JPH1047851A - Cooling soft drink feeding device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform accurate management of the temperature of a cooling soft drink and to prevent a contained soft drink from being frozen. SOLUTION: A cooling pipe 3 through which a refrigerant is fed from a refrigerant feeding means 4 is disposed in a state to make contact with the outer peripheral wall part of a tank 2. A capillary tube type temperature- sensitive element 6 to detect the temperature of a soft drink in the tank through the chamber of the volume of a sealed material is arranged at a bottom 2c of the tank 2. Feedback of a temperature detecting signal detected by the capillary tube type temperature-sensitive element 6 is effected to the refrigerant feeding means 4.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cooled beverage supply apparatus for cooling and supplying a beverage.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A cooling beverage supply apparatus for cooling and supplying a soft drink generally comprises a bottomed cylindrical tank for storing a beverage and a cooling apparatus for cooling the tank. This cooling device has substantially the same structure as an electric refrigerator using a refrigerant.A cooling pipe is arranged on an outer peripheral wall portion of the tank, and the refrigerant is fed to the refrigerant by a refrigerant supply unit including a condenser and a compressor. It was to be cooled. The cooled beverage supply device is provided with temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the refrigerant, and controls the refrigerant supply means based on the output to prevent the compressor from malfunctioning and to reduce the temperature of the soft drink in the tank. Was kept constant. The temperature detecting means is, for example, a means for detecting a change in an electric signal due to the temperature of a thermistor, a thermocouple, or the like, to turn on / off the compressor, or a bimetal switch or a metal pipe which utilizes a difference in expansion coefficient of metal. Some compressors are turned on and off by a switch that changes a volume change due to expansion or phase of a liquid or gas into a displacement by a diaphragm.

[0003]

However, in an environment in which various conditions such as the outside air temperature, the temperature / volume of the beverage, the cooling capacity, and the like are different, it is not possible to detect the temperature of the refrigerant and keep the temperature of the refreshing beverage within a certain range. was difficult. For example, when the amount of the soft drink in the tank is reduced, or when the soft drink is left for a long time with the soft drink, the soft drink in the tank may be extremely cooled. When it cooled extremely, it could freeze from the inner wall of the tank where the cooling tubes came in contact. If the liquid in the tank is water, freezing will only have a small effect on water output,
In the case of soft drinks, the water in the soft drink will freeze,
There has been a problem that the soft drink coming out of the discharge port becomes thick and uncomfortable.

[0004] However, if the set temperature of the cooling beverage supply apparatus is set to a high value so that the soft drink does not freeze, a new problem arises that the temperature becomes too high and a delicious temperature (appropriate temperature) is not delicious.

[0005] The present invention has been proposed in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a cooling beverage supply apparatus capable of accurately controlling the temperature of a soft drink and preventing the soft drink contained therein from freezing. The purpose is.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to the present invention, a refrigerant is supplied from a refrigerant supply means to a side portion of a bottomed cylindrical tank for storing a beverage and stored in the tank. In the cooled beverage supply device provided with a cooling pipe for cooling the beverage, the tank is formed of a heat conductor, and the cooling pipe is disposed in a state close to or in contact with the outer peripheral wall portion of the tank, and is sealed. Temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the beverage in the tank by the change in volume or pressure of the substance provided at or near the bottom of the tank, and the temperature detection signal detected by the temperature detecting means is fed back to the refrigerant supply means. Configured.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the temperature detecting means is fixed on the outer surface of the bottom of the tank of the cooled beverage supply device according to the first aspect by covering with a metal foil of a good conductor. According to a third aspect of the present invention, the temperature detecting means is attached to the inside of the fixed heat conductive pipe on the bottom outer surface of the tank of the cooled beverage supply device according to the first aspect. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the temperature detecting means is provided at a position close to the inner peripheral wall inside the tank of the cooled beverage supply device according to the first aspect.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the temperature detecting means is attached to the inside of a pipe made of a good heat conductor fixed to the outer peripheral wall portion near the bottom of the tank of the cooled beverage supply apparatus in a manner separated from the cooling pipe. did. The temperature detecting means may be either a capillary tube (capillary tube) type thermosensitive element or a cylindrical thermosensitive element. The thermal conductor tube is not limited to metal and may be of any material as long as it is soft and easy to process, such as copper or aluminum, but copper is preferred. The metal foil may be of any material, but is preferably made of aluminum which is easy to process and is inexpensive.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of a cooled beverage supply apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail through some examples.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partially cut away, of a coffee cooler as a cooled beverage supply device, and FIG.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a tank portion of the coffee cooler of FIG. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the coffee cooler 1
A tank 2 made of stainless steel and containing 2 l of coffee, a cooling pipe 3 for cooling the tank 2, and a refrigerant supply unit 4 for sending a refrigerant to the cooling pipe 3 are built in. The outer peripheral wall 2a and the bottom 2c of the tank 2 are thickly covered with a heat insulating material 5 for keeping cool. The refrigerant supply means 4 is composed of a compressor and a condenser as in a normal refrigerator.

As shown in FIG. 1, a capillary tube type temperature sensing element 6 as a temperature detecting means is formed in an annular shape, covered with a thick aluminum foil 7 of a good heat conductor, and closely attached to the outer surface of the bottom 2c of the tank 2. Is stuck. The capillary tube-type temperature sensing element 6 is a thin and flexible copper tube having one end closed and filled with a liquid that is easily vaporized. A diaphragm (not shown) is provided at the other end, and the diaphragm moves. Are operating electrical contacts (not shown). The electric contact turns on and off the power supply of the refrigerant supply means 4 and maintains the temperature of the coffee 8 in the tank 2 at a predetermined temperature. The predetermined temperature is, for example, 5 to 7 degrees Celsius.
It is set around. The temperature is set by adjusting the distance between the diaphragm and the electrical contacts.

Here, the electric power supplied from the power supply corresponds to the temperature detection signal. The capillary tube type temperature sensing element 6 does not always measure the temperature, but actually measures the temperature at a predetermined time interval. If a temperature above the set temperature is detected, the electrical contact is operated to operate the coolant supply means for a predetermined time. 4 to cool the tank 2.

The coffee 8 is poured hot from the upper opening of the tank 2. The coffee 8 put in is cooled from near the inner peripheral wall 2b by the refrigerant flowing in the cooling pipe 3. The temperature (heat) of the coffee 8 is measured at the bottom 2 of the tank 2.
c to the capillary tube-type temperature sensing element 6 which is in close contact with the outer surface of the bottom 2c. The capillary tube type temperature sensing element 6 detects the temperature at predetermined time intervals. If the temperature is equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature, the refrigerant supply means 4 operates for a predetermined time to lower the temperature of the coffee 8, and the detected temperature becomes the predetermined temperature. If it is below, the refrigerant supply means 4 does not operate. In this way, the coffee 8 kept at the predetermined temperature is taken out from the outlet 2d and is drunk.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a tank portion of a coffee cooler of Embodiment 2. A copper tube 9 is brazed in an annular shape on the outer surface of the bottom 20c of the tank 20 of the coffee cooler so as to follow the outer peripheral wall. The inner diameter of the copper tube 9 is large enough to insert the capillary tube type temperature sensing element 6, and the capillary tube type temperature sensing element 6 is inserted here. The temperature of the coffee 8 in the tank 20 is transmitted through the tank bottom 20c, transmitted through the copper tube 9, and transmitted to the capillary tube type temperature sensing element 6. The copper tube 9 is brazed to the outer surface of the bottom portion 20c, has high thermal conductivity, and wraps the entire capillary tube type temperature sensing element 6, so that the temperature of the coffee 8 can be detected quickly and accurately. .

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a tank portion of a coffee cooler of Embodiment 3. The lowermost cooling pipe 3a of the outer peripheral wall 21a of the tank 21 of this coffee cooler
The copper pipe 10 is wound around the semi-circle or more between the first cooling pipe 3b and the second-stage cooling pipe 3b, and the contact portion with the outer peripheral wall 21a of the tank 21 is soldered. At the time of soldering, the heat (cold air) of the adjacent cooling pipes 3a and 3b is not directly connected to the copper pipe 10 so that both are not connected by solder. The inner diameter of the copper tube 10 is large enough to allow the capillary tube type temperature sensing element 6 to be inserted. Here, a capillary tube type temperature sensing element 6 as a temperature detecting means is inserted and the temperature of the coffee 8 is detected.

(Embodiment 4) FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a coffee cooler of Embodiment 4, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a tank portion of the coffee cooler of FIG. In the coffee cooler of Example 4, the bottomed protective cylinder 11 was welded to the bottom portion 22c of the tank 22 upside down, and the spirally formed capillary tube type thermosensitive element 12 was inserted from below into the inside. Things. The protection cylinder 11 is located at the closest point to the inner peripheral wall 22b.
About 2mm away from The protection cylinder 11 is provided near the discharge port 22d as shown in FIG. 5 to measure the coffee temperature immediately before the discharge. The protective cylinder 11 is made of copper and has a good thermal conductivity. However, in order to measure the temperature more accurately, silicon grease or the like that enhances thermal conductivity is sealed in the protective cylinder 11. The temperature of the capillary tube-type thermosensitive element 12 is controlled by controlling the cooling supply means by changing the internal volume change into displacement by the diaphragm 12a.

The capillary tube type temperature sensing element 12 controls the temperature of the coffee in the tank 22 and also controls the ice temperature so as not to freeze the coffee. . When the amount of coffee is reduced, the coffee freezes from the inner peripheral wall 22b near the cooling pipe due to a little heat absorption of the cooling pipe. Inner wall 2
The capillary tube-type thermosensitive element 12 housed in the protective cylinder 11 near 2b has a thickness of 2 m of ice 13 formed on the inner peripheral wall 22b.
m, and outputs a temperature detection signal when the temperature around the capillary tube-type thermosensitive element reaches 0 ° C. (freezing point). Upon sensing the temperature detection signal, the operation of the refrigerant supply means stops. Then, the ice formed on the inner peripheral wall 22b is heated by the surrounding heat, and eventually melts. In this way, ice is prevented from forming on the inner peripheral wall 22b.

In the above embodiment, for example, when a thermal conductive agent such as silicon grease is applied between a capillary tube type temperature sensitive element and a portion in contact therewith, the thermal conductivity is further increased, and quick and accurate temperature control is performed. Can be. The cooled beverage supply device according to the present invention may be used for cooling and supplying not only a soft drink as an aqueous solution in which a solute is dissolved but also ordinary fresh water in which nothing is dissolved.

[0019]

According to the cooling beverage supply device of the present invention, the temperature detecting means is provided at or near the bottom of the tank, so that the temperature of the beverage can be accurately measured even when the amount of the beverage is low, and the temperature of the beverage can be measured. Can be kept constant. Further, since the temperature detecting means is provided at a position close to the inner peripheral wall inside the tank, it is possible to detect ice near the inner peripheral wall and prevent the ice from growing any more.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a coffee cooler according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a tank portion of the coffee cooler of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a tank portion of a coffee cooler according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a tank portion of a coffee cooler according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a coffee cooler according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a tank portion of the coffee cooler of FIG. 5;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Coffee cooler (cooled drink supply apparatus) 2,20,21,22 Tank 2a Outer peripheral wall 2b Inner peripheral wall 2c Bottom 2d Discharge port 3 Cooling pipe 4 Refrigerant supply means 5 Insulation material 6,12 Capillary tube type thermosensitive element (temperature detection Means) 7 Aluminum foil (metal foil) 8 Coffee (beverage) 9,10 Copper tube (tube) 11 Protective cylinder 12a Diaphragm 13 Ice

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A cooled beverage supply device comprising: a cooling pipe for cooling a beverage stored in the tank by supplying a coolant from a coolant supply means to a side surface of a bottomed cylindrical tank for storing the beverage; Is formed of a heat conductor, and the cooling pipe is disposed in a state of being close to or in contact with the outer peripheral wall portion of the tank, and the temperature of the beverage in the tank is detected by a change in volume or pressure of the enclosed substance. A cooling beverage supply device, wherein the temperature detection means is provided at or near the bottom of the tank, and a temperature detection signal detected by the temperature detection means is fed back to the refrigerant supply means. 2. The cooling beverage supply device according to claim 1, wherein the temperature detecting means is fixed to the outer surface of the bottom of the tank by being covered with a metal foil of a good conductor. 3. The apparatus for supplying a cooled beverage according to claim 1, wherein the temperature detecting means is inserted inside a tube of a good conductor fixed to an outer surface of a bottom of the tank. 4. The temperature detecting means according to claim 1, wherein said temperature detecting means is inserted inside a tube of a heat conductor which is fixed to an outer peripheral wall portion near a bottom portion of said tank and separated from said cooling pipe. Cooled beverage supply device. 5. The temperature detecting means is provided at a position close to an inner peripheral wall inside the tank.
A cooled beverage supply device according to claim 1.