JPH06176266A - Discharge device for fixed quantity of ice pieces - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To discharge a fixed quantity of ice pieces with high accuracy, to maintain and improve the quality of a beverage, and to rationally and effectively utilize the ice storage quantity in an ice storage box. CONSTITUTION:When ice piece 3 are discharged from an ice storage box 1 and contained on a bottom plate 12, in accordance with its weight, an output shaft 16 receives a bending moment through an intermediate lever 15 and generates a bending distortion, and it is measured by a distortion sensor 18. When its output reaches a value corresponding to a fixed value, a gate 2 of the ice storage box 1 is closed and discharge of ice is stopped, and on the other hand, an actuator 17 is operated, contained ice piece of a fixed quantity are discharged, are thereafter, the bottom plate 12 is reset by energization of a torsion spring 13. In this regard, based on a fact that the weight of ice pieces contained in the bottom plate reaches the fixed value, through the gate 2 of the ice storage box 1 is closed and discharge is stopped, ice pieces which are discharged already at this time point and in the middle of dropping down cause an error to the fixed value.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device mainly incorporated in a vending machine for cup beverages, and more particularly to a device for dispensing a fixed amount of ice pieces with high precision.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 11 is a side sectional view of a conventional example.
Will be described with reference to the cross-sectional view of FIG. This conventional example is a device for discharging a fixed amount of ice pieces to be incorporated in a vending machine for cup beverages, and is based on the proposal of application number: Japanese Patent Application No. 4-48938. In these figures, ice pieces stored in ice storage 1
3 is discharged from the opening of the gate 2 which is opened based on a command under the rotation of the stirring rod (agitator) 111, drops, and is put into a beverage cup (not shown). The opening time of the gate 2 is set to determine a constant discharge amount. Here, the eave-shaped partition wall 112 provided above the gate 2 is a member provided to prevent the variation in the discharge rate of the ice pieces 3 from being large and uneven. That is, the stored ice pieces 3 are prevented from abruptly dripping into the opening of the gate 2 under the rotation of the stirring rod 111. For this reason, the partition wall 112 has a shape that directly projects into the opening of the gate 2 in the shape of an eaves so that the ice pieces 3 do not flood, and a bent portion is attached to the tip end of the partition wall 112, which approaches the stirring rod 111. In addition, the length of the stirring rod 111 measured in the rotation direction is set to be slightly longer than the dimension of the opening of the gate 2 measured in the same direction.

By the way, the ice pieces 3 stored in the ice storage 1
Is made by the ice making unit 120 attached to the bottom of the
It is supplied in the form of being pushed in from the bottom of the ice storage 1. The ice making unit 120 is mainly composed of a cylindrical evaporator (evaporator) 123, a refrigerant pipe 122 wound around the outer peripheral surface thereof, a screw (auger) 124 provided inside the evaporator 123, and A motor 126 that rotates,
It consists of an extrusion head 125 provided at the entrance of the ice storage 1 at the upper end of the evaporator 123. The ice that forms a film of ice on the inner surface of the evaporator 123 rises while being scraped by the screw 124 that is driven to rotate by the motor 126, and is pressed into the extrusion head 125 in a compressed form, where an ice piece of almost constant size is formed. It is cut into 3 and sent to ice storage 1. When the amount of ice storage in the ice storage 1 reaches a predetermined level, ice making is stopped.

[0004]

In the conventional example, the gate 2 is used.
A partition wall 112 in the shape of an eaves is provided above the device so that the discharge rate of the ice pieces 3 does not greatly fluctuate.
Nevertheless, the discharge rate of ice chips 3 is unstable. The reason for this is that the object to be ejected is a small solid called ice piece 3 unlike liquid, so the behavior of ice piece 3 due to the rotation of stirring rod 111, that is, collapse or movement, may occur depending on the state of accumulation in ice storage 1. However, unlike the continuous flow of the liquid, it is discontinuous, irregular, and takes various forms, and thus the discharge rate is greatly changed. Now, if the discharge rate of the ice pieces 3 fluctuates greatly, the ice piece discharge amount determined based on the opening time of the gate 2 will vary, and the following adverse effects will actually occur. First, when the amount is too much, the beverage becomes thin, and when it is too little, the beverage becomes too thick and uncool, and in any case, it hinders the deliciousness and moderate coldness of the sold beverage. . Secondly, since the start timing of the ice making operation of this conventional example is determined based on the total ice piece discharge amount calculated from the estimated ice piece discharge amount once and the actual number of sales, the discharge amount is If the amount is less than the standard, the next ice making operation starts even though the actual ice storage amount is sufficient, or if the discharge amount is more than the standard, the next ice making operation is performed even though the actual ice storage amount is exhausted. Due to excessive or shortage of ice storage such as operation not started, rational and effective utilization cannot be achieved.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems of the prior art, to discharge a fixed amount of ice pieces with high precision,
As a result, when incorporated into a vending machine for cup beverages, the taste of the beverage to be sold, the maintenance and improvement of moderate coldness, and the reasonable and effective utilization of the ice storage in the ice storage without excess or deficiency can be achieved. An object of the present invention is to provide a device for dispensing a fixed amount of ice pieces.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for discharging a fixed amount of ice pieces according to a first aspect of the invention, wherein an ice storage for discharging the ice pieces by opening a gate; and a container for temporarily storing the ice pieces discharged from the ice storage. A weighing means for determining the weight of ice pieces successively accommodated in this container; a gate operation means for closing the gate of the ice storage container based on the output corresponding to the fixed amount from this weighing means, and the bottom of the container once opened Container bottom operating means for discharging the stored ice pieces and then closing them again.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for discharging a fixed amount of ice pieces, which stores an ice piece by opening a gate; a container for temporarily storing the ice pieces discharged from the ice storage; Measuring means for determining the surface level of the ice pieces to be formed; and based on the output corresponding to the quantification from this measuring means,
Gate operation means for closing the gate of the ice storage, and container bottom operation means for once opening the bottom of the container to discharge the stored ice pieces and then closing the container again.

An ice piece quantitative discharge device according to a third aspect of the present invention is an ice storage for discharging ice pieces by opening a gate; and a cylindrical body for passing ice pieces discharged from the ice storage in a row.
A counting means for determining the number of ice pieces passing through the cylindrical body; and a gate operating means for closing the gate of the ice storage on the basis of the output corresponding to the fixed amount from the counting means.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the ice piece quantitative discharging device according to the first aspect, wherein the weighing means applies a balance force to the bottom of the container in order to equilibrate with the ice piece weight corresponding to the quantitative determination. A voice coil motor type actuator also serving as container bottom operating means, and a position switch for detecting equilibrium corresponding to the container bottom are provided.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for dispensing a fixed amount of ice pieces according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the container bottom operating means is positioned in a closed state by urging when the ice piece is not accommodated. Is an actuator that holds the ice piece in a closed state against the weight of the ice piece when the ice piece is stored, releases the ice piece when the ice piece is discharged, and grips the container bottom that is restored by the urging after the ice piece is discharged.

A device for dispensing a fixed amount of ice pieces according to a sixth aspect is the device according to the first or second aspect, in which the container bottom is made of an elastic strip plate which is horizontally supported at two opposite sides of each longitudinal edge. In the vicinity of one end, the container bottom operating means simultaneously applies a downward force of the same magnitude to two locations on each side with a fixed point as the center point on the center line parallel to the longitudinal direction of the strip. An actuator, another fixed point located vertically below a fixed point, and a fulcrum member having a curved line connecting two points supporting the strip plate as the ridge line are provided, and the strip plate becomes the ridge line of the fulcrum member by the operation of the actuator. It bends until it abuts, the part near the end of the strip plate as the container bottom becomes a state where ice pieces can be stored, and the actuator is deactivated based on the output corresponding to the fixed amount from the weighing means, and the vicinity of the end of the strip plate as the container bottom Part accommodates ice pieces In curved deformation, it is configured to return again after by ejecting ice chips.

[0012]

In the constant-quantity ice piece discharging device according to the first aspect, the ice pieces discharged from the ice storage are temporarily stored in the container, and the weight of the ice pieces sequentially stored is obtained by the measuring means. Based on the output corresponding to the fixed amount, the gate operation means closes the gate of the ice storage, and the container bottom operation means opens the bottom of the container once to discharge the stored ice pieces and then closes it again.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a fixed-quantity discharging device for ice pieces.
The ice pieces discharged from the ice storage are temporarily stored in a container, the surface level of the successively stored ice pieces is obtained by the measuring means, and the ice storage pieces are stored by the gate operating means based on the output corresponding to the fixed amount from the measuring means. The gate of the refrigerator is closed, and the bottom of the container is once opened by the container bottom operating means to discharge the stored ice pieces and then closed again.

In the ice piece quantitative discharge device according to the third aspect,
While the ice pieces discharged from the ice storage pass through the cylinder in a single row, the number of ice pieces is obtained by the counting means, and the gate of the ice storage is operated by the gate operation means based on the output corresponding to the fixed amount. Will be closed. In the ice piece quantitative dispensing device according to the fourth aspect, the voice coil motor type actuator applies a balancing force to the container bottom and operates the container bottom in order to balance with the ice piece weight corresponding to the quantity. The equilibrium state of the container bottom is detected by the position switch.

In the fixed-quantity dispensing device for ice pieces according to claim 5,
When the ice pieces are not stored, the container bottom is positioned in a closed state by the biasing force, and when the ice pieces are stored, the container bottom is held closed against the weight of the ice pieces and released when the ice pieces are discharged. After the one-sided discharge, it is gripped again. In the constant-quantity ice piece discharging device according to claim 6, the actuation of the actuator causes the strip plate to bend until it comes into contact with the ridgeline of the fulcrum member, and the portion near the end of the strip plate as the container bottom is in a state where the ice pieces can be stored. In addition, by deactivating the actuator based on the output corresponding to the fixed amount from the weighing means,
It is bent and deformed by the weight of the contained ice pieces, ejects the ice pieces, and then returns again.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the ice piece quantitative discharge device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side view of the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, a fixed amount of ice pieces is determined by weighing, and a strain sensor is used for the weighing. In the figure, the ice pieces 3 stored in the ice storage 1 are discharged and fall when the gate 2 is opened. Here, as in the conventional example, the ice storage 1 is provided with a stirring rod for discharging, which is not shown here, and an ice making section is attached below. Located below the ice storage 1 is a main part of an apparatus including a container for temporarily storing the ice pieces 3, a means for weighing the contained ice pieces, and a container bottom for discharging the contained ice pieces. Below the main part, an ice collecting cylinder 4 is installed, and immediately below that, a drink cup 5 in which an ice piece is finally stored is placed.

The main parts will be described. 11 is a cylindrical container peripheral wall, 12 is a bottom plate, 15 is an intermediate lever, 16 is an output shaft which moves in the axial direction (horizontal direction) of a linear actuator 17, and 18
Is a strain sensor fixed to the output shaft 16. The bottom plate 12 is
The container is supported rotatably from a horizontal position indicated by the solid line to a tilted position indicated by the alternate long and short dash line about a rotation axis located at the middle left outside position of the container peripheral wall 11, and is counterclockwise by a torsion spring 13 provided at the rotation center. Be urged by. Bottom plate 12
When the ice pieces are not stored, the stopper 14 fixed to the inner surface of the peripheral wall 11 of the container blocks the biasing rotation, and is positioned as shown by the solid line in the figure. The intermediate lever 15 is supported by a spring force (not shown) so as to be swingable by a small angle with the center portion as a rotation axis and to return to a horizontal (neutral) position when no external force acts. Intermediate lever 15
In the illustrated initial state, that is, when the ice pieces are not accommodated, the left end portion contacts the lower surface of the right end portion of the bottom plate 12, and the right end portion contacts the lower end portion of the output shaft 16.

When the ice pieces 3 are discharged from the ice storage 1 and sequentially accommodated on the bottom plate 12, the output shaft 16 causes the bending moment via the intermediate lever 15 according to the weight of the ice pieces 3. Receiving bending strain. This bending strain is measured by the strain sensor 18, and its value corresponds to the weight of the stored ice pieces. Therefore, when the output of the strain sensor 18 reaches a value corresponding to the quantification of the weight of the ice pieces, the control unit (not shown) closes the gate 2 of the ice storage 1 by an actuator (not shown) and the ice is closed. Discharge is stopped,
On the other hand, the actuator 17 operates to move the output shaft 16 to the right. This rightward movement of the output shaft 16 releases the contact prevention of the intermediate lever 15. As a result, the bottom plate 12
Has its right end released from being blocked by the intermediate lever 15 and rotated clockwise by the weight of the ice pieces to discharge a fixed amount of the contained ice pieces. After discharging the fixed amount of ice pieces, the bottom plate 12 is returned to the initial state shown in the figure again by the bias of the torsion spring 13.
By the way, when the weight of the ice pieces stored in the bottom plate 12 reaches a certain amount, the gate 2 of the ice storage 1 is closed and the discharge of ice is stopped. At that time, the ice has already been discharged and is falling. The strip will be the error for quantification.

The second embodiment is a system in which the quantity of ice pieces is determined by weighing, and a displacement sensor is used for the weighing. FIG. 2 is a side view of the second embodiment. In the figure, it comprises a container for temporarily storing the ice pieces, means for weighing the contained ice pieces, and a container bottom for discharging the ice pieces.
Only the main part of the device is shown, and the ice storage 1 described in the first embodiment, the ice collecting cylinder 4, the drinking cup 5, etc., which are arranged above and below the device, are not shown. The main part is mainly
It comprises a container peripheral wall 21, a bottom plate 22, left and right spring mechanisms 24, and an encoder 25. The bottom plate 22 is in the axial direction of the container peripheral wall 21 (
A spring mechanism 24 including a tension spring and inner and outer cylinders is inserted between the spindle 23 and the support shaft 23, which is guided in parallel movement in the vertical direction) and is fixed to the upper end of the container peripheral wall 21. An encoder 25 as a rotation angle sensor is installed at the left end of the support shaft 23. The straight displacement of the bottom plate 22 is converted into a rotation angle and transmitted to the encoder 25 via the pulley 26 and the wire 27 that are inserted between the encoder 25 and the bottom plate 22.

On the bottom plate 22, an ice piece is placed, and the bottom plate 22 is displaced downward via a spring mechanism 24 according to the weight of the ice piece. The linear displacement amount is converted into a rotational displacement via the wire 27 and the pulley 26, and is detected by the encoder 25. Therefore, when the encoder 25 is rotationally displaced in accordance with a fixed amount, the bottom plate 22 is rotated or slid horizontally by an actuator for operating the bottom plate (not shown), and a fixed amount of contained ice pieces is discharged. After discharging the fixed amount of ice pieces, the bottom plate 22 returns to the initial state again by the actuator for operating the bottom plate.

By the way, as a modification of the second embodiment, one is a system using a straight displacement sensor which directly measures the straight displacement amount of the bottom plate 22 instead of converting it into a rotational displacement. One is a method of arranging a plurality of position switches in the vertical direction so that the displacement of the bottom plate 22 is measured continuously or intermittently instead of continuously. Both methods are advantageous in simplifying the structure.

The third embodiment is a system in which the quantity of ice pieces is determined by weighing, and a displacement sensor is used for the weighing. However, the point that the displacement sensor only detects that the weight reaches the quantity is Different from the second embodiment. FIG. 3 is a side view of the third embodiment. Only the main parts of the device are shown in the figure. Bottom plate 32
Is supported so as to be movable in parallel with the axial direction of the container peripheral wall 31, and a movable cylinder 33 is fixed to the lower side thereof.
An upward spring force acts on 33 via the spring mechanism 34. Separately, a sensor unit, which is composed of the pulleys 35 and 36, a belt 37 wound around these pulleys, and a position switch 38 fixed to the belt 37 and whose quantitative value related to weight can be changed, is provided. That is, the position sensor 38 is positioned so that the position can be changed in the vertical direction according to the movement of the belt 37. Therefore, the position switch 38 detects that the bottom plate 32 is linearly displaced according to the weight of the ice pieces placed on the bottom plate 32, and that the displacement amount has reached a value corresponding to the fixed amount.
With this detection signal, the bottom plate 32 is rotated or horizontally slid as in the second embodiment. Third
The embodiment is structurally simpler than the second embodiment.

The fourth embodiment is an equilibrium system using a balance in which the quantity of ice pieces is measured by weighing, and the position of the weight pan is fixed. FIG. 4 is a side view of the fourth embodiment. Only the main parts of the device are shown in the figure. The bottom plate 42 is rotatably supported around a middle position on the right side of the container peripheral wall 41, and has a structure in which a weight for balancing the weight of ice pieces and an actuator output for ice piece discharge act on the right end portion. .
The balance weight 46 is composed of a plurality of types of unit weights, and is initially placed on the pedestal 47. The weight selection device 45 has its weight 46.
Among these, a device for selecting a unit weight necessary for equilibrating with the quantitative determination, and is structurally composed of a solenoid type driving part and a detachable part. The weight selecting device 45 and the weight 46 are connected to the pulley of the winding mechanism 44, which is composed of a pulley and a wire which are not denoted by reference numerals. Also, the wire has a bottom plate 42 at its left end.
Is connected to the right end and the right end is connected to the motor 43. A position switch 48 is installed at a position corresponding to the left end portion when the bottom plate 42 is in the horizontal position. This position switch 48 indicates that the weight of the ice pieces and the weight 46 are in equilibrium.
Detects when 42 is horizontal.

The operation of the fourth embodiment is as follows. The weight 46 corresponding to the fixed amount of ice piece weight is selected by the weight selection device 45 while being placed on the cradle 47. Of course, the weight of the weight selection device 45 itself is taken into consideration. At this time, the left end of the bottom plate 42 is blocked by the groove edge of the container peripheral wall 41 as a stopper, and is in a state of slightly rising to the left as indicated by the broken line. The bottom plate 42 gradually rotates counterclockwise while lifting the weight 46 as the ice pieces are contained near the fixed amount, and when the ice piece weight is in equilibrium with the weight 46, that is, the fixed amount is reached. When it becomes horizontal like the solid line,
This is detected by the position switch 48. Based on this detection, the discharge of ice from an ice storage (not shown) is stopped and the motor 43 is driven via a control unit (not shown). By this drive, the bottom plate 42 rapidly inclines leftward to the position of the alternate long and short dash line via the winding mechanism 44, and discharges the contained ice pieces all at once. Due to the imbalance of the force after the discharge, the bottom plate 42 rotates in the reverse direction and returns to the position indicated by the broken line. The selected weight 46 remains unchanged unless the quantitation value is changed.

The fifth embodiment is an equilibrium system in which the ice pieces are quantified by weighing, and the weighing is performed by using a balance. FIG. 5 (a) is a side view of the fifth embodiment,
(b) is a plan view of the same. Only the main parts of the device are shown in the figure. In FIG. 5 (a), the bottom plate 52 is fixed to the rotation shaft 59 at the right intermediate position of the container peripheral wall 51, and is rotatably supported around the rotation shaft 59. The rotating shaft 59 projects outward from the peripheral wall 51 of the container (see FIG. 5 (b)), and the pedestal 53 is fixed to the projecting portion, on which the motor 54 and the weight moving mechanism 55 are mounted. Fixed. The weight moving mechanism 55 includes left and right pulleys and a belt wound around the pulleys.
56 is fixed, and the shaft of the motor 54 is connected to the shaft of the left pulley. Here, the motor 54 is installed on the axis of the rotating shaft 59 of the bottom plate 52 in order to reduce the influence of its weight. A position switch 58 is provided on the outer left side of the container peripheral wall 51, and a stopper 57 is provided on the inner surface thereof. The stopper 57 makes initial positioning by contacting the bottom plate 52 when the ice pieces are not stored. The position switch 58 detects the equilibrium state of the bottom plate 52, as in the fourth embodiment. The motor 54 sets the position of the weight 56 via the pulley and the belt of the weight moving mechanism 55 according to the amount of ice pieces.

The operation of the fifth embodiment is as follows. Figure
In FIG. 5 (a), when there is no ice piece in the initial state, the bottom plate 52 is in a state in which the left end portion thereof is in contact with the stopper 57 of the container peripheral wall 51 and is slightly raised to the left from the drawing. The bottom plate 52 rotates counterclockwise while approaching the moment due to the weight 56 as the ice pieces are stored up to a fixed amount on the bottom plate 52, and the moment around the rotation axis due to the weight of the ice pieces causes the moment due to the weight 56. When it equilibrates with, that is, when it reaches a fixed amount, it becomes horizontal like the broken line. This is detected by the position switch 58. Based on this detection, the discharge of ice from an ice storage (not shown) is stopped via a control unit (not shown). Immediately after the bottom plate 52 becomes horizontal, the equilibrium state is broken by the addition of ice that is already falling from the ice storage or the displacement of the weight 56 to the left by the motor 54, and the bottom plate 52 rapidly rotates counterclockwise to accommodate the ice pieces. Is discharged all at once. Due to the imbalance of the force after the ejection, the bottom plate 52 rotates clockwise and comes into contact with the stopper 57 and stops. When the weight 56 is displaced for discharging ice pieces, it is returned.

The sixth embodiment is a balancing system in which the quantity of ice pieces is measured by weighing, and the weighing is performed by using a voice coil motor type actuator. FIG. 6 is a side view of the sixth embodiment. Only the main parts of the device are shown in the figure. In the figure, the bottom plate 62 is rotatably supported around a rotary shaft 69 at an intermediate position on the right side of the container peripheral wall 61, and projects outward to the right of the container peripheral wall 61. An L-shaped mount 63 is fixed to the right side surface of the container peripheral wall 61, and a voice coil motor type actuator 64 is installed in this horizontal portion. Moving body 65 of actuator 64
Is movable in the vertical direction with a driving force corresponding to the application of a current. Each end of the link 66 is connected to the moving body 65 and the right end of the bottom plate 62 in a rotating pair. A position switch 68 is provided on the outer side of the left side of the container peripheral wall 61, and a stopper 67 is also provided on the inner surface thereof. The stopper 67 is
When the ice pieces are not accommodated, they come into contact with the bottom plate 62 for initial positioning. Further, the position switch 68 detects the equilibrium state of the bottom plate 62, as in the fifth embodiment.

The operation of the sixth embodiment is as follows. Figure
In FIG. 6, the bottom plate 62 receives a downward force corresponding to a fixed amount of ice piece weight via the link 66 by the actuator 64 at the left end when there is no ice piece in the initial stage, and rotates in the clockwise direction about the rotation axis 69. Receive a moment. Therefore, the bottom plate 62
The left end portion of the container abuts on the stopper 67 of the container peripheral wall 61, and is slightly raised to the left of the drawing. The bottom plate 62 is arranged so that the
It rotates counterclockwise while approaching the moment due to 64, and when the moment around the rotation axis 69 due to the weight of the ice pieces balances with the moment due to the actuator 64, that is, reaches a fixed amount, it becomes horizontal as shown by the solid line. This is detected by the position switch 68. Based on this detection, the discharge of ice from the ice storage (not shown) is stopped on the one hand through the control unit (not shown), and the output of the actuator 64 is reduced or becomes zero on the other hand. The bottom plate 52 breaks the equilibrium state when the output of the actuator 64 decreases or becomes zero, and rapidly rotates counterclockwise to the position indicated by the alternate long and short dash line to expel the ice pieces contained at once. After this discharge, the actuator 64 is again biased as in the initial state (with an electric current applied) to generate a downward force corresponding to the fixed amount of ice pieces, and the bottom plate 62 rotates clockwise. Comes into contact with the stopper 67, stops, and returns to the initial position.

The seventh embodiment is a system in which the quantification of ice pieces is based on surface level metrology. FIG. 7 is a side view of the seventh embodiment, showing only the main part of the device. In the figure, a bottom plate 72 is provided below the rectangular cylindrical container peripheral wall 71, rotatably supported in a clockwise direction from a horizontal position indicated by a solid line about a rotation axis on the left side, and provided at a rotation center portion. It is biased counterclockwise by the torsion spring 73. Therefore, when the ice pieces are not accommodated, the bottom plate 72 contacts the right end portion of the lower end surface of the container peripheral wall 71 and is positioned near the illustrated position. When the bottom plate 72 is positioned horizontally, the tip of the output shaft of the linear actuator 77 receives the lower side of the right end of the bottom plate 72. The electrodes 74 and 75 are installed on the outer surfaces of the left and right side surfaces of the container peripheral wall 71 so as to face each other, and a capacitance is formed based on the substance between them. Since the capacitance between the electrodes 74 and 75 changes according to the level of the ice pieces stored in the bottom plate 72, the level of the stored ice pieces, and thus the weight of the ice pieces, is continuously changed by the capacitance value. Can be measured. Therefore, each electrode 7
When the capacitance of 4,75 reaches a value according to the fixed amount, the actuator 77 is actuated via the control unit (not shown), and the output shaft is pulled to the right side. Since the support of the bottom plate 72 is released, the bottom plate 72 is rotated clockwise by the weight of the contained ice pieces to eject the contained ice pieces. After the discharge, the bottom plate 72 is returned to the illustrated position by the biasing force of the torsion spring 73. It should be noted that the contained ice piece level may be measured by a discontinuous method using level switch groups arranged in parallel in the vertical direction, instead of the continuous method based on capacitance as in the seventh embodiment.

The eighth embodiment is another method in which the quantification of ice pieces is based on surface level quantification. FIG. 8 is a side view of the eighth embodiment, showing only the main part of the device. The eighth example differs from the seventh example in that it only detects when the ice level reaches a quantitative value. The detection is performed by a level switch 85 fixedly placed on the right side surface of the container peripheral wall 81. Therefore, the method of changing the container cross section according to the change in the fixed quantity is adopted,
The left side of the container is a movable side wall 84 which is translated by an unlabeled actuator. Bottom plate 82, torsion spring 8
3. The actuators 87 are the same as the members with the same names in the seventh embodiment. By the way, as another method of changing the container cross-section, instead of moving the side wall in parallel in an upright state, a method may be used in which a horizontal axis perpendicular to the paper surface is provided at the upper end of the container peripheral wall 81, and the container is rotated around it.

The ninth embodiment uses the same method for weighing ice pieces on the bottom plate based on the weight or level described above, but the operation for opening the bottom plate is completely different. The point is that the bottom plate is made of an elastic strip, and when storing ice pieces, the strip is curved in the width direction to increase the rigidity against bending, and when ejecting ice pieces, the strip is returned to the flat surface again. It weakens the rigidity against bending and bends it by the weight of the ice pieces. FIG. 9 (a) is a side view of the ninth embodiment, and FIG. 9 (b) is a front view of an essential part of the same, in which the ice piece measuring means is not shown. In Fig. 9 (a), 92 is an elastic band plate that constitutes the bottom plate, the width of which is at right angles to the paper surface, and the portion near the right end corresponding to the lower end surface of the container peripheral wall 91 is the effective portion for storing and discharging ice pieces. It is the bottom plate part. As shown in FIG. 9 (b), 93 is a support frame, which has a portion sandwiching two opposing left and right edges of the bottom plate 92 in the longitudinal direction and a curved surface portion convex downward. Reference numeral 94 denotes a guide pin having a head, which penetrates the bottom plate 92 with the head on the upper side in a loose state, and the tip of the pin is inserted into the center of the curved surface of the support frame 93. Reference numeral 95 is a linear actuator, and 96 is a bifurcated pressing rod as its output shaft. The end of each rod of the pressing rod 96 is located on the center line of the bottom plate 92, and this center line and the support frame
The pressing rod 96, the bottom plate 92, and the support frame 93 are positioned in association with each other such that the longitudinal direction of the bar 93 is a right angle and the longitudinal position is at the center of the end of each bar.

The operation of the ninth embodiment is as follows. Initially, the actuator 95 operates, the tip of the pressing rod 96 presses the bottom plate 92, and it is deformed following the curved surface of the support frame 93 (one point in each of FIGS. 9A and 9B). (See chain line).
In this state, the bottom plate 92 has an increased section modulus, so that the rigidity against bending is increased and the weight of the ice pieces contained can be supported. Here, the position switch 97 corresponds to the central portion of the left end face of the bottom plate 92 and detects that the bottom plate 92 is in a state capable of accommodating ice pieces. When the measuring means (not shown) detects that the contained ice pieces have reached a fixed amount, the operation of the actuator 95 is released via the control unit. When the pressing rod 96 returns due to this operation release, the bottom plate 92 returns to a flat shape and its section modulus becomes small so that the weight of the stored ice pieces cannot be supported and the bottom plate 92 is curved and deformed, so that the stored ice pieces are removed. Drop and eject. After discharging, the bottom plate 92 returns to its original state due to its elasticity.

Although not shown in the figure, the tenth embodiment counts the number of ice pieces discharged from the ice storage and reaches a fixed amount,
This is a method of closing the gate of the ice storage to obtain a fixed amount of discharged ice pieces. Therefore, a cylinder for passing ice pieces in a row is provided in the subsequent stage of the ice storage, and a means for counting the passing ice pieces, for example, a transmission type optical sensor and a counter for the signal are installed as close to the discharge location as possible. To do.

[0034]

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION In the ice piece quantitative discharge device according to each of the claims, a fixed amount of ice pieces are commonly discharged with high precision, and when the ice piece is incorporated in a cup beverage vending machine, the taste of the sold beverage is delicious. ， Maintenance and improvement of moderate coldness ，
In addition, it is possible to achieve rational and effective utilization of the amount of ice storage in the ice storage without excess or deficiency, and to eliminate waste of ice production amount and reduce ice production cost. Particularly, in the device according to each of claims 4, 5, and 6, the structure of the operating means related to the bottom plate can be simplified and the cost can be reduced accordingly.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a first embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the second embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the third embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the fourth embodiment.

5A and 5B are a side view and a plan view of the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the seventh embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the eighth embodiment.

9A is a side view of the ninth embodiment, and FIG. 9B is a front view of a main part thereof.

FIG. 10 is a side sectional view of a conventional example.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ice storage 2 Gate 3 Ice piece 4 Ice collecting cylinder 5 Cup 11 Container peripheral wall 12 Bottom plate 13 Torsion spring 14 Stopper 15 Intermediate lever 16 Output shaft 17 Actuator 18 Strain sensor 21 Container peripheral wall 22 Bottom plate 23 Spindle 24 Spring mechanism 25 Encoder 26 Pulley 27 wire 31 container peripheral wall 32 bottom plate 33 movable cylinder 34 spring mechanism 35, 36 pulley 37 belt 38 position switch 41 container peripheral wall 42 bottom plate 43 motor 44 winding mechanism 45 weight selection device 46 weight 47 pedestal 48 position switch 51 container peripheral wall 52 bottom plate 53 pedestal 54 motor 55 weight moving device 56 weight 57 stopper 58 position switch 59 rotating shaft 61 container peripheral wall 62 bottom plate 63 mounting base 64 actuator (voice coil motor type) 65 moving body 66 link 67 stopper 68 position Switch 69 Rotating shaft 71 Container peripheral wall 72 Bottom plate 73 Torsion spring 74,75 Electrode 77 Actuator 81 Container peripheral wall 82 Bottom plate 83 Torsional spring 84 Movable side wall 85 Level switch 87 Actuator 91 Container peripheral wall 92 Bottom plate 93 Support frame 94 Guide pin 95 Actuator 96 Push bar 97 position switch

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An ice storage for discharging ice pieces by opening a gate; a container for temporarily storing ice pieces discharged from the ice storage; and a weighing means for determining the weight of ice pieces sequentially stored in the container. A gate operating means for closing the gate of the ice storage on the basis of the output corresponding to the fixed amount from the measuring means, and a container bottom operating means for once opening the bottom of the container to discharge the stored ice pieces and then closing the container again. A fixed-quantity discharging device for ice pieces, comprising: 2. An ice storage for discharging ice pieces by opening a gate; a container for temporarily storing ice pieces discharged from the ice storage; a weighing means for determining a surface level of the ice pieces successively stored in the container. A gate operating means for closing the gate of the ice storage container based on the output corresponding to the fixed amount from the weighing means, and a container bottom operating means for once opening the bottom of the container to discharge the stored ice pieces and then closing it again. A fixed-quantity discharge device for ice pieces. 3. An ice storage for discharging ice pieces by opening a gate; a cylinder for passing ice pieces discharged from the ice storage in a row; and a number of ice pieces passing through this cylinder. Counting means; gate operating means for closing the gate of the ice storage on the basis of the output corresponding to the fixed amount from the counting means;
A fixed-quantity discharging device for ice pieces, comprising: 4. The voice coil motor type actuator according to claim 1, wherein the weighing means applies a balancing force to the container bottom in order to equilibrate the ice piece weight corresponding to the quantification, and also serves as container bottom operating means. And a fixed quantity discharge device for ice pieces, comprising: a position switch for detecting equilibrium corresponding to the bottom of the container. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
The container bottom operating means grips the container bottom, which is positioned in the closed state by the bias when not storing ice pieces, in the closed state against the weight of the ice pieces when storing the ice pieces, and releases the ice pieces when discharging the ice pieces. A fixed-quantity discharging device for ice pieces, which is an actuator that grips the container bottom that is returned by the urging after one-sided discharging. 6. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The container bottom is a portion in the vicinity of one end of an elastic strip that is horizontally supported at two opposing positions on each edge in the longitudinal direction, and the container bottom operating means is on a center line parallel to the longitudinal direction of the strip. An actuator that simultaneously applies downward force of the same magnitude to two points on each side with a fixed point as the center point, another fixed point that is vertically below the fixed point, and a curved line that connects two points that support the strip. And a fulcrum member having a ridge line as a ridge line, and by actuation of the actuator, the band plate is curved until it comes into contact with the ridge line of the fulcrum member, and a portion near the end of the band plate as the container bottom is in a state capable of accommodating ice pieces. By deactivating the actuator based on the output corresponding to the fixed amount of the above, the portion near the end of the strip plate as the container bottom is bent and deformed by the weight of the ice pieces contained, and the ice pieces are discharged and then returned again. Discharge of ice pieces Apparatus.