JPH0434695A - Induction heating controller for automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the erroneous heating of a can which should not be heated by judging the can to be heatable at the time of detecting the presence of a mark by the majority of first and third mark detectors or second and third mark detectors and heating only the drink can judged to be heatable. CONSTITUTION:A mark detecting means 18 consists of a first mark detector group 18-a consisting of first mark detectors (18-1) to (18-3), a second mark detector group 18-b consisting of second mark detectors (18-4) to (18-6), and a third mark detector group 18-c consisting of third mark detectors (18-7) and (18-8). The can is judged to be heatable when the majority of first and third mark detectors or second and third mark detectors detects the presence of the mark, and only the drink can judged to be heatable is heated. Thus, a safe induction heating controller for the automatic vending machine is obtained where drink of high viscosity or aerated drink is not erroneously heated even when the drink is erroneously thrown-in.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to an induction heating control device for a vending machine that heats canned beverage products such as coffee (hereinafter referred to as canned beverages) at the time of sale by induction heating and sells them hot. It is something.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In recent years, as seen in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 53-41295, a vending machine has been devised that applies induction heating technology to heat canned beverages in a short time and sell them hot.

An example of a conventional vending machine will be described below with reference to the drawings. Figure 5 is a front view of a conventional vending machine, and Figure 6 is a front view of a conventional vending machine.
The figure shows a cross-sectional view taken along line I-1'' in FIG. 5. In FIG. 5 and FIG. A storage room 3 that supplies the canned beverages 2 one by one, and a product storage device 4 for cold sales.
And 5 tons of hot sales product storage devices are installed inside. Below the above-mentioned product defeating device, there are provided a cold sales release hand 56 and a hot sales release means 7, respectively.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a door body that is opened when an operator who replaces the canned beverages 2 into the storage N8 stores the canned beverages 2. On the front side, there is a cold vending switch 9 that operates the cold vending discharging means 6, and a hot vending discharging hand R7. A warm vending switch 10 and a vending outlet 11 to be operated are formed. Reference numeral 12 denotes a heating coil for inductively heating the canned beverage 2 to be sold hot, and is provided below the product storage device 5 for hot sale.

The operation of the induction heating control device for a vending machine configured as above will be explained.

First, when the cold vending switch 9 is pressed, the cold vending discharging means 6 is activated, and the refrigerated canned beverage 2 is discharged from the cold vending product storage device 4 to the vending outlet 11.

Next, when the hot sale switch 10 is pressed, the hot sale discharge means 7 is activated, and one refrigerated or heated canned beverage 2 is discharged from the hot sale product storage device 5 to the heating coil 12.
high-frequency power is supplied to this heating coil 12, and the temperature of the canned beverage 2 is raised to the hot selling temperature by induction heating, and then the canned beverage 2t! : This is to be carried out to the sales outlet 11.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, with such a configuration, heating a high viscosity beverage with poor convection may cause the surface of the can to burn, and heating a high pressure beverage such as a carbonated beverage may cause an explosion.

High viscosity beverages can be handled by lowering the heating output, but there is a problem in that the heating time becomes longer. This type of vending machine must keep the heating time as short as possible.

Therefore, high viscosity drinks and carbonated drinks are excluded from hot sales using induction heating. However, if the operator who replaces the products in the vending machine 1 mistakenly puts a high viscosity drink or carbonated drink into the product storage device 5 for hot sales, the can surface may burn or the can may explode. It had

In view of the above-mentioned problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a safe induction heating control device for a vending machine that prevents erroneous heating even when a high viscosity beverage or carbonated beverage is erroneously dispensed.

Means for Solving Eight Problems In order to solve the above problems, the induction heating control device for a vending machine of the present invention is designed exclusively for canned beverages that can be preheated with a mark indicating that they can be heated on the lid. , a slanted pedestal made of electrically insulating material for receiving canned beverages, a heating coil wound in the shape of an arc plate that is parallel to the pedestal and heats the canned beverage by induction, and a high-frequency wave for induction heating in the heating coil. A high-frequency power converter that supplies electric power, a can diameter detection means that is attached to the bottom of the cradle and detects the diameter of the canned beverage in the cradle, and a can diameter that determines the diameter of the can based on the output of the can diameter detection means. a discrimination means, a first mark detector group that is attached to the bottom of the pedestal and detects marks on canned beverages with different diameters, and a second mark detector group that detects marks on canned beverages with different diameters. mark detection means consisting of a third mark detector group for detection; a selection circuit that switches the output of the first and second mark detector groups based on the output of the can diameter discrimination means; This device is equipped with a mark discrimination means that determines that the canned beverage can be heated when a majority of the second and third mark detector groups detect that there is a mark, and a sales control means that heats only canned beverages that are determined to be heatable.

Effect of the Invention The present invention has the above-described configuration, so that even if an operator who replaces products in a vending machine mistakenly puts a high viscosity drink or carbonated drink that cannot be heated into the product storage device for hot sales, the mark discrimination means can heat it. Only canned beverages that have been identified as such are heated. That is, for canned beverages that have a ring-shaped mark indicating that they can be heated on the can wall of the lid, and for canned beverages that do not have a ring-shaped mark that indicates that they can be heated, the mark detection means is arranged in parallel along the link-shaped mark. Since the majority of these determine that heating is possible when a mark is detected, there are some mark detectors that cannot detect marks correctly due to malfunction due to noise or light not reflecting properly due to unevenness on the can surface. The present invention provides a safe induction heating control device for a vending machine that is free from the risk of scorching the surface of the can or exploding the can.

In addition, it can detect the axial position of the commercially available Ota and accommodate differences in can diameter, and the mark at the bottom of the pedestal can be detected by a third mark detector group, reducing the number of parts. be.

Embodiment Hereinafter, an induction heating control device for a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a vending machine showing an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the twi control. Note that detailed explanations of parts that are the same as those of the conventional example will be omitted.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 18 indicates a product outlet of the product storage device 4 for cold sale, and reference numeral 14 indicates a product outlet of the product storage device 5 for hot sale. 15 is a heating coil unit that determines whether the canned beverage 2 is a can to which heating is applied and heats it. As shown in FIG. 3, the heating coil unit 15 has a configuration including an inclined pedestal 1.6 and a canned beverage 2 placed in parallel with the pedestal 16.
A heating coil 12 wound in an arc plate shape for induction heating, a can diameter detection means 17 for detecting the diameter of the canned beverage 2 in the holder 16, and marks arranged in parallel along the ring-shaped mark M. It is composed of a detection means 18. The ring-shaped mark M is a commercially available canned beverage 2 with an Ota ring-shaped mark M1 and a thin can ring-shaped mark M2 on the lid part, respectively, for Ota (diameter 66 mm) 2a and axial position (diameter 53 mm) 2b. It is applied to Therefore, when the Ota 2a 1 thin can 2b is placed in the inclined receiving table 16, it will be displaced by the diameter (L). The ring-shaped mark will be in the same position at the bottom and off at the top. Also, can diameter detection means 1
7. The mark detection means 18 is a reflective optical sensor attached to the bottom surface of the pedestal 16.

Can diameter detection means 17Lt Thick can 2a and axial position 2b are placed on pedestal 16
It is installed so that it can detect the presence or absence of an object between the gap L when it enters the container, and if the canned beverage 2 in the holder 16 is Ota 2a, an optical signal is generated by reflection from the lid of the canned beverage 2. is coming back. The canned beverage 2 in the cradle 16 is in the axial position 2b
In this case, since there is no reflection from the lid of the canned beverage 2, the optical signal does not return. The mark detection means 18 is the first
Mark detector 1, 2, 3 18-1.18-2.18
-3, and a second mark detector group 18-b, which includes second mark detectors 1, 2, 318-4.18-5.18-6.

It is composed of a third mark detector group 18-C consisting of third mark detectors 1, 218-7 and 18-8;
The mark detector group 18-a is located at the position where it detects the ring-shaped mark M1 of Ota 2a, and the second mark detector group 18-b
is located at a position to detect the link-shaped mark M2 at the axial position 2b, and the third mark detector group 18-c is located at a position to detect the link-shaped mark M2 at the axial position 2b.
1 and M2 are installed at the positions where they are detected.

This mark detection means 18 returns an optical signal if there is a mark on the canned beverage 2, and returns an optical signal if there is no mark.

In FIG. 2, 19 is a high frequency power converter that supplies high frequency power to the heating coil 12, and 20 is a control means. The control means 20 is composed of a can diameter discriminating means 21, a selection circuit 22, a mark discriminating means 23, and a sales control means 24.The can diameter discriminating means 21 is connected to the can diameter detecting means 17, and an optical signal is returned. The 0 selection circuit 22, which determines whether the canned beverage 2 in the cradle 16 is in the Ota position 2a or the axial position 2b depending on whether the canned beverage 2 is in the axial position or not, and outputs a can diameter determination signal, is connected to the first mark detector group 18.
-a, second mark detector group 18-b, can diameter detection means 2
1, and the can diameter detection means 21 is connected to the output of Ota 2.
If it is determined that the position is a, the output of the first mark detector group 18-a is selected, and if it is determined that the axis position is 2b, the output of the second mark detector group 1 is selected.
Select 8-b.

The mark discriminating means 23 is connected to the output of the selection circuit 22 and the output of the third mark detector group 18-0, and outputs the output that indicates the presence or absence of a mark as true. In other words, if there are many objects detected as having a mark, it is determined that there is a mark, and if there are many objects detected as having no mark, it is determined that there is no mark.

The sales control means 24 inputs the outputs of the hot sales switch 10 and the mark discrimination means 23, and outputs them to the hot sales carry-out means 7, the heating completion carry-out means 25, and the high-frequency power converter 19. If it is pressed, the hot sales conveyor 8 means 7 is operated to place the canned beverage 2 into the receiving stand 16. After that, it is determined whether or not the can can be heated based on the output of the mark discrimination means 23, and the can can be heated. If so, a heating command is output to the high frequency power converter 19 to heat 2 tons of canned beverages for a certain period of time. At this time, the high frequency power converter 19 supplies high frequency power to the heating coil 12 to heat the canned beverage 2. If it is a can to which heating is not applied, the canned beverage 2
to be carried out.

The operation of the induction heating control device for a vending machine configured as described above will be explained with reference to an operation flowchart shown in FIG. First, the control means 20 turns the warm sales switch 10 to OFF.
Determine whether it has been turned on (step 1). If it has been turned on, proceed to the next step, and move the warm sales delivery means 7t-
The canned beverage 2 is introduced into the receiving stand 16 (step 2).
)0Next, based on the output of the can diameter detection means 17, it is determined whether the canned beverage 2 introduced into the holder 16 is Ota 2a or Kiden 2b (Step 3)0If the canned beverage 2 is Ota 2a, Step 4 Then, the outputs of the first mark detector group 18-a and the third mark detector group 18-C are inputted. Also canned drinks 2
If Kiden 2b, go to step 5 and input the outputs of the second mark detector group 18-b and third mark detector group 18-c.0 Next, go to step 6 and input in step 4 or step 5. It is determined whether or not there is a mark on the canned beverage 2 in the holder 16 based on the mark detection signal received.
This means that the one with the most detected mark signals is true. If the majority have marks, it is determined that the cans are suitable for heating, and induction heating is performed (step 7).

When the heating is completed, the heating completion carrying out means 25 is activated to carry out the canned beverages to the sales outlet, completing the heating sale (step 8).In addition, in step 6, if the majority of cans are not marked, heating is not applied to the cans. It is determined that the canned beverage is not heated, and the heating completion/unloading means 25 is activated to transport the canned beverage to the sales outlet.

As described above, according to this embodiment, even if a non-heated can of high viscosity drink or carbonated drink is mistakenly put into the product storage device 5 for hot sale, the first and third or second and third Since it is determined that heating is possible when a majority of the mark detectors determine that there is a mark, correct mark detection may not be possible due to malfunction due to noise or light not reflecting properly due to unevenness on the can surface. Even if there is a device, it can be reliably identified,
As a result, as in the past, the cans that were not heated were mistakenly heated.
It is possible to provide an induction heating control device for a vending machine that is safe and free from dangers such as burning of the can surface or explosion of the can.

In addition, it can detect Ota and Kiden, which are commercially available, and can handle differences in can diameter.Furthermore, the mark at the bottom of the pedestal can be detected by a third group of mark detectors, reducing the number of parts. .

In addition to the effects of the invention, as is clear from the examples, the induction heating control device for a vending machine of the present invention is designed exclusively for canned beverages that have a mark indicating that they can be heated in advance on the upper and lower lids of canned beverages. A pedestal formed of electrically insulating material and tilted to receive the beverage, a heating coil wound in the shape of an arc plate that is placed in parallel with the pedestal and heats the canned beverage by induction, and a high-frequency power for induction heating applied to the heating coil. A high frequency power conversion device to be supplied, a can diameter detection means attached to the bottom of the cradle and detecting the diameter of the canned beverage in the cradle, and a can diameter determination means to determine the can diameter based on the output of the can diameter detection means. and a first mark detector group and a second mark detector group that are attached to the bottom of the pedestal and detect marks t' on canned beverages with different diameters, and detect both marks on canned beverages with different diameters. a selection circuit that switches between eight mark detector groups, the first and second mark detector groups, based on the output of the can diameter determining means;
and a mark discrimination means that determines that the canned beverage can be heated when a majority of the third or second and third mark detectors detect that there is a mark, and a sales control means that heats only canned beverages that are determined to be heatable. This makes it possible to determine whether or not heated cans can be used for canned beverages of different diameters on the market, reducing the number of parts compared to installing mark detectors on each can, and making it easier for vending machines. Even if an operator who replaces products mistakenly inserts non-heated cans of high viscosity beverages or carbonated beverages into the product storage device for hot sales, light may not reflect properly due to malfunction due to noise or unevenness of the can surface. Even if there is a mark detector that cannot detect the mark correctly due to unforeseen circumstances, it can be detected reliably, and as a result, the can surface will burn or the can will explode if the can is heated incorrectly, unlike conventional methods. Therefore, it is possible to provide a safe induction heating control device for a vending machine that does not cause any danger such as

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the induction heating control device of the vending machine of FIG. A configuration diagram of the heating coil unit in a cross-sectional view of the vending machine, Figure 4 is an operation flowchart, Figure 5 is a front view of a conventional vending machine, and Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line I-1' in Figure 5. be. 2... Canned beverage, 12. - Heating coil, 16... Receiver, 17... Can diameter detection means, 18. - Mark detection means, 1B-JL. - First mark detector group, 18 −
b... Second mark detector group, 18-C... Third mark detector group, 19... High frequency power converter, 21
・・Can diameter determination means, 22・・Selection circuit, 28...
Mark discrimination means, 24... Sales control means. Name of agent: Patent attorney Shigetaka Awano Haka1 ~ N Kotoq
) C) Figure

Claims (1)

[Claims] A vending machine that sells canned beverages that has a ring-shaped mark on the can wall of the lid that indicates that canned beverages can be heated by induction, and is made of electrically insulating material and is tilted to receive the canned beverage. a pedestal, a heating coil wound in an arc plate shape in parallel with the pedestal for induction heating a canned beverage, a high-frequency power converter for supplying high-frequency power for induction heating to the heating coil, and a high-frequency power converter for supplying high-frequency power for induction heating to the heating coil; a can diameter detection means attached to the bottom of the pedestal for detecting the diameter of the canned beverage in the pedestal; a can diameter determination means for determining the can diameter based on the output of the can diameter detection means; and a bottom surface of the pedestal. a first mark detector group that is attached to the holder and detects marks on canned beverages with different diameters, a second mark detector group, and a third mark detector that detects both marks on canned beverages with different diameters. a selection circuit that switches the output of the first and second mark detector groups based on the output of the can diameter determining means; and the first and third or second and third marks. Induction heating of a vending machine characterized by being equipped with a mark discrimination means that determines that heating is possible when a majority of the detectors detect the presence of a mark, and a sales control means that heats only canned beverages that are determined to be able to be heated. Control device.