JPH0532092B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an automatic beverage stirring method and an automatic beverage stirring device, and particularly to an automatic beverage stirring method that can automatically stir a beverage completely and uniformly. and its equipment.

[Conventional technology]

In recent years, in order to respond to diversifying tastes, light restaurants such as hamburger shops have begun to increasingly sell shakes and the like that are served after stirring the ingredients.

Shake drinks lose their flavor if left for a long time, so they are usually not made in advance, but are made according to the number of orders received from customers.

Traditionally, the method for making shakes is to put various ingredients into a cup-shaped container, hold the container, and use the hanging stirring blades of a mixer rotating in a fixed position to shake the container from below. The raw materials in the container are stirred by raising and lowering them.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in the conventional beverage stirring method, in which a clerk holds the container and raises and lowers it from the bottom of the mixer's stirring blade, the container is held in the hand and raised and lowered against the exposed and rotating stirring blade. Not only is it extremely dangerous, as there is a risk that the rotating stirring blade may come into contact with the thin peripheral wall of the container, but the amount of operation to raise and lower the container and the stirring time will vary, resulting in excessive shaking. There were problems such as the shake jumping out of the container and the inability to obtain a satisfactory flavor due to insufficient shake.

Regarding the shake jumping out of the container,
This can be prevented to some extent by covering the top opening of the container with a lid that has a relatively small opening on the top surface through which a stirring blade can be inserted. However, in this case, the lid makes it difficult to see inside the container, so
Variations in the amount of operation for raising and lowering the container are more likely to occur, and variations in the degree of shake production become even more noticeable. Furthermore, if the lid is simply placed on the container, the engagement force between the lid and the container is weak, so the lid may come off during stirring and the shake may spill out.

Therefore, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 54-35255, a lid is provided on the main body of the device, the container is raised from a predetermined position toward the lid, and after the lid and the container are brought into close contact, the contents contained in the container are stirred. A stirring/oven device having a stirring mechanism using a blade for stirring is disclosed. When the stirring mechanism of this device is applied to stirring shakes, the staff does not need to hold the container during stirring, which improves safety during stirring, and the lid is attached to the main body of the device. Therefore, while preventing the lid from coming off during stirring, the lid can prevent the shake from scattering.

However, in the case of this stirring mechanism, the lid is installed in the main body of the device, so when changing the type of shake, it is necessary to clean the stirring blades as well as the lid, which increases the switching time. Therefore, in terms of workability, it is insufficient for applications such as hamburger shops that require work to be done in seconds.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the automatic beverage stirring method and device according to the present invention are capable of automatically stirring a beverage contained in a container, and are capable of safely and uniformly stirring this beverage. The object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for achieving this.

That is, in the automatic beverage stirring method of claim 1, raw materials are put into a container consisting of a lid and a main body having an opening through which a vertical stirring blade placed in a fixed position can be inserted, and the container is placed below the stirring blade. During the preparatory stage of loading the container into the container holder located at the container attachment/detachment position, the stirring blade moves the container and container holder from the container attachment/detachment position into the container by the lifting drive, which is started by giving a start command. The container is raised to the top dead center located at a predetermined depth, and the container and the container holder that have reached the top dead center are folded back and returned to the container attachment/detachment position by a lifting drive device. When the container is located between the dead points, the container holder clamps the lid and presses it down from above,
The raw materials in the container are automatically removed through a container holding stage in which the container is held by the container holding device and the container holder, and a stirring stage in which the stirring blade is driven by the stirring drive device during a predetermined period of the lifting stage. It is characterized by being stirred.

Further, in the automatic beverage stirring method according to claim 2, in the above automatic beverage stirring method, the lifting step includes closing an energization holding switch interposed in the power supply circuit of the lifting drive device by giving a start command. a start command stage for starting the lifting stage; a transient stage for maintaining the operation of the lifting drive device by keeping the energization hold switch closed for a predetermined short period of time after the start of the lifting stage; After the container holding part moves to a predetermined lifting control position, the lifting drive switch connected in parallel with the energization holding switch is closed until the container holding part turns around at top dead center and descends to the lifting control position. a drive stage for maintaining operation of the lifting drive;
The above-mentioned stirring stage consists of a termination stage in which the raising/lowering drive switch is opened when the lowering container holder has been lowered to the raising/lowering control position, and the stirring stage ends when the lowering container holder is at the raising/lowering control position or When the agitation control position is moved to a higher agitation control position, the agitation drive switch installed in the power supply circuit of the agitation drive device is closed, and the container holder is then turned back at the top dead center to perform the above-mentioned elevating and lowering. The feature is that the control is ended by opening the agitation drive switch when the agitation control position is lowered to a higher agitation control position than the control position.

Furthermore, the automatic beverage stirring device according to claim 3 comprises:
The stirring blade supports a container consisting of a stirring blade with a vertical axis arranged at a fixed position, a stirring drive motor for rotationally driving the stirring blade, a lid having an opening through which the stirring blade can be inserted, and a container body. a container attachment/detachment device in which the container is located below; a container holder that is movable up and down between the top dead center where the stirring blade is located at a predetermined depth within the container; A container holder that is held between the lid and pressed from above when the container is located between the top dead center, an elevator drive motor that drives the container holder up and down, and a control circuit that controls the stirring drive motor and the elevator drive motor. and an energization holding switch that is interposed in the power supply circuit of the lifting drive motor and closes the power supply circuit for a predetermined short period of time when the starting switch is started, and a energization holding switch that is connected in parallel with the energization holding switch. A lift drive switch is installed in the power supply circuit of the lift drive motor, and is closed when the container holder is positioned above a predetermined lift control position, and opened when the container holder is positioned at a lower position, and a power supply for the stirring drive motor. Interposed in the circuit, it is closed when the container holding part is located at the above-mentioned elevation control position or a higher agitation control position, and is opened when it is located at a position lower than the agitation control position that is higher than the above-mentioned elevation control position. It is characterized by being equipped with a stirring drive switch.

The shape of the container used in the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it consists of a lid with an opening through which a stirring blade can be inserted, and a container body. It is possible to prevent raw materials and the like that rise along the inner peripheral surface of the container body due to centrifugal force from scattering around.

Further, the container holding portion may be configured to prevent the container from falling and rolling, for example, the tapered outer circumferential surface of the container, the lower surface of the outer flange formed at the upper end of the container, A structure of a container holding part consisting of a container mounting base having a locking part such as a through hole, a U-shaped groove, or a hole with a bottom that receives a stepped surface formed in the middle of the outer circumferential surface of the container from below. The structure of a container holder consists of a container platform and a rocking device that prevents the container from rolling above or below the container platform, and the structure of a container holder consists of a container platform that simply receives the container from below. Structure, etc. are used.

When the container holding part consists only of a container stand,
The container is prevented from falling and rolling by the container platform, and is stabilized by the weight of the container and the raw material within the container.

When the container holding part is composed of a container platform and a rocking device, the container platform prevents the container from falling, and the container holder and the shaking device prevent the container from rolling horizontally. .

Furthermore, when the container holding section is composed of a container platform, the container platform prevents the container from falling, and the container is prevented from rolling by holding the container between the container platform and the container holding device. Ru.

When the container holding part is composed of a container platform and a rocking stop, it is not necessary for the rocking stop to work effectively at the end of the preparation stage, that is, when the loading of containers is completed, and the lifting stage It is sufficient if the structure is such that the action of the rocker is started after the container stage starts to rise and before the stirring stage starts. Therefore, it is preferable to use a swing stopper, for example, on a semi-cylindrical surface or U
Consisting of a plate material curved to form a letter-shaped surface, or a plurality of wires or bars arranged vertically in a position tangent to the outline of the elevating space of the container, and having approximately the same length as the elevating stroke of the container. It is possible to fix this rocking stopper at a predetermined position above the container loaded on the container platform positioned at the container direct ejection position.

Furthermore, for example, the lifting drive device may be composed of a platform lifting drive device that drives the container platform up and down and a presser lifting device that drives the container holding device up and down, but the mechanical configuration and control method can be simplified. In order to do this, the container platform is driven up and down by a lifting drive device, and a restraining device is installed to limit the descending range of the container holder.When the container platform is located above a predetermined height from the bottom dead center, the container holder is The ingredients are received by the container placed on the container platform, and when the container platform descends below a predetermined height, the container holding device is received by the restraining device. It is possible to construct them so that they are attracted to each other by means of attracting means such as a spring or a magnet.

The elevating drive device may be configured to be able to move the container holder up and down within a predetermined stroke. Therefore, the actuator used in the lifting drive device may be a rotary drive machine such as an electric motor that rotates in one direction or both forward and reverse directions, or may be a linear drive machine such as a cylinder.

If the actuator of the lifting drive device is a rotary drive machine, a mechanism is required to convert the rotational movement of the actuator into lifting movement. A mechanism for changing the direction of movement is, for example, an eccentric pin that is linked to the output shaft of an actuator, one end of which is swingably connected to the eccentric pin, and the other end of which is swingably connected to a container holding part. It is possible to employ a slider-crank mechanism having a connecting member that is connected to the container holder and a guide means that guides the container holder up and down. Additionally, a cam mechanism includes an eccentric pin interlocked with the output shaft of the actuator, a horizontal cam groove in which the eccentric pin is slidably fitted and fixed to the container holding section, and a guide means for guiding the container holding section up and down. It is also possible to adopt Furthermore,
An eccentric cam linked to the output shaft of the actuator,
It is also possible to employ a cam mechanism having a cam follower fixed to the container holder and guide means for guiding the container holder up and down. Furthermore, a drive sprocket interlocked with the output group of the actuator, an idler disposed above or below the drive sprocket, an endless chain wound around the drive sprocket and the idler, and a drive sprocket fixed at one point of the endless chain. It is also possible to employ a chain transmission mechanism having a pin, a horizontal cam groove in which the pin is slidably fitted and fixed to the container holder, and guide means for guiding the container holder up and down.

When using a reversible rotary drive machine, a rack and pinion mechanism consisting of a pinion interlocked with the output shaft of the actuator and a rack interlocked with the container holding part, a drive sprocket interlocked with the output shaft of the actuator, and a An actuator is a chain transmission mechanism consisting of an idler placed below, an endless chain wound around the drive sprocket and the idler, and a pin fixed at one point of the endless chain and fixed to the container holder. A mechanism that converts rotation into vertical movement using a screw-nut mechanism, etc., which is composed of a threaded rod that rotates in conjunction with the threaded rod, and a nut that appears to be able to be screwed forward and backward into the threaded rod and is interlocked and connected to the container holding part. It can be used as

If the actuator of the lifting drive device is a linear drive machine, it is also possible to link the container holding part directly to the output part of the actuator via a bracket, etc., and it is also possible to connect a chain or steel belt between the actuator and the container holding part. It is also possible to interlock them via a transmission means such as a link rod or the like.

In the automatic beverage stirring method of the present invention, the above-mentioned lifting/lowering step is performed by a start command consisting of an electric signal given by a user or a detection means for detecting that a container containing raw materials is loaded into the container holder from the outside, for example. will be started.

When the user gives a starting command, for example,
A push button switch that can output a starting command with a single touch operation, a momentary type snap switch, etc. may be provided. When the detection means that detects that a container is loaded into the container holder issues a start command, for example, a switch circuit that is turned on in response to the weight of the container and raw materials loaded in the container holder, and a It is sufficient to include a command signal output circuit comprising a one shot pulse output circuit that outputs a one shot pulse as a starting command when the switch is turned on.

As a method of controlling the elevating drive means after the start command is input, various methods corresponding to the actuator of the elevating drive device can be adopted.

For example, if the actuator of the lifting drive is composed of a motor that rotates in one direction,
The motor starts when a start command is input, and a timer is installed to set the time required for the container holder to rise to the top dead center and return to the container attachment/detachment position, and the motor power supply circuit is closed by the start command. A lift control switch is provided that is switched to open the power supply circuit when the timer set above elapses, and the lift control switch is operated from the start command until the container holding part rises to the top dead center and returns to the container loading/unloading position. A method of continuously operating the device may also be adopted.

In this case, the above-mentioned lifting/lowering stage may be divided into, for example, a starting command stage in which a starting command is given to close an energization holding switch installed in the power supply circuit of the lifting drive device to start the lifting/lowering stage, and a lifting stage. A transient speed that maintains the operation of the lifting drive device by keeping the energization holding switch closed for a predetermined short period of time after the start of A drive stage in which the lift drive switch connected in parallel with the energization holding switch is closed to maintain the operation of the lift drive device after the container holding part turns back at top dead center and descends to the lift control position. and a termination step in which the elevating step is ended by opening the elevating drive switch when the lowering container holder has descended to the elevating control position. Here, the energization holding switch may be configured as a simple push-button switch, and the user may keep pressing the push-button switch for a necessary period of time, for example, about 0.5 seconds, and the switch can be switched to the on state with a one-touch operation. The energization holding switch may be a self-holding relay switch or a timer relay switch.

If a linear drive device such as a motor or cylinder that rotates in both forward and reverse directions is used as the actuator of the lifting drive, in addition to the above configurations, a switch or
It is detected by a detection means such as a sensor, or it is determined that the container holding part has risen to the top dead center due to time-up of a timer, and at the time of detection or judgment, the rotation direction of the motor or the driving direction of the linear drive machine is reversed by the reversing means. A procedure is required to do so.

In the automatic beverage stirring method of the present invention, the timing of the start and end of the stirring stage is arbitrary as long as the stirring blade is inserted into the raw material in the container during that time and the time required to sufficiently stir the raw material is secured. Can be set.

As a method of setting the timing of the start or end of the stirring stage, for example, when the rising container platform moves to the lift control position or a higher stirring control position, the power supply circuit of the stirring drive device is set. The process is started by closing the agitation drive switch installed. After that, when the container mounting table turns around at the top dead center and returns to the stirring control position higher than the lifting position, the stirring drive switch is opened. Alternatively, when the lifting drive device starts, the container is held Use one or two timers whose starting point is when the vehicle reaches top dead center, etc.
A method for starting or ending the agitation stage when the set time of the timer has elapsed from the starting point, or detecting the amount of movement of the lifting drive or container holder and operating it based on an electrical signal corresponding to the amount of movement. A method of accumulating the amount and starting or ending the stirring stage when the accumulated amount reaches a predetermined reference value, or integrating the amount of driving source usage such as electric power supplied to the lifting drive device, flow rate of working fluid, etc. death,
It is possible to adopt a method of starting or ending the stirring stage when the integrated amount reaches a predetermined reference value.

The agitation drive device may be configured to rotate the agitation blade in one direction or in both forward and reverse directions, and the actuator thereof is not limited to a rotary drive machine, but a linear drive machine can also be used.
When using a linear drive machine, a mechanism is required to convert the linear motion into rotational motion. It is possible to use an inverted mechanism. However, in order to omit such a mechanism and simplify the configuration of the stirring drive and the control method for the stirring drive, it is advantageous to use a rotary drive that rotates in one direction.

Various energy sources such as electricity, hydraulic pressure, and pneumatic pressure can be used as the driving source for the lifting drive device and stirring drive device, but commercial power sources that are usually installed in light restaurants such as hamburger shops can be used. Using the supplied electricity as the drive source is advantageous in terms of ease of handling and simplification of the configuration of the lifting drive device and the stirring drive device.

Finally, the lift drive switch or stirring drive switch of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it is turned on and off when the container holding part or the lift drive device passes a specific position, such as a limit switch. , mechanical contact switches such as seesaw switches, non-contact switches such as proximity switches, electromagnetic sensors,
It is possible to use a non-contact switch such as a photo switch, and it is also possible to use a switch circuit including a slider resistor, a reference resistor, and a comparison circuit, a timer switch, etc.

[Effect]

According to the present invention, by loading a container into the container holder and giving a manual or automatic start command, the container is automatically moved from the container attachment/detachment position below the stirring blade to a predetermined depth within the container. It is raised to the top dead center located at the top dead center, turned back at the top dead center, and returned to the container attachment/detachment position, and the stirring blade is rotated for a predetermined period during the ascent and descent.
The raw materials placed in the container are automatically stirred.

Then, the container and the container holder are raised by the lifting drive device from the container attachment/detachment position to the top dead center where the stirring blade is located at a predetermined depth within the container. In addition, the stirring blade is driven by the stirring drive device over a predetermined period of time to raise the container and the container holder from the container attachment/detachment position, turn back to the top dead center, and return to the container attachment/detachment position. So,
Stirring time becomes constant.

As a result, the degree of agitation of the raw materials can be made uniform, and it is possible to prevent the raw materials from scattering around due to over-shaking and the loss of flavor due to insufficient shaking. Further, according to the present invention, the user holds the container by hand only in the preparatory stage of loading the container into the container holder and when removing the container from the container holder after stirring has been completed, and during stirring. It is safe because there is no need to touch the container. Therefore, during the above-mentioned stirring, there is almost no need for store staff to be involved in such stirring work, and they can do this in one hand while carrying out other tasks.

In addition, since the container holder holds the lid by holding the lid and pressing it from above, the container holder and the container holder hold the container. Therefore, the lid can prevent the raw materials, etc. that rise along the inner circumferential surface of the container body from scattering around. Since the lid is clamped by the container holding tool when the container is located between the predetermined height and the top dead center,
The container presser does not become an obstacle when attaching and detaching the container and the container holder at the container attachment/detachment position.

Therefore, cleaning work is limited to only the stirring blade by replacing the lid, and the container holding part does not become an obstacle when attaching and detaching the container holder and container, making it easier to change raw materials. Workability becomes extremely good, and switching time can be shortened.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7.

This automatic beverage stirring device has a vertical axis agitator 1.
is rotatably supported via a stand 3 at a predetermined height above the right half of the base 2, and the agitator is At the lower container attachment/detachment position of 1, the container holder 7 loaded with the container 6 is raised to a predetermined top dead center, turned back at the top dead center, and returned to the original container attachment/detachment position. The agitator 1 is rotated in one direction by an agitation drive motor 8 built into the upper part of the stand 3 over a predetermined period while the section 7 moves up and down.

The container 6 is made of, for example, a foamed synthetic resin having heat insulating properties, and includes a cup-shaped container body 9 having a tapered peripheral wall with a smaller diameter at the bottom, and an upper surface opening 9a.
The lid 10 has a bowl-like shape and has an opening 10a on the top surface through which the agitator 1 can be inserted in the vertical direction. The container body 9 has an outer flange 9b formed by slightly expanding the diameter of the upper periphery, and a fitting part 10b that is snap-fitted to the outer flange 9b is provided on the lower periphery of the lid 10. is formed. The raw materials for making the beverage may be put into the container body 9 through the top opening 9a of the container body 9 before the lid 10 is put on, or they can be put into the container 6 through the opening 10a of the lid 10 after the lid 10 is put on. Good too.

For example, as shown in FIG.
A container mounting stand 11 that fits into the lower part of the container body 9 and supports it from below, and a container 6 placed on the container mounting stand 11.
and a lid presser 12 that presses down the fitting part 10b of the lid 10 from above. Both the container mounting stand 11 and the lid holder 12 are designed in consideration of food hygiene, for example.
It is made of stainless steel plates, aluminum plates, synthetic resin, etc., and is shaped like the letter L. A locking part 11a consisting of a through hole into which the lower part of the container body 9 is fitted is formed on the container mounting base 11, and a locking part 11a is formed in the container mounting base 11.
2 is formed with a locking portion 12a consisting of a U-shaped groove opened to the right into which the peripheral wall of the lid 10 can be fitted.

The lift drive device 5 has a column 13 on the base 2.
and a horizontal shaft lifting drive motor 15 supported via a motor bracket 14;
It consists of a slider/crank mechanism 16 that converts the rotational motion of the output shaft into vertical motion and transmits the same to the container platform 11. The slider crank mechanism 16 includes a crank arm 19 that is operatively connected to the output shaft of the lifting drive motor 15 via a rotor key 17 and a rotor 18, and one end of which is rotatably supported on the free end of the crank arm 19. Connecting rod 20
The main body slider 21 is rotatably connected to the other end of the connecting rod 20, and a pair of front and rear guide rails 22 guide the main body slider 21 up and down.

As shown in FIG. 3, the main body slider 21 is formed into a substantially H-shape in plan view, and is divided into a pair of left and right parts 21a and 21b with both guide rails 22 in between. , a longitudinal movement preventing protrusion 21c is formed to be slidably inserted between both guide rails 22.

Further, this elevating drive device 5 has a main body slider 2
A lid slider 23 is disposed above the container slider 23 and is supported by both guide rails 22 in the same manner as the main body slider 21 so as to be able to move up and down. The lid slider 23 is placed at a restraining position where an insertion/extraction space higher than the fitting depth of the container 6 to the container mounting base 11 can be formed on the joint portion 10b.
It is provided with a pair of front and rear restraining plates 24 for restraining the main body slider 21 and the lid slider 23, and a tension coil spring 25 mounted across the main body slider 21 and the lid slider 23. The main body slider 21 has a notch 21 over its entire height in order to prevent interference with the check plate 24 when going up and down.
d is formed.

The control circuit C that controls the stirring drive motor 8 and the lifting drive motor 15 is, as shown in FIG.
The lifting drive motor 15 and stirring drive motor 8 are as follows:
It is connected in parallel to a commercial power source (not shown) via a plug 26. Further, this commercial power source is connected in parallel to the lifting drive motor 15 and the stirring drive motor 8 to a starting circuit 28 with a starting switch 27 formed of a push button switch interposed therebetween. This starting circuit 2
A relay coil 29a of an energization holding switch 29, which is a self-holding relay switch, is interposed in series with the starting switch 27.

An elevating drive switch 31 is interposed in the power supply circuit 30 of the elevating drive motor 15, and the first opening/closing part 29b of the energization holding switch 29 is connected in parallel with the elevating drive switch 31. The lift drive switch 31 includes one movable contact 31a and two fixed contacts 31b that alternatively contact the movable contact 31a.
31c, and the movable contact 31a is the fixed contact 31.
When the movable contact 31a contacts the fixed contact 31c, the reset relay coil 32a of the latching relay 32 of the buzzer stop circuit 33 is turned on, and the latching relay 32 is opened and closed. The operating portion 32c is designed to be opened.

The power supply circuit 34 of the stirring drive motor 8 is opened and closed by a stirring drive switch circuit 35, and this stirring drive switch circuit 35 is connected to a relay drive circuit 36 connected in parallel with the power supply circuit 34.
, relay switch 37, and stirring drive switch 3
8. A relay coil 37a of a relay switch 37 and an agitation drive switch 38 are connected in series to the relay drive circuit 36, and a setting relay coil 32b of the latching relay 32 is connected in parallel to the relay coil 37a. There is. Opening/closing operation part 3 of the relay switch 37
7b is interposed in the power supply circuit 34.

The stirring drive switch 38 has one movable contact 38
a and two fixed contacts 38 that alternatively contact this
b, 38c, and when the movable contact 38a contacts the fixed contact 38b, the start switch 2 is
7 is connected to the relay coil 29a of the energization holding switch 29 in parallel, and the movable contact 38a is connected to the fixed contact 3.
8c, the relay drive circuit 36 is closed, the relay coil 37a is turned on, and the opening/closing actuator 37b closes the power supply circuit 34. The opening/closing operation part 37b of the relay coil 37 has one movable contact 37c and two fixed contacts 37d and 37e that alternatively contact the movable contact 37c. When the movable contact 37c contacts the fixed contact 37d, the power supply circuit 34 When the movable contact 37c contacts the fixed contact 37e, the buzzer circuit 39 is closed.

A buzzer 47 and an opening/closing part 32c of a latching relay 32 are connected to the buzzer circuit 39 in series with the opening/closing part 37b, and the latching relay 32 closes when the setting relay coil 32b turns on. When the reset coil 32a is turned on, it is opened and the open state is latched.

The agitation drive switch 38 and the elevation drive switch 31 are each composed of a micro switch,
As shown in FIG. 4, they are supported by the check plate 24 in vertical alignment. And the main body slider 21
The switch drive section 40 provided in the operation input section 3
8d, 31d, the movable contacts 38a, 31a of the agitation drive switch 38 or the elevation drive switch 31 come into contact with the fixed contacts 38b, 31c, and the switch drive section 40 contacts the operation input section 3.
When moving away from 8d and 31d, movable contacts 38a and 3
1a comes into contact with fixed contacts 38c and 31b.

The operation input section 31d of the lift drive switch 31 moves away from the switch drive section 40 when the main body slider 21 is located above a position slightly elevated from the container attachment/detachment position, and when the operation input section 31d moves away from the switch drive section 40 at a lower position. It is designed to be held down by 40. Further, the agitation drive switch 38 is configured such that, for example, when the main body slider 21 is located above a position where the upper surface of the raw material in the container 6 held by the container holding portion 7 is located near the lower end of the agitator 1, the operation input portion 38d is activated. Switch drive unit 40
At a position farther away from and lower than that, the operation input section 3
8d is adapted to be held down by the switch drive section 40.

In the above configuration, as a preparation step, the container 6 containing the raw material is held by hand and the lower part thereof is fitted into the locking part 11a formed on the container mounting base 11 of the container holding part 7. is loaded into the container holder 7.

Then, by pressing the start switch 27 once, the raising/lowering stage is started. That is, by pressing the starting switch 27, a starting operation stage is performed in which a starting command is output, and in a subsequent transition stage, the relay coil 29 of the starting circuit 28 is activated by inputting a starting command.
a is turned on, and both the first and second opening/closing parts 29b and 29c of the energization holding switch 29 are closed. At this point, the operation input section 38d of the stirring drive switch 38 is pressed by the switch drive section 40, and the movable contact 38a is connected to the fixed contact 38d.
8b, even if the starter switch 27 is released, the ON state of the relay coil 29a is maintained via the second opening/closing actuator 29c. Therefore,
The first opening/closing actuator 29b is also held in the closed state, and current is supplied to the lift drive motor 15 via the first opening/closing actuator 29b of the energization holding switch 29 until the contact of the stirring drive switch 38 is switched. is supplied, and the operation of the lifting drive motor 15 is maintained.

When the main body slider 21 is driven upward by the start of the vertical drive motor 15, the main body slider 21 slightly rises from the container attaching/detaching position during the transition stage and reaches the vertical control position, when the vertical drive switch 3 is activated.
The operation input section 31d of the switch 1 is separated from the switch drive section 40, the drive contact 31a of the lift drive switch 31 is connected to the fixed contact 31b, and the drive stage is started. At the beginning of the drive stage, the lift drive motor 15 is rotated by being supplied with current through the lift drive switch 31 and the energization holding switch 29. As a result, the container platform 11 is driven upward via the slider crank mechanism 16, and eventually the space between the fitting part 10b of the container 6 and the lid presser 12 is narrowed, and the lid presser is attached to the fitting part 10b. The ingredient 12 is received, and from this point on, the lid holder 12 is lifted from the restraining plate 24 by the container platform 11 via the container 6, and rises while maintaining a constant distance from the container platform 11. .

For example, if the upper surface of the raw material in the container 6 is the agitator 1
When the container 6 and the container holding part 7 reach the stirring control position by being lifted close to the lower surface of the container 6, the operation input part 38d of the stirring drive switch 38 is separated from the switch driving part 40, and the movable contact 38a changes to the fixed contact 38c.
will come into contact with. As a result, the movable contact 37c of the relay switch 37 is connected to the fixed contact 37d, the stirring drive motor 8 is started, and the stirring stage is started. At the same time, the energization hold switch 2
9, the relay coil 29a is turned off, and the first opening/closing part 29b of the energization holding switch 29 is also opened. Furthermore, the latching relay 32
The setting relay coil 32b is turned on, and the opening/closing operation section 32c is latched in the closed state.

In the stirring stage, the container 6 is further raised while rotating the agitator 1, and after the agitator 1 has stirred to the bottom inside the container 6, the container 6 is folded back at the top dead center and lowered to a position lower than the stirring control position. The operation input section 38d of the stirring drive switch 38 is pressed by the switch drive section 40, and the movable contact 3
8a is switched to a position where it contacts the fixed contact 38b. As a result, the movable contact 37c of the relay switch 37 is switched to the position where it contacts the fixed contact 37e, the power supply circuit 34 of the stirring drive motor 8 is opened, and the stirring stage is completed, and the buzzer 4
7 begins to ring.

Further, the container 6 and the container holding part 7 descend, but the lid holding device 12 remains in the position before starting to rise.
4, only the container 6 and the container holding part 7 further descend.

Eventually, when the container 6 and the container holding part 7 descend to the elevation control position, the operation input part 31d of the elevation drive switch 31 is pressed by the switch drive part 40, and the movable contact 31a is switched to the position where it contacts the fixed contact 31c. . As a result, the power supply circuit 30 of the lifting drive motor 15 is opened, the power supply to the lifting drive motor 15 is stopped, the reset relay coil 32a is energized, and the opening/closing operation part 32c of the latching relay 32 is opened. Buzzer 4
7 is stopped. Container 6 and container holding part 7
After the power supply to the lifting drive motor 15 is stopped,
Due to inertia, it moves to the container attachment/detachment position and stops, completing the lifting/lowering stage.

According to this embodiment, by loading the container 6 into the container holding part 7 and manually giving a start command, the container 6 is automatically moved from the container attachment/detachment position 7 below the agitator 1, and the agitator 1 is The agitator 1 is raised to the top dead center located at a predetermined depth within the container 6, then turned back at the top dead center and returned to the container attachment/detachment position, and the agitator 1 is rotated for a predetermined period during the ascent and descent. The raw materials placed in the container 6 are automatically stirred. Then, the container 6 and the container holding part 7
The lifting drive device 5 raises the container 6 from the container attachment/detachment position to the top dead center where the agitator 1 is located at a predetermined depth within the container 6.
The stroke of raising and lowering is constant, and the agitator 1 is driven to agitate over a predetermined period in which the container 6 and the container holding part 7 are raised from the container attachment/detachment position, turned back at the top dead center, and returned to the container attachment/detachment position. Since it is driven by the motor 8, the stirring time is constant.

As a result, the degree of stirring of the raw materials can be made uniform, and it is possible to prevent the raw materials from scattering around due to excessive shaking, and from spoiling the flavor due to insufficient shaking. Furthermore, the user holds the container 6 by hand only in the preparatory stage of loading the container 6 into the container holder 7 and when removing the container 6 from the container holder 7 after stirring has been completed; It is safe because there is no need to touch the container.

After this, the user can take out the container 6 from the container holder 7.

In the above embodiment, the agitator 1 serving as the stirring blade is driven by the stirring drive motor 8 serving as the stirring drive device during the stirring stage for a predetermined period from the middle of the raising/lowering stage. , the agitator 1 may be configured to be driven in synchronization with the container holding section 7 and the like.

Furthermore, it is desirable that the agitation end timing in the agitator 1 be set at a position where the container holder 7 is higher than the elevation control position. As a result, the drive of the agitator 1 is stopped when the container holding part 7 is on the way down, and the drive of the agitator 1 is stopped before the agitator 1 comes out from inside the container 6. It is possible to prevent the shake beverage or the like adhering to the agitator 1 from scattering to the outside of the container 6, which tends to occur due to the agitator 1 being rotated even after the agitator 1 is rotated.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional front view of the main parts of an automatic beverage stirring device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, a vertical groove 41 is formed in the right side wall of the casing 4, and guide relays 22a for the container platform 11 are formed at both front and rear sides of the vertical groove 41. Then, this vertical groove 41 and the guide relay 2
A blindfold plate 42 that covers the vertical groove 41 and the main body slider 21 from the front and back and right side is fixed to the right end surface of the main body slider 21 which is fitted to the main body slider 21 so as to be able to rise and fall. A container platform 11 is fixed, which has a box-shaped portion 11b with an open box and a container platform 11c extending to the right from the lower end of the box-shaped portion 11b.

A vertical groove 11d is formed on the right side of the box-shaped portion 11b, and the lid slider 2
3 guide rail 22b is configured. A cover 4 that covers the vertical groove 11d is provided on the right side of the lid slider 23 that is fitted to the guide rail 22b so as to be slidable up and down.
3 is fixed, and the lid presser 12 is fixed to the right side surface of this cover 43. A bracket 44 is inserted into the lower part of the box-shaped part 11b and the lower part of the blind plate 42 to prevent the lower part of the box-shaped part 11b from wobbling. A tension coil spring 25 is mounted between the two. Further, a restraint frame 46 is fixed to the right side surface of the casing 4, and this restraint frame 46 sets the lower limit of the lid holder 12.
By receiving the bracket 45 on the upper surface of the lid holder 6, the lowering of the lid holder 12 is restrained.

The functions and effects of this embodiment are essentially the same as those of the above-described embodiments, so a description thereof will be omitted.

In each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the crank arm 19 is formed into a disk shape, and the amount of elevation of the point of action of the connecting rod 20 is different from that of the crank arm 19.
It goes without saying that the configuration may be such that a fan shape (cotangent curve) on a disk is drawn in response to a change in the rotation angle.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the automatic beverage stirring methods of claims 1 and 2 of the present invention, having the above configuration, a container containing raw materials is loaded into the container holder, and a start command is issued. Beverage can be stirred automatically just by giving it, and since the depth of insertion of the stirring blade and the stirring time can be adjusted to a constant level, the degree of stirring is uniform and raw materials are not scattered around due to excessive shaking. It also prevents the inability to fully bring out the flavor due to insufficient shaking.

In addition, since the stirring blade is rotated while the container is being raised and lowered after the container is released, there is no need to hold the container in your hand and move it up and down against the rotating stirring blade. As a result, safety can be significantly improved, and since there is almost no need for store staff to be involved in stirring work during the above-mentioned stirring process, it is possible to do it in one hand while carrying out other tasks. play.

Furthermore, when the container is located between a predetermined height and the top dead center, the lid is held by the container holding tool, so when loading the container into the container holding part,
The container holder does not become an obstacle. Therefore, by replacing the lid, cleaning work is limited to the stirring blade only, and the container holding part does not become an obstacle when attaching and detaching the container holder and container, making it easier to clean when changing raw materials. The workability becomes extremely good, and the changeover time can also be shortened.

Further, according to the automatic beverage stirring device of claim 3 of the present invention, which has the above configuration, in addition to the above effects, the beverage can be automatically and safely and uniformly stirred with a simple configuration. It is possible to obtain a device that can do this.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 7 show an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional front view of the main parts schematically showing an automatic beverage stirring device, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional plan view of the main parts of the elevating drive device, FIG. 4 is a side view of the main parts of the elevating drive device, FIG. 5 is an electric circuit diagram thereof, and FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view.
The figure is an operation timing diagram of each part, and FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the container. FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the present invention, and is a longitudinal sectional front view of a main part of an automatic beverage stirring device. 1 is an agitator (stirring blade), 5 is a lifting drive device, 6 is a container, 7 is a container holding part, 8 is a stirring drive motor (stirring drive device), 10a is an opening, 15 is a lifting drive motor, 27 is a start switch, 29 is an energization holding switch, 30 is a power supply circuit for the lifting drive device,
31 is a lift drive switch, 34 is a stirring drive device 8
38 is a stirring drive switch, and C is a control circuit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Raw materials are placed in a container consisting of a container body and a lid having an opening through which a vertical stirring blade placed at a fixed position can be inserted, and the container is positioned at a container attachment/detachment position below the stirring blade. In the preparatory stage of loading the container into the container holder, the container and container holder are moved from the container attachment/detachment position to the position where the stirring blade is located at a predetermined depth within the container using the lifting drive device that is started by giving a start command. a lifting stage in which the container is raised to the top dead center and the container and the container holding unit that have reached the top dead center are returned to the container attaching/detaching position by a lifting drive device; and the container is located between a predetermined height and the top dead center. At times, the container holding device holds the container by holding the lid and pressing it from above, and the stirring blade is stirred during a predetermined period of the lifting and lowering steps. 1. An automatic beverage stirring method characterized in that raw materials in a container are automatically stirred through a stirring stage driven by a device. 2 The above-mentioned lifting/lowering stage includes a starting command stage in which a start command is given to close an energization hold switch installed in the power supply circuit of the lifting drive device to start the lifting/lowering stage, and a predetermined short time period after the start of the lifting/lowering stage. A transient stage in which the operation of the lifting drive device is maintained by keeping the energization holding switch closed for a long period of time; A drive stage in which the lift drive switch connected in parallel with the energization holding switch is closed to maintain the operation of the lift drive device until the container holder turns back at the point and descends to the lift control position; The above-mentioned agitation stage consists of a termination stage in which the elevating drive switch is opened when the elevating drive switch has been lowered to the control position, and the agitation stage is such that the container holder being raised reaches the elevating control position or a higher agitation control position. When the container is moved, it is started by closing the stirring drive switch installed in the power supply circuit of the stirring drive device, and then the container holding part turns back at the top dead center.
The automatic beverage stirring method according to claim 1, wherein the automatic beverage stirring method is controlled to end by opening the stirring drive switch when the stirring control position is lowered to a higher stirring control position than the above-mentioned elevation control position. 3. Supporting and stirring a container consisting of a vertical stirring blade arranged at a fixed position, a stirring drive motor for rotationally driving the stirring blade, a lid having an opening through which the stirring blade can be inserted, and a container body. a container attaching/detaching device in which the container is located below the blade; a container holder that is movable up and down between a top dead center in which the stirring blade is located at a predetermined depth within the container; a container holder that clamps and presses the lid from above when the container is positioned between the container holder and the top dead center, an elevator drive motor that drives the container holder up and down, and a control that controls the stirring drive motor and the elevator drive motor. The control circuit also includes: an energization holding switch that is interposed in the power supply circuit of the lifting drive motor and closes the power supply circuit for a predetermined short period of time by a starting operation of a starting switch; A lifting drive switch, which is connected in parallel to the power supply circuit of the lifting drive motor and is closed when the container holder is located above a predetermined lifting control position and opened when the container holder is located at a lower position; is interposed in the power supply circuit, and is closed when the container holding part is located at the above-mentioned elevation control position or a higher agitation control position,
An automatic beverage stirring device characterized by comprising: a stirring drive switch that is opened when the stirring drive switch is located at a lower position than the stirring control position which is higher than the elevation control position.