JPH0525582U - Automatic cleaning controller for beverage vending machines - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] During automatic cleaning, if the beverage supply line is not very dirty, the cleaning operation is not performed, so that waste of water, hot water, etc. for cleaning is eliminated, and efficient automatic cleaning is performed. I will provide a. [Structure] An electromagnetic valve that is installed for each beverage supply line and controls the pouring of liquid from the beverage supply line, a first timer for determining the cleaning time of the beverage supply line, and a cleaning activation start signal are output. A second timer for counting, a first counter that counts the number of drinks sold after the cleaning is finished, a second counter that can set a range of the number of drinks sold that is prohibited from starting cleaning, and a first timer And a second timer, and when the cleaning start signal is output from the second timer, the count number of the first counter is compared with the set value of the second counter, and the count of the first counter is compared. When the number is within the range of the number of drinks sold which prohibits the start of cleaning set by the second counter, there is provided a comparison prohibiting means that does not activate the cleaning operation of the beverage supply line.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to an automatic cleaning control device for a beverage vending machine that dispenses and sells a beverage in a cup container.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 In recent years, various automatic cleaning control devices for beverage vending machines have been invented in order to prevent clogging in the beverage dispensing system channels of the beverage vending machine and to keep the beverage dispensing system channel hygienic. (For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-204799).

An automatic cleaning control device for a beverage vending machine of this type outputs a cleaning activation start signal at a time interval determined by a cleaning means for cleaning a device to be cleaned such as a passage for a product or its raw material and predetermined conditions. Cleaning time timer means and a control means for causing the cleaning means to perform a cleaning operation for a predetermined time based on the cleaning activation start signal, and the current time is the start set time of the automatic cleaning. When the cleaning start signal is output from the time timer means to the control device, the cleaning operation is automatically started.

[0004]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, with the above-mentioned conventional configuration, even if the beverage supply line is not dirty and cleaning is not required, such as when there is no beverage sales since the previous automatic cleaning, the automatic cleaning start time When that happens, the cleaning process is started, so there is a drawback that there is a lot of waste.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and does not perform cleaning if the beverage supply line is little contaminated even at the time of the start of automatic cleaning. An object is to provide an automatic cleaning control device for a vending machine.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 In order to achieve this purpose, the automatic cleaning control device of the beverage vending machine of the present invention is equipped with several kinds of tanks for storing drinks, and is installed for each tank. A flowing beverage supply line, a solenoid valve that is installed for each beverage supply line and controls the pouring of liquid from the beverage supply line, a first timer for determining the cleaning time of the beverage supply line, and the start of cleaning start A second timer for outputting a signal, a first counter for counting the number of drinks sold after the end of washing, and a second counter for setting a range of the number of drinks forbidden to start washing. , Is connected between the first timer and the second timer, and when the cleaning start signal is output from the second timer, the count number of the first counter and the set value of the second counter are compared, 1 Counter count of, if it is within the range of beverage sales for prohibiting the cleaning start set by the second counter, and a comparator inhibition means not to start the cleaning operation of the beverage supply line.

[0007]

[Action]

 According to the above configuration, the present invention checks the count number of the first counter when the automatic cleaning start time is reached and the cleaning start signal is output from the second timer. At this time, if the count number is within the range of the beverage sales number set by the second counter that prohibits the start of washing, the washing operation is not started, that is, the washing is not performed. As a result, during automatic cleaning, the cleaning operation is not performed if the beverage supply line is less contaminated, so it is possible to eliminate waste of water and hot water for cleaning and provide efficient automatic cleaning. Becomes

[0008]

【Example】

 An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration as one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of FIG.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a cleaning timer (first timer) for determining the cleaning time of the beverage supply line. Reference numeral 2 is a cleaning start timer (second timer) that outputs a cleaning start signal when the cleaning start time is reached. 3 is a sales number counter (first counter), which counts the number of sales since the last cleaning was completed. 4 is a sales quantity comparison device (equipment including the function of the second counter) which is connected between the cleaning start timer 2 and the cleaning timer 1 and is also connected to the sales counter 3. When the cleaning activation signal is output from timer 2, compare the sales quantity comparison value and the sales quantity counter 3 count value, and if the count value is less than the comparison value, do not wash the beverage supply line. Make a decision.

Reference numeral 5 is a setting device connected to each of the cleaning timer 1, the cleaning activation timer 2, and the sales quantity comparison device 4, and the cleaning time of the beverage supply line, the time when the cleaning activation signal is output, and the sales quantity comparison value. Can be set in advance. 6 is a valve (solenoid valve) connected between the cleaning timer 1 and a device to be cleaned (each beverage tank to each beverage supply line) provided in the main body of the vending machine (not shown). When the washing start signal is output from 2, when the comparison is made by the sales quantity comparison device 4, if the count number of the sales quantity counter 3 is within the range for performing the washing start, it is set by the cleaning timer 1. Cleaning is performed by controlling the cleaning time and pouring hot water or water for cleaning.

The cleaning operation will be described with reference to FIG. First, the setting device 5 sets the beverage supply line cleaning time of the cleaning timer 1, the time when the cleaning activation start signal of the cleaning start timer 2 is output, the sales number comparison value of the sales number comparison device 4, and the current time. (STEP 1). When the current time reaches the cleaning start time set by the cleaning start timer 2, the cleaning start timer 2 outputs a cleaning start signal (STEP 2).

At this time, the count value counted by the sales quantity counter 3 is compared with the sales quantity comparison value set in the sales quantity comparison device 4 (STEP 3), and the sales quantity counter 3 is used. If the counted number is greater than the sales comparison value set by the sales comparison device 4, the predetermined short-time valve set by the cleaning timer 1 By opening No. 6, hot water or water is caused to flow through the beverage supply line for washing (STEP 4). After performing the automatic cleaning operation, the count value of the sales counter is reset to 0 (STEP 5), and the operation returns to the standby state. In the standby state, it is judged whether or not the sale is made (STEP 6), and if the sale operation is performed, the count number of the sale number counter is incremented by +1 (STEP 7).

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the cleaning operation first comes at the automatic cleaning start time, and when the cleaning start timer 2 outputs the cleaning start start signal, the sales number counter 3 counts, By comparing the count comparison value of the sales number comparison device 4 and if the count number is less than the set value, the washing is not performed regardless of the setting of the washing timer 1, so that the beverage is supplied during the automatic washing. Since cleaning is not performed when the line is less contaminated, it is possible to eliminate waste of water, hot water, etc. for cleaning and provide efficient automatic cleaning.

[0014]

[Effect of the device]

 As described above, the automatic cleaning control device for a beverage vending machine of the present invention is equipped with several types of tanks for storing beverages, and a beverage supply line in which the beverage raw materials from the tanks and hot water or water for washing flow. And a solenoid valve that is installed for each beverage supply line and controls the pouring of liquid from the beverage supply line, a first timer for determining the cleaning time of the beverage supply line, and a cleaning activation start signal is output. Second timer for counting, a first counter that counts the number of drinks sold after the end of washing, a second counter that can set a range of the number of drinks that is prohibited to start washing, and a first timer When the cleaning start signal is output from the second timer, the count number of the first counter is compared with the setting value of the second counter, and the counter of the first counter is connected. If the number of drinks is within the range of the number of drinks sold that prohibits the start of cleaning set by the second counter, the cleaning operation of the beverage supply line is not activated. When the cleaning start time arrives and the cleaning start signal is output from the second timer, the count number of the first counter is checked. At this time, the count number is the cleaning start set by the second counter. If the number of drinks sold is within the prohibited range, the cleaning is not performed regardless of the setting of the first timer, so the automatic cleaning does not perform cleaning if the beverage supply line is less contaminated. Efficient automatic cleaning can be provided by eliminating waste of water and hot water for cleaning.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a controller for a beverage vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart for explaining an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Washing timer 2 Washing start timer 3 Sales volume counter 4 Sales volume comparison device 5 Setting device 6 Valve (washing valve)

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. Several types of tanks for storing beverages, a beverage supply line installed for each of the tanks, in which beverage raw materials and hot water or water for washing flow from the tanks, and an installed for each of the beverage supply lines, A solenoid valve for controlling the pouring of liquid from the beverage supply line, a first timer for determining the cleaning time of the beverage supply line, a second timer for outputting a cleaning activation start signal, and cleaning A first counter that counts the number of drinks sold since the end,
The second that can set the range of the number of drinks sold that prohibits the start of washing
Connected to the first timer and the second timer, and when the cleaning activation start signal is output from the second timer, the count number of the first counter and the second counter And compares the set values of the first counter with each other, and when the count number of the first counter is within the range of the number of drinks sold which prohibits the start of washing set by the second counter, the beverage supply line is washed. An automatic cleaning control device for a beverage vending machine, comprising: a comparison prohibiting means that does not activate the operation.