Beverage dispensing apparatus

Abstract

To secure the safety of a beverage supply part by heating operation.SOLUTION: A beverage dispenser 1 for dispensing a beverage produced in a beverage producing section 11 from a nozzle 23a and a 23b to a vessel C disposed in a beverage dispensing section 22 includes a control section 40 for performing a warming operation of periodically warming a beverage path (L4, L5) to the nozzle 51a by dispensing heated water stored in a vapor tank 23a from the nozzle 23a, wherein the control section 40 regulates the warming operation based on at least one of detection of a foreign object by a vessel detecting section 31 and detection of proximity of a person by a human sensor 32.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, beverage dispensers such as coffee machines have been installed in stores such as convenience stores. When a customer selects a beverage, the beverage dispenser prepares the beverage by, for example, grinding coffee beans and performing an extraction process such as dripping, and then dispenses the beverage from a nozzle constituting a beverage dispenser into a container placed in the beverage dispenser (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-196224 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In such beverage dispensers, it is desirable for the user to dispense beverages into their own containers (hereinafter also referred to as "my cups"), and convenience is improved by removing the door for opening and closing the entrance to the beverage dispenser. In other words, beverage dispensers in which the beverage dispenser is always exposed are known.

[0005] However, even in such beverage dispensers, a heating operation is performed periodically to heat the beverage path leading to the nozzle, and hot water or the like is circulated to the nozzle and dispensed from the nozzle, so it is necessary to ensure the safety of the beverage dispenser, which is always exposed.

[0006] In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a beverage supply device that can ensure the safety of a beverage supply unit during a heating operation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the beverage supply device of the present invention is a beverage supply device that supplies a beverage produced in a beverage production unit by ejecting it from a nozzle into a container placed in a beverage supply unit, and is equipped with a control unit that performs a heating operation to periodically heat the path of the beverage up to the nozzle by ejecting hot water stored in a steam tank from the nozzle, and is characterized in that the control unit regulates the heating operation by at least one of detecting foreign objects in and near the beverage supply unit using a detection means, and detecting the approach of a person using a human presence sensor.

[0008] Furthermore, in the beverage supply device according to the present invention, when the control unit restricts the heating operation, it notifies the user that the heating operation will be restricted.

[0009] Furthermore, in the beverage supply device according to the present invention, when the heating operation is to be performed, the control unit notifies the user that the heating operation will be performed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, the control unit performs a heating operation that periodically heats the beverage path up to the nozzle by ejecting hot water stored in a steam tank from the nozzle, and regulates the heating operation by at least one of detecting foreign objects in the beverage supply unit and its vicinity using a detection means, and detecting the approach of a person using a human presence sensor, thereby achieving the effect of ensuring the safety of the beverage supply unit due to the heating operation. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of a beverage dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a typical configuration of a control system of the beverage dispenser according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the circuit configuration of the milk preparation unit in the beverage preparation unit. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the heating operation control processing performed by the control unit shown in FIGS. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a beverage supply device according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0013] Figures 1 and 2 each show a beverage supply device that is an embodiment of the present invention, where Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of the beverage supply device, and Figure 2 is a block diagram that schematically shows the configuration of the characteristic control system of the beverage supply device.

[0014] The beverage supply device 1 illustrated here is a coffee machine installed in a store such as a convenience store, and performs extraction processes such as grinding coffee beans and dripping, and supplies a coffee beverage containing a milk drink such as a cafe latte to a container C such as a cylindrical cup with a bottom.

[0015] The beverage dispenser 1 includes a main body cabinet 10 and a front door 20. The main body cabinet 10 has a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape with an open front. Inside the main body cabinet 10, a beverage preparation unit 11 that prepares a beverage (e.g., a cafe latte) is provided.

[0016] The front door 20 is a door body large enough to close the opening on the front of the main cabinet 10. The front door 20 is provided at one side edge on the front side of the main cabinet 10 so as to be able to swing around the central axis of an axis part (not shown) that extends in the vertical direction, and is capable of opening and closing the opening on the front of the main cabinet 10.

[0017] The front of the front door 20 forms the customer service surface and is provided with a display unit 21 and a beverage supply unit 22. The display unit 21 is configured, for example, with a liquid crystal touch panel, and displays various information and has an input unit 21a that allows input operations such as touch operations.

[0018] The beverage supply unit 22 is configured by providing a recess below the display unit 21. The beverage supply unit 22 has nozzles 23a, 23b (see FIG. 3) and a stage 24. The nozzles 23a, 23b are for discharging the beverage produced in the beverage production unit 11 downward, with the nozzle 23a discharging milk and the nozzle 23b discharging coffee. The stage 24 is provided below the nozzles 23a, 23b. The stage 24 is a mounting portion on which the container C is placed. The stage 24 is also formed with a plurality of passage holes that allow the beverage that has been discharged from the nozzles 23a, 23b but not supplied to the container C to pass through, and a tray 25 for storing the beverage is provided below the stage 24.

[0019] As shown in Fig. 2, the beverage supply device 1 includes a container detection unit 31, a human presence sensor 32, and a control unit 40. The container detection unit 31 is configured, for example, with an optical sensor, and detects whether a container C is placed in the beverage supply unit 22, i.e., whether a container C is placed on the stage 24. Since the beverage supply unit 22 is exposed, the container detection unit 31 detects whether or not there is a foreign object, including a container C, in or near the beverage supply unit 22. The container detection unit 31 provides the detection result to the control unit 40.

[0020] The human presence sensor 32 is provided, for example, on the front door 20, and detects, in a predetermined detection area, the approach of a person to the beverage dispenser 1. The human presence sensor 32 provides the detection result to the control unit 40.

[0021] The control unit 40 is connected to the beverage preparation unit 11, the display unit 21, the container detection unit 31, and the human presence sensor 32, and controls the overall operation of each of these units in accordance with the programs and data stored in the memory unit 41.

[0022] The control unit 40 controls the entire device and includes a beverage supply control unit 40a and a heating operation control unit 40b. The beverage supply control unit 40a controls the preparation and supply of a beverage to the container C. The heating operation control unit 40b controls the heating operation according to a predetermined time schedule, i.e., when a predetermined heating operation start time has passed.

[0023] The beverage preparation unit 11 has a coffee extraction unit 11a and a milk preparation unit 11b. The coffee extraction unit 11a is a conventionally known unit. In this coffee extraction unit 11a, ground ingredients such as coffee beans and hot water are placed in the extraction cylinder of the extractor, and the ingredients are stirred on a paper filter. After that, the top opening of the extraction cylinder is closed with a cylinder head, and pressure is applied, so that a beverage such as coffee is extracted through the paper filter and discharged from a nozzle 23b.

[0024] The milk producing unit 11b mixes steam and air with the milk supplied from the milk tank 53c as needed to produce foamed milk, and further mixes steam with the milk supplied from the milk tank 53c to produce steamed milk, which is heated milk, and discharges it from the nozzle 23a. Details of the milk producing unit 11b will be described later.

[0025] Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the circuit configuration of the milk production section 11b in the beverage production section 11. As shown in Fig. 3, the milk production section 11b has a steam supply section 51, an air supply section 52, a milk supply section 53, and a T-shaped joint J2 which is a mixing section, as well as a hot water supply section 55.

[0026] The steam supply unit 51 has a steam tank 51a, a heater 51b, and a steam valve 51c. The steam tank 51a generates steam from hot water by heating with the heater 51b and stores the steam. The steam in the steam tank 51a is discharged to the joint J1 side via a steam valve 51c provided on a pipe L1 connecting the steam tank 51a and the T-joint J1. The heater 51b and the steam valve 51c are controlled by the control unit 40. The control unit 40 controls the opening of the steam valve 51c to discharge a constant flow rate of steam.

[0027] The air supply unit 52 has an air pump 52a and a pump driver 52b. Under the drive control of the pump driver 52b, the air pump 52a discharges air toward the joint J1 side through a check valve V1 provided on the pipe L2 connecting the air pump 52a and the joint J1. The pump driver 52b is controlled by the control unit 40. The control unit 40 controls the pump driver 52b to discharge a constant flow rate of air.

[0028] The joint J1 mixes the steam through the pipe L1 and the air through the pipe L2, and discharges the mixture to the joint J2 side through the pipe L3.

[0029] The milk supply unit 53 has a tube pump 53a, a pump drive unit 53b, and a milk tank 53c. The tube pump 53a functions as a milk supply pump, and under the drive control of the pump drive unit 53b, discharges milk from the milk tank 53c to the joint J2 side via a pipe L4 connecting the tube pump 53a and the joint J2. The milk tank 53c stores milk in a composite container for liquids (bag-in-box). The pump drive unit 53b is controlled by the control unit 40. A check valve V3 is arranged in the pipe L4 between the tube pump 53a and the milk tank 53c. This check valve V3 allows milk to flow from the milk tank 53c to the tube pump 53a.

[0030] Joint J2 is a mixing section that mixes milk, steam, and air to froth the milk to produce foamed milk, and mixes milk and steam to heat the milk to produce steamed milk. Check valves V2 and V4 are located on the pipe L3 side and pipe L4 side of joint J2, respectively. At joint J2, the steam and air mixture comes into contact with the discharged milk from a direction perpendicular to the milk, producing milk foam.

[0031] The hot water supply unit 55 is configured to include a hot water valve 55a and a check valve V5 provided on a pipe L6 that connects a location between the tube pump 53a and the check valve V3 in the pipe L4 and the steam tank 51a.

[0032] The hot water valve 55a is controlled by the control unit 40, and when opened, supplies hot water from the steam tank 51a to the pipe L4. The check valve V5 allows the flow of hot water from the steam tank to the pipe L4.

[0033] The control unit 40 separates the period into a foamed milk production period in which steam and air are mixed with milk supplied from the milk supply unit 53 to produce foamed milk, and a steamed milk production period in which steam is mixed with milk supplied from the milk supply unit 53 to produce heated steamed milk, and controls the pump drive unit 53b to individually control the milk discharge speed (rotation speed of the tube pump 53a) during the foamed milk production period and the milk discharge speed (rotation speed of the tube pump 53a) during the steamed milk production period. The control unit 40 sets the milk discharge speed during the foamed milk production period to be faster than the milk discharge speed during the steamed milk production period.

[0034] Increasing the milk discharge speed during the foamed milk production period makes the foam finer, and the foam level, which indicates the fineness of the foam, can be increased. On the other hand, slowing the milk discharge speed during the steamed milk production period transfers more heat from the steam to the milk per unit volume, making it possible to achieve the desired milk temperature. The milk discharge speed during the foamed milk production period can be set to a milk discharge speed that corresponds to the desired level of foam fineness. The foamed milk production period may be one or more set periods that are preset according to the amount of foam produced, or may be one set period selected according to the type of beverage.

[0035] The foamed milk and steamed milk produced by the joint J2 are sent to the nozzle 23a via the pipe L5 and supplied to the container C.

[0036] Under the control of the control unit 40, the coffee extraction unit 11a extracts coffee in parallel with the processing of the milk production unit 11b, and dispenses the extracted coffee into the container C through the nozzle 23b. When the beverage type is hot milk, the processing by the coffee extraction unit 11a is not performed, and the milk production unit 11b produces only steamed milk.

[0037] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the details of the heating operation control process performed by the control unit 40 shown in FIGS.

[0038] In this heating operation control process, the heating operation control unit 40b of the control unit 40 waits for the heating operation start time to elapse (step S101), and if the heating operation start time has elapsed (step S101: Yes), it detects the presence or absence of foreign objects, including container C, in the beverage supply unit 22 or its vicinity via the container detection unit 31 (step S102).

[0039] If no foreign object is detected (step S102: Yes), the heating operation control unit 40b detects whether or not a person is approaching via the human sensor 32 (step S103).

[0040] If the approach of a person is not detected (step S103: Yes), the heating operation control unit 40b displays a heating operation on the display unit 21 (step S104) and performs the heating operation (step S105).

[0041] The heating operation will be described below. The heating operation control unit 40b opens the hot water valve 55a and drives the pump drive unit 53b to rotate the tube pump 53a. As a result, the hot water in the steam tank 51a passes through pipe L6, then pipe L4, to reach the joint J2, and then through pipe L5 to be discharged from the nozzle 23a. This allows the pipes L4 and L5 to be heated.

[0042] The heating operation control unit 40b that performed the heating operation determines whether the heating operation has ended by performing the heating operation for a predetermined time (step S106), and if the heating operation has ended (step S106: Yes), it cancels the heating operation display on the display unit 21 (step S107), and then returns the procedure to end the current processing.

[0043] On the other hand, if a foreign object is detected in or near the beverage supply unit 22 in step S102 (step S102: No), or if a person is detected approaching in step S103 (step S103: No), the heating operation control unit 40b restricts the heating operation (step S108), displays a heating operation restriction message on the display unit 21 indicating that the heating operation is restricted (step S109), and then returns the procedure to end the current processing.

[0044] As described above, according to the beverage dispenser 1 of the embodiment of the present invention, the beverage dispenser 22 is exposed, so that, for example, a personal cup or the like can be used as the container C, thereby improving convenience. Moreover, when the container detection unit 31 detects a foreign object in or near the beverage dispenser 22, or when the human presence sensor 32 detects the approach of a person, the control unit 40 restricts the heating operation, thereby ensuring the safety of the beverage dispenser 22 due to the heating operation.

[0045] According to the beverage supply device 1, when the control unit 40 restricts the heating operation, it displays a heating operation restriction message on the display unit 21 to notify the user that the heating operation is being restricted, thereby making it possible for a store employee or other manager to recognize that the heating operation is being restricted.

[0046] According to the beverage supply device 1, when the control unit 40 performs a heating operation, it displays the heating operation on the display unit 21 to notify the user that the heating operation is being performed, thereby making the user aware that the heating operation is being performed and improving safety.

[0047] Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this and various modifications can be made.

[0048] In the above-described embodiment, detection is performed by the container detection unit 31 and the human presence sensor 32, but in the present invention, it is acceptable to only detect the beverage supply unit and foreign objects in its vicinity by the detection means, or to only detect the approach of a person by the human presence sensor. In the embodiment, the container detection unit 31 is exemplified as the detection means, but in the present invention, it may also be an imaging unit such as a camera.

[0049] In the above-described embodiment, the display unit 21 displays a heating operation restriction message to notify the user that the heating operation will be restricted. However, in the present invention, the user may also be notified that the heating operation will be restricted by, for example, emitting a buzzer sound or the like.

[0050] The configurations illustrated in the above embodiments are merely functional schematics and are not necessarily physically configured as shown. In other words, the distribution and integration of each device and component is not limited to that illustrated, and all or part of them can be functionally or physically distributed and integrated in any unit depending on various usage situations, etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 1...beverage supply device, 10...main cabinet, 11...beverage production section, 11a...coffee extraction section, 11b...milk production section, 20...front door, 21...display section, 21a...input section, 22...beverage supply section, 23a, 23b...nozzles, 24...stage, 25...tray, 31...container detection section, 32...human presence sensor, 40...control section, 41...memory section, 51...steam supply section, 51a...steam tank, 51b...heater, 51c...steam valve, 52...air supply section, 52a...air pump, 52b...pump drive section, 53...milk supply section, 53a...tube pump, 53b...pump drive section, 53c...milk tank, 55...hot water supply section, 55a...hot water valve, C...container, J1, J2...joints.

Claims

1. A beverage supply device that supplies a beverage prepared in a beverage preparation unit by discharging the beverage from a nozzle to a container placed in a beverage supply unit, a control unit that performs a heating operation to periodically heat the beverage path up to the nozzle by discharging hot water stored in a steam tank from the nozzle; The beverage supply device is characterized in that the control unit regulates the heating operation based on at least one of detection of foreign objects in the beverage supply unit or its vicinity by a detection means, and detection of the proximity of a person by a human presence sensor.

2. The beverage supply device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit, when restricting the heating operation, notifies the user that the heating operation will be restricted.

3. 3. The beverage supply device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit, when performing the heating operation, notifies the user that the heating operation will be performed.

Images