Beverage server

Abstract

To provide a beverage server having a simple configuration and capable of easily pouring delicious beverage.SOLUTION: A beverage server according to the embodiment includes a first faucet 10. The first faucet 10 has: a first faucet body 12 having a flow path R1 through which a beverage D that flows through a beverage pipe passes; a beverage pouring part 13 having a pouring flow path 13b through which the beverage D passes and which pours the beverage D to an outside of the first faucet 10; a rotary body 15 having an opening 15b that communicates with at least one of the flow path R1 and the pouring flow path 13b when rotated; and an operation lever 11 that rotates the rotary body 15. No obstacles hampering a flow of the beverage D are provided in flow path R1 and in pouring flow path 13b. When the operation lever 11 is rotated, the rotary body 15 rotates and the opening 15b overlaps with either the flow path R1 or the pouring flow path 13b, whereby the beverage D is poured from the beverage pouring part 13.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a beverage server.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a drinking water cooling and supply device. The drinking water cooling and supply device has a box-shaped container in which cooling water is stored. Inside the container, together with the cooling water, a beer keg, a beer supply pipe through which the beer in the beer keg passes, and a three-way valve connected to the beer supply pipe are stored. Outside the container, a cooling device for cooling the cooling water and a cooling water purification device for purifying the cooling water are arranged. A plurality of beer kegs are stored in the container, and the container, the cooling device, and the cooling water purification device are housed in a large box that constitutes the drinking water cooling and supply device.

[0003] Inside the container, two beer supply pipes are arranged. One of the two beer supply pipes connects the keg and the three-way valve to each other, and the other one extends out of the container from the three-way valve. The beer supply pipe extending out of the container from the three-way valve is connected to a cock outside the container. A jockey receiver is fixed to the container below the cock, and a jockey is placed on the jockey receiver. The cock pours out the beverage cooled by the cooling water inside the container and stored in the keg into the jockey.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The above-described drinking water cooling and supply device has a large box, and a container for accommodating a plurality of barrels inside the large box, a cooling device, and a cooling water purification device are arranged. Thus, in the drinking water cooling and supply device, since the equipment is large-scale, it is required to simplify the configuration. Also, a swing can for opening and closing the beverage flow path with a rotary handle is known. The swing can has the advantage that it can pour out a drink that is easy to drink by appropriately foaming it by utilizing a large flow rate, and can pour out a beverage in which the ratio of foam to liquid is a desired ratio. However, in the swing can, there is a problem that initial foam may have to be discarded, and since the flow rate of the beverage is large, skill is required for pouring. Therefore, it is required to be able to easily pour out a delicious beverage.

[0006] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a beverage server that can simplify the configuration and can easily pour out a delicious beverage.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] (1) The beverage server according to the present disclosure includes a housing, a beverage pipe accommodated inside the housing through which the beverage flows, a cooling device accommodated inside the housing for cooling the beverage pipe, and a first can attached to the housing for pouring out the beverage from the beverage pipe. The first can has a first can body having a flow path through which the beverage flowing through the beverage pipe passes, an outlet flow path extending from the first can body and through which the beverage passing through the flow path passes, and a beverage pouring portion for pouring out the beverage passing through the outlet flow path to the outside of the first can, and a rotating body rotatable inside the first can body and having an opening that communicates with at least one of the flow path and the outlet flow path when rotated, and an operation lever for rotating the rotating body. No obstacles are provided in the flow path of the first can body and the outlet flow path to prevent the flow of the beverage. When the operation lever is rotated, the rotating body rotates and the opening overlaps with either the flow path or the outlet flow path, whereby the beverage is poured out from the beverage pouring portion.

[0008] This beverage server has a beverage pipe through which the beverage passes and a cooling device for cooling the beverage pipe, both arranged inside the housing. Therefore, since there is no need to place a keg or the like for containing the beverage inside the housing, the configuration of the beverage server can be simplified. A first faucet for pouring out the beverage passing through the beverage pipe is attached to the housing. The first faucet has a first faucet body having a flow path through which the beverage passing through the beverage pipe passes, a beverage pouring portion having a pouring flow path through which the beverage passing through the flow path passes, a rotating body with an opening formed therein, and an operation lever for rotating the rotating body. When the operation lever is rotated, the rotating body rotates and the opening of the rotating body overlaps either the flow path or the pouring flow path, whereby the beverage is poured out from the beverage pouring portion. The beverage is poured out to the outside of the first faucet through the beverage pipe, the flow path of the first faucet body, and the pouring flow path. Therefore, since the flow path through which the beverage passes is long, the flow rate of the beverage can be appropriately reduced, and thus the beverage can be easily poured out without requiring skill. No obstacles are provided in the flow path of the first faucet body and the pouring flow path to impede the flow of the beverage. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the beverage hitting an obstacle inside the first faucet and generating unintended bubbles in the beverage, and thus a delicious beverage similar to a swing faucet can be poured out.

[0009] (2) In the above (1), the rotating body may be spherical. The operation lever may be rotatable about an axis extending in the horizontal direction, and when the operation lever is rotated about the axis, the rotating body may rotate and the opening may communicate with the pouring flow path. In this case, when viewed from a pourer standing in front of the beverage server, the beverage can be poured out by rotating the operation lever in the front-rear direction.

[0010] (3) In the above (1), the rotating body may be spherical or cylindrical, and the operation lever may be rotatable about an axis extending in the vertical direction. When the operation lever is rotated about the axis, the rotating body may rotate and the opening may communicate with the flow path. In this case, when viewed from a pourer standing in front of the beverage server, the beverage can be poured out by rotating the operation lever in the left-right direction.

[0011] (4) In any of (1) to (3) above, the beverage server may further include a second nozzle attached at a location different from the first nozzle in the housing for pouring a beverage from a beverage tube. The second nozzle may have a beverage pouring portion for pouring the beverage, a foam pouring portion for pouring the foam of the beverage, and a slide valve that slides in one direction to open the beverage pouring portion to pour the beverage from the beverage pouring portion, and slides in the opposite direction of the one direction to open the foam pouring portion to pour the foam from the foam pouring portion. In this case, since the second nozzle having the slide valve is attached to the housing together with the first nozzle, a beverage with a taste different from that of the first nozzle can be poured from the second nozzle.

[0012] (5) In any of (1) to (4) above, the beverage tube may be connected to a barrel for storing the beverage via a hose, and the beverage may be supplied from the barrel to the beverage tube via the hose. The inner diameter of the beverage tube may be 3 mm or more and 6 mm or less, and the sum of the length of the hose and the length of the beverage tube may be 6 m or more and 20 m or less. In this case, since the inner diameter of the beverage tube is 3 mm or more and 6 mm or less, and the sum of the length of the hose, which is the path through which the beverage passes, and the length of the beverage tube is 6 m or more and 20 m or less, the flow rate of the poured beverage can be made appropriate. Therefore, pouring of the beverage can be performed more easily. The length of the hose may be 5 m or more, 7 m or more, or 10 m or more.

[0013] (6) In any of the above (1) to (5), the first column has a first mode in which, as the operating lever is rotated, the rotating body rotates and all of the openings overlap either the flow path or the pouring flow path, so that the beverage is poured from the beverage pouring portion, and a second mode in which, as the operating lever is rotated with an operation amount smaller than that in the first mode, the rotating body rotates and a part of the openings overlap either the flow path or the pouring flow path, so that the foam of the beverage is poured from the beverage pouring portion. In this case, by changing the operation amount of the rotation operation of the operating lever, both the beverage and the foam of the beverage can be poured. Further, in the second mode, when the rotating body is rotated and a part of the openings overlap either the flow path or the pouring path, so that the foam is poured from the beverage pouring portion, the flow rate of the foam can be made larger than when the foam is poured from the column having the slide valve. Therefore, the foam of the beverage can be poured out faster.

Effect of the Invention

[0014] According to the present disclosure, the configuration can be simplified, and a delicious beverage can be easily poured.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0015]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0016] Hereinafter, embodiments of the beverage server according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same or corresponding elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and overlapping descriptions will be omitted as appropriate. The drawings may be drawn with some parts simplified or exaggerated for ease of understanding, and dimensional ratios and the like are not limited to the descriptions in the drawings.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a beverage server 1 as an example according to the present embodiment. The beverage server 1 dispenses a beverage D (see FIG. 2) into a beverage container. The beverage server 1 includes a first column 10 and a second column 20. For example, the beverage server 1 is a device provided in a food and beverage store and is capable of dispensing the beverage D in response to a customer's order. The beverage D is, for example, a carbonated beverage.

[0018] The carbonated beverage is, for example, a gas-containing fermented liquor containing a gas such as carbon dioxide gas, and has a foaming property in which a layer of foam B (see FIG. 7) of the beverage D is formed on the beverage D when dispensed into the beverage container, and a foam retention property in which the formed foam B is maintained for a certain period of time or more. The beverage D is, for example, a beer-taste beverage. The beer-taste beverage includes a beverage having a taste like beer and a beverage that gives the drinker a feeling of having drunk beer. Note that the beverage D may be a beverage that is not a beer-taste beverage. Hereinafter, an example in which the beverage D is beer will be described.

[0019] The beverage server 1 includes a housing 2 that houses the beverage D. For example, the housing 2 has a box-shaped portion 2b that houses each component of the beverage server 1 and has an upward-facing opening, and a lid portion 2c that closes the opening of the box-shaped portion 2b. Each of the first column 10 and the second column 20 is attached to the housing 2. The housing 2 has a column attachment portion 2d to which the first column 10 and the second column 20 are attached. For example, the column attachment portion 2d is provided on one of the plurality of side surfaces that make up the box-shaped portion 2b.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a beverage providing apparatus including the beverage server 1. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, this beverage providing apparatus includes, in addition to the beverage server 1, a hose 6 extending from the beverage server 1, a keg 7 in which the beverage D is stored, a head 8, and a cylinder 9. The hose 6 is connected to the beverage server 1, and the beverage D is supplied from the hose 6 into the interior of the beverage server 1. The keg 7 is a container filled with the beverage D. The head 8 has a function of, for example, sending the carbon dioxide gas inside the cylinder 9 into the interior of the keg 7 and sending out the beverage D inside the keg 7 to the beverage server 1.

[0021] The cylinder 9 is, for example, a container filled with carbon dioxide gas at high pressure, and has a function of pushing out the beverage D inside the keg 7 to the beverage server 1 and a function of appropriately maintaining the amount of carbon dioxide gas contained in the beverage D inside the keg 7. Inside the cylinder 9, the carbon dioxide gas is filled in a liquid state and is filled, for example, at a pressure of 6 MPa or more and 8 MPa or less.

[0022] The beverage server 1 is connected to the head 8 via the hose 6 and has a function of cooling the beverage D sent out from the keg 7 via the head 8 and the hose 6. The beverage server 1 is, for example, an electric cooling type instant cooling server. The beverage server 1 is also referred to as a tabletop server. The beverage server 1 includes a coolant tank 3 in which the coolant W is stored, a cooling device 4 that cools the coolant W, and a beverage pipe 5 that is introduced into the coolant tank 3. The coolant tank 3, the cooling device 4, and the beverage pipe 5 are housed inside the housing 2.

[0023] The cooling device 4 includes a refrigeration cycle device and a refrigerant pipe 4a connected to the refrigeration cycle device. The cooling device 4 cools the coolant W around the refrigerant pipe 4a by a refrigeration cycle in which the refrigeration cycle device circulates the refrigerant through the refrigerant pipe 4a, and forms ice K around the refrigerant pipe 4a. The ice K cools the coolant W in the coolant tank 3 and cools the beverage D inside the beverage pipe 5.

[0024] The beverage D flows through the beverage pipe 5. The beverage pipe 5 is connected to a hose 6. The beverage pipe 5 has a spiral shape. Thereby, the beverage pipe 5 can be made compact while ensuring a certain length. The beverage D is cooled by the coolant W while being conveyed inside the beverage pipe 5. For example, the end of the beverage pipe 5 opposite to the hose 6 is connected to each of the first column 10 and the second column 20. In FIG. 2, the illustration of the first column 10 and the second column 20 is simplified. Each of the first column 10 and the second column 20 dispenses the beverage D from the beverage pipe 5.

[0025] As described above, the beverage pipe 5 is connected to the keg 7 via the hose 6, and the beverage D is supplied from the keg 7 to the beverage pipe 5 via the hose 6. The inner diameter of the beverage pipe 5 is, for example, 3 mm or more and 6 mm or less (5 mm as an example). The sum of the length of the hose 6 and the length of the beverage pipe 5 is, for example, 6 m or more and 20 m or less (17 m as an example). The length of the hose 6 may be 5 m or more, 7 m or more, or 10 m or more.

[0026] FIG. 3 is a side view showing the first column 10. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the first column 10 includes an operation lever 11, a first column main body 12 having a flow path through which the beverage D that has flowed through the beverage pipe 5 introduced into the coolant tank 3 passes, and a beverage dispensing portion 13 that dispenses the beverage D to the outside of the first column 10.

[0027] For example, the first column 10 has a screw portion 14 located on the side opposite to the beverage pouring portion 13 in the first column main body 12, and a cylindrical portion 17 extending from the screw portion 14 to the side opposite to the first column main body 12. For example, the housing 2 has a cylindrical screw portion 16 provided at a position protruding from the column mounting portion 2d, and an internal thread is formed inside the cylindrical screw portion 16. When the cylindrical portion 17 is inserted into the inside of the cylindrical screw portion 16 and the internal thread of the cylindrical screw portion 16 is tightened onto the screw portion 14, the first column 10 is attached to the housing 2.

[0028] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the first column 10 as an example. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first column main body 12 includes, for example, a hollow spherical body 12b, a sealing material 12c, a ball driver 12d, a friction disk 12f, a cylindrical member 12g, O-rings 12h, 12j, an elbow 12m, a first covering member 12p, a second covering member 12q, and a rotating body 15 having a spherical shape.

[0029] For example, the friction disk 12f, the O-ring 12h, and the ball driver 12d are accommodated inside the hollow spherical body 12b. The hollow spherical body 12b has a through hole 12b1 penetrating in a direction intersecting the direction in which the screw portion 14 is provided. Further, the ball driver 12d is fitted into the first covering member 12p, and the O-ring 12h and the friction disk 12f are attached to the ball driver 12d.

[0030] The first covering member 12p to which the friction disk 12f, the O-ring 12h, and the ball driver 12d are attached, and the second covering member 12q seal the through hole 12b1 of the hollow spherical body 12b. The first covering member 12p has a mounting portion 12p1 to which the second covering member 12q and the operation lever 11 are attached.

[0031] The attachment part 12p1 has, for example, a cylindrical shape. The operation lever 11 is inserted into the attachment part 12p1 from above and attached thereto, and the second covering member 12q is inserted into the attachment part 12p1 from the side and attached thereto. For example, the operation lever 11 has a threaded portion 11b extending in a rod shape from the portion gripped by the pourer. For example, the operation lever 11 is attached to the attachment part 12p1 by screwing the threaded portion 11b inside the attachment part 12p1.

[0032] The operation lever 11 is capable of being rotated about an axis L extending in the horizontal direction. For example, the operation lever 11 is capable of rotating about an axis L extending along the through-hole 12b1. When the operation lever 11 rotates, the first covering member 12p, the second covering member 12q, the ball driver 12d, the O-ring 12h, and the friction disk 12f rotate in conjunction, but the hollow spherical body 12b does not rotate.

[0033] For example, a part of the elbow 12m, the sealing material 12c, the rotating body 15, the O-ring 12j, and the cylindrical member 12g is accommodated in the hollow spherical body 12b. For example, a flow path R1 (see FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b)) of the first collar body 12 is formed inside the sealing material 12c and the O-ring 12j. A part of the elbow 12m, the sealing material 12c, the rotating body 15, the O-ring 12j, and the cylindrical member 12g is accommodated in the hollow spherical body 12b.

[0034] FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing the sealing material 12c and the rotating body 15. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the first collar body 12 has two sealing materials 12c, and the rotating body 15 is sandwiched between the two sealing materials 12c. One of the two sealing materials 12c has, for example, a first opening 12c1 and a second opening 12c2. The other has, for example, only the first opening 12c1. The rotating body 15 is exposed in the first opening 12c1, and the ball driver 12d abuts against the portion of the rotating body 15 exposed from the first opening 12c1. Thereby, when the operation lever 11 is rotated, the rotating body 15 rotates together with the ball driver 12d.

[0035] FIG. 6(a) is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the first column main body 12 and the rotating body 15 when the operation lever 11 is not rotated. FIG. 6(b) is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the first column main body 12 and the rotating body 15 when the operation lever 11 is rotated. As shown in FIGS. 5, 6(a) and 6(b), the rotating body 15 has a beverage inlet 15c for receiving the beverage D from the flow path R1 of the first column main body 12 into the inside of the rotating body 15, and an opening 15b for discharging the beverage D inside the rotating body 15 to the outside of the rotating body 15.

[0036] The beverage pouring part 13 has a pouring flow path 13b through which the beverage D that has extended from the first column main body 12 and passed through the flow path R1 passes. The beverage pouring part 13 pours the beverage D passing through the pouring flow path 13b to the outside of the first column 10. No obstacle that obstructs the flow of the beverage D is provided in the flow path R1 of the first column main body 12 and the pouring flow path 13b of the beverage pouring part 13.

[0037] "No obstacle that obstructs the flow of the beverage D is provided in the flow path R1" means, for example, that no moving part (for example, the slide valve 22d (see FIG. 8) described later) is provided in the flow path R1. Also, "no obstacle that obstructs the flow of the beverage D is provided in the flow path R1" may mean that no portion protruding inside the flow path R1 is provided in the flow path R1. By "no obstacle that obstructs the flow of the beverage D is provided in the flow path R1", it is possible to suppress the unintentional foaming of the beverage D in the flow path R1. The same applies to the pouring flow path 13b.

[0038] For example, in a state where the operation lever 11 is not rotated, the opening 15b and the beverage inlet 15c of the rotating body 15 face the inner surface of the sealing material 12c. In this state, since the beverage D in the flow path R1 does not enter the inside of the rotating body 15, the beverage D does not flow out from the rotating body 15 to the beverage pouring part 13.

[0039] On one hand, in a state where the operation lever 11 is rotationally operated (for example, in a state where the operation lever 11 is rotationally operated to be pulled toward the front side), the rotating body 15 rotates inside the sealing material 12c, the opening 15b communicates with the pouring channel 13b, and the beverage receiving port 15c communicates with the channel R1. At this time, the beverage D in the channel R1 enters the inside of the rotating body 15, and the beverage D flows from the rotating body 15 to the pouring channel 13b, so that the beverage D is poured out from the beverage pouring portion 13 to the outside of the first column 10.

[0040] As shown in FIGS. 6(a), 6(b) and 7, for example, the first column 10 has a first mode of pouring the beverage D from the beverage pouring portion 13 and a second mode of pouring the foam B of the beverage D from the beverage pouring portion 13. In the first mode, as the operation lever 11 is rotationally operated, the rotating body 15 rotates and all of the opening 15b overlaps with the pouring channel 13b, so that the beverage D is poured out from the beverage pouring portion 13. For example, at this time, all of the beverage receiving port 15c overlaps with the channel R1.

[0041] On the other hand, in the second mode, as the operation lever 11 is rotationally operated with an operation amount smaller than that in the first mode, the rotating body 15 rotates and a part of the opening 15b overlaps with the pouring channel 13b, so that the foam B is poured out from the beverage pouring portion 13. When the operation amount of the rotational operation of the operation lever 11 is small, the passage of the beverage D at the boundary between the opening 15b and the pouring channel 13b becomes narrow, so that the beverage D is converted into the foam B in the narrowed passage.

[0042] Then, the converted foam B passes through the pouring channel 13b and is poured out from the beverage pouring portion 13 to the outside of the first column 10. For example, in the second mode, a part of the beverage receiving port 15c overlaps with the channel R1. As described above, in the first column 10, it is possible to pour out both the beverage D and the foam B by changing the operation amount of the operation lever 11.

[0043] Next, the second column 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 8. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the second column 20. For example, the second column 20 includes a lever 21 that can be grasped by hand and moved, a second column main body 22 to which the lever 21 is attached and fixed to the housing 2, a beverage pouring portion 23 extending obliquely downward from the second column main body 22, and a foam pouring portion 24 located on the side opposite to the housing 2 (front side) as viewed from the beverage pouring portion 23.

[0044] The lever 21 is movable, for example, both forward and backward. "Forward" refers to the direction (inner side) toward the beverage server 1 as viewed from a pourer standing in front of the beverage server 1, and "backward" refers to the direction (front side) opposite to the beverage server 1 as viewed from a pourer standing in front of the beverage server 1. The lever 21 is, for example, in the shape of a rod extending upward from the second column main body 22. As an example, the lever 21 gradually increases in diameter upward.

[0045] The second column main body 22 includes, for example, a cylindrical portion 22b provided with the lever 21, the beverage pouring portion 23, and the foam pouring portion 24, and a screw portion 22c that expands in diameter from one end of the cylindrical portion 22b. For example, the housing 2 has a cylindrical screw portion 26 provided at a position protruding from the column mounting portion 2d, and an internal thread is formed inside the cylindrical screw portion 26. The second column 20 is attached to the housing 2 by screwing the internal thread of the cylindrical screw portion 26 onto the screw portion 22c.

[0046] The second column main body 22 has a slide valve 22d that opens and closes a flow path for the beverage located inside the second column main body 22. For example, when the lever 21 moves to the rear side (front side), the slide valve 22d moves to the front side and the beverage D is poured out from the beverage pouring portion 23. When the lever 21 moves to the front side (inner side), the slide valve 22d moves to the rear side and the beverage D enters the inside of the slide valve 22d, and the beverage D is converted into foam B inside the slide valve 22d. Then, the converted foam B flows into the foam pouring portion 24.

[0047] The beverage dispensing part 23 is, for example, cylindrical and is inclined toward the rear side (foam dispensing part 24 side) as it separates from the second carafe body 22. As an example, the beverage dispensing part 23 may be cylindrical and tapered toward the tip (lower end). However, the shape of the beverage dispensing part 23 is not limited to the above example and can be changed as appropriate.

[0048] The beverage dispensing part 23 has a first internal space 23b that constitutes a liquid flow path through which the beverage D passes. The foam dispensing part 24 extends obliquely downward from the second carafe body 22 at the rear side of the beverage dispensing part 23. The foam dispensing part 24 has a second internal space 24b that constitutes a foam flow path through which the foam B passes.

[0049] As an example, the second carafe 20 includes a dispensing member 25 attached to the foam dispensing part 24. The dispensing member 25 is provided to dispense the foam B passing through the second internal space 24b of the foam dispensing part 24 laterally. For example, the dispensing member 25 is detachable from the foam dispensing part 24. Note that the dispensing member 25 may be omitted.

[0050] Next, the effects obtained from the beverage server 1 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 2, 6(a), and 6(b), the beverage server 1 includes a coolant tank 3 that stores the coolant W, a cooling device 4 that cools the coolant W, and a beverage pipe 5 introduced into the coolant tank 3 disposed inside the housing 2. Therefore, since it is not necessary to dispose a barrel or the like that stores the beverage inside the housing 2, the configuration of the beverage server 1 can be simplified.

[0051] A first faucet 10 for pouring out a beverage D passing through a beverage tube 5 is attached to a housing 2. The first faucet 10 includes a first faucet body 12 having a flow path R1 through which the beverage D passing through the beverage tube 5 flows, a beverage pouring portion 13 having a pouring flow path 13b through which the beverage D flowing through the flow path R1 flows, a rotating body 15 in which an opening 15b is formed, and an operation lever 11 for rotating the rotating body 15. When the operation lever 11 is rotated, the rotating body 15 rotates and the opening 15b of the rotating body 15 overlaps with the pouring flow path 13b, whereby the beverage D is poured out from the beverage pouring portion 13. The beverage D is poured out to the outside of the first faucet 10 through the beverage tube 5, the flow path R1 of the first faucet body 12, and the pouring flow path 13b. Therefore, since the flow path through which the beverage D flows is long, the flow rate of the beverage D can be appropriately reduced, so that the beverage D can be easily poured out without requiring skill.

[0052] No obstacles that impede the flow of the beverage D are provided in the flow path R1 of the first faucet body 12 and the pouring flow path 13b. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of unintended bubbles in the beverage D when the beverage D hits an obstacle inside the first faucet 10, so that a delicious beverage D similar to a swing faucet can be poured out.

[0053] As shown in FIGS. 4, 6(a), and 6(b), in the present embodiment, the rotating body 15 has a spherical shape. The operation lever 11 is capable of being rotated about an axis L extending in the horizontal direction, and when the operation lever 11 is rotated about the axis L, the rotating body 15 rotates and the opening 15b communicates with the pouring flow path 13b. In this case, when viewed from a pourer standing in front of the beverage server 1, the beverage D can be poured out by rotating the operation lever 11 in the front-rear direction.

[0054] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 8, in this embodiment, the beverage server 1 further includes a second nozzle 20 that is attached at a location different from the first nozzle 10 in the housing 2 and dispenses the beverage D from the beverage pipe 5. The second nozzle 20 includes a beverage dispensing portion 23 that dispenses the beverage D, a foam dispensing portion 24 that dispenses the foam B of the beverage D, and a slide valve 22d that slides in one direction to open the beverage dispensing portion 23 to dispense the beverage D from the beverage dispensing portion 23 and slides in the opposite direction of the one direction to open the foam dispensing portion 24 to dispense the foam B from the foam dispensing portion 24. In this case, since the second nozzle 20 having the slide valve 22d is attached to the housing 2 together with the first nozzle 10, a beverage with a different taste from that of the first nozzle 10 can be dispensed from the second nozzle 20.

[0055] For example, from the first nozzle 10, squeezing occurs until the flow path is completely opened (overlapped) from the start of dispensing, so that the foam B is generated. When the liquid in a completely opened state is poured where the foam B is generated, the liquid also foams. Therefore, the beverage D dispensed from the first nozzle 10 has carbon dioxide gas that escapes more easily than that of the second nozzle 20, and the taste is mellow. On the other hand, in the second nozzle 20, after the beverage D is dispensed from the beverage dispensing portion 23, the foam B is dispensed onto the beverage D from the foam dispensing portion 24. Therefore, the carbon dioxide gas of the beverage D is less likely to escape compared to the first nozzle 10, and the beverage D has a crisp taste. Thus, the beverage server 1 can dispense various beverages D. Further, by using the first nozzle 10 and the second nozzle 20 in combination, the variations in dispensing can be increased dramatically.

[0056] As shown in Fig. 2, in the present embodiment, the beverage tube 5 is connected to a barrel 7 that stores the beverage D via a hose 6, and the beverage D is supplied from the barrel 7 to the beverage tube 5 via the hose 6. The inner diameter of the beverage tube 5 is 3 mm or more and 6 mm or less, and the sum of the length of the hose 6 and the length of the beverage tube 5 is 15 m or more and 20 m or less. In this case, since the inner diameter of the beverage tube 5 is 3 mm or more and 6 mm or less, and the sum of the length of the hose 6 and the length of the beverage tube 5, which is the path through which the beverage D passes, is 15 m or more and 20 m or less, the flow rate of the dispensed beverage D can be made appropriate. Therefore, the dispensing of the beverage D can be performed more easily.

[0057] As shown in Fig. 6(a), Fig. 6(b), and Fig. 7, in the present embodiment, the first column 10 has a first mode in which, as the operating lever 11 is rotated, the rotating body 15 rotates and all of the opening 15b overlaps the dispensing flow path 13b, so that the beverage D is dispensed from the beverage dispensing portion 13, and a second mode in which, as the operating lever 11 is rotated with an operation amount smaller than that in the first mode, the rotating body 15 rotates and a part of the opening 15b overlaps the dispensing flow path 13b, so that the foam B of the beverage D is dispensed from the beverage dispensing portion 13. In this case, by changing the operation amount of the rotation operation of the operating lever 11, both the beverage D and the foam B of the beverage D can be dispensed. Further, in the second mode, when the rotating body 15 is rotated and a part of the opening 15b overlaps the dispensing flow path 13b to dispense the foam B from the beverage dispensing portion 13, the flow rate of the foam B can be made larger than when the foam B is dispensed from the second column 20 having the slide valve 22d. Therefore, the foam B of the beverage D can be dispensed more quickly.

[0058] Next, the first column 30 according to the modified example will be described with reference to Figs. 9 and 10. Some of the configuration and functions of the first column 30 are the same as some of the configuration and functions of the first column 10 described above. Therefore, hereinafter, the description overlapping with the configuration and functions of the first column 10 will be omitted as appropriate.

[0059] For example, the first column 30 is attached to the housing 2 in place of the first column 10. The first column 30 includes an operation lever 31 that can be pivoted about an axis X extending in the vertical direction, a first column body 32 that receives the supply of the beverage D from the beverage tube 5, and a beverage pouring portion 33 that extends downward from the first column body 32.

[0060] For example, the operation lever 31 includes a grip portion 31b that is gripped by the pourer, a shaft portion 31c that includes the center of the rotation orbit of the grip portion 31b, a rotating body 31d, and a threaded portion 31g. The beverage pouring portion 33 is, for example, integrated with the operation lever 31. The beverage pouring portion 33 is, for example, a portion that extends downward from the threaded portion 31g.

[0061] For example, the rotating body 31d has a cylindrical shape. However, the rotating body 31d may have a spherical shape, and the shape of the rotating body 31d is not particularly limited. The rotating body 31d, the threaded portion 31g, and the beverage pouring portion 33 are inserted into the first column body 32, for example. The first column body 32 includes a first cylindrical portion 32b that extends in the vertical direction and a second cylindrical portion 32c that protrudes from the first cylindrical portion 32b. The second cylindrical portion 32c has a female thread 32d on its inner surface for attaching the first column body 32 to the housing 2. For example, the first column body 32 is attached to the housing 2 by screwing the female thread 32d into a threaded portion (not shown) of the housing 2.

[0062] For example, the outer diameter of the first cylindrical portion 32b decreases from one side (e.g., the upper side) in the axial direction of the first cylindrical portion 32b to the other side (e.g., the lower side). A flow path R2 for the beverage D is formed inside the second cylindrical portion 32c. The beverage D is supplied from the beverage tube 5 disposed inside the housing 2 to the flow path R2 of the second cylindrical portion 32c. Similar to the flow path R1 described above, the flow path R2 is not provided with an obstacle that obstructs the flow of the beverage D.

[0063] The rotating body 31d is inserted into the first cylindrical portion 32b. The rotating body 31d is rotatable about the axis X in a state where it is inserted into the first cylindrical portion 32b. The rotating body 31d has an opening 31f that communicates with the inside of the rotating body 31d. As the operating lever 31 rotates about the axis X, the rotational position of the rotating body 31d inside the first column body 32 (the first cylindrical portion 32b) changes.

[0064] For example, when the operating lever 31 is not being rotated, the opening 31f does not communicate with the flow path R2, so the beverage D in the flow path R2 does not flow into the inside of the rotating body 31d. On the other hand, when the operating lever 31 is rotated and the rotating body 31d rotates so that the opening 31f communicates with the flow path R2, the beverage D flows from the flow path R2 into the inside of the rotating body 31d through the opening 31f.

[0065] The threaded portion 31g and the beverage pouring portion 33 project downward from the first column body 32 in a state where the rotating body 31d is inserted into the first column body 32 (the first cylindrical portion 32b). For example, the first column 30 has a fastening member 34 that is tightened to the threaded portion 31g that projects downward from the first column body 32.

[0066] For example, the fastening member 34 includes a seat ring 34b, a first fastening member 34c, and a second fastening member 34d. The seat ring 34b, the first fastening member 34c, and the second fastening member 34d are passed through the beverage pouring portion 33 in this order, and the first fastening member 34c and the second fastening member 34d are screwed into the threaded portion 31g with the seat ring 34b sandwiched between the first cylindrical portion 32b and the first fastening member 34c. Thereby, the operating lever 31 and the beverage pouring portion 33 are fixed to the first column body 32.

[0067] Similar to the beverage pouring portion 13 described above, the beverage pouring portion 33 has a pouring flow path inside. When the operating lever 31 is rotated and the rotating body 31d rotates, the beverage D that has flowed into the inside of the rotating body 31d from the opening 31f is poured out of the first column 30 through the pouring flow path of the beverage pouring portion 33. Similar to the pouring flow path 13b described above, an obstacle that obstructs the flow of the beverage D is not provided in the pouring flow path of the beverage pouring portion 33.

[0068] Similar to the first column 10, the first column 30 has a first mode of pouring beverage D from the beverage pouring portion 33 and a second mode of pouring the foam B of the beverage D from the beverage pouring portion 33. In the first mode, as the operating lever 31 is rotated, the rotating body 31d rotates and all of the opening 31f overlaps with the flow path R2, thereby pouring the beverage D from the beverage pouring portion 33.

[0069] On the other hand, in the second mode, as the operating lever 31 is rotated with an operation amount smaller than that in the first mode, the rotating body 31d rotates and a part of the opening 31f overlaps with the flow path R2, thereby pouring the foam B from the beverage pouring portion 33. When the operation amount of the rotation operation of the operating lever 31 is small, the passage of the beverage D at the boundary between the opening 31f and the flow path R2 becomes narrow, so the beverage D is converted into the foam B in the narrowed passage.

[0070] Then, the converted foam B is poured out of the first column 30 through the inside of the rotating body 31d and the pouring flow path of the beverage pouring portion 33. As described above, also in the first column 30, it is possible to pour both the beverage D and the foam B by changing the operation amount of the operating lever 31.

[0071] As described above, in the first column 30 according to the modified example, the rotating body 31d has a cylindrical (or spherical) shape, and the operating lever 31 can be rotated about an axis X extending in the vertical direction. When the operating lever 31 is rotated about the axis X, the rotating body 31d rotates and the opening 31f communicates with the flow path R2. In this case, when viewed from the pourer standing in front of the beverage server 1, the beverage D can be poured by rotating the operating lever 31 in the left - right direction.

[0072] Next, an example of a beverage server according to the present disclosure will be described. In the example, an experiment was conducted to measure the amount of carbon dioxide gas and the like in the beverage D poured from the first faucet 10 and the second faucet 20 attached to the beverage server. In the experiment, the amount of carbon dioxide gas (CO2) and the temperature of the beverage D (temperature inside the glass) were measured for each of the beverage D poured from the first faucet 10 and the beverage D poured into the glass from the second faucet 20.

[0073] For the measurement of the amount of carbon dioxide gas, a combined CO2 / DO concentration meter CboxQC (manufactured by Anton Paar GmbH) was used. The room temperature in the experimental environment was set to 28°C. The beverage D was poured into the glass three times from the first faucet 10 and three times from the second faucet 20, respectively. The results of the above experiment are shown in Table 1 and Table 2 below.

[0074]

Table 1

Table 2

[0075] Table 1 shows the results of the experiment when the beverage D was poured from the first faucet 10, and Table 2 shows the results of the experiment when the beverage D was poured from the second faucet 20. As shown in Table 2, in the second faucet 20 having the slide valve 22d, the average value of the amount of carbon dioxide gas (CO2 concentration) was 2.01 (kg / cm 2 ). On the other hand, in the first faucet 10 where squeezing occurs from the start of pouring until the flow path is fully opened as described above, the average value of the amount of carbon dioxide gas was 1.78 (kg / cm 2 ). Thus, it was found that in the first faucet 10, the amount of carbon dioxide gas in the beverage D can be reduced to obtain a beverage D with a mellow taste. On the other hand, in the second faucet 20, it was found that a beverage D with a large amount of carbon dioxide gas and a crisp taste can be obtained.

[0076] The embodiments, modifications, and examples of the beverage server according to the present disclosure have been described above. However, the beverage server according to the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, modifications, or examples, and may be further modified within the scope of the gist described in the claims. That is, the configuration, function, shape, size, material, number, and arrangement mode of each part of the beverage server according to the present disclosure can be appropriately changed within the scope of the above gist.

[0077] In the above-described embodiment, the beverage server 1, which is an electrically cooled instant cooling type server, has been described. However, as shown in FIG. 11, a beverage server 41 that is an ice-cooled server may be used. The beverage server 41 includes a housing 2, a beverage pipe 45 disposed inside the housing 2 through which the beverage flows, a cooling device 43 housed inside the housing 2 that cools the beverage pipe 45, and a first nozzle 10 attached to the housing 2 that dispenses the beverage from the beverage pipe 45. The beverage server 41 may include a second nozzle 20 together with the first nozzle 10. Further, the beverage server 41 has ice 42 disposed inside the housing 2, and the cooling device 43 that contacts the ice 42 has a cold plate 44. As in this beverage server 41, the configuration and type of the beverage server can be appropriately changed.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0078] 1... Beverage server, 2... Housing, 2b... Box-shaped part, 2c... Cover part, 2d... Cylinder mounting part, 3... Cooling liquid tank, 4... Cooling device, 4a... Refrigerant pipe, 5... Beverage pipe, 6... Hose, 7... Barrel, 8... Head, 9... Cylinder, 10... First cylinder, 11... Operating lever, 11b... Threaded part, 12b... Hollow spherical body, 12b1... Through hole, 12c... Sealing material, 12c1... First opening, 12c2... Second opening, 12d... Ball driver, 12f... Friction disk, 12g... Cylindrical member, 12h, 12j... O-ring, 12m... Elbow, 12p... First covering member, 12p1... Mounting part, 12q... Second covering member, 13... Beverage pouring part, 13b... Pouring flow path, 14... Threaded part, 15... Rotating body, 15b... Opening, 15c... Beverage receiving port, 16... Cylindrical threaded part, 17... Cylindrical part, 20... Second cylinder, 21... Lever, 22b... Cylindrical part, 22c... Threaded part, 22d... Slide valve, 23... Beverage pouring part, 23b... First internal space, 24... Foam pouring part, 24b... Second internal space, 25... Pouring member, 26... Cylindrical threaded part, 30... First cylinder, 31... Operating lever, 31b... Gripping part, 31c... Shaft part, 31d... Rotating body, 31f... Opening, 31g... Threaded part, 32b... First cylindrical part, 32c... Second cylindrical part, 32d... Female thread, 33... Beverage pouring part, 34... Fastening member, 34b... Sheet ring, 34c... First fastening member, 34d... Second fastening member, B... Foam, D... Beverage, K... Ice, L... Axis, R1, R2... Flow path, W... Cooling liquid, X... Axis.

Claims

1. A housing, A beverage pipe accommodated inside the housing through which beverage flows, A cooling device accommodated inside the housing for cooling the beverage pipe, A first calan attached to the housing for pouring out the beverage from the beverage pipe, comprising, The first calan, A first calan body having a flow path through which the beverage flowing through the beverage pipe passes, An outlet flow path that extends from the first calan body and through which the beverage passing through the flow path passes, and a beverage outlet portion for pouring out the beverage passing through the outlet flow path to the outside of the first calan, A rotating body that is rotatable inside the first calan body and has an opening that communicates with at least one of the flow path and the outlet flow path when rotated, An operation lever for rotating the rotating body, having, There are no obstacles provided in the flow path of the first calan body and the outlet flow path to prevent the flow of the beverage, When the operation lever is rotated, the rotating body rotates and the opening overlaps with either the flow path or the outlet flow path, whereby the beverage is poured out from the beverage outlet portion, A beverage server.

2. The rotating body is spherical, The operation lever is rotatable about an axis extending in the horizontal direction, When the operation lever is rotated about the axis, the rotating body rotates and the opening communicates with the outlet flow path, The beverage server according to claim 1.

3. The rotating body is spherical or cylindrical, The operation lever is rotatable about an axis extending in the vertical direction, When the operation lever is rotated about the axis, the rotating body rotates and the opening communicates with the flow path. The beverage server according to claim 1.

4. Further provided with a second nozzle attached at a location different from the first nozzle in the housing for pouring the beverage from the beverage pipe. The second nozzle has a beverage pouring portion for pouring the beverage, a foam pouring portion for pouring the foam of the beverage, and a slide valve that slides in one direction to open the beverage pouring portion to pour the beverage from the beverage pouring portion, and slides in the opposite direction of the one direction to open the foam pouring portion to pour the foam from the foam pouring portion. It has The beverage server according to claim 1 or claim 2.

5. The beverage pipe is connected to a barrel that stores the beverage via a hose, and the beverage is supplied from the barrel to the beverage pipe via the hose. The inner diameter of the beverage pipe is 3 mm or more and 6 mm or less, and the sum of the length of the hose and the length of the beverage pipe is 6 m or more and 20 m or less. The beverage server according to claim 1 or claim 2.

6. The first nozzle has a first mode in which, as the operation lever is rotated, the rotating body rotates and all of the opening overlaps either the flow path or the pouring flow path, thereby pouring the beverage from the beverage pouring portion, and a second mode in which, as the operation lever is rotated with an operation amount less than that in the first mode, the rotating body rotates and a part of the opening overlaps either the flow path or the pouring flow path, thereby pouring the foam of the beverage from the beverage pouring portion. It has The beverage server according to claim 1 or claim 2.

Images