JPH0447580Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] a. Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to an automatic beverage supply device equipped with an ice maker, and particularly relates to a structure for treating residual water remaining in an ice making tank of an ice maker.

b. Prior Art Conventionally, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-99678, an auger-type ice maker has been used in an automatic beverage supply device equipped with an ice maker for selling drinks with ice grains added thereto. It is common to do so. This type of ice maker continuously supplies ice making water into a cylinder with an evaporator wrapped around its outer periphery, and scrapes off the ice layer that forms on the inner surface of the cylinder by rotating an auger with spiral blades. The ice grains scraped off in this way are then supplied to the beverage.

However, in this auger-type ice maker, especially when the ice-making water used is highly hard water containing a large amount of minerals such as silica, the concentration of minerals that increase as the ice maker is operated can be absorbed by the auger. deposited on the bearing part,
Since this causes early wear of the bearing, a large amount of expense is required for its maintenance.

Furthermore, attempts have been made to use batch-type ice makers instead of the auger-type ice makers described above. This batch type ice maker alternately repeats an ice making cycle and a deicing cycle. In each ice-making cycle, the ice-making water in the ice-making water tank is circulated and supplied to an ice-making member such as an ice-making plate or an ice-making cell, and ice is made there. Hot gas is passed through and the generated ice is separated from the ice making member and collected.

When using such a batch-type ice maker, there is no rotating member such as an auger, so the above-mentioned disadvantages such as early wear of the bearing part are eliminated, but
Due to the batch system, residual water remains in the ice making water tank after each ice making cycle. If the remaining water is left as it is and the ice-making water needed for the next ice-making cycle is added on top of the remaining water, the silica in the circulating ice-making water will gradually become concentrated and increase, which may reduce the quality of the ice made. There is sex. For this reason, the ice-making residual water must be discharged as needed depending on the water quality.

C. Problems that the invention aims to solve As mentioned above, batch-type ice makers have the problem of disposing of the remaining ice-making water, so this batch-type ice maker has been incorporated into an automatic beverage dispensing device and used as a vending machine. Then, the following problem arises.
That is, in the case of a vending machine, it is not always possible to install it in a place where there is a drainage channel, so a new drainage channel must be constructed, which results in a significant increase in costs. Otherwise, a separate container must be installed inside the vending machine to catch the remaining water, but to prevent the remaining water from overflowing from the container, the amount of remaining water in the container must be checked frequently or the container This requires a large volume, or special measures are required to stop the operation of the ice maker and therefore the vending machine when the remaining water in the container reaches a predetermined level.

Therefore, even though the batch type ice maker is superior to the auger type ice maker in the above-mentioned respects, it has actually been hardly used as an automatic beverage dispensing device.

Therefore, the purpose of the present invention is to provide an excellent automatic beverage dispensing device that does not require frequent inspections or maintenance, provides excellent ice quality, and does not require a large increase in costs. do.

c Means for solving the problem For this purpose, the automatic beverage dispensing device according to the present invention includes an ice-making member to which an evaporator is attached, an ice-making water tank for receiving and storing ice-making water, and a water sprayer for sprinkling ice-making water onto the ice-making member. The ice making machine is equipped with a so-called bucket-type ice maker, which includes a container, an ice stocker for storing ice grains collected from the ice making components, and a circulation pipe for supplying and circulating ice making water from an ice making water tank to a sprinkler.

Furthermore, the automatic beverage dispenser of the present invention includes a reservoir tank with a water level control switch for receiving an external water supply, such as tap water, which is in fluid communication with the ice-making water tank and the carbonator. This carbonator supplies carbonated water to bottles for sale. The de-icing water pipe that branches from the ice-making water circulation pipe is
A return pipe that extends above the back surface of the ice-making member and further branches from the deicing water pipe reaches the reservoir tank.

e. Effect In the present invention, in the batch type ice maker, ice making water circulates in the order of ice making water tank -> circulation pipe -> water sprinkler -> surface of ice making member -> ice making water tank during the ice making cycle. Expanded refrigerant gas is passed through the evaporator, and the ice-making water gradually becomes lower in temperature and forms ice on the ice-making member.

In the de-icing cycle, hot gas is supplied to the evaporator, and ice-making water in the ice-making water tank is supplied and sprayed onto the back side of the ice-making member to warm the ice-making member and remove the ice formed on the ice-making surface. , will be recovered. The concentration of mineral substances in the ice-making water in the ice-making water tank increases during the ice-making cycle, but as mentioned above, this water is supplied to the back of the ice-making component as de-icing water, and some of it is also passed through the branched return pipe. It is then returned to the reservoir tank. That is, a portion of the ice-making water remaining is returned to the reservoir tank, and when the water level in the ice-making water tank decreases, water is supplied from the reservoir tank via the water supply pipe.

When a sales signal is received, the carbonated water in the carbonator is supplied to the sales cup, and when the water level in the carbonator falls, water containing ice-making residual water in the reservoir tank is supplied into the carbonator. That is, the ice-making residual water is supplied to the cup as carbonated water together with other water supply via the reservoir tank and carbonator, and is consumed.

f Examples Examples of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to these examples, and it goes without saying that various modifications are included within the scope of the present invention. be. In the figures, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the ice making machine or ice making mechanism section 1 includes a vertical ice making member 3, below which an ice guide plate 22 and an ice making water tank 4 are arranged with a water receiver 14 in between. .

The evaporator 3a installed in a meandering manner on the back surface of the ice making member 3 is connected to a refrigerant gas compressor 16 via an expansion means (not shown), and also connected to a hot gas valve 24.
I am also in contact with The refrigerant gas compressor 16, condenser 19, etc., together with the evaporator 3a, form a closed refrigerant cycle. 20 and a fan motor 21 are also installed at the positions shown.

The ice-making water tank 4 has a built-in float switch 23 for water level control, and is connected to an ice-making water circuit (not shown) of a sprinkler 13 via a circulation pipe 12 equipped with a circulation pump 11 and an ice-making circulation valve 15. There is. The water sprinkler 13 is located above the ice making member 3 as shown in the figure, but its deicing water circuit (not shown)
is connected to the circulation pipe 12 (between the pump 11 and the ice making circulation valve 15) via a deicing water pipe 55 equipped with a deicing circulation valve 17. The deicing water pipe 55
A branch pipe branched from, ie, a return pipe 51 extends to a reservoir tank 33, which will be described later.

An ice stocker 6 is provided which faces below the slanted ice guide plate 22 and partially extends above the ice making water tank 4. 1
8 to a chute 40, which will be described later, and an ice storage switch 9 for detecting the amount of stored ice.

Beverage supply device 30 whose structure itself may be of a well-known type
There is a reservoir tank 33 with a water level control switch 37, which is connected via a water supply pipe 25 with a water supply valve 53 to an external water source, such as a tap.

Pipes 47 and 49 supply carbonated water and syrup to the cup 41a placed below the chute 40,
Carbonated water valve 46 and syrup valve 48 respectively
and are connected to a carbonator 36 and a syrup tank 38, respectively. A carbon dioxide gas cylinder 39 for pressurizing the carbonator 36 and syrup tank 38 is connected to them via pipes 43 and 45 provided with pressure regulating valves 42 and 44, respectively.

Additionally, the carbonator 36 of the beverage supply device 30
is equipped with a control switch 32 and is connected to a water supply reservoir tank 33 via a pipe 50 having a drinking water supply pump 35, and when a drop in the water level is detected by the control switch 32, the water supply is refilled from the reservoir tank 33. receive. On the other hand, the reservoir tank 33
is connected to the ice-making water tank 4 via a water supply pipe 31 having a water supply pump 34.

Next, the operation of this embodiment having the above-described structure will be explained.

First, when the power is turned on, the ice making mechanism section 1 starts operating from the deicing cycle. Reservoir tank 33
When there is no water, both the water level control switch 37a and the lower limit switch 37b are turned on, the water supply valve 53 is energized and opened, and water is supplied from the external water source to the reservoir tank 33 via the water supply pipe 25. To explain the action of the water level control switch 37,
The water level in the reservoir tank 33 rises and the water level reaches L ₅
When the water level reaches L4, the lower limit switch 37b turns off, and when the water level rises further and reaches the water level _L4 , the upper limit switch 37b turns off.
7a is turned off and the water supply valve 53 is closed.

At the same time, the deicing circulation valve 17 and the water supply pump 34
The water in the reservoir tank 33 is sent to the ice-making water tank 4 by the water supply pump 34 and stored therein. The water stored in the ice-making water tank 4 is forced into the water sprinkler 13 through the de-icing circulation valve 17 by operation of the circulation pump 11, is poured onto the back side of the ice-making member 3, and is returned to the ice-making water tank 4. .
The water in the ice-making water tank 4 is circulated through the above-mentioned path and at the same time, a portion is returned to the reservoir tank 33 through the return pipe 51.
Due to the large amount of water supplied, the water level gradually rises,
The water level exceeds L ₂ and reaches the water level L ₁ , and the upper limit switch 2 is turned on.
3a is turned off. As a result, the water supply pump 34
operation will be stopped and water supply will be cut off. Return pipe 5
Of course, the water that returns via 1 goes to reservoir tank 3.
It is mixed with other water in ice making water tank 4 and supplied to ice making water tank 4.

Since the hot gas valve 24 is energized even in the above-mentioned initial deicing cycle, the evaporator 3a is
A hot refrigerant is supplied as hot gas, and the ice making member 3 is heated to activate an attached deicing completion thermostat (not shown). As a result, the hot gas valve 24 and the deicing circulation valve 17 are closed, the fan motor 21 and the ice making circulation valve 15 are turned on, and the ice making cycle begins.

In the ice-making cycle, water in the ice-making tank 4 is pumped by the circulation pump 11 and circulated through the ice-making circulation valve 15, the water sprinkler 13, the surface of the ice-making member 3, and the water receiver 14, and then returns to the ice-making tank 4. do. At the same time, the refrigerant from the compressor 16 is being circulated and supplied to the evaporator 3a via an expansion means (not shown), and the ice making member 3 is being cooled. In this way, as the ice making cycle progresses, the ice making member 3
The temperature of the water from the sprinkler 13 that flows on the surface of the ice making member 3 also falls, and ice forms on the ice making member 3. As icing progresses, the water level in the ice-making water tank 4 decreases, the upper limit switch 23a is turned off, and then the lower limit switch 23b is turned off, and the cycle shifts to the deicing cycle. In the ice-making cycle, water is used for making ice only in the portion where the water level drops, so the impurities contained remain in the residual water and their concentration increases.

When the deicing cycle begins, the ice making circulation valve 15 is closed, the deicing circulation valve 17 and the hot gas valve 24 are opened, and the water supply pump 34 is activated. Therefore, water is supplied from the reservoir tank 33 to the ice-making water tank 4, and the water in the ice-making water tank 4 is pumped through the circulation pipe 12 and the de-icing water pipe 55 by the circulation pump 11.
The water is supplied to the water sprinkler 13 through the deicing circulation valve 17, sprinkled on the back surface of the ice making member 3, and returned to the ice making water tank 4. At the same time, a portion returns to the reservoir tank 33 through the return pipe 51. Ice making water tank 4
The water level is maintained constant by controlling the operation of the water supply pump 34 by turning on and off the upper limit switch 23a.

The above-described ice making cycle and ice removal cycle are repeated until ice particles 18 are sufficiently stored in the ice stocker 6 and the ice storage detection switch 9 is activated.

Next, the beverage sales operation will be explained. When a sales signal is received while ice grains 18 are accumulated in the ice stocker 6, the motor 8 is energized and the screw 5 rotates, and a predetermined amount of ice grains 18 are ejected from the outlet 7 and released into the chute 40. Bend through stage 4
It is supplied into the top tip 41a. On the other hand, the syrup valve 48 and carbonated water valve 46 are also energized and opened, and a certain amount of syrup liquid and carbonated water are supplied from the syrup tank 38 and carbonator 36 to the syrup 41a, respectively, due to the pressure of carbon dioxide gas. Thereafter, the syrup valve 48 and the carbonated water valve 46 are closed.

When the level of carbonated water in the carbonator 36 decreases due to the sale of beverages and the lower limit switch 32b is closed, the beverage water supply pump 35 is activated to replenish the water in the reservoir tank 33. When the water level in the carbonator 36 rises and the lower limit switch 32b of the control switch 32 opens, and then the upper limit switch 32a opens, the operation of the drinking water pump 35 is stopped.

g. Effect of the invention As explained above, according to the invention, the ice-making residual water in the ice-making mechanism is returned to the reservoir tank of the beverage supply device in the de-icing cycle after the ice-making cycle, and is further passed through the carbonator to the beverage supply device. Since the water is consumed as water, there is no need to drain water to the outside, and water supply can be saved. Since the remaining ice making water is returned to the reservoir tank and the remaining water is mixed with the supplied water in a timely manner, it is supplied and consumed as a beverage before the water quality deteriorates, so deterioration of the ice making water quality is prevented and high quality ice is produced. grains are obtained. In addition, since the water supplied to the carbonator contains ice-making residual water, a large amount of carbonic acid dissolves at a low temperature, making it possible to supply a high-quality soft drink with a good texture.

Further, by configuring the return pipe of the deicing water as a capillary pipe, the control circuit can be simplified and the cost of the entire apparatus can be prevented from increasing.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall system diagram showing the connection state of a water circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the arrangement of each member of the ice-making mechanism section of the embodiment. 1... Ice making machine (ice making mechanism part), 3... Ice making member (ice making plate), 3a... Evaporator, 4... Ice making water tank, 11... Circulation pump, 12... Return pipe, 13
...Water sprinkler, 15...Ice making circulation valve, 17...
Deicing circulation valve, 18... Ice (ice grains), 31...
Water supply pipe, 33...Reservoir tank, 34...Water pump, 35...Water pump, 36...Carbonator, 41...Bend stage, 51...Return pipe, 55...Deicing water pipe.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] An ice-making member 3 to which an evaporator 3a is attached, an ice-making water tank 4 that receives ice-making water flowing down from the ice-making member and stores the ice-making water, a water sprinkler 13 for the ice-making member, a circulation pump 11, and an ice-making water tank 4. Circulation valve 15
and a circulation pipe 12 connecting the ice-making water tank and the water sprinkler, and during the ice-making cycle, ice-making water from the ice-making water tank is circulated and supplied to the ice-making member to form ice, and during the de-icing cycle, A water supply pipe 3 which receives and stores external water supply and is equipped with a water supply pump 34 is equipped with a batch type ice making machine that heats the ice making member and releases and collects the ice.
1, a reservoir tank 33 connected to the ice-making water tank through the ice-making water tank 1, branched from the circulation pipe to reach the upper part of the back surface of the ice-making member, and a de-icing circulation valve 17.
A de-icing water pipe 55 equipped with a de-icing water pipe 55 and a return pipe 51 branched from the de-icing water pipe to the reservoir tank are provided, and a water pump 35 is used to supply carbonated water to the carbonator 36 that supplies carbonated water to the cup on the bend stage 41. An automatic beverage supply device with an ice maker, which fluidly communicates with the reservoir tank.