JP2001118139A - Heater of beverage or food and vending machine of beverage provided with it - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a heater for speedily heating a beverage or food in a container kept at a temperature avoiding quality deterioration. SOLUTION: This heater is provided with a tank 1 for storing a liquid at a high temperature, a liquid flowing means 10 for making the liquid flow, a container holding means 3 for holding a container 2 housing a beverage or food and a rotation means 4 for rotationally moving the container 2 within the tank 1. Thus, the liquid at a high temperature being a heat source for heating the beverage or food can be made to flow within the tank and the container 2 can rotationally be moved in the direction of improving a relative speed between the flowing liquid and the container 2 in the flowing liquid at the high temperature being the heat source. Thus, a heat transfer coefficient between the liquid in the tank 1 and the wall surface of the container 2 can be improved and moving of heat from the liquid to the container wall is quickened.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a heating device for heating a beverage or food in a short time at the time of sale, and to a beverage vending machine provided with the heating device.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Beverages or foods in containers, for example,
As a method for heating canned beverages, there are techniques using an electric heater or induction heating.

For example, as one method of heating canned beverages, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 6-36133 discloses a method in which a cylinder having a diameter larger than the diameter of the canned beverage is provided around the canned beverage, and an induction heating is provided around the cylinder. A coil is provided, the canned beverage is disposed inside the cylinder, the wall surface of the canned beverage is induction-heated, and at the same time, the canned beverage is rotated to enhance the stirring effect of the beverage and rapidly heat the canned beverage.

[0004] There is also a method using hot water bathing, and a technique has been disclosed for applying this method to a beverage vending machine to improve the quality of energy drinks and save energy.

[0005] For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-342471 discloses a method for heating canned beverages by hot water decoction.

[0006] In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-342471, a hot water bath for heating the canned beverage and a means for vibrating the canned beverage in the hot water bath are provided, and the canned beverage is automatically supplied to the hot water bath, and after a predetermined time, By discharging canned beverages to the outside, products stored in a range that does not degrade the quality regardless of the material and manufacturing method of the metal can can be heated in a short time, and the heating does not use high heat that lowers product quality. In addition, a power supply similar to a home power supply is used.

[0007]

However, the conventional heating method using an electric heater or induction heating requires a large amount of electric power (for example, a 200 V AC power supply is applied) in order to shorten the heating time. When an AC100V power supply, which is a normal household outlet, is used, only about 1 kW of power can be obtained even when heating is performed efficiently, and the heating time becomes longer.

Further, when induction heating is used, it can be applied only to metal containers such as canned beverages, and further, local heating is apt to occur, and the quality of the beverage is reduced by boiling.

[0009] In the method of shaking canned beverages,
Even when installed in a beverage vending machine, the heating time is long, causing the beverage consumers to feel uneasy and frustrated.

[0010] The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and uses a AC100V power supply to store beverages or foods stored in a temperature range that does not degrade the quality without deteriorating the quality by local heating or the like. It is an object of the present invention to provide a heating device and a beverage vending machine for rapidly heating in a shorter time.

[0011]

In order to achieve this object, a beverage or food heating apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a tank for storing a high-temperature liquid; a liquid flowing means for flowing the liquid in the tank; Alternatively, there is provided container holding means for holding a container containing food in the tank, and rotating means for rotating the container in the tank.

Further, a rotating means capable of changing the number of rotations is used as the rotating means.

Further, there is provided a container moving means for moving the container containing the beverage or food in the tank in a direction against the flow of the liquid generated by the liquid flowing means.

The beverage vending machine is provided with the above-mentioned beverage or food heating device. Thereby, AC10
Using a 0V power supply, a beverage or food stored in a temperature range that does not degrade the quality can be rapidly heated in a shorter time without lowering the quality due to local heating or the like.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
A heating device for a beverage or food, a tank for storing a high-temperature liquid, a liquid flowing means for flowing the liquid in the tank, a container holding means for holding a container containing the beverage or food in the tank, and the container And rotating means for rotating the tank in the tank, a high-temperature liquid serving as a heat source for heating the beverage or food can be flowed in the tank, and the container containing the beverage or food in the flowing liquid. By rotating the liquid in a direction in which the relative speed increases, the heat transfer coefficient existing between the liquid in the tank and the wall surface of the container can be increased, and the heat transfer from the liquid to the container wall can be promoted.

The second aspect of the present invention is the first aspect of the present invention.
In the described invention, the rotating means is a rotating means capable of changing the number of rotations, the number of rotations of the container containing the beverage or food can be changed, the number of rotations of the contents of the container can also be changed, and the contents of the container can be changed. The heat transfer coefficient between the container and the container wall can be maintained as large as possible, and the heat transfer from the container wall to the container contents can be promoted.

The third aspect of the present invention is the first aspect of the present invention.
In addition to the described invention, a container containing a beverage or food,
Since there is provided a container moving means capable of moving the inside of the tank in a direction against the flow generated by the liquid flowing means for flowing the liquid in the tank, the beverage or the food is moved in a direction against the flow of the liquid in the tank. Can be rotated while moving the container, which promotes the turbulent state of the liquid in the tank and averages the liquid temperature, so that more even hot liquid can be applied to the container wall. Has the effect of being able to.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the beverage vending machine is provided with the beverage or food heating device of the first, second or third aspect of the invention, so that the quality does not deteriorate until the point of sale. It has the effect of rapidly heating and selling beverages or foods stored in a temperature range in a shorter time.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a beverage or food heating apparatus according to Embodiment 1.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a tank for storing a liquid having a high boiling point, which may be hot water.

2 is a container containing a beverage or food;
The object to be heated.

In this embodiment, the liquid to be put into the tank 1 is high-temperature hot water, and the beverage or food
Is described as a canned beverage such as canned coffee.

Numeral 3 denotes a container holding means for holding the canned beverage 2, and which can rotate while holding the canned beverage.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a rotating means, which comprises a container motor 5 as a power source, a small gear 6, a large gear 7, and a motor control device 8.

When the container motor 5 starts rotating, the small gear 6 also rotates, and its power is transmitted to the large gear 7, and the container holding means 3 connected to the large gear 7 also rotates.

The motor control device 8 controls the operation of the container motor 5.

In the first embodiment, the description will be made assuming that the power of the rotating means 4 is transmitted by a combination of a motor and a gear. However, the rotating means 4 may be any as long as it can transmit the rotating power to the container holding means 3. .

Reference numeral 9 denotes an electric heater, which keeps the temperature of the hot water put in the tank 1 at a temperature close to the boiling point of about 95 to 99 ° C.

Numeral 10 denotes a liquid flowing means, which comprises a tank motor 11 and a flowing screw 12.

The tank motor 11 and the flow screw 12
Are connected, and when the tank motor 11 rotates, the flow screw 12 also rotates.

As the flow screw 12 rotates, the hot liquid that has entered the tank 1 flows in the tank 1.

In the first embodiment, the tank motor 11 and the flow screw 12 of the liquid flowing means 10
The method will be described in which the high-temperature liquid is attached to the bottom of the tank 1 and the high-temperature liquid flows in the tank 1 in a vortex shape. What is necessary is just a configuration in which a high-temperature liquid flows in the tank 1.

Reference numeral 13 denotes an object detection sensor for determining the presence or absence of the canned beverage 2.

The operation of the beverage or food heating apparatus having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the container holding means and the canned beverage before holding the canned beverage according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the container holding means and the canned beverage when holding the canned beverage according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the container holding means and the structure for mounting the canned beverage when holding the canned beverage according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows the movement of the canned beverage and the hot water in the tank in cross section AB when the canned beverage is heated in the tank by the beverage or food heating device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing the change over time of the internal temperature of the canned beverage according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing the change over time in the rotation speed of the can wall and the inside of the beverage when the rotation speed of the canned beverage in the first embodiment of the present invention is kept constant.

FIG. 8 is a graph showing the change over time of the operation / stop state of the container motor and the rotation speed inside the beverage when the rotation speed of the canned beverage in the first embodiment of the present invention is varied.

First, several liters (for example, about 3 liters) of water is put into the tank 1, and the water is heated by the electric heater device 9 to make hot water (for example, 99 ° C.).

The hot water temperature is preferably set to a high temperature, but can be set to an arbitrary temperature by the electric heater device 9.

When the temperature of hot water reaches the set temperature, electric heater device 9 repeats energization / de-energization so that the temperature of hot water becomes a constant temperature (in the first embodiment, the temperature of hot water is 99%).
The temperature is set to ° C., and the following will be described. ).

Next, the canned beverage 2 is attached to the container holding means 3.

In the first embodiment, the beverage and food in the container are described as canned beverages.
Is for canned beverages as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3,
The container holding means 3 may be any as long as it can hold an arbitrary container and can rotate while being immersed in the tank 1.

The container holding means 3 shown in FIG. 2 comprises a base 3a and a holding portion 3b.

The base 3a has a round tray shape turned upside down, and has a holding portion 3b fixed to the inner diameter side.

The holding portion 3b has a ring shape and is made of a rubber material or the like. A step portion formed on the inner diameter side immediately below the crimping portion 2b of the canned beverage 2 has a stepped portion extending from the outer circumferential direction of the canned beverage 2. There is a projection to pinch.

The projections have some elasticity, and have such hardness that the canned beverage 2 can be removed.

When the canned beverage 2 is attached, the upper end portion (the side of the drinking spout) of the canned beverage 2 is fitted into the holding portion 3b. Between the steps that can be made.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view when the canned beverage 2 is fitted into the container holding means 3.

FIG. 2 shows the state before the canned beverage 2 is attached, and FIG. 3 shows the canned beverage 2 and the container holding means 3 with the canned beverage 2 attached.
The positional relationship of is shown.

When the canned beverage 2 is inserted into the container holding means 3, the force of pinching the holding portion 3 b causes the container holding means 3.
Of course, the center of rotation of the canned beverage 2 and the center of the canned beverage 2 coincide with each other, and the uppermost end of the canned beverage 2 is pressed against the base 3a, so that the upper end of the canned beverage 2 and the base 3a are pressed. Are almost parallel and fixed.

Finally, the canned beverage 2 can be rotated on the same rotation axis as the container holding means 3.

Although the first embodiment will be described with the canned beverage 2 standing, the canned beverage 2 may be placed horizontally.

When the canned beverage 2 is attached, the container holding means 3
Is disposed above the tank 1, so that the attached canned beverage 2 is not submerged in the hot water of the tank 1.

Next, the object detection sensor 13 detects that the canned beverage 2 is attached.

When it is detected that the canned beverage 2 is attached, the tank motor 11 of the liquid flowing means 10 starts rotating.

The tank motor 11 and the flow screw 12
Are directly connected, and when the tank motor 11 rotates, the flow screw 12 also starts rotating.

By the rotation of the flow screw 12, the hot water in the tank 1 starts rotating in the tank 1 in a spiral.

The direction of rotation of the flow screw 12 is either clockwise or counterclockwise as viewed from above the tank 1.

In the first embodiment, the flow rate of hot water in the tank 1 is not shown because the optimum value varies depending on the shape of the tank 1, the number of rotations of the canned beverage 2 and the like. Needless to say, it is better that a large amount of hot water hits the wall surface of the canned beverage 2.

In the first embodiment, the rotation direction of the hot water in the tank 1 will be described as a clockwise direction.

Next, the container holding means 3 is lowered, and the canned beverage 2 is submerged in hot water in the tank 1.

At the same time as the canned beverage 2 is sunk, the motor control device 8 controls the container motor 5 to rotate at a constant rotation speed (for example, 10
00 rpm), the rotation of the container motor 5 starts, and the canned beverage 2 also rotates.

At this time, the rotating direction of the canned beverage 2 is always rotated in the opposite direction to the hot water in the tank 1.

FIG. 5 shows the rotation direction of the canned beverage 2 and the hot water in the tank 1 (when the hot water in the tank 1 is rotated clockwise).

In FIG. 5, the hot water in the tank 1 is turned clockwise (α
Direction), the canned beverage 2 is rotated by the rotation of the container holding means 3.
It is rotating counterclockwise (β direction).

The relationship between the flowing direction of the hot water and the rotating direction of the canned beverage is such that when the flowing screw 12 is clockwise as viewed from above the tank 1, the canned beverage 2 is counterclockwise.
If the fluid screw 12 is counterclockwise, the canned beverage 2 should be clockwise.

In the first embodiment, the canned beverage 2 is stored in the tank 1
Although the rotation is started from the moment of submerging in hot water, the canned beverage 2 may be rotated before submerging in the tank 1.

Almost the entire surface of the can wall of the canned beverage 2 comes into contact with the hot water, and by rotating the canned beverage 2, the internal beverage is caused to move in the same direction as the rotating direction of the can wall by the frictional force with the canned wall. Flows and promotes agitation.

Further, since the hot water flowing into the tank 1 is caused to flow in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the canned beverage 2, the relative speed between the can wall and the hot water is larger than when the hot water in the tank 1 is not flowed. The heat transfer coefficient between the hot water and the can wall is increased, the heat transfer from the hot water to the can wall is promoted, the amount of heat transferred to the inside of the canned beverage 2 is increased, and the internal temperature rise of the canned beverage 2 is also large. .

Further, even if the hot water in the tank 1 and the rotation of the canned beverage 2 are continued for a long time, the internal temperature of the canned beverage 2 finally becomes the same as the hot water temperature, and never exceeds the temperature of the hot water. Therefore, no scorching or the like occurs in the canned beverage 2.

In FIG. 6, characteristic 1 is that a canned beverage of a certain size (eg, 34 ° C.) refrigerated at a certain temperature (eg, 5 ° C.)
0g) in a few liters (for example, 3 liters) of hot water (for example, 99 ° C.) without rotating, and the change in internal temperature of the can beverage. The characteristic 3 is a change in the internal temperature of a canned beverage when roasted while rotating, and the characteristic 3 is that the hot water is rotated and fluidized.
5 shows a change in the temperature inside the canned beverage when the rotation direction of the can is rotated in the direction opposite to the flowing direction of the hot water.

That is, even if the same canned beverage is roasted, the change over time in the internal temperature of the canned beverage 2 is clearly different depending on whether or not the hot water in the tank 1 is flowing. Since the temperature rise of the canned beverage 2 is larger than that of 2) and the heat transfer from the hot water to the can wall is promoted, it can be seen that the heat transfer coefficient between the hot water and the can wall is increased.

The characteristic shown in FIG. 6 is an example when the canned beverage 2 is roasted in hot water, and the characteristic differs depending on the kind of the beverage and the like.

When the canned beverage 2 is to be heated to an appropriate temperature,
From FIG. 6, it can be seen that the time required for the canned beverage 2 at a certain temperature (for example, 5 ° C.) to reach the temperature for drinking (for example, 60 ° C.) is about 25 seconds. Just rotate it.

As shown in FIG. 6, the time required for the canned beverage 2 at a certain temperature (for example, 5 ° C.) to reach the drinking temperature (for example, 60 ° C.) is 95 seconds in the method of the characteristic 1, and 28 seconds in the method of the characteristic 2.
Seconds.

The time until the temperature of the canned beverage 2 reaches the temperature at which it can be drunk differs depending on the type and size of the container. Therefore, data is taken in advance, and the type and size of the container are determined and determined. Just do it.

The type and size of the container can be determined by using a bar code written on the container.

As another method, the surface temperature of the canned beverage 2 may be measured using an infrared sensor or the like, and the internal temperature may be estimated from the surface temperature, and the rotation of the canned beverage 2 may be stopped when the temperature reaches a good drinking temperature. .

Even when the surface temperature of the canned beverage 2 is measured using an infrared sensor or the like, since the internal beverage of the canned beverage 2 is stirred by rotation, the internal temperature difference is relatively small, and the estimation of the internal temperature is compared. It is easy.

When the temperature of the canned beverage 2 reaches the drinking temperature (for example, 60 ° C.), the operation signal from the motor control device 8 of the rotating means 4 is stopped, the container motor 5 is stopped, and the container holding means 3 is stopped. .

At the same time, in order to prevent the temperature of the canned beverage 2 from rising, the container holding means 3 is removed so that the canned beverage 2 is removed from the hot water.
Rises, and the liquid flowing means 10 and the tank motor 11 also stop.

In the first embodiment, the description of the mechanism for moving the container holding means 3 up and down is omitted.

When the raised canned beverage 2 is removed from the container holding means 3, the beverage consumer can drink the beverage.

On the other hand, the temperature of the hot water in the tank 1 is lower than that at the start of heating because heat is supplied to the canned beverage 2.

For example, considering a canned beverage containing 340 ml, the amount of heat required to warm a 5 ° C. beverage to 60 ° C. is
78279J (18.70 kcal).

However, in the present embodiment, the calorie is expressed in joules (1 cal = 4.18605 J), and the specific heats are all 4.18605 J / (kg · K) (= 1 cal / (k
g · ° C.)).

Assuming that all the energy required to warm the canned beverage from the hot water in the tank 1 has been added to the canned beverage without any loss (heat outflow to the canned beverage 2), the hot water requires the amount of heat 78279J required by the canned beverage. (18.70 kcal), the same amount of heat has been removed, and the temperature of the hot water drops.

For example, assuming that the volume of hot water is 3 liters, the temperature of hot water at 99 ° C. drops by about 4.6 ° C.

Therefore, when the heating of the canned beverage 2 is completed,
Although it is necessary to raise the temperature of the hot water in the tank 1, it is sufficient to use the electric heater 9 or the like for heating the hot water. The electric heater 9 is turned on until the temperature of the hot water reaches the set temperature (for example, 99 ° C.). Power is supplied at the maximum capacity (for example, about 1 kW in the case of an AC 100 V power supply).

When the temperature of the hot water reaches the set temperature (for example, 99 ° C.), the electric heater device 9 stops energizing at the maximum capacity.
Thereafter, it is only necessary to control the heat retention so that the hot water temperature becomes the set temperature.

When the heater in the tank 1 is heated or the heater is energized for keeping the temperature warm, the liquid flowing means 10 may be operated, and the heat transfer from the electric heater 9 to the hot water is promoted. Needless to say, the agitation is promoted.

The description of the control method of the electric heater device 9 is omitted, but if the electric heater device 9 (for example, 1 kW) is energized to recover to the set temperature (99 ° C.), the next canned beverage is similarly processed. Can be heated.

If the current capacity of the power supply (up to about 15 A for an AC 100 V system, depending on the power situation) can be maintained, the electric heater device 9 or the like can be energized while the container holding means 3 is rotating. good.

As described above, by flowing the hot water in the tank 1 in the direction opposite to the rotating direction of the canned beverage 2 at the time of boiling, the heat transfer coefficient between the hot water and the can wall can be increased.
The amount of heat that moves into the inside of the device can be increased.

[0100] Therefore, compared to the case where the canned beverage 2 is simply rotated in high-temperature hot water, the time required for the canned beverage 2 to reach the temperature at which it can be drunk can be reduced (about 3 seconds).

According to the above embodiment, a high-temperature liquid serving as a heat source for heating a beverage or food can be caused to flow in the tank, and a container containing the beverage or food can be mixed with the flowing liquid in the high-temperature flowing liquid serving as a heat source. By rotating the container in a direction that increases the relative speed between the containers, the heat transfer coefficient between the liquid in the tank and the wall surface of the container can be increased, the heat transfer from the liquid to the container wall can be promoted, and the quality deteriorates. A beverage or food stored at a temperature that is not allowed to be heated can be efficiently and more rapidly heated.

When the canned beverage 2 is being rotated, the rotation speed of the canned beverage 2 may be variably controlled by using the motor control device 8 of the rotating means 4 for controlling the container motor 5.

The operation when the rotation speed of the canned beverage 2 is varied will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the change over time in the rotation speed of the can wall and the inside of the beverage when the rotation speed of the canned beverage is kept constant in Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows an example of the correlation between the running / stopped state of the container motor 5 and the change over time in the rotational speed inside the beverage when the rotational speed of the canned beverage is varied according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

The characteristics shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 are examples when the canned beverage is rotated, and the characteristics vary depending on the type and size of the beverage.

In FIG. 7, a characteristic 11 is a change with time of the rotation speed of the can wall in the canned beverage 2, and a characteristic 12 is a change with time of the rotation speed of the internal beverage in the canned drink 2.

As shown by the characteristic 12 in FIG. 7, when the canned beverage 2 is rotated, the rotation speed of the internal beverage starts from a stationary state, gradually increases, and finally reaches the rotation speed of the can wall shown in the characteristic 11. To reach.

Generally, the heat transfer coefficient between the liquid and the solid increases as the flow velocity of the liquid increases, and therefore, in the first embodiment, the heat transfer coefficient increases as the relative speed between the can wall of the canned beverage 2 and the internal beverage increases. The transmission rate increases.

In FIG. 7, the value obtained by subtracting the characteristic 12 from the characteristic 11 is the relative speed between the can wall and the internal beverage.
In the initial period of rotation (for example, 0 to 14 seconds) in FIG.
Second), the heat transfer is also small due to the reduced relative speed.

That is, in order to rotate the canned beverage 2 in a state where the heat transfer coefficient between the can wall and the internal beverage is large, the operation / stop of the container motor 5 may be repeated at the timing shown in FIG. The relative speed between the can wall of the beverage 2 and the internal beverage can be relatively high, and the heat transfer coefficient can be kept high.

However, if the canned beverage 2 is kept for a long time (for example, 3 seconds)
When stopped, the relative speed between the hot water and the can wall becomes small, not only the heat transfer from the hot water to the can wall becomes bad, but also the stirring effect due to the flow of the internal beverage becomes small,
Stopping the flow of the internal beverage (stopping the rotation of the canned beverage 2) is disadvantageous, and therefore, the stoppage time of the canned beverage 2 should be instantaneous (for example, within one second).

The change over time of the rotation speed of the internal beverage of the canned beverage 2 according to the operation / stop state of the container motor 5 is represented by the characteristic 13
become that way.

By setting the rotation speed of the internal beverage to the characteristic 13, both the effect of stirring the internal beverage of the canned beverage 2 and the heat transfer by improving the heat transfer coefficient between the can wall and the internal beverage can be compatible.

Therefore, by variably controlling the container motor 5, the number of rotations of the container containing the beverage or food can be changed, and the number of rotations of the contents of the container can also be changed. The heat transfer coefficient can be kept large,
Heat transfer from the container wall surface to the container contents can be promoted.

Although the rotation speed of the canned beverage 2 is set to about 1000 rpm in the first embodiment, the rotation speed may be any achievable speed, and the higher the rotation speed, the better.

In the present embodiment, a case where canned beverage is applied to beverages or food in containers has been described. However, the heating time is long, but beverages in PET bottles, bottled beverages, etc. may be used. Alternatively, the beverage or food stored in a large container may be divided into containers that can be held by the container holding means and heated.

Although the effect of stirring the inside of the container cannot be expected, the canned food may be warmed as long as it can be held by the container holding means 3.

Further, in the first embodiment, the container holding means 3 has been described with a simple structure in which only the upper end of the canned beverage 2 is fixed, but the container holding means 3 is cylindrical and has a large number of holes in its wall surface. May be used, as long as the outer wall surface of the container of the canned beverage 2 and the hot water contained in the tank 1 directly touch.

Further, a container for pouring the contents of the beverage may be incorporated in the tank of the beverage or food heating device, and the beverage or the food may be directly placed in the container and heated.

In the first embodiment, the container holding means 3 and the rotating means 4 are connected by using a plurality of gears, and the container holding means 3 is rotated to rotate the beverage container. Although described using an example, a structure capable of transmitting the power of the rotating means 6 directly to the beverage container may be employed. For example, the container holding means 3 itself is fixed in the tank without rotating, and the rotating means 4 is rotated by a rotating roller. Alternatively, the beverage container may be rotated while being in contact with and held by a rotating roller or the like.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 9 is an overall configuration diagram of a beverage or food heating apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

The overall configuration of the beverage or food heating apparatus according to the second embodiment is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment, but has a configuration in which container moving means is added.

In the second embodiment, the operation of the container containing the beverage or food when heating the container containing the beverage or food is different from that of the first embodiment.

The description of the same configuration and operation as in the first embodiment is omitted.

In FIG. 9, reference numeral 21 denotes a container moving means, which is a container moving motor 22 and a container moving joint 23.
It consists of.

The operation of the beverage or food heating apparatus having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS.

Also in the second embodiment, a container containing a beverage or food will be described as a canned beverage 2.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the movement of canned beverage and hot water in the tank in section AB when canned beverage is heated in the tank by the beverage or food heating device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

In FIG. 9, the container moving motor 22 and the container moving joint 23 are connected. When the container moving motor 22 rotates, the container moving joint 23 also rotates. , And move in a circle around the rotation axis of the container moving motor 22.

The distal end of the container moving joint 23 and the container motor 5 of the rotating means 4 are connected, and the container motor 5 also moves in a circle.

Since the tip of the container moving joint 23 and the container motor 5 are connected, the rotation axis of the container motor 5 also moves counterclockwise on the movement locus γ of the rotation center axis of the canned beverage 2 in FIG. It can move at low speed in the direction of.

Accordingly, the container motor 5 can rotate the container holding means 3 at high speed while moving at low speed on the movement locus γ of the rotation center axis of the canned beverage 2.

In the second embodiment, the container moving means 2
1 is a rotating means 4 using the container moving motor 22 as a power source.
The container moving means 21 will eventually move the container 2 (eg, canned beverage) containing the beverage or food in the flow direction of the liquid in the tank 1. Any configuration is possible as long as it can rotate while moving in the opposite direction.

Now, as shown in FIG. 10, the hot water in the tank 1 is flowing clockwise (α direction) by the rotation of the flow screw 12.

The canned beverage 2 attached to the container holding means 3
Is attached to the container holding means 3 and is submerged in flowing hot water of the tank 1.

At the same time as the canned beverage 2 sinks, the canned beverage 2 starts rotating at high speed (for example, 1000 rpm) in a counterclockwise direction (β direction).

At the same time, the container moving motor 22 of the container moving means 21 starts rotating in a counterclockwise direction, and the container moving joint 23 also starts to move counterclockwise (in the γ direction).

Therefore, the canned beverage 2 moves while rotating at high speed on the movement trajectory γ in FIG.

After a lapse of a predetermined time (or when the temperature of the canned beverage 2 has reached the temperature at which it can be drunk), the container motor 5, the tank motor 11, and the container moving motor 22 are stopped.
Rises with respect to the hot water in the tank 1 so that the canned beverage 2 can be taken out.

Since the operation is the same as that of the first embodiment, the description is omitted.

According to the above embodiment, the container containing the beverage or the food can be rotated while moving in the direction against the flow of the liquid in the tank, and the liquid in the tank flows in one direction while being in a turbulent state. And the liquid temperature can be averaged, so that more even and high-temperature flowing liquid can be applied to the container wall surface.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 11 is an overall configuration diagram of a vending machine provided with a beverage or food heating device according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

In the third embodiment, an example in which a beverage or food heating device is mounted on a beverage vending machine will be described.

The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

In FIG. 11, 29 is a beverage vending machine, 30 is a display dummy, 31 is a coin slot, 32 is a return lever, and 33 is a change take-out port.

Reference numerals 34 and 35 are selection buttons. The upper selection button 34 can select a cold beverage, and the lower selection button 35 can select a hot beverage.

A beverage heating device 36 is incorporated in the beverage vending machine 29.

The beverage heating device 36 has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment.

Reference numeral 37 denotes a container insertion port for inserting a beverage,
After the heating is completed, it becomes a container outlet for taking out the beverage.

In the third embodiment, the container insertion port and the container removal port have the same configuration, but they may have different configurations.

An opening / closing door 38 is provided in the container insertion opening 36. When the opening / closing door 38 is open, the beverage heating device 36 is opened.
Does not perform the operation of heating the beverage.

Numeral 3 is a container holding means, and numeral 39 is a heating port into which the beverage enters when the beverage is heated.

Reference numeral 40 denotes a take-out port.

Next, the operation will be described.

For example, when the beverage consumer inserts money into the coin slot and presses the selection button 35 (hot beverage), the beverage is carried out from the outlet 40.

The delivered beverage is cold at a low temperature (for example, 5 ° C.) despite being a hot beverage.

In the beverage vending machine 29 according to the third embodiment, all beverages are cooled and stored at 5 ° C.
The description will be made assuming that both the cold beverage and the hot beverage are once discharged to the outlet 40.

The storage temperature of the hot beverage may be room temperature.

When a hot beverage is selected, heating by the beverage heating device 36 is permitted.

Next, the beverage consumer opens the opening / closing door 38, fixes the beverage to the beverage holding means 3 from the container insertion opening 37, and closes the opening / closing door 38.

When the door 38 is closed, the presence of the beverage is detected by the object detection sensor 13. Next, the beverage heating device 36 starts the operation of heating the beverage, the beverage holding means 3 is further lowered, and the beverage sinks into the heating port 39.

The process of heating the beverage is the same as in the first embodiment, and the description is omitted.

During the beverage heating operation, the door 38 is locked and cannot be opened.

When the heating of the beverage is completed, the beverage holding means 3
Rises, the door 38 is unlocked, and the door 38 can be opened.

Then, the beverage consumer removes the beverage from the container holding means 3 and removes the beverage from the container outlet 37.

In the beverage vending machine according to the third embodiment, the beverage consumer himself works on the container inserting means for inserting the beverage into the container holding means and the container discharging means for taking out the beverage from the container holding means. Although shown as a consumer participatory type, the process of inserting the beverage into the container holding means is the container inserting means, the process of taking out the beverage from the container holding means is the container unloading means, and both processes may be performed using an automatic mechanism. good.

As described above, in the third embodiment, the container inserting means for inserting the container containing the beverage or the food into the container holding means, and the container unloading for taking out the container containing the beverage or the food from the container holding means. Since the apparatus and the heating device for rapidly heating the beverage or the food are provided, the beverage or the food stored in a range that does not deteriorate the quality until the point of sale can be automatically heated and sold more quickly.

[0169]

As described above, the beverage or food heating apparatus of the present invention comprises a tank for storing a high-temperature liquid, a liquid flowing means for flowing the liquid in the tank, and a container containing the beverage or food. Since it has a container holding means for holding in the tank and a rotating means for rotating the container in the tank, a high-temperature liquid serving as a heat source for heating a beverage or food can be caused to flow in the tank. The container containing the beverage or food can be rotated between the liquid in the tank and the wall of the container by rotating the container in the direction of increasing the relative speed between the flowing liquid and the container in the hot flowing liquid as the heat source. This has the effect of increasing the heat transfer coefficient of the liquid and increasing the heat transfer from the liquid to the container wall.

At this time, if a rotating means capable of changing the number of rotations is used as the rotating means, the number of rotations of the container containing the beverage or food can be changed, and the number of rotations of the contents of the container can be changed. The heat transfer coefficient between the contents of the container and the container wall can be maximized, and the heat transfer from the container wall to the container contents can be promoted.

[0171] Further, if a container moving means for moving the container containing the beverage or food in the tank in a direction against the flow generated by the liquid flowing means for flowing the liquid in the tank is provided, In the direction against the flow of liquid, the container containing the beverage or food can be rotated while moving, the liquid in the tank can be turbulent while flowing in one direction, the stirring can be performed,
Since the liquid temperature can be averaged, there is an effect that more even high-temperature flowing liquid can be applied to the container wall surface.

When the beverage or food heating apparatus of the present invention is provided in a beverage vending machine, the beverage or food stored in a temperature range that does not degrade the quality up to the point of sale is automatically and rapidly heated and sold. There is an effect that can be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a beverage or food heating device and a vending machine including the same according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the container holding means and the canned beverage before holding the canned beverage according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the container holding means and the canned beverage when holding the canned beverage according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the container holding means and the mounting structure of the canned beverage when holding the canned beverage according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a canned beverage and a tank in section AB when a canned beverage is heated in a tank by a beverage or food heating device and a vending machine equipped with the same according to the first embodiment of the present invention. State diagram showing the movement of hot water

FIG. 6 is a characteristic diagram showing a change over time of an internal temperature of a canned beverage according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a characteristic diagram showing a change with time in the rotation speed of the can wall and the inside of the beverage when the rotation speed of the canned beverage is constant in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a characteristic diagram showing a time-dependent change in the operation / stop state of the container motor and the rotation speed inside the beverage when the rotation speed of the canned beverage is changed in Embodiment 1 of the present invention

FIG. 9 is an overall configuration diagram of a beverage or food heating device and a vending machine including the same according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a view showing a state in which a beverage or food heating apparatus and a vending machine provided with the same according to the second embodiment of the present invention are heating canned beverages in the tanks in the AB section when the canned beverages and the tank are heated. State diagram showing the movement of hot water

FIG. 11 is an overall configuration diagram of a beverage vending machine including a beverage or food heating device according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

[Description of Signs] 1 tank 2 container containing beverage or food 3 container holding means 4 rotating means 10 liquid flowing means 21 container moving means 29 beverage vending machine 36 beverage heating device 37 container insertion port

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Gen Nojima 4-5-2-5 Takaidahondori, Higashiosaka-shi, Osaka Matsushita Refrigerator Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 3E044 AA01 CC01 CC08 DB16 FB11 FB17 3E046 BA03 BB03 BB04 EB01 GA08 HA06

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A tank for storing a high-temperature liquid, a liquid flowing means for flowing the liquid in the tank, a container holding means for holding a container containing a beverage or food in the tank, and the container Heating device for beverage or food, comprising: rotating means for rotating the inside of the beverage. 2. The beverage or food heating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotation means is capable of changing the number of rotations. 3. The beverage or food heating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a container moving means for moving the container containing the beverage or food in the tank in a direction against the flow of the liquid generated by the liquid flowing means. 4. A beverage vending machine equipped with the beverage or food heating device according to claim 1, 2 or 3.