JPH0272500A - Solution conduit run control method in automatic vending machine and valve device used therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To always surely obtain the open/close operation of a valve body by operating a valve device for emergency shielding so as to temporarily close a solution conduit run at suitable intervals in time. CONSTITUTION:A valve device 1 is provided on the upstream side of a normal control valve 8 used for a solution conduit run 17, which links between an original solution storage tank 16 and a stirring vessel 15. That is, the valve device 1 detects water level rise in a solution receiving pan provided at the lower part of a cup receiving part 14 at the time of solution leakage, works so as not to close the solution conduit run 17, and regulates the outflow of an original solution L. By setting a timer, the valve is periodically open/close- controlled, and the malfunction due to deposit attached to the valve body and corrosion is prevented from occurring. Thus, the valve device for the emergency shielding can be always surely controlled so as to be closed.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Object of the Invention) <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to a method for managing liquid pipes in a vending machine that dispenses liquid beverages such as coffee, and a valve device used therein. be.

<Background of the Invention> For example, a vending machine that dispenses coffee etc. in a paper cup or noodles etc. in a synthetic resin container always has a liquid pipe for supplying hot water or water. is provided on board. If such a liquid pipeline is provided, take into consideration the possibility that liquid leakage may occur midway through the pipeline, such as at the joints of the pipes or near the valves. An emergency shut-off valve device is used on the upstream side).This emergency shut-off valve device is conventionally equipped with a solenoid pulp, and detects a leakage of liquid by detecting, for example, a rise in the water level in a liquid receiving pan. Then, an electrical signal was sent to the solenoid pulp to energize it and close the valve device.However, as is well known, solenoid valves inevitably deteriorate over time and cannot operate stably. In terms of safety, it was not perfect, and there was still room for improvement.Especially when this type of failure occurs in vending machines at night and the emergency shutoff valve device does not operate, In some vending machines, liquid overflowed to the floor, staining other products, and causing extremely serious damage.Furthermore, such malfunctions can occur when, for example, the solenoid itself is not working properly. However, it is also caused by foreign matter such as water scale adhering to the valve body, making the operation of the valve extremely uncertain, and no countermeasures have been taken in the past for such cases. In addition, when performing repair work in cases where the valve body is incompletely closed, it is impossible to determine whether or not the valve body is closed from outside the valve device, resulting in the problem that it takes time to take corrective action. .

The present invention was developed in view of the above-mentioned background.
This paper attempts to develop a management method that can reliably close an emergency shutoff valve device in a liquid pipeline at all times, as well as a valve device that uses the method.

(Structure of the Invention) <Means for Achieving the Object> The first invention of the method for managing a liquid pipe in a vending machine, etc. according to the present application provides an emergency shutoff valve device in the middle of the liquid pipe, and In a liquid pipeline that is managed to close an emergency shutoff valve device in the event of a liquid leak in the downstream region, the emergency shutoff valve device temporarily closes the liquid pipeline at an appropriate time interval. It is characterized by being operated so as to close it.

In addition to the above requirements, the second invention of the present application is characterized in that the method is applied to a food vending machine to which liquid is supplied.

Furthermore, a valve device according to a third invention of the present application includes a valve body and a valve driving unit, and the movement of a shaft for shifting a valve body in the valve body is directly or indirectly detected, The closed state and open state of the valve are configured to be displayed at least in the vicinity of the valve body.

Each of these configurations attempts to achieve the above objectives.

<Operation of the invention> A valve device installed in the middle of a liquid pipeline is capable of controlling the opening and closing of the liquid pipeline at appropriate time intervals, and the valve device is capable of controlling the opening and closing of the liquid pipeline at appropriate time intervals, and the valve device is capable of controlling the opening and closing of the liquid pipeline at appropriate time intervals. It works to prevent defects from occurring. Further, by applying a valve drive unit using a motor as a drive source as a driving means for the valve body, it is possible to suppress performance deterioration of the valve body over time. Furthermore, by making it possible to indicate that the valve body is in the closed state by lighting a lamp or the like, it is possible to always know whether the valve body is open or closed.

<Examples> The present invention will be specifically described below based on illustrated examples. The following explanation will explain the specific structure and operation of a vending machine, which is an example of the application of the present invention, and will also explain the method of managing liquid pipes and valves in the vending machine, etc. The device will be explained. First, the sign l
The valve device shown by is a valve device to which the present invention is substantially applied, and is used by being incorporated into a beverage vending machine 2. This vending machine 2 can apply the already known fifl, and briefly describes it as follows:
First of all, it has a slightly vertically rectangular parallelepiped housing 3 as a whole, and the front side thereof has a product outlet 4, a display section 5 that displays a product menu, etc., and a product selection provided near the display section 5. The button 6, the money input lower, the money return port 8, the money return lever 9, etc. are arranged at appropriate positions. On the other hand, inside the casing 3 of the vending machine 2, a money handling device 11 and a product supplying device 12 are provided. Of these, the money handling device 11 determines the type of money inserted into the money input lower, and The information is stored in, for example, a microcomputer, computer, etc., and appropriate change is returned from the money return slot 8 in accordance with menu instructions for the next product to be discontinued, and a command is issued to operate the product supply device 12. After receiving the command, the product supply device 12 first supplies the cup 13 to the cup receiver 14 provided at the product outlet 4, and then supplies a predetermined amount of raw material A and undiluted solution corresponding to the selected product menu. , - hours is supplied to the stirring tank 15. After the raw material A and the stock liquid are sufficiently stirred and mixed in the stirring tank 15, they are supplied to the cup 13 as the drinking liquid W. The characteristic configuration or target valve device l of the present application functions by being incorporated into the product supply device 12, and specifically includes a stock solution storage tank 16 for storing stock solution and an agitation tank 15.
It is provided on the upstream side of the regular control valve 18 provided in the liquid pipe line 17 that connects the That is, in the event of liquid leakage, this valve device 1 detects a rise in the water level in the liquid receiving pan provided below the cup receiving part 14 using the sensor 19, and thereby closes the liquid pipe line 17, thereby preventing the raw liquid from flowing out. When regulating the operation of the valve, checking the operation using a test switch SW4 (to be described later), or controlling the opening and closing of the valve by setting a timer, the opening and closing operations are performed quickly. Next, the internal V& structure and operating principle of this valve device 1 will be explained in detail. First, the valve device l includes a valve body 20 and this valve body 2.
The main body is a valve drive unit 21 that drives the valve.

The valve body 20 employs a pole valve as an example, and a liquid conduit 17 is provided inside the valve housing 20A.
The valve body 2OB has a valve body 2OB that directly performs the opening and closing operations of the valve body 2OB, and a valve shaft 20C that rotates together with the valve body 2OB is provided so as to protrude from above the valve housing 2OA. Also, the valve drive unit 2
1 is equipped with a motor M as a driving source, and for example, an alternating current motor capable of forward and reverse rotation is applied,
The output side of the motor M has a gear head 23, and the output shaft 24 of the gear head 23 has a contact body 25 for switching a switch near the middle, and a valve shaft 20C of the valve body 2OB and the output shaft 24 at the end. An attachment 26 is attached that connects and functions to transmit power. Note that these output shaft 24, attachment 26, valve shaft 2. OC substantially constitutes an axis for shifting the valve body 2OB. Further, around the touch body 25, a switch mounting plate 29 is arranged such that an operating switch SW1 for opening the valve, an operating switch SW2 for closing the valve, and an operating switch SWa for lighting the valve closing indicator lamp are arranged. . Further, valve body holding plates 30 are provided on the switch mounting plate 29 at regular intervals, and a valve body holding block 31 is attached to the lower surface of this valve body holding plate 30. It is held in such a way that it fits into the And switch mounting is on board 2
9. The valve body holding plate 30 and a protective cover 32 provided to cover the motor M are fastened with screws via a spacer 33, and the valve device 1 is constituted by these. In the valve device l having such a configuration, the touch body 25 for switching the switch comes into contact with each operation switch SWt, sw2, sw3 for opening the valve, closing the valve, and lighting the valve closing indicator lamp.
By separating, the motor M is rotated in the forward and reverse directions, stopped, and the valve close indicator 28 is turned on and off.

For example, the positional relationship between the contact body 25 and each operation switch SWL, SW2, SWa when the valve is closed and opened is as shown in FIG.
A is arranged in the middle, and an operation switch SW for opening and closing the valve is placed oppositely.
t and sw2 are arranged. Furthermore, FIG. 6 shows an example of the wiring used, which has two input paths drawn out from the valve opening/closing operation switches SW1 and SW2 provided in the valve device I and the motor M. Wiring is performed using two paths for output from the operation switch SW3 for lighting the valve close indicator lamp. Specifically, two paths led out from the valve opening/closing operation switches SWI and SW2 are connected to the manual switch sW7,
The manual switch SW7 is further connected to the power supply. Also, one path led out from the motor M leads directly to the power source via a fuse resistor, and an operation switch SW for lighting the valve closing indicator lamp.

Two paths are drawn out from the pump 28, one of which indicates valve closure
, the other is connected directly to the power supply. Next, a method for managing the liquid conduit 17 by the above-mentioned valve device 1 will be explained based on FIG. 4.5. In Figure 4, code 35
2 is a control device for controlling the opening and closing of the valve body 20, and is installed remotely or attached to the back surface of the housing 3, etc. The front panel of this control device 35 includes an alarm indicator lamp 36, a valve close indicator lamp 28, a test switch SW4, a timer setting switch SW5, a reset switch SW6, and a terminal block 38.
etc., and automatic control of water leakage detection can also be performed. Various functions performed by the control device 35 and the valve body 20 will be explained below with reference to FIG.

i) When the sensor detects a liquid leak In this case, the liquid leak information detected by the sensor 19 is transmitted to the control device 35. Then, the alarm display lamp 36 and the valve close display lamp 28 are turned on, and the valve body 20
The valve body 20B rotates approximately 45 degrees and enters the closed state.

ii) When the liquid leakage condition has been recovered In this case, the sensor 19 notifies the control device 35 that the liquid crystal leakage has been recovered, and the control device i! 35 receives information from the sensor 19, and after maintaining the valve body 20 for a certain period of time (the time required for the valve body 20 in the open state to receive and receive the closing signal from the sensor 19 and completely close the valve body 20), the valve body 2
0 in the opposite direction to the above-mentioned item 1.
Rotate to open position. In addition, the valve close indicator lamp 28 is turned off accordingly. Incidentally, since the alarm display lamp remains lit, press the center switch SW6 to turn it off.

iii) Operation fl! In this case, all you need to do is press the test switch SW4 and issue a command to the control device 35 to confirm the operation. As a result, the valve body 20 will first be closed, and the alarm indicator lamp 36 and valve close indicator lamp 28 will turn on. do. Next, after the operating time is maintained, the valve body 20 returns to the open state, and the valve close indicator lamp 28 goes out accordingly. Incidentally, the alarm display lamp 36 is turned off by the reset switch SWs as in the above-mentioned item ii.

iv) When performing an automatic opening/closing operation In this case, first set the interval of opening/closing operation time of the valve body 20 using the timer setting switch SW5 (in this embodiment, as an example, an interval of about 8 hours and an interval of about 9 minutes are set. After this, the valve body 20 is automatically controlled to open and close at a time interval given by the timer setting switch SWs. Also, only during control, the valve close indicator lamp 28 lights up, but since it has nothing to do with liquid leakage detection, the 7 ram indicator lamp 36 does not light up. Furthermore, it is the valve body 2 that automatically opens and closes in this way.
This is to actively remove limescale etc. that adhere to the OB.

Although the present application has the above configuration, for example, when the control device 35 and the valve device gll are installed separately, the valve device i! 1 may be provided with a valve close indicator lamp 28 on the protective cover 32. In addition to such a lamp display, a pointer is provided on the shaft for shifting the valve body 20B, which is composed of the output shaft 24 or the axotiment 26, and rotates together with the shaft. By opening a display window for operation confirmation, the position of the pointer may be confirmed from this display window.Furthermore, the valve device l and sensor 19
The installation locations are not limited to those in the above-mentioned embodiments, but can be installed at any appropriate location as required, and if necessary, a plurality of locations may be provided in addition to these locations.

Furthermore, the timer setting values are not limited to those of the above embodiments, but can take appropriate values as necessary, such as -day intervals, -weekly intervals, or weekend intervals. Of course, it is also possible to make more detailed adjustments to the SWs by using variable switches.

(Effects of the Invention) The present invention has the above configuration and exhibits the following effects. First of all, in addition to the valve device's original function of emergency shutoff of the liquid pipe line in the event of a liquid leak, it also automatically controls the opening and closing of the valve on a regular basis in order to remove limescale etc. that adheres to the valve body 2OB and prevent corrosion. By doing so, a reliable opening/closing operation of the valve body 20B can always be obtained. Furthermore, since the valve main body 20 is driven to open and close by the rotation of the motor M instead of the conventional solenoid valve, deterioration of properties over time can be significantly controlled compared to solenoid pulp. Then, it is possible to confirm that the valve body 20B is in the closed state by means such as lighting the valve closure indicator lamp 2B, thereby eliminating concerns about remote control and making it possible to manage the liquid conduit 17 reliably.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a partially transparent and enlarged perspective view showing the inside of a vending machine to which the valve device of the present invention is applied, Fig. 2 is a pipeline diagram schematically showing the inside of the product supply device, and Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the valve device, FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing each function performed by the control device, FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the same in various cases, and FIG. 6 is an illustration of the valve device. Wiring diagram used,
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the operating states of each operation switch as the valve opens and closes. l; Valve device 2-vending machine 3; Housing 4; Product takeout port 5; Display unit 6; Product selection button 7; Money input port 8: Money return port 9; Money return lever 11; Money processing device 12i Product supply device 13: Kasobu! 4; Cup receiving portion 15; Stirring tank 16; Stock solution storage tank 17i Liquid pipe line 18; Regular control valve 19; Sensor 20; Valve body 20A; Valve housing 20B; Valve body 20C; Valve shaft 21; Valve drive unit 23; Gear head 24; Output shaft 25; Touch body 26; Attachment 28; Valve close indicator lamp 29; Switch mounting plate 30; Valve body holding plate 31; Valve body holding block 32: Protective cover 33; Spacer 35; Control device 36; Alarm indicator lamp 38; Terminal block A; Raw material L; Stock solution W; Beverage liquid M; Motor SWt, operation switch sw2 for opening the valve; Operation switch SW for closing the valve; Test switch SWS, Timer setting switch SW,; Reset switch SWy, Manual switch 20B r-'-1) (C7)

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) In a liquid pipeline where an emergency shutoff valve device is installed in the middle of the liquid pipeline and is managed to close the emergency shutoff valve device in the event of a liquid leak in the downstream region of the liquid pipeline, the emergency shutoff valve device is A method for managing a liquid line in a vending machine, etc., characterized in that the valve device is operated to temporarily close the liquid line at appropriate time intervals. (2) The management method according to claim 1, wherein the method is applied to a food vending machine that is supplied with liquid. (3) It includes a valve body and a valve drive unit, and
The valve body is characterized in that the movement of the shaft that shifts the valve body in the valve body is directly or indirectly detected, and the closed state and open state of the valve body are displayed at least in the vicinity of the valve body. valve device.