Drink server

The drink server addresses the challenges of expensive and space-consuming beer servers by using a heat-insulated box with an ice pack storage and efficient air flow, achieving long-term cold storage without electricity.

JP2025000225APending Publication Date: 2025-01-07IIDA +2
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Patent Information

Application Number
JP2023099956
Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2023-06-19
Publication Date
2025-01-07

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing beer servers that require refrigeration for cooling and storage are expensive, electricity-intensive, and space-consuming, making them difficult to install in small and medium-sized restaurants, while alternatives like ice and dry ice have drawbacks such as inconvenience and environmental impact.

Method used

A drink server comprising a box body with heat insulation properties, an ice pack storage section, and a spout, designed to maintain drinks cold without electricity, using a foldable multi-layer board and foamed resin for efficient cooling and a configuration that allows cooled air to flow downward.

Benefits of technology

The drink server effectively keeps drinks cold for an extended period without power supply, maintaining a stable cold state and efficient cooling efficiency, suitable for small spaces.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

To provide a drink server capable of keeping beverage cool for a long time easily without using power supply to provide the beverage at an appropriate temperature.SOLUTION: The present invention for solving the above problem relates to a drink server X comprising: a box 1 having heat insulating properties and being capable of storing therein a beverage container and a cold insulator 3 for the beverage container; and a spout for pouring liquid from the inside of the beverage container toward the outside of the box 1. The box 1 has a box body 11 having an opening surface, and a door 12 capable of opening and closing the opening surface. A storage unit 2 for the cold insulator 3 is provided along an inner wall surface of the box body 11.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1
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Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a drink server that can cool and keep drinks cold without being directly supplied with power. [Background technology]

[0002] When serving beverages, especially alcoholic beverages, there are many situations where temperature and other conditions are important from the perspective of taste, and servers are available for both commercial and home use. Among them, craft beer, which has become popular in recent years, differs from conventional beer in that it requires refrigeration from the distribution and storage stages, so beer servers equipped with refrigeration functions have been developed for this purpose. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2001-348094 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The beverage dispenser described in Patent Document 1 uses a Peltier element and a heat pipe to cool the beverage, and can cool the housing that houses the barrels quickly and uniformly. However, electricity is required for cooling and keeping the beverage cold, and such devices tend to be expensive, making it difficult to introduce them to restaurants.

[0005] In particular, electricity consumption costs have been increasing in recent years, so it is preferable to utilize existing equipment rather than introducing new electrical appliances. In addition to the power and cost, beer servers equipped with both kegs and cooling devices take up a lot of space, making them difficult to install in small and medium-sized restaurants with severe space constraints.

[0006] For cooling and keeping things cold, ice, dry ice, etc. can be used. However, ice requires time and effort, as it must be placed in a bag to prevent melted water from leaking, and it must be replaced regularly and a large amount of ice must be cooled and frozen in a freezer for a long period of time. Dry ice is also unfriendly to the environment, as carbon dioxide sublimes into the atmosphere.

[0007] In view of the above problems, the present invention aims to provide a drink server that can easily keep beverages cold for long periods of time and serve them at an appropriate temperature without using a power supply. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The present invention, which solves the above-mentioned problems, is a drink server comprising an insulated box body capable of storing a beverage container and its ice pack, and a spout for pouring liquid from inside the beverage container to the outside of the box body, the box body having a box body with an opening surface and a door that can open and close the opening surface, and a storage section for the ice pack is provided along the inner wall surface of the box body. With this configuration, beer can be kept cold for a long period of time and served without using an electrical power supply.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the box body includes a board portion composed of a hollow frame body closed by a foldable laminated board and a foamed resin filled inside the frame body, and the laminated board has a first planar member, a second planar member, and a connecting member connecting the first planar member and the second planar member approximately in parallel. This configuration allows the food to remain cold for a long period of time.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the storage section has a storage opening which is an opening through which ice packs can be inserted and removed, and is provided at a distance from the bottom surface of the box body, with the storage opening opening opening generally parallel to the surface on which the storage section is provided. This configuration allows the inside of the server to be cooled with simple operations, and allows the cooled air to flow downwards, increasing the efficiency of cooling and making it easier to maintain a uniform cooling state.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the storage section is provided vertically below the spout when in use. This configuration allows the storage section to be close to the barrels, efficiently cooling the air close to the barrels.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the box has a weight on the bottom surface. With this configuration, the center of gravity can be kept low and stable even when the box is empty.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the box has a partition plate that divides the inside into a plurality of spaces. With this configuration, multiple beverage containers can be stored in one box while efficiently keeping the inside cool.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the ice pack is made by wrapping two 300 g ice packs in a 1 mm thick mirror mat made of laminated polyethylene and aluminum, with the aluminum side facing inward, and storing them in a polystyrene foam box with internal dimensions of 34.5 cm length, 29.5 cm width, 10 cm height, and 2.5 cm thickness; when the polystyrene foam stored in a cardboard box is left in a room with an outside temperature of 30°C, the temperature between the two ice packs can be maintained at -17.5°C or lower for 10 hours or more. This configuration allows the inside of the box to remain cool for a long period of time. Effect of the Invention

[0015] The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems by providing a drink server that can easily keep beverages cold for long periods of time and serve them at the appropriate temperature without using a power supply. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the front side of the inside of a drink server according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Diagram 2]FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the right side of the inside of the drink server according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a drink server excluding an ice pack and a barrel according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 2 is a schematic diagram of a board portion constituting a box according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Diagram 5] 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the front side of the inside of a drink server according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 6] 1 shows experimental data of a basic experiment for evaluating the performance of a drink server according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 13 is experimental data of another experiment for evaluating the performance of a drink server according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the front side of the inside of a drink server according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the right side of the inside of the drink server according to the second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] Hereinafter, the drink server X according to each embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The description will be made in detail in the order of the configuration of the embodiment, the method of implementation, and other examples. It should be noted that the following embodiments are merely examples of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments.

[0018] First Embodiment The drink server X according to the first embodiment of the present invention comprises a thermally insulating box 1, a storage section 2 provided on the inner wall of the box 1 for storing ice packs 3, and a tap 5 which is a spout for pouring beverages, and stores a barrel 4 inside the box 1. In the following description, the directions of up / down, left / right, front / back are based on the coordinate axes shown in Figures 2 and 3.

[0019] 1 to 3, the box 1 is an openable and closable, approximately rectangular, hollow member having a box body 11 and a door 12. The box body 11 and the door 12 are also made of a board part 13 having thermal insulation properties. This makes it possible to maintain the temperature difference between the inside and outside of the box 1 for a long period of time.

[0020] The box body 11 is basically a hollow rectangular prism with one plane open (hereinafter referred to as the opening surface), and has a storage section 2 on the inside of the inner walls, particularly the left, right and rear side walls that stand upright on the ground, and can store ice packs 3, as well as barrels 4 in the remaining space occupied by the storage section 2.

[0021] The door 12 is a flat plate-like member that is connected to the edge of the opening of the box body 11 by a hinge so as to be rotatable and openable, and is capable of hermetically closing the entire opening of the box body 11. In addition, it is preferable that the tap 5 and the mounting table 6, which will be described later, are provided on the door 12.

[0022] The door 12 is provided with a through hole 121 that penetrates from the inside to the outside of the box 1. The through hole 121 is a hole for passing the air supply pipe 43 described later, and has approximately the same size as the outer diameter of the air supply pipe 43. In addition, it is preferable that the through hole 121 is configured such that the inner wall is not sealed with rubber or the like. This makes it easier to insert the air supply pipe 43, and also makes it possible to adjust the air pressure with the outside when the air inside the box 1 is cooled.

[0023] The board portion 13 is a heat-insulating plate material that constitutes the box body 11 and the door 12 (i.e., the box body 1) by combining them to form a substantially rectangular parallelepiped, and is composed of a frame body 131 and a foamed resin 132 that fills the inside of the frame body 131. This allows the box body 1 to have heat insulating properties as a whole, and the cold state caused by the ice packs 3 can be maintained for a long period of time.

[0024] The frame 131 is a heat insulating member that defines the outer shape of the board portion 13 as a flat, hollow, approximately rectangular parallelepiped, and is formed by bending a resin or plastic multi-layer plate A1 into a box shape. The inside of the frame 131 is filled with foamed resin 132.

[0025] As shown in Fig. 4(b), the multi-layer board A1 is a resin or plastic plate material composed of a first planar member A11, a second planar member A12, and a connecting member A13, and forms a frame body 131. The first planar member A11 and the second planar member A12 are thin plates arranged parallel to each other, and the connecting member A13 is a member obtained by bending a thin plate into a corrugated shape, and connects the first planar member A11 and the second planar member A12 in parallel. As a result, the multi-layer board A1 has a cardboard structure as a whole, and can be easily folded to form the frame body 131 while maintaining its strength.

[0026] The foamed resin 132 is a foam of a heat insulating resin, and an example of the foamed resin is urethane foam. As shown in Fig. 4(a) and Fig. 4(b), the foamed resin 132 is foamed and filled into the interior enclosed by the frame body 131, and in addition to increasing the density so that the board part 13 does not dent, it also has a heat insulating performance in addition to the frame body 131.

[0027] The size of the internal space of the box 1 is the minimum length in the front-rear and left-right directions that allows the barrel 4 and the storage section 2 to be stored in a horizontal line with a gap of several mm to several cm, and the vertical length is a length that is greater than the vertical height of the barrel 4. This vertical length is determined within a range that ensures a space where a user can put their hand into the top of the barrel 4 to work, while suppressing the overall size of the box 1, and at the same time not increasing the internal heat capacity too much and reducing the cooling effect. In an embodiment, the height from the top end of the barrel 4 to the underside of the top plate of the box 1 is preferably 20 cm to 50 cm, more preferably 25 cm to 45 cm, and even more preferably 30 cm to 40 cm.

[0028] The storage section 2 is provided along the inner wall surface of the box body 1, particularly the box main body 11, and has a storage section main body 21 capable of storing the ice pack 3, and an adhesive section 22 for bonding the storage section main body 21 and the inner wall surface of the box main body 11. The storage section main body 21 is a substantially rectangular box-shaped or bag-shaped member having a storage opening in one direction through which the ice pack 3 can be put in and taken out, and the direction in which the storage opening opens is parallel to the plane in surface contact with the box main body 11. As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, in particular, it is preferable that the storage opening opens upward, and the ice pack 3 can be stored without dropping even without providing a flap or the like. In this embodiment, a total of three storage sections are provided, one each on the left, right, and rear inner walls of the box main body 11, but the positions and number may be changed.

[0029] The adhesive part 22 is a sheet-like member that adheres and fixes the storage section main body 21 to the inner wall surface of the box main body 11, is slightly larger than the largest surface of the storage section main body 21, and is provided either integrally with the storage section main body 21 or in surface contact with one surface of the storage section main body 21. In addition, it is preferable that the adhesive part 22 has an adhesive strength that can stably support the storage section main body 21 in a state in which 1 kg or more of ice packs 3 is stored without peeling off. Alternatively, the periphery may be reinforced with rivets or the like.

[0030] The storage section 2 is provided at a distance upward from the bottom surface inside the box body 1. With this configuration, the air cooled by the ice pack 3 stored in the storage section main body 21 descends, efficiently cooling the barrels 4, and also cools the liquid supply pipe 42 (described later) at the top of the barrels 4, improving the cooling effect of the beverage. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the height of the storage section 2 is preferably set at approximately the same height as the upper half of the barrels 4, but it may be set higher or lower. However, if the storage section 2 is too close to the bottom surface of the box body 1, the space for the cooled air to descend cannot be secured, and the overall cooling effect decreases.

[0031] The storage section 2 is preferably made of a material with low thermal conductivity, such as resin, so that the temperature of the ice pack 3 can be maintained for a long period of time, and the inside of the box 1 can be kept cool for a long period of time.

[0032] The ice pack 3 is stored in the storage section 2, cools the inside of the box 1, and cools and keeps the beverage cold together with the barrel 4 described below. In addition, it is preferable that the ice pack 3 is a roughly rectangular parallelepiped (for example, a rectangular parallelepiped with rounded corners) that is sized to match the shape of the storage section 2.

[0033] The ice pack 3 preferably weighs 1 kg or more per storage section 2. This allows the user to carry it by hand while still achieving sufficient cooling and cold insulation. The ice pack 3 is preferably configured as a containerized ice pack in which a liquid with cold insulation function is placed in a container. With this configuration, the size of the container determines the size of the ice pack 3, and the ice pack 3 can be stored without gaps by making it, for example, approximately the same size and shape as the storage section main body 21.

[0034] <Experimental results showing the performance of ice pack 3> It is preferable that the performance of the ice pack 3 be such that the results can be reproduced, for example, by the following experiment. When two 300g ice packs 3 are wrapped in a 1mm thick mirror mat made of laminated polyethylene and aluminum, with the aluminum side facing inward, and stored in a polystyrene foam box with internal dimensions of 34.5cm length, 29.5cm width, 10cm height, and 2.5cm thickness, and the polystyrene foam stored in a cardboard box is left in a room with an outside temperature of 30°C, the temperature between the two ice packs 3 can be maintained at -17.5°C or lower for 10 hours or more.

[0035] For example, Fujiyama18 (manufactured by Japan Cold Chain Co., Ltd.) or Fujiyama18 Pro (manufactured by Japan Cold Chain Co., Ltd.) can be used as the ice pack 3.

[0036] The barrel 4 is a beverage container capable of storing liquid, and in this embodiment, a cylindrical container that is used to store craft beer in particular and is generally called a keg is used. In this embodiment, the barrel 4 is stored inside the box 1, and furthermore, the entire barrel is cooled by the ice pack 3, so that the stored beverage is cooled and kept cold to an appropriate temperature. The barrel 4 also has a barrel body 41 that stores the beverage, a liquid supply pipe 42 that flows the beverage to the tap 5, and an air supply pipe 43 that introduces carbon dioxide gas from a gas cylinder.

[0037] The size of the keg 4 is preferably such that it does not come into contact with the storage section 2 when stored inside the box 1. In other words, the maximum length of the keg 4 in the horizontal direction, i.e., in the planar direction extending in the front-rear and left-right directions, is preferably shorter than the distance between the storage section 2 and the opposite storage section 2 or the inner wall of the box 1. With this configuration, the keg 4 can be stored without coming into contact with the storage section 2 or the inner wall of the box 1, and the cooling effect can be maintained for a long time without using thermal conduction, and the beverage is prevented from being overcooled.

[0038] The barrel body 41 is a substantially cylindrical member for storing beverages, and both its outer and inner walls are made of metal such as stainless steel. This configuration makes it easy to avoid contact with the storage section 2, and allows the stored beverage to be cooled efficiently. In addition, a resin frame and legs are provided at the bottom of the barrel body 41. This configuration prevents a decrease in the cooling effect due to heat conduction caused by contact with the box body 1.

[0039] The liquid supply pipe 42 is a cylindrical member that extends from the top of the barrel body 41 through the cock and is connected to the tap 5, and is made of a material that is easy to bend and difficult to break, such as resin. The length of the liquid supply pipe 42 is preferably 4 m or more and 6 m or less. This allows the foam ratio to be appropriately adjusted before the beer is sent to the tap 5 by gas pressure, and the palatability of the beer can be maintained. The connection relationship in this embodiment is as shown in Figure 2.

[0040] The air supply pipe 43 is a cylindrical member for introducing gas into the inside of the barrel body 41, and introduces carbon dioxide gas from a gas cylinder installed outside the box body 1 into the inside of the barrel body 41. The connection relationship in this embodiment is as shown in FIG.

[0041] Tap 5 is a spout for pouring the beverage stored in barrel 4 out of box 1, and is of a well-known configuration in which a tap is opened and closed by operating a lever. Tap 5 may be provided on any surface of box 1, but is most preferably provided on door 12. This allows the operations of pouring beverage from tap 5 into a glass, inserting air pipe 43 into box 1, and replacing ice packs 3 and barrels 4 to all be performed from the same direction, making drink server X easy to handle even when box 1 is installed in a location surrounded by walls except on one side.

[0042] When the box 1 is long in the vertical direction, the tap 5 is preferably provided at the top of the box 1, preferably vertically above the storage section 2, so that the cooling position of the ice pack 3 is closer to the barrel 4 and the beverage can be cooled efficiently. However, the height of the tap 5 is not limited to this, and it may be provided lower on the box 1, for example at the same height as the barrel 4 and the storage section 2. This may be determined appropriately depending on conditions such as the installation location of the box 1.

[0043] The drink server X has a stand 6 on the same surface as the tap 5 on the box 1. The stand 6 is a box-shaped tray provided directly below the tap 5, with a mesh on its upper surface for placing a glass on, and is used to catch any beverage spilled from the tap 5. The stand 6 and the tap 5 are preferably configured to be separated by a length that does not interfere with the glass when pouring a beverage from the tap 5 into the glass, and further, when the stand 6 is fixed to the door 12, it is preferably configured to be provided at a different height in the vertical direction from the through-hole 121. This configuration makes it easier for the user to insert the air supply tube 43.

[0044] It is preferable that the mounting base 6 is configured to be easily removable. For example, the door 12 is provided with two mushroom-shaped protrusions, and the side of the mounting base 6 is provided with vertically long oval or gourd-shaped holes that match the positions of the protrusions, and the mounting base 6 can be attached and detached by sliding the holes and protrusions together. With this configuration, beverages accumulated on the mounting base 6 can be easily collected.

[0045] The drink server X includes a metal plate 7. The metal plate 7 is a flat weight provided along the bottom surface of the box 1, and is made of iron, stainless steel, or the like. This makes it possible to lower the center of gravity and make the box 1 less likely to tip over, even if the box 1 is long in the vertical direction, and also makes it difficult for the bottom surface to deform, allowing the barrels 4 to be stored in a stable state.

[0046] Each component of the drink server X is preferably made of a water-resistant material. This prevents damage when condensation occurs due to the ice pack 3 or when each component is wiped with water, and allows for easy handling in restaurants and other establishments.

[0047] <Performance evaluation experiment> In the drink server X according to this embodiment, experimental data relating to the effect of cooling the liquid stored in the barrel 4 by the combination of the box 1 and the ice pack 3 is shown below. The inner dimensions of box 1 are length 310 mm, width 385 mm, and height 620 mm, and the outer dimensions are length 390 mm, width 465 mm, and height 710 mm. Three 1 kg, roughly rectangular shaped ice packs 3 were placed horizontally along the inner wall from the bottom. Barrel 4 was made of stainless steel, 239 mm in diameter and 326 mm in height, and filled with 10 L of tap water. The outside temperature was 30.2°C to 30.6°C indoors. Door 12 was not opened or closed, and ice packs 3 and barrel 4 were not replaced. A logger for measuring and recording temperature was installed to measure the tap water in barrel 4. The device was left under the above conditions for 24 hours from 9:50 a.m. to 9:50 a.m. the following day, and the water temperature was then measured. As a result, the water temperature was maintained at 5°C or below for approximately 16 hours, and at 2.5°C or below for over 13 hours. In addition to the above, loggers were installed to measure the air temperature at the bottom of box 1 (below the box: 5 cm above the bottom), at the top of box 1 (above the box: 5 cm below the top), at the outside air temperature 5 cm above the top of box 1, at the top of barrel 4, at the bottom of barrel 4, and at the metal tube part of tap 5 through which the liquid passes. The changes over time of each temperature, including the water temperature, are shown in Figure 6.

[0048] Another experimental data was also obtained by leaving the drink server X for 24 hours under the same conditions as the previous experiment. In this experiment, the barrel 4 was not placed in the box 1 for the first three hours, and three hours after the barrel 4 was placed, the door 12 was opened for one minute and the temperature change of each part was recorded. The temperature change of each part over time is shown in Figure 7.

[0049] The drink server X according to this embodiment may have the following configurations. However, the configurations shown below are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to each of the configurations. Furthermore, the presence or absence of each configuration can be determined independently, unless there is a special subordinate relationship.

[0050] <Example of change> As shown in FIG. 5, the storage section 2 may be provided on the underside of the top plate instead of on the rear inner wall. With this configuration, the depth of the box 1, i.e., the front-to-rear direction, can be shortened, making it easier to install the box 1 even in places where there is little horizontal space. In addition, since the cooled air flows downward, it cools the air in the upper part of the box 1, which creates convection, making it easier to keep the internal temperature uniform. In addition, the user can replace the ice pack 3 more easily without having to reach deep into the box 1.

[0051] Among the storage sections 2, those provided on the left and right inner walls may have a storage opening facing forward, i.e., toward the door 12. This allows the ice packs 3 to be stored with a simple operation. In this case, the storage section main body 21 may have a flap, a button, or the like, so that the stored ice packs 3 will not fall out.

[0052] As shown in Figure 2, the number of taps 5 is basically one per keg 4, but two or more taps may be provided. In this case, the liquid supply pipe 42 is configured to be split into two or more. With this configuration, even if the number of kegs 4 is limited due to space restrictions, it is possible to increase the efficiency of serving beverages, and even if one tap 5 is broken, beverages can be served from another tap 5.

[0053] The bottom surface of the metal plate 7 or the box body 11 may be provided with a guide to determine the position of the barrel 4. This guide is, for example, a recess that matches the shape of the legs of the barrel 4, or a mark such as a line or spot that indicates the position of the legs of the barrel 4, and shows the user the appropriate position for the barrel 4. In the present invention, since it is preferable to keep the ice pack 3 and the barrel 4 cool without contacting each other, the user can grasp the appropriate position for this and easily place the barrel 4 in the appropriate position, thereby obtaining a long-term cooling effect as shown in the above-mentioned experimental results.

[0054] The box body 11 may be provided with fastening devices such as claws along the outer wall. With this configuration, multiple boxes 1 can be connected and arranged side by side, and the drink server X can be easily expanded or contracted.

[0055] Hereinafter, a method for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The present invention is carried out by a user who provides a beverage. The method for carrying out the present invention is an example, and the method for carrying out the present invention is not limited to this, and the order of the steps may be changed.

[0056] <Method of Implementation> The user first cools and freezes the ice pack 3 in a freezer. It is preferable to use a commercial freezer and freeze the ice pack 3 to about -18°C. This not only provides the same cooling effect as in the previous experiment (the experimental results shown in Figure 6), but also saves energy and reduces costs because the power required for the present invention is only that of the existing freezer. In particular, the higher the density of the contents in the freezer, the higher the freezing efficiency, so the freezer can be used efficiently for the amount of ice pack 3.

[0057] Next, the user stores the frozen ice pack 3 in the storage section 2. After that, the barrel 4 is stored in the box body 11, and positioned so that the barrel 4 does not come into contact with the storage section 2. This prevents the ice pack 3 from cooling the barrel 4 through thermal conduction, and the frozen state of the ice pack 3 can be maintained for a long period of time, thereby maintaining the cooling effect.

[0058] The user then connects the liquid supply pipe 42 to the tap 5, and passes the air supply pipe 43 through the through hole 121 to connect the keg 4 to the gas cylinder. The user then opens the liquid supply pipe 42, closes the door 12, and waits until the inside of the box 1 cools down. After waiting, the user pours the beverage from the tap 5 into a glass and serves it. However, if the beverage is craft beer, the keg 4 must be refrigerated in advance so that the liquid temperature is about 5°C.

[0059] When the barrel 4 is empty, the user opens the door 12, disconnects the liquid supply pipe 42 and the air supply pipe 43, and removes the barrel 4. At this time, if the ice pack 3 has melted, it is preferable to replace the ice pack 3 as well. The procedure for storing a new barrel 4 is as described above, but since the temperature inside the box 1 has risen by opening the door 12, it is preferable to wait until it cools down again.

[0060] When the beverage is served, the user removes the ice pack 3 and the barrel 4 from the box 1. As described above, the liquid supply pipe 42 and the air supply pipe 43 are disconnected from the barrel 4, and if there is any beverage remaining in it, it is transferred to an electric refrigerator to be kept cold. The ice pack 3 is placed in a freezer to be frozen again and kept cold.

[0061] A drink server X according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The same components as those in the first embodiment will be designated by the same reference numerals and will not be described. The following description does not limit the present invention to the configuration of this embodiment. The directions of front, back, left, right, and up and down used in the description are based on the coordinate axes shown in FIG. 8 or FIG. 9.

[0062] Second Embodiment As shown in FIG. 8, the box body 1 is large enough to store a plurality of barrels 4, and the box body 11 is provided with partition plates 111 that divide the inside into a plurality of spaces. In FIG. 8, two box bodies 1 as shown in the first embodiment are arranged in the left-right direction, but two may be arranged vertically, or three or more may be arranged horizontally. In this case, it is preferable to have a configuration in which the taps 5 are provided in the same number as the number of barrels 4 that can be stored. Note that this embodiment is not connected by a locking device as described above, but is an integrated box as a whole, and is divided into a plurality of boxes by partition plates 111.

[0063] In this embodiment, the number of doors 12 provided corresponds to the number of spaces divided by the partition plates 111. This allows each space to be cooled to be handled independently, allowing for efficient cooling.

[0064] The partition plate 111 is a flat, heat-insulating member composed of a board portion 13. It is preferable that the partition plate 111 is large enough to completely block the front-rear direction and either the top-bottom or the left-right direction so as to completely divide the inside of the box body 11 when the door 12 is closed. This configuration makes it easy to use the divided spaces for completely different purposes, and each space can be cooled independently. For this reason, it is preferable that the partition plate 111 is configured to have a storage section 2 so that the ice pack 3 can be stored therein.

[0065] In the case of a box body 1 that can store barrels 4 lined up one above the other, the partition plate 111 is preferably configured with a metal plate 7 on its upper surface. This allows the barrels 4 stored in the upper level to be stabilized. In this case, the partition plate 111 is preferably configured so that its thickness in the vertical direction is thicker than the bottom of the box body 11 in order to support the barrels 4, or is preferably configured with a reinforcing material such as an L-shaped metal fitting.

[0066] In the case of a box 1 that can store kegs 4 lined up one above the other, the partition plate 111 may be provided with an internal through hole that penetrates in the vertical direction. This allows the liquid supply pipe 42 from either the upper or lower keg 4 to pass through. In this case, the multiple taps 5 are all installed at the same height and can be connected to the liquid supply pipes 42. With this configuration, all beverages can be poured at the same height regardless of the position of the keg 4.

[0067] <Example of change> The box body 11 may have a groove or protrusion into which the partition plate 111 is inserted. This makes the partition plate 111 removable depending on the usage situation, and the box body 1 can be used for purposes other than keeping the barrels 4 cold.

[0068] <Method of Implementation> The basic method of use of this embodiment is the same as that shown in the first embodiment, and the barrel 4 is kept cool in each space and beverages are served.

[0069] One way of using the drink server X according to this embodiment is, for example, to use one of the spaces inside the box 1 to keep drinks cold and serve them from the tap 5, and to use another space to only keep the spare barrel 4 cold. If there is additional space available, it is also possible to use it to keep food and drink that needs to be kept cold in ice packs 3, in addition to the barrel 4, and to take them out and serve them when needed. [Explanation of symbols]

[0070] X Drink Server 1 box body 11 Box body 111 Partition 12 Doors 121 Through hole 13 Board Section 131 Frame A1 laminated board A11 First plane member A12 Second plane member A13 Connection material 132 Foam resin 2 Storage area 21 Storage unit body 22 Adhesive part 3. Ice packs 4 Barrels 41 Barrel body 42 Liquid delivery pipe 43 Air pipe 5 Tap 6 Placement table 7 metal plate

Claims

1. A drink server comprising a thermally insulating box capable of storing a beverage container and a cooling agent therein, and a spout for pouring liquid from the beverage container to the outside of the box, The box body has a box main body having an opening surface and a door capable of opening and closing the opening surface, The drink server has a storage section for the ice pack along the inner wall surface of the box body.

2. The box body includes a board portion composed of a frame body closed in a hollow state by a foldable laminated board and a foamed resin filled inside the frame body, The laminated plate includes a first planar member, a second planar member, and a connecting member that connects the first planar member and the second planar member substantially in parallel. The drink server according to claim 1.

3. The storage section has a storage opening that is an opening through which a cooling agent can be put in and taken out, and is provided at a distance from a bottom surface of the box body, The storage port opens substantially parallel to a surface on which the storage section is provided. The drink server according to claim 1.

4. The storage section is provided vertically below the spout in a use state. The drink server according to claim 1.

5. The box has a weight on the bottom surface. The drink server according to claim 1.

6. The box has a partition plate that divides the inside into a plurality of spaces. The drink server according to claim 1.

7. The ice packs are configured such that two of the ice packs weighing 300 g are wrapped in a 1 mm thick mirror mat made of laminated polyethylene and aluminum, with the aluminum side facing inward, and stored in a polystyrene foam box with inner dimensions of 34.5 cm length, 29.5 cm width, 10 cm height, and 2.5 cm thickness, and when the polystyrene foam stored in a cardboard box is left in a room with an outside temperature of 30° C., the temperature between the two ice packs can be maintained at −17.5° C. or lower for 10 hours or more. The drink server according to claim 1.

Citation Information

Patent Citations

  • Drink pouring apparatus

    JP2001348094A