JPH1068566A - Operation for agitator in dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To stabilize the quantity of supply of ice pieces to a container from the respective weighing parts of a weighing apparatus. SOLUTION: When a release switch is turned ON, agitators 38 initially begin to rotate. Even when ice pieces in weighing parts 21 melt during their stand-by conditions, groups of ice pieces located just above ice piece discharge ports 18a are scraped and crumbled by the agitators 38 and the respective weighing parts 21 are supplied and filled with the ice pieces. With the delay of prescribed time after the ON action of the release switch, an weighing apparatus 20 begins to advance from its weighing positions to its discharge positions. Immediately after the weighing apparatus 20 begins to move forward, the rotations of the agitators 38 are stopped. When the respective weighing parts 21 of the weighing apparatus 20 reach the discharge positions, the ice pieces with which the respective weighing parts 21 are filled are supplied to stood-by cups 11 through openings 24, a, chutes 26 and supply ports 28a.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a method of operating an agitator in a dispenser, and more particularly, to a method of operating an agitator in a dispenser.
A dispenser that supplies ice pieces stored in an ice storage to a container such as a cup by a measuring device that moves between a measuring position and a discharging position is timed to move the measuring device from the measuring position to the discharging position. The present invention relates to a method for operating an agitator in a dispenser which can stably supply an ice piece to a container by controlling the operation of an agitator disposed in an ice storage.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In coffee shops, restaurants and other eating and drinking establishments, "cold", in which ice chips and water are put into cups, is provided as a customer service. As this type of device, a cold dispenser for supplying ice chips and water is preferably used. If the basic structure of the cold dispenser is described as an example, a plurality of measuring units are provided between an ice storage in which a required amount of ice pieces are stored and a fixed plate disposed under the ice storage at a predetermined interval. Is movably disposed. At the bottom of the ice storage, there is formed an ice chip discharge port for filling the measuring instrument with ice chips, and on the fixed plate, at a position spaced a predetermined distance forward from immediately below the ice chip discharge port. A plurality of openings are formed in the same arrangement as the portion.
The measuring device is configured to be reciprocated by a drive mechanism between a measuring position where the measuring unit communicates with the ice piece discharging port of the ice storage and a discharging position where the measuring unit communicates with the opening of the fixed plate. . Further, the dispenser is provided with a number of watering nozzles corresponding to the measuring section so as to face above each cup positioned below each opening (discharge position). According to the cold dispenser according to this configuration, after each of the cups is positioned below each opening of the fixing plate, by moving the measuring device from the measuring position to the discharging position, the predetermined amount of the measuring unit measured by the measuring unit is measured. Ice chips are supplied to each cup. Further, by starting watering by the watering nozzle, a predetermined amount of water is supplied to each cup to which the ice pieces have been supplied. That is, since “cold” can be made in a plurality of cups at once, it is possible to quickly respond to a large number of customers.

In the cold dispenser, an agitator is provided at a position corresponding to the ice piece discharge port inside the ice storage, and moved from the measuring position to the discharging position to remove the ice chips filled in the measuring section. By operating the agitator after returning the measuring device from the discharging position to the measuring position, the ice pieces in the ice storage are surely filled into each measuring portion of the measuring device.

[0004]

In the cold dispenser described above, if ice chips are not supplied to the cup for a long time while ice chips are stored in the ice storage,
Ice chips filled in the measuring section of the measuring instrument facing the measuring position may melt or arch in the measuring section. In addition, it is conceivable that the ice pieces in the ice storage are also solidified with each other and are not dropped and supplied to the weighing unit by their own weight. In this case, the agitator was set to operate only when the measuring device returned from the discharging position to the measuring position. It is pointed out that the pieces are not filled, so that a fixed amount cannot be supplied to the cup or that ice pieces cannot be supplied at all due to arching. In addition, when the outside air temperature is high, such as in summer, even if the standby time of the cold dispenser is short, the ice chips filled in the measuring section may be melted, and it may not be possible to supply a constant amount.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems inherent in the prior art, and has been proposed to solve the problem suitably. An object of the present invention is to provide a method of operating an agitator in a dispenser capable of stabilizing a supply amount of pieces.

[0006]

[Means for solving the problems] To overcome the above-mentioned problems,
In order to appropriately achieve the intended purpose, the operation method of the agitator in the dispenser according to the present invention includes an ice storage in which a required amount of ice pieces is stored, and an ice piece discharge port is formed at the bottom, and an ice storage of the ice storage. An ice chute member which is provided at a predetermined distance below and has a plurality of openings formed at predetermined positions in a direction deviated from directly below the ice piece discharge port in a direction in which the ice chip discharge port extends, and A weighing device slidably disposed between the refrigerator and the ice chute member, the weighing device having a plurality of weighing portions corresponding to the openings in the ice chute member; By reciprocating between a measuring position communicating with the outlet and a discharging position communicating with the opening, the ice chips filled in the measuring section are discharged and supplied to each container positioned below each opening at the discharging position. To the dispenser An agitator disposed immediately above the ice piece discharge port inside the ice storage is started immediately before the measuring device starts moving from the measuring position to the discharging position, and the measuring device discharges from the measuring position. It is controlled to stop immediately after starting the movement to the position.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, a method of operating an agitator in a dispenser according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings by way of preferred embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a dispenser according to an embodiment, in which a predetermined number of dispensers 10 are arranged and stored in a general-purpose rack 12 used when washing dishes in a kitchen. The cup 11 (see FIG. 2) is configured to supply the measured ice chips and water. The rack 12 is configured to store a total of 18 cups 11 in three rows in the front-rear direction (the direction in which the rack 12 enters and exits the dispenser 10) and six rows in the width direction intersecting the row. Then, after placing the rack 12 at a predetermined position on the table 14 disposed on the dispenser 10, the dispenser 10 is operated once, so that the eighteen cups 11 housed in the rack 12 have ice chips and water. Are supplied respectively.

An ice storage 18 capable of storing a large amount of ice chips to a predetermined level is provided inside the apparatus main body 16 of the dispenser 10.
As shown in the figure, three ice piece discharge ports 18a are formed at predetermined intervals in the front-rear direction. Each ice piece discharge port 18a
The openings are formed along six measuring portions 21 aligned in the width direction formed on the measuring device 20 described later, and all the measuring portions 21 in the row are opened.
It is set up so that ice chips can be filled in. Ice storage 1
As shown in FIG. 1, an auger ice maker 22
Is provided, and ice pieces produced by the ice making machine 22 are stored in the ice storage 18.
It is configured to be discharged and stored.

A pair of side plates 19, 19 (only one is shown in FIG. 2) extending in the front-rear direction are disposed on both sides in the width direction of the apparatus main body 16 so as to face each other. An ice chute member 24 is detachably positioned and fixed at a predetermined interval below the bottom of the ice storage 18.
An ice chute member 24 disposed between the side plates 19,19.
Is configured to be inclined downward toward the rear as shown in FIG. In addition, the side plate 1 is attached to the ice chute member 24.
With the positioning fixed between 9, 19, the ice storage 1
8 at positions deviated by a predetermined distance forward from directly below each ice piece discharge port 18a, six openings 24a aligned in the width direction.
Are formed. That is, the ice chute member 24 includes
A total of 18 openings 2 in 3 rows in the front-rear direction and 6 rows in the width direction
4a is formed. In addition, on the lower surface corresponding to each opening 24a of the ice chute member 24, the opening 24
a from the corresponding supply port 28a.
A chute 26 for guiding to each (described later) is vertically provided (FIG. 2).
reference).

Between the ice storage 18 and the ice chute member 24, a scale 20 constituted as a rectangular plate is provided with guides 30, 30 (only one shown in FIG. 2) disposed on the side plates 19, 19. (Shown). The weighing device 20 is formed with a plurality of weighing portions 21 for performing weighing by being filled with ice pieces in a pattern of 3 × 6 rows corresponding to each opening 24 a formed in the ice chute member 24. The weighing device 20 is moved in the front-rear direction via a driving mechanism 32 to be described later, and the weighing units 21
At the weighing position directly below the ice piece discharge port 18a in FIG.
), And each measuring unit 21 reciprocates between a discharge position (see FIG. 5) directly above the corresponding opening 24 a in the ice chute member 24.

As shown in FIG. 2, the measuring portions 21 are formed as rectangular through holes communicating vertically, and six measuring portions 21 aligned in the width direction are provided with ice piece discharge ports 18 a of the ice storage 18. Are set so that they can be commonly communicated with. As a result, when the measuring device 20 is positioned at the measuring position, the ice pieces stored in the ice storage
a through which the ice pieces are weighed (volume weighing). In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, the lower surface of the weighing section 21 facing the weighing position is closed at a portion where the opening 24a of the ice chute member 24 is not formed, so that ice pieces do not fall. When the measuring device 20 filled with the ice pieces is moved to the discharge position, the ice pieces in the measuring section 21 fall by their own weight, and stand by through the opening 24a, the chute 26, and the supply port 28a. Cup 11
Will be released. When the measuring device 20 moves to the discharging position, as shown in FIG. 5, each ice piece discharging port 18a of the ice storage 18 is closed at a portion of the measuring device 20 where the measuring portion 21 is not formed, and The ice pieces in the refrigerator 18 are configured not to be released to the outside.

On the upper side of the measuring section 21, a measuring instrument 20 is provided.
In a state where it faces the weighing position, the ice piece discharge port 18a
A notch 21a extending rearward from is formed. The notch 21a functions to prevent ice chips facing the boundary between the ice chip discharge port 18a and the measuring unit 21 from being bitten when the measuring unit 21 is moved from the measuring position to the discharging position. As a result, the measuring device 20 always moves smoothly and can achieve a constant supply.

As shown in FIG. 1, a drive mechanism 32 for reciprocating the measuring device 20 between a measuring position and a discharging position is disposed on the both side plates 19, 19 sandwiching the measuring device 20. That is, a pair of sprockets 34, 34 are provided on each side plate 19 at predetermined intervals in the front-rear direction so as to be rotatable, and an endless chain 36 is wound between the corresponding sprockets 34, 34, and the width is The pair of endless chains 36, 36 that are separated in the direction are configured to run in the forward and reverse directions by a motor 37 provided in the apparatus main body 16. Further, appropriate positions of the both endless chains 36, 36 are fixed to both sides in the width direction of the measuring device 20, respectively. Therefore, if the endless chains 36, 36 are run in the forward and reverse directions via the motor 37, the measuring device 20 is reciprocated in the front-rear direction along the guides 30, 30 as the chains 36, 36 run. I do.

Below the ice chute member 24, a supply member 28 is removably mounted on the apparatus body 16. In the supply member 28, supply ports 28a are formed in a pattern of 3 × 6 rows corresponding to each opening 24a of the ice chute member 24. Further, in a state where the supply member 28 is fixed to the apparatus main body 16, the lower end of the chute 26 faces above each supply port 28a correspondingly (see FIG. 2), and is discharged through the opening 24a and the chute 26. The ice chips are supplied to the cup 11 positioned below the supply member 28 via the supply port 28a. In addition, a watering nozzle 40 communicating with a water supply source is provided corresponding to each of the supply ports 28a, and water sprayed from each of the watering nozzles 40 is supplied to the cup 11 through the corresponding supply port 28a. . In FIG. 2, reference numeral 42 denotes a support member disposed on the upper surface of the supply member 28 and supporting the watering nozzle 40.

As shown in FIG. 2, agitators 38 are rotatably disposed inside the ice storage 18 at positions directly above the ice piece discharge ports 18a, respectively.
Is configured to be rotationally driven by the motor 44 shown in FIG. Accordingly, by driving the motor 44, each agitator 38 is rotated, the ice pieces in the ice storage are scraped, and the ice pieces are filled and supplied to the measuring section 21 from the ice piece discharge port 18a.

Here, as shown in FIG. 6, the motor 37 for moving the measuring device 20 is turned on by a predetermined time after a switch (not shown) for discharging ice pieces disposed on the dispenser 10 is turned on. Driven in the forward direction, the scale 2
0 is set to move forward from the weighing position to the discharge position. On the other hand, the motor 44 for rotating the agitator 38 is driven at the same time as the discharge switch is turned on to start rotation of the agitator 38, and the measuring device 20 starts moving from the measuring position to the discharging position. Immediately after the stop, the rotation of the agitator 38 is stopped. That is, the agitator 38
Is controlled to start immediately before the measuring device 20 starts moving from the measuring position to the discharging position, and to stop immediately after the measuring device 20 starts moving from the measuring position to the discharging position. Thus, as will be described later, the ice chips are reliably supplied to the measuring section 21 of the measuring device 20 so that the fixed amount of the ice chips can be supplied to the cup 11. Incidentally, when the agitator 38 stops, the measuring device 20 starts moving from the measuring position to the discharging position, and as shown in FIG.
8 and the opening 24 of the ice chute member 24
a is set immediately after communication with a through the measuring unit 21.

The driving time of the motor 44 in the agitator 38 and the delay time of the motor 37 in the measuring device 20 are set by an appropriate timer. Further, the motor 44 can be driven when the discharge switch is turned ON, and can be controlled to stop by detecting that the weighing machine 20 has moved to a required position by an appropriate detecting means.

[0019]

Next, the operation of the method of operating the agitator in the dispenser according to the embodiment will be described below. The rack 12 in which the cups 11 are stored upward is carried into the dispenser 10, and as shown in FIG. 2, each cup 11 is positioned at a position directly below the corresponding supply port 28a. At this time, it is assumed that the measuring unit 20 is positioned at a measuring position where the measuring unit 21 faces directly below the ice piece discharge port 18a in the ice storage 18, and each measuring unit 21 is filled with ice pieces. .

When a discharge switch for causing the dispenser 10 to perform a constant supply of ice chips and water is turned on, the motor 44 is first driven to drive the agitator 38.
Is started (see FIG. 3). Thereby, the measuring section 2
Even if the ice pieces filled in 1 are melted during the standby, the agitator 38 scrapes the ice pieces located directly above the ice piece discharge port 18a, and removes the reduced ice pieces by each. The weighing unit 21 can be filled and supplied. In addition, measuring section 2
Even if the ice pieces are arching inside 1,
The rotation of the agitator 38 causes the ice pieces in the ice storage to be measured by the measuring unit 2.
By pushing it into 1, the arching is broken and ice pieces can be fixedly filled.

After a delay of a required time after the discharge switch is turned on, the motor 37 is driven to rotate forward, and the forward movement of the measuring device 20 from the measuring position to the discharging position via the endless chains 36, 36 is started. (See FIG. 4). And
Immediately after the weighing machine 20 starts moving forward, the motor 4
4 stops, and the rotation of the agitator 38 is stopped. As shown in FIG. 4, each measuring unit 21 of the measuring device 20 is provided with an ice piece discharging port 18 a of the ice storage 18 and an ice chute member 24.
Agitator 3 until it is in a state of communicating with opening 24a of
Since the rotation of 8 continues, the ice pieces in the measuring section 21 are pushed out toward the ice chute member 24 by the ice pieces pushed into the measuring section 21 by the rotation of the agitator 38. Therefore, after the agitator 38 stops due to this, the ice pieces in the measuring section 21 are reliably discharged toward the ice chute member 24.

As shown in FIG. 5, each measuring unit 2 of the measuring device 20
When 1 reaches the discharge position facing directly above the corresponding opening 24a in the ice chute member 24, all of the ice pieces filled in each measuring portion 21 fall by their own weight, and the openings 24a,
It is discharged and supplied to the waiting cup 11 via the chute 26 and the supply port 28a. In addition, each of the watering nozzles 40
, A predetermined amount of water is supplied to the cup 11, whereby the measured ice pieces and water are supplied to all the cups 11 stored in the rack 12. The agitator 38
The rotation of the ice storage 18 is controlled by the
As the agitator 38 stops before being closed at a portion where the measuring portion 21 is not formed at 0, the ice pieces are not compressed or broken by the rotation of the agitator 38, and powder ice is generated to cause arching. No problems.

As described above, in the embodiment, the agitator 38 is used.
Was controlled to start immediately before the measuring device 20 starts moving from the weighing position to the discharging position, and to stop immediately after the measuring device 20 started moving from the weighing position to the discharging position.
It is possible to reliably fill the measuring section 21 of the measuring device 20 with a predetermined amount of ice chips. That is, even if the ice pieces in the measuring section 21 are melted or arched when the ice pieces are released after a long time, a predetermined amount of the ice pieces is surely transferred from the ice storage 18 to each measuring section 21. Since filling and supply can be performed, constant supply of ice chips to the cup 11 can be achieved.

In the embodiment, a dispenser for supplying ice chips and water to the cup has been described as an example. However, a dispenser for supplying only ice chips to the cup may of course be used. Further, the number of ice pieces discharge ports in the ice storage, the measuring section of the measuring device, the openings of the ice chute members, the supply ports of the supply members, and the like are not limited to those disclosed in the embodiments, and any number may be selected. Things. Further, a transport conveyor may be provided in place of the table, and the rack mounted on the conveyor may be moved to a position directly below the ice piece discharging position.

[0025]

As described above, according to the method for operating the agitator in the dispenser according to the present invention, the agitator is started immediately before the weighing device moves from the weighing position to the discharging position. Even if the ice pieces filled in the section are melting or arcing, the measuring section can be filled with a fixed amount of ice pieces. Therefore, the metering of the container by the meter can be achieved. Also, the agitator is rotating until the ice piece discharge port of the ice storage and the opening of the ice chute member communicate with each other through the measuring section, since the measuring device starts moving from the measurement position to the discharge position, so the ice storage is The ice pieces in the measuring section are pushed out toward the ice chute member by the ice pieces pushed into the measuring section. Therefore, after the agitator stops due to this, the ice pieces in the measuring section are reliably discharged toward the ice chute member, and the ice pieces can be prevented from remaining in the measuring section.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing an overall configuration of a dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional side view of a main part showing a schematic configuration of a dispenser according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the agitator starts rotating immediately before the measuring device of the dispenser according to the embodiment moves from the measuring position to the discharging position.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a state immediately after the measuring device of the dispenser according to the embodiment has moved from the measuring position to the discharging position.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the meter of the dispenser according to the embodiment has reached the discharge position.

FIG. 6 is a timing chart of the dispenser according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 cup (container), 18 ice storage, 18a ice piece discharge port, 20 measuring device 21 measuring unit, 24 ice chute member, 24a opening, 3
8 Agitator

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An ice storage (18) in which a required amount of ice pieces is stored and an ice piece discharge port (18a) is formed at the bottom, and an ice storage (18).
The ice chip discharge port (1
An ice chute member (24) having a plurality of openings (24a) perforated at predetermined intervals in a direction in which the ice piece discharge ports (18a) extend at a position deviated from directly below 8a), and the ice storage (18). A scale (20) slidably disposed between the ice chute member (24) and an opening (24a) in the ice chute member (24) and corresponding to a plurality of measuring portions (21). The weighing unit (21) of the weighing device (20) is connected to the weighing position communicating with the ice piece discharge port (18a), and the opening (24a).
The reciprocating movement between the discharge position and the discharge position communicates the ice pieces filled in the measuring section (21) to each container (11) positioned below each opening (24a) at the discharge position. In the dispenser, the agitator (38) disposed directly above the ice piece discharge port (18a) inside the ice storage (18) is moved from the measuring position to the discharging position by the measuring device (20). The method of operating an agitator in a dispenser, wherein the method is controlled so as to be started immediately before starting and to stop immediately after the measuring device (20) starts moving from the measuring position to the discharging position. 2. The agitator (38) includes the measuring device (20).
Starts moving from the weighing position to the discharging position,
(18) Ice piece discharge port (18a) and ice chute member (24) opening (24)
2. The method for operating an agitator in a dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the step (a) is stopped immediately after communicating with the measuring section (21).