JPS5922277B2 - Vending machine with water heater - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a vending machine with a hot water supply device for items such as coffee and cup ramen that require hot water.

Conventional hot water supply devices for vending machines have a water level gauge in the hot water tank to detect the water level, a thermometer to detect the temperature of the hot water, and a heater to heat the water, but the heater is only controlled by the thermometer. In addition, the water level in the hot water tank was controlled only by the water level gauge, and the heater and water level were not controlled by both the thermometer and the water level gauge, which caused problems in terms of hot water temperature, etc.

This invention was made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a vending machine with a hot water supply device that can always maintain the required amount of hot water at an appropriate temperature and prepare for sales.

The present invention will be described below based on embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a hot water tank constituting a hot water supply device of a vending machine, and a water supply pipe 2 communicating above the hot water tank 1 is opened and closed by a water supply valve 3 to supply water W into the hot water tank 1.

A heater 4 is provided near the inner bottom of the hot water tank 1, and a thermometer 5 such as a thermistor is provided inside the hot water tank 1.The thermometer 5 converts the temperature change of the hot water H in the hot water tank 1 into an analog electrical signal. Convert.

In addition, the water level gauge 7 provided at the upper end of the introductory vibro that communicates with the lower proper position of the hot water tank 1 indicates that the hot water level in the hot water tank 1 is
Converts water level changes into analog electrical signals.

Furthermore, a hot water pipe 8 communicating with the lower part of the hot water tank 1
is opened and closed by the hot water supply valve 9, and supplies hot water to the sales product A outside the hot water supply tank 1.

Figure 2 is a block wiring diagram of the hot water supply control device.
A high temperature set signal th that sets the high temperature of the hot water H and a low temperature set signal ti that sets the low temperature of the hot water H are output, respectively.

C1 is a comparator connected after the thermometer 50, and this comparator receives an analog electrical signal at corresponding to the temperature change of the hot water H.
and high temperature set signal th, respectively.
When the temperature of hot water H is higher than the set high temperature, a high temperature signal m is outputted, and when the temperature of hot water H is lower than the set high temperature, an appropriate temperature signal m is outputted.

C2 is a comparator installed after the thermometer 5, and this comparator receives an analog electrical signal at corresponding to the temperature change of the hot water H.
and a low temperature set signal ti are input and compared, and if the temperature of the hot water H is higher than the set low temperature, the appropriate temperature signal m is output, and if the temperature of the hot water H is lower than the set low temperature, the low temperature is output. Outputs signal e.

A water level setting device S2 that sets the water level of hot water H in the hot water tank 1 is a high level setting signal f that sets the highest water level of hot water H.
h and a low level set signal fl that sets the minimum water level of hot water H
and are output respectively.

C3 is a comparator connected after the water level gauge 7, and this comparator receives an analog electric signal af corresponding to a change in the water level of hot water H.
as well as a high-order set signal fh and a low-order set signal fl.
are compared, and if the water level of hot water H is lower than the set minimum water level, an abnormal level signal a is output and the water level of hot water H is lower than the set maximum water level and lower than the set minimum water level. If it is high, a proper position signal m is output.

It is an integrator that starts an integration operation when the hot water supply start signal St is input, and outputs an integral value signal iv that changes in proportion to time.

The time setter TTm provided after the integrator It compares the varying integral value signal iv with the analog electrical signal fa corresponding to the water level change, and determines when the integral value signal iv and the analog electrical signal fa match. A valve opening signal v2 that closes the hot water supply valve 9 is output.

L is a logic circuit, and this circuit includes a group of AND gates 01-03, a flip-flop F, and an OR gate 04-0.
Consisting of 6 groups, high temperature signal h, appropriate temperature signal low temperature signal e
, an abnormal position signal a, and a suitable position signal n are respectively inputted to generate an on-off valve signal vl that controls the opening and closing of the water supply valve 3, an operation signal op that operates the heater 4, and a sales prohibition signal nv that stops the vending operation of the vending machine. Output each.

In the present invention as described above, when the water level of hot water H in the hot water supply tank 1 is an abnormal water level lower than the lowest water level set by the water level setting device S2, the abnormal level signal a from the comparator C3 is
Therefore, if the temperature of the hot water H in the hot water supply tank 1 is lower than the low temperature set by the temperature setting device S1, the low temperature signal e from the comparator C2 causes the logic circuit to disable the sale via the OR gate G6. A signal nv is output, and the vending operation of the vending machine is stopped.

In cases other than the above, by inserting coins into the vending machine,
When the product A is taken out, the hot water supply valve 9 is opened by applying the hot water supply start signal St, and the hot water in the hot water tank 1 is poured into the product A.

At the same time, the hot water supply start signal St is applied to the integrator It, which operates, and an integral value signal iv that changes in proportion to time is output to the time setting device Tm.

(Then, along with the supply of on-site sales product A, hot water tank 1
The water level of the hot water H in the interior decreases, and an analog electric signal af from the water level gauge 7 corresponding to this decrease in the water level of the hot water H is input to the time setting device Tm, and this analog electric signal af and the integral value signal iv are input to the time setting device Tm. When they match, a valve closing signal v2 that closes the hot water supply valve 9 is output from the time setting device Tm.

In other words, the drop in the level of hot water H in the hot water supply tank 1 is controlled over time to keep the amount of hot water H' supplied to the sales product A constant.

Note that the analog electric signal af is always changed from a certain standard in the time setter Tm even if the position of the hot water H level in the hot water supply tank 1 is different at the time of need.

On the other hand, when the water level of hot water H in the hot water tank 1 is lower than the highest water level set by the water level setting device S2,
In other words, when the water level is in use and the temperature of the hot water H in the hot water supply tank 1 is higher than the high temperature set by the temperature setting device S1, the appropriate level signal n and high temperature signal are checked and the temperature is set via the flip-flop F. Open/close valve signal V1
The water supply valve 3 is opened, and water W is supplied to the hot water tank 1.

In addition, if the water level in the hot water supply tank 1 becomes higher than the highest water level set with the hot water level setting device S2, or
is at the working water level and the hot water H temperature is at the appropriate working temperature between the high temperature and low temperature set by the temperature setting device S1, or is below the low temperature, the OR gate G4
The water supply valve 3 is closed by the on-off valve signal v1 via the AND gate G2, flip-flop F, etc.
The supply of water W to the hot water tank 1 is stopped.

On the other hand, when the hot water H in the hot water supply tank 1 is at the working water level and the temperature is higher than the set high temperature, that is, when the high temperature signal is not generated, the operation signal O is sent via the AND gate G3.
The heater 4 is activated by p.

Furthermore, when the hot water H falls below the minimum water level, an abnormal level signal a is issued and water is supplied from the water supply valve 3, but if this water supply causes the hot water temperature to drop below the set high temperature, the appropriate level signal n is generated. The water supply is stopped and heated by the heater 4.

That is, since the amount of water supplied is determined by the temperature of the hot water, the temperature of the hot water does not drop suddenly due to water supply, and the time during which the product cannot be sold can be shortened.

When hot water H is not used and the hot water temperature rises due to heating and a high temperature signal is issued, water is supplied, the temperature is lowered, and the high temperature signal stops.

This action is repeated and the amount of hot water at the appropriate temperature is gradually increased.

Although not shown, it is of course possible to provide a plurality of heaters 4 and control each heater by checking a combination of the high temperature signal h, the appropriate temperature signal m, and the low temperature signal e.

As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a water level setting device that sets the usable water level range in the hot water supply tank, and a water level setting device that outputs an appropriate level signal when the water level in the hot water supply tank is in the usable water level state set by the water level setting device. A comparator that issues an abnormal signal when the water level is lower than the minimum water level set by the water heater, a temperature setting device that sets the operating temperature range of hot water in the hot water tank, and a high temperature signal when the water temperature in the hot water tank is above the operating temperature range. a comparator that outputs an appropriate temperature signal when the operating temperature is within the operating temperature range and a low temperature signal when the operating temperature is below the operating temperature range, and a heating device that is energized by the low temperature signal and the appropriate temperature signal and is deenergized by the high temperature signal. , a water supply valve to the hot water tank that opens when the abnormal temperature signal is issued or when both the proper temperature signal and the high temperature signal are issued, and closes when the proper temperature signal or the low temperature signal is issued together with the proper temperature signal; The structure is such that sales are stopped by abnormal temperature signals and low temperature signals, so that sales are carried out while the amount and temperature of hot water in the hot water tank are always maintained at appropriate values. be stopped.

Furthermore, since water supply is based not only on the water level but also on the water temperature, even if the sales volume is temporarily high, the water supply will be stopped as soon as the appropriate level signal is issued, and the water temperature will suddenly increase due to a large amount of water supply. This prevents the product from declining, reducing the amount of time the product is unavailable for sale.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block wiring diagram of the same. H...Hot water, S2...Water level setting device, 1
... Hot water tank, af ... Analog electric signal, n ... Proper position signal, a ... Abnormal position signal.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 A water level setting device s2 that sets the usable water level range in the hot water tank 1, and when the water level in the hot water tank 1 is in the usable water level state set by the water level setting device, an appropriate level signal n is sent to the lowest water level set by the water level setting device. a comparator c3 that issues an abnormal temperature signal a when the water temperature is lower than the operating temperature range; a temperature setting device s1 that sets the operating temperature range of hot water in the hot water tank; , comparators C1 and C2 that output a suitable temperature signal m when the temperature is within the operating temperature range and a low temperature signal e when the temperature is below the operating temperature range, respectively.
and the heating device 4 is energized by the low temperature signal e and the appropriate temperature signal m and de-energized by the high temperature signal, and when the abnormal temperature signal a is issued, or both the appropriate temperature signal n and the high temperature signal are It consists of a water supply valve 3 to the hot water tank that is opened when the appropriate temperature signal n is issued and is closed when the appropriate temperature signal m or low temperature signal e is issued together with the appropriate temperature signal n, and the abnormal temperature signal a.
and a vending machine with a hot water supply device, characterized in that sales are stopped by a low temperature signal e.