KR19990055533A - Hot Water Supply Device and Method of Vending Machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a hot water supply device and a method of a vending machine. In the standby state, the hot water of the hot water tank is maintained only at low and low temperatures, and when the user is detected within a predetermined distance through the human body sensor, By supplying a predetermined amount of hot water required for the sale of the product to the rapid heating container, and then rapidly heated it and then supplying the hot water to the part of the vending machine that needs the heated hot water, the hot water in the hot water tank is always kept at a high temperature Compared to the hot water supply system, the power consumption can be greatly reduced.

Description

Hot Water Supply Device and Method of Vending Machine

The present invention relates to a hot water supply device and a method for supplying hot water to a vending machine, and more particularly, when the user keeps the hot water in the hot water tank at low and low temperatures during standby, the user can approach the hot water tank within a predetermined distance. The present invention relates to a hot water supply device and a method of a vending machine which is configured to rapidly heat hot water in a quick heating tank and then supply the hot water to a portion in need thereof.

In general, the hot water supply device of the conventional vending machine, as shown in Figure 1, the control unit 1, the hot water tank (2), the temperature sensor (3), the heater (4), the water supply valve (5) It is composed.

1, the control unit 1 operates the heater 4 in the standby state to heat the hot water in the hot water tank 2 to a set temperature and then maintains this temperature, while the hot water feed valve is input when the hot water feed signal is input. By operating (5) to supply hot water in the vending machine, the temperature sensor (3) is a hot water tank so that the control unit 1 can detect the temperature of the hot water stored in the hot water tank (2) The temperature corresponding to the temperature of the hot water stored in (2) is to be applied to the control unit (1).

The heater 4 is configured to heat the hot water stored in the hot water tank 2 under the control of the controller 1, and the water supply valve 5 is stored in the hot water tank 2 under the control of the controller 1. The hot water is to be supplied to a predetermined portion that needs hot water in the vending machine.

However, the conventional hot water supply apparatus as described above is designed to maintain the hot water stored in the hot water tank 2 at a high temperature necessary for sale even in the standby state in which merchandise (for example, coffee) is not sold. There was a problem that waste of power occurs.

For example, a hot water supply device of a beverage vending machine should supply hot water of high temperature (for example, about 90 ° C) to the beverage mixing unit immediately after the user inputs money and selects a beverage. The hot water in (2) was kept at a high temperature.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the problems of the prior art as described above, the present invention is to maintain the hot water in the hot water tank only at low and low temperature in the standby state when the user approaches within a predetermined distance from the hot water tank The purpose of the present invention is to provide a hot water supply device and a method of a vending machine that can drastically reduce the power consumption by supplying a predetermined amount of hot water required for the sale of the product to a heating container by rapidly heating it and then supplying it to a necessary part. There is this.

Hot water supply device of the vending machine according to the present invention for achieving the above object, in the hot water supply device of the vending machine to supply hot water to the vending machine, a human body sensor for detecting the user's approach, and predetermined water supply The hot water storage means for heating / maintaining the water supplied from the source to a predetermined temperature, the hot water supply heating means for receiving a predetermined amount of hot water from the hot water storage means to heat it rapidly, the hot water of the hot water storage means The hot water supply means for supplying the hot water heating means, the hot water supply means for supplying the hot water from the hot water supply heating means to the portion requiring hot water in the vending machine, and during the standby control the hot water storage means to store the stored hot water first While heating / maintaining at a set temperature, if the user approaches within a predetermined distance through the human body sensor, the water supply means is controlled. After supplying a predetermined amount of hot water from the hot water storage means to the hot water supply heating means, and controlling the hot water supply heating means to rapidly heat the hot water supplied to the hot water supply heating means to a second set temperature, the hot water supply It characterized in that it comprises a control unit for supplying hot water heated in the heating means to the hot water required portion by controlling the water supply means.

Hot water supply method of the vending machine according to the present invention for achieving the above object, the hot water temperature maintaining step for heating the hot water of the hot water storage means to the first set temperature, and maintaining the first set temperature, the human body sensor The user approach detection step for detecting the user's approaching distance through, if the user approaching within the predetermined distance of the user approach detection step, the predetermined amount of hot water from the hot water storage means is supplied to the hot water supply heating means, and then the hot water supply heating means And a hot water supply heating step of rapidly heating the hot water supplied to the second predetermined temperature, and a hot water supply step of supplying hot water heated at the hot water supply heating step to a part of the vending machine that requires the hot water. do.

1 is a schematic block diagram of a hot water supply device of a conventional vending machine,

2 is an external view of a beverage vending machine to which the present invention is applied;

3 is an internal structure diagram of the main body shown in FIG.

4 is a schematic view of the hot water supply unit shown in FIG.

5 is a schematic block diagram of a drive control device for driving a beverage vending machine shown in FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for describing an operation process of the controller illustrated in FIG. 5.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

30: hot water supply unit 31: hot water tank

32: main heater 33: the first valve

34: Rapid heating tube 35: Rapid heating heater

36: second valve 130: first temperature sensor

140: second temperature sensor 145: human body detection sensor

150: control unit 170: main heater driving unit

180: rapid heating heater driving unit 190: valve driving unit

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2 is an external view of the beverage vending machine to which the present invention is applied. As can be seen from the same figure, the beverage vending machine to which the present invention is applied is largely formed with a main body 21 and a front of the main body 21. The door 11 is coupled to one side and the hinge to open and close the main body 21.

Here, the outer side of the door 11, the door handle 12 is used to open and close the door 11, the coin inlet 13 to insert a coin to buy a drink, the user can select a beverage of your choice The beverage selection unit 120 is provided with a plurality of beverage selection buttons, the cup discharge port 25 to which the selected beverage is dispensed, the coin return port 14 to which the change change left after the beverage is dispensed, and the human body sensor to be described later. 145 is provided.

3, inside the main body 21, the raw material container 22 which stores raw materials, such as coffee and tea, and the raw material stored in the raw material container 22, the following beverage mixing part ( Raw material supply unit 23 for supplying to 26, the raw material chute 24 installed in the lower portion of the raw material supply unit 23 to guide the movement of the raw material supplied from the raw material supply unit 23, and a hot water supply unit to supply hot water ( 30), the raw material guided through the raw material chute 24 and hot water supplied from the hot water supply unit 30 is mixed, and then the beverage to be discharged to the beverage outlet 25 through the hose 27, the nozzle not shown The mixing part 26 and the cup storage container 28 which discharges the stored cup to the beverage discharge port 25 are comprised.

Here, the hot water supply unit 30, as shown in Figure 4, the hot water tank 31, the main heater 32, the first valve 33, the rapid heating tube 34, the rapid heating heater 35 And a second valve 36.

In FIG. 4, the hot water tank 31 is configured to store water supplied from a predetermined water supply source, and the main heater 32 is configured to heat the water stored in the hot water tank 31 to form hot water. The valve 33 is to supply hot water from the hot water tank 31 to the rapid heating tube 34.

And, the rapid heating tube 34 is to receive and store a predetermined amount of hot water from the hot water tank 31, the rapid heating heater 35 is an induction heater that is rapidly heated by a high frequency power source is rapidly heated The hot water of the barrel 34 is rapidly heated to a high temperature within a short time, and the second valve 36 is to supply the hot water of the rapid heating barrel 34 to the beverage mixing unit 26.

In addition, Figure 5 is a schematic block diagram of a drive control device for driving the beverage vending machine shown in Figures 2 and 3, the drive control device of the Figure is a coin mechanism 110, beverage selection unit 120 ), The first temperature sensor 130, the second temperature sensor 140, the human body sensor 145, the control unit 150, the cup discharge unit 160, the above-described raw material supply unit 23, the main heater driving unit ( 170, the rapid heating heater driving unit 180, the valve driving unit 190, and the beverage mixing unit 26 described above.

In FIG. 4, the coin mechanism 110 detects whether or not a coin is inferior to the coin input through the coin inlet 13, and applies a coin detection signal corresponding to the coin 150 to the controller 150. 120 includes a plurality of beverage selection buttons for selecting a beverage, and when a user operates the beverage selection button, a corresponding key signal is applied to the controller 150.

In addition, the first temperature sensor 130 detects the temperature of the hot water stored in the hot water tank 31 and applies a temperature signal corresponding thereto to the controller 150, and the second temperature sensor 140 supplies the rapid heating tank. The temperature of the hot water stored in the 34 is sensed and the corresponding temperature signal is applied to the controller 150.

In addition, the human body sensor 145 is to detect the approach distance of the user to detect the amount of infrared light emitted from the human body and to apply the corresponding infrared detection signal to the controller 150.

Then, the controller 150 is stored in the hot water tank 31 using the first temperature sensor 130 so that the hot water of the hot water tank 31 is maintained at the first set temperature (for example, about 40 ℃) in the standby state. The main heater driving unit 170 is controlled while sensing the temperature of the hot water to heat the hot water of the hot water tank 31.

In addition, the controller 150 determines the amount of infrared light emitted from the human body according to the infrared detection signal applied from the human body sensor 145 and estimates the user's approach distance based on the determined amount of infrared light. If the approach distance of the within the set distance (for example, about 2 meters) to control the valve drive unit 190 to supply a predetermined amount of hot water from the hot water tank 31 to the rapid heating tank 34, and then suddenly heated The heater driving unit 180 is controlled to rapidly heat the hot water supplied to the rapid heating tube 34 at a second predetermined temperature (for example, about 90 ° C.) within a short time.

In addition, when the coin detection signal is applied from the coin mechanism 110 and a key signal is applied from the beverage selection unit 120, the controller 150 controls the cup discharge unit 160 to discharge the beverage selected by the user. 25) to discharge the cup, and controls the raw material supply unit 23 to supply the corresponding raw material of the beverage selected by the user to the beverage mixing unit 26, and then control the valve drive unit 190 to the rapid heating tube 34 Supply hot water to the beverage mixing unit 26 and control the beverage mixing unit 26 to mix the raw material supplied from the raw material supply unit 23 and the hot water supplied from the rapid heating tube 34 to remove the nozzle shown in the drawing. Through the cup of the beverage outlet 25 is to be discharged through.

And, the cup discharge port 160 is to discharge the cup stored in the cup storage container 28 to the beverage discharge port 25 under the control of the controller 150.

In addition, the main heater driving unit 170 is to heat the hot water stored in the hot water tank 31 by applying power to the main heater 32 under the control of the controller 150, the rapid heating heater driving unit 180 By applying a high frequency power to the rapid heating heater 35 under the control of the control unit 150 to operate the rapid heating heater 35 is to heat the hot water of the rapid heating tube 34 in a short time.

The valve driving unit 190 selectively opens and closes the first valve 33 and the second valve 36 under the control of the controller 150 to supply hot water from the hot water tank 31 to the rapid heating tube 34. Or it is to supply hot water of the rapid heating tube 34 to the beverage mixing unit 26.

An operation process of the conventional vending machine made as described above will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 6.

In the initial state, the controller 150 initializes each part of the vending machine (S10), and then applies a control signal for turning on the main heater 32 to the main heater driver 170 (S20).

As a result, the main heater driving unit 170 applies power according to a control signal applied from the controller 150 to drive the main heater 32, and the water stored in the hot water tank 31 as the main heater 32 is driven. It starts to heat up.

At this time, the first temperature sensor 130 senses the temperature of the hot water heated and applies a temperature signal corresponding thereto to the controller 150, the controller 150 to the temperature signal applied from the first temperature sensor 130 According to the determination of the temperature of the hot water stored in the hot water tank 31, if the determined temperature of the hot water is greater than or equal to the first set temperature, a control signal for turning off the main heater 32 is applied to the main heater driving unit 170 ( S30a).

Accordingly, the main heater driving unit 170 cuts off the power to stop the driving of the main heater 32.

Thereafter, the controller 150 turns on the driving signal for turning on the main heater 32 when the hot water temperature of the hot water tank 31 sensed by the first temperature sensor 130 becomes lower than a predetermined value compared to the first set temperature. By repeating the above-described control operation, such as applying to the main heater driving unit 170 to maintain the temperature of the hot water tank 31 at the first set temperature (S30b).

At this time, the human body sensor 145 detects the amount of infrared light emitted from the user's body approaching the vending machine and applies the corresponding infrared detection signal to the controller 150, the controller 150 is the human body sensor ( The amount of infrared light emitted from the human body is determined according to the infrared detection signal applied from 145, and the user's approaching distance is estimated according to the determined amount of infrared light (S40).

Next, it is determined whether the user's approaching distance estimated in the step S40 is within a set distance (for example, about 2 meters) (S50), and as a result of the determination, the user is not approaching within the set distance. If it is estimated that the process proceeds to the step (S30) for maintaining the hot water temperature of the hot water tank (31) and repeat the steps (S30 ~ S50) thereafter.

If it is determined in step S50 that the user is approaching within the set distance, the control unit 150 supplies a hot water control signal for supplying hot water from the hot water tank 31 to the rapid heating column 34. Is applied to the valve driving unit 190 (S60).

As a result, the valve driving unit 190 opens the first valve 33 to supply a predetermined amount of hot water from the hot water tank 31 to the rapid heating tube 34, and then closes the first valve 33 after a predetermined time. Let's do it.

Next, the control unit 150 applies a control signal for turning on the rapid heating heater 35 to the rapid heating heater driving unit 180 (S70a).

As a result, the rapid heating heater driving unit 180 applies a high frequency power according to a control signal applied from the controller 150 to drive the rapid heating heater 35 to rapidly heat the hot water of the rapid heating tube 34.

At this time, the second temperature sensor 140 detects the temperature of the hot water being heated in the rapid heating tube 34 and applies a temperature signal corresponding thereto to the controller 150, and the controller 150 controls the second temperature sensor 140. If the temperature of the hot water determined by determining the temperature of the hot water being heated in the rapid heating tube 35 according to the temperature signal applied from the heating temperature is greater than or equal to the second set temperature (for example, about 90 ℃) the rapid heating heater (35) ) Is applied to the rapid heating heater driving unit 180 (S70b).

As a result, the rapid heating heater driving unit 180 cuts off the supply of the high frequency power according to a control signal applied from the control unit 150 to stop the driving of the rapid heating heater 35.

At this time, when the user inserts a coin through the coin inlet 13 and manipulates the beverage selection button of the beverage selection unit 120, the coin mechanism 110 detects the type and failure of the coin put by the user and The corresponding coin detection signal is applied to the controller 150, and the beverage selection unit 120 applies a key signal corresponding to the user's button operation to the controller 150.

Accordingly, the control unit 150 applies the cup ejection signal for dispensing the cup to the cup dispensing unit 160 and then determines the beverage selected by the user according to the key signal applied from the beverage selecting unit 120. Water supply control for supplying the raw material discharge signal for supplying the corresponding raw material to the beverage mixing unit 26 to the raw material supply unit 23 and at the same time supplying the hot water of the rapid heating tube 34 to the beverage mixing unit 226 The signal is applied to the valve driver 190 (S80a).

As a result, the cup dispensing unit 160 discharges the cup stored in the cup storage container 28 to the beverage dispensing port 25 according to the cup dispensing signal applied from the controller 150, and the raw material supply unit 23 controls the controller 150. In accordance with the raw material discharge signal applied from the raw material stored in the raw material container 22 is supplied to the beverage mixing unit 26 through the raw material chute 24 and at the same time the valve driving unit 190 from the control unit 150 The second valve 36 is opened in accordance with the supplied water supply control signal to supply the hot water of the rapid heating tube 34 to the beverage mixing unit 26, and then closes the second valve 37 after a predetermined time.

Next, the control unit 150 applies a beverage dispensing signal for dispensing the beverage to the beverage mixing unit 26 (S80b).

As a result, the beverage mixing unit 26 mixes the corresponding raw material supplied from the raw material supply unit 23 and the hot water supplied from the hot water supply unit 30 to be discharged into the cup of the beverage discharge port 25 through the nozzle not shown.

Thereafter, the user can purchase the desired beverage by taking out the cup from the beverage outlet 25.

On the other hand, in the embodiment of the present invention has been described only for the case of a beverage vending machine as an example, those skilled in the art will readily know that the present invention can be applied to all kinds of vending machine used hot water.

In addition, in the embodiment of the present invention has been described by taking only the case of applying the infrared detection method of the human body sensor as an example, those skilled in the art, including the human body sensor to detect the user's approaching distance by the ultrasonic wave and other It will be readily appreciated that the human body sensor can be configured to be easily applied.

As described above, according to the present invention, if the hot water in the hot water tank is maintained only at low and low temperatures in the standby state, and the user is detected that the user is approaching within a predetermined distance through the human body sensor, the cow required for the sale of goods from the hot water tank. By supplying a certain amount of hot water to the hot water heater and rapidly heating it and then supplying it to the part of the vending machine that needs it, the power consumption is drastically reduced compared to the conventional hot water supply device, which is to keep the hot water of the hot water tank at a high temperature at all times. It can be effected.

Claims (10)

In the hot water supply device of the vending machine to supply hot water to the vending machine, A human body sensor for detecting a user's approach, Hot water storage means for heating / maintaining the water supplied from a predetermined water supply source to a predetermined temperature, Hot water supply heating means for receiving a predetermined amount of hot water from the hot water storage means to heat it rapidly; A water supply means for supplying hot water of the hot water storage means to the hot water supply heating means, and supplying hot water of the hot water supply heating means to a portion requiring hot water in a vending machine; During standby, the hot water storage means is controlled to heat / maintain the stored hot water at a first set temperature, and when the user approaches the predetermined distance through the human body sensor, the water supply means is controlled to control the water supply means. Supplying hot water to the hot water supply heating means, and then controlling the hot water supply heating means to rapidly heat the hot water supplied to the hot water supply heating means to a second set temperature, and the hot water rapidly heated by the hot water supply heating means. Hot water supply device of the vending machine, characterized in that consisting of a control unit for controlling the water supply means to supply hot water to the required portion. The method of claim 1, wherein the human body sensor, Hot water supply device of a vending machine, characterized in that for detecting the amount of infrared light emitted from the human body to apply a corresponding detection signal to the control unit. According to claim 1 or 2, wherein the hot water storage means, A hot water reservoir configured to store hot water, A main heater configured to heat hot water of the hot water container; A main heater driving unit configured to operate the main heater by applying power under the control of the controller; And a first temperature sensor configured to apply a temperature signal corresponding to the temperature of the hot water stored in the hot water tank to the controller so that the controller can sense the temperature of the hot water stored in the hot water tank. Hot water supply. According to claim 1 or 2, wherein the hot water supply heating means, A rapid heating passage configured to store a predetermined amount of hot water supplied from the hot water storage means, Rapid heating heater to rapidly heat the hot water of the rapid heating barrel, A rapid heating heater driving unit configured to operate the rapid heating heater by applying power under the control of the controller; And a second temperature sensor configured to apply a temperature signal corresponding to the temperature of the hot water heated in the rapid heating barrel to the controller so that the controller can sense the temperature of the hot water heated in the rapid heating barrel. Hot water supply equipment for vending machines. According to claim 3, wherein the hot water supply heating means, A rapid heating passage configured to store a predetermined amount of hot water supplied from the hot water storage means, Rapid heating heater to rapidly heat the hot water of the rapid heating barrel, A rapid heating heater driving unit configured to operate the rapid heating heater according to the control of the controller; And a second temperature sensor configured to apply a temperature signal corresponding to the temperature of the hot water heated in the rapid heating barrel to the controller so that the controller can sense the temperature of the hot water heated in the rapid heating barrel. Hot water supply equipment for vending machines. The method of claim 4, wherein The rapid heating heater is an induction heater capable of performing rapid heating by a high frequency power source, The rapid heating heater driving unit is adapted to convert the external input power into high frequency power under the control of the control unit to be applied to the rapid heating heater, characterized in that the hot water supply device. The method of claim 5, The rapid heating heater is an induction heater capable of performing rapid heating by a high frequency power source, The rapid heating heater driving unit is adapted to convert the external input power into high frequency power under the control of the control unit to be applied to the rapid heating heater, characterized in that the hot water supply device. The water supply means according to claim 1 or 2, A first valve configured to supply hot water from the hot water storage means to the hot water supply heating means; A second valve configured to supply hot water of the hot water supply heating means to a predetermined portion of the vending machine requiring hot water; Hot water supply device of the vending machine, characterized in that the valve drive unit for selectively opening and closing the first valve and the second valve under the control of the control unit. In the hot water supply method to supply hot water to the vending machine, A hot water temperature maintaining step of heating hot water of the hot water storage means to a first set temperature, and then maintaining the first set temperature; User approach detection step to detect the user's approach distance through the human body sensor, When the user approaches within the predetermined distance in the user access detection step, the predetermined amount of hot water from the hot water storage means is supplied to the hot water supply heating means, and then the hot water supplied to the hot water supply heating means is rapidly heated to a second set temperature. Hot water heating step, The hot water supply method of the vending machine, characterized in that to perform a hot water supply step for supplying the hot water supply step to the part of the vending machine in need of hot water. The method of claim 9, wherein the user access detection step, Hot water supply method of the vending machine, characterized in that for detecting the approach distance of the user by detecting the amount of infrared light emitted from the user through the human body sensor.