JP2000276651A - Cup-type beverage vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] Even after operating the selection button,
Provided is a vending machine capable of changing a setting for increasing or decreasing the amount of an additive until immediately before a beverage is prepared. Kind Code: A1 A bend stage, a raw material canister, an additive canister, a cup transport mechanism, a water heater, a selection button for selecting a kind of beverage, and an increase / decrease of an additive amount of the additive. And a function button for transferring the cup to the position of the canister 9 corresponding to the setting by the transfer mechanism 13 in accordance with the operation of the selection button to supply the raw material into the cup. The conveyed material is conveyed to the position of the bend stage 11, and at this position 11, the set amount of the additive at this time is determined by the control means, and the set amount of the additive is supplied to the canisters 34, 35.
And the hot water supplied from the water heater 19 to mix the beverage set with the selection button.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to dispensing beverages by supplying taste additives such as sugar and cream in a cup according to the raw material and taste of the beverage, and further supplying a liquid for producing a beverage. Cup-type beverage vending machine provided to customers.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a vending machine of this type, a plurality of raw material canisters and a plurality of additive canisters are arranged in the machine, and various raw materials for beverage production are added to each raw material canister. Sugar and cream as taste additives are individually stored in the product canister.

Further, a transport mechanism for holding a cup, transporting the cup in a horizontal XY direction, and transporting the cup to each of predetermined designated positions and disposing the cup therein, hot water for beverage production, etc. A liquid discharging mechanism for discharging the liquid is provided.

[0004] An opening / closing door is provided on the front face of the body, and a large number of selection buttons are provided on the opening / closing door as a beverage type selection setting means for selecting a beverage type, and when selecting a beverage containing an additive as a beverage type. A function button is provided as an additive increase / decrease setting means for increasing / decreasing the amount of the additive. Further, a sales port for taking out a cup is formed in the opening / closing door, and a bend stage is provided inside the opening / closing door so as to face the sales port.

[0005] In such a vending machine, a customer inserts money into a money insertion slot, operates a function button to set an increase or a decrease in an additive, and operates a selection button after the setting to operate a desired beverage. When the seed is selected, the transport mechanism in the machine body operates, the transport mechanism holds the cup in a predetermined position, and places the cup in a predetermined material canister and a predetermined additive canister according to the setting of the beverage type. Conveyed sequentially to the ponsion.

When the cup is placed at the position of the raw material canister, a predetermined raw material is supplied from the raw material canister into the cup. When the cup is placed at the position of the raw material canister, the additive canister is placed at the position. , The amount of additive set by the additive increase / decrease setting means is supplied into the cup.

[0007] Thereafter, the cup is transported to a bend stage position by a transport mechanism, and at this position, a liquid for producing a beverage, ie, hot water, is supplied from the liquid discharge mechanism into the cup, and the contents in the cup are further stirred by the stirring mechanism. The desired beverage set by the beverage type selection setting means is stirred and mixed. Then, the customer takes out the cup containing the beverage from the sales outlet.

[0008]

However, in the conventional configuration, the additive is supplied into the cup at an early stage when the transport mechanism starts operating, and thereafter, the cup is moved from a position away from the bend stage. It is transported to the position of the bend stage, where the liquid for beverage production is supplied into the cup and the actual dispensing of the beverage takes place, i.e. the supply of additives almost immediately after the start of the beverage production process. Therefore, after operating the function button to set the amount of the additive and operating the selection button, there is not enough time to change the setting of the amount of the additive, so that there is no time. In a conventional vending machine, the amount of the additive is set by operating the function button and the selection button is operated. The subsequent was changed in its settings Kikazu, there is insufficient surface in terms of services with respect to customers.

[0009] The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and the object thereof is to provide an additive until just before the beverage is dispensed, even after operating the beverage type selection setting means. It is an object of the present invention to provide a cup-type vending machine excellent in serviceability, which can change the setting for increasing or decreasing the amount of paper.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a bend stage provided opposite a vending machine of a vending machine, and a plurality of bend stages accommodating raw materials for beverage production. An additive canister containing a raw material canister and an additive, a transport mechanism for transporting a cup to each predetermined position, a liquid release mechanism for releasing a liquid for beverage production, and a beverage type for selecting and setting a beverage type Selection setting means, additive increase / decrease setting means for setting the increase / decrease of the additive amount of the additive, and judge whether there is a setting change by the additive increase / decrease setting means, and add the additive in an amount based on the judgment from the additive canister. Control means for discharging, in accordance with the operation on the beverage type selection setting means, the transport mechanism to transport the cup to the arrangement position of the raw material canister according to the setting, and The raw material in the feed canister is supplied into the cup, and thereafter, the cup is transported to the position of the bend stage. At this position of the bend stage, the presence or absence of the setting change by the additive increase / decrease setting means at this time is controlled by And the amount of additive based on this determination is discharged from the additive canister and supplied into the cup, and the liquid for beverage production is supplied into the cup by the liquid release mechanism, and the beverage type selection setting means The set beverage is prepared.

In the invention of claim 2, the additive canister has a discharge port for discharging the additive therein, and the discharge port is arranged at the position of the bend stage.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front view of the vending machine, FIG. 2 is a front view of the internal structure, and FIG. 3 is a plan view of the internal structure. The body 1 of the vending machine has a box shape with an open front, and an opening / closing door 2 is pivotally connected to the front of the body 1 as shown in FIG. Is formed.

A large number of selection buttons 5 for each beverage type are provided on the front surface of the opening / closing door 2 as a beverage type selection setting means, and when a customer desires an additive-containing beverage, the amount of the additive is increased or decreased. And a function button 6 as an additive increase / decrease setting means. Further, on the front face of the opening / closing door 2, there are provided a loading section 7 for inserting money, a return port 8 for the change, and the like.

2 and FIG. 3
As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of raw material canisters 9 are provided side by side, and powder raw materials for producing various kinds of beverages such as coffee and cocoa are individually accommodated in the raw material canisters 9. A cylindrical discharge port 10 is provided at the lower part of the front surface of each raw material canister 9.

A bend stage 11 is provided at the front of the body 1 so as to face the sales port 3 of the opening / closing door 2, and a stirring mechanism 12 is provided above the bend stage 11. A transport mechanism 13 is provided in a lower space on the front side of.

The stirring mechanism 12 includes an impeller 1 that moves up and down.
The transport mechanism 13 has a cup holder 15 and a transfer guide device 16 for moving the cup holder 15 in the X and Y directions. Are sequentially conveyed to each position. The bend stage 11 is provided with a detection sensor 17 for optically detecting the presence or absence of the cup, for example.

A water heater 19 as a liquid discharging mechanism for discharging a liquid for producing a beverage is provided at a rear corner in the body 1, and the water heater 19 is, as shown in FIG.
The first and second hoses 22 and 23 are led out of the solenoid valves 20 and 21, and the distal end of the first hose 22 is drawn into the upper part of the bend stage 11. ing.

As shown in FIG. 2, a bean canister 25 containing coffee beans, a mill 26 for grinding and pulverizing the coffee beans discharged from the bean canister 25, A coffee extraction device 27 for receiving the coffee powder ground at 26 is provided vertically, and the tip of the second hose 23 of the water heater 19 is introduced into the coffee extraction device 27.

When coffee powder is supplied from the mill 26 to the coffee extraction device 27, a predetermined amount of hot water is supplied from the water heater 19 through the second hose 23 to the coffee extraction device 27, and the hot water Is extracted, and the coffee is discharged toward the bend stage 11 through a discharge hose 28.

An ice maker 30 is provided in the interior of the body 1 in parallel with the water heater 19, and the ice maker 30 has a solenoid type opening / closing mechanism 31. A hose 32 is connected to the opening / closing mechanism 31. The ice chips are drawn out and sent out to the bend stage 11 through the hose 32.

On the back side of the bend stage 11, an additive canister 34 containing sugar as an additive and an additive canister 35 containing cream are provided in parallel adjacent to the bend stage 11. In addition, cylindrical discharge ports 36 and 37 are provided at the lower part of the front surface of these additive canisters 34 and 35, respectively.
7 is disposed above the bend stage 11.

A discharge mechanism 40 for discharging the raw material therein is provided at the inner bottom of each raw material canister 9, and a discharge mechanism 41 for discharging the coffee beans therein is provided at the inner bottom of the bean canister 25. Discharge mechanisms 42 and 43 are provided at the inner bottoms of the additive canisters 34 and 35, respectively, for discharging the additives therein.

A cup case 4 is provided on the inner surface of the door 2.
The cup case 46 accommodates cups of various sizes. When the opening / closing door 2 is closed to the front of the body 1, the cup case 46 is disposed in a space in the body 1 in front of the raw material canister 9. It is designed to be pulled out forward.

In addition, 47 is a cooler bath for generating cold water,
48 is a cooling unit for cooling the cooler bath 47,
Reference numeral 49 denotes a waste liquid bucket for storing waste liquid flowing out of the bend stage 11 through the hose 50, and reference numeral 51 denotes a refuse bucket for storing extracted coffee grounds discharged from the coffee extraction device 27.

FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the control circuit.
Reference numeral 3 denotes a control unit as control means incorporating a microcomputer. The control unit 53 has a selection button 5 as a beverage type selection setting means, a function button 6 as an additive increase / decrease setting means, and a detection sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a cup. 17 are connected. And each button 5,6
And a detection signal of the detection sensor 17 are output to the control unit 53. Based on the output signal, the control unit 53 causes the transport mechanism 13, the discharge mechanism 40 of the raw material canister 9, the discharge mechanism 41 of the bean canister 25, Discharge mechanisms 42 and 43 of additive canisters 34 and 35, mill 26, coffee extraction device 27, solenoid valves 20 and 21 of water heater 19, opening and closing mechanism 31 of ice maker 31, stirring mechanism 12
Are controlled in accordance with predetermined programs.

Next, the operation of the thus-configured cup-type beverage vending machine will be described. Now, assume that a customer who uses a vending machine desires an instant-type A coffee containing, for example, sugar and cream. In this case, the customer first inserts money into the money input unit 7. Then, the user presses the function button 6 to set the amounts of sugar and cream. For example, setting is made such that sugar is smaller than the standard and cream is larger than the standard. When the operation on the function button 6 is not performed, the amounts of sugar and cream are set to standard.

Next, the selection button 5 corresponding to the desired type A coffee containing sugar and cream is pressed. In response to this operation, the transport mechanism 13 in the body 1 is operated under the control of the control unit 53, and the cup holder 15 is first transported to a position below the cup case 46. Is supplied to the cup holder 15.

Thereafter, the cup holder 1 holding the cup
5 is conveyed to a disposition position of the raw material canister 9 in which the raw material of the type A coffee is stored, and at this position, the raw material in the raw material canister 9 is discharged.
By the operation of 0, a predetermined amount is supplied into the cup through the outlet 10.

Thereafter, the cup holder 1 holding the cup
5 is transported into the bend stage 11. When the cup reaches the bend stage 11 and is arranged, it is detected by the detection sensor 17, and based on this detection, the additive canisters 34, 35 are controlled by the control unit 53.
Of the additive canister 40, the sugar is discharged from the discharge port 36 of the additive canister 40, and the cream is discharged from the discharge port 37 of the other additive canister 41. It is supplied into a cup arranged on the bend stage 11.

When the cup is detected by the detection sensor 17, it is determined by the control unit 53 whether or not the setting of the added amounts of sugar and cream by the function button 6 is changed. Based on this determination, the additive canister 3 is determined.
The drive of the discharge mechanisms 42, 43 of the 4, 35 is controlled, and when there is no change in the setting, the amount of sugar and cream as originally set is discharged and supplied into the cup. The amount of sugar and cream corresponding to the setting of is discharged and supplied into the cup.

When supplying the additive, the water heater 1
A predetermined amount of hot water is supplied from the hose 9 through the hose 22, and the impeller 14 of the stirring device 12 descends while rotating and enters the cup, and the impeller 14 stirs the contents in the cup. , The type A coffee containing sugar and cream desired by the customer is mixed, and after this mixing, the rotation of the impeller 14 stops and rises to return to the original position. Then, the customer takes out the cup containing the beverage to be placed in the bend stage 11 from the sales outlet 3.

In the case of iced coffee, the ice maker 3
Ice pieces are supplied from 0 through the hose 32 into the cup. When coffee with sugar and without cream is selected, only sugar is supplied into the cup, and when coffee with cream and without sugar is selected, only cream is supplied into the cup.

As described above, in the present invention, the additive is supplied into the cup when the cup reaches the bend stage 11, and therefore, there is a certain amount of time before the additive is supplied. . Then, within this extra time, the setting of the amount of the additive can be changed, so that the operation of the function button 6 performed prior to the operation of the selection button 5 may be forgotten,
Once the amount of the additive is set, select button 5
Even if it is desired to set the amount of the additive again after the operation, the operation can be performed.

When the selection button 5 is operated, the set amount of the additive by the function button 6 at that time is displayed by, for example, a lamp.
Even after that, the fact that the set amount can be changed is displayed by blinking the lamp.

On the other hand, when the customer desires a regular coffee containing sugar and cream, the customer first operates the function button 6 to set the amounts of sugar and cream, and then performs a predetermined selection. Operate button 5.

In response to this operation, the transport mechanism 13 in the machine body 1 is operated under the control of the control unit 53, and the cup holder 15 is transported to a position below the cup case 46. Is supplied to the cup holder 15, and thereafter, the cup holder 15 holding the cup is transported to the position of the bend stage 11, and the cup stands by at this position.

In parallel with this operation, after the selection button 5 is operated, the discharge mechanism 41 of the bean canister 25 is operated under the control of the control unit 53, and this bean canister 25 is operated.
A predetermined amount of coffee beans is supplied to the mill 26. The coffee beans are pulverized by the operation of the mill 26, and the powder is supplied to the coffee extraction device 27. Thereafter, a predetermined amount of hot water is supplied from the water heater 19 into the coffee extraction device 27, and coffee is extracted by the hot water. The coffee is supplied through a hose 28 into the bend stage 11 cup.

This series of coffee extraction steps takes several tens of seconds, and this time is counted by the control unit 53, and it is determined whether or not coffee is supplied into the cup based on the count.

When the coffee is supplied into the cup, the control unit 53 determines whether or not the setting of the added amount of sugar and cream has been changed by the function button 6. A quantity of sugar and cream and, if there is a change, a changed set quantity of sugar and cream are respectively dispensed from the additive canisters 34, 35 into the cup. After that, the impeller 14 of the stirring mechanism 12 descends while rotating and enters the cup, and the impeller 14
The contents in the cup are agitated by this, and a predetermined beverage, that is, a regular coffee containing sugar and cream desired by the customer is prepared by the agitation. After the preparation, the rotation of the impeller 14 is stopped, and the impeller 14 is lifted and rises. Return to position.

[0041]

As explained above, according to the present invention,
Even after the amount of the additive is set and the selection of the beverage type is performed, the amount of the additive can be adjusted, so that the serviceability to customers is improved, and sales promotion is expected. be able to.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing the internal structure of the vending machine.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the internal structure of the vending machine.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control circuit of the vending machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Machine body 2 ... Opening / closing door 3 ... Sales outlet 5 ... Selection button (beverage type selection setting means) 6 ... Function button (additive increase / decrease setting means) 9 ... Raw material canister 11 ... Bend stage 13 ... Transport mechanism 19 ... Water heater ( Liquid discharge mechanism) 34, 35 ... additive canister 40, 41, 42, 43 ... discharge mechanism 53 ... control unit (control means)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Hirofumi Yoshimoto 11th Hiiragiyama, Obu-cho, Obu-shi, Aichi Prefecture Inside Apex Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Shigeo Shimizu 11th Hiiragi-yama, Obu-cho, Obu-shi, Aichi Prefecture F Apex Corporation F Terms (reference) 3E047 AA02 AA03 BA01 BA03 CA06 CC04 EA04 EA07 EA08 EB01 EC01 GA04

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A bend stage provided to face a vending machine of a vending machine, a plurality of raw material canisters containing raw materials for beverage production, an additive canister containing additives, and a cup are provided. A transport mechanism for transporting to each position of, a liquid release mechanism for releasing a liquid for beverage generation, and a beverage type selection setting means for selecting and setting a beverage type,
Additive increase / decrease setting means for setting the increase / decrease of the additive amount of the additive, and control means for judging the presence / absence of a setting change by the additive increase / decrease setting means, and discharging the additive in an amount based on the judgment from the additive canister. In accordance with the operation on the beverage type selection setting means, the transport mechanism transports the cup to the arrangement position of the raw material canister according to the setting, and supplies the raw material in the raw material canister into the cup, and thereafter, The cup is transported to the position of the bend stage, and at this position of the bend stage, the control means determines whether or not the setting has been changed by the additive increase / decrease setting means at this time, and the amount of additive based on this determination is added. The product is discharged from the canister and supplied into the cup, and the liquid for beverage production is supplied into the cup by the liquid discharging mechanism. Wherein the beverage set by the beverage type selection setting means is dispensed. 2. The additive canister according to claim 1, wherein the additive canister has a discharge port for discharging the additive therein, and the discharge port is arranged at a position of a bend stage.
4. A cup-type vending machine according to claim 1.