CN112438595B - beverage supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a beverage supply device that reduces the risk of accidental swallowing by clarifying the presence or absence of selected thick paste components. A beverage supply device that prepares a beverage by using beverage raw materials put into a container (C) and beverage raw water, and supplies the beverage in a state where the beverage is put into the container (C), wherein the beverage raw material includes a viscous substance that increases the viscosity of the beverage. Paste composition, the beverage supply device has: beverage selection part (111), it is used to select the kind of beverage; Thick paste composition selection part (112), it is used to select whether to have thick paste composition; After the beverage type is selected by the beverage selection unit (111) and the presence or absence of the thick paste component is selected by the thick paste component selection unit (112), the control unit (20) prepares a drink. Preferably, the thick paste component selection unit (112) can select not only the presence or absence of the thick paste component, but also the amount of the thick paste component.

Description

beverage supply device

technical field

The present invention relates to a beverage supply device, and more specifically, to a beverage supply device that supplies a beverage in a state where the beverage is put into a container such as a cup.

Background technique

Conventionally, as a beverage supply device that supplies a beverage in a state in which the beverage is poured into a container such as a cup, there is a beverage supply device that injects beverage materials such as powder materials and hot water or water into a container conveyed by a conveying mechanism. The raw water of the beverage is waited and stirred by a stirring mechanism, thereby supplying the prepared beverage (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).

Such a beverage dispenser first conveys the container to the position of the can containing the beverage raw material by the conveying mechanism, and injects the beverage raw material into the container. Next, the container is transported to the preparation position by the transport mechanism, raw beverage water is poured into the container, and the beverage raw material and raw beverage water inside the container are stirred by the stirring mechanism to mix them. Thereafter, the container is transported to the supply position by the transport mechanism, whereby the drink is supplied.

prior art literature

patent documents

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-309679

Contents of the invention

The problem to be solved by the invention

Among such beverage supply devices, there is known a beverage supply device in which the beverage raw material includes a thick paste component that increases the viscosity of the beverage. Since the viscosity of the beverage prepared using the thick paste component as a beverage raw material increases, it is useful for those who have difficulty swallowing, such as some elderly people, from the viewpoint of preventing accidental swallowing.

Therefore, from the viewpoint of convenience, it is preferable to provide a selection button similarly to other beverages for beverages including thick paste components, and when the corresponding selection button is pressed and selected, the beverage will be served. Beverages that include paste ingredients.

However, if it is possible to select a beverage by pressing the selection button once like this, there is a risk that a person with dysphagia who wants to select a beverage including a thick paste component (for example, a green tea drink with a thick paste component) uses the The patient may mistakenly select the same type of beverage (green tea beverage) that does not include the thick paste component, resulting in the risk of accidental swallowing.

In view of the above circumstances, the present invention aims to provide a beverage dispenser capable of reducing the risk of accidental swallowing by clarifying the presence or absence of selected thick paste components.

solutions to problems

In order to achieve the above object, the beverage supply device according to the present invention prepares a beverage by using the beverage raw material and raw beverage water put into the container, and supplies the beverage in a state where the beverage is put into the container, and the beverage supply device is characterized in that: The beverage raw material includes a thick paste component that increases the viscosity of the beverage, and the beverage supply device includes: a beverage selection unit for selecting the type of the beverage; a thick paste component selection unit for selecting the presence or absence of the beverage the thick paste composition; and a control unit, after the beverage type is selected by the beverage selection unit and the presence or absence of the thick paste composition is selected by the thick paste composition selection unit, the control unit prepares the beverage .

In addition, the present invention is characterized in that, in the beverage supply device described above, the thick paste component selection means can select not only the presence or absence of the thick paste component, but also the amount of the thick paste component.

In addition, the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned beverage supply device, a component detection unit for detecting whether or not the thick paste component has been put into the container is further provided.

In addition, the present invention is characterized in that, in the beverage supply device described above, the component detection means detects the passage of the thick paste component ejected from the storage box for storing the thick paste component.

In addition, the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned beverage supply device, a stirring mechanism is further provided which stirs the beverage raw material and raw drinking water put into the container to prepare the beverage, and the component detecting means According to the resistance when the stirring mechanism is stirring, it is detected whether the thick paste component is put into the container.

The effect of the invention

According to the present invention, after the type of beverage is selected by the beverage selection unit and the presence or absence of the thick paste component is selected by the thick paste component selection unit, the control unit prepares the beverage, so the following effects can be achieved: the presence or absence of thick paste can be selected. Components are selected as confirmation items, and the risk of accidental swallowing can be reduced by clarifying the presence or absence of selected thick paste components.

In addition, according to the present invention, the component detection unit detects whether the thick paste component is put into the container, so that the following effect is achieved: when a beverage containing the thick paste component is selected, it is possible to prevent the supplied beverage from not including the thick paste component. situation, thereby reducing the risk of accidental swallowing.

Description of drawings

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an appearance structure of a beverage server according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing a characteristic control system of the beverage server according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing an option member shown in FIG. 2 .

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing an installation example of a component detection unit constituting the thick paste component supply unit shown in FIG. 2 .

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a flush valve storage section provided with the storage detection section shown in Fig. 2 .

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a flush valve to be accommodated in the flush valve housing shown in FIG. 5 .

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a flush valve storage section provided with the storage detection section shown in Fig. 2 .

Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing processing contents of beverage preparation control processing executed by the control unit shown in Fig. 2 .

Explanation of reference signs

1: main cabinet; 2: front surface door; 3: opening and closing door; 4: opening; 11: selection part; 111: beverage selection part; 112: thick paste component selection part; 12: display part; 13: transport mechanism ;14: beverage raw material supply part; 15: thick paste component supply part; 153: component detection part; 16: beverage raw water supply part; 17: stirring mechanism; 18: door opening and closing locking mechanism; 19: storage detection part; : control part; 22: flushing valve storage part; 221a: detection rod; C: container.

Detailed ways

Next, preferred embodiments of the beverage supply device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

1 and 2 each show a beverage server as an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a front view showing an external structure, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing a characteristic control system. The beverage dispenser illustrated here is installed in, for example, a shop, a nursing facility, etc., and the beverage dispenser includes a main body cabinet 1 .

The main body cabinet 1 has a substantially rectangular form having an opening (hereinafter, also referred to as a front opening) not shown in the front surface. The front surface opening of the main body cabinet 1 is opened and closed by a front surface door 2 provided so as to be able to wrap around a shaft portion extending in the up and down direction at the right side edge portion on the front side of the main body cabinet 1 . Center axis swings.

The front door 2 has an opening and closing door 3 . The opening and closing door 3 is a door body for opening and closing the opening 4 formed in the front door 2, and is made of, for example, a translucent material such as transparent resin. The left end portion of the opening and closing door 3 is pivotally supported by the front door 2 so that the opening and closing door 3 can swing in the front-back direction. That is, the opening and closing door 3 can close the opening 4 when swinging backward, and can open the opening 4 when swinging forward.

This beverage supply device is configured to include a selection member 11, a display unit 12, a transport mechanism 13, a beverage raw material supply unit 14, a thick paste component supply unit 15, a beverage raw water supply unit 16, a stirring mechanism 17, and a door opening and closing locking mechanism 18. , a storage detection unit (storage detection unit) 19 and a control unit (control unit) 20 .

The selection member 11 is provided above the opening 4 on the front door 2 and has a beverage selection unit (drink selection unit) 111 and a paste component selection unit (dash component selection unit) 112 . As shown in FIG. 3, the beverage selection part 111 is for selecting the type of beverage (for example, "green tea", "roasted tea", "hot water"), and has a plurality of beverage selection buttons 111a. When these drink selection buttons 111a are pressed, they provide the control unit 20 with a press operation as a selection signal. In addition, in this embodiment, a total of 6 buttons 111a for selecting a cold drink (“cold”) and a drink selection button 111a for selecting a hot drink (“hot”) are provided for each type of drink.

As shown in FIG. 3 , the thick paste component selection unit 112 is used to select whether there is a thick paste component (for example, "no stickiness", "sticky"), and has a plurality of thick paste component selection buttons 112a. When these thick paste component selection buttons 112a are pressed, a press operation is given to the control part 20 as a selection signal. In addition, in this embodiment, the viscous thick paste component selection button 112a is provided with three buttons (for example, "light", "medium", and "thick") according to the density of the thick paste component.

The display unit 12 is provided on the front door 2 at a position below the selection member 11 and to the right of the opening 4 . The display unit 12 displays various information in accordance with instructions given from the control unit 20 .

A transport motor (not shown) as a driving source is driven according to an instruction provided from the control unit 20, whereby the transport mechanism 13 receives a container C (see FIG. 4 ) such as a cup from the container storage unit and transports the container C along a predetermined path. container C.

The beverage raw material supply unit 14 includes a raw material tank 141 and a raw material supply drive unit 142 . There are a plurality of raw material tanks 141 arranged side by side. These raw material tanks 141 are storage boxes for storing powder raw materials of different types (for example, "green tea" and "roasted tea").

A plurality of raw material supply drive units 142 are provided corresponding to the raw material tanks 141 . These raw material supply driving parts 142 are driven by commands provided from the control part 20. When driven, a predetermined amount of powder raw material is ejected from the corresponding raw material tank 141, and the powder raw material is sprayed by a raw material injector (not shown). out to the container C conveyed by the conveying mechanism 13.

The thick paste component supply unit 15 includes a thick paste component tank 151 , a thick paste component supply driving unit 152 , and a component detection unit (component detection unit) 153 . The thick paste component tank 151 is arranged on the right side of the raw material tank 141 . The thick paste component tank 151 is a storage box for storing powdery thick paste components such as starch for increasing the viscosity of beverages.

The thick paste component supply drive unit 152 is provided corresponding to the thick paste component tank 151 . The thick paste component supply drive unit 152 is driven by an instruction provided from the control unit 20. When driven, a predetermined amount of thick paste component is ejected from the thick paste component tank 151, and the thick paste component is sprayed through the thick paste component. 154 (see FIG. 4 ) is ejected into the container C conveyed by the conveying mechanism 13 .

As shown in FIG. 4 , the component detection unit 153 is provided near the thick paste component injector 154 , and detects whether the thick paste component is thrown into the container C by detecting the passage of the thick paste component through the thick paste component injector 154 . The component detection unit 153 supplies the detection result to the control unit 20 as a detection signal.

The beverage raw water supply unit 16 supplies beverage raw water such as hot water and cold water, and includes a cold water supply valve 161 and a hot water supply valve 162 . The cold water supply valve 161 is a valve body that is opened and closed according to commands given from the control unit 20 . When the cold water supply valve 161 is in an open state, the cold water in the cold water tank 163 for storing cold water is sent to the discharge main body (not shown) provided at a predetermined brewing position. In the closed state, the delivery of cold water is limited. The hot water supply valve 162 is a valve body that is opened and closed according to commands given from the control unit 20 . When the hot water supply valve 162 is in the open state, the hot water in the hot water tank 164 for storing hot water is sent to the spray main body, and when the hot water supply valve 162 is in the closed state, the Delivery of hot water.

The agitation mechanism 17 is provided in the discharge main body, and includes an agitation blade member 171 and an agitation blade drive portion 172 . The paddle member 171 is a conventionally known member in which a stirring blade is attached to a lower end portion of a rod extending in the vertical direction. The paddle drive unit 172 is driven according to an instruction given from the control unit 20 , and when driven, displaces the paddle member 171 downward and then rotates around the central axis of the rod.

The door lock mechanism 18 is provided near the opening 4 . The door opening and closing locking mechanism 18 can be selectively switched between a locked state that keeps the opening and closing door 3 that closes the opening 4 closed and restricts the opening and closing of the opening and closing door 3 . In the state of swinging forward, the released state is a state in which the opening and closing door 3 is allowed to swing forward. Switching of the door opening/closing and locking mechanism 18 is performed based on an instruction given from the control unit 20 .

As shown in FIG. 5 , the storage detection unit 19 is provided in the flush valve storage unit 22 . The flush valve storage unit 22 is provided at a predetermined storage position inside the main body cabinet 1 and accommodates the flush valve 23 as shown in FIG. 6 . The flushing valve 23 is a washing water spouting member attached to the tip portion of the flexible tubular body 24 connected to the hot water tank 164, and the flushing valve 23 is operated when the operation lever 231 provided on itself is operated. When it is in an open state, hot water is sprayed out as washing water. Such a flush valve 23 is a member for cleaning dirt generated during the beverage preparation process described later.

The flush valve housing 22 includes a housing main body 221 formed by processing a metal plate or the like, and a cover 222 that is swingably provided to approach and separate from the housing main body 221 . The housing body 221 locks and holds the flush valve 23 inserted into the housing body 221 after the lid 222 is swung to separate from the housing body 221 (see FIG. 7 ).

A detection rod 221 a is provided in the storage unit main body 221 . When the flush valve 23 is not housed as shown in FIG. 5 , the detection rod 221 a becomes a reference posture extending in the vertical direction. On the other hand, when the flush valve 23 is housed as shown in FIG. 7 , The detection rod 221a assumes a holding posture extending obliquely. Moreover, the storage detection part 19 is provided in the storage part main body 221, and the storage detection part 19 detects that the flush valve 23 is stored in the flush valve storage part 22 by being pressed by the detection rod 221a which becomes the holding position, and provides the detection result to Control unit 20. On the other hand, when the detection rod 221a is in the reference posture, the storage detection part 19 is not pressed by the detection rod 221a, thereby detecting that the flush valve 23 is not stored in the flush valve storage part 22, and the detection result is provided to Control unit 20.

The control part 20 and the above-mentioned selection part 11, display part 12, conveying mechanism 13, beverage raw material supply part 14, thick paste component supply part 15, beverage raw water supply part 16, stirring mechanism 17, door opening and closing locking mechanism 18 and storage The detection unit 19 is electrically connected, and the control unit 20 comprehensively controls the operations of these units according to the programs and data stored in the storage unit 21 which is also electrically connected thereto. In addition, the control unit 20 can be realized, for example, by causing a processing device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit: central processing unit) to execute a program, that is, by software, or by hardware such as an IC (Integrated Circuit: integrated circuit). Implemented using both software and hardware.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing processing contents of beverage preparation control processing executed by the control unit 20 shown in FIG. 2 . The operation of the beverage dispenser will be described while describing the beverage preparation control process described above. In addition, as a premise of the description, the door lock mechanism 18 is in a locked state.

In this beverage preparation control process, the control part 20 determines whether the storage detection part 19 has detected storage of the flush valve 23 (step S101). When the storage detection unit 19 has not detected the storage of the flush valve 23 (step S101: NO), the control unit 20 disables the selection member 11 (step S102). The invalidation of the selection member 11 refers to a state in which the control unit 20 does not accept a selection signal regardless of whether the beverage selection button 111a or the thick paste component selection button 112a is pressed.

The control unit 20 having disabled the selection member 11 in this way causes the display unit 12 to display an error code indicating that the flush valve 23 is not stored (step S103 ), and then returns to the step to end the current process.

Thereby, the manager of a beverage server can be made aware that the flush valve 23 is not accommodated in the predetermined accommodation position.

On the other hand, when the storage detection unit 19 detects the storage of the flush valve 23 (step S101: “Yes”), the control unit 20 enables the selection member 11 (step S104), and determines whether the selection signal is input or not. It is judged which drink selection button 111a has been pressed (step S105). When it cannot be determined whether drink selection button 111a has been pressed (step S105: NO), control unit 20 repeats the above-mentioned processing, and waits for drink selection button 111a to be pressed.

When it is determined that one of the beverage selection buttons 111a has been pressed (step S105: "Yes"), the control unit 20 determines whether the beverage has been drinkable before a predetermined time period has elapsed according to whether or not a selection signal has been input. The paste component selection button 112a is pressed (step S106, step S107).

When it is not determined that the thick paste component selection button 112a is pressed and a predetermined time has elapsed (step S106: "No", step S107: "yes"), the control unit 20 does not perform the processing described later, After that, the step is returned to end the current processing.

When it is determined that the thick paste component selection button 112a has been pressed before the predetermined time has elapsed (step S106: "Yes", step S107: "no"), the control unit 20 prepares the drink (step S108) . The preparation of the drink was carried out as follows. In addition, it is assumed that the hot drink selection button 111a of green tea is pressed in step S105, and the viscous paste component selection button 112a ("middle") is pressed in step S106.

The control unit 20 drives the transport mechanism 13 to transport the container C received from the container storage unit to the lower area of the raw material tank 141 for storing the green tea beverage raw material. The control unit 20 drives the corresponding raw material supply driving unit 142 to inject a predetermined amount of beverage raw material into the container C. As shown in FIG. Next, the control unit 20 drives the transport mechanism 13 to transport the container C to the area below the thick paste component tank 151 . The control unit 20 drives the thick paste component supply driving unit 152 to inject a predetermined amount of thick paste component into the container C.

When injecting the above-mentioned thick paste component into the container C, the control unit 20 determines whether the thick paste component has been put into the container C based on whether or not the detection signal from the component detection unit 153 is input. When it is determined that the thick paste component has not been added to the container C, the control unit 20 stops the preparation of the beverage, and displays an error code or the like indicating that the thick paste component has not been added on the display unit 12 .

On the other hand, when it is determined that the thick paste component has been put into the container C, the control unit 20 drives the transport mechanism 13 to transport the container C to the lower area of the discharge main body. The control unit 20 drives the stirring blade drive unit 172 to displace the stirring blade member 171 downward to dispose the stirring blades inside the container C, and at the same time, open the hot water supply valve 162 for a predetermined time to inject raw water ( hot water). After injecting the raw water, the control unit 20 drives the paddle drive unit 172 to rotate the paddle member 171, thereby stirring the powder raw material, the thick paste component and the raw water put into the container C. Thereafter, the control unit 20 drives the paddle drive unit 172 to displace the paddle member 171 upward, drives the transport mechanism 13 to move the container C to the supply position, and ends the beverage preparation.

After the drink is prepared in this way, the control unit 20 releases the lock of the closed state of the door 3 by the door lock mechanism 18 (step S109 ), and returns to the step to end the current process.

Accordingly, the beverage can be served to the user who swings the opening and closing door 3 forward in a state in which the beverage is put in the container C.

As described above, according to the beverage supply device according to the embodiment of the present invention, the component detection unit 153 detects whether the thick paste component is put into the container C, so it is possible to avoid the When the supplied drink does not contain thick paste ingredients, the risk of accidental ingestion can be reduced.

According to the beverage supply device described above, the control unit 20 prepares a drink when the type of beverage is selected by the beverage selection unit 111 and then the presence or absence of the thick paste component is selected by the thick paste component selection unit 112. Therefore, the presence or absence of the thick paste component can be determined as It is possible to reduce the risk of accidental swallowing by making selections based on the items to be confirmed, and clarifying whether or not to select thick paste ingredients.

According to the above-mentioned beverage supply device, when the storage detector 19 does not detect that the flush valve 23 is stored in the flush valve storage portion 22, the control portion 20 notifies the display portion 12 by displaying it, so that the beverage can be supplied. The manager of the device recognizes that the flush valve 23 is not stored in the predetermined storage position, and can prevent problems caused by the flush valve 23 not being stored in the predetermined storage position. In particular, when the storage detector 19 does not detect that the flush valve 23 is stored in the flush valve storage portion 22, the control portion 20 disables the selection member 11 to limit the brewing of the beverage, so that the beverage caused by the flush valve 23 can be prevented more reliably. Problems caused by not being stored in the specified storage position.

As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to this, Various changes are possible.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the component detection unit 153 is arranged near the thick paste component injector 154, and detects whether the thick paste component is thrown into the container C by detecting the passage of the thick paste component in the thick paste component injector 154. , but in the present invention, the component detection unit is not limited to this, and may be as follows. That is, the component detection unit may detect whether a thick paste component has been added based on the resistance when the paddle member 171 stirs, that is, whether the current value and voltage value to the paddle drive unit 172 are above a predetermined threshold. That is, the method is not particularly limited as long as it is possible to detect whether or not the thick paste component has been put into the container C.

In the above-described embodiment, the storage detection unit 19 detects that the flush valve 23 is stored in the flush valve storage unit 22 by being pressed by the detection lever 221a in the holding position, but in the present invention, the storage detection unit is not limited to this. For example, a storage detection unit may be constituted by an optical sensor or the like to detect whether the washing water spouting member is stored in a predetermined storage position. That is, the method is not particularly limited as long as it is possible to detect whether or not the washing water spouting member is housed in the housed position.

Claims (4)

1. A beverage supply device that prepares a beverage using beverage raw materials and beverage raw water put into a container, and supplies the beverage in a state where the beverage is put into the container, the beverage supply device is characterized in that said beverage raw material comprises a thick paste component which increases the viscosity of said beverage, The beverage supply device has: a beverage selection unit for selecting the type of beverage; A thick paste component selection unit, which is used to select any one of the non-sticky selection button and the sticky selection button as the choice of whether to have the thick paste component, wherein the sticky selection button can also select the thick paste the amount of ingredients; The control unit prepares the beverage after the beverage type is selected by the beverage selection unit and the presence or absence of the thick paste component is selected by the thick paste component selection unit, and, when the beverage is selected by the After the beverage selection unit selects the type of beverage and the thick paste component selection unit does not select the presence or absence of the thick paste component within a specified time, the control unit does not perform the operation of brewing the beverage; and The thick paste component supply part, when the amount of the thick paste component is selected by the thick paste component selection unit, the thick paste component supply part supplies a predetermined amount of the thick paste component corresponding to the selected amount to the container . 2. The beverage delivery device according to claim 1, wherein: A component detection unit for detecting whether or not the thick paste component is put into the container is also provided. 3. The beverage delivery device of claim 2, wherein: The component detection unit detects the passage of the thick paste component ejected from the storage box for storing the thick paste component. 4. The beverage delivery device of claim 2, wherein: A stirring mechanism is further provided for stirring the beverage raw material and raw drinking water put into the container to prepare the beverage, The component detection unit detects whether or not the thick paste component is put into the container based on the resistance when the stirring mechanism is stirring.