JPH03201094A - Automatic vending machine for cup type drink - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a drink splashing from a cup and to prevent the insufficient dissolution of addition powder raw material and the after-dripping of the drink occurring by providing an air vent control means on the middle way of a drink supply pipeline drawn out from an air pressure type drink extractor. CONSTITUTION:An air vent valve 8 is provided on the middle way of the drink supply pipeline 3 between the air pressure type drink extractor 1 and a drink nozzle 5. Thereby, the splash of the drink from the cup can be prevented occurring. Also, a drink addition powder raw material housed in the cup in advance can be stirred powerfully with the stirring force of the drink injected to the cup forcibly by receiving air pressure by closing the air vent valve while the drink is supplied except just before the supply of the drink is completed, and the raw material can be sufficiently dissolved. Furthermore, by closing the air vent valve 8 opened transiently prior to the stoppage of the introduction of pressure air, the after-dripping of the drink can be prevented occurring.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a cup-type beverage vending machine that is equipped with an air pressurized beverage brewing device in the machine and that manufactures and sells regular coffee and the like.

[Conventional technology]

BACKGROUND ART A cup-type beverage vending machine is known that is equipped with a beverage brewing device and that produces and sells regular coffee using coffee bean powder as a raw material. In addition, such a beverage extraction device combines a beverage extraction cylinder and a filter block, and after charging a predetermined amount of powdered raw material and hot water into the cylinder, pressurized air is introduced into the cylinder body from the outside to extract the powdered raw material. In addition to stirring the hot water and extracting the beverage, the next step is to close the upper opening of the cylinder with a valve mechanism, then continue to introduce pressurized air to increase the internal pressure of the cylinder, and use that pressure to filter the beverage. JP-A-61-31108 has already disclosed an air pressurized beverage extraction device in which the beverage extraction device passes through a beverage supply pipe and a beverage nozzle to a waiting cup and discharges the beverage. It is publicly known.

FIG. 4 shows a beverage system diagram of a conventional cup-type beverage vending machine that employs the above-mentioned air pressure type beverage extraction device. In the figure, 1 indicates an air pressure type beverage extraction device;
3 is an air pump that introduces a pressurizing mechanism into the beverage extraction device 1;
is a beverage hose drawn out from the beverage extraction device 1 and connected between the beverage nozzle 5 and the beverage nozzle 5 that opens above the cup 4.

With this configuration, a predetermined amount of powdered raw materials and hot water are introduced into the beverage extraction device 1 based on a sales signal, and a beverage is extracted by blowing pressurized air through the air pump 2. Beverage is injected through the beverage nozzle 5 into the cup 4 waiting therebelow. Depending on the sales method, before supplying the beverage, the powdered raw material 6 to be added to the beverage, such as sugar or powdered milk, is placed in a warmed cup in the pre-warming process, and the powdered raw material 6 is mixed with the beverage poured into the cup. There is also a sales method in which it is melted.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] By the way, in the configuration shown in FIG. 4, the beverage is vigorously ejected from the beverage nozzle 5 in response to the air pressure above the beverage container supplied from the beverage extraction device 1 to the cup 4. This means that, especially at the end of the beverage dispensing process when the cup is almost full, the beverage jetting out of the nozzle hits the liquid surface in the cup, causing the beverage to splatter and contaminate the cup and surrounding stage. A malfunction may occur.

Therefore, as a measure to prevent drinks from scattering, the inventors developed a fifth
As shown in the figure, an air bleed part 7 opened to the atmosphere was provided in the middle of the drinking water bath 3 to prevent air pressure from being applied to the beverage flowing from the nozzle 5 toward the cup 4. According to this method, the force of the beverage poured into the cup 4 is weakened and the beverage can be prevented from scattering from the cup, but on the other hand, as mentioned above, the powdered raw material 6 to be added to the beverage is stored in the cup in advance and the beverage is added to the beverage. In the dissolving sales method, the stirring power of the powdered raw material 6 by the beverage poured into the cup is weak, and the dissolution of the powdered raw material 6 tends to be insufficient. Furthermore, even after the beverage supply is finished, the beverage remaining on the inner wall of the beverage hose 3 may drip from the nozzle 5, contaminating the cup or the surrounding stage when the cup 4 is taken out or moved. However, new problems arise.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned points, and it is possible to solve the above-described conventional problems by providing an air bleed control means whose operation is controlled at an appropriate timing in the middle of the beverage supply path drawn out from the air pressurized beverage extraction device. A power that solves the problem and prevents the drink from flying out of the cup, while also ensuring sufficient dissolution of the additive powder raw materials stored in the cup in advance and preventing the drink from dripping.・The purpose is to provide a 7-bar beverage vending machine.

[Means for solving i5 problems] Above, ic! ! In order to solve the problem, the present invention provides an air bleed valve that passes to the atmosphere in the middle of the beverage supply pipe between the air pressurized beverage extraction device and the beverage nozzle that opens above the cup. In addition, the air vent valve is controlled to be temporarily opened at least just before the end of the beverage supply.

In addition, as mentioned in 13 above, in order to more reliably prevent the beverage from dripping, the air bleed valve 1 should be closed before the introduction of the pressurization process (7) to the beverage extraction device is stopped at the end of the beverage supply. It is better to

[Effect]

In the above, when a beverage is supplied from the beverage extraction device with the air release valve closed, the beverage is forcefully ejected from the nozzle toward the cup due to the back pressure of the pressurized air. On the other hand, if the air bleed valve is opened, the air pressure is released to the atmosphere in the middle of the beverage supply pipe, and the force of the beverage flowing out from the nozzle is weakened.

Therefore, by temporarily opening the air release valve just before the end of the beverage supply, when beverage splashing from the cup is most likely to occur, it is possible to prevent the beverage from splashing out of the cup. By keeping the air release valve closed during feeding, the stirring force of the beverage that is vigorously injected into the cup under air pressure can powerfully stir the powdered material for beverage additives that has been stored in the 7-bar chamber in advance. Stir to dissolve thoroughly. Furthermore, by closing the air bleed valve, which was temporarily opened just before the end of the beverage supply, before stopping the introduction of pressurized air to the beverage extraction device, any remaining beverage stuck in the beverage supply pipe can be removed. Since it is forcibly removed by air pressure, there is no possibility of dripping caused by dripping of the beverage.

In addition, when the beverage is poured into the cup in the initial condition a (the cup is empty or contains powdered raw materials to be added to the beverage), if the beverage is poured into the cup, If there is a risk that the powdered raw material contained in the cup may fly out of the cup, the air bleed valve may be temporarily opened when the beverage supply starts.

[Example] Figure 1 is a beverage system diagram according to an example of the present invention, Figures 2 and 3.
Each figure is a time chart of the beverage supply operation according to the first precept in FIG. 1, and the same members corresponding to FIGS. 4 and 5 are given the same reference numerals.

First, in FIG. 1, an air bleed valve 8 is provided in the middle of the drinking water bath 3 drawn out from the air pressurized beverage brewing apparatus 1 according to the present invention, which passes through an air bleed part 7 to the atmosphere. Further, reference numeral 9 is a control section which receives a sales signal and receives a sales signal from the beverage extraction device 1. Give operation commands to the air pump 2° and air bleed valve 8.

Here, the air release valve 8 is normally closed, and after the beverage is extracted in the beverage extraction device 1, the drinking water is extracted from the beverage extraction device 3. During the process of pouring the beverage into the cup 4 through the beverage nozzle 5, the opening is temporarily controlled by a command from the control unit 9 in synchronization with the outflow of the beverage. Also, FIG. 2 shows the state of the control operation.

This is shown in the time chart diagram of FIG.

First, in FIG. 2, the air bleed valve 8 is temporarily opened in synchronization with the start and end of the supply of the beverage delivered by receiving air pressure from the beverage brewing device 1. As a result, the force of the beverage poured into the cup is weakened at the beginning and just before the end of the supply of the beverage, so that the amount of the added powder raw material 6 pre-stored in the beverage or the cup is reduced.
On the other hand, at an intermediate point during the supply of the beverage, the air release valve 8 is closed, and the beverage is vigorously jetted out from the nozzle 5 and poured into the cup 5.

As a result, a strong stirring force is applied to the added powder raw material 6 previously accommodated in the cup, so that the powder raw material 6 is sufficiently dissolved into the beverage.

Note that if there is no risk of the beverage or powdered raw material 6 scattering at the beginning of the beverage supply, the air vent valve 8 may be kept closed at this point and controlled to be opened only at the end of the beverage supply. .

Next, in FIG. 3, the operating time of the air pump 2 is extended compared to FIG. The difference is that it is closed first. With this control, a small amount of beverage remaining on the inner wall of the beverage hose 3 is forcibly removed by air pressure, so that dripping of the beverage from the nozzle 5 after the beverage supply process is completed is eliminated.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, in the process of supplying a beverage from an air pressurized beverage extraction device to a cup, the air bleed valve is temporarily opened to reliably prevent the beverage from splashing out of the cup. Then, while the air bleed valve is closed, the additive powder raw material that has been pre-filled into the cup can be vigorously poured into the cup and stirred vigorously to fully dissolve it.

In addition, by closing the air release valve before stopping the introduction of pressurized air at the end of the beverage supply, the remaining beverage stuck in the pipe can be forcibly removed using air pressure, preventing dripping from the nozzle due to dripping. Occurrence can be prevented.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a beverage system diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a time chart of different beverage supply operations, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are beverage system diagrams of conventional cup-type beverage vending machines, respectively. In the figure: 1: Air pressurized beverage extraction device, 2: Air pump, 3: Beverage hose, 4: Cup, 5: Beverage nozzle, March 15, 1991.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) In a cup-type beverage vending machine that is equipped with an air pressurized beverage extraction device to extract beverages and supply beverages to cups, an opening above the beverage extraction device and the cup is provided. An air bleed valve communicating with the atmosphere is provided in the middle of the beverage supply pipe line between the beverage nozzle and the beverage nozzle, and the air bleed valve is controlled to open temporarily at least just before the end of the beverage supply. Cup-type beverage vending machine. 2) The cup-type beverage vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the air release valve is closed before the introduction of pressurized air to the beverage extraction device is stopped at the end of supplying the beverage. Beverage vending machine.