Automatic bottle clamping mechanism and automatic beverage mixing device

Abstract

This invention provides an automatic bottle clamping mechanism and an automatic beverage mixing device. The automatic bottle clamping mechanism includes a movable clamping member and a push-button switch protruding towards the bottle placement position. When a bottle placed in the placement position presses the push-button switch, it triggers the movable clamping member to clamp the bottle in the placement position. With this automatic bottle clamping mechanism, when a user places a bottle in the placement position, the bottle presses the switch, and the movable clamping member automatically clamps the item in the placement position upon triggering the switch. Throughout the entire process, the user only needs to place the item to be clamped in the placement position, and the automatic bottle clamping mechanism will automatically clamp the item, making it simple and convenient to use.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of clamping mechanisms, and more particularly to an automatic bottle clamping mechanism and an automatic mixing device for mixed beverages. Background Technology

[0002] The current clamping mechanism is normally in the clamped state. When using it, users often have to open the clamping mechanism themselves and control it to keep it open before putting the item to be clamped into it. After the item is put in, the clamping mechanism will automatically return to the clamped state and clamp the item inside, as it is no longer in the open state under the user's control. This is cumbersome and inconvenient to use. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The technical problem solved by this invention is to provide an automatic bottle clamping mechanism that is simple to use and easy to operate.

[0004] The present invention provides an automatic bottle clamping mechanism, including a movable clamping member and a push-button switch protruding towards the bottle placement position. When the push-button switch is pressed by a bottle placed in the placement position, the movable clamping member is triggered to clamp the bottle in the placement position.

[0005] This invention provides an automatic bottle clamping mechanism. When a user places a bottle in the placement position, the bottle presses a switch, and the movable clamping component automatically clamps the item in the placement position upon triggering the switch. Throughout the entire process, the user only needs to place the item to be clamped in the placement position, and the automatic bottle clamping mechanism will automatically clamp the item, making it simple and convenient to use.

[0006] The present invention also provides an automatic mixing device for mixed beverages, including a placement component for placing beverage containers and multiple mounting mechanisms for mounting raw material bottles, characterized in that: the mounting mechanism includes the automatic bottle clamping mechanism. Attached Figure Description

[0007] Figure 1 This is a front view of an automatic beverage mixing device;

[0008] Figure 2 This is a transparent front view of an automatic beverage mixing device;

[0009] Figure 3 This is a diagram of the main body of the lower fixing mechanism in an automatic beverage mixing device;

[0010] Figures 4 to 6 This is a structural diagram of the automatic bottle clamping mechanism in the open state of an automatic beverage mixing device. Figure 4 This is the main image. Figure 5 This is a main image with the front shell panel removed. Figure 6 It is a transparent top view;

[0011] Figures 7 to 9 This is a structural diagram of the automatic bottle clamping mechanism of an automatic beverage mixing device in its clamping state. Figure 7 This is the main image. Figure 8 This is a main image with the front shell panel removed. Figure 9 It is a transparent top view;

[0012] Figure 10 This is a front-view perspective 3D view of an automatic beverage mixing device;

[0013] Figure 11 This is a 3D view of the dispensing component in an automatic beverage mixing device.

[0014] Figure 12 This is a 3D view of the internal structure of the dispensing component in an automatic beverage mixing device.

[0015] Figure 13 This is a transparent top view of the internal structure of the dispensing component in an automatic beverage mixing device;

[0016] Figure 14 This is a rear-view perspective 3D view of an automatic beverage mixing device. Detailed Implementation

[0017] like Figure 1 As shown, the automatic beverage mixing device includes a housing 1, inside which is a vertically mounted circular rotating ring 2 that can rotate around its own center. Figure 2 A single-phase motor 3 is installed inside the outer casing 1. The single-phase motor 3 drives the drive wheel 5 to rotate via a synchronous belt mechanism 4. The drive wheel 5 is located below the rotating ring 2, driving the rotating ring 2 to rotate around its own center in a vertical plane. Three limit wheels 61, 62, and 63 are respectively installed at 90°, 180°, and 270° of clockwise rotation of the drive wheel 5. The limit wheels 61, 62, and 63 are installed inside the outer casing 1 to keep the rotating ring 2 stable during its rotation around its own center.

[0018] like Figure 1 As shown, a tray 18 for placing beverage containers (not shown) is located at the center of the rotating ring 2. The alignment position is located below the top of the rotating ring 2. Multiple vertically placed elongated raw material bottles 7 are evenly arranged circumferentially on the front of the rotating ring 2, with the bottle openings of each bottle 7 facing the center. A controller (not shown) is installed inside the outer casing 1. The controller controls a single-phase motor 3 to drive the rotating ring 2 to rotate around its own center in a vertical plane, thereby causing all the raw material bottles 7 to move circumferentially together and reach the alignment position in a staggered manner. Figure 1 The raw material bottle 73 is in the alignment position, with the bottle mouth of the raw material bottle 73 facing down and aligned with the beverage container (not shown in the figure) placed on the tray 18.

[0019] Each raw material bottle 7 is fixedly mounted on the rotating ring 2 by a lower fixing mechanism 8 and an automatic bottle clamping mechanism 9. The lower fixing mechanism 8 and the automatic bottle clamping mechanism 9 together constitute the mounting mechanism. Figure 3 As shown, the lower fixing mechanism 8 includes left and right fixing seats 81 and 82 and left and right clamping blocks 83 and 84. The left and right clamping blocks 83 and 84 are respectively mounted on the left and right fixing seats 81 and 82 by springs. An opening 85 is left between the left and right clamping blocks 83 and 84 for the lower part of the raw material bottle 7 to be inserted. The area of ​​the opening 85 is smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the lower part of the raw material bottle 7. During the process of inserting the lower part of the raw material bottle 7 into the opening 85, the lower part of the raw material bottle 7 pushes the left and right clamping blocks 83 and 84 to both sides, causing the springs to compress and the opening 85 to enlarge, thereby allowing it to be inserted into the opening 85. After the lower part of the raw material bottle 7 is inserted into the opening 85, the springs push the left and right clamping blocks 83 and 84, so that the left and right clamping blocks 83 and 84 together clamp the lower part of the raw material bottle 7.

[0020] like Figure 4 As shown, the automatic bottle clamping mechanism 9 includes a mounting base 901 and a front shell plate 902. A right soft clamp 903 is provided on the front shell plate 902, and a hole is opened in the middle of the front shell plate 902. Figure 4 (The middle button is obscured by button 906). For example... Figure 5 As shown, a movable plate 904 is installed between the mounting base 901 and the front shell plate 902. The movable plate 904 is connected to a return spring 905 (see...). Figure 6 The button 906, which protrudes forward, is mounted on the mounting base 901. It passes through a hole in the middle of the front shell 902 and extends to the front of the front shell 902. The button 906 and the movable plate 904 together form a push-button switch. The front shell 902 and the right soft clamp 903 together form a fixing clamp, with the position in front of this fixing clamp being the placement position for the raw material bottle 7. A clamping rod 907 is located beside the movable plate 904, and the part of the clamping rod 907 that contacts the movable plate 904 has a groove 908 for the button 906 to sink into. A left soft clamp 909, used as a movable clamping element, is located at the left end of the clamping rod 907, extending forward from the left end. An unlocking operation element 910 is located at the right end of the clamping rod 907. A clamping spring 911, used as a clamping force elastic element, is sandwiched between the clamping rod 907 and the front shell 902 (see...). Figure 5 When the user pushes the unlocking mechanism 910 to the left, the clamping rod 907 overcomes the spring force of the clamping spring 911 and moves to the left, thereby causing the left soft clamp 909 to move to the left and open. When the automatic bottle clamping mechanism 9 is in the open state... Figures 4 to 6As shown, the open state is the normal state of the automatic bottle clamping mechanism 9. In this state: the return spring 905 is in a relaxed state, the movable plate 904 and the clamping rod 907 mounted on the return spring 905 are located on the same vertical plane, the movable plate 904 abuts against the left soft clamp 909 through the clamping rod 907, and the clamping spring 911, which applies clamping force to the left soft clamp 909, is in a compressed state. The button 906 on the movable plate 904 protrudes forward through the hole in the middle of the front shell plate 902.

[0021] When installing the raw material bottle 7, the user first inserts the lower part of the raw material bottle 7 into the lower fixing mechanism 8. After the lower fixing mechanism 8 clamps the lower part of the raw material bottle 7, the middle part of the raw material bottle 7 naturally enters the bottle automatic clamping mechanism 9, which is in the open state. Pressing the button 906 located inside the bottle automatic clamping mechanism 9 compresses the return spring 905, and the movable plate 904 moves behind the clamping rod 907. In this way, the movable plate 904 and the clamping rod 907 are misaligned and no longer press against the clamping rod 907. Under the clamping force applied by the clamping spring 911, the clamping rod 907 moves to the right until it blocks the front of the movable plate 904, thus keeping the return spring 905 in a compressed state. The left soft clamp 909 moves to the right along with the clamping rod 907. The clamping rod 907 and the left soft clamp 909 move to the right together until the groove 908 contacts the button 906, at which point the movement stops, and the bottle automatic clamping mechanism 9 becomes as follows. Figures 7 to 9 In the clamping state shown, the left soft clamp 909 clamps the raw material bottle 7 onto the right soft clamp 903 of the front shell plate 902, thus completing the installation of the raw material bottle 7. To remove the raw material bottle 7, the user pushes the unlocking mechanism 910 to the left, causing the clamping rod 907 to move to the left against the force of the clamping spring 911 until the clamping rod 907 no longer obstructs the movement of the movable plate 904. The movable plate 904 then moves forward to reset under the action of the return spring 905. The button 906 on the movable plate 904 then pushes the middle of the raw material bottle 7 forward. The movable plate 904 and button 906 move forward together to reset, and the movable plate 904 presses against the clamping rod 907 to the left, thus keeping the clamping spring 911 between the clamping rod 907 and the front shell plate 902 compressed. The automatic bottle clamping mechanism 9 then resets to the open state. The user can then grasp the middle of the raw material bottle 7, which has been pushed forward by button 906, and pull the lower part of the raw material bottle 7 out of the lower fixing mechanism 8 to remove the raw material bottle 7.

[0022] like Figure 10 As shown, each raw material bottle 7 has a discharge component 10 installed at its neck. When all the raw material bottles 7 move in a circumferential motion together, all the discharge components 10 also move in a circumferential motion together. Figure 11 As shown, each discharge component 10 has an air inlet channel 101 and a discharge channel 102, with the upper end of the air inlet channel 101 higher than the upper end of the discharge channel 102. Figure 1Taking the raw material bottle 73 and the discharge component 103 installed at its opening as an example, with the bottle opening of the raw material bottle 73 facing downwards: If the liquid level of the raw material in the raw material bottle 73 is lower than the upper end of the air inlet channel 101, then the raw material in the raw material bottle 73 will naturally not be discharged from the air inlet channel 101, but can only be discharged from the discharge channel 102; If the liquid level of the raw material in the raw material bottle 73 is higher than the upper end of the air inlet channel 101, then the distance from the liquid level to the upper end of the air inlet channel 101 is less than the distance from the liquid level to the upper end of the discharge channel 102. Therefore, the pressure at the upper end of the air inlet channel 101 is less than the pressure at the upper end of the discharge channel 102, and the raw material in the raw material bottle 7 will not be discharged from the air inlet channel 101, but can only be discharged from the discharge channel 102. The internal structure of the discharge component 10 is as follows: Figure 12 and Figure 13 As shown, there is a valve body 11 with an air inlet hole 111 and a discharge hole 112. The air inlet hole 111 and the discharge hole 112 are aligned with the air inlet channel 101 and the discharge channel 102, respectively. An air inlet valve rod 12 and a discharge valve rod 13 pass through the valve body 11 and are connected to the front end of the valve body 11 by springs 121 and 131, respectively. The air inlet valve rod 12 has an air inlet hole 122, and the discharge valve rod 13 has a discharge hole 132. The rear ends of the air inlet valve rod 12 and the discharge valve rod 13 are respectively mounted on a magnetic plate 14. When the springs 121 and 131 are in their normal state, the air inlet hole 122 and the discharge hole 132 are located in front of the air inlet hole 111 and the discharge hole 112, respectively (e.g., ...). Figure 13 (As shown in the diagram). If the air inlet 122 is not aligned with the air inlet 111, then the air inlet channel 101, air inlet 111, and air inlet 122 are not aligned, and the air inlet channel 101 is closed. Similarly, if the discharge port 132 is not aligned with the discharge port 112, then the discharge channel 102, discharge port 112, and discharge port 132 are not aligned, and the discharge channel 102 is also closed. With both the air inlet channel 101 and the discharge channel 102 closed, the raw material in the raw material bottle 7 cannot be discharged through the discharge channel 102. When discharge is required, the magnetic plate 14 moves backward, aligning the air inlet 122 and the discharge outlet 132 with the air inlet 111 and the discharge outlet 112, respectively. Since the air inlet 111 is always aligned with the air inlet channel 101, and the air inlet 122 is aligned with the air inlet 111, the air inlet channel 101, the air inlet 111, and the air inlet 122 are aligned, thus opening the air inlet channel 101. Similarly, the discharge outlet 132 is aligned with the discharge outlet 112, thus opening the discharge channel 102. With both the air inlet channel 101 and the discharge channel 102 open, the raw material in the raw material bottle 7 can be discharged through the discharge channel 102.

[0023] like Figure 14 As shown, an electromagnet 15 is provided on the back of the rotating ring 2. The electromagnet 15 is fixedly installed on the outer casing 1 and located at the high position corresponding to the circumferential movement of the discharge component 10. Figure 13In the indicated state, the discharge component 103 of the raw material bottle 73, which is in the alignment position, is directly in front of the electromagnet 15. The controller controls the electromagnet 15 to be energized and generate magnetic attraction to attract the magnetic plate 14 of the discharge component 103, so that the magnetic plate 14 moves backward until the air inlet 122 and the discharge outlet 132 are aligned with the air inlet 111 and the discharge outlet 112, respectively, so that the air inlet channel 101 and the discharge channel 102 are both opened, and the raw material in the raw material bottle 7 is discharged from the discharge channel 102. When the air inlet 122 and the discharge outlet 132 are aligned with the air inlet 111 and the discharge outlet 112 respectively, the springs 121 and 131 are in a compressed state. Therefore, after the discharge is completed, the controller controls the electromagnet 15 to de-energize and stop attracting the magnetic plate 14. The magnetic plate 14 then moves forward under the action of the springs 121 and 131, so that the air inlet 122 and the discharge outlet 132 return to the positions in front of the air inlet 111 and the discharge outlet 112 respectively. The raw material in the raw material bottle 7 cannot be discharged from the discharge channel 102.

[0024] like Figure 14 As shown, a plurality of IC patches 16, used as memory, are evenly arranged around the back of the rotating ring 2. Each IC patch 16 is positioned behind a mounting mechanism. The IC patch 16 is used to record the material information of the raw material bottle 7 mounted on the mounting mechanism, including the type, quantity, and filling time of the raw material in the raw material bottle 7. The rotating ring 2 is located behind the mounting mechanism. When the rotating ring 2 rotates around its own center, the IC patch 16, its corresponding mounting mechanism, and the raw material bottle 7 move circumferentially along with it. An IC reader / writer 17 is located above the electromagnet 15 and is connected to the controller. Figure 14 The IC reader 17 reads the IC patch 16 corresponding to the raw material bottle 73 and sends the read raw material information to the controller.

[0025] like Figure 10 and Figure 14 As shown, a distance sensor (not shown) is located below the electromagnet 15. This distance sensor is connected to the controller and is used to detect the distance from the upper edge of the beverage container (not shown) placed on the tray 18 to the dispensing part 10 of the raw material bottle 7 located in the alignment position. Figure 14In the indicated state, if the distance measured by the distance sensor from the upper edge of the beverage container (not shown) placed on the tray 18 to the dispensing component 103 is greater than 20cm, the controller controls the linear module 19 to drive the tray 18 to move the beverage container (not shown) upwards until the distance from the upper edge of the beverage container (not shown) to the dispensing component 103 is equal to 20cm before stopping the upward movement. Since the beverage containers (not shown) used by users may have different heights, if the tray 18 is fixed, when the user uses a stemmed glass, the distance from the tray 18 to the dispensing component 103 may be too small, making it impossible to place the stemmed glass on the tray 18. When the user uses a short stemmed glass, the distance from the upper edge of the short stemmed glass to the dispensing component 103 may be too large, causing material to splash during dispensing. Therefore, in this embodiment, the linear module 19 is used to drive the tray 18 to move up and down to ensure that the beverage container (not shown) placed on the tray 18 is in the optimal receiving position where the distance from its upper edge to the dispensing component 103 is equal to 20cm.

[0026] like Figure 1 and Figure 10 As shown, a control panel 20 for user operation is installed on the outer casing 1. The control panel 20 is connected to the controller and sends user operation information to the controller. For example, if the user selects to mix a mint cocktail on the control panel 20, the control panel 20 sends this information to the controller. The controller retrieves the mint cocktail ingredient list from its own storage unit based on this information, and then mixes the cocktail according to the mint cocktail ingredient list (mint cocktail ingredient list: 40ml gin, 10ml mint syrup, 60ml orange juice). The mixing process is as follows:

[0027] The controller controls the ranging sensor to detect whether the beverage container (not shown in the figure) on the tray 18 is in the optimal receiving position. If not, it controls the linear module 19 to adjust the position of the beverage container (not shown in the figure) on the tray 18 so that the beverage container (not shown in the figure) is in the optimal receiving position. Subsequently, the controller controls the IC reader 17 to read the raw material information recorded on the IC patch 16 corresponding to the raw material bottle 73, and identifies whether the raw material in the raw material bottle 73 currently in the alignment position is one of gin, mint syrup, or orange juice. If it is, it controls the raw material bottle 73 to dispense the material. If not, it controls the rotating ring 2 to rotate clockwise to move the next raw material bottle 7 to the alignment position and then make the judgment, until the raw material bottle 7 in the alignment position contains one of gin, mint syrup, or orange juice.

[0028] If the raw material bottle 73 contains gin, the controller determines whether the gin content in the bottle is greater than 40ml based on the previously acquired raw material information. If it is less than 40ml, the controller controls the operation panel 20 to display "Insufficient raw material." If it is greater than 40ml, the controller controls the dispensing component 103 to dispense 10ml four times, each time, so that 40ml of gin falls into the beverage container (not shown in the figure), and updates the gin content in the corresponding IC patch 16 (subtracting 40ml from the original content to obtain the new content, and writing the new content into the corresponding IC patch). After receiving the gin, the controller controls the rotating ring 2 to rotate clockwise to move the next raw material bottle 7 to the alignment position and then determines whether the raw material in the bottle 7 contains mint syrup. If it is mint syrup, the controller determines whether the raw material in the bottle 7 is sufficient. If it is sufficient, the controller controls the corresponding dispensing component 10 to dispense 10ml of mint syrup once, so that 10ml of mint syrup falls into the beverage container (not shown in the figure), and updates the mint syrup content in the corresponding IC patch 16. After receiving the mint syrup, the controller controls the rotating ring 2 to rotate clockwise, moving the next ingredient bottle 7 to the alignment position. It then determines whether the ingredient in bottle 7 is orange juice. If bottle 7 contains orange juice, the controller checks if there is sufficient quantity. If so, it controls the dispensing component 10 to dispense 10ml six times, each time, resulting in 60ml of orange juice falling into the beverage container (not shown in the figure). The corresponding IC patch 16 is then updated to reflect the orange juice level. After the beverage container (not shown in the figure) receives 40ml of gin, 10ml of mint syrup, and 60ml of orange juice, the mint cocktail is ready. The controller then controls the operation panel 20 to display that the mixing is complete. The controller controls the dispensing component 10 to dispense 10ml each time it opens, facilitating control of the mixing ratio of various ingredients and allowing the controller to record the usage of each ingredient.

Claims

1. An automatic mixing device for mixed beverages, comprising a housing (1), a rotating ring (2), a placement component (18) for placing beverage containers, a plurality of mounting mechanisms for mounting raw material bottles (7), and a plurality of dispensing components (10) for mounting to the bottle openings of the plurality of raw material bottles (7), characterized in that: An alignment position is provided above the placement component (18). When the rotating ring (2) rotates, the raw material bottles (7) installed in each mounting mechanism move together in a circumferential manner to reach the alignment position in a time-sharing manner. The raw material bottles (7) installed in the mounting mechanism at the alignment position are aligned with the beverage containers placed on the placement component (18) with their bottle mouths facing down. An electromagnet (15) is provided on the back of the rotating ring (2). The electromagnet (15) is fixedly installed on the outer shell (1) and is located at the high position of the circumferential movement of the discharge component (10). The discharge component (10) has an air inlet channel (101) and a discharge channel (102). The upper end of the air inlet channel (101) is higher than the upper end of the discharge channel (102). A valve body (11) is provided inside the discharge component (10). The valve body (11) has an inlet valve rod (12) and an outlet valve rod (13). The valve body (11) has an inlet through hole (111) and an outlet through hole (112). The inlet through hole (111) and the outlet through hole (112) are aligned with the inlet channel (101) and the outlet channel (102) respectively. The inlet valve rod (12) and the outlet valve rod (13) pass through the valve body (11) respectively and their front ends are connected to the front end of the valve body (11) by spring one (121) and spring two (131). The inlet valve rod (12) has an inlet hole (122) and the outlet valve rod (13) has an outlet hole (132). The rear ends of the inlet valve rod (12) and the outlet valve rod (13) are respectively mounted on a magnetic plate (14). The mounting mechanism includes a clamping mechanism for clamping the raw material bottle (7). The lower part includes a lower fixing mechanism (8) and an automatic bottle clamping mechanism (9); the automatic bottle clamping mechanism (9) includes a mounting base (901) and a fixing clamping component, the fixing clamping component includes a front shell plate (902) and a right soft clamp (903), the front shell plate (902) has a hole in the middle, a movable plate (904) is installed between the mounting base (901) and the front shell plate (902), the movable plate (904) is provided with a button (906) protruding towards the bottle placement position, which extends through the hole in the middle of the front shell plate (902) to the front of the front shell plate (902), the button (906) and the movable plate (904) together constitute a push-button switch; a clamping rod (907) is provided on the side of the movable plate (904), and a movable clamping component is provided on the left end of the clamping rod (907). 909), also includes a clamping force elastic member (911) that applies clamping force to the movable clamping member (909), the movable plate (904) abuts against the movable clamping member (909) through the clamping rod (907), the part of the clamping rod (907) that contacts the movable plate (904) is provided with a groove (908) for the button (906) to sink into, the button (906) is pressed by the bottle placed in the placement position, which causes the movable plate (904) to be misaligned with the clamping rod (907) and no longer abuts against the movable clamping member (909) to trigger the movable clamping member (909) to clamp the bottle in the placement position; also includes a reset member (905) that applies a reset force to the squeeze switch, the squeeze switch moves forward to reset under the action of the reset member (905) and pushes the bottle forward.

2. The automatic mixing device for mixed beverages according to claim 1, characterized in that: The movable clamping member (909) is movably mounted on the fixed clamping member, and the activated movable clamping member (909) clamps the bottle on the fixed clamping member.

3. The automatic mixing device for mixed beverages according to claim 1, characterized in that: The automatic bottle clamping mechanism (9) includes an unlocking operation component (910). When the unlocking operation component (910) is operated, the movable clamping component (909) overcomes the elastic force of the elastic component (911) to achieve reset and unlock.

4. The automatic mixing device for mixed beverages according to claim 1, characterized in that: Includes a drive unit that drives the mounting mechanism to move relative to the placement component, so that multiple raw material bottles (7) mounted on the mounting mechanism move one by one to align the bottle openings with the beverage container placed on the placement component (18).

5. The automatic mixing device for mixed beverages according to claim 1, characterized in that: The automatic bottle clamping mechanism (9) is mounted on the automatic beverage mixing device via a mounting base (901).

6. The automatic mixing device for mixed beverages according to claim 5, characterized in that: The movable clamping member (909) is movably mounted on the fixed clamping member. When the movable clamping member (909) is triggered, it clamps the bottle on the fixed clamping member. The mounting base (901) is fixed on the fixed clamping member.

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