JPH0792864B2 - Automatic cleaning control system for beverage vending machines - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a so-called cup-type vending machine for discharging beverages into a cup container for sale, and a method for cleaning a beverage pouring system passage.

2. Description of the Related Art In the conventional washing operation of the beverage pouring system passage, when the water level becomes low due to the low water level in the reservoir, the washing operation is temporarily interrupted, and when the water shutoff state is released, the washing operation is automatically performed again. Was to be done.

The problem to be solved by the invention is that, in such a cleaning method, if a large amount of water is used in the cleaning operation immediately after the water is released, the water will be immediately cut off. Since it has to wait until the water supply is released before the operation is performed, there is a problem that an efficient cleaning operation cannot be performed.

Therefore, in view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention, in view of the above-mentioned problems, suspends the cleaning operation due to water interruption in the cleaning operation of each beverage pouring path, and immediately after that, even if the water interruption is released, the cleaning operation can be performed immediately. Instead, the cleaning operation is performed again by pressing the switch for canceling the temporary interruption.

Action The temporary suspension of the cleaning operation due to water interruption can be canceled at any time by the above means, so it is possible to start the cleaning operation after sufficiently filling the reservoir with water. You can do better.

Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a view showing a supply line system for beverage dispensing of the present cup type beverage vending machine.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a water reservoir for storing water supplied from the water supply 2, from which a drinking water supply line 4 is drawn out via a water supply pump 3. Further, a carbonated water supply line 7 is drawn out from a three-way solenoid valve 5 provided in the middle of the drinking water supply line 4 and further via a carbonator 6. Reference numeral 8 is a carbonated water solenoid valve inserted in the line 7. As is well known, a carbon dioxide gas cylinder 9 is connected to the carbonator 6, and is configured so as to obtain carbonated water by spraying water into the atmosphere of carbon dioxide, and the carbonated water is the gas pressure of the gas cylinder 9. Is used to deliver liquid under pressure.
Separately from the above, the syrup supply lines 11a and 11b are cited from the syrup tanks 10a and 10b containing the concentrated syrup which is the raw material of the syrup beverage. 12a and 12b are syrup solenoid valves inserted in the syrup supply lines 11a and 11b. As for the syrup, the gas cylinder 9 and the syrup tanks 10a and 10b are used so that the gas pressure of the gas cylinder 9 is used to deliver liquid under pressure.
A gas line 13 is connected between the above and. Since the syrup tanks 10a, 10b will be replaced with new syrup tanks when the liquid becomes empty, the syrup tanks 10a, 10b and the syrup supply lines 11a, 11b and the gas line 13 should be considered in consideration of their workability. Removable connection joints 14a, 14b, 15a,
It is connected via 15b. Furthermore, each line 4, 7 mentioned above
The end nozzles of 11a and 11a are arranged so as to collectively face the upper side of the bend stage 17 to which the beverage cup 16 is conveyed. Reference numeral 18 is a drain container for collecting the liquid spilled on the bend stage 17.

Further, 19 is a float switch for detecting a low water level (water interruption) of the reservoir 2.

FIG. 2 is a block circuit diagram of a control unit for controlling the supply line system of FIG. A ₁ to A _m are switches for cleaning time setting, A _n is release switch, B to release the interruption due suspension of water supply relay for controlling the water pump 3, C controls the 5-way electromagnetic valve relay, D is carbonated water Relays that control the solenoid valve 8, Ea and Eb are relays that control the syrup solenoid valves 12a and 12b, and F is a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as CPU) that performs a selling operation and a cleaning operation. The switches A _{1 to} A _n , and The signal of the float switch 19 for water cut detection is connected as an input, and the relays B, C, D, Ea, Eb are connected as outputs.
G is a memory for storing the course of the cleaning time and cleaning operations entered for the switch A ₁ to A _m (hereinafter referred to as RAM), CPU
It is inside (F).

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the control contents of one embodiment of the present invention.

Next, the operation of cleaning the beverage pouring system path of the cup type vending machine having the above configuration will be described.

To perform cleaning operation, first, the supply line 4,7,11a at switch A ₁ to A _n, for washing time set according to the degree of contamination by the feed lines of 11b (FIG. 3 step1). The set time is stored in the RAM (G). At this time, the carbonator
6, Syrup tanks 10a, 10b contain liquid for cleaning. Next, when the setting of each cleaning time is completed, CPU (F)
Starts each cleaning operation (step 2 in FIG. 3). To clean the drinking water supply line 4, turn on the water pump 3 and turn on the three-way solenoid valve 5.
The water is caused to flow into the drinking water supply line 4 by switching. Further, the carbonated water supply line 7 is washed by the carbonated water solenoid valve 8
Turn on the syrup supply line 11a, 11
The cleaning of b is performed by turning on the syrup solenoid valves 12a and 12b. In this way, cleaning of each supply line is done by the CPU (F).
It is started by the control of. Then, the CPU (F) continues the cleaning until each set time (step 3 in FIG. 3), and from the supply line which has reached the set time, reverses the operation of starting the cleaning of each supply line to the relay. When turned off, the process is completed in sequence (step 4 in Fig. 3). When all are completed, it returns to the normal selling operation (Fig. 3, step 5). By the way, in the above cleaning operation, when the setting of each cleaning time is completed and each cleaning operation is started, if the water is cut off and the cleaning water is not supplied to the reservoir 1, the float switch 19 is turned on. The low water level (water interruption) of the reservoir 1 is detected. Then, the CPU (F) detects the signal and immediately interrupts each cleaning operation (step 6 in FIG. 3). Then, when water supply is released and water is supplied to the reservoir 1, wait for water to sufficiently enter the reservoir 1 and press the switch A _n that releases water supply when it is determined that the water supply may be released. The CPU (F) then starts the cleaning operation again (third step).
(Figure step7).

As described above, if water is cut off during the cleaning operation and the cleaning operation is stopped, it can be released manually by pressing the switch, so the cleaning operation can be performed after sufficient water has entered the reservoir. That is, the cleaning operation is smoothly performed without interruption.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION As is clear from the above description, in the present invention, in a cup type vending machine that mixes and sells beverages, the supply line of each beverage corresponding to the beverage pouring system is cleaned. In this case, if the washing operation is stopped due to water interruption, and then the washing operation can be resumed by releasing the water interruption, manually cancel the washing operation stop by pressing the switch to ensure that sufficient water has entered the reservoir. Since the cleaning operation can be started from, even if a large amount of water is used immediately after the cleaning operation is restarted, the water is not cut off and the subsequent cleaning operation is performed without interruption.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing a supply line for beverage dispensing of an automatic vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block circuit diagram of a control unit for controlling the supply line system, and FIG. 3 is a microcomputer. It is a flow chart which shows control contents. 10a, 10b …… Syrup tank, 4 …… Drinking water supply line, 7 …… Carbonate water supply line, 11a, 11b …… Syrup supply line, 5 …… Three-way solenoid valve, 8 …… Carbonate water solenoid valve, 12
a, 12b …… Syrup solenoid valve, 19 …… Float switch, A
₁ ~A _m ...... cleaning time setting switch, A _n ...... release switch, F ...... microcomputer (CPU).

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of types of tanks for storing beverages, a beverage supply line installed in each of the tanks, through which a beverage raw material and water for washing flow, and a beverage supply line installed in each of the beverage supply lines. Solenoid valve for controlling the pouring of the liquid, a reservoir that is connected to a tap water for temporarily storing water for drinking or cleaning, a water cutoff detection switch that detects a low water level (water cutoff) of the reservoir, and the water cutoff switch It consists of a release switch for releasing the washing operation interruption state due to, and a microcomputer that controls the solenoid valve and the switch, and is washed when the water cutoff switch detects during the washing operation of each beverage supply line. The operation of the beverage vending machine is characterized in that the operation is temporarily interrupted and the washing operation is performed again by pressing the release switch after releasing the water-off state. Dynamic cleaning control system.