JPH03144890A - In-cup material stirring device for automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain the in-cup material stirring device of the small number of constituent parts by supplying hot water or cold water by changing the opening area of a nozzle by a special needle. CONSTITUTION:The needle 24 which is of the shape of a cone 27 whose bottom surface 27a is the opened face side of the nozzle 11 with plural grooves 28 on its side face to change the opening area of the nozzle 11 by moving from the opened face of the nozzle 11 to the inside of the nozzle 11 is provided. Then, at the time of supply of a hot drink, timing to supply the hot water to a cup 12 is finished in 1/2 cycle of the movement of the bottom part 27a of the needle 24 from the opened face to the inside, and at the time of supply of a cold drink, the hot water is supplied to the cup 12 in the midst of the movement of the needle 24 from the opened face to the inside, and simultaneously, at the time of stoppage for reversing, ice is supplied to the cup 12, and the cold water is supplied in the course of the movement of the needle 24 from the inside to the opened face. Thus, the number of the constitutent parts can be reduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a TD4 vending machine that provides hot or cold beverages by supplying hot or cold water to cups filled with various powdered raw materials such as coffee, cocoa, or black tea. This invention relates to an in-cup raw material stirring device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In recent years, as the demand for cup-type vending machines has increased, there has been a need to solve hygienic problems with powder raw materials and their mixing parts.

As a conventional technique, a technique has been proposed in which raw materials are stirred in a cup as shown in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-30997.

This conventional structure will be explained below with reference to FIG.

A flat spray nozzle 1 is connected to a pressurized hot water hose 2a and a cold water hose 2b for supplying pressurized hot water. Then, pressurized hot water or cold water is sprayed into the cup aa placed below the flat spray nozzle 1 and filled with the powder raw material 3 in advance. Further, the flat spray nozzle 1 is caused to swing in the direction of an arrow E by a drive device 4.

Reference numeral 5 designates a nozzle fixed toward the inside of the cup 3a, which is connected to the hot water supply hose e, and supplies unpressurized hot water to the cup 3a. 7 is an ice chute that supplies ice into the cup 3a when producing a cold beverage.

In the in-cup raw material stirring device configured as described above, when the cup 3a supplied with powdered raw material is set according to a sales command, the shift flat spray nozzle 1 is oscillated by the drive device 4, and at the same time pressurization is applied. Hot water is injected from the hot water supply hose 2a through the flat spray nozzle 1. As a result, the powdered raw material 3 in the kettle 3a is stirred by the water flow, mixed with the beverage, and dissolved into the beverage. After the stirring is completed, the pressurized injection is stopped and dilution is then carried out. When producing a hot beverage, normal pressure hot water is supplied into the cup aa through the hot water supply hose 6 and the fixed nozzle 6, and when a predetermined amount is reached, the hot water is stopped and the beverage preparation is completed. In addition, when producing cold beverages, after the pressurized groove injection from the flat spray nozzle 1 is stopped, cold water is supplied into the cup 3a through the cold water hose 2b, and ice is supplied from the ice chute 7 to reach a predetermined amount. When this is reached, the supply is stopped and the preparation of the cold beverage is completed.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, the above configuration requires a large number of components because it is necessary to provide the fixed nozzle 5 separately from the flat spray nozzle 1 for stirring and mixing. Furthermore, since the flat spray nozzle 1 is oscillated to achieve optimal stirring, the installation location of the fixed nozzle 5 is limited.

In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides an in-cup raw material stirring device for a til vending machine that has fewer components and a smaller installation area.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a nozzle for dispensing a beverage located above the upper edge of a cup, a conical shape with the bottom facing the opening side of the nozzle, and a side surface of the nozzle. a needle having a plurality of grooves in the nozzle and moving from the opening surface of the nozzle into the nozzle to change the opening area of the nozzle; a driving means for moving the needle from the inside to the opening surface again to complete one cycle; a hot water tank and a cold water tank having valves connected to the nozzle; , a control device for completing the dispensing of ice and cold water, said control device timing the dispensing of hot water into the cup when dispensing a hot beverage in % cycles as the bottom of the needle moves inwardly from the opening surface of the nozzle. When dispensing a cold beverage, the needle supplies hot water to the cup while moving inward from the opening surface of the nozzle, and also supplies ice to the cup when the drive means stops for reversal, and the needle moves inside the nozzle. It supplies cold water in the process of moving from the side to the opening side.

Further, the control device of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG.
The control device of the present invention includes a selection detection means 29 that determines whether the selection switch operated by the purchaser is requesting hot (hora) 29a or cold 29b, and when the selection switch is requesting hot or cold. said driving means 2 at the request of
6, valves 16, 20, pump 17.21, and operation procedure storage means 3o that stores the operation timing of the ice maker 22.
Based on the signal from the selection detection means 29, the corresponding operation procedure is read from the operation procedure storage means 30, and the hot water supply means 31, cold water supply means 32. Ice supply means 33. Each drive means 26, valve 16, 204 or pump 17.21 is controlled via the reversible control means 34.
It is also equipped with a memory calculation means 35 for operating the ice maker 22.

Function The present invention has the above-described structure, and the opening of the nozzle is changed to a needle, so when the bottom surface of the needle is located almost the same as the opening surface of the nozzle when providing a hot beverage, Beverage discharged from the opening flows along the groove formed on the side of the needle and is supplied to the cup in the form of a shower.

The shower-like flow of the beverage becomes a jet stream because the opening area of the nozzle is small. As a result, the powder raw material and the beverage are mixed and stirred.

Furthermore, when the entire needle enters the nozzle, the opening area of the nozzle becomes larger, and the beverage flows along the conical portion, supplying a large amount of beverage toward the center of the cup.

In addition, when serving cold beverages, if the bottom of the needle is located almost flush with the opening of the nozzle, the beverage flows along the groove formed on the side of the needle and is supplied to the cup in the form of a shower. . The shower-like flow of the beverage becomes a jet stream because the opening area of the nozzle is small. In this way, the powdered raw material and the beverage are mixed and stirred.

The needle then stops moving to provide ice, then moves the needle to the open face of the nozzle and delivers cold water, showering the cold water along the rim of the cup and moving to the bottom of the cup. It is meant to be sprinkled with water.

EXAMPLE An example of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

11 is a nozzle body, and the opening 11a is connected to the upper edge 1 of the cup 12.
It is positioned above like 2a. A powder raw material 13 is filled into the cup 12 at a position facing the nozzle 11 before the beverage is supplied.

The filling of powder raw material 13 into this cup 12 is carried out by filling the cup 12 with
The cup 12 may be filled in advance or after the cup 12 is supplied.

A hollow cap 14 made of synthetic resin is attached to the opening 11a of the nozzle 11.

This cap 14 has a hollow portion 14 inside the nozzle 11.
A taper 15 is formed that converges toward a.

This nozzle 11 is composed of a straight part 11b and a branch part 11c, and the branch part 11c is connected to a hot water tank 18 via a valve 16 and a pump 17. The housing and cold water tank 19 are also connected via a valve 20. 22 is an ice making machine connected to an ice chute 23 having an opening located near the nozzle 11 on the upper surface of the cup 12. Further, a needle 24 is arranged in the straight part 11b, and the opening part 11
It extends upward from the opening 11d on the opposite side of a. A seal 25 is provided between the opening 11d and the needle 24. The upper end of the needle 24 is connected to a driving means 26, which is a motor, so that the needle 24 can move in the vertical direction. Further, the tip of the needle 24 has a conical shape 27. This conical shape 27
The bottom surface 27& of is directed toward the opening 11a. Further, the width surface 27b of the conical shape 27 is provided with a groove 28.

Reference numeral 29 denotes selection detection means for determining whether the selection switch operated by the purchaser requests hot 29a or cold 2sb.

Reference numeral 30 denotes an operation procedure storage means that stores the operation timings of the driving means 26, the valves 16, 20'i, the pump 17, and the ice maker 22 for hot requests and cold requests. Based on the signal from the selection detection means 29, the corresponding operation procedure is read from the operation procedure storage means 30, and the hot water supply means 31. Cold water supply means 32, ice supply means 33. Each drive means 26, valve 16, 207, or pump 1 is controlled via the reversible control means 34.
7 and a storage calculation means 36 for operating the ice making machine 22.

Next, the present invention will be explained in detail.

1) When hot beverages are supplied, the selection detection means 29 detects that the purchaser requests the hot drink (see above) 29a (step 1), and the storage calculation means 3
Go through the traffic light to 6. Upon receiving this signal, the memory calculation means 36
reads out the operation procedure corresponding to hot from the operation procedure storage means 30' and stores it (step 2). According to this operating procedure, valve 16. The pump 17 is operated via the hot water supply means 31 (step 3). Furthermore, the driving means 26 is operated via the reversible control means 34 (step 4).
. By continuing this state for a certain period of time from 70 to tl (step 5), hot water is supplied to the sink 12.

At this time, since the opening 11a of the nozzle 11 and the bottom surface 27a of the conical shape 27 of the needle 24 are located at the same position, the opening 11a of the needle 24
The temperature discharged from the hollow part 14a of the cap 14 attached to the cap 14 flows along the plurality of grooves 28 in the conical shape 27 at the tip of the needle 24, and is supplied to the cup 12.

At this time, the opening area of the nozzle 11 is in the most narrowed state (the state shown in FIG. 4a), and the opening area is
Only the □zo 28 part of the conical shape 2 ends. Therefore, the hot water supplied from the nozzle 11 to the cup 12 becomes a shower-like jet stream. That is, the powder raw material and hot water are mixed and stirred by this jet stream. Furthermore, when the tip of the needle 24 enters the nozzle 11, the opening area of the nozzle 11 expands, and the hot water flows through the taper 16 of the cap 14 and the conical part 2.
A large amount of hot water flows along the entire side surface 27b of the cup 12 and is supplied toward the cup 12 (the state shown in FIG. 4). If the time t is taken for the needle 24 to enter the inside of the nozzle 11 from the same position as the opening of the nozzle 11 and reach the top dead center from the bottom dead center in state 1 in FIG.
．． The operation of the pump 17 is stopped via the hot water supply means 31 (step 6). In addition, the reversible control means 34
The drive means 26 is reversed (step 7) and the needle 24
In order to move from the top dead center to the bottom dead center, the operation is continued for t1 time (step).

2) When supplying cold beverages, the selection detection means 29 detects that the purchaser requests cold beverages 29b (step 1'), and the storage calculation means 36
Go through the signal. Upon receiving this signal, the storage calculation means 35 reads out the operation procedure corresponding to cold from the operation procedure storage means 3o and stores it (step 9). According to this operating procedure, the valve 1e pump 17 is operated via the hot water supply means 31 (step 10), and the reversible control means 34 causes it to rotate forward (step 11). Then, this operation time is continued from to to 12-1 (step 12)
.

At this time, t2 is as short as tl.

Then, at t2, the reversible control means stops (
Step 13). Therefore, the needle 24 is connected to the nozzle 11.
Since the opening 11a of the nozzle 24 and the bottom 27a of the conical part 27 of the nozzle 24 are in the same position, the hot water discharged from the hollow part 14a of the cap 14 attached to the opening 11a flows through the conical part 27 at the tip of the needle 24. It flows along the plurality of grooves 28 and is supplied to the cup 12. At this time, the opening area of the nozzle 11 is in the most narrowed state (the state shown in FIG. 4a), and the opening area is only the conical groove 28 of the needle 24. Therefore, nozzle 1
The hot water supplied from 1 to cup 12 becomes a shower-like jet stream. That is, the powder raw material and the hot water are mixed and stirred by this jet flow.

In this state, the reversible control means 34 is stopped from t2 to 131. The ice maker 22 operates between t2 and t3,
Ice is introduced into the cup (state shown in FIG. 4C) (step 14). Next, the drive means 26 is reversed by the reversible control means 34 to move the needle 24 downward (towards the bottom dead center) until the opening 11a of the nozzle 11 and the bottom surface 27a of the conical shape 27 of the needle 24 are at the same position from t3. It is moved to t4 (the state shown in FIG. 4 d) (step 16).

After that, the valve 2o is operated (step 1e).

As a result, cold water is supplied into the cup 12 in the form of a shower along the groove 28 of the conical 27 of the needle 24. By supplying cold water between t4 and tl, a cold beverage can be provided (step 17).

In this way, when supplying a hot beverage, the powder raw material 13 filled in the scoop 12 is first moistened by the movement of the needle 24, and then mixed and stirred to improve the mixing effect. Furthermore, when serving a cold beverage, the movement of the needle 24 is reversed halfway through, and when the needle 24 is reversed, ice is supplied into the cup 12, and the cold water is shower-like and wraps around the ice, thereby reducing splashing of the cold water when it hits the ice. At the same time, mixing is promoted.

Effects of the Invention As is clear from the above embodiments, the present invention includes a nozzle for dispensing a beverage located on the upper edge of a cup, a conical shape with the opening side of the nozzle as the bottom surface, and a plurality of conical nozzles on the side surface. a needle that moves from the opening surface of the nozzle into the nozzle to change the opening area of the nozzle; a driving means for moving the needle from the inside to the opening surface again to complete one cycle; a hot water tank and a cold water tank having valves connected to the nozzle; and a control device for completing the supply of cold water, and the control device completes the timing of supplying hot water to the cup when dispensing a hot beverage by the cycle in which the bottom of the needle moves inward from the opening surface of the nozzle; When dispensing a cold beverage, hot water is supplied to the cup while the needle moves inward from the opening surface of the nozzle, and ice is supplied to the cup when the drive means stops for reversal, and the needle opens from the inside of the nozzle. Since cold water is supplied during the process of moving towards the nozzle surface, when making cold drinks, the needle is supplied in % cycles as it moves inward from the opening surface of the nozzle, so hot water supply is completed in one cycle of the needle. You can finish it faster. Further, when a cold beverage is supplied, ice is supplied after the beverage is moistened, and then cold water is showered and supplied to the cup, so the cold water does not hit the ice vigorously and scatter to the surroundings.

Furthermore, since cold water is supplied after ice is supplied, there is no possibility that ice will enter the cup and scatter the beverage when there is not much beverage in the cup. Furthermore, since cold water is supplied in the form of a shower, a flow of cold water is generated inward of the cup, which facilitates stirring of the beverage and improves the mixing effect.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a beverage vending chart showing one embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 4 La) to Fig. 4 L a) are sectional views explaining the operating state of Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 is a vending chart of the same. FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a conventional beverage vending machine in-cup raw material stirring device. 11... Nozzle, 12... Cup, 1
3... Powder raw material, 24... Needle,
26... Drive means, 27... Conical part.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) In a device that supplies drinking water to powdered raw materials filled in a cup and mixes the mixture within the cup, there is a nozzle for supplying a beverage located above the upper edge of the cup, and an opening side of the nozzle. A needle having a conical shape with a bottom surface having a plurality of grooves on the side surface and moving from the opening surface of the nozzle into the nozzle to change the opening area of the nozzle, and a bottom portion of the needle that is reversible. After moving the nozzle inward from the opening surface, move it from the inside to the opening surface again.
a driving means for terminating a cycle; a hot water tank and a cold water tank with valves connected to the nozzle; and a control device for completing the supply of hot water, ice and cold water during one cycle of operation of the needle; The control device completes the timing of supplying hot water to the cup when dispensing hot beverages by 1/2 cycle, when the bottom of the needle moves inward from the opening surface of the nozzle, and when dispensing cold beverages, the timing when the needle moves inward from the opening surface of the nozzle. Hot water is supplied to the cup while the needle is moving inward, ice is supplied to the cup when the drive means is stopped for reversal, and cold water is supplied while the needle is moving from the inside of the nozzle to the opening surface. Features a device for stirring raw materials in the vending machine cup. (2) In a device that supplies drinking water to powdered raw materials filled in a cup and mixes the mixture within the cup, a beverage supply nozzle located above the upper edge of the cup and a beverage supply nozzle that moves within the nozzle are provided. A needle that changes the opening area of the nozzle to change the state of the discharged beverage, and this needle is reversibly moved inward from the opening surface of the nozzle, and then moved from the inside to the opening surface to complete one cycle. It comprises a driving means, a hot water tank and a cold water tank connected to the nozzle via a valve, and a control device for completing the supply of hot water, ice and cold water during one cycle of operation of the needle, the control device When supplying hot beverages, the timing of supplying hot water to the cup is completed in 1/2 cycle in which the needle moves inward from the opening surface of the nozzle, and when dispensing cold beverages, the needle moves inward from the opening surface of the nozzle. Hot water is supplied to the cup during the process, ice is supplied to the cup when the drive means stops for reversal, and cold water is supplied even after the needle has finished moving from the inside of the nozzle to the opening surface. A stirring device for ingredients inside the cup of a vending machine.