Beverage supply device

Abstract

To shorten time of supplying a beverage to a cup as necessary, thereby preventing a loss of opportunity of supplying the beverage.SOLUTION: A beverage supply device 1 for supplying the beverage to a placed cup C has a display part 21 that displays various information and where touch operation is carried out. The supply device has a control part 30 that makes the display part 21 display one of a stand-by state display indicating a stand-by state, a beverage selection display for selecting the beverage, a supplying display indicating that the selected beverage is being supplied, and a supply completion display indicating a supply completion of the selected beverage. The control part 30 in a normal display mode carries out repeated transition of the stand-by state display, the beverage selection display, the supplying display, and the supply completion display in this order. The control part in an abbreviated display mode carries out repeated transition of the beverage selection display, the supplying display, and the supply completion display in this order.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a beverage dispensing device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, beverage dispensers such as coffee machines are installed in stores such as convenience stores. When a beverage is selected by a customer, the beverage dispenser prepares the beverage by, for example, grinding coffee beans and performing an extraction process such as dripping, and dispenses the beverage into a cup (for example, see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-196224 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the beverage supply device, the user selects a beverage on a display unit that displays various information and allows touch operations. The display unit repeatedly displays, in this order, a standby state display indicating that the device is in a standby state, a beverage selection display for allowing the user to select a beverage, a supplying display indicating that the selected beverage is being supplied, and a supplying completed display indicating that the supplying of the selected beverage has been completed.

[0005] As a result, even when it is desired to supply beverages to each cup relatively continuously, such as during busy periods in a store, the standby state display, which is not directly related to the supply of beverages, is always displayed, resulting in a missed opportunity to supply beverages for the time that the standby state display is displayed.

[0006] In view of the above-mentioned circumstances, the present invention aims to provide a beverage supply device that can prevent the opportunity to supply a beverage from being missed by shortening the time it takes to supply a beverage to a cup as needed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the beverage supply device of the present invention is a beverage supply device that supplies a beverage to a cup placed on it, and is equipped with a display unit that displays various information and allows touch operations to be performed, and is equipped with a control unit that causes the display unit to display one of a standby state display indicating that the device is in a standby state, a beverage selection display for allowing the user to select a beverage, a supplying display indicating that the selected beverage is being supplied, and a supplying end display indicating that the supply of the selected beverage has ended, and when the control unit is in a normal display mode, it repeatedly transitions between the standby state display, the beverage selection display, the supplying display, and the supplying end display, while when the control unit is in an abbreviated display mode, it repeatedly transitions between the beverage selection display, the supplying display, and the supplying end display, in that order.

[0008] Further, in the beverage supplying device according to the present invention, the control unit is set to either the normal display mode or the abbreviated display mode in response to a setting operation via an input means.

[0009] Further, in the beverage supplying device according to the present invention, the control unit is normally in the normal display mode, but is in the omitted display mode during a predetermined time period.

[0010] The present invention is also characterized in that, in the above-mentioned beverage supply device, the control unit displays a continuous supply selection section in the beverage selection display for selecting continuous supply of beverage, and when a touch operation is performed to select the continuous supply selection section, the abbreviated display mode is entered. Effect of the Invention

[0011] According to the present invention, when the control unit is in the normal display mode, it repeatedly transitions between the standby state display, the beverage selection display, the supplying display, and the supply end display, while when it is in the abbreviated display mode, it repeatedly transitions between the beverage selection display, the supplying display, and the supply end display, thereby achieving the effect of preventing missed opportunities to supply beverages by switching to the abbreviated display mode as necessary to shorten the time it takes to supply beverages to the cup. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a beverage dispenser according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the beverage supply device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a typical control system of the beverage supplying device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the display control processing (normal display mode) performed by the display control processing unit of the control unit shown in FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a standby state display. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a beverage selection display. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display indicating that supply is in progress. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a supply end display. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the display control processing (omitted display mode) performed by the display control processing unit of the control unit shown in FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a typical control system of the beverage supplying device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the contents of the display control process performed by the display control processing unit of the control unit shown in FIG. [Figure 12]FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a typical control system of the beverage dispenser according to the third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the process contents of the display control process performed by the display control processing unit of the control unit shown in FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a modified example of the beverage selection display. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of a beverage supplying device according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0014] <Embodiment 1> Figures 1 to 3 each show a beverage supply device according to embodiment 1 of the present invention, where Figure 1 is an oblique view showing the external configuration, Figure 2 is an exploded oblique view, and Figure 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic diagram of a characteristic control system.

[0015] The beverage dispenser 1 illustrated here is a coffee machine installed in a store such as a convenience store, and performs an extraction process such as grinding coffee beans and dripping to dispense a beverage such as coffee into a container, a cup C. Such a beverage dispenser 1 includes a main body cabinet 10, a front door 20, and a control unit 30.

[0016] The main body cabinet 10 has a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape with an opening (not shown) on the front side. Inside the main body cabinet 10, a beverage preparation section 11 that prepares a beverage (e.g., coffee) is provided.

[0017] The front door 20 is a door body having a size sufficient to close the front opening of the main cabinet 10. The front door 20 is provided at one edge of the front side of the main cabinet 10 so as to be able to swing around the central axis of an axis part (not shown) extending in the up-down direction, and is capable of opening and closing the front opening of the main cabinet 10.

[0018] The front door 20 has a front surface which serves as a customer service surface and is provided with a display unit 21, a beverage supply unit 22, and an opening / closing door 23. The display unit 21 is, for example, a liquid crystal touch panel, and displays various information and allows touch operation. When a touch operation is performed, the display unit 21 sends the input signal to the control unit 30.

[0019] The beverage supply unit 22 is provided below the display unit 21, and has a nozzle 22a and a stage 22b. The nozzle 22a is for discharging the beverage produced in the beverage production unit 11 downward. The stage 22b is provided in an area below the nozzle 22a. The stage 22b is for placing the cup C on.

[0020] The opening / closing door 23 is made of a light-transmitting material such as a transparent resin, and is large enough to cover the inlet 22c of the beverage supply unit 22. The left end of the opening / closing door 23 is pivotally supported by the front door 20, and is capable of swinging in the front-rear direction. That is, the opening / closing door 23 is capable of swinging in the front-rear direction in a manner approaching and moving away from the beverage supply unit 22, and is capable of closing the inlet 22c of the beverage supply unit 22 when it swings backward in a manner approaching the beverage supply unit 22, and is capable of opening the inlet 22c of the beverage supply unit 22 when it swings forward in a manner moving away from the beverage supply unit 22.

[0021] The control unit 30 is connected to the beverage preparation unit 11 and display unit 21 described above, and is also connected to a storage unit 31 and an input means 40. The control unit 30 comprehensively controls the operation of each unit of the beverage supply device 1 in accordance with the programs and data stored in the storage unit 31, and includes a display control processing unit 30a.

[0022] The display control processing section 30a performs a display control process, which will be described later, and causes the display section 21 to display a standby state, a beverage selection, a supplying state, and a supply end state.

[0023] In addition, the control unit 30 may be realized, for example, by having a processing device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) execute a program, that is, by software, or may be realized by hardware such as an IC (Integrated Circuit), or may be realized by a combination of software and hardware.

[0024] The input means 40 is configured, for example, by a remote controller, and is used by an administrator or the like to give instructions to the control unit 30. In this embodiment, the input means 40 is used to set the control unit 30 to the normal display mode or the omitted display mode by performing a setting operation.

[0025] When the normal display mode is selected, the control unit 30 performs a display control process (normal display mode) as shown in Fig. 4. The operation of the beverage supply device 1 will be described while explaining the display control process.

[0026] The display control processing unit 30a of the control unit 30 causes the display unit 21 to display a standby state (step S101). This standby state display indicates that the device is in a standby state, as shown in FIG. 5. The display control processing unit 30a that caused the standby state display to be performed determines whether or not a touch operation has been performed (step S102). If no touch operation has been performed (step S102: No), the display control processing unit 30a repeats the above process.

[0027] When a touch operation is performed (step S102: Yes), the display control processing unit 30a causes the display unit 21 to display a beverage selection screen (step S103). That is, the display control processing unit 30a causes the display unit 21 to transition from a standby state display to a beverage selection display. As shown in Fig. 6, this beverage selection display is for allowing a beverage to be selected, and displays selection sections 21a and 21b for selectable beverages.

[0028] The display control processing unit 30a, which has caused the beverage selection display to be performed, determines whether or not a selection operation has been performed by touch operation to select either the selection unit 21a or 21b before a predetermined period of time has elapsed (steps S104 and S105).

[0029] If the selection operation is performed before the predetermined time has elapsed (step S104: Yes, step S105: No), the display control processing unit 30a causes the display unit 21 to display "dispensing" (step S106). That is, the display control processing unit 30a causes the display unit 21 to transition from the beverage selection display to the dispensing display.

[0030] This supplying display indicates that the selected beverage is being supplied, as shown in Fig. 7. When the supplying display is on, the control unit 30 causes the beverage preparation unit 11 to prepare the selected beverage, such as by extracting it, and also causes the beverage to be supplied to the cup C through the nozzle 22a.

[0031] The display control processing unit 30a, which has caused the supply display to be performed, determines whether or not the supply of the beverage has finished (step S107). If the supply of the beverage has not finished (step S107: No), the display control processing unit 30a repeats the above process.

[0032] When the supply of the beverage has finished (step S107: Yes), the display control processing unit 30a causes the display unit 21 to display the end of supply (step S108). That is, the display control processing unit 30a causes the display unit 21 to transition from a supplying display to a supplying end display. This supplying end display indicates that the supply of the selected beverage has finished, as shown in FIG. 8.

[0033] This allows the user to recognize that the supply of beverage has finished, and allows the user to remove the cup C by swinging the opening / closing door 23 in the opening direction.

[0034] After causing the display control processing unit 30a to display the end of supply in this manner, the display control processing unit 30a returns the procedure and ends this processing.

[0035] As a result, the next display control process will cause the display unit 21 to display the standby state, and when the control unit 30 enters the normal display mode, it repeatedly transitions between the standby state display, beverage selection display, supply in progress display, and supply end display.

[0036] On the other hand, in the above steps S104 and S105, if the predetermined time has elapsed without a selection operation (step S104: No, step S105: Yes), the display control processing unit 30a returns the procedure and ends the current process without performing the above-mentioned process. As a result, the display control processing unit 30a causes the display unit 21 to display the standby state by the next display control process.

[0037] When the omission display mode is selected, the control unit 30 performs a display control process (omission display mode) as shown in Fig. 9. The operation of the beverage supplying device 1 will be described while explaining the display control process.

[0038] The display control processing unit 30a of the control unit 30 causes the display unit 21 to display a beverage selection (step S201), and determines whether a selection operation has been performed by touching to select either the selection unit 21a or 21b (step S202).

[0039] If no selection operation is performed (step S202: No), the display control processing unit 30a repeats this process. On the other hand, if a selection operation is performed (step S202: Yes), the display control processing unit 30a causes the display unit 21 to display "dispensing" (step S203). That is, the display control processing unit 30a causes the display unit 21 to transition from the beverage selection display to the "dispensing" display. In this "dispensing" display, the control unit 30 causes the beverage preparation unit 11 to prepare the selected beverage and to dispense the beverage into the cup C through the nozzle 22a.

[0040] The display control processing unit 30a, which has caused the display to indicate that the beverage is being dispensed, determines whether or not the dispense of the beverage has been completed (step S204). If the dispense of the beverage has not been completed (step S204: No), the display control processing unit 30a repeats the above process.

[0041] When the supply of beverage has finished (step S204: Yes), the display control processing unit 30a causes the display unit 21 to display the end of supply (step S205). That is, the display control processing unit 30a causes the display unit 21 to transition from the supplying display to the supplying end display. This allows the user to recognize that the supply of beverage has finished, and allows the user to take out the cup C by swinging the opening / closing door 23 in the opening direction.

[0042] The display control processing unit 30a, which has thus caused the supply end display to be displayed, then returns the procedure and ends this processing. As a result, the display unit 21 is caused to display the beverage selection by the next display control processing, and when the control unit 30 is in the omitted display mode, it repeatedly transitions between the beverage selection display, the supplying display, and the supply end display in that order.

[0043] As described above, according to the beverage supply device 1 of embodiment 1 of the present invention, the control unit 30 can be set to either the normal display mode or the abbreviated display mode by a setting operation via the input means 40. When the normal display mode is selected, the display repeatedly transitions between the standby state display, the beverage selection display, the supplying display, and the supply end display, while when the abbreviated display mode is selected, the display repeatedly transitions between the beverage selection display, the supplying display, and the supply end display. Therefore, by switching to the abbreviated display mode as necessary to shorten the time it takes to supply a beverage to the cup C, it is possible to prevent the opportunity to supply a beverage being missed.

[0044] <Embodiment 2> 10 is a block diagram showing a typical control system of the beverage dispenser 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The same components as those in the beverage dispenser 1 according to the first embodiment described above are given the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

[0045] The beverage supplying device 2 illustrated here is a coffee machine installed in a store such as a convenience store, and performs an extraction process such as grinding coffee beans and dripping to supply a beverage such as coffee to a container, a cup C. Such a beverage supplying device 2 includes a beverage preparation unit 11, a display unit 21, and a control unit 32.

[0046] The control unit 32 is connected to the beverage preparation unit 11 and the display unit 21 described above, and is also connected to the storage unit 33. The control unit 32 comprehensively controls the operation of each unit of the beverage supply device 2 in accordance with the programs and data stored in the storage unit 33, and includes a display control processing unit 32a.

[0047] The display control processing section 32a performs a display control process, which will be described later, and causes the display section 21 to perform any one of a standby state display, a beverage selection display, a supplying state display, and a supply end display.

[0048] In addition, the control unit 32 may be realized, for example, by having a processing device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) execute a program, that is, by software, or may be realized by hardware such as an IC (Integrated Circuit), or may be realized by a combination of software and hardware.

[0049] Fig. 11 is a flowchart showing the process contents of the display control process carried out by the display control processing unit 32a of the control unit 32 shown in Fig. 10. The operation of the beverage supply device 2 will also be described while explaining the display control process.

[0050] The display control processing unit 32a of the control unit 32 causes the display unit 21 to display a standby state (step S301). The display control processing unit 32a that caused the display unit 21 to display the standby state determines whether or not a touch operation has been performed (step S302). If a touch operation has not been performed (step S302: No), the display control processing unit 32a repeats the above process.

[0051] When a touch operation is performed (step S302: Yes), the display control processing unit 32a causes the display unit 21 to perform a beverage selection display (step S303). That is, the display control processing unit 32a causes the display unit 21 to transition from a standby state display to a beverage selection display.

[0052] The display control processing unit 32a, which has caused the beverage selection display to be performed, determines whether or not a selection operation has been performed by touch operation to select either the selection unit 21a or 21b before a predetermined period of time has elapsed (steps S304 and S305).

[0053] If a selection operation is performed before the predetermined time has elapsed (step S304: Yes, step S305: No), the display control processing unit 32a causes the display unit 21 to display "dispensing" (step S306). That is, the display control processing unit 32a causes the display unit 21 to transition from the beverage selection display to a "dispensing" display. In this "dispensing" display, the control unit 32 causes the beverage preparation unit 11 to prepare the selected beverage and to dispense the beverage into the cup C through the nozzle 22a.

[0054] The display control processing unit 32a, which has caused the display to indicate that the beverage is being dispensed, determines whether or not the dispense of the beverage has been completed (step S307). If the dispense of the beverage has not been completed (step S307: No), the display control processing unit 32a repeats the above process.

[0055] When the supply of beverage has finished (step S307: Yes), the display control processing unit 32a causes the display unit 21 to display the end of supply (step S308). That is, the display control processing unit 32a causes the display unit 21 to transition from the supply in progress display to the supply end display. This allows the user to recognize that the supply of beverage has finished, and allows the user to take out the cup C by swinging the opening / closing door 23 in the opening direction.

[0056] The display control processing unit 32a, which has thus caused the supply end display to be performed, determines whether the current time is within a preset time period (eg, 12:00 to 13:00) of the omitted display mode (step S309).

[0057] If the current time is not within the set time period (step S309: No), the display control processing unit 32a returns the procedure and ends this processing, thereby causing the display unit 21 to display the standby state by the next display control processing.

[0058] On the other hand, if the current time is within the set time period (step S309: Yes), the display control processing unit 32a proceeds to the process of step S303. That is, the display control processing unit 32a causes the display unit 21 to display a beverage selection. As a result, the control unit 32 repeats the processes from step S303 onwards.

[0059] On the other hand, in the above steps S304 and S305, if the predetermined time has elapsed without a selection operation (step S304: No, step S305: Yes), the display control processing unit 32a returns the procedure and ends the current process without performing the above-mentioned process. As a result, the display control processing unit 32a causes the display unit 21 to display a standby state by the next display control process.

[0060] In this way, the control unit 32 is normally in the normal display mode, repeatedly switching the display unit 21 between the standby state display, the beverage selection display, the supply in progress display, and the supply end display, while during a predetermined set time period, it switches to the abbreviated display mode, repeatedly switching the display unit 21 between the beverage selection display, the supply in progress display, and the supply end display, in that order.

[0061] As described above, according to the beverage supply device 2 which is embodiment 2 of the present invention, the control unit 32 is normally in the normal display mode, repeatedly switching the display unit 21 between standby state display, beverage selection display, supply in progress display, and supply end display, while during a predetermined set time period, the control unit 32 is in the abbreviated display mode, repeatedly switching the display unit 21 between beverage selection display, supply in progress display, and supply end display, thereby shortening the time it takes to supply beverage to cup C as necessary, thereby preventing missed opportunities to supply beverage.

[0062] <Embodiment 3> 12 is a block diagram showing a typical control system of a beverage dispenser 2 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Note that the same components as those in the beverage dispenser 1 according to the first embodiment described above are given the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

[0063] The beverage supplying device 3 illustrated here is a coffee machine installed in a store such as a convenience store, and performs an extraction process such as grinding coffee beans and dripping to supply a beverage such as coffee to a container, a cup C. Such a beverage supplying device 3 includes a beverage preparation unit 11, a display unit 21, and a control unit 34.

[0064] The control unit 34 is connected to the beverage preparation unit 11 and the display unit 21 described above, and is also connected to the memory unit 35. The control unit 34 comprehensively controls the operation of each unit of the beverage supply device 3 in accordance with the programs and data stored in the memory unit 35, and includes a display control processing unit 34a.

[0065] The display control processing unit 34a performs a display control process, which will be described later, and causes the display unit 21 to perform any one of a standby state display, a beverage selection display, a supplying state display, and a supply end display.

[0066] In addition, the control unit 34 may be realized, for example, by having a processing device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) execute a program, that is, by software, or may be realized by hardware such as an IC (Integrated Circuit), or may be realized by a combination of software and hardware.

[0067] Fig. 13 is a flowchart showing the process contents of the display control process carried out by the display control processing unit 34a of the control unit 34 shown in Fig. 12. The operation of the beverage supply device 3 will also be described while explaining the display control process.

[0068] The display control processing unit 34a of the control unit 34 causes the display unit 21 to display a standby state (step S401). The display control processing unit 34a that caused the display unit 21 to display the standby state determines whether or not a touch operation has been performed (step S402). If a touch operation has not been performed (step S402: No), the display control processing unit 34a repeats the above process.

[0069] When a touch operation is performed (step S402: Yes), the display control processing unit 34a causes the display unit 21 to display a beverage selection display (step S403). That is, the display control processing unit 34a causes the display unit 21 to transition from a standby state display to a beverage selection display. As shown in Fig. 14, this beverage selection display is for allowing a beverage to be selected, and displays selection sections 21a and 21b for selecting selectable beverages, as well as a continuous supply selection section 21c for selecting continuous supply of beverages.

[0070] The display control processing unit 34a, which has performed the beverage selection display, determines whether or not the continuous supply selection unit 21c has been touched and whether or not a selection operation has been performed by touching either one of the selection units 21a, 21b before a predetermined time has elapsed (steps S404, S405, and S406).

[0071] If the continuous supply selection unit 21c is touched before the specified time has elapsed (step S404: Yes, step S405: No, step S406: No), the display control processing unit 34a determines whether a selection operation has been performed in which either one of the selection units 21a, 21b is touched before a predetermined specified time has elapsed (step S407, step S408).

[0072] If a selection operation is performed before the predetermined time has elapsed (step S407: Yes, step S408: No), the display control processing unit 34a causes the display unit 21 to display "dispensing" (step S409). That is, the display control processing unit 34a causes the display unit 21 to transition from the beverage selection display to a "dispensing" display. In this "dispensing" display, the control unit 34 causes the beverage preparation unit 11 to prepare the selected beverage and to dispense the beverage into the cup C through the nozzle 22a.

[0073] The display control processing unit 34a, which has caused the supply display to be performed, determines whether or not the supply of the beverage has finished (step S410). If the supply of the beverage has not finished (step S410: No), the display control processing unit 34a repeats the above process.

[0074] When the supply of beverage has finished (step S410: Yes), the display control processing unit 34a causes the display unit 21 to display the end of supply (step S411). That is, the display control processing unit 34a causes the display unit 21 to transition from the supply in progress display to the supply end display. This allows the user to recognize that the supply of beverage has finished, and allows the user to take out the cup C by swinging the opening / closing door 23 in the opening direction.

[0075] After causing the supply end display to be displayed in this manner, the display control processing unit 34a proceeds to the process of step S403. That is, the display control processing unit 34a causes the display unit 21 to display the beverage selection. As a result, the control unit 34 repeats the processes from step S403 onwards.

[0076] On the other hand, in the above steps S407 and S408, if the predetermined time has elapsed without a selection operation (step S407: No, step S408: Yes), the display control processing unit 34a returns the procedure and ends the current process without performing the above-mentioned process. As a result, the display control processing unit 34a causes the display unit 21 to display a standby state by the next display control process.

[0077] Meanwhile, in the above steps S404 to S406, if the continuous supply selection unit 21c is not touched before the predetermined time has elapsed and a selection operation is performed in which either one of the selection units 21a or 21b is touched (step S404: No, step S405: Yes, step S406: No), the display control processing unit 34a causes the display unit 21 to display "supply in progress" (step S412). That is, the display control processing unit 34a causes the display unit 21 to transition from the beverage selection display to a supply in progress display. In this supply in progress display, the control unit 34 causes the beverage preparation unit 11 to prepare the selected beverage and supplies the beverage to the cup C through the nozzle 22a.

[0078] The display control processing unit 34a, which has caused the display to indicate that the beverage is being dispensed, determines whether or not the dispense of the beverage has finished (step S413). If the dispense of the beverage has not finished (step S413: No), the display control processing unit 34a repeats the process.

[0079] When the supply of beverage has finished (step S413: Yes), the display control processing unit 34a causes the display unit 21 to display the end of supply (step S414). That is, the display control processing unit 34a causes the display unit 21 to transition from the supplying display to the supplying end display. This allows the user to recognize that the supply of beverage has finished, and allows the user to take out the cup C by swinging the opening / closing door 23 in the opening direction.

[0080] After causing the display control processing unit 34a to display the end of supply in this manner, the display control processing unit 34a returns the procedure and ends the current process. As a result, the display control processing unit 34a causes the display unit 21 to display the standby state by the next display control process.

[0081] In the above steps S404 to S406, if the predetermined time has elapsed without the continuous supply selection unit 21c being touched or selected (step S404: No, step S405: No, step S406: Yes), the display control processing unit 34a returns the procedure and ends the current process without performing the above-mentioned process. As a result, the display control processing unit 34a causes the display unit 21 to display the standby state by the next display control process.

[0082] In this way, the control unit 34 is normally in the normal display mode, repeatedly transitioning the display unit 21 between the standby state display, the beverage selection display, the supplying display, and the supply end display, in that order. However, when a touch operation is performed to select the continuous supply selection unit 21c in the beverage selection display, the control unit 34 switches to the omitted display mode, repeatedly transitioning the display unit 21 between the beverage selection display, the supplying display, and the supply end display, in that order. Therefore, when beverages are being continuously supplied, the standby state display unrelated to beverage supply can be omitted, and by shortening the time it takes to supply beverage to cup C as necessary, it is possible to prevent missed opportunities to supply beverages.

[0083] Although the preferred embodiments 1 to 3 of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these and various modifications can be made.

[0084] In the above-mentioned first to third embodiments, the control units 30, 32, and 34 are in the abbreviated display mode by the setting operation by the input means 40, the predetermined set time period, and the touch operation on the continuous supply selection unit 21c, and the display unit 21 is repeatedly switched in the order of the beverage selection display, the supplying display, and the supply end display, but in the present invention, a human presence sensor that is turned on when a person is detected may be provided, and the control unit may be in the abbreviated display mode when the human presence sensor is turned on, and in the normal display mode when the human presence sensor is turned off. This also makes it possible to prevent the loss of an opportunity to supply a beverage by shortening the time it takes to supply a beverage to a cup as necessary. [Explanation of symbols]

[0085] 1, 2, 3... beverage supply device, 10... main cabinet, 11... beverage preparation section, 20... front door, 21... display section, 21a, 21b... selection section, 21c... continuous supply selection section, 22... beverage supply section, 22a... nozzle, 22b... stage, 23... opening / closing door, 30, 32, 34... control section, 30a, 32a, 34a... display control processing section, 31, 33, 35... memory section, 40... input means, C... cup.

Claims

1. A beverage dispenser that dispenses beverages into a placed cup and has a display unit that displays various information and allows touch operations, a control unit that causes the display unit to display any one of a standby state display indicating that the device is in a standby state, a beverage selection display for allowing a beverage to be selected, a supply in progress display indicating that the selected beverage is being supplied, and a supply end display indicating that the supply of the selected beverage has been completed; The control unit of this beverage supply device is characterized in that when in normal display mode, it repeatedly transitions between the standby state display, the beverage selection display, the supply in progress display, and the supply end display, while when in an abbreviated display mode, it repeatedly transitions between the beverage selection display, the supply in progress display, and the supply end display.

2. 2. The beverage supply device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is set to either the normal display mode or the abbreviated display mode in response to a setting operation via an input device.

3. 2. The beverage supply device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is normally in the normal display mode, and is in the omitted display mode during a predetermined time period.

4. The beverage supply device of claim 1, characterized in that the control unit displays a continuous supply selection section in the beverage selection display for selecting continuous supply of a beverage, and when a touch operation is performed to select the continuous supply selection section, the device enters the omitted display mode.

Images