Beverage pour-out device, beverage pour-out method and beverage pour-out system

Abstract

To provide a beer pour-out device which does not need to be washed because a beer passage is constituted of a disposable flexible tube, and a device capable of pouring out beer and pouring out foam using a single flexible tube.SOLUTION: A beverage pour-out device 1, which uses a combination of a tube 12 with an elastically deformable flexible part as a passage of a beverage 20, includes a mechanism 32 that selectively sets an inner cavity of the flexible part to a first state having a first cross-section area or to a second state having a second cross-section area smaller than the first cross-section area. When the inner cavity of the flexible part is set to the second state, the foam is created from the beverage flowing inside the tube.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus, method and system for dispensing beverages. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, mechanisms have been proposed for pouring beer foam into a glass during the final process of pouring beer. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a device that has two flow paths, a beer outlet and a foam outlet, and when pouring beer, moves an operating lever in one direction to open a first valve to guide beer to the beer outlet, and when pouring foam, moves the operating lever in the opposite direction to open a second valve to guide beer to the foam outlet.

[0003] Patent Document 2 discloses a device in which a valve body is placed in a beer flow path and the valve body is connected to a tapping handle; when pouring beer, the tapping handle is moved in one direction to move the valve body significantly, forming a flow path with a large cross section, thereby pouring out the beer; when pouring foam, the tapping handle is moved in the opposite direction to move the valve body slightly, thereby forming a flow path with a small cross section (foam flow path), thereby pouring out the foam. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-318799 [Patent Document 2] International Publication No. 2020 / 099287 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, both of the devices described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 switch between pouring beer and foam by moving a valve body installed in the beer flow path. Therefore, there is a risk that simply running cleaning water through the beer flow path during cleaning will not be enough to thoroughly clean every corner. Furthermore, to thoroughly clean every corner, the cleaning liquid must be run for a long time, which requires a lot of time and effort. Furthermore, to simplify on-site cleaning work, it is possible to design the entire flow path component, including the valve body, to be replaceable or disposable, but this would raise issues in terms of cost and molding precision.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide an apparatus and system that can dispense beverages and foam by forming a flow path using a disposable flexible tube and deforming the inner cross-section of the flexible tube. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To this end, an embodiment of the beverage dispenser of the present invention comprises: A beverage dispensing device that uses a tube having an elastically deformable flexible portion as a beverage flow path, a mechanism for selectively setting an inner cavity of the flexible section to a first state having a first cross-sectional area or a second state having a second cross-sectional area smaller than the first cross-sectional area; When the inner cavity of the flexible portion is in the second state, foam is generated from the beverage flowing through the tube.

[0008] Another embodiment of the beverage dispenser according to the invention is characterized in that the mechanism comprises a pressing mechanism for pressing the flexible part.

[0009] Another embodiment of the beverage dispensing device according to the present invention is characterized in that the pressing mechanism includes a pressing part configured to include a pair of members facing each other with the flexible part sandwiched therebetween.

[0010] Another embodiment of the beverage dispenser according to the present invention comprises: Of the pair of members of the pressing portion, one member is a holding member that contacts and holds the flexible portion when the inner cavity of the flexible portion is in the first state and the second state, The other member is a pressing member that presses the flexible portion when the inner cavity of the flexible portion is shifted from the first state to the second state.

[0011] Another embodiment of the beverage dispensing device of the present invention is characterized in that the other member has a protruding portion that protrudes toward the one member and presses the flexible portion when in the second state, and a non-protruding portion that does not press the flexible portion when in the second state.

[0012] Another embodiment of the beverage dispensing device of the present invention is characterized in that the other member has a pair of protrusions that face each other across the central axis of the flexible portion arranged between the pair of members and protrude toward the one member, and a groove formed between the pair of protrusions.

[0013] Another embodiment of the beverage dispensing device of the present invention is characterized in that the depth of the groove is designed to be large enough that the flexible portion in the second state does not contact the bottom surface of the groove.

[0014] Another embodiment of the beverage dispensing device according to the present invention is characterized in that the end portions of the pair of protrusions, which are opposed to the flexible portion, are provided with chamfered portions.

[0015] Another embodiment of the beverage dispensing device according to the present invention is characterized in that the pressing member is arranged above the flexible portion and the holding member is arranged below the flexible portion.

[0016] Another embodiment of the beverage dispensing device according to the present invention is characterized in that in the second state, only a part of the cross section of the flexible portion is pressed by the pressing mechanism.

[0017] Another embodiment of the beverage dispensing device according to the present invention is characterized in that, in the second state, the flexible portion forms a substantially semicircular or crescent-shaped inner cavity cross section.

[0018] Another embodiment of the beverage dispensing device of the present invention is characterized in that, in the second state, the inner surfaces of the flexible portions that are pressed and deformed by the pair of members are in contact with each other.

[0019] Another embodiment of the beverage dispensing device according to the present invention is characterized in that the one member has a protrusion at a location that contacts the center of the flexible portion.

[0020] Another embodiment of the beverage dispensing device of the present invention is characterized in that the pressing portion is formed integrally with the one member or the other member, and has a pair of side walls that face each other across the movable portion in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the one member and the other member face each other.

[0021] Another embodiment of the beverage dispensing device of the present invention is characterized in that the distance between the pair of side walls is designed to be large enough that the flexible portion does not come into contact with the pair of side walls when the flexible portion is in the first state and the second state.

[0022] In another embodiment of the beverage dispenser according to the present invention, the second cross-sectional area is 0.2 mm 2 ~1.0mm 2 It is characterized in that:

[0023] Another embodiment of the beverage dispensing device according to the present invention is characterized in that the pressing member is driven by an actuator.

[0024] Another embodiment of the beverage dispenser according to the present invention is characterized in that the beverage dispenser and / or the tube comprises a flow path opening and closing mechanism for opening and closing the flow path of the beverage.

[0025] Another embodiment of the beverage dispensing device according to the present invention is characterized in that the flow path opening and closing mechanism includes a pinch valve.

[0026] Another embodiment of the beverage dispensing device according to the present invention is characterized in that an opening and closing portion of the flow path opened and closed by the flow path opening and closing mechanism is located upstream of the flexible portion in the transport direction of the beverage.

[0027] Another embodiment of the beverage dispenser according to the present invention comprises: The beverage dispenser includes an operating unit, The operation unit can select one of a state in which no beverage is dispensed, a state in which a beverage is dispensed, and a state in which foam is dispensed, When a state in which the beverage is not dispensed is selected by the operation unit, the flexible part is set to the first state and the flow path is closed by the flow path opening and closing mechanism to set the beverage in a state in which the beverage is not dispensed; When the state in which the beverage is dispensed is selected by the operation unit, the flexible part is set to the first state and the flow path is opened by the flow path opening / closing mechanism to set the state in which the beverage is dispensed, When the state in which the foam is dispensed is selected in the operating unit, the flexible part is put into a second state and the flow path opening / closing mechanism opens the flow path, thereby putting the foam into a state in which it is dispensed.

[0028] Another embodiment of the beverage dispenser according to the invention is characterized in that the beverage is a foaming beverage.

[0029] Another embodiment of the beverage dispensing device according to the present invention is characterized in that the beverage is beer or a beer-flavored beverage.

[0030] Another embodiment of the beverage dispensing device according to the present invention is characterized in that when the inner cavity of the flexible portion is in the second state, the flow rate of the beverage is 5.0 ml / s to 10.0 ml / s.

[0031] Another embodiment of the beverage dispensing device according to the present invention is characterized in that the length of the inner cavity of the flexible part that can take the first state and the second state is 1.0 mm to 10.0 mm.

[0032] Another embodiment of the beverage dispensing device according to the present invention is characterized in that the pressure for pumping the beverage is 0.1 to 0.3 MPa.

[0033] A beverage dispensing system according to the present invention is characterized by a combination of the beverage dispensing device described above and a tube having a flexible portion that is elastically deformable and serves as a beverage flow path.

[0034] Another embodiment of the beverage dispenser system according to the invention is characterized in that the tube is attachable to and detachable from the beverage dispenser.

[0035] Another embodiment of the beverage dispense system according to the present invention comprises: a transfer mechanism for transferring beverage from a beverage storage container to the tube; the transfer mechanism includes a gas supply mechanism for supplying gas into the beverage storage container; The gas supply mechanism is characterized in that it is configured to constantly apply a pressure of 0.1 MPa or more to the beverage.

[0036] An embodiment of the beverage extraction method of the present invention comprises: A method for dispensing a beverage using a tube having an elastically deformable flexible portion as a beverage flow path, comprising: setting the lumen of the flexible portion to a first state having a first cross-sectional area to dispense the beverage through the tube; The invention is characterized in that the inner cavity of the flexible portion is set from a first state having a first cross-sectional area to a second state having a second cross-sectional area smaller than the first cross-sectional area to generate foam from the beverage flowing through the tube. [Effects of the Invention]

[0037] According to the beverage dispensing device, beverage extraction method, and beverage dispensing system of the above-described embodiments, it is possible to dispense both beer and foam using a single flexible tube. In addition, the beer dispensing path can be cleaned simply by replacing the tube. Therefore, cleaning of the beer dispensing path is not required. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0038] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a beverage dispensing device having a foaming mechanism of the present invention. [Figure 2] 2(a) and 2(b) are enlarged cross-sectional views of the tube pressing section of the foaming mechanism shown in FIG. 1 when a beverage is being dispensed, where FIG. 2(a) is an enlarged cross-sectional view along a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the tube, and FIG. 2(b) is an enlarged cross-sectional view along a plane including the central axis of the tube. [Figure 3] 3(a) and 3(b) are enlarged cross-sectional views of the tube pressing section of the foaming mechanism shown in FIG. 1 when beer foam is being dispensed. FIG. 3(a) is an enlarged cross-sectional view along a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the tube, and FIG. 3(b) is an enlarged cross-sectional view along a plane including the central axis of the tube. [Figure 4] An enlarged cross-sectional view of a tube crushed by the tube pressing portion shown in Figures 2 and 3. [Figure 5] Figure 2(a) and Figure 2(b) with dimension lines added. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0039] A beverage dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The beverage is a foamy beverage. A foamy beverage contains carbon dioxide and is typically beer, but also includes beer-flavored beverages (including happoshu, new genres, and non-alcoholic beer) and other beverages that generate foam when exposed to the atmosphere. For example, the NIBEM value, used as an index value indicating the foam retention characteristics of a foamy beverage such as beer, is preferably 20 or higher, more preferably 40 or higher, and even more preferably 60 or higher. For measuring the NIBEM value, see the "Revised BCOJ Beer Analysis Method" (Brewing Society of Japan, a public interest incorporated foundation).

[0040] [A. Overall configuration] 1 shows a schematic configuration of a beverage dispensing device (hereinafter referred to as "dispensing device") 1 according to an embodiment. The beverage dispensing device 1 can be installed, for example, on the outer wall surface or a tower provided on the top of an air cooler capable of storing and cooling a beverage storage container containing a beverage, or a flash cooler capable of rapidly cooling a beverage passing through the inside.

[0041] The dispensing device 1 of the embodiment has a beverage dispensing unit 10. The beverage dispensing unit 10 has a wall 11 or a support member extending in the vertical direction. The wall 11 may be, for example, one of the inner surfaces of a housing that constitutes the beverage dispensing unit 10.

[0042] A hollow cylindrical beverage transport tube (hereinafter referred to as "tube") 12 made of a flexible material and capable of elastic deformation is disposed inside the housing. In this embodiment, the tube 12 is made of, for example, a silicone tube over its entire length. The size (outer diameter and inner diameter) of the tube 12 can be an outer diameter of 3.0 mm, an inner diameter of 1.0 mm to 12.00 mm, and an inner diameter of 8.0 mm. The preferred size of the silicone tube is an outer diameter of 5.0 mm, an inner diameter of 3.0 mm to 6.00 mm, and an inner diameter of 4.0 mm.

[0043] A beverage dispensing nozzle (hereinafter referred to as "nozzle") 13 is connected to the end (the lower end in the figure) of the tube 12. The tube 12 and nozzle 13 are held inside the housing by a plurality of support members 14 provided on the wall 11. The tube 12 and nozzle 13 are configured so that they can be removed from the support members 14 and replaced with a different tube and nozzle.

[0044] The base end side (upper side in the figure) of the tube 12 extends behind the wall 11 and is connected to a beverage storage container that contains a beverage 20. In this embodiment, a barrel 21 is used as the beverage storage container. The barrel 21 is provided with a beverage extraction pipe 22, and the base end of the tube 12 is connected to the beverage extraction pipe 22.

[0045] The barrel 21 has a transfer mechanism for transferring the beverage 20 to the tube 12. In this embodiment, the transfer mechanism includes, for example, a dispense head, a spear valve, and a carbon dioxide gas cylinder 25 connected to the dispense head via a gas supply pipe 24. Carbon dioxide gas is introduced from the carbon dioxide gas cylinder 25 into the barrel 21, and the beverage 20 is transferred to the tube 12 by the pressure of the carbon dioxide gas.

[0046] The beverage storage container may be an inner-bag type container including an outer container that is not easily deformed and an inner bag that holds the beverage and is easily deformed. In this case, the transfer mechanism uses, for example, a pump to introduce air between the outer container and the inner bag, and the resulting pressure transfers the beverage 20 to the tube 12. The dispense head, spear valve, or parts thereof may be replaced with other parts that perform the same function, and the parts may be made of resin so as to be disposable.

[0047] Two valve units - a first valve unit (beverage dispensing unit) 31 and a second valve unit (foaming unit) 32 - that control the dispensing of beverage 20 are fixed to wall 11. In the embodiment, with respect to the transport direction of beverage 20 (direction of arrow 26), first valve unit 31 is arranged upstream and second valve unit 32 is arranged downstream.

[0048] [First valve unit] The first valve unit 31 is a beverage dispensing device or mechanism that switches the cross section of the tube lumen 33 between an open, non-deformed state (first state) and a closed, deformed state (second state). The open state is a state in which no external force is applied to the tube 12 and beverage 20 can be transported. The closed state is a state in which external force is applied to the tube 12, completely closing the lumen 33 and preventing the flow of beverage.

[0049] To switch the cross section of the tube lumen 33 between an open state and a closed state, the first valve unit 31 is configured as a so-called pinch valve and has pressing mechanisms (pressing portions) 35 that face each other across the tube 12. In this embodiment, the pressing mechanism 35 has a lower block (pressing member or holding member) 36 arranged below the tube 12 and an upper block 37 (pressing member) arranged above the tube 12. The lower block 36 is fixed to the wall 11. The upper block 37 is connected to a drive unit 38 that is also fixed to the wall 11. In this embodiment, the drive unit 38 has a pull-type solenoid 39, and a plunger (movable portion) 40 of the pull-type solenoid 39 is connected to the upper block 37. When the pull-type solenoid 39 is de-energized, it advances the plunger 40 to move the upper block 37 closer to the lower block 36, and when it is energized, it retracts the plunger 40 to move the upper block 37 away from the lower block 36. In other words, based on the drive of the pull-type solenoid 39, the upper block 37 moves between a position where it moves away from the tube 12 and opens the tube lumen 33 (hereinafter, this position will be referred to as the "retracted position") (solid line position shown in the figure), and a position where it presses against the tube 12 and closes the tube lumen 33 (hereinafter, referred to as the "advanced position") (dotted line position shown in the figure).

[0050] The first valve unit may be configured to switch between a state in which the beverage 20 can be transported and a state in which it cannot be transported, and may be configured to have a valve provided on the tube 12 and to be able to switch between opening and closing by operating the beverage dispensing device 1.

[0051] [Second valve unit] The second valve unit 32 is a device or mechanism for frothing that switches the cross section of the tube lumen 33 between an undeformed state (unreduced state) (first state) [see Figure 2], in which the cross section is not reduced, and a deformed state (reduced state) (second state) [see Figure 4]. The unreduced state is a state in which no external force is applied to the tube 12, and the beverage 20 can be transported. Therefore, the unreduced state is substantially the same as the open state of the first valve unit 31. In the reducible state, an external force is applied to the tube 12, reducing the cross section of the lumen 33. The beverage 20 passing through the reducible cross section is pressurized as it passes through the reducible cross section, causing excess carbon dioxide to dissolve, and the pressure is reduced after passing through the reducible cross section, causing the carbon dioxide dissolved in the beverage 20 to turn into bubbles.

[0052] In order to switch the tube cross section between the non-reduced state and the reduced state in this manner, the second valve unit 32 has pressing mechanisms (pressing portions) 41 that face each other across the tube 12. In this embodiment, the pressing mechanism 41 has a lower block (pressing member or holding member) 42 arranged below the tube 12 and an upper block (pressing member) 43 arranged above the tube 12. The lower block 42 is fixed to the wall 11. The upper block 43 is connected to a drive unit 44 that is fixed to the wall 11. In this embodiment, the drive unit 44 includes a push-type solenoid 45, and a plunger (movable portion) 46 of the push-type solenoid 45 is connected to the upper block 43. When the push-type solenoid 45 is de-energized, it retracts the plunger 46 to move the upper block 43 away from the lower block 42, and when it is energized, it advances the plunger 46 to move the upper block 43 closer to the lower block 42. In other words, based on the drive of the push-type solenoid 45, the upper block 43 moves between a position where it moves away from the tube 12 and puts the tube lumen 33 in a non-reduced state (hereinafter, this position will be referred to as the "retracted position"), and a position where it presses against the tube 12 and puts the tube lumen 33 in a reduced state (hereinafter, referred to as the "advanced position").

[0053] [Control Unit] The above-mentioned solenoids 39, 45 are connected to a control unit 47 and operate based on signals output from the control unit 47. The dispensing device 1 also has an operation unit 48 that is operated by the user when dispensing the beverage 20, and performs the operations described below based on signals input to the control unit 47 through the operation unit 48. The operation unit 48 has a switch 49 that switches between three states: a state in which no beverage is dispensed, a state in which a beverage is dispensed, and a state in which foam is dispensed (a foamed state).

[0054] [B. Operation] The operation of the beverage dispensing device 1 having the above configuration will now be briefly described.

[0055] [Standby state (drink not being dispensed)] In the standby state before beverage dispensing, the control unit 47 keeps both the pull-type solenoid 39 of the first valve unit 31 and the push-type solenoid 45 of the second valve unit 32 in the OFF state (de-energized state). This causes the upper block 37 of the first valve unit 31 to assume an advanced position (dotted line position shown in FIG. 1) close to the fixed block 37, closing the cross-section of the tube lumen 33 and blocking the flow of beverage 20. Meanwhile, the push-type solenoid 45 of the second valve block 32 assumes a retracted position (solid line position shown in FIG. 1) away from the tube 12, keeping the cross-section of the tube lumen 33 in a non-reduced state. Even in the standby state, it is preferable to apply a pressure equal to or greater than atmospheric pressure (0.1 MPa), e.g., 0.15 MPa to 0.3 MPa, to the beverage in the keg 21 and tube 12. This prevents air from entering the tube 12 from the first valve unit, etc., and also prevents carbon dioxide from escaping from the beverage. For example, when an air cooler is used to adjust the temperature of beverage 20 in keg 21 to 15°C or below, the pressure applied to the beverage is preferably 0.1 to 0.2 MPa. When an instant cooler is used to adjust the temperature of beverage 20 in keg 21 to 15°C or above, the pressure applied to the beverage is preferably 0.2 to 0.3 MPa. By applying pressure in this manner, for example, a silicone tube that has an outer diameter of 5.0 mm and an inner diameter of 3.0 mm in its free state (when no pressure is applied to the lumen) will have an outer diameter of approximately 6.5 mm and an inner diameter of approximately 5.15 mm.

[0056] [When pouring drinks] When a user operates the switch 49 of the operation unit 48 to select the beverage dispensing state, the control unit 47 switches the pull-type solenoid 39 of the first valve unit 31 to the ON state (energized state) and maintains the push-type solenoid 45 of the second valve unit 32 in the OFF state (de-energized state) based on an activation signal output from the operation unit 48. As a result, the upper block 37 of the first valve unit 31 moves to a retracted position (solid line position shown in FIG. 1) away from the lower block 36 and the tube 12, switching the tube lumen 33 to an open state. Meanwhile, the upper block 43 of the second valve unit 32 is maintained in the retracted position, maintaining the cross section of the tube lumen 33 in a non-reduced state. As a result, the beverage 20 in the keg 21 is dispensed from the nozzle 13 via the beverage dispensing pipe 22 and the tube 12.

[0057] When the beverage is dispensed, the beverage 20 is sent through the tube 12 at a pressure of, for example, 0.1 MPa to 0.3 MPa, and 15 ml to 30 ml of beverage is dispensed per second. The pressure for sending the beverage 20 is preferably 0.1 to 0.2 MPa when the temperature of the beverage 20 in the barrel 21 is adjusted to 15°C or below using an air cooler, and is preferably 0.2 to 0.3 MPa when the temperature of the beverage 20 in the barrel 21 is adjusted to 15°C or above using an instant cooler.

[0058] In this way, when a beverage is dispensed, the tube 12 forms a beverage dispensing path.

[0059] After the beverage has been dispensed, when the user stops operating the switch 49 of the operation unit 48 to select the state for dispensing the beverage, the dispensing device 1 enters a standby state, and the control unit 47 sets both the pull-type solenoid 39 of the first valve unit 31 and the push-type solenoid 45 of the second valve unit 32 to the off state (de-energized state), thereby blocking the flow of the beverage 20 through the tube 12.

[0060] [When foaming] After a predetermined amount of beverage has been dispensed, the user operates switch 49 of operation unit 48 to select the frothing mode. Based on the frothing start signal output from operation unit 48, control unit 47 switches pull-type solenoid 39 of first valve unit 31 to the ON state (energized state), and also switches push-type solenoid 45 of second valve unit 32 to the ON state (energized state). As a result, upper block 37 of first valve unit 31 moves to a retracted position (solid line position shown in FIG. 1) away from lower block 36 and tube 12, switching tube lumen 33 to an open state. Meanwhile, upper block 43 of second valve unit 32 moves from the retracted position to an advanced position (dotted line position shown in FIG. 1) and presses against tube 12, reducing the cross section of tube lumen 33. As a result, the beverage 20 sent through the tube 12 is pressurized as it passes through the reduced cross-section of the tube lumen 33, causing excess carbon dioxide to dissolve, and after passing through the reduced cross-section of the lumen, the beverage 20 is depressurized, causing the carbon dioxide dissolved in the beverage 20 to turn into bubbles. The bubbles are then dispensed through the nozzle 13 onto the already dispensed beverage, thereby producing a frothed beverage. In this way, the tube 12 forms a beverage frothing path during frothing.

[0061] When frothing, beverage 20 is sent through tube 12 at a pressure of, for example, 0.1 MPa to 0.3 MPa, and 5 ml to 15 ml of beverage is dispensed as foam per second. The pressure for sending beverage 20 is preferably 0.1 to 0.2 MPa when the temperature of beverage 20 in barrel 21 is adjusted to 15°C or below using an air cooler, and is preferably 0.2 to 0.3 MPa when the temperature of beverage 20 in barrel 21 is adjusted to 15°C or above using an instant cooler.

[0062] After the foam has been dispensed, when the user stops operating the switch 49 of the operation unit 48 to select the state for dispensing the beverage, the dispensing device 1 enters a standby state, and the control unit 47 sets both the pull-type solenoid 39 of the first valve unit 31 and the push-type solenoid 45 of the second valve unit 32 to the off state (de-energized state), thereby blocking the flow of the beverage 20 through the tube 12.

[0063] [C. Lower and upper blocks of the second valve unit] The configuration and operation of the second valve unit 32, particularly the lower block 42 and the upper block 43, will now be described.

[0064] As shown in FIG. 2(a), the lower block 42 has a generally concave cross section when viewed in the direction of the central axis 50 of the tube 12, and has a tube receiving groove 52 extending along the central axis 50 in a region 51 (see FIG. 2(b)) that is generally central with respect to the direction of the central axis 50. The tube receiving groove 52 is formed by a left wall 53 and a right wall 54 (a pair of side walls) that face each other and are spaced apart in a horizontal direction (e.g., the direction of the arrow x in the figure) perpendicular to the central axis 50 of the tube 12, and a bottom wall 55 that connects the lower ends of the left wall 53 and the right wall 54, and is open on the opposite side of the bottom wall 55 (the upper side in the figure). A left surface 56 of the left wall 53 facing the right wall 54 and a right surface 57 of the right wall 54 facing the left wall 53 are flat surfaces that extend vertically.

[0065] In this embodiment, the bottom surface 58 of the bottom wall 55 has a left inclined surface 59 that extends obliquely upward from the lower end of the left surface 56 toward the right surface 57, and a right inclined surface 59 that extends obliquely upward from the lower end of the right surface 57 toward the left surface 56, and these left inclined surface and right inclined surface 59 form a protrusion 60 that protrudes upward. The left inclined surface 59 and the right inclined surface 59 have the same inclination angle. Therefore, the left inclined surface 59 and the right inclined surface 59 are connected at a point exactly midway between the left surface 56 and the right surface 57. The protrusion 60 is formed to push a tube into an upper groove 63, which will be described later.

[0066] As shown, the lower block 42, particularly the bottom surface 58 of the bottom wall 55, functions as a retaining portion or retaining member that contacts and holds the bottom surface of the tube 12 when the tube 12 is in the natural state shown in the figure (referred to as the "undeformed state").

[0067] The distance between the left surface 56 and the right surface 57 (i.e., the groove width) is larger than the outer diameter of the tube 12, and as will be described later, it is preferable to determine this so that there are gaps on the left and right sides of the tube 12 so that the left surface 56 and the right surface 57 do not interfere with the tube 12 not only when the tube 12 is in its natural state, but also when it is pressed from above and below and deformed (deformed state) [see Figure 4], or even if the left and right ends 172 (see Figure 4) of the tube 12 fluctuate due to dimensional errors of the tube 12, etc.

[0068] The upper block 43 integrally includes an upper block portion 61 and a lower block portion 62. The upper block portion 61 is connected to the plunger 46 of the push-type solenoid 45. The lower block portion 62 is inserted into the upper portion of the tube receiving groove 52 of the lower block 42. As shown in FIG. 2(a), the width of the lower block portion 62 in the horizontal direction (the direction of the arrow x) perpendicular to the tube central axis 50 is the same as or approximately the same as the width of the tube receiving groove 52. As shown in FIG. 2(b), the width of the lower block portion 62 in the direction parallel to the central axis 50 of the tube 12 (e.g., the direction of the arrow y) is the same as or approximately the length of the tube receiving groove 52. Therefore, the upper block 43 can move relative to the lower block 42 between a raised position shown in FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) and a lowered position shown in FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b). A guide member 71 may be provided to guide the upper block 43 during its vertical movement.

[0069] As shown in FIG. 2(a), an upper groove 63 extending in a direction parallel to the tube central axis 50 (y direction) and recessed upward is formed on the lower surface of the lower block portion 62. The upper groove 63 is symmetrical about a vertical axis 64 located exactly midway between the left and right surfaces 56 and 57 of the tube accommodating groove 52. This forms a pair of fork-shaped protrusions (tube pressing portions) 65 on either side of the upper groove 63 on the lower block portion 62, facing each other across the upper groove 63. The protrusions 65 have the same vertical length, and their lower ends are positioned at the same height. As a result, when the upper block 43 descends, the lower ends of the left and right protrusions 65 abut against the outer peripheral surface of the tube 12, resulting in the tube 12 being positioned exactly midway between the protrusions 65 (i.e., the center of the tube accommodating groove 52).

[0070] The inner corner of the lower end of the protrusion 65, adjacent to the lower opening of the upper groove 63, is chamfered to form a chamfered portion 66 with an inclined or curved surface (not shown). By forming the chamfered portion 66, the tube 12 can be easily pressed and deformed even when the tube 12 is thick or hard, and the tube 12 can be easily centered during pressing. Therefore, when the upper block 43 is lowered toward the lower block 42 from the retracted position shown in FIGS. 2( a) and 2(b) to the advanced position shown in FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) while the lower block portion 62 is guided by the tube accommodating groove 52, the upper diagonal outer peripheral portion of the tube 12 accommodated in the tube accommodating groove 52 (i.e., the outer peripheral portion that is symmetrical with respect to the central axis 50 and is in the range of approximately 30 to approximately 60 degrees clockwise and counterclockwise from a vertical plane (12 o'clock direction) that includes the central axis 50) is crushed by the tip surface of the protrusion 65 and the chamfered portion 66. In this way, the upper block 43, particularly the pair of protrusions 65, function as a pressing member that presses the tube 12 when the tube 12 is pressed and deformed. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4, the left and right ends of the tube 12 are bent, and their inner surfaces come into contact with each other. Furthermore, the opposing surfaces in the center of the tube 12 do not come into contact, forming a deformed lumen 33. The lumen 33 of the deformed tube 12 has a cross section that is approximately semicircular or approximately crescent-shaped. For example, in the case of a tube with an outer diameter of 5.0 mm and an inner diameter of 3.0 mm, the cross-sectional area of ​​the lumen at this time is 0.2 mm. 2 ~1.0mm 2 , preferably 0.4 mm 2 ~0.9mm 2 The cross-sectional area of ​​the lumen here is the cross-sectional area when the cut tube is pressed, and does not take into consideration the influence of the beverage and gas pressure flowing inside the tube, the stress applied to the tube when the tube is attached to a beverage dispensing device, etc.

[0071] Referring to Figure 5, for example, in the case of a tube with an outer diameter of 5.0 mm and an inner diameter of 3.0 mm, the width (A) of the tube accommodating groove 52 can be 6.0 mm or more, preferably 6.0 to 8.0 mm, the height (B) of the central protrusion 60 on the bottom surface of the tube accommodating groove 52 can be 0 to 2.0 mm, preferably 0.5 to 1.5 mm, the width (C) of the upper groove 63 can be 2.0 to 4.0 mm, the depth (D) of the upper groove 63 can be 2.0 mm or more, preferably 2.0 to 4.0 mm, the length (E) of the protrusion 65 in the central axial direction can be 1.0 to 10.0 mm, and the distance (F) between the lower end of the protrusion in the advanced position and the central protrusion of the tube accommodating groove can be 1.0 to 2.5 mm.

[0072] The longer the length (E) of the protrusion 65 in the central axis direction, the more stable the flow rate during foam dispensing and the more stable the foam can be dispensed, but if it is too long, a large pressing force will be required, which will result in larger push-type solenoid 43 and power supply. Therefore, the length (E) is preferably 2.0 to 8.0 mm, and more preferably 2.0 to 6.0 mm.

[0073] The amount of deformation of the tube 12 and the shape after deformation vary depending on the pressing force applied to the tube 12 from the push-type solenoid 43 through the upper block 43, the shape of the lower end of the protrusion 65 (e.g., the inclination angle of the chamfered portion 66), the angle of friction between the protrusion 65 and the tube 12, and other factors. For example, when the inclination angle θ (see FIG. 4) of the chamfered portion 66 of the protrusion 65 is large and the frictional force acting between the chamfered portion 66 and the outer peripheral surface of the tube is small, the upper center of the tube 12 penetrates deep into the upper groove 63 (near the ceiling surface or bottom surface 67). Conversely, when the inclination angle θ is small or the frictional force acting between the chamfered portion 66 and the outer peripheral surface of the tube is small, the amount by which the upper center of the tube 12 penetrates into the upper groove 63 is small.

[0074] The width of the tube receiving groove 52 and the width of the upper groove 63 relative to the size (outer diameter and inner diameter) of the tube 12 are determined so that, in the tube compressed state shown in Figure 4, the upper center (central tube portion) 171 of the deformed tube 12 enters the upper groove 63, and the left and right ends (tube portions) 172 of the deformed tube 12 are pressed and held by the protrusion 65 and the groove bottom surface 58 (inclined surface 59), a space 68 is formed between the upper center 171 of the deformed tube 12 and the bottom surface 67 of the upper groove 63, and spaces 69, 70 are formed between the left and right ends 172 of the deformed tube 12 and the left and right surfaces 56, 57. Even if the upper center 171 or the left and right ends 172 of the tube 12 vary due to dimensional errors of the tube 12 or the like, by preventing the bottom surface 67, left surface 56, and right surface 57 from interfering with the tube 12, the cross-sectional shape of the deformed tube 12 and the cross-section of the deformed tube lumen both remain constant.

[0075] The protrusion 65 and groove bottom surface 58 (inclined surface 59) act to press against left and right end portions 172 of the tube 12, completely blocking the flow path at the left and right ends. On the other hand, the central upper portion 171 of the tube 12 is not pressed, forming a reduced beverage flow path 33. With this configuration, even if there is an operational error in the pressing mechanism or a dimensional error in the tube, the flow path will not be completely blocked, and it is possible to minimize variations in the cross-sectional area of ​​the lumen of the tube 12.

[0076] With the second valve unit 32 configured in this manner, when a beverage is dispensed, the upper block 43 moves away from the tube 12 to a retracted position as shown in Figure 2(a), so as not to obstruct the flow of the beverage 20. On the other hand, when foam is dispensed, the upper block 43 descends, and the protrusions 65 press symmetrically against the outer surface of the tube 12, deforming it into the shape shown in Figure 4, causing the tube lumen 33 to have a roughly constant reduced cross-section, regardless of dimensional errors in the tube 12 or operational errors in the pressing mechanism. This allows a stable formation of foam from the beverage 20 passing through the reduced cross-section.

[0077] If a hollow cylindrical tube is simply compressed from above and below, the cross section of the tube lumen after deformation will become a horizontally flattened ellipse, and slight differences in the amount of compression of the upper block or dimensional errors in the tube can cause the cross section of the lumen to change significantly, potentially blocking the flow path. However, according to the above-described embodiment, the cross section of the tube lumen after deformation remains almost constant regardless of the amount of compression or dimensional errors in the tube, making it possible to produce foam of consistent quality.

[0078] As described above, according to the beverage dispenser of the embodiment, at least a portion of the flow path for supplying the beverage is formed by a flexible tube, and by pressing the flexible portion, the cross section of the inner cavity is reduced, thereby enabling foaming. Furthermore, the tube can be easily removed from the support portion, and the flow path of the beverage dispenser can be cleaned by replacing the tube. This makes cleaning the beverage dispenser extremely easy. Furthermore, there is no need to provide a complex mechanism such as a valve for foaming in the tube to be replaced, thereby reducing the cost of the tube. Other embodiments

[0079] The dispensing device 1 of the above-described embodiment can be modified in various ways.

[0080] [Variation 1] For example, in the above description of the first valve unit 31, the upper block (movable block) 37 is retracted above the tube 12 in the open state and is kept out of contact with the tube 12, but the upper block 37 may be in contact with the outer surface of the tube 12 in the retracted position, or may be in contact with the tube 12 and deform the tube 12 to an extent that does not affect the quality of the dispensed beverage 20. Similarly, in the above description of the second valve unit 32, the upper block 43 is retracted above the tube 12 in the non-deformed state and is kept out of contact with the tube 12, but the upper block 43 may be in contact with the outer surface of the tube 12 in the retracted position, or may be in contact with the tube 12 and deform the tube 12 to an extent that does not affect the quality of the dispensed beverage 20.

[0081] However, from the viewpoint of workability when replacing the tube 12, it is preferable that, with respect to the first valve unit 31, the upper block (movable block) 37 be kept out of contact with the tube 12 in the open state, and, with respect to the second valve unit 32, the upper block 43 be kept out of contact with the tube 12 in the non-deformed state.

[0082] [Variation 2] In the above description, in the first valve unit 31, the upper block (movable block) 37 is disposed above the lower block (fixed block) 36, but the upper block may be disposed below the lower block. Similarly, in the above description, in the second valve unit 32, the upper block (movable block) 43 is disposed above the lower block (fixed block) 42, but the upper block 43 of the above-described shape may be disposed below the lower block 42 of the above-described shape.

[0083] [Variation 3] In the above description, in the first valve unit 31, the upper block 37 is movable and the lower block 36 is fixed, but the upper block 37 may be fixed and the lower block 36 may be movable. In this case, a solenoid is connected to the lower block 36. Similarly, in the above description, in the second valve unit 32, the upper block 43 is movable and the lower block 42 is fixed, but the upper block 43 may be fixed and the lower block 42 may be movable.

[0084] [Variation 4] In the above description, in the second valve unit 32, the lower block 42 is provided with the left wall 53 and the right wall 54 (a pair of side walls), but the upper block 43 may also be provided with a pair of side walls.

[0085] [Variation 5] In the above description, a pull-type solenoid is used in the first valve unit 31 and a push-type solenoid is used in the second valve unit 32, but a push-type solenoid may be used in the first valve unit and a pull-type valve unit may be used in the second valve unit. For example, if the upper block 37 is the movable block and the lower block 36 is the fixed block as in the above embodiment, the push-type solenoid is located below the lower block in the first valve unit and the pull-type solenoid is located in the upper block in the second valve unit.

[0086] [Variation 6] In the above explanation, a pull-type solenoid is used in the first valve unit 31 and a push-type solenoid is used in the second valve unit, but the same type (pull type, push type) solenoid may be used in both valve units. In this case, for example, the pull-type solenoid may be arranged above the upper block of the first valve unit 31 as described above, and the pull-type solenoid may be arranged below the lower block of the second valve unit, or the push-type solenoid may be arranged below the lower block of the first valve unit 31, and the push-type solenoid may be arranged above the upper block of the second valve unit as described above.

[0087] [Variation 7] In the above description, a solenoid is provided for each of the first and second valve units 31, 32, but it is also possible to use, for example, a single dual-purpose solenoid, with one end of the plunger drivably connected to the movable block of the first valve unit 31 and the other end of the plunger drivably connected to the movable block of the second valve unit 32. In this configuration, both valve units can be operated simultaneously with a single solenoid.

[0088] [Variation 8] In the above embodiment and modified form, the tube 12 is arranged horizontally and the horizontal portion of the tube is crushed, but a portion of the tube arranged vertically or diagonally may also be crushed. Also, in the above embodiment and modified form, the entire beverage transport tube is made of an elastic material, but at least the portion that is pressurized and deformed by the first valve unit 31 and the second valve unit 32 may be made of a flexible portion of an elastic material, and the other portion may be made of a non-elastic material.

[0089] [Variation 9] In the above embodiment and modified embodiment, the drive units 38, 44 of the first and second valve units 31, 32 are each provided with a solenoid as a drive source, but at least one of these solenoids may be replaced with another actuator or a motor. When a motor is used as the drive source, it is preferable to provide, for example, a gear mechanism (e.g., rack and pinion) between the motor and the movable block, and convert the rotational motion of the motor into linear motion via this gear mechanism. However, the drive source and drive transmission mechanism are not limited to these embodiments.

[0090] [Variation 10] In the above embodiments and variants, a switch is provided in the operating section, and a solenoid or motor is driven based on a signal output from the switch to switch the dispensing device between three states (standby state (non-dispensing state), beverage dispensing state, and frothing state). However, in a device that dispenses beverages by manually switching the position of the tapping handle (operating lever), the tapping handle and movable block may be mechanically linked, and the two movable blocks may be switched depending on the position of the tapping handle, or the position of the tapping handle may be detected by a detector, and a solenoid or motor may be driven based on the output of the detector to switch between the two movable blocks.

[0091] [Variation 11] In the above-described embodiment and modified embodiment, the shapes of the upper block 43 and the lower block 42 in the second valve unit 32 are determined so as to press the left and right ends of the tube 12. However, it is not necessary to press the left and right ends of the tube 12; the shapes of the upper block 43 and the lower block 42 may be determined so as to press only a portion of the tube 12. For example, only the left or right side of the tube 12 may be pressed. In this case, for example, a protrusion may be provided on only the left or right side of the upper block. With this configuration, even if an operational error in the pressing mechanism occurs or there is a dimensional error in the tube, the flow path is not completely blocked and fluctuations in the cross-sectional area of ​​the lumen of the tube 12 can be minimized. However, compared to the above-described embodiment, it is more difficult to position the tube 12 in an optimal position when pressing. [Example]

[0092] An example of design conditions for the above-mentioned beverage dispensing device is shown below.

[0093] [Beverage] Beer

[0094] [Gas pressure (pressure of gas supplied from gas cylinder to barrel)] 1.5MPa

[0095] [tube] Tube material: Silicone Natural dimensions Outer diameter: 5mm (tolerance: ±0.1mm) Inner diameter: 3mm (cross-sectional area: 7.068mm 2 ) (Dimensional tolerance: ±0.1mm) [Reduced cross-sectional area of ​​the tube lumen] Tube lumen reduction cross-sectional area: approx. 0.9 mm 2

[0096] [Dimensions of fixed block and movable block (see Figure 5)] Fixed block Tube receiving groove width (A): 5.6 mm Height of the central protrusion on the bottom of the tube receiving groove (B): 1.0 mm Movable blocks Upper groove width (C): 3.0 mm Upper groove depth (D): 4.0 mm Length of protrusion in the direction of the central axis (E): 6·0 mm

[0097] [Moveable block at advance position] Distance between the bottom end of the protrusion in the advanced position and the central protrusion of the tube receiving groove (F): 1.8 mm (observation)

[0098] The state of beer foaming was observed using a dispensing device set under the above conditions. Even when the tube was replaced with one with dimensional errors, a stable, creamy beer foam was generated at a flow rate of approximately 5 to 10 milliliters per second. The foam immediately after dispensing was photographed using a microscope, and the particle size distribution and numerically based arithmetic mean diameter of the foam were calculated. As a result, the mean diameter of the foam dispensed using the beverage dispensing device of the example (98.8 μm, standard deviation: 26.2 μm) was 98.8 μm, which is the same as that of the existing beer tap (cross-sectional area of ​​the flow path when dispensing foam: 0.502 mm 2 The average diameter of the bubbles extracted using the PET bottle (99.2 μm, standard deviation: 23.8 μm) was similar to that of the bubbles extracted using the PET bottle (99.2 μm, standard deviation: 23.8 μm). [Explanation of symbols]

[0099] 1: Pour device 10: Beer dispensing section 12: Tube 20: Beer 31: First valve unit 32: Second valve unit 33: Tube lumen 35: Pressing mechanism 36: Lower block (fixed block) 37: Upper block (movable block) 38: Drive unit 39:Pull type solenoid 41: Pressing mechanism 42: Lower block (fixed block) 43: Upper block (movable block) 44: Drive unit 45: Push-type solenoid 50: Central axis 52: Tube receiving groove 53: Left wall 54: Right wall 55: Bottom wall 61: Upper block part 62: Lower block part 63: Kamimizo 65:Protrusion

Claims

1. A beverage dispensing device that uses a tube having an elastically deformable flexible portion as a beverage flow path, a mechanism for selectively setting an inner lumen of the flexible section to a first state having a first cross-sectional area or a second state having a second cross-sectional area smaller than the first cross-sectional area; A beverage dispensing device that generates foam from the beverage flowing through the tube when the inner cavity of the flexible portion is in the second state.

2. The beverage dispenser according to claim 1 , wherein the mechanism comprises a pressing mechanism for pressing the flexible portion.

3. The beverage dispensing device according to claim 2 , wherein the pressing mechanism includes a pressing portion including a pair of members facing each other with the flexible portion interposed therebetween.

4. Of the pair of members of the pressing portion, one member is a holding member that contacts and holds the flexible portion when the inner cavity of the flexible portion is in the first state and the second state, The beverage dispensing device according to claim 3, wherein the other member is a pressing member that presses the flexible portion when the inner cavity of the flexible portion is shifted from the first state to the second state.

5. The beverage dispensing device of claim 4, wherein the other member has a protruding portion that protrudes toward the one member and presses the flexible portion when in the second state, and a non-protruding portion that does not press the flexible portion when in the second state.

6. The beverage dispensing device according to claim 4, wherein the other member has a pair of protrusions that face each other across the central axis of the flexible portion disposed between the pair of members and protrude toward the one member, and a groove formed between the pair of protrusions.

7. The beverage dispenser according to claim 6, wherein the depth of the groove is designed to be large enough that the flexible portion in the second state does not contact a bottom surface of the groove.

8. The beverage dispenser according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the distal end portions of the pair of protrusions, which are opposed to the flexible portion, are provided with chamfered portions.

9. The beverage dispensing device according to any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein the pressing member is disposed above the flexible portion, and the holding member is disposed below the flexible portion.

10. The beverage dispensing device according to any one of claims 2 to 9, wherein in the second state, only a part of the cross section of the flexible portion is pressed by the pressing mechanism.

11. The beverage dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein in the second state, the flexible portion forms a substantially semicircular or crescent-shaped inner cross section.

12. The beverage dispensing device according to any one of claims 3 to 10, wherein in the second state, inner surfaces of the flexible portion that are pressed and deformed by the pair of members are in contact with each other.

13. The beverage dispensing device according to any one of claims 4 to 12, wherein the one member has a protrusion at a location that contacts the center of the flexible portion.

14. A beverage dispensing device as described in any one of claims 4 to 13, wherein the pressing portion is formed integrally with the one member or the other member, and has a pair of side walls that face each other across the movable portion in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the one member and the other member face each other.

15. The beverage dispensing device according to claim 14, wherein the distance between the pair of side walls is designed to be large enough that the flexible portion does not come into contact with the pair of side walls when the flexible portion is in the first state and the second state.

16. The second cross-sectional area is 0.2 mm ２ ~1.0 mm ２ The beverage dispensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 15,

17. The beverage dispensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the pressing member is driven by an actuator.

18. The beverage dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the beverage dispenser and / or the tube is provided with a flow path opening / closing mechanism for opening and closing the flow path of the beverage.

19. The beverage dispenser according to claim 18, wherein the flow path opening and closing mechanism includes a pinch valve.

20. The beverage dispenser according to claim 18, wherein an opening and closing portion of the flow path opened and closed by the flow path opening and closing mechanism is located upstream of the flexible portion in the transport direction of the beverage.

21. The beverage dispensing device includes an operating unit, The operation unit can select one of a state in which no beverage is dispensed, a state in which a beverage is dispensed, and a state in which foam is dispensed, When a state in which the beverage is not dispensed is selected by the operation unit, the flexible part is set to the first state and the flow path is closed by the flow path opening and closing mechanism to set the beverage in a state in which the beverage is not dispensed; When the state in which the beverage is dispensed is selected by the operation unit, the flexible portion is set to the first state and the flow path is opened by the flow path opening / closing mechanism, thereby setting the beverage in a state in which the beverage is dispensed; A beverage dispensing device as described in any of claims 18 to 20, wherein when the state in which the foam is dispensed is selected in the operating unit, the flexible part is put into a second state and the flow path is opened by the flow path opening / closing mechanism, thereby dispensing the foam.

22. A beverage dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein the beverage is a foaming beverage.

23. The beverage dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 22, wherein the beverage is beer or a beer-flavored beverage.

24. The beverage dispensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 23, wherein when the inner cavity of the flexible portion is in the second state, the flow rate of the beverage is 5.0 ml / s to 15.0 ml / s.

25. The beverage dispensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 24, wherein the length of the inner cavity of the flexible portion that can take the first state and the second state is 1.0 mm to 10.0 mm.

26. A beverage dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 25, wherein the pressure for pumping the beverage is 0.1 to 0.3 MPa.

27. A beverage dispensing system comprising a combination of the beverage dispensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 26 and a tube having a flexible portion that is elastically deformable and serves as a beverage flow path.

28. 28. The beverage dispense system of claim 27, wherein the tube is attachable to and detachable from the beverage dispenser.

29. a transfer mechanism for transferring beverage from a beverage storage container to the tube; the transfer mechanism includes a gas supply mechanism for supplying gas into the beverage storage container; 29. The beverage dispenser system according to claim 27 or 28, wherein the gas supply mechanism is configured to constantly apply a pressure of 0.1 MPa or more to the beverage.

30. A method for dispensing a beverage using a tube having an elastically deformable flexible portion as a beverage flow path, comprising: setting the lumen of the flexible portion to a first state having a first cross-sectional area to dispense the beverage through the tube; A beverage extraction method that generates foam from the beverage flowing through the tube by setting the inner cavity of the flexible portion from a first state having a first cross-sectional area to a second state having a second cross-sectional area smaller than the first cross-sectional area.

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