Foaming apparatus

Abstract

To provide a foaming apparatus that is advantage for causing a sparking drink in a container to foam with a simple operation.SOLUTION: A forming apparatus 100 causes a sparkling drink in a container to foam. The foaming apparatus 100 includes: a support part 10 to support a bottom part of the container; a vibration transmission part 20 that comes into contact with the bottom part of the container supported by the support part 10 so as to transmit vibrations to the bottom part; and a control part activates the vibration transmission part 20 in response to the fact that the container is put on the support part 10.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a foaming device for foaming a sparkling beverage in a container. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a sparkling beverage foaming device that forms foam on a sparkling beverage contained in a container. The sparkling beverage foaming device includes an ultrasonic transmission liquid storage section for storing ultrasonic transmission liquid, a container support section for supporting the container so that a part of the container is immersed in the ultrasonic transmission liquid stored in the ultrasonic transmission liquid storage section, and a foaming button for operating a foaming function. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2015-8640 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the carbonated beverage foaming device described in Patent Document 1, the container must be placed on the container support part so that part of the container is immersed in the ultrasonic transmission liquid, and then the foaming button must be operated, which makes operation cumbersome.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an advantageous foaming device for foaming a sparkling beverage in a container with a simple operation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present invention relates to a foaming device for foaming a carbonated beverage in a container, the foaming device comprising a support part for supporting a bottom of the container, a vibration transmission part for contacting the bottom of the container supported by the support part and transmitting vibrations to the bottom, and a control part for activating the vibration transmission part in response to the container being placed on the support part. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, an advantageous foaming device is provided for foaming a carbonated beverage in a container with a simple operation. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a foaming device according to the embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a front view showing the configuration of the foaming device according to the embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the configuration of the foaming device according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a left side view showing the configuration of the foaming device according to the embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a foaming device according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a perspective view for explaining the operation of the foaming device according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the operation of the foaming device according to the embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a control system of the foaming device according to the embodiment. [Figure 9] 5A and 5B are diagrams illustrating examples of the shape of the upper surface of a vibration transmitter. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a preferred example of use of the foaming device according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims, and not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential to the invention. Two or more features among the multiple features described in the embodiments may be arbitrarily combined. Also, the same reference numbers are used for the same or similar configurations, and duplicated descriptions are omitted.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the foaming device 100 of the embodiment. FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 5 are a front view, a plan view, a left side view, and a cross-sectional view, respectively, showing the configuration of the foaming device 100 of the embodiment. FIGS. 6 and 7 are a perspective view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, for explaining the operation of the foaming device 100 of the embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the configuration of a control system of the foaming device 100 of the embodiment. The configuration and operation of the foaming device 100 of the embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8.

[0011] The foaming device 100 is configured as a foaming device that foams a sparkling beverage in a container C. The sparkling beverage may be, for example, beer, low-malt beer, or a beer-flavored sparkling alcoholic beverage. The container C may be a metal container (can) or a non-metallic container (for example, a glass bottle). The foaming device 100 may include a support part 10 that supports the bottom (bottom surface) of the container C, a vibration transmission part 20 that contacts the bottom of the container C supported by the support part 10 and transmits vibrations to the bottom, and a control part 60 that activates the vibration transmission part 20 in response to the container C being placed on the support part 10. The foaming device 100 may also include a power source 70 that drives the vibration transmission part 20 and the control part 60.

[0012] The vibration transmission unit 20 may include, for example, a vibration generating element, typically an ultrasonic vibrator, that converts an electrical signal into mechanical vibration. The vibration transmission unit 20 may be disposed so as to be in direct contact with the bottom of the container C when the container C is placed on the support unit 10. The vibration transmission unit 20 may generate vibrations by being activated by the control unit 60. The mode of activation of the vibration transmission unit 20 by the control unit 60 is not limited to a specific mode. For example, the control unit 60 may supply a drive signal generated by using power supplied from the power source 70 to the vibration transmission unit 20, thereby activating the vibration transmission unit 20, and the vibration transmission unit 20 may start operating (i.e., start generating vibrations). Alternatively, the control unit 60 may supply an activation signal to the vibration transmission unit 20, and the vibration transmission unit 20 that receives power from the power source 70 may start operating (i.e., start generating vibrations) in response to the activation signal.

[0013] The foaming device 100 may include a guide mechanism 45 that guides the vibration transmitting part 20 so that the vibration transmitting part 20 can rise and fall. An upward force is applied to the vibration transmitting part 20 by a spring 22, and this force acts to press the vibration transmitting part 20 against the bottom of the container C when the container C is placed on the support part 10 so as to press the vibration transmitting part 20.

[0014] The foaming device 100 may include a detector 50 that detects the descent of the vibration transmitting unit 20 due to the force received from the container C placed on the support unit 10. Here, the detector 50 may be configured to detect the descent of the vibration transmitting unit 20 due to the weight of the container C containing the carbonated beverage, or may be configured to detect the descent of the vibration transmitting unit 20 due to the container C being pressed against the support unit 10 or the vibration transmitting unit 20 by an operator. The control unit 60 may be configured to start the vibration transmitting unit 20 in response to the detection result by the detector 50 (i.e., the detection result that the container C has been placed on the support unit 10). With this configuration, in response to the container C being placed on the support unit 10, the vibration transmitting unit 20 supplies vibration to the container C or the carbonated beverage in the container C. As a result, the carbonated beverage in the container C fizzes and bubbles are formed. As will be described in more detail below, the foaming device 100 can be used to foam the carbonated beverage remaining in container C after most of the carbonated beverage in container C (e.g., 60% to 90% of the total) has been poured into another container such as a glass.

[0015] The support part 10 may include a ring groove 12 that engages with the bottom part of the container C. The vibration transmission part 20 may be disposed in the center of the circle defined by the ring groove 12. The upper surface of the vibration transmission part 20 may have an upwardly convex shape. The upper surface of the vibration transmission part 20 may be a curved surface that has an upwardly convex shape. Alternatively, the upper surface of the vibration transmission part 20 may have a conical shape that has an upwardly convex shape.

[0016] The control unit 60 may include an adjustment unit 62 that adjusts the vibration generated by the vibration transmission unit 20. The adjustment unit 62 may be configured to adjust the vibration generated by the vibration transmission unit 20, for example, by adjusting a drive signal supplied to the vibration transmission unit 20. The adjustment unit 62 may adjust the frequency of the vibration generated by the vibration transmission unit 20, for example. Alternatively, the adjustment unit 62 may adjust the intensity of the vibration generated by the vibration transmission unit 20.

[0017] The foaming device 100 may further include a sensor (not shown) for detecting that the amount of the sparkling beverage in the container C exceeds a predetermined amount. In this case, when the sensor indicates that the amount of the sparkling beverage in the container C exceeds the predetermined amount, the control unit 60 may be configured not to activate the vibration transmission unit 20 even if the container C is placed on the support unit 10. Such a function is useful for preventing the sparkling beverage from overflowing from the mouth of the container C by foaming the sparkling beverage when the container C filled with the sparkling beverage is placed on the support unit 10. The sensor may be, for example, a load sensor for detecting the load applied by the container C to the vibration transmission unit 20 or the support unit 10.

[0018] The foaming device 100 may include a housing 40 that holds the support part 10, the vibration transmission part 20, the control part 60, and the power source 70. In an orthogonal projection (i.e., a plan view as shown in FIG. 3) on the bottom of the housing 40, the support part 10 and the power source 70 may be disposed in separate regions. This is advantageous for making the foaming device 100 thin.

[0019] The foaming device 100 may include a lamp 30 that indicates that the vibration transmitting unit 20 is operating. In the orthogonal projection onto the bottom of the housing 40, the lamp 30 may be disposed in the area where the power source 70 is disposed. This is effective for enhancing visibility.

[0020] The housing 40 may be provided with a magnet 80. The magnet 80 is advantageous for fastening the foaming device 100 to an appliance (e.g., a refrigerator) or a wall that contains a magnetic material such as iron when the foaming device 100 is not in use.

[0021] 9(a), (b), and (c) show examples of the shape of the upper surface of the vibration transmitting unit 20. The shape of the upper surface of the vibration transmitting unit 20 is not limited to a specific shape, but it is preferable that the upper surface of the vibration transmitting unit 20 has a shape that is convex toward the top, as shown in FIG. 9(b) and (c). The upper surface of the vibration transmitting unit 20 may have a cone shape that is convex toward the top, as shown in FIG. 9(b). Alternatively, the upper surface of the vibration transmitting unit 20 may be a curved surface that is convex toward the top, as shown in FIG. 9(c). Such a curved surface does not scratch the bottom of the container C, so that the operator can feel at ease.

[0022] A preferred use example of the foaming device 100 will be described below with reference to Fig. 10. First, as shown in Fig. 10(a), the sparkling beverage B in the container C is poured into a glass container G. For example, it is preferable to pour 60% to 90% of the entire sparkling beverage B in the container C into the container G when the container C is opened.

[0023] 10(b), the container C is placed on the support part 10 of the foaming device 100 with the sparkling beverage B remaining at the bottom of the container C. This activates the vibration transmission part 20, causing the sparkling beverage B in the container C to foam, forming bubbles in the container C.

[0024] Next, as shown in Fig. 10(c), the foam BB in the container C is poured onto the sparkling beverage B in the container B. This prepares the sparkling beverage B covered with the foam BB.

[0025] According to the foaming device 100 of the embodiment, the sparkling beverage B in the container C can be foamed simply by placing the container C on the support part 10 of the foaming device 100, so that the operation is very simple. In addition, the foaming device 100 of the embodiment is easy to maintain because the sparkling beverage is unlikely to adhere to the foaming device 100. In addition, according to the foaming device 100 of the embodiment, liquid such as water for vibration transmission is not required, so that the foaming device 100 is easy to maintain and handle.

[0026] The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the gist of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0027] 10: support part, 12: ring groove, 20: vibration transmission part, 22: spring, 30: lamp, 40: housing, 45: guide mechanism, 50: detector, 60: control part, 70: power supply, 80: magnet, 100: foaming device, C: container, B: carbonated beverage, BB: foam, G: container

Claims

1. 1. A foaming device for foaming a carbonated beverage in a container, comprising: A support portion for supporting a bottom portion of the container; a vibration transmission part that contacts the bottom part of the container supported by the support part and transmits vibrations to the bottom part; a control unit that activates the vibration transmission unit in response to the container being placed on the support unit; A foaming device comprising:

2. a guide mechanism that guides the vibration transmission unit so that the vibration transmission unit can be raised and lowered; a detector for detecting a descent of the vibration transmitting part due to a force received from a container placed on the support part, The control unit activates the vibration transmission unit in response to a detection result by the detector.

2. The foaming device according to claim 1 .

3. the support portion includes a ring groove that engages the bottom of the container; The vibration transmission part is disposed at the center of the circle defined by the ring groove.

3. The foaming device according to claim 2.

4. The upper surface of the vibration transmission part has an upwardly convex shape.

4. The foaming device according to claim 1, wherein the foaming device is a foaming device.

5. The upper surface of the vibration transmission part has a curved surface.

5. The foaming device according to claim 4.

6. The upper surface of the vibration transmission part has a conical shape.

5. The foaming device according to claim 4.

7. The control unit includes an adjustment unit that adjusts the vibration generated by the vibration transmission unit.

7. The foaming device according to claim 1, wherein the foaming device is a foaming device.

8. The adjustment unit adjusts the frequency of the vibration generated by the vibration transmission unit.

8. The foaming device according to claim 7.

9. The adjustment unit adjusts the intensity of the vibration generated by the vibration transmission unit.

8. The foaming device according to claim 7.

10. a sensor for detecting when the amount of the carbonated beverage in the container exceeds a predetermined amount; When the sensor indicates that the amount of carbonated beverage in the container exceeds the predetermined amount, the control unit does not activate the vibration transmission unit even if the container is placed on the support unit.

10. The foaming device according to claim 1 ,

11. a power source that drives the vibration transmission unit and the control unit; a housing for holding the support unit, the vibration transmission unit, the control unit, and the power source; In an orthogonal projection onto the bottom of the housing, the support and the power source are disposed in different regions.

11. The foaming device according to claim 1 .

12. Further, a lamp indicating that the vibration transmission unit is operating is provided, In an orthogonal projection onto the bottom of the housing, the lamp is disposed in an area in which the power source is disposed.

12. The foaming device according to claim 11 .

13. A magnet is provided in the housing.

13. The foaming device according to claim 11 or 12.

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