JPS625753Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (a) Industrial application field The present invention relates to a beverage dispenser for dispensing beverage from a sealed flexible bag, and particularly relates to detecting when the bag runs out of beverage.

(b) Prior art As shown in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 50-35300 and Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 54-8500, such a beverage dispenser is
The beverage is held in a flexible bag, and the beverage is taken out and supplied using its own weight or a pump. Since this flexible bag is made of a material such as transparent polyethylene, it is possible to visually see if the liquid runs out. To check, the box had to be opened each time, which was extremely troublesome.

(c) Problems that the invention aims to solve For this reason, there is a method of detecting liquid shortage using a pressure switch that operates with negative pressure when the interior of a flexible bag contracts due to lack of beverage; Since the shape of the body is not constant, detection accuracy becomes unstable.
Therefore, the most certain one is, for example, Jikko 54-
As shown in Japanese Patent No. 2687, this is a detection method based on the resistance between a pair of electrodes. However, attaching electrodes while maintaining airtightness increases the cost of the bag. The biggest advantage of this kind of beverage dispenser is that it prevents the beverage from coming into contact with the outside air until it is supplied outside, and considering the current situation where bags are disposable, such expensive bags are not recommended. is not desirable.

Therefore, the present invention provides a beverage dispenser that can reliably detect when a bag is out of beverage from the outside of the bag.

(d) Means for solving the problem A beverage detection device 3 is installed in the conduit between the bag 1 and the pump 2 that pumps out the beverage from the bag.
A check valve 4 is provided which introduces outside air into the pipe line when the pressure decreases due to running out of drinks. The beverage detection device 3 detects when the beverage runs out by sensing the outside air entering through the check valve 4 .

(E) Function When the beverage in the bag runs out, negative pressure is generated in the pipe, the check valve opens, and outside air enters. Therefore, the beverage detection device can detect when the beverage runs out by sensing the outside air.

(F) Embodiment Figure 1 shows the structure of a beverage dispenser, in which a beverage outlet pipe 5 is formed at one end, and the beverage is then filled with a thin plastic material such as a thin synthetic resin that shrinks as the beverage is discharged. The bag is made of a flexible material, and the tip of the beverage outlet tube 5 is usually sealed. Reference numeral 6 denotes a box body for storing the bag 1 filled with beverage and protecting it from external impact, and a take-out port 7 for taking out the beverage outlet pipe 5 of the bag 1 is formed in a part thereof. 3 is a beverage detection device, in which a small chamber 9 equipped with a pair of electrodes 8 is connected to a conduit 10.
is formed. Reference numeral 2 uses a pump to draw out a fixed amount of the beverage in the bag 1 and pour it into a cup 11. 4 is conduit 10
This check valve is attached to a valve and has an outside air introduction hole 11. As shown in FIG. The valve body 16 prevents the beverage from flowing out of the conduit 10.

With the above configuration, the box body 6 and the bag 1 are connected to the pump 2 by cutting the outlet pipe 5 and inserting the conduit 10 into the bag 1. Each time the vending machine or dispenser performs a supply operation, the pump 2 is driven and a certain amount of beverage is appropriately taken out from the bag 1, but as the supply operation is repeated, the bag 1 contracts. When the beverage in the bag 1 eventually runs out, the spring 12 loses its pressure balance with the atmosphere and is pushed inward, and the ball 13 no longer blocks the outside air introduction hole 14. Therefore, air enters the pipe line 10 through the outside air introduction hole 14 and the valve body 16.
The remaining beverage in the pipe 10 and the small chamber 9 is pushed back into the bag 1 by the air, so the electrode 8 is exposed to the air and its resistance changes. Deficiency detected.
In this way, when it is detected that the drink is out, a lamp is turned on to warn that the drink is out, and in the case of a vending machine, the vending machine is further stopped from selling. However, in the case of a vending machine, even if the machine runs out of drinks, it does not immediately stop selling while the pump 2 is still operating, but controls so that sales stop after a predetermined operation period of the pump 2 ends. The circuit is configured. Therefore, even if the drink runs out, the drink stored at the bottom of the small chamber 9 is poured out, so that one cup's worth of drink is guaranteed. Furthermore, if it is not desirable to introduce air into the pipe 10 when the beverage runs out due to sanitary considerations, carbon dioxide gas may be introduced, and this is particularly suitable for devices that inject carbon dioxide gas into syrup beverages. .

(g) Effects of the invention According to the invention detailed above, when the difference between the outside pressure and the pressure inside the pipe reaches a predetermined differential pressure due to running out of beverage, outside air is introduced, and the introduced outside air is used to detect when the beverage runs out. It operates reliably and is easy to set up.
Moreover, since outside air is introduced only when the product is sold out, the beverage is filled into a sealed bag and supplied, so the hygienic feature of this type of beverage dispenser is not impaired. Moreover, there is no need to provide a beverage detection device for each bag, making it inexpensive.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a beverage dispenser according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a check valve. 1...Bag, 2...Pump, 3 ...Beverage detection device, 4 ...Check valve.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A sealed flexible bag for storing a beverage; a pump for pumping the beverage from the bag; a beverage detection device disposed in a conduit between the pump and the bag; A beverage dispenser comprising a check valve that introduces outside air into the pipeline when the pressure in the pipeline decreases, and detects when the beverage runs out by detecting the outside air with the beverage detection device.