JPH0248946Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] This invention relates to a beverage vending machine, and more specifically, a beverage vending machine equipped with a raw material stocker that has a function to prevent oxidation of raw materials and the generation of germs. This invention relates to a raw material storage device in a machine.

[Prior art] As a beverage vending machine, for example,
There is one described in Publication No. 37798.

This product is made by mixing the concentrated raw material liquid selected by the customer with heated or cooled diluted liquid with sugar and cream in a pot for selling beverages, or by mixing it in a mixing bowl and then printing it into paper for sale. It is a type of product that can be taken out and sold in small pots.

However, as a beverage vending machine, it is necessary to store raw materials for several drinks in a raw material stocker, and to replenish the raw materials in the stocker when they run low, but liquid raw materials are difficult to handle, so recently powdered Body or granule form is used.

There is also a method described in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-open No. 192475/1983 as a solution to such inconveniences.

This conventional technology includes a raw material stocker that has a function of automatically taking out an amount of raw material selected by the purchaser, and a raw material delivery port of the stocker that is opened only when the raw material is being delivered, and is opened at other times than when the raw material is being delivered. A delivery port sealing mechanism that seals the delivery port and a constant pressure valve are provided, and inert gas is automatically injected at time intervals into the stocker, which is sealed except for the delivery port to prevent oxidation of the raw material. This beverage vending machine is equipped with a mechanism to prevent deterioration of raw materials to prevent the generation of germs.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The above deterioration prevention mechanism requires an outlet sealing mechanism, which poses a major problem in that the structure is complicated and the cost is high.

In addition, air can enter the stocker through a small gap between the lid attached to the opening of the stocker and the stocker, causing oxidation of the drinking ingredients in the stocker, which can significantly impair the taste and aroma of beverages such as coffee. During the rainy season, there are many problems such as a blocking phenomenon that occurs in powdered raw materials, which can cause powder to clump, and bacteria to propagate and cause it to rot.

This invention aims to solve the above problems.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The purpose of this invention described above is to provide a raw material stocker equipped with a raw material delivery mechanism that automatically takes out the amount of raw material selected by the purchaser from the raw material delivery port, and This is achieved by providing a lid that closes an opening for replenishing raw materials, and an inert gas supply source and a removable gas supply port located on the opening side of the raw material stocker.

[Function] The raw material stocking device in the beverage vending machine of this invention connects the inert gas supply source and the gas supply port, supplies a small amount of inert gas (carbon dioxide gas) at low pressure into the stocker, and In addition to penetrating the raw material, a gas layer is formed in the space above the stocker to prevent the raw material from coming into direct contact with the air.
Oxidative deterioration and blocking of raw materials can be easily and inexpensively prevented.

[Example] As shown in FIG. 1, the beverage vending machine 1 of this invention has a display section 4, a selection button 5, a charge slot 6, and a hot button on the front door 3 of the vending machine housing 2. There are provided an outlet 7 for hot and cold cups, and a set opening 9 for the hot or cold cup.

When the front door 3 is opened, the housing 2 is opened as shown in Figure 2.
A water cassette tank 10 for storing a certain amount of water from the water supply is arranged above, and below it a heater tank 12 for receiving water supply from the tank via a water supply pipe 11 and producing hot water, and a main tank 1.
3. Raw material stocker 1 that stores instant raw materials b such as coffee, tea, oranges, etc. to avoid moisture.
4 to 17 are arranged.

Also, an ice maker and ice stocker with crusher 19 which receive water from the water cassette tank 10 through a water supply pipe 18 and freeze it are arranged, and in the upper right corner are cup stockers 20 to 22 which store hot or cold cups. is installed.

Furthermore, an inert gas supply source 27 such as carbon dioxide gas with a main tank 26 is arranged on the left side, and the cylinder serving as the inert gas supply source is connected to the gas supply pipe 2.
As described below through 8, the raw material stocker 14
A small amount of inert gas at low pressure can be sent into the chamber 17 at regular intervals, and a cup holder 29 made of wire mesh is provided below.

In addition, a heater tank 1 is placed on the cups a (a1 to a3) placed on the cup holder through the set opening 9.
A hot water injection pipe 30 with a solenoid valve for injecting hot water from 2, a raw material chute 31 with a partition plate 31a for taking out raw materials from each raw material stocker 14 to 17 into the cup a, and ice crushed by a crusher in the cup a. An ice shooter 32 for taking out ice from the ice stocker 19, and a waste liquid reservoir 33 for supporting the cup holder 29 and storing spilled waste liquid are provided.

As shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. A raw material delivery mechanism 35 such as a screw conveyor
is disposed between the outlet 36 and the back plate 37, and a lid 39 is attached to the opening with or without an airtight sealing member 38 such as an O-ring, and a A gas supply port 40 having a one-touch connector 40A that can be attached to and detached from the gas supply pipe 28 is provided. The inert gas G is allowed to permeate into the raw material and gradually leak out from the outlet 36.

Furthermore, a solenoid valve 43 is attached to the gas supply pipe 28, and a timer 43 is attached to the gas supply pipe 28, as shown in FIG.
4, so that the inert gas G can be automatically supplied to the stockers 14 to 17 at regular intervals as described above.

A raw material deterioration prevention mechanism 50 that prevents moisture, oxidation, and the generation of bacteria due to moisture in the raw materials stored in the raw material stocker of the beverage vending machine of this invention.
The motor 46 is constructed as described above, and the motor 46 connected to the raw material delivery mechanism 35 via the clutch 45 starts rotating when the purchaser presses the selection button.

With this rotation, the raw material sending mechanism 3 is delivered from the sending port 36.
The raw material b in an amount determined by the rotational speed of 5 is delivered through the raw material shooter 31 into the cup a placed in advance on the cup holder 29, and is then transferred to the heater tank 1.
2 or heater tank 12 and ice stocker 1
After hot water or a small amount of hot water comes out from step 9, water and ice are supplied to make hot or iced coffee.

This raw material deterioration prevention mechanism 50 operates when a timer 44 operates as shown in FIG. 5 at times other than the normal operation of the automatic machine as described above.
Inert gas G is injected and supplied into the stockers 14 to 17 to increase the internal pressure and expel oxygen in the stockers and replace it with inert gas G. By blowing the gas G, oxidation of raw material b is prevented and raw material b is Always keep it fluffy to improve breathability and prevent moisture and bacteria from forming.

[Effects of the invention] As mentioned above, this invention adopts the means to solve the above-mentioned problems, so it eliminates moisture in the raw materials and the resulting generation of bacteria, and
Oxidation of raw materials is prevented by diluting the oxygen concentration in the stocker by blowing inert gas, and
By lowering the gas temperature due to adiabatic expansion when inert gas is supplied, the raw materials can be slightly cooled, allowing customers to always receive beverages with no change in flavor. Mechanically, it is also simple and allows replenishment of raw materials into the stocker. It is easy and has the advantage that it is possible to modify the raw material stocker of an existing beverage vending machine at low cost.

Further, according to the second aspect, the raw material stocker can be implemented in a small size, light weight, and at low cost.

Furthermore, according to claim 3, when applied to a carbonated beverage vending machine, the carbon dioxide gas cylinder is used for carbonated beverages;
It has the effect that it can also be used for the deterioration prevention mechanism of the present invention.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The figures show one embodiment of this invention. Figure 1 is an external view of a beverage vending machine, Figure 2 is a configuration diagram of the vending machine with the internal mechanism visible except for the front door, and Figure 3 is an external view of the raw material stocker, Figure 4
The figure is a sectional view of the raw material stocker, and FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of the control circuit. 14-17, 34... Raw material stock, 40...
Gas supply port, 27... Inert gas supply source, 50...
...Deterioration prevention mechanism, 35...Raw material delivery mechanism, b
...Raw material, 36...Raw material delivery port, G...Inert gas, 39...Lid.

Claims (1)

[Scope of claims for utility model registration] 1. A beverage vending machine equipped with a raw material stocker, a raw material delivery mechanism, and a liquid supply mechanism,
Raw material stockers 14 to 17, 34 provided with a raw material delivery mechanism 35 that automatically takes out raw material b in an amount selected by the purchaser from a raw material delivery port 36.
and a deterioration prevention mechanism 50 having a lid 36 that closes an opening for replenishing the stocker with raw materials, and a gas supply port 40 that is disposed on the upper part of the raw material stocker and is detachable from the inert gas supply source 27. A raw material storage device in a beverage vending machine equipped with 2. The raw material storage device for a beverage vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the raw material delivery mechanism 35 is a screw conveyor. 3. The raw material storage device for a beverage vending machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the inert gas G is carbon dioxide gas.