JPH0244493A - Device for detecting the amount of powder and granules in a container - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Field of Industrial Application) This invention is a method of making beverages such as coffee by mixing an appropriate amount of powder or granules in water or hot water, and then dispensing the beverages in a container suitable for a vending machine to be dispensed into a cup. This invention relates to a device for detecting the amount of one powder particle.

<Prior art> If such a vending machine could send an alarm to the alarm center when the remaining amount of two powder particles in the container is close to the lower limit (slightly before running out), it would be possible to automatically It is very useful because it can replenish the vending machine's container with powder and granules to prevent it from selling out. Currently, there are capacitance type devices and level switches using impellers or pistons to check the remaining amount of powder or granules in a container.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> The capacitance type device described above is relatively large in size, requires a complicated electronic circuit, and is expensive.

Level switches using two impellers or pistons are also relatively large and require a complex drive unit, which is expensive, and requires a hole to be drilled into the container for installation. Therefore, in order to install it in existing automatic and vending machines, it is necessary to modify the container by drilling a hole in it, making it difficult to popularize it.

Means for Solving the Problems> Therefore, the present invention has a simple mechanism that can be installed not only in newly installed vending machines but also in existing vending machines without major modification.
It was developed to provide an inexpensive device for detecting the amount of powder or granules in a container, and the upper end is connected directly or indirectly to a signal generator and has a required length that can be suspended into the container. a string-like member, and a rod-like member that is slightly shorter than the length of the container in the horizontal direction, is connected to the lower end of the string-like member and can be lowered horizontally, and operates the signal generating device via the string-like member. and a detection member.

<Example of implementation> Fig. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a well-known coffee beverage vending machine incorporating an unsealed container 1 containing coffee powder. Cups are supplied from the storage section 2 through a chute to the sales outlet 3, and then predetermined amounts of the hot water in the constant temperature heating tank 4 and the coffee powder in the container 1 are supplied to the mixer 5. They are mixed together to form a coffee beverage and are discharged into the mulberry 6 in the single-lens port 3.

Now, the detection device of the present invention detects that the coffee powder in the container l is almost empty, and sends a message to a supervisory center etc., prompting the container to be replenished with coffee powder.

Although the container l is not sealed in order to supply the coffee powder to the mixer 5, a lid 7 is fitted to the upper end to close the open upper surface. In this embodiment, there is an opening lower ' in the center of the lid 7.
A thin flexible film 8 made of rubber or the like is attached to the edge of the opening lower ′ by adhesive or the like, and the opening lower ′ is closed. Press down the actuator 9' and turn on the switch.
The free end of the actuating arm 10 to be switched to the upper surface of the flexible membrane 8 is connected with a string 11 such as a fishing line,
In the center of the lower surface of the container there is fixed the upper end of a similar string 12 whose lower end reaches close to the powder outlet l' of the container, so that this string 12 can hang down into the container.

A rod-shaped detection member 13, which is slightly shorter than the horizontal length of the container, is connected to the lower end of the string 12 so that it can be lowered horizontally.

The length of the rod-shaped detection member 13 is shorter than the horizontal length of the container, as shown in FIG. In addition, as shown in Figure 4, in the case of a polygonal cylindrical container with a square horizontal cross section, the container is slightly shorter than its opposite square line.
The rod-shaped detection member 13 may be composed of a plurality of pieces that intersect at the connecting portion with the lower end of the string 12.

Further, the total weight of the string 12 and the rod-shaped detection member 13 pulls the free end of the actuating arm IO downward via the flexible membrane 8 and the string 11 when the string 12 hangs down in the container at its full length.

Actuating arm ■ 0 and micro switch actuator 9
' to turn the switch from OFF to ON.

Powder outlet 1 is generally located near the bottom of the container.
When a small amount is discharged from ', the powder in the center of the container comes out first, the powder near the inner wall of the container, especially in the corner of the inner wall in the case of a rectangular cross-section container, is left behind, and the powder in the center comes out first. When the powder is reduced to a certain extent, it crumbles and is mixed with the powder in the center and taken out.

Therefore, by setting the length of the string 12 appropriately, when there is sufficient powder in the container, the string 12 can be attached to the top surface of the powder layer.
If the rod-shaped detection member 13 is also located above the upper surface of the powder layer (broken line in Figure 2) and the operating arm is not pulled down, the microswitch may be turned off, or if the amount of powder in the container decreases, the second As shown by the solid line in the figure, the entire length of the string 12 is lowered into the container, and the rod-shaped detection member 1 is connected to the lower end of the string 12.
3 becomes horizontal, and the string I2 and the rod-shaped detection part 13 are the actuating arm] 0 is pulled to turn on the micro switch 9, and the lamp with the uniform number of the vending machine in question on the board in the monitoring center etc. is lit. This will issue an alarm to notify you that the amount of powder remaining in the container is low. This allows lid 7
, remove the string 12 and the rod-shaped detection part I3 from the container,
It is possible to replenish the powder in the container and prevent it from running out.

In this embodiment, the free end of the actuating arm 9 and the upper surface of the flexible membrane 8 attached to the lid of the container are connected by a string II, and the string I2, which has a rod-shaped detection member 13 attached to its lower end, is attached to the lower surface of the flexible membrane. This prevents the powder in the container from flying up and adhering to the microswitch, causing the switch to malfunction. However, if this is not necessary, a small hole is made in the lid for the string to pass through, so that a string attached to the free end of the operating arm can hang down to the container for the required length, and the rod-shaped detection member 13 is attached to the lower end of the string. They may be connected horizontally.

In addition, a changeover switch, for example, a microswitch 16, is attached to one or both of the lid 7 and the door 15 of the vending machine, and the M7
When the container 1 is placed over the container 1 or the door 15 is closed, the switch 16 is switched from ON to OFF, and this changeover switch 16 is connected to an alarm circuit including the signal transmitting device 9 (micro switch) described above. Due to the issuance of the G-Notice, the door 14 of the vending machine was opened to replenish the powder into the container.
When the M7 is opened or the M7 is removed from the container, the alarm will stop issuing and you will know that replenishment is in progress. In this way, when powder is replenished and container 1 is covered with M7, string 12
is loosened on the upper surface of the powder layer in the container 1, and the rod-shaped detection member 13 is located on the upper surface and does not pull the actuating arm 10 downward, so the signal generator 9 is turned off. Even if the changeover switch 16 is turned back on by closing the door 15 of the vending machine or by closing the door 15 of the vending machine, the alarm will not be issued.

In addition, in the middle of the string 12, to prevent the string from getting tangled in the container,
It is advisable to attach the twist stopper 17 used for the sweetfish fishing device.

<Effect of the invention> Thus, according to the invention, powder such as a vending machine.

It is possible to provide a simple detection device that detects and issues an alarm when the amount of powder or granules remaining in a container containing the granules is low. This detection device can also be incorporated into the lid of a container and implemented by slightly modifying the lid of an existing vending machine container.

In the illustrated embodiment, the case has been described in which it is applied to a powder container, but it can also be applied to a container of a vending machine in which granules such as coffee beans, rice grains, etc. are measured and monitored.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of the vending machine, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the same container, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views of the container. In the figure, l is a container, 7 is a lid, 9 is a signal generator, 11, 1
2 is a string, and 13 is a rod-shaped detection member.

Claims (1)

[Claims] a string-like member whose upper end is directly or indirectly connected to the signal generator and has a required length to hang down inside the container; and a lower end of the string-like member whose upper end is slightly shorter than the horizontal length of the container. 1. A detecting device for detecting the amount of powder or granules in a container, comprising: a rod-shaped detecting member that is connected to a rod and can be lowered horizontally, and that operates the signal generating device via the string-like member.