JPH11219478A - Cup type beverage supplying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cup type beverage supplying device having a simple and inexpensive structure and capable of easily integrating raw material chutes even in a narrow space in the body of an automatic vending machine or the like. SOLUTION: In the cup type beverage supplying device constituted of plural canisters 4 arranged in parallel to store raw materials for producing beverages and of raw material chutes 27 which are formed so as to be vertically moved corresponding to these canisters 4 and which are provided with a raw material discharging mechanism capable of temporarily storing a raw material discharged from its corresponding canister 4 in its inside, dropping the stored raw material into a cup arranged on a lower position by its descending motion and restoring to the original position by its ascending motion after the drop of the raw material, respective chutes 27 arrayed in parallel are integrally connected and the connected chutes 27 are integrally and vertically moved by a single driving mechanism.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cup-type beverage supply device for preparing various types of hot beverages and cold beverages by introducing beverage ingredients into a cup, and providing the prepared beverage to a user.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A beverage supply apparatus of this kind is used as a cup-type beverage vending machine installed in, for example, a store or on a street, in which a plurality of canisters are arranged, and a beverage producing apparatus is provided in these canisters. Various raw materials for powder are stored. Further, a cup holding unit and a transfer mechanism for moving the cup holding unit in the horizontal XY directions and transferring the cup held by the cup holding unit to predetermined selected positions are provided in the machine body. ing. Then, at each of the transported positions, the raw materials of the beverage, hot water, water, etc. are sequentially introduced into the cup, and stirred to prepare a hot beverage or a cold beverage, and the prepared beverage is provided to a user of the vending machine. It has become.

Each canister is provided with a discharge tube for discharging the raw material, a cylindrical raw material chute is provided below the discharge cylinder, and when a cup is arranged at a position below the raw material chute, the raw material chute is provided. The raw material in the canister is discharged into the cup through the.

The structure of such a raw material chute is disclosed in
No. 251236. The raw material chute is supported so as to be able to move up and down via a drive mechanism, and a shutter valve is provided in the middle of the inside. The opening edge of the upper end of the material chute is connected to the discharge tube of the canister, and the inside of the material chute is closed by the shutter valve.

[0005] In this state, when a predetermined sales signal is input, before the cup is conveyed to the predetermined position via the conveying mechanism, first, the raw material is discharged from the discharge tube of the canister into the raw material chute. The raw material is discharged, and is temporarily held on the shutter valve to be in a standby state.

In this standby state, when the cup is conveyed and placed at a position below the lower end of the raw material chute, the raw material chute is driven via a drive mechanism to descend at this timing, and the lower end is placed in the cup. To enter. When the raw material chute is lowered, the shutter valve is gradually opened in accordance with the lowering operation, and the raw material in the raw material chute falls into the cup by this opening. And after this, the raw material chute rises and returns to the initial position,
Further, the cup is transported to another position.

As described above, a predetermined amount of raw material is temporarily stored in the raw material chute in advance during the transport of the cup, and in this state, the arrival of the cup is waited. If there is no temporary hold, the operation of starting the release of the raw material will be delayed, but according to the configuration in which a predetermined amount of the raw material is temporarily held and the arrival of the cup is waited, the raw material is introduced into the cup from the start of the sales operation The process up to the completion is completed in a short time, and the beverage can be promptly provided to the user of the vending machine.

[0008]

A plurality of canisters are provided in the airframe, and each of these canisters is provided with a raw material chute. And in the past,
A drive mechanism for vertically moving the material chute is provided for each material chute.

However, in a configuration in which a drive mechanism is individually provided for each raw material chute, not only the structure is complicated and the cost is increased, but also it becomes difficult to incorporate the raw material chute into a narrow space in the body.

The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and its object is to make the structure simple and inexpensive, and to reduce the raw material even in a narrow space inside the body of a vending machine or the like. An object of the present invention is to provide a cup-type beverage supply device that can easily incorporate a chute.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a plurality of canisters for accommodating ingredients for beverage production, which are provided in parallel, and which can move up and down in correspondence with these canisters. The raw material chutes are provided, and these raw material chutes temporarily hold the raw material discharged from the corresponding canister inside, and drop the raw material inside into a cup arranged at a position below the raw material chute by a descending operation, and rise after this fall. In a cup-type beverage supply device provided with a raw material discharge mechanism that returns to the original position, the raw material chutes arranged in parallel are integrally connected, and the connected raw material chutes are integrally moved up and down by a single drive mechanism. It is like that.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the internal structure of a vending machine as a beverage supply machine, and 1 is its body. The body 1 is formed in a box shape having an open front, and an opening / closing door 2 is pivotally attached to the front of the body 1 so that a sales outlet 3 is formed in the opening / closing door 2.

[0013] A plurality of canisters 4 are provided side by side in the rear upper part of the body 1.
Inside, powdered raw materials for producing beverages such as coffee, cocoa, cream, sugar and the like are separately stored.

Further, various devices and equipment such as an ice maker 5 and a water heater 6 are densely arranged in the body 1, and a bend stage 7 is provided opposite the sales outlet 3. A stirring device 8 is attached to the bend stage 7.

In the space below the canister 4 on the front side, there is provided a cup holding unit 10 and a transfer mechanism 11 for moving the cup holding unit 10 in the horizontal XY directions to transfer the cup C to predetermined positions. Have been.

When the user of the vending machine operates the selection button corresponding to the desired beverage, the transport mechanism 1
1, the cup holding unit 10 is conveyed to the cup receiving position, at which position a cup C of a predetermined size is supplied to the cup holding unit 10 from a cup supply device (not shown), and subsequently, the cup C is A predetermined powdery raw material is transported to a position below the canister 4 in which the powdered raw material is stored via the transport mechanism 11.

Each canister 4 is set on a horizontal shelf 13 as shown in FIGS. A discharge port 14 protrudes from a lower portion of the front surface of the canister 4, and a discharge tube 15 made of an elastic material such as rubber is attached to the lower side of the discharge port 14.

At the inner bottom of the canister 4 is provided a spiral discharger 16 which is driven and rotated by a motor (not shown), whereby the powder material in the canister 4 is removed. The liquid is discharged from the discharge port 14 by a fixed amount.

A frame 19 long in the left-right direction is attached to the lower portion of the shelf 13 so as to straddle the arrangement section of each canister 4. The frame 19 has a U-shaped cross section, and guide shafts 20 extending in the vertical direction are attached to both ends thereof, and a horizontally long movable body made of a synthetic resin or the like having a small coefficient of friction via the guide shafts 20. 21 is supported movably up and down.

A geared motor 22 is attached to the back of the frame 19 as a drive source.
The second output shaft 22a penetrates through the wall at the back of the frame 19 and protrudes inward, and the crank body 23 is attached to the protruding end.

As shown in FIG. 3, a horizontally long concave groove 24 is formed on the rear surface of the movable body 21. A crank pin 23a provided on the crank body 23 is inserted into the concave groove 24, thereby the geared When the motor 22 starts and the crank body 23 rotates, the movable body 21 moves up and down along the guide shaft 20.

On the front side of the movable body 21, a plurality of raw material chutes 27 corresponding to the respective canisters 4 are mounted in parallel. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the raw material chute 27 is divided into an upper cylinder 28 and a lower cylinder 29, and the upper cylinder 28 and the lower cylinder 29 are provided with a plurality of screws 30.
And are integrally formed into a cylindrical shape.

A pair of mounting projections 31 are formed on the rear side of each raw material chute 27 so as to project therefrom.
The raw material chute 27 is detachably attached to the movable body 21 via the.

Each raw material chute 27 mounted in parallel with the movable body 21 moves up and down between the top dead center and the bottom dead center in accordance with the activation of the geared motor 22 together with the movable body 21, respectively. The stroke width of the vertical movement of the material chute 27 is S.

A shutter valve 32 is provided inside each raw material chute 27. The shutter valve 32 has an elliptical shape.
Support shafts 32a and 32b are integrally formed on both sides thereof in series, and these support shafts 32a and 32b
Are rotatably supported via a bearing 33 formed at a joint between the upper cylinder 28 and the lower cylinder 29. When the peripheral edge of the shutter valve 32 is in a substantially horizontal state in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the raw material chute 27, the raw material chute 2
The inside of the material chute 27 is opened and communicated by the shutter valve 32 rotating about the support shafts 32a and 32b and substantially standing up from this state.

An arm 36 is formed integrally with the end of one support shaft 32a of the shutter valve 32 at right angles to the axial direction thereof.
A spring accommodating cylinder 37 is formed outside the raw material chute 27, and a coil spring 38 is accommodated in the spring accommodating cylinder 37. The lower end of the coil spring 38 abuts the arm 36 elastically. By the contact, the shutter valve 32 is elastically urged in one rotation direction around the support shafts 32a and 32b. The biasing force causes the shutter valve 32
Is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the raw material chute 27, and the shutter valve 32 is held in a substantially horizontal state by this contact, and the inside of the raw material chute 27 is vertically partitioned.

At the lower portion of the frame 19, a plurality of locking pieces 39 are provided corresponding to the respective raw material chutes 27, and when each raw material chute 27 descends from the position of the top dead center to the position of the bottom dead center, Immediately before reaching the bottom dead center, the arm 36 of the shutter valve 32 of each raw material chute 27 abuts the corresponding locking piece 39, and the abutment causes the shutter valve 32 to resist the elastic force of the coil spring 38. The raw material chute 27 changes from an almost horizontal state to a standing state, whereby the inside of the raw material chute 27 changes to an open state communicating from the upper part to the lower part.

A discharge tube 15 of the corresponding canister 4 is inserted into an opening on the upper end side of each raw material chute 27. Each of these discharge tubes 15 is provided with each raw material chute
When 7 is located at the top dead center, the raw material chute 2
7 is wrapped with the width of the length L, and the relationship between the wrap width L and the stroke width S of the vertical movement of the material chute 27 is L> S. Therefore, the raw material chute 27
Of raw material chute 2 even if falls from top dead center to bottom dead center
7 does not detach from the discharge tube 15, and the connection state between the discharge tube 15 and the raw material chute 27 is maintained.

A raw material receiving position P is set below the raw material chute 27, and a predetermined cup C is conveyed to this position P via the cup holding unit 10. The cup holding unit 10 includes a cup stage 41 which supports the bottom of the cup C and can be moved up and down, and a pair of cup flappers 4 which hold both sides of the cup C.
2 is provided.

As the cup C used in the cup-type beverage vending machine, those having various sizes are used according to the kind of the beverage and the like. When the cup C is supplied to the cup holding unit 10, the size is changed. The cup stage 41 is moved up and down in accordance with the above condition, and when the cup C of any size is supplied by this elevating operation, the upper end thereof is adjusted to be located at substantially the same level. C, the cup C is transported to the position P and the raw material chute 27
Is lowered to the bottom dead center, its lower end enters the cup C.

Next, at the time of waiting for a drink to be described, the operation of each raw material chute 2 as shown in FIGS.
Numeral 7 is arranged at the position of the top dead center, and the inside of each raw material chute 27 is closed by a shutter valve 32 arranged almost horizontally as shown in FIG.

In this state, when the user of the vending machine desires, for example, coffee as a beverage and operates the corresponding selection button, the cup holding unit 10 is moved to the cup receiving position via the transport mechanism 11 in response thereto. The cup C is supplied with a predetermined size to the cup holding unit 10, and the cup C is conveyed to a position P1 below the canister 4 for coffee via the conveying mechanism 11.

During this transportation, a predetermined amount of coffee powder raw material is discharged from the coffee canister 4 through the discharge body 16, and this raw material is supplied into the raw material chute 27 through the discharge tube 15. The inside of the raw material chute 27 is closed by a shutter valve 32, so that the raw material supplied into the raw material chute 27 is temporarily held on the shutter valve 32.

When the cup C is located at the position P1,
The geared motor 22 starts, and the geared motor 22
As a result, each raw material chute 27 descends from the top dead center, and the lower end of the raw material chute 27 corresponding to the coffee canister 4 enters the cup C as shown by a chain line in FIG.

Immediately before the raw material chute 27 reaches the bottom dead center, as shown in FIG.
6 comes into contact with the locking piece 39, and the shutter valve 32 pivots and stands up in response to this contact, whereby the coffee powder raw material held in the raw material chute 27 passes through the raw material chute 27 and the cup C. Released into

The raw material chute 27 reaches the bottom dead center after the shutter valve 32 is opened. Then, the raw material chute 27 rises after reaching the bottom dead center, and accordingly the arm 36 of the shutter valve 32 separates from the locking piece 39, and the shutter valve 32 rotates by the elastic force of the coil spring 38 at this separation. Then, the material chute 27 returns to a substantially horizontal state, after which the material chute 27 reaches the top dead center and stops.

After the raw material chute 27 is raised and its lower end is separated from the inside of the cup C, the cup C is conveyed to the position P2 below the cream canister 4 via the conveying mechanism 11 as necessary.

During this transfer, a predetermined amount of the cream powder raw material is discharged from the cream canister 4 via the discharging body 16 in the same manner as described above, and this raw material is advanced into the raw material chute 27 through the discharge tube 15. Supplied. The inside of the raw material chute 27 is closed by the shutter valve 32, so that the raw material supplied into the raw material chute 27 is temporarily held on the shutter valve 32 and stands by.

When the cup C is located at the position P2 corresponding to the cream canister 4, the geared motor 22 is started again, and the same process as described above is repeated, so that the cream powder material in the material chute 27 is removed. After falling into the cup C, the raw material chute 27 rises from the bottom dead center to the top dead center and stops after the fall.

Thereafter, if necessary, the cup C is transported to the position P3 below the canister 4 for sugar via the transport mechanism 11, and during this transport, the canister 4 for sugar is discharged from the canister 4 for sugar via the discharger 16. A predetermined amount of sugar (powder raw material) is discharged, and this sugar is supplied into the raw material chute 27 and held on the shutter valve 32. And cup C
Is located at the position P3 corresponding to the canister 4 for sugar, the geared motor 22 is started again, and the same process is repeated to discharge the sugar in the raw material chute 27 into the cup C. The raw material chute 27 rises from bottom dead center to top dead center and stops.

When the material chute 27 descends from the top dead center to the bottom dead center, the material chute 27 slides with respect to the discharge tube 15 of the canister 4. Raw material chute 2 even when reaching
The opening at the upper end of 7 wraps with the discharge tube 15 to maintain the connection between the raw material chute 27 and the discharge tube 15. Therefore, when supplying a larger amount of raw material into the cup C than the raw material amount temporarily stored in the raw material chute 27, for example, a large-sized cup C is selected, and a large amount of raw material is supplied into the large-sized cup C. In such a case, when the shutter valve 32 is opened, the additional material can be replenished from the canister 4 into the cup C from the discharge tube 15 through the material chute 27. That is, a desired amount of the raw material can be supplied into the cup C without forming the raw material chute 27 particularly long.

The raw material held in the raw material chute 27 is
Immediately before the raw material chute 27 reaches the bottom dead center, that is, when the lower end of the raw material chute 27 completely enters the cup C, the shutter valve 32 is opened and discharged into the cup C. The whole amount can be reliably supplied into the cup C without the raw material in the inside being scattered around the cup C.

Even when the raw material chute 27 is inclined, the shutter valve 32 is opened and the raw material is discharged into the cup C after the lower end of the raw material chute 27 has completely entered the cup C. Therefore, regardless of the inclination of the raw material chute 27, the raw material in the raw material chute 27 can always be reliably supplied to the cup C.

After the respective powdery raw materials for coffee production have been supplied into the cup C in this way, the cup C is transported to a position in the bend stage 7 via the transport mechanism 11, and at this position the cup C A predetermined amount of hot water is injected from a water heater 6 through a nozzle (not shown), and an impeller 8a of a stirring device 8 is inserted into a cup C. The contents of the cup C are stirred by rotation of the impeller 8a. The coffee is prepared. The cup C with coffee is provided to the user of the vending machine through the sales port 3 of the opening and closing door 2.

In the above description, coffee is taken as an example of a beverage, but other beverages, such as cocoa, black tea or soft drinks, may be used. In addition, generally, dozens of canisters are often arranged in the body of a vending machine in order to increase the flavor of the beverage to be provided, but in such a case, dozens of canisters are required. Each block is divided into several blocks, and in each block, the raw material chutes provided in the block are integrally connected so that the raw material chute is moved up and down by a single drive mechanism in each block. It is also possible.

Further, for example, a canister for coffee, a canister for cream, and a canister for sugar are arranged in parallel, and the powdered raw material for coffee, the powdered raw material for cream, and sugar are supplied from each canister into a cup. When brewing coffee, the raw material chutes corresponding to the intermediate canisters are inclined almost vertically, and the raw material chutes arranged on both sides of the raw material chutes are inclined toward the intermediate raw material chutes, respectively. In this state, each raw material chute is moved up and down by a single drive mechanism, so that the coffee powder raw material, the cream powder raw material, and the sugar are simultaneously discharged from each raw material chute. It can also be configured to be supplied in a cup.

[0047]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since each raw material chute is connected integrally and each connected raw material chute is moved up and down by a single drive mechanism, compared to the conventional configuration in which each raw material chute is individually provided with a drive mechanism The structure is simple and inexpensive, and since only a single drive mechanism is required, it can be easily installed even in a narrow space inside the body of a vending machine or the like, and the advantage that the incorporation is improved. There is.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a driving mechanism portion of the raw material chute in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the raw material chute in a disassembled state.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation state when the material chute moves from a top dead center to a bottom dead center.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Machine body 4 ... Canister 10 ... Cup holding unit 11 ... Transport mechanism 19 ... Frame 20 ... Guide shaft 21 ... Movable body 22 ... Geared motor 23 ... Crank body 27 ... Raw material chute 32 ... Shutter valve 41 ... Cup stage 42 ... Cup flapper

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Takao Nakabayashi 180 Furuichi-cho, Maebashi-shi, Gunma Toshiba Kiki Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yuo Abe 180 Furuichi-cho, Maebashi-shi, Gunma K.K.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of canisters for accommodating ingredients for producing a beverage are provided in parallel, and an ingredient chute is provided movably up and down corresponding to the canisters, and the chute is discharged from the corresponding canister. In a cup-type beverage supply device having a raw material release mechanism for temporarily holding the raw material inside and dropping the raw material inside by a lowering operation into a cup arranged at a position below the raw material, and rising and returning to the original position after this fall A cup-type beverage supply apparatus, wherein the raw material chutes arranged in parallel are integrally connected, and the connected raw material chutes are integrally moved up and down by a single drive mechanism.