JP2002358570A - Beverage supplier - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To finely set the carbonic acid concentration of carbonated beverages and to cope with various carbonated beverages. SOLUTION: A manager directly inputs a merchandise selection button 8, the carbonated beverage to be made to correspond to the merchandise selection button 8 and the ratio of dilution water and carbonated water for generating the carbonated beverage by using ten keys. For instance, when the ratio of the dilution water and the carbonated water for generating the carbonated beverage is 35:65, '3', '5', '6' and '5' of the ten keys are directly inputted. That is, the ratio of the dilution water and the carbonated water can be finely set from 100:0 (non-carbonated beverage) to 0:100. An input/output control part 206 transmits setting data regarding the carbonic acid concentration of the carbonated beverage to a main control part 201. The main control part 201 stores a carbonic acid concentration setting table in which the merchandise selection button 8, the carbonated beverage and the carbonic acid concentration are made to correspond in a RAM.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a beverage supply apparatus (a cup-type vending machine, a dispenser in a restaurant, etc.) for mixing a liquid raw material with dilution water and carbonated water.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a beverage supply apparatus supplies beverages in a one-to-one correspondence with a plurality of beverage supply buttons and a plurality of types of beverages (carbonated beverages, carbonated beverages, etc.). In particular,
When associating a plurality of beverage supply buttons with a plurality of carbonated beverages having different carbonic acid concentrations (strong carbonic acid, weak carbonic acid, fine carbonic acid, etc.) on a one-to-one basis, the administrator of the beverage supplying apparatus has a ,
The ratio of dilution water and carbonated water to be mixed with the liquid raw material must be set in advance. This technique is disclosed in JP-A-11-339119.

[0003]

The beverage supply device has a control unit for controlling the supply of the beverage, and the control unit has a nonvolatile ROM in which a beverage supply control program and a carbon dioxide concentration setting table are stored in advance. Thus, the administrator of the beverage supply device sets the carbonic acid concentration of the carbonated beverage by reading and referencing the carbonic acid concentration setting table from the nonvolatile ROM. The carbonic acid concentration setting table indicates the ratio of dilution water and carbonated water according to the carbonic acid concentration (3: 7 for strong carbonic acid, 7: 3 for weak carbonic acid, 9: 1 for slight carbonic acid, etc.).

However, since the contents of the carbonic acid concentration setting table are fixed, it is impossible to set other carbonic acid concentrations (medium carbonic acid, 5: 5, etc.) and fine carbonic acid concentrations unless the nonvolatile ROM is replaced. However, there is a problem that it is not possible to flexibly cope with various brands of carbonated beverages.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a beverage supply apparatus which can finely set the carbonic acid concentration of carbonated beverages and can flexibly cope with various brands of carbonated beverages.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a beverage supply apparatus for mixing a liquid raw material with dilution water and carbonated water, wherein input means for directly inputting values of ratios of dilution water and carbonated water, and dilution from the input means are provided. Storage means for storing ratio data of water and carbonated water, and control means for outputting a beverage production signal using the ratio data in the storage means corresponding to the beverage supply button in response to operation of the beverage supply button, And a beverage producing means for mixing the liquid raw material with dilution water and carbonated water at a ratio determined by the beverage producing signal in response to the beverage producing signal from the control means. According to the first aspect, it is possible to finely set the carbonic acid concentration of the carbonated beverage without replacing the nonvolatile ROM in the beverage supply device, and it is possible to flexibly cope with various brands of carbonated beverages.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the storage means stores ratio data corresponding to a plurality of beverage supply buttons. According to the second aspect, an operational effect that can flexibly cope with a plurality of carbonated beverages is achieved.

A third aspect is the first or second aspect, wherein the storage means is a data rewritable nonvolatile memory. According to the third aspect, there is an operational effect that the set ratio data can be retained even when the power is turned off.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The details of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an example of a front view of a beverage supply device of the present invention. In the embodiments of the present invention, a description will be given using a cup-type vending machine.

In FIG. 1, a front door 1 is opened and closed by using a right side end of a cup-type vending machine as a support shaft. Diluting water, carbonated water,
Unlock and open for data setting for mixing concentrated liquid ingredients, addition of sugar, cream, ice, etc. and maintenance for sales organization, and lock and close for normal sales It is something to keep. The panel 2 is a transparent resin plate, and is for confirming a plurality of types of cup beverage samples 3 displayed inside. That is,
The user can select a cup beverage to purchase by looking over a plurality of types of cup beverage samples 3 through the panel 2. Note that photographs or pictures of a plurality of types of cup beverages may be printed on the panel 2. The coin slot 4 is a portion where a user inserts coins, and the inserted coins are supplied to a coin mechanism inside the cup-type vending machine. Bill insertion slot 5
Is a portion where a user inserts a bill, and the inserted bill is supplied to a building bar inside the cup-type vending machine. The display unit 6 displays an inserted coin amount, an inserted bill amount, and the like. The price label 7 is arranged on the lower part of the cup beverage sample 3 in one-to-one correspondence. Product selection button 8
The (beverage supply button) incorporates a sellable lamp and a sold-out lamp, and is disposed below the cup beverage sample 3 in a one-to-one correspondence. When the user inserts a coin or inserts a bill to purchase at least one cup of drink, the dilutable water tank, carbonated water tank, and concentrated liquid raw material tank inside the cup-type vending machine have a solid content. Only the one corresponding to this cup beverage is lit. As for the sold-out lamp, when the dilution water tank is empty, the one corresponding to the cup beverage using dilution water is always lit, and when the carbonated water tank is empty, the one corresponding to the cup beverage using carbonated water is always lit. When one of the concentrated liquid material tanks is empty, the one corresponding to the cup beverage using the concentrated liquid material is constantly lit. Increase button 9,
When the user wants to increase the amount of coffee, sugar, and cream when cooking one cup of coffee beverage, the user presses the buttons 10 and 11 before pressing the product selection button 8. Similarly,
The weight reduction buttons 12, 13, and 14 are pressed before the product selection button 8 is pressed when the user wants to reduce the amount of coffee ingredients, sugar, and cream when cooking one cup of coffee beverage. The display unit 15 displays the degree of increase / decrease in the amount of coffee raw material, sugar, and cream. The ice-free button 16 is pressed before the product selection button 8 is pressed when it is not desired to add ice when cooking one glass of a COLOR beverage.
When the increase button 9, 10, 11, the decrease button 12, 13, 14, and the ice-free button 16 are pressed as required, and then the product selection button 8 with the sellable lamp lit, the cup beverage sample The cup beverage corresponding to No. 3 is cooked and can be taken out from the product outlet 17. Return lever 18
Is for returning the inserted coin from the return port 19 or returning the change obtained by subtracting the cup beverage purchase amount from the inserted coin or inserted bill from the return port 19. The selling lamp 20 is turned on when the cup beverage is normally sold. The sales stop lamp 21 is turned on when all the cup beverages are sold out, or when the sales mechanism for cooking the cup beverage breaks down. The change-out lamp 22 is turned on when the total amount of change coins in the coin mechanism is equal to or less than a certain amount. still,
The selling lamp 20, the selling stop lamp 21, and the change-out lamp 22 are provided on the substrate of the display unit 6.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an example of a selling mechanism of the beverage supply device of the present invention.

In FIG. 2, a dilution water tank 101 (cistern) stores tap water. Water solenoid valve 1
Numeral 02 is provided between the faucet of the water supply and the inlet of the dilution water tank 101, and opens or shuts off according to the amount of water stored in the dilution water tank 101. More specifically, the water solenoid valve 10
Reference numeral 2 is used to open or shut off according to the output of a float switch (not shown) for detecting the amount of water stored in the diluting water tank 101, so that the amount of water stored in the diluting water tank 101 is within a certain volume range. The water pump 103 discharges water from the outlet of the dilution water tank 101 by a fixed amount by using a driving force of a pump motor 104. The water cooling coil 105 cools water from the water pump 103. The water flow regulator 106 supplies the cooling water from the water cooling coil 105 to the water supply line 108 via the water solenoid valve 107 after adjusting the flow rate.

The carbonated water tank 109 (carbonator)
It stores carbonated water. The water solenoid valve 110 is disposed between the outlet of the water cooling coil 105 and the inlet of the carbonated water tank 109, and opens or shuts off according to the amount of water stored in the carbonated water tank 109. Specifically, the water solenoid valve 1
Numeral 10 opens or shuts off in accordance with the output of a float switch (not shown) for detecting the amount of water stored in the carbonated water tank 109, and keeps the amount of water stored in the carbonated water tank 109 within a certain volume range. The carbonated water tank 109 has a water solenoid valve 110
Is mixed with the carbon dioxide gas from the carbon dioxide gas cylinder 111 to generate carbonated water, and a constant pressure (for example, 0.
6 MPa). The carbonated water in the carbonated water tank 109 is discharged downstream by the gas pressure from the carbon dioxide gas cylinder 111. The water solenoid valve 110 remains shut off while the water solenoid valve 107 is open, regardless of the output of the float switch for the carbonated water tank 109. This can prevent the supply pressure of the water supply line 108 from decreasing. The carbonated water flow regulator 112 adjusts the flow rate of the carbonated water from the carbonated water tank 109. The carbonated water cooling coil 113 is provided with the carbonated water flow regulator 1.
After cooling the carbonated water from 12, the carbonated water is supplied to a carbonated water supply line 115 via a carbonated water electromagnetic valve 114.

The syrup tank 116 stores a concentrated liquid raw material serving as a beverage. Syrup tank 1
The concentrated liquid material inside 16 is discharged to the downstream side by the gas pressure from the carbon dioxide gas cylinder 111. The syrup cooling coil 117 is for cooling the concentrated liquid raw material from the syrup tank 116. Syrup flow regulator 11
Numeral 8 is for supplying the cooling syrup from the syrup cooling coil 117 to the syrup supply line 120 via the syrup solenoid valve 119 after adjusting the flow rate. In addition, the number of paths from the syrup tank 116 to the syrup supply line 120 is provided according to the type of the cup beverage.

The dilution water supply line 108, the carbonated water supply line 115, and the syrup supply line 120
Are arranged in a concentrated manner at a position opposed to the opening surface of the first member.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the beverage supply device of the present invention.

In FIG. 3, a main control unit 201 supervises the control of the cup-type vending machine.
It comprises a PU, a RAM (storage means), and a peripheral circuit (such as a counter). In other words, the main control unit 201 operates mainly on a microcomputer.
More specifically, the ROM stores program data for integrally controlling a plurality of slave control units described later, and the CPU executes a plurality of slave control programs in accordance with the result of decoding the program data read from the ROM. The RAM is for overall control of the units, and the RAM is for writing or reading calculation results by the CPU and various data from a plurality of slave control units. In terms of hardware, ROM is
A non-volatile memory such as a mask ROM for burning and fixing data in a manufacturing process, an EPROM for repeatedly writing and reading data by erasing data with ultraviolet light, and an EEPROM (including a flash ROM) for repeatedly writing and reading data by electrically erasing data. Memory. The CPU includes a program counter for designating the execution address of the ROM, an instruction decoder for decoding the contents read from the ROM, an arithmetic and logic unit for performing a logical operation, an accumulator for temporarily storing arithmetic data, and the like. The RAM is a nonvolatile memory composed of an EEPROM.

Coin processing control unit 202, bill processing control unit 2
03, a customer service control unit 204, a sales control unit 205, and an input / output control unit 206 correspond to a plurality of sub-control units, and have the same ROM and CPU as the main control unit 201 in terms of hardware.
And an SRAM having a backup power supply.
The coin insertion mechanism 207 includes an out-of-change sensor that detects out-of-change, receives coins inserted from the coin insertion slot 4,
The change is returned from the return port 19 if necessary. The coin processing control unit 202 controls the coin insertion mechanism 207 to determine the denomination and true / false of the inserted coin, calculate the number of denominations, store surplus coins in a safe, pay out change, and the like. . The bill insertion mechanism 208 is a coin insertion mechanism 2
Like 07, it has a bill-of-hanging sensor for detecting the break of a bill, receives the inserted bill from the bill insertion slot 5, and returns the bill from the bill insertion slot 5 as necessary. The banknote processing control unit 203 controls the banknote insertion mechanism 208 to determine the denomination, authenticity, etc. of the inserted banknote, calculate the number of denominations, pay out a bill, and the like. Coin processing control unit 20
2 and the bill processing control unit 203 execute a processing operation each time coin insertion and bill insertion are performed. Note that the coin processing control unit 202 and the coin insertion mechanism 207 constitute a coin mechanism, and the bill processing control unit 203 and the bill insertion mechanism 208 constitute a bill validator. By providing a card reader (not shown), cup beverages may be sold.
The customer service surface 209 includes a display unit 6, a product selection button 8, an increase button 9,
10, 11, weight loss buttons 12, 13, 14, display unit 15, ice-free button 16, selling lamp 20, selling stop lamp 21,
It consists of a change-out lamp 22. Customer service control unit 2
04 controls the customer service surface 209. In other words, the customer service control unit 204 turns on the selling lamp 20, the sales stop lamp 21, and the change-out lamp 22 according to the customer service instruction regarding cup beverage sales from the main control unit 201, or turns on a sales-permitted lamp or sold-out lamp for each beverage sold. A lamp is turned on, and which of the plurality of product selection buttons 8 is pressed is detected, and a detection signal at this time is transmitted to the main control unit 201.

The sales mechanism 210 is shown in FIG. The sales control unit 205 controls the sales mechanism 210, cooks the desired cup beverage according to the sales instruction from the main control unit 201 in response to the detection signal from the customer service control unit 204, and prepares the product outlet 17 And can be taken out.

The keyboard 211 has a numeric keypad, function keys, and a display unit (organic EL, LCD, etc.) for displaying the contents related to the operation of these keys on the front surface. The keyboard 211 is an input / output control unit 2
06 is connected by wire, and is detachably provided on the back surface of the front door 1, and is operated when performing data setting, money setting, maintenance, and the like for cooking cup beverages. In particular, in the embodiment of the present invention, the keyboard 2
11 is also operated when directly inputting the carbonic acid concentration (the ratio of dilution water and carbonated water) of the carbonated beverage. Input / output control unit 20
6 is a main controller 20 for inputting information from the keyboard 211.
Send to 1. The main control unit 201, based on the input information, the coin processing control unit 202, the bill processing control unit 203,
Each instruction is given to the customer service control unit 204 and the sales control unit 205. The main control unit 201 and the sub control unit 202
The communication between the main control unit 201 and the main control unit 201 is performed by a polling method in which the main control unit 201 has a preferential transmission right.
And any of the contention systems in which the slave control units 202 to 206 have equal transmission rights.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the flow of operation when setting the carbonic acid concentration of the carbonated beverage. .

First, the administrator uses the keyboard 211 to operate a function key for starting the setting of the carbonic acid concentration of the carbonated beverage. The input / output control unit 206 detects the voltage change of the contact of the function key, and transmits a setting start signal to the main control unit 201. Main control unit 201
Transmits a setting permission signal to the input / output control unit 206 in response to the setting start signal. The input / output control unit 206 displays an interactive setting screen on the display unit of the keyboard 211 in response to the setting permission signal. The administrator uses the keyboard 211
The user operates the numeric keypad and function keys for setting the carbonic acid concentration of the carbonated beverage while checking the setting screen of the display unit. More specifically, the administrator uses the numeric keypad to specify the product selection button 8, the carbonated beverage associated with the product selection button 8, and the ratio (ratio) of dilution water and carbonated water for producing the carbonated beverage. Enter directly. For example,
When the ratio of the dilution water and the carbonated water for producing the carbonated beverage is 35:65, the numeric keypad “3” “5” “6” “5”
Can be entered directly. That is, the ratio of the dilution water and the carbonated water can be set finely from 100: 0 (non-carbonated beverage) to 0: 100. After repeating the above operation for all the carbonated beverages to be handled, the administrator operates the function key for completing the setting of the carbonated concentration of the carbonated beverage. The input / output control unit 206 detects a voltage change at the contact point of the function key, and transmits a setting end signal and setting data relating to the carbonic acid concentration of the carbonated beverage to the main control unit 201. The main control unit 201 stores in the RAM a carbonate concentration setting table in which the product selection button 8, the carbonated beverage, and the carbonate concentration are associated (see FIG. 5).

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the flow of operation when selling carbonated beverages.

First, the user inserts a coin into the coin insertion slot 4 or inserts a bill into the bill insertion slot 5 and presses the product selection button 8 corresponding to the carbonated beverage (for example, carbonated beverage A) desired to be purchased. Press. The customer service control unit 204 sets the product selection button 8
Of the contact, and presses the pressing signal to the main control unit 20.
Send to 1. In response to the push signal, the main control unit 201 determines the ratio of the dilution water and the carbonated water (85: 1) for generating the carbonated beverage A from the carbonic acid concentration setting table of the RAM.
Referring to 5), a beverage generation signal for generating carbonated beverage A at this ratio is transmitted to sales control unit 205. In response to the beverage production signal, the sales control unit 205 responds to the driving time of the pump motor 104, the water electromagnetic valve 107, the dilution water electromagnetic valve 114, and the syrup electromagnetic wave corresponding to the concentrated liquid raw material for producing the carbonated beverage A. The opening time of the valve 119 is controlled.
In particular, the driving time of the pump motor 104 depends on the water solenoid valve 10.
7, the opening time of the water solenoid valve 107 and the opening time of the carbonated water electromagnetic valve 114 when producing a carbonated beverage is the opening time T (for example, 5) of the water solenoid valve 107 when producing a non-carbonated beverage. Second), weighting the ratios X and Y of the dilution water and carbonated water, and XT / (X
+ Y) and YT / (X + Y). More specifically, the sales control unit 205 drives the pump motor 104 with the same driving force for 4.25 seconds and sets the water solenoid valve 107 to 4.25 seconds.
It is opened for only seconds, the carbonated water electromagnetic valve 114 is opened for 0.75 seconds, and the syrup electromagnetic valve 119 is opened within 5 seconds. From this, the sales organization 210 provides the dilution water for 4.25 seconds,
The carbonated water A for 0.75 seconds and the concentrated liquid material for one cup are discharged to the cup 121 to produce the carbonated beverage A. afterwards,
The sales control unit 205 transmits a sales end signal to the main control unit 201, and ends the process for selling the carbonated beverage A.
Instead of controlling the release time of the dilution water and the carbonated water, the release amount of the dilution water and the carbonated water per unit time may be controlled.

As described above, the carbonic acid concentration of the carbonated beverage can be set finely without replacing the ROM of the main control unit 201, and it is possible to flexibly cope with various brands of carbonated beverages.

The beverage supply device of the present invention is not limited to a cup-type vending machine, and has the same effect when applied to a dispenser in a restaurant.

[0029]

According to the present invention, the following advantages are provided.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a beverage supply apparatus for mixing a liquid raw material with dilution water and carbonated water, wherein input means for directly inputting values of ratios of dilution water and carbonated water, and dilution from the input means are provided. Storage means for storing ratio data of water and carbonated water, and control means for outputting a beverage production signal using the ratio data in the storage means corresponding to the beverage supply button in response to operation of the beverage supply button, And a beverage producing means for mixing the liquid raw material with dilution water and carbonated water at a ratio determined by the beverage producing signal in response to the beverage producing signal from the control means. Therefore, even if the nonvolatile ROM in the beverage supply device is not replaced, the carbonic acid concentration of the carbonated beverage can be set finely, and it is possible to flexibly cope with various brands of carbonated beverage.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the storage means stores ratio data corresponding to a plurality of beverage supply buttons. Therefore, it can respond flexibly to a plurality of carbonated drinks.

A third aspect of the present invention relates to the first or second aspect, wherein the storage means is a rewritable nonvolatile memory. Therefore, the set ratio data can be retained even when the power is turned off.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a front view of a beverage supply device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a selling mechanism of the beverage supply device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing a beverage supply device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a flow of operation when setting the carbonated concentration of the carbonated beverage in the beverage supply device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a carbonic acid concentration setting table of the beverage supply device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a flow of operation when selling a carbonated beverage in the beverage supply device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 107 Water solenoid valve 114 Carbonated water solenoid valve 119 Syrup solenoid valve 201 Main control unit 204 Customer service control unit 205 Sales control unit 206 Input / output control unit 210 Sales organization 211 Keyboard

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Masato Mori 5-20-8 Asakusabashi, Taito-ku, Tokyo Sanyo Electric Vending Machine Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 3E047 AA01 BA03 BA04 CA06 DA01 DC04 DC07 FA04 GA01 HA03 3E082 AA02 AA04 BB02 BB04 CC04 CC10 DD02 DD09 EE02

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A beverage supply apparatus for mixing a liquid raw material with dilution water and carbonated water, comprising: input means for directly inputting values of ratios of dilution water and carbonated water; and dilution water and carbonic acid from said input means. Storage means for storing ratio data of water; control means for outputting a beverage generation signal using ratio data in the storage means corresponding to the beverage supply button in response to operation of the beverage supply button; A beverage supply device, comprising: beverage production means for mixing a liquid ingredient with dilution water and carbonated water at a ratio determined by the beverage production signal in response to a beverage production signal from the means. 2. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit stores ratio data corresponding to a plurality of beverage supply buttons.
A beverage supply device according to claim 1. 3. The beverage supply device according to claim 1, wherein the storage means is a nonvolatile memory in which data can be rewritten.