WO2020138102A1

WO2020138102A1 - Cleaning device for beverage supply system

Info

Publication number: WO2020138102A1
Application number: PCT/JP2019/050672
Authority: WO
Inventors: 慶太吉原
Original assignee: サントリーホールディングス株式会社
Priority date: 2018-12-28
Filing date: 2019-12-24
Publication date: 2020-07-02
Also published as: KR20210092809A; CN113260591A; JPWO2020138102A1; JP7299922B2

Abstract

Provided is a cleaning device (10) for a beverage supply system, the cleaning device (10) comprising: a first flow path (21) that circulates gas from a gas supply source (70) and is connected to a fluid inlet (52) of a dispensing head (51) mounted on a beverage storage container (50); a second flow path (22) that circulates a cleaning liquid from a cleaning liquid supply source (80) and is connected to the fluid inlet (52) of the dispensing head (51) mounted on the beverage storage container (50); at least one solenoid valve (V1, V2) that independently opens and closes the first and second flow paths; a detector (23) that measures the flow rate of the gas; and a control unit (24) that can communicate with the detector (23) and controls the solenoid valves (V1, V2), wherein the control unit (24) determines whether or not cleaning is possible on the basis of the measured flow rate of the gas, closes the first flow path (21) and opens the second flow path (22) to circulate the cleaning liquid when it is determined that the cleaning is possible, and does not open the second flow path (22) when it is determined that the cleaning is not possible.

Description

Beverage supply system cleaning equipment

The present invention relates to a cleaning device for a beverage supply system for cleaning a pipeline of the beverage supply system.

　Beverage supply systems that use the pressure of the gas filled in the cylinder to dispense beverages such as beer stored in the beverage storage container are widely used in restaurants and the like. Such a beverage supply system is usually a gas cylinder and a beverage storage container, in addition to a dispense head attached to the mouth of the beverage storage container, a beverage dispenser for pouring the beverage into a glass or the like, and a pipe line connecting them. Is equipped with.

In the beverage supply system, the pipeline through which the beverage is distributed needs to be regularly washed to maintain hygiene and flavor of the beverage. For cleaning, the dispensing head is usually removed from the beverage storage container, but the cited document 1 describes a configuration in which the pipe line can be cleaned while the dispensing head is attached to the beverage storage container in order to facilitate cleaning. ing. When cleaning with the dispensing head attached to the beverage storage container, it is necessary to take sufficient care not to accidentally flow the cleaning liquid into the beverage storage container. Therefore, in the reference document 1, so that the cleaning liquid is supplied only when the dispense head is in the cleaning mode, the fluid to be supplied is selected based on the signal of the tilt sensor attached to the operation lever of the dispense head. It is configured.

JP, 2006-36221, A

　The dispense head may be placed in an environment where it may be soiled or watered by drinks, so there is concern that the probability of failure due to liquid adhesion to electronic components such as the tilt sensor may increase. It is also considered not easy to wire the signal line between the tilt sensor attached to the movable operation lever of the dispense head that is repeatedly attached to and detached from the beverage storage container and the controller that communicates with the tilt sensor.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning device for a beverage supply system, which can prevent the cleaning liquid from being accidentally supplied to the inside of the beverage storage container while solving the above-mentioned drawbacks.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention, there is provided a first flow path for circulating a gas from a gas supply source, the first flow path being connected to a fluid inlet of a dispense head mounted on a beverage storage container. A first flow path and a second flow path for circulating the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid supply source, the second flow path being connected to the fluid inlet of the dispense head mounted on the beverage storage container; At least one electromagnetic valve that independently opens and closes the flow path and the second flow path; a detector for measuring the flow rate of gas; and a control unit that is communicable with the detector and that operates the electromagnetic valve. The control unit determines whether or not cleaning is possible based on the measured gas flow rate, and when it is determined that cleaning is possible, closes the first flow path and opens the second flow path. A cleaning device for a beverage supply system is provided in which a cleaning liquid is circulated and the second flow path is not opened when it is determined that cleaning cannot be performed.

According to the present invention, there is provided a cleaning device for a beverage supply system having a completely new configuration, which determines whether or not cleaning is possible based on the flow rate of gas flowing through the pipeline of the beverage supply system. Further, according to this, it is not necessary to attach a sensor or the like to the dispensing head, and since it can be realized as an apparatus integrated in one housing including a detector, a cleaning apparatus with high operation reliability is realized. it can.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention and a beverage supply system including the same. It is a schematic block diagram of a beverage supply system which also shows the internal structure of the washing|cleaning apparatus of FIG.

First, a beverage supply system 100 including the cleaning device 10 of the beverage supply system according to the first embodiment of the present invention as a component will be described with reference to FIG. This beverage supply system 100 works to dispense the beverage in the beverage storage container 50, which is the source of the beverage, by utilizing the pressure of gas. Therefore, the beverage supply system 100 includes a cleaning device (hereinafter, also referred to as a “cleaning device”) 10, a beverage storage container 50, a dispense head 51 attached to the beverage storage container 50, a dispense head 51, and a dispense head 51. A gas cylinder 70 for supplying gas to the beverage storage container 50 via the cleaning device 10, a beverage dispenser 60 for cooling the beverage from the beverage storage container 50 and pouring it into a glass, and a water supply for supplying water as a cleaning liquid. A water tap 80 as a source, a pressure reducing valve RV disposed between the water tap 80 and the cleaning device 10, and a first connecting pipe P1 to a fourth connecting pipe P4 for connecting the above-described components. It is equipped with.

The beverage dispenser 60 has a cock-type beverage dispensing valve (hereinafter referred to as “cock valve”) 61. A glass or the like (not shown) is prepared below the discharge port 62 of the cock valve 61 when the beverage is poured. At the time of cleaning, a bucket 90 for receiving drainage is prepared below the discharge port 62 of the cock valve 61. The dispensing head 51 and the beverage dispenser 60 are connected by the fourth connection pipe line P4. The fourth connection pipeline P4 is connected to the cooling pipe 64 of the beverage dispenser 60, and the tip of the cooling pipe 64 is connected to the cock valve 61. The cooling pipe 64 has a spiral winding portion formed in a cylindrical coil shape for cooling the cooling pipe 64. The beverage dispenser 60 normally has a cooling device 65 and a cooling water tank 63 cooled by the cooling device 65, and the spiral winding portion of the cooling pipe 64 is cooled in the cooling water tank 63.

In the beverage supply system 100 of FIG. 1, the beverage to be supplied is beer, so that the gas filled in the gas cylinder 70 is carbon dioxide, the beverage storage container 50 is exemplified as a beer barrel, and the beverage dispenser 60 is beer. It is exemplified as a dispenser. However, the washing apparatus 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention is made of any carbonated beverage other than beer, for example, sparkling liquor, beer-flavored sparkling alcoholic beverage mixed with another alcoholic beverage (third Of beer), non-alcoholic beer, chu-hi, highball, or non-alcoholic carbonated beverages. Further, the beverage supplied by the beverage supply system 100 may be a beverage supplied by using, for example, nitrogen gas or compressed air other than carbon dioxide gas, and in that case, nitrogen gas or compressed air is contained in the gas cylinder 70. Is filled.

In the beverage supply system 100 of FIG. 1, the internal flow path (not shown) of the dispense head 51, the fourth connection pipeline P4, and the cooling pipe 64 of the beverage dispenser 60 are the flow channels for the beverage and are used for cleaning. It is also the flow path for the cleaning liquid.

Next, the dispense head 51 used in the beverage supply system 100 of FIG. 1 will be described below. The dispensing head 51 normally cooperates with a spear valve (not shown) fixedly mounted inside the beverage storage container 50 to introduce high-pressure gas from the gas cylinder 70 into the beverage storage container 50, It is provided for pumping the beverage in the beverage storage container 50 to the beverage dispenser 60 based on the gas pressure. Therefore, the dispense head 51, in its beverage supply mode, opens its own fluid inlet 52 and moves its plunger (not shown) to move the spear valve's gas inlet and beverage outlet (both not shown). To discharge the beverage from the fluid outlet 53. In its closed mode, the dispense head 51 retracts the plunger to close the gas inlet and the beverage outlet of the spear valve.

The dispensing head 51 is provided with an operating lever 54 for moving a plunger (not shown). Normally, the beverage feeding position in which the operating lever 54 is pushed down and the closed position in which the operating lever 54 is pulled up are the beverage feeding mode and the closed state. Corresponds to each mode. Note that normally, during the business hours of the restaurant, the dispensing head 51 is kept in the beverage supply mode, and thus the supply and stop of the beverage are performed by opening and closing the cock valve 61 of the beverage dispenser 60. The closed mode of the dispense head 51 is required, for example, when the beverage storage container 50 is replaced.

The dispensing head 51 of the beverage supply system 100 shown in FIG. 1 has a cleaning mode in addition to the beverage supply mode and the closed mode. The cleaning mode is such that the gas or cleaning liquid is introduced from the fluid inlet 52 of the dispense head 51 but not into the beverage storage container 50 and is discharged from the fluid outlet 53 toward the beverage dispenser 60. Is the mode in which is positioned. The operating lever 54 in the washing mode is arranged in a washing position which is a specific intermediate position between the upper position of the closing mode and the lower position of the beverage supply mode.

When cleaning the fourth connection conduit P4 and the cooling pipe 64 of the beverage dispenser 60, the dispense head 51 must be set to the cleaning mode. If the cleaning liquid is supplied to the fluid inlet 52 of the dispense head 51 while the beverage supply mode is set, the cleaning liquid will flow into the beverage storage container 50. A cleaning apparatus 10 for a beverage supply system according to the first embodiment of the present invention that can prevent this problem will be described below.

The cleaning device 10 of the beverage supply system according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a first inlet 11 connected to a gas cylinder 70 via a first connection pipe P1 and a second connection pipe connected to a water supply faucet 80. It has a second inlet 12 connected via the passage P2 and the pressure reducing valve RV, and a fluid outlet 13 on the side surface of the housing 14. The fluid outlet 13 is connected to the fluid inlet 52 of the dispense head 51 via a connection conduit P3. A display unit 15, a washing button 16, a beverage supply button 17, and a closing button 18 are arranged on the front surface of the housing 14.

Inside the cleaning device 10, a first flow path 21 connecting the first inlet 11 and the fluid outlet 13 and a second flow path 22 connecting the second inlet 12 and the fluid outlet 13 are formed. ing. The cleaning device 10 includes a first electromagnetic valve V1 that opens and closes the first flow path 21, and a second electromagnetic valve V2 that opens and closes the second flow path 22. Although the first solenoid valve V1 and the second solenoid valve V2 are separate in this embodiment, they may be replaced with one solenoid valve having the same function as those two solenoid valves. The cleaning device 10 further includes a first check valve CV1 arranged in the first flow passage 21 and a second check valve CV2 arranged in the second flow passage 22.

The cleaning device 10 has a cleaning mode, a beverage supply mode, and a fully closed mode that can be selected by a cleaning button 16, a beverage supply button 17, and a closing button 18, respectively. In the beverage supply mode, the first flow path 21 is open, while the second flow path 22 is closed. In the cleaning mode, as will be described later in detail, the first flow path 21 is opened, then it is closed, and the second flow path 22 is opened. In the fully closed mode, both the first flow path 21 and the second flow path 22 are closed.

The cleaning device 10 further includes a detector 23 for detecting the flow rate of the gas flowing through the first flow path 21. As the detector 23, in this embodiment, a thermal type flow rate detector is used. However, an embodiment using another type of flow rate detector such as a differential pressure type, an ultrasonic type, a Karman vortex type, an impeller type, and a float type as the detector 23 is also possible in the present invention. Further, an embodiment in which a detector for detecting the flow velocity is used instead of the detector 23 for detecting the flow rate is also possible in the present invention.

In the present embodiment, the detector 23 is arranged inside the housing 14 of the cleaning device 10, but may be arranged outside the housing 14 in the first connection conduit P1 from the gas cylinder 70. .. Further, if the detector 23 is of a water resistant type, it may be arranged in the third connecting pipe P3 reaching the dispensing head 51.

The cleaning device 10 also includes a control unit 24. The controller 24 receives signals from the wash button 16, the beverage supply button 17, the close button 18, and the detector 23 to operate the first solenoid valve V1 and the second solenoid valve V2, and a processor (not shown). , A timer, a memory, and the like. The control unit 24 determines whether or not the cleaning is possible based on the gas flow rate measured by the detector 23, and when it is determined that the cleaning is possible, the first electromagnetic valve V1 is closed to close the first flow path. 21 is closed and the second electromagnetic valve V2 is opened to open the second flow path 22 to allow the cleaning liquid from the water tap 80 to flow, and when it is determined that cleaning is impossible, the valve is closed. The second solenoid valve V2 is kept closed, that is, the second flow path 22 is not opened. At this time, the control unit 24 also closes the first electromagnetic valve V1.

Next, how the cleaning apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment works in the beverage supply system 100 will be described in more detail.
Normally, the beverage supply mode is selected for the cleaning device 10, and thus the first flow path 21 for gas is open, but the second flow path 22 for cleaning liquid (water) is closed. At this time, the dispense head 51 is also in the beverage supply mode. When the operator opens the cock valve 61 of the beverage dispenser 60 in this state, the cock valve 61 is supplied from the gas cylinder 70, passes through the cleaning device 10, and is supplied into the beverage storage container 50 through the fluid inlet 52 of the dispense head 51. Based on the pressure of the generated gas, the beverage is pressure-fed from the beverage storage container 50 to the beverage dispenser 60 via the dispensing head 51 and discharged from the cock valve 61. To stop the discharge of the beverage, the cock valve 61 is closed.

When cleaning the fourth connection conduit P4 and the cooling pipe 64, which are beverage supply conduits, the operation head 54 of the dispense head 51 is placed at the cleaning position, the cleaning mode is selected, and the cleaning device 10 also cleans the same. The button 16 is pressed to select the cleaning mode. In the cleaning device 10 in which the cleaning mode is selected, initially, the first flow path 21 for gas is opened and the second flow path 22 for cleaning liquid is closed, as in the case where the beverage supply mode is selected. ing.

In this state, when the cock valve 61 of the beverage dispenser 60 is opened by the operator, the gas starts flowing through the first flow path 21 of the cleaning device 10. The control unit 24 of the cleaning device 10 activates the timer from the time when the gas starts flowing, and displays the remaining time of the cleaning process on the display unit 15. When the gas begins to flow, the beverage remains in the fourth connecting pipe P4 and the cooling pipe 64 and becomes a resistance, so that the flow rate of the gas is smaller than that in the case where the beverage is not present. When the beverage remaining in the fourth connecting pipeline P4 or the like is pushed out, the gas flow rate increases. The control unit 24 evaluates the flow rate of the gas obtained after the elapse of a predetermined time from the operation of the timer. The predetermined time is set as a time obtained by adding a margin to the time required for pushing out the beverage remaining in the fourth connecting pipe P4 and the cooling pipe 64. Therefore, if the dispense head 51 is correctly selected for the cleaning mode, the flow rate of gas should increase after the lapse of the predetermined time. Therefore, when the flow rate of the gas is equal to or more than a predetermined value, the control unit 24 determines that the cleaning is possible, closes the first electromagnetic valve V1 and closes the first flow path 21, and 2 The solenoid valve V2 is opened to open the second flow path 22. As a result, the cleaning liquid from the water tap 80 is supplied to the fourth connection conduit P4 and the cooling pipe 64 via the cleaning device 10 and the dispensing head 51.

When a predetermined cleaning time elapses after the second flow path 22 is opened, the control unit 24 closes the second flow path 22 to stop the supply of the cleaning liquid, and again the first flow path 21. To open and supply gas. The gas is resupplied in order to remove the water remaining in the fourth connecting pipe P4 and the like and dry the pipe. When the predetermined drying time has elapsed, the control unit 24 closes the first flow path 21 and stops the gas supply. At this stage, the remaining time of the cleaning process displayed on the display unit 15 becomes zero. When the remaining time becomes zero, the operator closes the cock valve 61 of the beverage dispenser 60 and places the operation lever 54 of the dispense head 51 at the beverage supply position or the closed position. By the above, all the steps of washing were completed normally.

Next, how the cleaning device 10 operates when the cleaning button 16 of the cleaning device 10 is pressed when the operating lever 54 of the dispensing head 51 is arranged at the beverage supply position due to an operator's mistake. Will be explained. In this case, the cleaning apparatus 10 in which the cleaning mode is selected initially opens the first flow passage 21 for gas and closes the second flow passage 22 for cleaning liquid. In this state, when the cock valve 61 of the beverage dispenser 60 is opened by the operator, the gas starts flowing in the first flow path 21 of the cleaning device 10. However, since the operating lever 54 of the dispense head 51 is set to the beverage supply position, the gas continues to pump the beverage, and therefore the flow rate of the gas is relatively high even when the above-mentioned predetermined time has elapsed since the timer was activated. It remains small. When the flow rate of the gas is detected to be less than the predetermined value even after the predetermined time elapses, the control unit 24 determines that the cleaning is not possible, and the first flow path 21 is determined. Is closed and the second flow path 22 is also kept closed. At this time, the control unit 24 also makes an alarm sound. As a result, the supply of cleaning liquid to the beverage storage container 50 is prevented and the operator should be aware that the operating lever 54 of the dispense head 51 is not located in the cleaning position.

As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a cleaning device 10 for a beverage supply system having a completely new configuration in which whether or not cleaning is possible is determined based on the flow rate of gas flowing through the pipeline. According to the cleaning device 10, it is not necessary to attach a sensor or the like to the dispense head 51, and since the cleaning device 10 can be realized as a device integrated in one housing 14 including the detector 23, the operation reliability can be improved. A high cleaning device 10 can be realized.

Next, the cleaning device (hereinafter, also referred to as “cleaning device”) 10 of the beverage supply system according to the second embodiment will be described. The cleaning apparatus 10 is different from that of the above-described first embodiment in the method of determining whether or not cleaning is possible, but other configurations are the same. In the cleaning device 110 according to the second embodiment, the control unit 24 controls the initial flow rate measured when a relatively short first time elapses after the cleaning button 16 is operated and the gas starts flowing, and the gas flow rate. Compared with the late flow rate of the gas measured after the elapse of a predetermined second time, which is relatively long after the flow started, and when the late flow rate has increased by a predetermined ratio or more with respect to the initial flow rate, it is determined that cleaning is possible. However, when it is less than the predetermined magnification, it is determined that cleaning is impossible.

The predetermined first time is set as a time included in the time zone in which the gas pushes out the beverage when the beverage remains in the fourth connecting pipeline P4. The predetermined second time is set as the same time as the predetermined time in the first embodiment. That is, the predetermined second time is a time obtained by adding a margin to the time required to push out the beverage remaining in the fourth connecting pipe P4 and the cooling pipe 64.

Although the example in which the beverage is beer has been described above, an embodiment in which it is applied to alcoholic beverages such as highball, wine, sake, carbonated beverages such as cola and cider, and non-carbonated beverages such as juice is also possible.

　In the above, an example in which the gas filled inside was carbon dioxide was explained, but it is also possible to fill other types of gas such as nitrogen gas. Particularly when filled with nitrogen gas, an effect of suppressing oxidative deterioration can be expected in liquors such as wine.

10 Beverage Supply System Cleaning Device 11 First Inlet 12 Second Inlet 13 Fluid Outlet 15 Display 16 Cleaning Button 21 First Flow Path 22 Second Flow Path 23 Detector 24 Controller V1 First Solenoid Valve V2 Second solenoid valve 50 Beverage storage container 51 Dispensing head 60 Beverage dispenser 70 Gas cylinder 80 Water tap 100 Beverage supply system

Claims

A first flow path for circulating gas from a gas supply source, the first flow path being connected to a fluid inlet of a dispense head mounted on a beverage storage container;
A second flow path for circulating the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid supply source, the second flow path being connected to the fluid inlet of the dispense head mounted on the beverage storage container;
At least one solenoid valve that independently opens and closes the first flow path and the second flow path,
A detector for measuring the flow rate of the gas,
A controller operable to communicate with the detector and operate the solenoid valve;
Equipped with,
The control unit determines whether or not cleaning is possible based on the measured flow rate of the gas, and when it is determined that cleaning is possible, closes the first flow path and opens the second flow path. A cleaning device for a beverage supply system, wherein the cleaning liquid is circulated and the second flow path is not opened when it is determined that cleaning is not possible.
Further equipped with a wash button,
When the cleaning button is operated and the gas starts to flow, the control unit can perform cleaning when the flow rate of the gas measured after a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the flow is equal to or more than a predetermined value. On the other hand, the cleaning device of the beverage supply system according to claim 1, wherein when the value is less than the predetermined value, it is determined that cleaning is impossible.
Further equipped with a wash button,
When the cleaning button is operated and the gas starts to flow, the control unit may measure an initial flow rate of the gas when a predetermined first time that is relatively short from the start of the flow has elapsed, When the late flow rate of the gas measured after the passage of a relatively long second predetermined time from the start of the flow of the gas increases by a predetermined magnification or more, it is determined that the cleaning is possible, whereas the predetermined The cleaning device for a beverage supply system according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning device determines that cleaning is not possible when the ratio is less than the ratio.
The first flow path and the second flow path are provided, and further comprising a housing that houses the control unit and the electromagnetic valve,
The cleaning device for a beverage supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the detector is housed inside the housing or arranged outside the housing.
The detector is a detector for measuring the flow velocity instead of the flow rate of the gas,
The cleaning device for a beverage supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control unit determines whether or not cleaning is possible based on the measured flow velocity of the gas.