JPH11253930A - Apparatus for supplying beverage - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus for supplying beverages in which a water supply valve can be operated surely irrespective of water pressure and water leakage can be prevented when the shop is closed. SOLUTION: In an apparatus for supplying beverages in which a water purification unit A in which raw water such as city water is passed through an adsorption part 10a composed of active carbon and others to produce pure water and a beverage unit B for producing beverages by using the pure water supplied from the unit A through piping are provided, and the supply of raw water is controlled by operating the water supply valve 13a of the unit A, a water supply button is provided on the side of the unit A, and the valve 13a is operated by the open/close signal of the button to control the water supply to the unit A. In this way, pure water can be supplied to the unit B irrespective of a water flow in the unit A.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a beverage supply apparatus for purifying and sterilizing water such as tap water and groundwater and supplying the same as drinking water for general household use or business use.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, as a beverage supply apparatus of this type, for example, a beverage dispenser for selling coffee, carbonated beverages, etc. in a cup, or a tea dispenser for supplying tea with a water purification unit mounted thereon is known.

The beverage dispenser will be described below. The beverage dispenser includes a water purification unit that purifies raw water such as tap water, and a beverage unit that produces coffee, carbonated beverage, and the like using purified water generated by the water purification unit. The beverage is sold based on the selling operation of the beverage unit (the operation of the dispensing valve). Further, the beverage dispenser is provided with a detecting means for detecting a water flow, for example, a flow sensor in a pipe for supplying purified water from the water purification unit to the beverage unit, and a water supply which is a main plug of the water purification unit based on a flow signal of the flow sensor. The valve is open.

[0004] When the end of the beverage unit is opened (sales operation at the beverage unit), the water filled in each unit flows toward the end, and the flow detecting means detects the flow of the water. . The water supply valve is opened based on the detection signal, the tap water flows into the water purification unit, and the beverage is sold.

[0005]

As described above, in the above-mentioned conventional beverage supply device, the opening operation of the dispensing valve (saling operation of the beverage unit) is detected by the flow rate sensor. Different and also the performance of the beverage unit (such as the capacity of a water pump for water supply)
The water pressure may be insufficient due to the height of the water supply device, the height of the installation location of the beverage supply device, the installation conditions (the length of the pipe between the water purification unit and the beverage unit), and the like. In such a case, there is a problem that the water does not sufficiently flow in the unit, whereby the flow rate detecting means cannot instruct the opening operation of the dispensing valve (the selling operation of the beverage unit) and the water supply valve does not open. Had.

[0006] Further, in the beverage supply device, when a water leak occurs due to a failure or the like, if the leak occurs during the business hours of the store, the leak can be found and repaired immediately. However, this cannot be found after the store is closed, and there has been a problem that floors and the like in the store are soiled by the water leakage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] In view of the above-mentioned problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a beverage supply device that can reliably open and close a water supply valve irrespective of the level of water pressure and that can prevent water leakage after closing a store or the like. is there.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided a water purifying unit for producing raw water by passing raw water such as tap water through an adsorbing portion made of activated carbon or the like. A beverage unit that generates a beverage using purified water supplied from a water purification unit through a pipe, and controls a raw water flow by opening and closing a water supply valve of the water purification unit. A water supply valve is opened and closed based on an open / close signal of the water supply execution means to control the flow of raw water to the water purification unit.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, water supply implementing means,
For example, when the on / off switch of the water supply valve installed on the water purification unit side is turned on, the water supply valve is opened and the raw water flows into the water purification unit, and when the water supply valve is turned off, the flow of the raw water to the water purification unit is regulated. Accordingly, purified water can be supplied to the beverage unit regardless of whether there is a water flow in the water purification unit.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the beverage supply device of the first aspect, the water supply valve is controlled to open for a predetermined time based on an open signal of the water supply execution means.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, for example, when the water supply implementing means is operated at the time of opening of the store and the opening time of the water supply valve is set to the store's business hours, Only water can be supplied, and a large amount of water does not leak after the water supply valve is closed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a water purification unit for generating raw water by passing raw water such as tap water through an adsorption section made of activated carbon or the like, and a beverage using purified water supplied from the water purification unit through a pipe. In a beverage supply apparatus having a beverage unit that generates and controlling the distribution of raw water by opening and closing a water supply valve of a water purification unit, a time period during which the water supply valve can be opened and a time period during which the opening operation of the water supply valve is prohibited , And control means for controlling the opening and closing of the water supply valve based on the time signal from the timer.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the time period during which the water supply valve can be opened is defined as the business hours of the store, and the time period during which the operation of opening the water supply valve is prohibited is defined as the closed time. By controlling the closing time with a timer, water leakage after closing is prevented.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the beverage supply apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, further comprising a flow rate detecting means for detecting a flow of water in the pipe, and opening and closing a water supply valve based on the flow rate detecting means. The structure has a control means for controlling the raw water flow separately.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, in addition to the manual control of the first aspect of the invention and the timer control of the second and third aspects of the invention, the opening and closing of the water supply valve is controlled based on the detection signal of the flow rate detection means. Therefore, even if the operation of the water supply execution unit is forgotten or the timer control setting is forgotten, in an area where the flow detection unit operates, the water supply valve is opened and closed based on the detection signal of the flow detection unit. can do.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the beverage supply apparatus according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the closing operation of the water supply valve is controlled to be delayed for a predetermined time based on the detection signal of the flow rate detecting means.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, when the flow rate detecting means detects the water flow in the unit at a predetermined time before the water supply prohibition time zone, the store closing time is expected to be delayed, and the water supply prohibition time period is expected. The transition to can be delayed.

The invention of claim 6 provides a water purification unit for generating raw water by passing raw water such as tap water through an adsorption section made of activated carbon or the like, and a beverage using purified water supplied from the water purification unit through a pipe. A beverage unit that generates the beverage unit and controls the flow of raw water by opening and closing a water supply valve of the water purification unit, wherein the structure includes a control unit that opens and closes the water supply valve based on a current value of a power supply supplied to the beverage unit. It has become.

When the current value of the power supply to the beverage unit, that is, when the water supply is performed in the beverage unit, the pump or the like operates to increase the current value of the power supply to the beverage unit. The water supply valve is opened based on the current value.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a water purification unit for generating raw water by passing raw water such as tap water through an adsorption section made of activated carbon or the like, and a beverage using purified water supplied from the water purification unit through a pipe. In a beverage supply device that controls the distribution of raw water by opening and closing a water supply valve of a water purification unit, the beverage supply unit has a water supply operation means such as a dispensing valve for supplying beverages. Alternatively, the water supply valve or the pump in the beverage unit that starts and stops, and a control unit that opens and closes the water supply valve based on an open / close signal of the water guide valve or a start / stop signal of the pump are provided.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, since the water guide valve and the pump are operated by the opening operation of the dispensing valve, the water supply valve can be opened based on the open signal of the water guide valve and the drive signal of the pump.

[0022]

1 to 3 show a first embodiment of a beverage supply device according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a water circuit diagram of the beverage supply device, and FIG. 2 is drive control of the beverage supply device. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the water supply valve based on the water supply execution means.

As shown in FIG. 1, the beverage supply device according to this embodiment purifies and produces raw water such as tap water, and produces a beverage by using the purified water produced by the water purification unit A. And a beverage unit B.

The water purification unit A will be described in detail with reference to FIG. This water purification unit A is a water purification tank 1 for storing tap water.
A water supply pipe 13 connected to a water pipe is connected to the water purification tank 10. The tap water flowing through the water supply pipe 13 is a normally closed water supply valve 13a, a pre-filter 13b, a check valve 1
It is fed into the water purification tank 10 through 3c. This water purifier 1
No. 0 is filled with an adsorbent 10a such as activated carbon, and the adsorbent 10a captures trihalomethane, bacteria, etc., and generates purified water. Further, the outlet side of the water purification tank 10 is connected to the beverage unit B through the water conduit 15, and the purified water flows to the beverage unit B through the check valve 15 a and the flow rate detecting means 15 b of the water conduit 15. For example, a well-known flow switch (not shown) is used as the flow rate detecting means 15b. In this flow switch, an actuator (paddle or valve element) equipped with a magnet is operated up and down by the purified water flowing in the water pipe 15, and when the flow rate becomes higher than a set value, it outputs that water is flowing. On the other hand, when it becomes lower than the set value (including the flow rate 0), it is output that water is not flowing. In addition, 14 is an air introduction pipe, 16 is a drain pipe, and the solenoid valves 14a, 16
a is controlled to open and close to discharge the water in the water purification tank 10.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, the beverage unit B has a dilution water line 30 for supplying dilution water, a carbonated water line 31 for producing carbonated water, and a syrup line 32 for supplying syrup. In each of these lines 30,
Drinks are supplied from 31 and 32 to a water supply operation means, that is, a dispensing valve (hereinafter, referred to as a valve) 33, and a carbonated beverage or the like is poured into the cup 34 from the valve 33.

The dilution water line 30 is connected to the water guide pipe 15 of the water purification unit A, and a water guide valve 30a and a water pump are provided downstream of the water guide pipe 15 to open and close or start and stop based on an open / close signal of the valve 33. 30b is installed, and water supplied by the water pump 30b is cooled by the first cooling coil 30c and supplied to the valve 33. Also,
The carbonated water line 31 has a carbonator 31a, and a first cooling coil 30c
Then, a part of the water cooled in is cooled down, and then cooled by the second cooling coil 31b and supplied to the valve 33. Here, carbon dioxide gas is supplied to the carbonator 31a from the carbon dioxide cylinder 31c, and the water supplied to the valve 33 is carbonated water. Further, the syrup line 32 cools the syrup supplied from the syrup tank 32 a by the third cooling coil 32 b and supplies the syrup to the valve 33. Here, carbon dioxide gas can be supplied to the syrup tank 32a.
3 can be supplied.

Next, a drive control circuit of the beverage supply device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.
In this drive control circuit, drive control of the water supply valve 13a, which is a characteristic configuration of the present invention, will be described.

The beverage supply device according to the present embodiment is automated by a control device 40 such as a microcomputer. The control device 40 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 41,
It has a memory 42 for storing a control program, and I / O ports 43 and 44 for inputting and outputting signals. This I /
The O port 43 inputs a water supply signal or a water stop signal from a water supply execution button 47 provided on the water purification unit A side to the control device 40, and controls the water supply valve 13a based on this signal.

The drive control of the water supply valve 13a based on the drive control circuit will be described with reference to FIG. That is, when a water supply signal to the water supply valve 13a is output from the water supply execution button 47, the water supply valve 13a is opened, and when a water stop signal to the water supply valve 13a is output from the water supply execution button 47, the water supply valve 1 is opened.
3a is closed (S1 to S4). As described above, since the water supply valve 13a opens and closes in synchronization with the open / close signal of the water supply execution button 47 and purified water can be supplied to the valve 33, the water supply valve 13a can be reliably opened and closed even when the tap water pressure is low.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a second embodiment of the beverage supply device according to the present invention. In this second embodiment, the timer 45 controls the closing time of the water supply valve 13a.
That is, when the water supply execution button 47 is turned on (for example, when the store is opened, the water supply execution button 47 is pressed), the water supply valve 13a
Is opened to start timer counting (S1 to S3). When the set time has elapsed (for example, when the store closing time has passed 10 hours after the water supply execution button 47 was pressed),
The water supply valve 13a is closed (S4, S5). As described above, the control may be performed by the water supply execution button 47 and the timer 45.

As described above, the water supply valve 13a is opened for a predetermined time based on the water supply execution button 47, and thereafter closed, so that the water supply valve 13a is opened only during the business hours of the store.
After the store is closed, the water supply valve 13a can be always closed, and a large amount of water leakage does not occur after the store is closed. In addition, other configurations,
The operation is the same as that of the first embodiment.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a third embodiment of the beverage supply apparatus according to the present invention. In the third embodiment, similar to the second embodiment, the beverage supply apparatus corresponding to the business hours of the store is used. It is configured to be able to operate. The difference between the two is that the present embodiment controls the time. That is, it is determined by the timer 49 whether or not it is the business start time, and when it is the business start time, the water supply valve 13a is opened (S1, S2). When the water supply valve 13a reaches the closing time, the water supply valve 13a is closed (S3, S4). Other configurations and operations are the same as those of the second embodiment.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show a fourth embodiment of the beverage supply apparatus according to the present invention. In the fourth embodiment, the beverage supply device is operated according to the business hours of the store, and it is possible to automatically cope with extension of business hours and the like. That is, when the flow rate detecting means 15b detects the flow rate irrespective of ON / OFF of the water supply execution button 47, the water supply valve 13a is opened, and the water supply valve 13a is opened and closed by an open / close signal of the water supply execution button 47. These two controls are used together. This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When this button 47 is not turned on due to forgetting to press the water supply execution button 47, etc.
When 5b detects the flow rate, a set time t ₃ (purified water supply time for one drink) is set, and the water supply valve 13a is opened. When the set time t ₃ has elapsed, the water supply valve 13a is turned off (S1). ~ S6). By this, water supply execution button 4
Even if the player forgets to press 7, beverage sales can be performed without any trouble.

On the other hand, when the water supply execution button 47 is turned on, the set time t ₁ (business hours) is set, and the water supply valve 13a is opened (S7, S8). When the flow rate is detected by the flow rate detecting means 15b in the set time t _1,
Set time t ₂ (operation delay time, for example, 2 hours) is set (S9 to S11). Here, when this operation delay time is set immediately before the end of business hours, the water supply valve 13a is open unless this operation delay time ends,
It becomes effective when the business hours are extended (S1
2, S13). In addition, when both the business hours and the operation delay time have elapsed and when an OFF signal is output by the water supply execution button 47, the water supply valve 13a is closed, and the flow of water into the water purification unit A after the store is closed is regulated. (S1
4).

If the set times t ₂ and t ₃ are not set in steps 3 and 10, t
₂ , t ₃ = 0, and “Y” in steps 5 and 13
Move to the next step as "ES".

According to the present embodiment, the opening operation of the water supply valve 13a can be limited to business hours, and the open state of the water supply valve 13a after the store is closed can be regulated, so that a large amount of water leakage after the store is closed can be prevented. Further, even when the business hours are substantially extended, as long as the beverage sales are intermittently continued, the beverage sales time is also extended and the business hours can be extended.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show a fifth embodiment of the beverage supply device according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the water supply valve 1 is controlled based on the current value of the power supply unit 46 of the beverage unit B.
3a is controlled to open and close. That is, the valve 3
When opening 3, the water guide valve 30a and the water pump 30b are driven, so that the current value of the power supply device 46 changes. Therefore, the water pump or the like is driven based on the power supply current value (opening of the valve 33)
Is detected, the water supply valve 13a is driven. Then, when the water pump 30b or the like is stopped (by closing the valve 33) and the power supply current value returns to the original value, the water supply valve 13a is closed (S1). ~ S4).

FIGS. 12 and 13 show a sixth embodiment of the beverage supply apparatus according to the present invention. In the sixth embodiment, the opening and closing of the water supply valve 13a is controlled based on the opening and closing signal of the water introduction valve 30a. Here, the water guide valve 30a opens and closes based on an open / close signal of the valve 33. Therefore, when the water supply valve 30a opens, the water supply valve 13a opens in synchronization with this, and when the water supply valve 30a subsequently closes, the water supply valve 1a opens.
3a closes again in synchronization (S1 to S4). According to this embodiment, the water supply valve 13a can be reliably opened and closed regardless of the water pressure.

In the sixth embodiment, the water introduction valve 30a
Although the water supply valve 13a is controlled by the opening / closing signal, the water pump 30b also starts and stops based on the opening / closing signal of the valve 33.
The opening and closing of the water supply valve 13a may be controlled based on the start / stop signal of the water pump 30b. Further, in each of the above embodiments, the water purification unit A for the purpose of adsorption and removal has been described as an example. However, a unit that prolongs the life of the adsorbent 10a by electric heating, or a regenerative water purification unit capable of heat sterilization may be used. .

[0041]

As described above, according to the first, sixth and seventh aspects of the present invention, it is possible to purify water when it is necessary to sell beverages or the like regardless of whether there is a water flow in the unit. Can be supplied reliably.

According to the invention of claims 2 to 4, the water supply valve is always closed after the store is closed, so that a large amount of water does not leak after the store is closed.

Further, as in the fifth aspect of the present invention, the water flow state before the water supply prohibition time zone (before closing the store) is detected, the delay of the store closing time is predicted, and the shift to the water supply prohibition time zone is automatically delayed. be able to.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a water circuit diagram of a beverage supply device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing drive control of the beverage supply device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the water supply valve according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing drive control of a beverage supply device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of a water supply valve according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing drive control of a beverage supply device according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of a water supply valve according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing drive control of a beverage supply device according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of a water supply valve according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing drive control of a beverage supply device according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the operation of a water supply valve according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing drive control of a beverage supply device according to a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the operation of a water supply valve according to a sixth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

10a: adsorbent, 13a: water supply valve, 15b: flow rate detection means, 33: dispensing valve, 40: control device,
46: power supply unit, 45, 48, 49: timer, 47: water supply execution button, A: water purification unit, B: beverage unit.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A water purification unit for generating purified water by passing raw water such as tap water through an adsorption unit composed of activated carbon or the like, and a beverage unit for producing a beverage using purified water supplied from the water purification unit through a pipe. A drinking water supply device that controls the flow of raw water by opening and closing a water supply valve of the water purification unit, comprising: a water supply execution unit on the water purification unit side; and the water supply valve based on an open / close signal of the water supply execution unit. A beverage supply device for controlling the flow of raw water to the water purification unit by opening and closing the water supply unit. 2. The beverage supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the water supply valve is controlled to open for a predetermined time based on an open signal from the water supply execution means. 3. A water purification unit that generates purified water by passing raw water such as tap water through an adsorption unit made of activated carbon or the like, and a beverage unit that produces a beverage using purified water supplied from the water purification unit through a pipe. In a beverage supply device having a raw water control valve by opening and closing a water supply valve of the water purification unit, a time zone in which the water supply valve can be opened and a time zone in which the water supply valve is prohibited from being opened. And a control means for controlling opening and closing of the water supply valve based on a time signal from the timer. 4. It has a flow rate detecting means for detecting a water flow in the pipe, and a separate control means for opening and closing the water supply valve based on the flow rate detecting means and controlling the flow of raw water to the water purification unit. The beverage supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: 5. The beverage supply apparatus according to claim 4, wherein control is performed to delay the closing operation of the water supply valve for a predetermined time based on a detection signal of the flow rate detection means. 6. A water purification unit for generating purified water by passing raw water such as tap water through an adsorption unit made of activated carbon or the like, and a beverage unit for producing a beverage using purified water supplied from the water purification unit through a pipe. A beverage supply device that controls the flow of raw water by opening and closing a water supply valve of the water purification unit, comprising: a control unit that opens and closes the water supply valve based on a current value of a power supply supplied to the beverage unit. A beverage supply device characterized by the following. 7. A water purification unit for generating purified water by passing raw water such as tap water through an adsorption unit made of activated carbon or the like, and a beverage unit for producing a beverage using purified water supplied from the water purification unit through a pipe. A beverage supply device that controls the flow of raw water by opening and closing a water supply valve of the water purification unit, wherein the water supply operation means, such as a dispensing valve for supplying beverages, opens, closes, or stops based on a water supply and water stop signal. A water supply valve or pump in the beverage unit, and control means for opening and closing the water supply valve based on an open / close signal of the water supply valve or a start / stop signal of the pump.