say, the concentration of the beverage at that time is adjusted and set using each adjustment screw.

According to the carbonated beverage supply valve device described above, the syrup passage 3
, the diluted water passage 4, and the carbonated water passage 5, and the device for adjusting their opening degrees are provided at the same location, making it easy to manufacture and easily preventing leakage of carbonated drinks. , and can be made smaller.

The syrup container 8 is of a cassette type that can be attached to and detached from the body 2. Carbon dioxide gas can be supplied to the syrup container 8 from a carbon dioxide hose (not shown) via a carbon dioxide gas passage 34. The carbon dioxide gas passage 34 is equipped with a backflow prevention device 40 .

The backflow prevention device 40 includes a gas circuit main body 42 fixed to the body 2 with screws 41. The gas circuit main body 42 has a cavity 43 communicating with the carbon dioxide gas passage 34. This space 43 extends vertically, and the opening at the lower end is closed with a screw cap 44.

A gas introduction hole 46 communicates with the upper end of the cavity 43 . The above-mentioned carbon dioxide hose is connected to the gas introduction hole 46.

In the space 43 of the gas circuit main body 42, first and second check valve devices 47, 48 are provided in series in the direction of flow of carbon dioxide gas. The first check valve device 47 is connected to the gas circuit main body 42
The mounting fixed to the base 51 includes a pedestal 51 and a valve body 52 mounted in the center of the pedestal 51. Installation is on stand 51
The gap around is sealed with an O-ring 53. The mounting base 51 has a plurality of gas holes 54. On the other hand, the valve body 52 is made of rubber and has a flange portion 56 corresponding to the gas passage hole 54 . The flange portion 56 allows carbon dioxide gas to flow in the forward direction, but acts to block the flow in the reverse direction. The second check valve device 48 is also the same as the first check valve device 4.
It has exactly the same structure as 7. Note that 57 is a filter.

By providing this backflow prevention device 40, the carbon dioxide gas passage 34 is formed in a U-shape. Therefore the first and second
In addition, the check valve device M47.4g is provided in series in the flow direction of carbon dioxide gas, and backflow of syrup is reliably prevented.

Referring also to FIG. 5, the water guiding member 29 has a central tubular portion 61.
and a water guiding plate portion 62 provided around this in the form of a flange. The cylindrical portion 61 is a portion connected to the syrup passage 3, and a syrup discharge port 63 is formed near its lower end. Therefore, the syrup is discharged from the syrup discharge port 63 to the center of the nozzle 6.

Water guide grooves 6 are formed between a large number of ribs 64 around the water guide plate portion 62.
6 is formed. Furthermore, table portions 67 and 68 projecting slightly upward are provided on the upper surface of the water guide plate portion 62 at two symmetrical locations with respect to the cylindrical portion 61. The top surface of the table portions 67, 68 is flat.

This water guide member 29 is arranged inside the nozzle 6 so that the table parts 67 and 68 face the outlets of the diluted water passage 4 and the carbonated water passage 5 one-to-one. As a result, the dilution water and carbonated water discharged from the dilution water passage 4 and the carbonated water passage 5 collide with the flat upper surface of the table portion 67, 68 and spread in all directions, filling the numerous water guide grooves 66 at a substantially uniform rate. The liquid passes through the nozzle 6 and is discharged around the cylindrical portion 61 . In the nozzle 6, the syrup is therefore surrounded by dilution water and carbonated water, which results in good mixing.

Next, the entire post-mix carbonated beverage dispensing device will be described.

Portable tank 126 is connected to pump 135 via water supply pipe 142 at seal coupler 141 . The seal coupler 141 connects the portable tank 126 and the water supply pipe 142 so that they can be separated without water leakage. As this seal coupler 141, various known ones can be used.

One end of the cooling pipe 118 is connected to the pump 135 . The operation of the pump 135 is controlled by the control device 145 in accordance with the operation of the detection switch 32. cooling pipe 1
18 passes through the cooling water in the cooling water tank 116 while meandering. A three-way solenoid valve 143 is provided at the other end of the cooling pipe 118.
Two water supply pipes 144 and 146 are connected through the pipe.

One water supply pipe 144 is connected to the carbonator 117 via a check valve 147.

The other water supply pipe 146 is connected to the valves Vl, V2. Connected to V3. Since there are a plurality of valves here, the other water supply pipe 146 is branched and connected to each of these valves.

Carbon dioxide container 127 is connected to carbonator 117 via pipe 151. In the carbonator 117, carbonated water is produced from drinking water and carbon dioxide. The pipe 151 is equipped with a pressure reducing valve 152 and a check valve 153.
is inserted.

The pressure reducing valve 152 is equipped with a primary pressure display gauge 154.

A branch pipe 156 is connected to the pipe 151 between a pressure reducing valve 152 and a check valve 153. Branch pipe 156
passes through the pressure reducing valve 157 and the operating cock 158 to the valve V
l, V2. Syrup tanks SL and S2 as syrup containers 8 are branched by the number of branches V3 and are connected to syrup tanks SL and S2 as syrup containers 8 via a backflow prevention device 40.
．． Connected to S3. Here, the pressure reducing valve 157 is 0.4
The pressure is reduced to 12 kg/cIl. Syrup tank SL, S2. S3 is the flow rate adjustment device 1 of the distribution section 113
59 through valves Vl, V2. Connected to V3.

The carbonated water in the carbonator 117 can be discharged through the discharge pipe 161. The outlet pipe 161 branches into as many branches as there are valves, and is connected to these valves via a flow rate adjustment device 162.

Valve Vl, V2. V3 each has a water injection nozzle 6. The water injection nozzle 6 is for pouring beverage into the cup 169.

An evaporator 171 of the refrigeration circuit including a compressor 136 and a condenser 137 is attached to the cooling water tank 116 so as to extend along its inner wall. Various known refrigeration circuits can be used as the refrigeration circuit. Note that the temperature of the cooling water in the cooling water tank 116 is controlled to be approximately 0°C.

Next, the operation of the variable post-mixing carbonated beverage dispensing device described above will be explained.

When a cup is placed on a drain tray (not shown) and an arbitrary operating lever is pressed, the detection switch 32 is operated in conjunction with this, and the pump 135 and three-way solenoid valve 143 are operated at the same time. now,
When the cooled drinking water is supplied to the carbonator [1]7, carbonated water is produced in the carbonator [1]7. As a result, drinking water, carbonated water, and syrup flow through the flow rate adjusting device 1.
48,159.162, valve Vl, V2. V3 and is supplied to cup 169 through nozzle 6. In this case, the ratio of carbonic acid can be arbitrarily changed from strongly carbonated water to non-carbonated water by adjusting the flow rate adjusting devices 148 and 162.

When the water level of carbonator 117 decreases, float switch 17
2, the pump 135 operates (at this time, the three-way solenoid valve 143 does not operate), and drinking water is supplied into the carbonator 117. Thus carbonator 117
The water level is controlled to be constant. Drinking water is supplied into the Naori-Bonator 117 by spraying it in the form of mist.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above using the embodiments, according to the carbonated beverage supply valve device of the present invention, there is a space between the operating lever and the beverage passage.
Since the operating member that opens and closes the beverage passage and the operating shaft that converts the operation of the operating lever into movement in a predetermined direction are provided in series, manufacturing is easy and leakage of carbonated beverage can be easily prevented. Moreover, by operating the adjustment screw, the degree of opening of the beverage passage when opening can be easily adjusted. Furthermore, since the adjustment screw and the operating shaft can be provided at the same position with respect to the body, it is possible to downsize the device.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 is a sectional view taken along the line II in FIG. 2, FIG. 2 is a plan view of a carbonated beverage supply valve device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line ■-■ in FIG. 2. 4 is a partial view similar to FIG. 1 showing the operating state, FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the water guide member used in the carbonated beverage supply valve device of FIG. 2, and FIG. 6 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the overall configuration of a mixed carbonated beverage dispensing device using the carbonated beverage supply valve device of FIG. 2. FIG. 2... Body, 3... Syrup passage, 4... Dilution water passage, 5... Carbonated water passage, 6... Nozzle, 7...
- Communication port, 8... Syrup container, 12.13... Valve mechanism, 16... Acting member, 17... Operating shaft,
21... Seal member, 22... Compression spring, 23...
・Stopper 24...operation lever one

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A body having a communication port connected to a beverage source, a nozzle for discharging a beverage, and a beverage passage communicating them, a valve mechanism for opening and closing the beverage passage, and a valve mechanism for operating the valve mechanism. In the carbonated beverage supply valve device including an operating lever provided on the body, the valve mechanism is held in the body so as to face the beverage passage, and is positioned between an open position where the beverage passage is opened and a closed position where the beverage passage is closed. an action member movable in the direction; a sealing device interposed between the body and the action member to prevent beverage leakage; an adjustment screw held in the body movably in the predetermined direction; a stopper interposed between the adjustment screw and the action member to limit the open position of the action member and determine the degree of opening of the beverage passage; a stopper held by the adjustment screw so as to be movable in the predetermined direction; an operating shaft having one end engaged with the operating lever and the other end facing the end of the operating member in the open position so as to be able to approach and separate; A carbonated beverage supply valve device comprising a biasing means for pressing the valve to the closed position.