BEVERAGE PROVIDER, BEVERAGE PROVIDER METHOD, AND BEVERAGE PROVIDER PROGRAM

Abstract

A beverage serving device and the like that can reduce the space occupied by the device when serving a user's desired beverage from among a plurality of different types of beverages. [Solution] The beverage serving device includes a control unit that receives an instruction signal to select either a first beverage or a second beverage, an extraction unit that supplies a first ingredient and an extract for the first beverage to form a first mixture and a second ingredient and an extract for the second beverage to form a second mixture, and a filtration unit that filters the first mixture using a first filter and the second mixture to form the second beverage using a second filter. The control unit selectively executes either a first serving mode in which the first mixture is formed, filtered to form the first beverage, and the first beverage is served, or a second serving mode in which the second mixture is formed, filtered to form the second beverage, and the second beverage is served, based on the instruction signal.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an apparatus, method, and program for serving beverages. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, as devices for providing beverages in stores, etc., Patent Document 1, for example, describes a beverage production device suitable for grinding roasted coffee beans in a mill each time the coffee is served and pouring hot water over the resulting coffee bean powder to extract coffee. Also, Patent Document 2, for example, describes a beverage supply device suitable for pouring hot water over tea leaves to extract black tea. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-120665 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-28341 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] These conventional devices use different filters suited to the properties of the mixture of beverage ingredients, such as coffee bean powder or tea leaves, and the extract, such as water. Currently, it is common to provide different types of beverages using separate devices. In such cases, these devices are typically installed on counters or other areas of stores. However, some stores find it difficult to secure sufficient space on counters or other areas to accommodate multiple devices.

[0005] Therefore, the present disclosure has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and aims to provide a beverage serving device, a beverage serving method, and a beverage serving program that can reduce the space occupied by the device when serving a user's desired beverage from multiple different types of beverages. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] [1] To achieve the above object, the beverage dispenser according to the present disclosure includes a control unit that receives an instruction signal to select either a first beverage or a second beverage; an extracting unit that supplies a first ingredient (the ingredients of the first beverage) and an extract to form a first mixture, and a second ingredient (the ingredients of the second beverage) and an extract to form a second mixture; and a filtration unit that filters the first mixture using a first filter and the second mixture using a second filter to form a second beverage. The control unit selectively executes either a first serving mode in which the extracting unit forms the first mixture, the filtration unit filters the first beverage, and serves the first beverage, or a second serving mode in which the extracting unit forms the second mixture, the filtration unit filters the second beverage, and serves the second beverage, based on the instruction signal. In this configuration, a first filter suitable for filtering the first beverage and a second filter suitable for filtering the second beverage can be arranged in the same device, and the first and second filters can be switched between as needed. Therefore, there is no need to prepare separate devices for providing the first beverage and the second beverage; in other words, the device for providing the first beverage and the second beverage, which are different types, can be shared.

[0007] [2] More specifically, the filtration unit may be configured so that the first filter and the second filter are arranged in the same predetermined position so as to be switched between each other. This configuration makes it possible to quickly and reliably filter the first beverage with the first filter and the second beverage with the second filter, and thereby selectively provide the first beverage and the second beverage, without changing the positions at which the first mixture of the first ingredient and the extract and the second mixture of the second ingredient and the extract are delivered to the filters.

[0008] [3] Alternatively, the filtration unit may be configured so that the first filter and the second filter are disposed in different predetermined positions. This configuration allows for the first filter to filter the first beverage and the second filter to filter the second beverage, and thus allows for the selective provision of the first beverage and the second beverage, to be performed quickly and reliably without the need to alternate between the first filter and the second filter.

[0009] [4] More specifically, an example configuration is one in which the first beverage is coffee, the first filter is a paper filter, and the second beverage is black tea, and the second filter is a metal filter. In this way, the use of a paper filter prevents the inclusion of impurity components in the coffee filtrate from the first mixture (impurity components are easily removed), and the use of a metal filter allows more umami components to be included in the black tea filtrate from the second mixture (umami components are less likely to be removed).

[0010] [5] The beverage serving method according to the present disclosure can be suitably implemented using the beverage serving device according to the present disclosure. That is, in the beverage serving method according to the present disclosure, the control unit selectively executes either a first serving mode in which a first mixture is formed in the extraction unit, the first beverage is filtered in the filtration unit, and the first beverage is served, or a second serving mode in which a second mixture is formed in the extraction unit, the second beverage is filtered in the filtration unit, and the second beverage is served, based on an instruction signal.

[0011] [6] Furthermore, the beverage serving program according to the present disclosure is a program for causing a computer to execute steps using a beverage serving device according to the present disclosure, in which the control unit selectively executes, based on an instruction signal, either a first serving mode in which a first mixture is formed in the extraction unit, the first beverage is filtered in the filtration unit, and the first beverage is served, or a second serving mode in which a second mixture is formed in the extraction unit, the second beverage is filtered in the filtration unit, and the second beverage is served. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the beverage serving device, beverage serving method, and beverage serving program disclosed herein, a first filter suitable for filtering a first beverage and a second filter suitable for filtering a second beverage can be arranged in the same device, and the first filter and the second filter can be switched between as needed. Therefore, there is no need to prepare separate devices for serving the first beverage and the second beverage. In other words, it is possible to share a serving device for different types of first and second beverages. Therefore, when serving a user's desired beverage from multiple different types of beverages, the area occupied by the device can be reduced, thereby making effective use of in-store space, meeting customer needs and increasing customer satisfaction, while also improving economy. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating an example of the appearance of a beverage providing device 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] 1 is a system block diagram (partially a functional block diagram) showing an example of a schematic configuration of a beverage providing device 1A according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] 1 is a flow chart showing a procedure for carrying out an example of a beverage providing method according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] 10 is a system block diagram (partially a functional block diagram) showing an example of a schematic configuration of a beverage providing device 1B according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. To facilitate understanding of the description, the same components in each drawing will be assigned the same reference numerals whenever possible, and redundant description will be omitted. Note that the following embodiments are examples for explaining the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the present disclosure to only these embodiments. Furthermore, the present disclosure can be modified in various ways without departing from the gist thereof. Furthermore, a person skilled in the art can adopt embodiments in which the elements described below are replaced with equivalents, and such embodiments are also within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0015] [Example of the external configuration of the beverage serving device] FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating an example of the appearance of a beverage providing device 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The beverage providing device 1 is installed on a counter in a store such as a convenience store, and is configured to provide coffee (first beverage) or tea (second beverage) in response to a user's instruction. Note that the beverage providing device 1 may be operated by a customer purchasing a beverage, or by a store employee on behalf of the customer; for convenience, in the following description, the customer and employee will be collectively referred to as "user."

[0016] The beverage serving device 1 shown in Figure 1 can produce coffee (first beverage) from coffee bean powder (first ingredient) obtained by grinding roasted coffee beans on the spot and water W (extract; including hot water), and can also produce black tea (second beverage) from tea leaves (second ingredient) and water W, and is configured to be able to provide, for example, one cup of coffee or black tea per production operation.

[0017] As shown in Fig. 1, various components described below are arranged within a housing 20 of the beverage providing device 1. A stage is provided at the lower front of the housing 20 for placing a cup 100 into which the produced coffee or tea will be poured, and a door 30 that can be opened and closed when inserting or removing the cup 100 is attached to the front of the stage. Furthermore, an operation unit 14 (described below) composed of, for example, a touch panel and operation buttons is provided at the upper front of the housing 20. This operation unit 14 can display various information and functions as a user interface that allows the user to select coffee or tea by operating it. Furthermore, a canister unit 2 for storing the ingredients for coffee and tea is provided at the top of the housing 20.

[0018] [First embodiment] FIG. 2 is a system block diagram (partial functional block diagram) showing an example of a schematic configuration of a beverage providing apparatus 1A according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 2, beverage providing apparatus 1A includes a canister unit 2 having multiple canisters 2A, 2B, and 2C for storing roasted green coffee beans, which are the raw material for coffee D1 (first beverage), and a single canister 2D for storing tea leaves (second ingredient), which are the raw material for black tea D2 (second beverage), and a feeder unit 3 having multiple feeders 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D provided below each of the canisters. Of these, the multiple canisters 2A-2C are arranged side by side at a predetermined interval, and the corresponding multiple feeders 3A-3C are also arranged side by side at a predetermined interval. Furthermore, the multiple canisters 2A, 2B, and 2C each store roasted coffee beans of different origins and flavors.

[0019] The beverage providing apparatus 1A further includes a mill 4 disposed below the feeders 3A-3C, and a brewer unit 5 (extraction section) disposed below the mill 4 and feeder 3D. By rotating these feeders 3A-3C appropriately, a fixed amount of coffee beans stored in the corresponding canisters 2A-2C is delivered to the mill 4, where the coffee beans are ground to a predetermined particle size to obtain coffee bean powder (first ingredient). An appropriate amount of the coffee bean powder thus obtained is supplied to the brewer unit 5, and an appropriate amount of tea leaves is supplied from the canister 2D via the feeder 3D. Furthermore, heated water W (extract) for extracting coffee D1 and black tea D2 is supplied from a water supply tank 6 to the brewer unit 5. As a result, a first mixture is formed from the coffee bean powder and water W within the brewer unit 5, and a second mixture is formed from the tea leaves and water W.

[0020] Furthermore, a filter F1 (first filter) for filtering coffee from the first mixture and a filter F2 (second filter) for filtering black tea from the second mixture are arranged at the same predetermined position inside the brewer unit 5 so that they can be switched between by a filter drive unit FD. Here, an example of the coffee filter F1 is a paper filter, and an example of the filter F2 is a metal filter. In this way, an example of a "filtration unit" is composed of the brewer unit 5, which also corresponds to an example of an "extraction unit," the filters F1 and F2, and the filter drive unit FD. Furthermore, a residue collection container 7 is arranged below the brewer unit 5 to collect material residue and the filter F1 after filtering the coffee D1 or black tea D2. A pipe having a nozzle 8 for pouring the filtered coffee D1 or black tea D2 into a cup 100 placed on the stage S is connected to the bottom of the brewer unit 5.

[0021] Additionally, the beverage providing device 1A includes a controller 10 (controller) for controlling its operation. In the illustrated example, the controller 10 is a type of computer and includes an arithmetic processing unit 11, a memory unit 12, a receiver unit 13, and the like. The arithmetic processing unit 11 includes a processor such as a CPU and controls the operation of the motors of the feeders 3A-3D, the motor of the mill 4, the valves and agitators of the brewer unit 5, the motor of the filter drive unit FD, the pump of the water tank 6, and the like, and also performs process management for each operational step. The memory unit 12 includes memories such as ROM and RAM and stores a beverage providing program for operating the beverage providing device 1A. The receiver unit 13 functions as a user interface that receives an instruction signal, etc., for selecting one of various types of coffee or tea designated by the user. The user can select and specify one of various types of coffee or tea by operating the operation unit 14 or by having the sensor 15 read the color, pattern, code, mark, etc. printed on the cup 100 when placing the cup 100 on the stage S.

[0022] 3 is a flow diagram showing a procedure for carrying out an example of a beverage serving method according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 3, first, in step S10, when a user operates the operation unit 14 to select a beverage (coffee D1 or tea D2), the receiving unit 13 of the controller 10 receives an instruction signal. If coffee D1 is selected in step S10, in step S21, a predetermined amount of beans of the selected coffee D1 is discharged from the canisters 2A to 2C to the mill 4 by the feeders 3A to 3C. Next, in step S31, the coffee beans supplied to the mill 4 are ground, and the obtained coffee bean powder is supplied to the brewer unit 5. Subsequently, in step S41, the filter F1 for filtering the coffee D1 is placed at a predetermined position in the brewer unit 5 by the filter driving unit FD.

[0023] On the other hand, if black tea D2 is selected in step S10, in step S22, a predetermined amount of tea leaves for black tea D2 is supplied from canister 2D to brewer unit 5 by feeder 3D. Then, in step S42, filter F2 for filtering black tea D2 is placed in a predetermined position (the same position as when filter F1 is placed) in brewer unit 5 by filter drive unit FD. The subsequent procedures are substantially the same for both coffee D1 and black tea D2.

[0024] That is, in the case of coffee D1, in step S50, a predetermined small amount of heated water W (hot water) is supplied (poured) from the water supply tank 6 to the brewer unit 5, and the coffee bean powder is steamed for a certain period of time. Then, additional water W (hot water) is supplied to the brewer unit 5 to form a first mixture of the coffee bean powder and water W, which is stirred as necessary to extract the coffee D1 from the coffee bean powder. Next, in step S60, the coffee D1 is filtered from the first mixture using the previously placed filter F1, and the filtered coffee D1 is supplied to the cup 100 through the piping and nozzle 8 connected to the brewer unit 5, and the coffee D1 is served to the user (this corresponds to an example of the "first serving mode"). Next, after the filtration of the coffee D1 is completed, in step S70, the used filter F1 and the coffee bean powder residue remaining on it are discarded in the residue collection container 7. Then, in step S80, necessary preparations for the next coffee extraction process are made, such as replacing the filter F1 (for example, feeding a new filter F1 in the case of a roll type) and retracting from a predetermined position, and the series of processes is completed.

[0025] On the other hand, in the case of black tea D2, in step S50, a predetermined small amount of heated water W (hot water) is supplied (poured) from the water supply tank 6 to the brewer unit 5, and the tea leaves of black tea D2 are steeped for a predetermined time. Then, additional water W (hot water) is supplied to the brewer unit 5 to form a second mixture of the tea leaves and water W, which is stirred as necessary to extract black tea D2 from the tea leaves. Next, in step S60, the previously placed filter F2 filters the black tea D2 from the second mixture, and the filtered black tea D2 is supplied to the cup 100 through the piping and nozzle 8 connected to the brewer unit 5, and the black tea D2 is served to the user (this corresponds to an example of the "second serving mode"). Next, after filtration of black tea D2 is completed, in step S70, the tea leaf residue remaining on the filter F2 is discarded into the residue collection container 7. Then, in step S80, the necessary preparations for the next tea extraction process are made, such as cleaning the filter F2 or retracting it from its predetermined position, as necessary, and the series of processes is then completed.

[0026] [Second embodiment] Fig. 4 is a system block diagram (partially a functional block diagram) showing an example of a schematic configuration of a beverage providing apparatus 1B according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Fig. 4, beverage providing apparatus 1B has a configuration similar to that of beverage providing apparatus 1A shown in Fig. 2, except that filters F1 and F2 are arranged at different predetermined positions within brewer unit 5 instead of being arranged at the same predetermined position within brewer unit 5. The procedure for carrying out an example of a beverage providing method according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure using beverage providing apparatus 1B is also similar to the procedure shown in Fig. 3, except that in step S41 shown in Fig. 3, filter F1 for filtering coffee D1 is arranged at a first predetermined position within brewer unit 5 by filter drive unit FD, and in step S42, filter F2 for filtering black tea D2 is arranged at a second predetermined position within brewer unit 5 by filter drive unit FD.

[0027] [Effects of each embodiment] According to the beverage serving apparatus 1A, 1B(1) configured as described above, the beverage serving method and beverage serving program using the same apparatus, a paper filter F1 (first filter) suitable for filtering coffee D1 (first beverage) and a metal filter F2 (second filter) suitable for filtering tea D2 (second beverage) can be placed in the same apparatus housing 20, and these filters F1, F2 can be switched between as needed. Therefore, there is no need to prepare separate apparatuses for serving coffee D1 and tea D2. In other words, it is possible to share a serving apparatus for different types of coffee D1 and tea D2. Therefore, when serving a user's desired beverage from multiple different types of beverages, the area occupied by the apparatus can be reduced, thereby making effective use of in-store space, meeting customer needs and increasing customer satisfaction, while also improving economy.

[0028] Furthermore, when beverage providing apparatus 1A is used, filters F1 and F2 are arranged in the same predetermined position in brewer unit 5 so as to be switchable between them. Therefore, without changing the positions at which a first mixture of coffee bean powder (first ingredient) and water W (extract) and a second mixture of tea leaves (second ingredient) and water W (extract) are sent to filters F1 and F2, filtration of coffee D1 by filter F1 and filtration of black tea D2 by filter F2, and thus selective provision of coffee D1 and black tea D2 can be performed quickly and reliably. On the other hand, when beverage providing apparatus 1B is used, filters F1 and F2 are arranged in different predetermined positions (first predetermined position and second predetermined position) in brewer unit 5. Therefore, without having to switch between filters F1 and F2, filtration of coffee D1 by filter F1 and filtration of black tea D2 by filter F2, and thus selective provision of coffee D1 and black tea D2 can be performed quickly and reliably. In addition, if the filter F1 for filtering the coffee D1 is a paper filter, the coffee D1, which is the filtrate from the first mixture, is prevented from containing impurity components (impurity components are easily removed). This has the advantage of improving the quality of the coffee D1 to be served. Similarly, if the filter F2 for filtering the black tea D2 is a metal filter, the black tea D2, which is the filtrate from the second mixture, can contain more umami components (umami components are less likely to be removed). This has the advantage of also improving the quality of the black tea D2 to be served.

[0029] Although each embodiment has been described above with reference to specific examples, these are provided to facilitate understanding of the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. In other words, the present disclosure is not limited to these specific examples, and designs that are appropriately modified by a person skilled in the art to these specific examples are also encompassed within the technical scope of the present disclosure as long as they possess the features of the present disclosure. Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, the elements, arrangements, materials, conditions, shapes, dimensions, sizes, scales, etc. of the above-described specific examples are not limited to those exemplified and can be modified as appropriate. Furthermore, the elements of the above-described specific examples can be combined in various ways as appropriate, as long as no technical contradictions arise.

[0030] For example, in each of the above embodiments, the number of canisters 2A-2C and feeders 3A-3C for coffee beans is not limited to the illustrated example and may be one, two, or four or more. The number of canisters 2D and feeders 3D for tea leaves is also not limited to the illustrated example and may be two or more. Furthermore, as the first ingredient of coffee D1, instead of coffee bean powder obtained by grinding roasted green coffee beans, pre-prepared coffee bean powder (ground beans) may be used, or so-called instant coffee obtained by drying coffee extract may be used. When the ingredients stored in the multiple canisters 2A-2C are coffee bean powder or instant coffee, the mill 4 may be omitted. In particular, in the case of instant coffee, the residue collection container 7 may also be omitted. Furthermore, the filters F1 and F2 may be disposed outside (e.g., below) the brewer unit 5 to form a "filtration section" separate from the brewer unit 5. Furthermore, the beverage serving program stored in the memory unit 12 may be manually or automatically updated at appropriate times via a communication medium or a storage medium. Furthermore, the second beverage may be green tea, oolong tea, sencha, bancha, roasted green tea, matcha, etc., instead of black tea D2. The filters F1 and F2 are not limited to paper and metal filters, respectively, but as described above, paper and metal filters are more useful. Additionally, the water W, which is the extract, may contain appropriate additives. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] 1, 1A, 1B... beverage providing device, 2... canister unit, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D... canister, 3... feeder unit, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D... feeder, 4... mill, 5... brewer unit (extraction section, filtration section), 6... water tank, 7... residue collection container, 8... nozzle, 10... controller (control section), 11... calculation processing section, 12... memory section, 13... receiving section, 14... operation section, 15... sensor, 20... housing, 30... door, 100... cup, D1... coffee (first beverage), D2... tea (second beverage), F1... filter (first filter, filtration section), F2... filter (second filter, filtration section), FD... filter drive section (filtration section), S... stage, W... water (extract)

Claims

1. a control unit that receives an instruction signal to select either the first beverage or the second beverage; an extracting section to which a first ingredient, which is an ingredient of the first beverage, and an extract are supplied to form a first mixture, and to which a second ingredient, which is an ingredient of the second beverage, and an extract are supplied to form a second mixture; a filtering unit that filters the first beverage from the first mixture using a first filter and filters the second beverage from the second mixture using a second filter; Equipped with The control unit selectively executes either a first serving mode in which the first mixture is formed in the extraction unit, the first beverage is filtered in the filtration unit, and the first beverage is served, or a second serving mode in which the second mixture is formed in the extraction unit, the second beverage is filtered in the filtration unit, and the second beverage is served, based on the instruction signal.

2. In the filtering unit, the first filter and the second filter are arranged at the same predetermined position so as to be switched between each other. The beverage serving device according to claim 1.

3. In the filtering unit, the first filter and the second filter are disposed at respective predetermined positions different from each other. The beverage serving device according to claim 1.

4. The first beverage is coffee, and the first filter is a paper filter, and the second beverage is black tea, and the second filter is a metal filter. The beverage serving device according to claim 1.

5. a control unit that receives an instruction signal to select either the first beverage or the second beverage; an extracting section to which a first ingredient, which is an ingredient of the first beverage, and an extract are supplied to form a first mixture, and to which a second ingredient, which is an ingredient of the second beverage, and an extract are supplied to form a second mixture; a filtering unit that filters the first beverage from the first mixture using a first filter and filters the second beverage from the second mixture using a second filter; A method for serving a beverage using a beverage serving device comprising: A beverage serving method in which the control unit selectively executes either a first serving mode in which the first mixture is formed in the extraction unit, the first beverage is filtered in the filtration unit, and the first beverage is served, or a second serving mode in which the second mixture is formed in the extraction unit, the second beverage is filtered in the filtration unit, and the second beverage is served, based on the instruction signal.

6. a control unit that receives an instruction signal to select either the first beverage or the second beverage; an extracting section to which a first ingredient, which is an ingredient of the first beverage, and an extract are supplied to form a first mixture, and to which a second ingredient, which is an ingredient of the second beverage, and an extract are supplied to form a second mixture; a filtering unit that filters the first beverage from the first mixture using a first filter and filters the second beverage from the second mixture using a second filter; A beverage providing device comprising: A beverage serving program for causing a computer to execute a step in which the control unit selectively executes either a first serving mode in which the first mixture is formed in the extraction unit, the first beverage is filtered in the filtration unit, and the first beverage is served, or a second serving mode in which the second mixture is formed in the extraction unit, the second beverage is filtered in the filtration unit, and the second beverage is served, based on the instruction signal.

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