JPH0443517Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] a. Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a cleaning device for various beverage dispensers.

b. Prior Art Conventionally, in order to clean beverage dispensers, especially draft beer dispensers, pressure gas is introduced into beer barrels and water is passed through them using a dispensing head that draws beer out of the barrel. There are known products that clean beer aisles (for example, the
Publication No. 7280, Publication of Utility Model Application No. 1964-196495, Publication No. 196495
-See Publication No. 196494. ), and a cleaning device for a vending machine having different types of beverage circuits is already known (see Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 62-25831).

c. Problems to be solved by the invention In the conventional cleaning device for a vending machine that has different types of beverage circuits, each valve element provided in the sanitation joint is operated by the pressure of tap water or the negative pressure of the beverage circuit. It was necessary to clean all the circuits at the same time. Therefore, when one type of beverage tank is empty and the tank needs to be replaced with a new one, it is necessary to cover other circuits with blank plugs, which is a time-consuming process. .

Furthermore, in so-called composite dispensers that handle many types of beverages and have many circuits, it is not possible to clean all the circuits at the same time due to the treatment of wastewater.

The object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning device for various beverage dispensers that can easily clean one circuit at a time as needed, and can also clean a plurality of circuits at the same time.

d Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the present invention dispenses each beverage through each dispensing pipe by applying carbon dioxide pressure to each of a plurality of containers storing different types of beverages. For cleaning devices for various beverage dispensers, we select multiple couplers with valve mechanisms that open by connecting the connectors of each dispensing pipe, connectors for the water supply system including the cleaning water tank, and connectors for the carbon dioxide gas system connected to the gas cylinder. The adapter is equipped with a sealed structure that includes one coupler that connects the two and a cap that is removably attached.

e Function The sealed adapter is equipped with multiple couplers that have valve mechanisms that are opened by connecting the connectors of each spout pipe, so it is possible to prevent circuits that require cleaning (chemical cleaning) and water drainage. Simply connect the outlet tube connector to the adapter coupler.
It is possible to clean the circuit (chemical cleaning) and drain water. In addition, if necessary, all the spout pipe connectors can be connected to the coupler of the adapter.

Further, a cap is detachably attached to the adapter, and when performing chemical cleaning, the cap is removed and the chemical is poured into the adapter to perform the cleaning process.

f. Embodiments Hereinafter, the flow paths of various beverage dispensers, ie, so-called composite dispensers, showing embodiments of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG.

The carbon dioxide gas in the carbon dioxide gas cylinder 1 is reduced in pressure by a pressure reducing valve 2, and is supplied to a syrup tank 3 as a pressure for pouring syrup, and is also supplied to a beer tank 4 as a pressure for pouring beer.

Carbon dioxide gas is supplied to the syrup tank 3 via the connector 5, but this connector 5 can be attached and detached with a single touch, and when removed from the syrup tank 3, the check valve allows the supply of carbon dioxide from the connector 5. Carbon dioxide gas does not leak. All such structures are already known.

The syrup in the syrup tank 3 is cooled by the pressure of the supplied carbon dioxide gas from the syrup tank 3 via the connector 6, passes through the cooling chamber 7 by the pouring pipe 8, and is poured out from the pouring valve 8a.

Note that the connector 6 also has the same structure as the connector 5.

The beer tank 4 is provided with a pouring head 9 which simultaneously functions as the connectors 5 and 6 used in the syrup tank 3.
Carbon dioxide gas is supplied to the beer tank 4 via
The beer in the beer tank 4 is pushed out, cooled through the cooling chamber 7 by the pouring pipe 8 via the pouring head 9, and poured out from the pouring valve 8a.

The above is a typical beverage dispensing route in a composite dispenser.

In such a composite dispenser, a tank that is frequently replaced, for example, the beer tank 4, is installed outside the machine, and as shown in FIG. 2, an adapter 21 for cleaning the beer circuit is installed outside the machine together with the beer tank 4. and an adapter for the syrup circuit installed inside the aircraft.

As shown in FIG. 3, the syrup circuit adapter 20 includes a main body, a cap 23, and a coupler 2.
5 and 3 couplers 26a, 26b, 26c
It consists of As shown in FIG. 4, the coupler 26 has a valve mechanism consisting of a spring 30, a valve 31, a valve body 33 having a valve seat 32, and a spring retainer 34, and when the connector 6 of the spout pipe 8 is not attached. In this case, a valve 31 is pressed against a valve seat 32 by a spring 30. The cap 23 is connected to the threaded portion 2 of the adapter 20.
0a, and can be easily attached and detached. A coupler 25 is provided on the cap 23, and the structure of this coupler 25 is exactly the same as the coupler 26 shown in FIG. Therefore, the interior 27 of the adapter 20 is in a sealed state when the connectors 5 and 6 are not connected to the coupler 25 and couplers 26a, 26b, and 26c.

The adapter 21 for the beer circuit is the adapter 20
In this example, coupler 26 is replaced with coupler 29. That is, the coupler 29 has a structure corresponding to the beer dispensing head 9, which is a connector of the beer circuit. As shown in FIG. 5, the spouting head 9, which is a connector, includes a carbon dioxide gas inlet 40, a main body 41, a handle 42, and a beer outlet 4.
Consists of 3. When the pouring head 9 is attached to the beer tank 4, the carbon dioxide gas inlet 40 and the beer outlet 43 communicate with each other, and the carbon dioxide gas inlet 40 and the inside of the beer tank 4 do not communicate with each other. When the handle 42 is pushed down, the carbon dioxide gas inlet 40 and the inside of the beer tank 4 communicate with each other, and beer is poured out to the beer outlet 43 by the pressure of the carbon dioxide gas that has flowed into the beer tank. Such a dispensing head 9 is already commonly known.

The coupler 29 corresponds to such a dispensing head 9, and seals the circumference of the dispensing head 9, the beer outlet 43 communicates with the inside 27 of the adapter 21, and the carbon dioxide gas inlet 40 communicates with the beer outlet 43 and the adapter. The structure is such that it does not communicate with either of the interiors 27 of 21. For example, the inner surface of the coupler 29 is provided with a sealing member that coincides with the outer peripheral surface of the pouring head 9, and the center hole communicating with the interior 27 of the adapter 21 of the coupler 29 and the beer outlet 43 of the pouring head 9 are provided.
It fits so as to match the holes that are connected to each other, and
The structure is such that the carbon dioxide gas outlet of the pouring head 9 is sealed by the inner bottom surface of the coupler 29 when the handle 42 is lowered (the carbon dioxide gas inlet 40 and the beer outlet 43 are not in communication).

Although the valve mechanism of the coupler 29 is not shown, the valve mechanism (FIG. 4) used for the coupler 26 for the syrup circuit can be applied.

As shown in FIG. 2, the water supply system including the cleaning water tank 50 consists of a pipe 51, and the tip of the pipe 51 has a connector 5b that can be connected to the coupler 25 of each of the adapter 20 and the adapter 21. By connecting this connector 5b to the couplers 25 of the adapters 20 and 21, cleaning water is supplied from the cleaning water tank 50 through the piping 51 into the adapters 20 and 21.

Next, the action of the cleaning device shown in the figure will be explained.
Explain about chemical cleaning and draining.

To clean the syrup circuit, remove the connector 6 of the spout pipe that needs cleaning from the syrup tank 3 and connect it to the coupler 26 of the adapter 20 (each coupler 26 has a valve mechanism that opens when the connector is connected). (There is no need to install connectors or blind plugs on all couplers.)
Next, the connector 5b of the pipe 51 leading to the wash water tank 50 is attached to the coupler 25. Pour valve 8
When the valve is opened, the water in the cleaning water tank 50 flows to the adapter 2.
0, enters the syrup dispensing pipe through the connector 6, passes through the cooling chamber 7, and exits from the dispensing valve 8.
Drainage occurs only for the time required for cleaning.

When cleaning the syrup circuit with a chemical, remove the cap 23 of the adapter 20, and
After putting the medicine into the inside 27 of 0 and attaching the cap 23, connect the water supply system connector 5b to the coupler 25.
When connected to the adapter 20, the drug in the adapter 20 is dissolved in water and flows into the syrup circuit. After that, the process is exactly the same as cleaning.

After cleaning or chemical cleaning is completed, a so-called draining step is required to expel water from the circuit.

Carbon dioxide gas connector 5 connected to gas cylinder 1
Remove a from syrup tank 3 and coupler 25.
When the drain valve 8 is opened, all water in the circuit is expelled by the pressure of carbon dioxide gas.
FIG. 6 shows a modification of the adapter 20. The interior 27 of the adapter 20 is divided into through holes 26 that communicate with the couplers 26a, 26b, and 26c.
The cross-sectional areas of a', 26b', and 26c' are changed (Fig. 7), and the volume expressed by the cross-sectional area of the through hole x length is the same for each through hole, and each circuit connected to each coupler 26a, 26b, and 26c is In order to average the amount of chemicals processed during chemical cleaning, that is, to obtain the same cleaning effect in each circuit, and to
When the connector 6 of the spout pipe of each circuit is connected to b, 26c, even if the other spout valves 8a, 8a are opened after opening one spout valve 8a, the cleaning water does not enter each circuit. This allows the dissolved drug to be distributed.

Note that similar modifications can be made to the adapter 21 as well.

Further, in the above embodiment, two adapters are used, but it is clear that the same functions and effects can be obtained even if only one adapter is provided.

g Effects of the invention The sealed adapter is equipped with multiple couplers that have valve mechanisms that open when the connectors of each spout pipe (spray head in the case of the beer circuit) are connected, so cleaning (chemical cleaning) and By simply connecting the spout pipe connector of the circuit that requires water drainage treatment to the coupler, each circuit can be treated, and if necessary, all the circuits can be treated at the same time.

In addition, a cap is attached to the adapter in a removable manner, and when performing chemical cleaning, this cap can be removed and the chemical is poured into the adapter for cleaning, so the water tank for chemical injection is There is no need for this, and the device is simple.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a system diagram of various beverage dispensers to which a cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied; Fig. 2 is a system diagram of various beverage dispenser cleaning devices according to an embodiment of the present invention; 2 is a partial sectional view of an adapter used in the cleaning device shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial sectional view of a coupler of the adapter used in the cleaning device shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view of the adapter used in the cleaning device shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view for explaining the relationship between the dispensing head and the coupler; FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of an adapter for a cleaning device for various beverage dispensers showing another embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 6th
It is a sectional view taken along line A-A in the figure. 1 is a carbon dioxide gas cylinder, 2 is a pressure reducing valve, 3 and 4 are containers, 5 is a connector, 5a is a carbon dioxide gas system connector, 5b is a water supply system connector, 6 is a spouting pipe connector, 8 is a spouting valve, 9 is the pouring head, 20,
21 is an adapter, 23 is a cap, and 25 and 26 are couplers.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] In a cleaning device for various beverage dispensers that dispenses each beverage through each dispensing pipe by applying carbon dioxide pressure into a plurality of containers storing different types of beverages, by connecting the connectors of the dispensing pipes. A plurality of couplers each having an opening valve mechanism, one coupler selectively connecting a water supply system connector including a cleaning water tank and a carbon dioxide gas system connector connected to a gas cylinder, and a detachably attached cap. A cleaning attachment for various beverage dispensers characterized by having an adapter with a sealed structure.