KR20070042701A - Popcorn automatic sale control device and method - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a popcorn vending control device and method.

More specifically, the automatic control device and method for automatically popping popcorn by inserting a predetermined amount of popcorn raw material corn, salt, and edible oil into a cauldron with an airtight function, wherein the raw material of popcorn is cauldroned from the raw material supply. Control means for controlling the overall mechanical system that puts a predetermined amount into the pot, maintains the temperature and pressure inside the cauldron to cook the raw material of popcorn, and discharges the cooked popcorn material from the cauldron into the popcorn cup; By sensing the temperature of the popcorn vending machine and the temperature of the cauldron by using a power supply means for applying, a temperature setting means for adjusting to maintain the temperature of the cauldron at an appropriate level, and a temperature sensor attached to the outer surface of the cauldron Temperature sensing means for transmitting to the control means, and all the processes of the popcorn vending machine according to the time D) time control means for checking the time for orderly control, and a driving motor, the moving means for moving the raw material of popcorn according to a command instructed by the control means, a heating means, a cooling means, and the like; It provides a control device and method comprising a drive means.

Popcorn, Vending, Cauldron

Description

Popcorn automatic sale control device and method

1 is an embodiment of a popcorn vending machine according to the present invention.

2 is a block diagram showing the overall block configuration of the popcorn vending control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a view showing the internal block configuration of the drive means of the control device of the present invention.

4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation principle and method of another popcorn vending control apparatus according to the present invention.

*** Explanation of symbols for main parts of drawing ***

6: popcorn vending machine 8: cauldron

9: corn container 10: salt container

11: edible oil container 13: chute

14: Hopper

100: control means 110: power supply means

120: temperature setting means 130: temperature sensing means

140: time control means 150: coin (coin) detection means

160: display means 170: advertising means

180: key input means 190: driving means

191: lid driving unit 192: corn driving unit

193: oil drive unit 194: rotating body drive unit

195: cauldron drive unit 196: salt drive unit

197: popcorn cup drive unit 198: heating drive unit

199: cooling drive unit

The present invention relates to a popcorn vending control device and method.

More specifically, a predetermined amount of popcorn is automatically injected into the cauldron to maintain high temperature and high pressure to fry the popcorn in a cauldron that maintains high temperature and pressure to maximize the taste of popcorn, and due to gravity when rotating the cauldron. It provides a popcorn vending control device and method for pouring popcorn into a popcorn cup poured through a drawer.

In general, maize is classified into eight types of machi, apt, mackerel, kapok, kapok, Naga, and oilseeds depending on the shape and nature of the seed. The pterygium is almost deadly keratinous, small in size, and somewhat of poor quality for food.

On the other hand, popcorn is put in a sealable container popcorn raw material, such as corn, salt, and when the container is heated, the pressure inside the container rises, so the corn is inflated and swelled and swelled and fried. Conventional popcorn vending machine for frying such popcorn is installed so that the spiral rotating shaft is rotated by the drive motor in the lower part of the reservoir to discharge a certain amount of corn from the reservoir where the corn, which is the popcorn raw material, is stored, the corn supplied from the reservoir When fried by the heating of the heating means installed on the bottom of the container for frying, the popcorn can be supplied to the consumer by discharging the popcorn from the container through the discharge pipe by driving the blower fan installed below the container.

In this case, when the popcorn is discharged from the container due to the blower fan driving, the corn that is incompletely fried and remains at the bottom of the container is reheated by the heating means and then fried again. There was a problem of this black and white burn. In addition, if the popcorn is discharged from the container to the popcorn cup through the discharge pipe by the air pressure discharged upward when the blower fan is driven, the popcorn falls to the bottom and is lost, and the inside of the vending machine should be periodically cleaned. Air pressure due to the blower fan drives the foreign matter such as dust accumulated in the vending machine to flow into the popcorn cup has an unsanitary problem that the cleanliness falls.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the problems as described above, and automatically put a predetermined amount of the raw material of popcorn in the cauldron sealed to maintain a high temperature, high pressure, fried popcorn in a cauldron to maintain a high temperature and pressure The purpose of the present invention is to provide a popcorn vending control device and method for improving the taste of popcorn to satisfy various tastes of consumers.

An object as described above is an automatic control apparatus and a method for automatically popping popcorn by inserting a predetermined amount of corn, salt, and edible oil, which are popcorn raw materials, into a cauldron with an airtight function, wherein Control means for overall control of the mechanical system that puts raw materials into the cauldron by a certain amount, cooks the popcorn raw materials by keeping the temperature and pressure constant inside the cauldron, and discharges the cooked popcorn raw materials from the cauldron into the popcorn cups. And, the power supply means for applying power, the temperature setting means for adjusting to maintain the temperature of the cauldron at an appropriate level, the room temperature of the popcorn vending machine and the temperature of the cauldron by using a temperature sensor attached to the outer surface of the cauldron Detects and delivers the temperature sensing means to the control means, all the processes of the popcorn vending machine A time control means for checking the time for orderly control according to the liver and a driving motor, and driving the moving means, heating means, cooling means, etc., for moving the raw material of popcorn according to the instruction indicated by the control means. It is provided with a popcorn vending control device comprising a drive means for making,

Determining whether the coin (coin) is equal to or higher than the set value, and if the coin (coin) is equal to or higher than the set value, automatically a predetermined amount of corn and edible oil as the set value of the popcorn In the cauldron, and detecting the temperature and pressure in the process of cooking the popcorn in the cauldron, maintaining the popcorn at a predetermined value, and cooking the popcorn for a predetermined time. It is then achieved by providing a control method comprising the step of putting in a popcorn cup.

Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings will be described in more detail with respect to popcorn vending control device and method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, an embodiment of a popcorn vending machine according to the present invention will be briefly described with reference to FIG. 1. Looking at Figure 1,

Popcorn vending machine (6) is a front cover (4) having a coin (coin) inlet and the outlet is formed, the top cover 5, the body is mounted so as to be open and close respectively, rotatably installed when driving the drive means inside the body and Cauldron (8), the lid is mounted to be opened and closed in the horizontal direction at the top to seal the inside when cooking popcorn, heating means (halogen lamp, nichrome wire, pipe heater, etc.) that is heated when the power is applied to the bottom surface And, it is mounted above the cauldron, and separates the popcorn raw material corn, salt and edible oil into the storage containers (9, 10, 11), respectively, and the corn by the discharge means (conveyor belt, spiral screw, solenoid valve, etc.) , The raw material supply unit for discharging salt and edible oil into the cauldron by a certain amount, and installed under the cauldron, collecting the popcorn pouring out of the cauldron rotation to the popcorn cup introduced through the outlet Popcorn discharge portion consisting of a hopper 14, a chute 13 for supplying popcorn pouring from the cauldron extending to one side of the hopper to the hopper, and is fixed to a rotating shaft rotatably installed on the inner bottom of the cauldron, popcorn raw material And a rotating body (blade) to uniformly transfer the heat by the heating means evenly to the popcorn raw material, a temperature sensor (not shown) attached to the outer surface of the cauldron and measuring the temperature, the room temperature of the popcorn vending machine It is composed of an exhaust fan (not shown) and the like for adjustment, it can be used by those skilled in the art to change the above configuration differently.

Below. The control device and method for automatically controlling the popcorn vending machine configured as described above will be described in more detail.

2 is a block diagram showing the overall block configuration of the popcorn vending control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Figure 2 in more detail,

The control device of the present invention is the control means 100, power supply means 110, temperature setting means 120, temperature sensing means 130, time control means 140, coin detection means 150, display means 160 ), The advertising means 170, the key input means 180, the driving means 190 is further configured.

The control means 100 is a food by feeding a certain amount of food, such as corn and edible oil into the cauldron from the raw material supply, by maintaining a constant temperature and pressure inside the cauldron to cook the food for 80 seconds, rotated cauldron cooked It controls the overall function of the popcorn vending machine, which automatically sprinkles powdered salt on popcorn such as corn and edible oil and then discharges it into a popcorn cup.

The power supply unit 110 applies power to the popcorn vending machine.

The temperature setting means 120 maintains the indoor temperature of the popcorn vending machine sensed by the temperature sensor using a preset indoor temperature and the kiln temperature at an appropriate level, and detects the kiln temperature of the cauldron to adjust the temperature of the cauldron. Adjust to maintain between -220 degrees.

The temperature sensing unit 130 detects the indoor temperature of the popcorn vending machine and the temperature of the cauldron by using a temperature sensor attached to the outer surface of the cauldron and transmits it to the control means 100.

The time control means 140 measures the predetermined time so that the control means 100 can control each driving means 190 and notifies the control means 100 of the measurement time to the control means 100. After comparing with the preset time to determine whether the match is to control each function.

The coin detecting means 150 detects and determines coins (coins) such as 100 won or 500 won which are put into the popcorn vending machine, and then calculates the total amount.

The display means 160 displays the total amount of coins detected by the coin (coin) detecting means 150 so as to be confirmed from the outside.

The advertising means 170 is installed on the front of the popcorn vending machine to display the input letters or numbers to the outside using a display such as an LCD to provide an effect of advertising.

The key input unit 180 provides the advertisement contents to be advertised using letters or numbers or change the advertisement contents using the popcorn vending machine.

The driving means 190 includes a driving motor for driving each function of the popcorn vending machine, and heating means (halogen lamp, nichrome wire, pipe heater, etc.) according to a command indicated by the control means 100, Drive means (conveyor belt, spiral screw, solenoid valve, drive shaft, etc.), cooling means (exhaust fan, blower fan, etc.) are driven.

3 is a view showing the internal block configuration of the drive means of the control device of the present invention. Referring to Figure 3 in more detail,

The driving means of the present invention is a lid driving unit 191, corn driving unit 192, oil driving unit 193, rotating body driving unit 194, cauldron driving unit 195, salt driving unit 196, popcorn cup driving unit 197, The heating drive unit 198 and the cooling drive unit 199 are configured.

The lid driving unit 191 drives a lid attached to the cauldron of the popcorn vending machine, when the input of the coin (coin) is detected by rotating the cauldron lid horizontally 90 degrees by the control means 100 or Close function.

The corn driving unit 192 drives the conveyor belt attached to the lower portion of the corn container, by the control means 100 to drive the conveyor belt for a predetermined amount of time to input the corn, the raw material of the popcorn into the cauldron. Function

The oil driving unit 193 opens and closes the solenoid valve attached to the lower portion of the edible oil container. The control unit 100 supplies the edible oil, which is a raw material of popcorn, to the cauldron at a set time to the solenoid valve. Function to apply power.

The rotating body driving unit 194 drives a rotating body (blade) installed in the cauldron, so that the corn and edible oil put into the cauldron can be evenly transferred to the heat provided by the heating means so that the popcorn is fried well. The rotating body (blade) in the cauldron serves to rotate while maintaining the speed of 50 ~ 70rpm.

The cauldron driving unit 195 rotates the cauldron of the popcorn vending machine, and after cooking food such as corn, edible oil, etc. put into the cauldron by the control means 100 for 80 seconds, cooked popcorn in the cauldron The cauldron is rotated 90 degrees to 180 degrees or reversed to discharge the popcorn cup.

The salt driving unit 196 drives the spiral screw attached to the lower portion of the salt container, and functions to drive the spiral screw for a predetermined time to inject a predetermined amount of salt into the cooked popcorn.

The popcorn cup driving unit 197 functions to position the popcorn cups at the outlet of the cooked popcorn by the control means 100 one by one.

The heating driving unit 198 is attached to the lower portion of the cauldron to apply heat to a halogen lamp or nichrome wire to generate heat, the cauldron temperature detected by the temperature sensing means 130 is less than the halogen lamp or A power source is applied to a nichrome wire or the like to increase the temperature in the cauldron.

The cooling drive unit 199 drives an exhaust fan for adjusting the indoor temperature of the popcorn vending machine, and exhausts when the indoor temperature of the popcorn vending machine detected by the temperature sensing unit 130 is higher than a set value. It operates a fan to lower the room temperature.

4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation principle and method of another popcorn vending control apparatus according to the present invention. Referring to Figure 4 will be described in more detail the operation principle and control method of the present invention.

First, when a user puts coins (coins) into a popcorn vending machine that automatically pops a predetermined amount of popcorn raw materials such as corn, salt, and edible oil into a sealable cauldron,

The coin detecting means detects a coin (coin) of 100 won or 500 won, and displays the amount on the display means 160 (S302), and a coin corresponding to the amount of one cup of popcorn (coin) ) Or a larger amount (S304), the lid driving unit 191 of the driving means is opened by rotating the lid of the cauldron horizontally 90 degrees by the instruction of the control means 100. At the same time, a popcorn cup for holding cooked popcorn is positioned at the outlet by the popcorn cup driver 197.

If the input coin (coin) is insufficient or a predetermined time (about 20-30 seconds) is exceeded (S306), the input coin (coin) is discharged (S308).

When the lid of the cauldron is opened, the corn driving unit 192 of the driving means by the control means 100 to operate the conveyor belt of the corn container for a predetermined time, the corn is to be introduced into the cauldron along the conveyor belt. do. In addition, the oil driving unit 193 of the driving means by the control means 100 is applied to the solenoid valve of the edible oil container to open the inlet of the container, the edible oil is introduced into the cauldron (S312) .

When corn and edible oil, which are the raw materials of the popcorn, are introduced, the lid driving unit 191 of the driving means is closed by rotating the lid of the cauldron by 90 degrees (in the opposite direction) by the control means 100 (S314). ).

When the lid of the cauldron is closed, the control means 100 instructs the rotor drive unit 194 of the drive means to rotate the rotating body (blade) in the cauldron at a speed of 15 ~ 50rpm, the time control means ( 140, the time is checked (S316).

If the speed of the rotating body (blade) in the cauldron is less than 15rpm heat transfer is not properly cooked popcorn is cooked, when the speed of the rotating body (blade) is more than 50rpm heat transfer is too much cooked popcorn Because of this number of rides, it is preferable to maintain the rotational speed of the rotating body at 15 to 50 rpm.

When the cooking of popcorn is started, the heating driving unit 198 of the driving means applies power to heat the temperature of the cauldron to 170 degrees to 220 degrees through a heating means composed of a halogen lamp, a nichrome wire, and a pipe heater. .

The temperature setting means 120 checks and compares the kiln temperature of the cauldron from time to time using the temperature sensor attached to the outer surface of the cauldron (S320), if the kiln temperature is lower than the preset kiln temperature is the heating means The power is continuously applied to a halogen lamp, a nichrome wire or a pipe heater (S322), and if the kiln temperature is higher than a preset kiln temperature, the power applied to the halogen lamp, the nichrome wire or the pipe heater, which is the heating means, is short-circuited. The temperature is maintained at 170 degrees to 220 degrees (S324).

In addition, when cooking of the popcorn is started, the temperature setting means 120 checks and compares the room temperature of the popcorn vending machine from time to time using the temperature sensor attached to the outer surface of the cauldron (S326), if the room temperature in advance When it is higher than the set room temperature (S328), the exhaust fan is operated by the cooling drive unit 199 of the drive means to lower the room temperature of the popcorn vending machine (S330).

While maintaining cooking temperature and pressure as described above, the time control means 140 notifies the control means 100 when 80 seconds have elapsed, and the control means 100 is a rotating body drive unit of the driving means ( 194, the rotating body (blade) is stopped (S332).

The lid driving unit 191 of the driving means by the control means 100 is opened by rotating the lid of the cauldron horizontally 90 degrees (S334).

When the lid of the cauldron is opened, the cauldron driving unit 195 of the drive means by the control means 100 to rotate the cauldron more than 90 degrees to discharge the cooked popcorn, at the same time the salt of the drive means The driving unit 196 operates the spiral screw of the salt container so that the powdered powdered salt of the powder is sprinkled little by little on the cooked popcorn, and the cooked popcorn is put in the popcorn cup located at the outlet in advance (S336). .

When the popcorn is contained in the popcorn cup, the driving unit 195 of the driving means rotates the cauldron by at least 90 degrees, and the lid driving unit 191 of the driving means rotates the lid of the cauldron horizontally by 90 degrees (opposite). Direction) to close (S338).

As described above, although the present invention has been described by way of limited embodiments and drawings, the present invention is not limited thereto and is intended by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. Of course, various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of equivalent claims.

As described above, the present inventors automatically control popcorn of the present invention by populating popcorn in a cauldron that automatically maintains a high temperature and pressure by automatically inserting a predetermined amount of popcorn raw material such as corn, salt, and edible oil into a sealable cauldron. By improving the taste, it is possible to meet the various tastes of consumers, which has the effect of being competitive in the industry field,

Another effect is that the popcorn vending machine can adjust the room temperature and cauldron temperature according to the change accordingly to always cook the optimum popcorn regardless of the surrounding environment.

Claims (8)

In the automatic control device that can pop the popcorn by automatically inserting a predetermined amount of popcorn raw material corn, salt, and edible oil inside the cauldron with a sealed function, Put the popcorn raw material into the cauldron from the raw material supply by a certain amount, cook the popcorn raw material by keeping the temperature and pressure constant inside the cauldron, and discharge the popcorn raw material from the cauldron into the popcorn cup as a whole. Control means for controlling by; Power supply means for applying power; Temperature setting means for controlling the temperature of the cauldron to be maintained at an appropriate level; A temperature sensing means for detecting a room temperature of the popcorn vending machine and a temperature of the cauldron by using a temperature sensor attached to an outer surface of the cauldron and transmitting the temperature to the control means; Time control means for checking a time in order to control all processes of the popcorn vending machine in order according to time; A driving motor including a driving motor for driving a moving means, a heating means, a cooling means, etc. for moving the raw material of popcorn according to a command instructed by said control means; Popcorn automatic sales control device comprising a. The method of claim 1, wherein the driving means A lid driving unit which rotates and opens or closes the cauldron lid by the control means when the input of the coin (coin) is detected; Corn driving unit for driving the conveyor belt for a predetermined time to input a predetermined amount of corn as a raw material of popcorn into the cauldron; An oil driving unit for supplying power to the solenoid valve at a set time to inject a predetermined amount of edible oil as a raw material of popcorn into the cauldron; Rotor driving unit for driving the rotating body in the cauldron so that the raw material of the popcorn to be evenly transmitted by the raw material of the popcorn put into the cauldron evenly transmitted; A cauldron driver for rotating or reversing the cauldron to discharge the popcorn cooked in the cauldron to a popcorn cup after a set time; A salt driving unit driving the spiral screw for a predetermined time to inject a predetermined amount of salt into the cooked popcorn; A popcorn cup driver for providing a popcorn cup one by one to hold the cooked popcorn; A heating driver for driving a heating means such as a halogen lamp, a nichrome wire or a pipe heater by applying power when the cauldron temperature sensed by the temperature sensing means is less than a set value; A cooling drive unit for driving cooling means such as an exhaust fan when an indoor temperature of the popcorn vending machine sensed by the temperature sensing means is higher than a set value; Popcorn automatic sales control device further comprising. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The cauldron temperature is adjusted to maintain 170 ~ 220 degrees, popcorn automatic sales control device, characterized in that to cook the raw material of the popcorn for 80 seconds by maintaining the speed of the rotating body at 15 ~ 50rpm. The method of claim 1, wherein the control device Coin (coin) sensing means for sensing and discriminating the coin input; Display means for displaying the amount of the coin detected by detecting the input coin (coin) to the outside; Advertising means for displaying the input letters or numbers; Popcorn automatic sales control device further comprises a key input means provided to receive the advertising content by letters or numbers or to change the advertising content. In the automatic control method that can pop the popcorn by automatically inserting a predetermined amount of popcorn raw material corn, salt, and edible oil inside the cauldron with a sealed function, (a) detecting an input coin (coin) and determining whether it is equal to or higher than a set value; (b) when the coin (coin) is equal to or higher than the set value, automatically inputting the raw material of the popcorn in the cauldron by a predetermined amount by the set value; (c) sensing the temperature and pressure in the process of cooking the popcorn in the cauldron and maintaining the preset value appropriately; (d) cooking the popcorn at the appropriate level of temperature and pressure for a predetermined time and then placing the popcorn in a popcorn cup; Popcorn automatic sales control method comprising a. The method of claim 5, wherein step (c) Popcorn automatic sales control method characterized in that to rotate the rotating body at a speed of about 15 ~ 50rpm so that a constant temperature is transmitted to the raw material of the popcorn. The method of claim 5, wherein step (c) If the room temperature is higher than the set value, adjust it using cooling means (exhaust fan, etc.), and if the temperature of the kiln for cooking the popcorn is lower than the set value (170 degrees to 220 degrees), the heating means (halogen lamp, Nichrome wire, pipe heater, etc.) Popcorn automatic sales control method characterized in that the adjustment. The method of claim 5, wherein step (d) After the predetermined time elapsed popcorn automatic sales control method characterized in that a predetermined amount of food is added to the cooked popcorn as a set value automatically.

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