JPH11144144A - Automatic vending machine for cup type beverage - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent additives from being mixed with the beverage in a cap owing to malfunction, etc., by arranging a nozzle which dripping additives into the cup above an opening part the additives are dripped and in a place other than the above arrangement position when the additives are not dripped. SOLUTION: This machine has a movement part 9 which moves the additive dripping part 7 within the range A-A' in the figure. The movement part consists of a belt member extended between a couple of pulleys and a driving motor which drives one of the pulleys and an additive storage part 6 is fixed to the belt member in a suspended state. When the additive storage part 6 is moved to the position A, the nozzle 8 is arranged above (range D) above the opening part of the cup 1 mounted on a cup reception part 2. Further, when the additive storage part 6 is moved to the position A', the nozzle 8 is arranged off the position (range D) above the opening part of the cup 1 mounted on the cup reception part 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a vending machine,
In particular, the present invention relates to a cup-type beverage vending machine that sells a beverage in which a powdered, granular, or liquid raw material and a diluent such as hot water or water are put into a cup and mixed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional vending machine, there is a cup-type beverage vending machine which sells beverages such as tea, coffee and soup in a cup.

[0003] In recent years, the needs of customers for beverages have been diversified, and there has been an increasing demand for beverages in which not only taste but also aroma and nutritional value are adjusted. In order to meet such demands, various drinks including cans and PET bottles are on sale. This trend is spreading to cup-type beverages.

[0004] As a vending machine for cup-type beverages that meets the above demand, there is one disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-128463. This cup-type beverage vending machine has an infusion device for dropping additives such as liquid flavors and concentrated extracts, and during or after cooking in a cup, a predetermined amount of additive is dropped from the infusion device to the cup. ing.

[0005] The additive injecting device is provided in the vicinity of a bend stage for mixing raw materials or the like, or provided on a conveying path of the cup. Is dropped in a predetermined amount.

[0006]

However, according to the conventional cup-type beverage vending machine, the additive is dripped from above the cup. Of the beverage, which may significantly impair the taste and aroma of the beverage.
In particular, additives are nutrients such as vitamins and minerals, and there is a risk of causing health harm if the additives are added to the cup in excess of the allowable amount. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a cup-type beverage vending machine in which additives are not mixed into the beverage in the cup due to malfunction or the like.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides automatic vending of cup-type beverages, which are made by adding additives such as flavors and nutritional elements to cup-type beverages such as tea, juice and soup. And a pouring nozzle having a pouring nozzle for pouring the additive into the cup, and a pouring nozzle disposing means for moving the pouring nozzle to a position other than above the opening of the cup and above the opening of the cup. To provide a cup-type beverage vending machine.

In the above-mentioned cup-type beverage vending machine, it is preferable that the filling nozzle disposing means arranges the filling nozzle above the opening of the cup before or after cooking the cup-type beverage. It is preferable to drop the additive from the injection nozzle at a predetermined timing other than at the time.

[0009] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides:
Tea, juice, in a cup-type beverage vending machine that sells by adding additives such as flavoring, nutritional elements and the like to cup-type beverages such as soups, an injection means having an injection nozzle for injecting the additives into the cup, And a cup-type beverage vending machine having a sealing means for sealing a tip of the injection nozzle when the additive is not injected.

In the above-described cup-type beverage vending machine, the sealing means may be a cover member surrounding the tip of the injection nozzle.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A vending machine for cup-type beverages according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a cup-type beverage vending machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention. This cup-type beverage vending machine includes a cup supply unit 3 for supplying a cup 1 to a cup receiving unit 2, a syrup tank 4 for storing syrup such as concentrated tea and juice, a syrup tank 4 and a pipe 40. Syrup pump 41, which is connected through a syrup injection pipe 42 and supplies syrup to the cup 1 via a syrup injection pipe 42, a cistern 5 for temporarily storing water consumed in the vending machine, and a water supply system for supplying water to the cistern 5. 5
0, a water pump 52 provided in the pipe 51 and pressurizing dilution water supplied from the cistern 5, a cooling water tank 53 provided in the pipe 51 for cooling the cooling coil 51A and the syrup tank 4, and a control unit (not shown). A diluting water solenoid valve 54 that supplies diluting water to the cup 1 via a water injection pipe 55 by opening and closing based on a control signal, an additive storage unit 6 for storing a liquid additive, and an additive storage unit 6 And an additive supply section 60 connected through an additive supply pipe 60 to drop a predetermined amount of additive from the nozzle 8 to the cup 1 and a moving section for moving the additive dropping section 7 within the range of AA ′. 9.

The moving section 9 is composed of a belt member stretched by a pair of pulleys and a drive motor for driving one of the pair of pulleys. The additive storage section 6 is fixed to the belt member in a suspended manner. ing. When the additive storage section 6 is moved to the position A, the nozzle 8 is disposed above the opening (range D) of the cup 1 placed on the cup receiving section 2. When the additive storage section 6 is moved to the position A ′, the nozzle 8 is arranged at a position outside the opening (range D) of the cup 1 placed on the cup receiving section 2.

FIG. 2 shows a switch unit provided on the front of the vending machine. A switch panel 10 provided on the front door 13 has a selection button 11A for selecting a product A,
A product label 11B indicating the product name (product A) of the selection button 11A, a selection button 12A for selecting the product A to which the additive is added, and a product name (product A +
Additive), and a transparent panel 14 provided on the front surface of the sample display section.

FIG. 3 shows an additive storage section 6 and an additive dropping section 7. The additive storage section 6 includes an additive storage tank 61 for storing a liquid additive, and an additive storage tank 61 for supplying the additive. An air pipe 62 for preventing the inside of the tank 61 from becoming negative pressure, an electronic cooler 63 for cooling the additive storage tank 61, and a heat insulating material 64 for insulatingly surrounding the additive storage tank 61, The drip unit 7 includes a housing 70 having pipe joints 70A and 70B and a cylinder 70C, and a ball 71A.
And a ball valve 71 constituted by a coil spring 71B, a ball 72A and a coil spring 72
B and a cylinder valve 70C
A piston 73 inserted therein, an O-ring 73A annularly mounted on the outer peripheral portion of the piston 73 to seal the inside of the cylinder 70C, and a motor 74 for driving the piston 73;
A crank 75 rotatably supported by a rotating shaft 74A of the motor 74, a rod 76 for reciprocating the piston 73 in accordance with the rotation of the motor 74 in cooperation with the crank 75;
It has a cover 77 attached to the end of the cylinder 70C.

The additive dropping section 7 utilizes a negative pressure generated by reciprocating a piston 73 inserted into the cylinder 70C based on the rotation of a motor 74.
The additive is pressure-fed in the direction A in the housing 70. The additive is stored in an additive storage tank 61 insulated by a heat insulating material 64 and cooled to a predetermined temperature by an electronic cooler 63. The additive storage tank 61 is connected to the housing 70 by an additive supply pipe 60, and the additive is supplied to a ball 71A of a ball valve 71.
The flow into the cylinder 70C is regulated by the cylinder.

Based on the rotation of the motor 74, the piston 73
Moves to the motor side, a negative pressure is generated in the cylinder 70C. When the ball 71A moves against the urging force of the coil spring 71B based on the negative pressure,
A gap is generated in the ball valve 71, and the additive flows into the cylinder 70C from the pipe joint 70A. At this time, the ball valve 72 is closed by the ball 72A pressed based on the negative pressure in the coil spring 72B and the cylinder 70C.

Based on the rotation of the motor 74, the piston 73
Moves in the direction opposite to the motor, the volume in the cylinder 70C decreases and the additive is pressurized. When the ball 72A moves against the urging force of the coil spring 72B based on this pressurization, a gap is formed in the ball valve 72, and the additive flows out of the cylinder 70C to the pipe joint 70B. At this time, the ball valve 71 is closed by the ball 71A pressed based on the pressure in the coil spring 71B and the cylinder 70C.

In the additive dropping section 7, 0.2 cc of additive is dropped through the nozzle 8 when the piston 73 makes one reciprocation.

Hereinafter, the operation of the cup-type beverage vending machine of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the timing charts of FIGS.

FIG. 4 shows a timing chart of a selling operation when a vanilla extract is added to a sports drink for sale, and the customer receives a product A (sports drink) +
When the selection button 12A for the additive (vanilla extract) is pressed, the cup 1 is supplied from the cup supply unit 3 to the cup receiving unit 2. After the supply of the cup, the diluted dilution water (water) is supplied to the cup 1 from the cistern 5 through the water injection pipe 55 by turning on the dilution water electromagnetic valve 54. Further, the syrup pump 41 is turned on slightly after the ON timing of the dilution water electromagnetic valve 54, and the syrup of the sports drink is supplied from the syrup tank 4 to the cup 1 via the syrup injection pipe 42.

After the dilution water and the syrup are supplied to the cup 1, the additive storage unit 6 waiting at the position A 'shown in FIG.
The additive dropping section 7 moves to the position A based on the driving of the moving section 9. After the movement, the motor 74 of the additive dropping section 7 is turned on for a predetermined time, so that a predetermined amount of vanilla extract is dropped on the cup 1 through the nozzle 8. After the dropping, the additive storage section 6 and the additive dropping section 7 move to the position A ′ based on the driving of the moving section 9. The above selling operation is completed in about 11 seconds.

The above-mentioned vanilla extract adds a fragrance to the beverage, and an effect can be obtained by dropping a small amount on the surface of the sports drink contained in the cup 1.

FIG. 5 shows a timing chart of a selling operation when a calcium ion solution is added to orange juice for sale, and the customer selects a commodity A (orange juice) + additive (calcium ion solution) selection button 12A. When pressed, the cup 1 is supplied from the cup supply unit 3 to the cup receiving unit 2. Slightly after the supply of the cup 1, the additive storage section 6 and the additive dropping section 7 move to the position A based on the driving of the moving section 9. After the movement, the motor 74 of the additive dropping section 7 is turned on for a predetermined time, so that a predetermined amount of the calcium ion solution is dropped on the cup 1 through the nozzle 8. After the dropping, the additive storage unit 6 and the additive dropping unit 7 move to the position A ′ based on the driving of the moving unit 9, and when the dilution water solenoid valve 54 is turned on, the cup from the cistern 5 through the water injection pipe 55 is turned on. 1 is supplied with diluted dilution water (water). Further, the syrup pump 41 is turned on slightly after the ON timing of the dilution water solenoid valve 54, and the syrup of orange juice is supplied from the syrup tank 4 to the cup 1 via the syrup injection pipe 42. The above selling operation is completed in about 9 seconds.

The above-mentioned calcium ion solution is one of the nutrient elements, and is preferably dissolved in a beverage. Therefore, the calcium ion solution is dropped on the bottom of the cup 1 in advance, and the stirring action by the supply of the dilution water and the syrup is performed. Promotes dissolution on the basis.

According to the above construction, when the additive is dropped into the cup, the nozzle for dropping the additive is disposed above the opening of the cup. Since the nozzle is arranged at the place, even if the additive is inadvertently dropped, it is possible to prevent the additive from being mixed into the beverage in the cup.

In the present embodiment, the additive storage section 6 and the additive dropping section 7 are moved by the moving section 9.
Only the nozzle 8 may be arranged above the opening of the cup 1 when the additive is dropped. In addition, the moving unit 9 can also have a simple configuration by a driving mechanism such as a solenoid.

The additive dropping section 7 drops the additive at a predetermined timing other than the time of selling the beverage based on a control signal of a sales control section (not shown). This prevents the additive from sticking to the tip of the nozzle 8 and avoids problems such as poor dropping of the additive. Since the amount of the additive dropped from the nozzle 8 may be small, there is no problem that the storage amount of the additive is insufficient.

FIG. 6 shows a cup-type beverage vending machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In this vending machine for cup-type beverages, the nozzle 8 is protected by the nozzle cover 15 when the additive storage section 6 and the additive dropping section 7 are waiting at the position A ′. The lifting device 16 can move up and down in the range of BB '. Nozzle cover 1 when adding additives
After 5 has moved to the B position, it is arranged at the A position by the moving unit 9. The other parts having the configuration and functions are the same as those of the first embodiment, and therefore, detailed description is omitted.

According to the above-described configuration, it is possible to prevent the tip of the nozzle 8 from sticking due to drying when the additive is not dropped. In the present embodiment, the cover is used to cover the additive dropping portion 7 and the nozzle 8. However, for example, the tip of the nozzle 8 may be tightly sealed to an elastic member such as rubber.

[0031]

As described above, according to the cup-type beverage vending machine of the present invention, the nozzle for dropping the additive into the cup is disposed above the opening when the additive is dropped, and the additive is not dropped. Since the is arranged at a place other than above the opening of the cup, it is possible to prevent the additive from being mixed into the beverage in the cup due to a malfunction or the like. Also,
By dropping a small amount of additive from the nozzle at a predetermined timing other than at the time of selling the beverage, it is possible to prevent poor dropping of the additive due to sticking of the nozzle tip, and by covering the nozzle where the additive is dropped with a cover, unintended addition It is possible to prevent dripping of the agent and sticking of the nozzle tip.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a cup-type beverage vending machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a selection button of a vending machine for cup-type beverages according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing an additive storage section and an additive dropping section according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a timing chart showing a selling operation of a cup-type beverage vending machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing a selling operation of the cup-type beverage vending machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a cup-type beverage vending machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, cup 2, cup receiving section 3, cup supply section 4, syrup tank 5, cistern 6, additive storage section 7, additive dropping section 8, nozzle 9, moving section 10, switch panel 11A, selection button 11B, product Label 12A, selection button 12B, product label 13, front door 14, transparent panel 15, nozzle cover 16, nozzle cover elevating device 40, pipe 41, syrup pump 42, syrup injection pipe 50, water supply 51, pipe 51A, cooling coil 52 , Water pump 53, cooling water tank 54, dilution water solenoid valve 55, water injection pipe 60, additive supply pipe 61, additive storage tank 62, air pipe 63, electronic cooler 64, heat insulator 70, housing 70 A, piping Joint 70B, piping joint 70C, cylinder 71, ball valve 71A, ball 71B, coil spring Grayed 72, the ball valve 72A, the ball 72B, the coil spring 73, the piston 73A, O-ring 74, motor - motor 74A, the rotary shaft 75, the crank 76, the rod 77, the cover

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A cup-type beverage vending machine which sells a cup-type beverage such as tea, juice, soup and the like by adding an additive such as a flavor and a nutritional element, and comprises an injection nozzle for injecting the additive into a cup. A vending machine for a cup-type beverage, comprising: an injecting means provided; and an injecting nozzle disposing means for moving and disposing the injecting nozzle at a position other than above the opening of the cup and above the opening of the cup. 2. The automatic dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said dispensing nozzle disposing means disposes the dispensing nozzle above the opening of the cup before or after cooking of the cup-type beverage. Vending machine. 3. The cup-type beverage vending machine according to claim 1, wherein said injecting means is configured to drop the additive from the injecting nozzle at a predetermined timing other than at the time of selling the beverage. 4. A vending machine for cup-type beverages for selling by adding additives such as flavors and nutrients to cup-type beverages such as tea, juice and soup, wherein an injection nozzle for injecting the additives into a cup is provided. A vending machine for cup-type beverages, comprising: an injecting unit provided; and a sealing unit that seals a tip of the injecting nozzle when the additive is not injected. 5. A vending machine for a cup-type beverage according to claim 4, wherein said sealing means is a cover member surrounding a tip of said injection nozzle.