JPH09128641A - Automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent various bacteria from breeding in a water reservoir even if vending intervals are extremely long by inserting a sterilizing lamp which emits ultraviolet rays containing a light beam of specific wavelength into a water reservoir which receives and reserves tap water temporarily and then distributes it to respective places in a machine. SOLUTION: The water reservoir 6a consists of a tank 30 which has a water outlet 27 at its bottom and an overflow hole 23 at its upper flank part, and a lid 31. The lid 31 has a water intake 24 through which water obtained by filtering the tap water is supplied, a push plate 32 which moves up and down interlocking with a float 22 moving up and down according to the water level in the tank 30, high and low water level switches 20 and 21 which is operated by being pushed by the push plate 32, the sterilizing lamp 25 which emits the ultraviolet rays of 200-300nm in wavelength, and a protect switch 26. The ultraviolet rays of 200-300nm emitted by the sterilizing lamp are effective to sterilization and then the sterilizing lamp 25 is dipped in the water reservoir 6a, so that there will not be the possibility that various bacteria breeze even when the vending intervals are long.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic vending machine which is supplied with tap water, processed into cold water, hot water, carbonated water, etc., and then mixed and cooked with a beverage raw material for sale.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 2 shows a water circuit diagram of a conventional vending machine, and FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of its water reservoir. 2 and 3, 1 is a canister for storing powdered raw materials such as instant coffee and black tea, 2 is a shooter for cutting powdered raw materials into a mixing ball 3, 4 is a hot water tank,
5 is a filter of tap water, 6 is a water reservoir that temporarily stores tap water in the aircraft, 7 is a water pump that distributes the water in the water reservoir 6 to various places in the aircraft, 8 is a water tank, 9 is carbonated water that is stored Carbonator, 10a is a cold water nozzle for supplying cold water to the cup 14, 10b is a carbonated water nozzle for supplying carbonated water to the cup 14, 11 is a carbon dioxide gas cylinder, 12 is a syrup tank, 13 is a syrup discharge amount control Syrup valve, 15 syrup nozzle, 1
6 is an ice making machine, 20 is a high water level switch of the water reservoir 6, 2
1 is a low water level switch of the water reservoir 6, 22 is a float of the water reservoir 6, 23 is an overflow port of the water reservoir 6, and 24 is a water inlet of the water reservoir 6.

In FIG. 2, powdered raw materials such as instant coffee and black tea stored in a canister 1 are cut out in a fixed amount and supplied to a mixing ball 3 through a chute 2, and hot water supplied from a hot water tank 4 is mixed into the mixing ball. It is a vending machine that combines a hot beverage vending machine that mixes and sells in 3 and a cold beverage vending machine that dilutes and sells various syrups with either cold water or carbonated water. Water) is supplied from outside the machine, filtered by the filter 5 and stored in the water reservoir 6, and a part of it is supplied to the ice making machine 16 to be ice-made and stored in the ice storage tank in the ice making machine 16.

The other part is cooled by a water tank 8 through a water pump 7 and a carbonator 9 and a cold water nozzle 1.
0a. The water supplied to the carbonator 9 dissolves the carbon dioxide gas sent from the carbon dioxide gas cylinder 11, becomes carbonated water, and is stored in the carbonator 9. The syrup is stored in a syrup tank 12 inside the machine, is pushed out by the pressure of carbon dioxide gas supplied from a carbon dioxide gas cylinder 11 and is supplied to the syrup valve 13 after being cooled in the cooling water tank 8 through the pipe. Has been done. In addition to the syrup tank and the cooling water cooling pipe, a carbonator 9 and the like are placed in the cooling water tank 8.

The water from the water pump 7 is supplied not only to the carbonator 9 and the cold water nozzle 10a but also to the hot water tank 4, where it is boiled and stored in hot water and supplied from the canister 1 at the time of selling hot beverage. The powdered raw material is melted and supplied to the cup 14. On the other hand, for cold beverages, the syrup in the syrup tank 12 is sent out under the pressure of carbon dioxide gas, is cooled in the cooling water tank 8 on the way, and is sent to the syrup valve 13. At the time of sale, the syrup valve 13
Open and pour into cup 14 through nozzle 15 beyond. Simultaneously with the syrup, either cold water or carbonated water is discharged into the cup through the nozzles 10a and 10b, mixed in the cup 14 and sold. The ice pieces produced by the ice making machine 16 and stored are supplied to the cup in response to the customer's request.

The water reservoir 6 is a tank 30 having a water outlet (not shown) at the bottom and an overflow port 23.
And a lid 31. The lid 31 includes a water inlet 24 to which tap water filtered is supplied, and a push plate 32 that moves up and down in conjunction with the float 22 that moves up and down according to the water surface of the tank. The high water level switch 20 and the low water level switch 21 which are operated by being pushed by the push plate 32 are mounted.

The water level in the ice making machine 16 for making ice pieces supplied to the cup 14 when selling a cold beverage is the same as the water level in the water reservoir 6 because the ice making machine 16 itself does not have a water level adjusting mechanism. Become. In order to maintain a proper water level for making good quality ice in the ice making machine 16, the water level of the water reservoir 6 is closed when the high water level switch 20 attached to the water reservoir 6 detects the high water level. Then, the water supply is stopped, and when the high water level switch 20 leaves the push plate 32 and the detection of the high water level is released, the water inlet valve is opened to supply water, and the high water level switch 20 is always kept within the range of the action. It When the water level in the water reservoir 6 exceeds the water level at which the high water level switch 20 operates and rises above the overflow water level, the overflow water is drained through the overflow port 23.

The low water level switch 21 detects that the water reservoir 6 has run out of water and issues a signal. In that case, the vending machine is discontinued.

[0009]

According to the conventional structure, tap water is sterilized with chlorine or the like and is filtered by a filter when it is taken into an automatic vending machine. If the interval is very long, bacteria in the air may propagate in the water reservoir.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic vending machine in which miscellaneous bacteria do not propagate in the water reservoir even when the sales interval becomes very long. Especially.

[0011]

According to the invention as set forth in claim 1, an automatic vending machine which receives tap water, processes it into cold water, hot water, carbonated water, etc., and then mixes and cooks it with a beverage raw material for sale. In the machine, it receives tap water and stores it once,
From there, in the water reservoir that distributes water to various parts of the aircraft,
The vending machine is equipped with a germicidal lamp that emits ultraviolet rays containing a light beam having a wavelength of up to 300 nm.

With the above structure, since the germicidal lamp that emits ultraviolet rays containing a light ray having a wavelength of 200 to 300 nm is immersed in the water reservoir in which air and water come into contact with each other, it is possible to kill germs that have entered the water.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a configuration diagram of a main part of an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, members denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the conventional example have approximately the same functions, and therefore description thereof will be omitted. In this FIG. 1, a water reservoir 6
2a is inserted in the same place as the water reservoir 6 shown in the water circuit diagram of the conventional example of FIG. 2, and its role is the same. Further, since the other parts of the water circuit in FIG. 2 have the same configuration and role, the description thereof and re-posting of the water circuit diagram will be omitted. In FIG. 1, a water reservoir 6a
Is composed of a tank 30 having a water outlet 27 at the bottom and an overflow port 23 at the upper part of the side surface, and a lid 31, and the lid 31 is provided with a water inlet 24 to which water obtained by filtering tap water is supplied. A push plate 32 that goes up and down in conjunction with a float 22 that goes up and down according to the water surface in the tank 30, a high water level switch 20 and a low water level switch 21 that are operated by being pushed by the push plate 32, and a wavelength of 200 to 300 nm. A germicidal lamp 25 that emits the ultraviolet rays and a protect switch 26 are attached.

It is known that the germicidal lamp 25 ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of 200 to 300 nm are effective for sterilization, and most bacteria are sterilized in water by irradiation of 5 W · min / m ² or more. Therefore, if the germicidal lamp 25 is dipped in the water reservoir 6a, there is no fear that germs will propagate even if the sales interval becomes long. The protect switch 26 is used to shut off the power of the germicidal lamp 25 when the lid of the water reservoir 6a is opened while the germicidal lamp 25 is energized.

When selling a cold beverage, a cup 14
Ice making machine 1 for making ice pieces supplied to (see FIG. 2 below)
The water level in 6 is the same as the water level in the water reservoir 6a because the ice machine 16 itself does not have a water level adjusting mechanism. In order to maintain a suitable water level for making good quality ice in the ice maker 16, the water level of the water reservoir 6a is set to that of the water reservoir 6a.
When the high water level switch 20 attached to detects the high water level, the water inlet valve is closed to stop the water supply, and when the high water level switch 20 leaves the push plate 32 and the detection of the high water level is released, the water inlet valve is opened. Water is supplied and always kept within the range of action of the high water level switch 20. When the water level of the water reservoir 6 a exceeds the water level at which the high water level switch 20 operates and rises above the overflow water level, the overflow water is drained through the overflow port 23.

Since the low water level switch 21 detects that the water reservoir 6 is out of water and gives a signal, in that case, the vending machine is discontinued.

[0017]

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a beverage containing no germs even when the sales interval is long.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a main part of an embodiment of the present invention.

[Fig. 2] Water circuit diagram of a conventional vending machine

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a conventional water reservoir.

[Explanation of symbols]

 6a Water reservoir 20 High water level switch 21 Low water level switch 22 Float 23 Overflow port 24 Water inlet 25 Sterilization lamp 26 Protect switch 27 Water outlet

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A vending machine that receives tap water, processes it into cold water, hot water, carbonated water, etc., and then mixes it with a beverage ingredient and cooks it for sale. From there, in the water reservoir that distributes water to various parts of the aircraft,
An automatic vending machine, characterized in that a germicidal lamp that emits ultraviolet rays containing a light ray having a wavelength of 200 to 300 nm is inserted.