JPH06295385A - Water feeding device for automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To eliminate the supply valve to simplify the device and improve its reliability. [Composition] A water reservoir for storing water supplied through a water supply valve, a high water level switch for monitoring the water level in the water reservoir, and a cold water tank for storing cold water cooled by a cooler are provided, which are immersed in cold water. In the cold water pipe, cold water for beverage obtained by passing water from a water reservoir, in a water supply device of a vending machine that mixes syrup and the like to sell cup beverages, a timer for measuring a certain period is provided, If a certain period is timed by the timer, the high water level switch forcibly opens the water supply valve for a predetermined time even after the high water level is detected, whereby the overflow water is supplied to the cold water tank as makeup water. Lead as.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a water supply device for a vending machine which mixes beverages from hot water or cold water to sell cup beverages.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 1 shows a water supply device of this type.
It is a water supply valve installed in the water supply pipe Q directly connected to the water supply tap.
Is a water reservoir for storing water supplied through the water supply valve 1. This water reservoir 2 has a high water level switch 3
As shown, the float 3A floating above the water surface, the rod 3B standing upright from the float 3A,
The limit switch 3C is turned on by pressing the upper end of the rod 3B that moves upward as the water level rises. The water supply valve 1 is closed / opened according to ON / OFF of the limit switch 3C.

Reference numeral 4 denotes an ice-making machine, which rotates the water supplied from the water reservoir 2 by rotating a spiral partition provided vertically inside the container to freeze the water while pushing it upward. The ice making unit 4A and the stocker 4B that stores the ice made by the ice making unit 4A. Reference numeral 5 is a hot water tank which has a heater inside and heats the water supplied from the water reservoir 2 to store hot water. 6 is a cold water tank for storing cold water, and 7 is a cooling coil for cooling the water in the cold water tank, which is provided so as to be immersed in the cold water.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a cooler for circulating a refrigerant in the cooling coil 7. Reference numerals 9 and 10 denote water and syrup supplied from a water reservoir 2 and a syrup tank (not shown) in cold water of a cold water tank 6. It is a cold water pipe that passes and leads to the beverage cup C, and water and syrup are cooled while passing through the cold water pipe portion located in the cold water. V1 and V2 are discharge valves for cold water and syrup. Also, if necessary, ice made by the ice making machine 4 is discharged to the beverage cup C through a pipe (not shown). When selling a hot beverage, the hot water from the hot water tank 5 and the syrup from the syrup tank are directly discharged into the beverage cup C through a pipe (not shown). Reference numeral 12 is a replenishment valve for replenishing the cold water tank 6 with water from the water reservoir 2.

In the above structure, the water level of the cooling water which is always stored in the cold water tank 6 may gradually drop due to natural evaporation or the like. If the water level drops below the specified level, the cooling coil 7 and the cold water pipes 9 and 10 that should be submerged in the cooling water will be exposed on the water surface, and there is a risk that sufficient cooling will not be performed. Therefore, as a safety measure, the replenishment valve 12 as described above is provided, and the replenishment valve 12 is periodically opened for a predetermined time to replenish the cooling water.

[0006]

However, the provision of such a replenishment valve 12 leads to an increase in the cost of the vending machine, and the provision of mechanical elements increases the number of maintenance points and complicates maintenance. Not only that, but it has also become a factor that reduces reliability. The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and provides a water supply device for a vending machine that simplifies the device and improves reliability by eliminating the above-described supply valve. The purpose is to

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided a water reservoir for storing water supplied through a water supply valve, a high water level switch provided for monitoring the water level in the water reservoir, and cooling by a cooler. A cold water tank for storing the cold water stored therein, and cold water for drinking obtained by passing water from a water reservoir into a cold water pipe immersed in the cold water in the cold water tank is mixed with a syrup or the like to sell cup beverages. In the water supply device of the vending machine that does, a timer that measures a certain period,
If a certain period is timed by the timer, a high water level switch forcibly opens the water supply valve for a predetermined time even after detecting a high water level, and a valve opening means for opening a water reservoir. As a result of forcibly supplying water, it is characterized in that it is provided with a makeup water pipe for guiding the water, which exceeds the specified water level in the water reservoir, to the cold water tank.

[0008]

According to the above construction, water is supplied to the water reservoir by opening the water supply valve when the water level drops, and the water level is restored by this water supply. If the high water level is detected by the high water level switch, the water supply valve is closed. Then the water supply to the water reservoir is stopped,
Depending on the timer, a certain period (eg 24 hours or 30
(E.g. days) is supplied to the water reservoir when the high water level is detected by the high water level switch.
By forcibly opening the water supply valve for a specified period of time without closing it immediately, water above the specified water level in the water reservoir overflows from the water reservoir, and the overflowed water is guided to the cold water tank through the makeup water pipe. Due to
Water is supplied to the cold water tank.

[0009]

FIG. 2 is a system diagram showing an embodiment of the water supply device of the present invention. What is different from FIG. 1 is that the replenishment valve 12 is eliminated and, instead of this, the water reservoir 2 overflows. A makeup water pipe 21 for guiding water to the cold water tank 6 is provided. Also,
An overflow pipe 22 for discharging cold water overflowing in the cold water tank 6 to the outside is provided, but this may be provided in FIG.

FIG. 3 shows a control block diagram of the present water supply device. The limit switch 3C is input via the input unit 51 to the CPU 52 that generally controls the vending machine. The CPU 52 has a 24-hour timer 52A.
And a timer 52B that measures a predetermined time (10 seconds in this embodiment), and a flag setting unit 52C that sets a flag by the timer 52A and resets it by the timer 52B. Reference numeral 53 is a ROM that stores a control program for the CPU 52, and 54 is a RAM that temporarily stores various data required for water supply control and the like. 55 is a CPU
In response to a command from 52, the water supply valve 1, the discharge valves V1, V2,
And an output control circuit for driving the relays X1, X2, X3 for on / off controlling the ice making machine 4, the heater and the cooling machine 8, respectively.

The control operation of the water supply device having the above structure will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In step S1, the 24-hour timer 52A sets a predetermined time (for example, A
It is determined whether or not it has become M9), and if it is not that time, the routine proceeds from step S1 to step S3. Step S
3, it is determined whether the water level in the water reservoir 2 has dropped and the limit switch 3C has been switched from ON to OFF. If the water level has dropped, the water supply valve 1 is opened in step S4, and the water reservoir 1 is opened. Water is supplied to 2. When the water level is restored by this water supply, the limit switch 3C is turned on, but if the flag is not set in the flag setting section 52C (F = 0) as in the present case, the process proceeds from step S5 to step S8. The water supply valve 1 is closed and the water supply is stopped, after which the process returns to step S1 and the above flow is repeated.

While executing the above control, the above-mentioned 9
When the time comes, the process proceeds from step S1 to step S2, and the flag is set in the flag setting unit 52C (F =
1). After this, the water level in the water reservoir 2 drops and the water supply valve 1
Is opened (step S4), and if the water level is restored by this water supply (step S5), in this case, since the flag is set (F = 1), the process proceeds from step S5 to step S6, and the timer 52B sets 10 It is determined whether the seconds have been timed. After the lapse of 10 seconds, the process proceeds from step S6 to step S7, the flag is reset (F = 0), and the water supply valve 1 is closed in step S8.

In this way, the water supply valve 1 is forcibly set to 1 even after the water level in the water reservoir 2 has recovered to the prescribed high water level.
Since it is opened for 0 seconds, as a result of the water level in the water reservoir 2 exceeding the specified water level, the overflowed water is guided to the cold water tank 6 through the makeup water pipe 21 as makeup water.

In this embodiment, the cold water tank 6 is replenished with water once a day, but if it is sufficient to supply water once a month, a 30-day timer may be used instead of the 24-hour timer 52A.
Further, in the above embodiment, for simplification of description, the water supply valve 1 is closed / opened by turning on / off the high water level switch 3, but actually, the water supply valve 1 is turned on by turning on the separately provided low water level switch. It opens and closes when the high water level switch 3 is turned on.

[0015]

As described above, according to the present invention, if a certain period is timed, the high water level switch forcibly opens the water supply valve for a predetermined time even after the high water level is detected, thereby causing an overflow. Since the water is introduced as makeup water to the cold water tank, the makeup valve for the cold water tank, which was installed in the conventional device, is not required, which simplifies the device and improves reliability.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional water supply device.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a water supply device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a control block diagram showing an embodiment of the apparatus shown in FIG.

4 is a flowchart showing the control operation of the apparatus of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Water Supply Valve 2 Water Reservoir 3 High Water Level Switch 3C Limit Switch 4 Ice Machine 5 Hot Water Tank 6 Cold Water Tank 7 Cooling Coil 8 Cooler 9 Cold Water Pipe 10 Cold Water Pipe 21 Makeup Water Pipe 22 Overflow Pipe 51 Input 52 CPU 52A 24 Hours Timer 52B Timer 52C Flag setting unit 55 Output control circuit V Discharge valve X Relay

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A water reservoir for storing water supplied through a water supply valve, a high water level switch provided for monitoring the water level in the water reservoir, and a cold water tank for storing cold water cooled by a cooler. In a water supply device of a vending machine that sells a cup beverage by mixing cold water for drinking obtained by passing water from a water reservoir to a cold water pipe immersed in cold water in the cold water tank and selling a cup beverage. , A timer for measuring a fixed period, and the timer,
If a certain period is timed, the high water level switch forcibly opens the water supply valve for a predetermined time even after the high water level is detected, and the valve opening means forcibly supplies water to the water reservoir. As a result, a water supply device for a vending machine, comprising: a make-up water pipe that guides the water, which exceeds the specified water level in the water reservoir, to the cold water tank.