Raw material dispensing device

Abstract

To prevent imbalances in remaining raw materials and replenish them at the appropriate time. [Solution] A raw material box (raw material dispensing device) 33 that contains and stores raw materials and dispenses raw materials from a dispensing port 33 by driving a built-in dispensing drive unit 40, wherein the dispensing drive unit 40 has a rod-shaped shaft portion 41 that extends in a manner close to the dispensing port 33 and a blade portion 42 that extends spirally on the outer circumference of the shaft portion 41 in a manner protruding radially outward from the shaft portion 41, and is equipped with a dispensing auger 40a that dispenses raw materials toward the dispensing port 33 by rotating around the central axis of the shaft portion 41, and the front portion (first portion) 41a of the shaft portion 41 that is away from the dispensing port 33 has a larger diameter than the rear portion (second portion) 41b that is close to the dispensing port 33.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a raw material dispensing device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in a beverage supply device such as a coffee machine installed in a store such as a convenience store, a raw material box for storing and holding coffee beans is provided. The raw material box discharges an amount of coffee beans necessary for beverage production by driving a built-in carry-out drive unit. The carry-out drive unit includes a rod-shaped shaft portion extending in a manner close to the discharge port of the raw material box, and a carry-out auger having a blade portion spirally extending on the outer peripheral portion of the shaft portion in a manner protruding radially outward of the shaft portion. By rotating the carry-out auger around the central axis of the shaft portion, the coffee beans are carried out toward the discharge port while being discharged from the discharge port (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in order to discharge the raw materials constrained between the pitches of the blade portions to the discharge port while discharging them, the raw materials in the region separated from the discharge port are discharged earlier than the raw materials in the region close to the discharge port. As a result, a bias in the remaining raw materials occurs between the region close to the discharge port and the region separated from the discharge port.

[0005] When such a bias in the remaining raw materials occurs, when the raw material box is viewed from the discharge port side, sufficient raw materials remain, and when the raw material box is viewed from the side opposite to the discharge port, the raw materials are reduced, and there is a risk of misjudging the raw material replenishment timing.

[0006] In view of the above circumstances, the present invention aims to provide a raw material dispensing device that can suppress the uneven distribution of remaining raw materials and replenish raw materials at an appropriate time. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To achieve the above objective, the raw material dispensing device according to the present invention is a raw material dispensing device that contains and stores raw materials and dispenses the raw materials from a dispensing port by driving a built-in dispensing drive unit, wherein the dispensing drive unit has a rod-shaped shaft portion that extends in close proximity to the dispensing port and a blade portion that extends spirally from the outer circumference of the shaft portion in a manner that protrudes radially outward from the shaft portion, and comprises a dispensing auger that dispenses the raw materials toward the dispensing port by rotating around the central axis of the shaft portion, wherein the first portion of the shaft portion that is separated from the dispensing port has a larger diameter than the second portion that is close to the dispensing port.

[0008] Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned raw material dispensing device, the first part occupies more than half of the total length of the shaft portion.

[0009] Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned raw material dispensing device, the raw material is coffee beans. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, the shaft portion of the discharge auger has a larger diameter in the first portion that is separated from the discharge port than in the second portion that is close to the discharge port. As a result, the material stored in the material box is discharged first from the central region in the front-to-back direction, and the material from the front and rear portions flows to the central region, resulting in a roughly uniform height of remaining material. Therefore, it is possible to suppress uneven distribution of remaining material and replenish the material at an appropriate time. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1]Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of a beverage supply device to which a raw material dispensing device, which is an embodiment of the present invention, is applied. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a schematic block diagram showing a characteristic control system of a beverage supply device to which a raw material dispensing device, which is an embodiment of the present invention, is applied. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a flowchart showing the processing details of the beverage supply control process performed by the control unit shown in Figure 2. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional side view showing the internal structure of one of the raw material boxes shown in Figures 1 and 2. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of the transport auger as shown in Figure 4, etc. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the transport auger shown in Figures 4 and 5, viewed from the front. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the transport auger shown in Figures 4 and 5, viewed from the front. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional side view illustrating the dispensing of coffee beans from the raw material box shown in Figure 4. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a cross-sectional side view illustrating the dispensing of coffee beans from the raw material box shown in Figure 4. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] A preferred embodiment of the raw material dispensing apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings.

[0013] <Overview of the Beverage Dispensing System Configuration> Figures 1 and 2 show a beverage supply apparatus to which a raw material dispensing device, which is an embodiment of the present invention, is applied. Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the external configuration, and Figure 2 is a block diagram schematically showing a characteristic control system.

[0014] The beverage supply device illustrated here is a coffee machine installed in a store such as a convenience store, for example, and performs extraction processes such as coffee bean grinding and dripping to supply beverages such as coffee into a cup C which is a container. Such a beverage supply device includes a device main body 1.

[0015] The device main body 1 includes a main body cabinet 10 and a front door 20. The main body cabinet 10 has a substantially rectangular shape with an opening on the front surface. A raw material box (raw material dispensing device) 30 and a beverage generation unit 50 are provided in the main body cabinet 10.

[0016] The raw material box 30 stores and preserves coffee beans which are raw materials of beverages, and four of them are provided in the present embodiment. Each of these raw material boxes 30 incorporates a carry-out drive unit 40. The carry-out drive unit 40 is composed of a carry-out auger 40a and a carry-out motor 40b for driving the carry-out auger 40a, and discharges a predetermined amount of coffee beans into the beverage generation unit 50. Details of such a carry-out drive unit 40 will be described later.

[0017] The beverage generation unit 50 generates coffee using the coffee beans discharged from the raw material box 30 and hot water supplied from a hot water storage unit (not shown) that stores hot water. More specifically described, the beverage generation unit 50 pulverizes the coffee beans discharged from the raw material box 30 and extracts and generates coffee using the pulverized beans and hot water from the hot water storage unit.

[0018] The front door 20 is a door body having a size sufficient to close the opening on the front surface of the main body cabinet 10. The front door 20 is provided so as to be swingable around the central axis of a shaft portion (not shown) extending in the vertical direction at one side edge portion on the front side of the main body cabinet 10, and can open and close the opening on the front surface of the main body cabinet 10.

[0019] The front door 20 has a front surface that serves as the customer service area and is equipped with a display unit 21, a beverage supply unit 22, and an opening / closing door 23. The display unit 21 is, for example, composed of a liquid crystal touch panel and displays various information and has an input unit 21a that allows input operations such as touch operation.

[0020] The beverage supply unit 22 is located below the display unit 21 and has a nozzle 22a and a stage 22b. The nozzle 22a discharges the beverage produced in the beverage generation unit 50 downwards. The stage 22b is located below the nozzle 22a. This stage 22b is for placing the cup C and is provided with an arc-shaped stopper 22c.

[0021] The opening / closing door 23 is made of a light-transmitting material such as transparent resin, and is large enough to cover the inlet 22d of the beverage supply unit 22. The left end of this opening / closing door 23 is pivotally supported on the front door 20 and is swingable along the front-rear direction. In other words, the opening / closing door 23 is swingable along the front-rear direction in a manner that moves it closer to and further away from the beverage supply unit 22. When swinging backward in a manner that moves it closer to the beverage supply unit 22, it is possible to close the inlet 22d of the beverage supply unit 22, and when swinging forward in a manner that moves it away from the beverage supply unit 22, it is possible to open the inlet 22d of the beverage supply unit 22.

[0022] As shown in Figure 2, the beverage supply device includes a container detection unit 24, a door opening / closing detection unit 25, a door opening / closing locking mechanism 26, and a control unit 60.

[0023] The container detection unit 24 is composed of, for example, an optical sensor, and detects whether or not a cup C is placed in the beverage supply unit 22, that is, whether or not a cup C is placed on the stage 22b. The container detection unit 24 provides the control unit 60 with the result of detecting the presence or absence of the cup C.

[0024] The door opening / closing detection unit 25 is located near the inlet 22d of the beverage supply unit 22 and is composed of, for example, an optical sensor. This door opening / closing detection unit 25 detects the opening and closing of the inlet 22d by the opening / closing door 23, and more specifically, it detects whether the inlet 22d is closed, that is, whether the opening / closing door 23 is closed or not. The door opening / closing detection unit 25 provides the control unit 60 with the detection result of whether the opening / closing door 23 is closed or not.

[0025] The door opening / closing lock mechanism 26 is located near the inlet 22d of the beverage supply unit 22. This door opening / closing lock mechanism 26 can selectively switch between a locked state, which holds the opening / closing door 23 that closes the inlet 22d closed and restricts the opening / closing door 23 from swinging forward, and an unlocked state, which allows the opening / closing door 23 to swing forward. The switching of this door opening / closing lock mechanism 26 is performed in accordance with a command given by the control unit 60.

[0026] The control unit 60 is communicatively connected to the raw material box 30, beverage production unit 50, display unit 21, container detection unit 24, door opening / closing detection unit 25, and door opening / closing lock mechanism 26 described above. It comprehensively controls the operation of each of these units according to the programs and data stored in the storage unit 61, which is also communicatively connected. The storage unit 61 also stores recipe data for beverages that can be supplied.

[0027] Furthermore, the control unit 60 may be implemented, for example, by causing a processing unit such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) to execute a program, i.e., by software; by hardware such as an IC (Integrated Circuit); or by using a combination of software and hardware.

[0028] <Overview of Beverage Dispensing System Operation> Figure 3 is a flowchart showing the processing details of the beverage supply control process performed by the control unit 60 shown in Figure 2. The operation of the beverage supply device will be explained while describing the processing details of this beverage supply control process.

[0029] In this beverage supply control process, the control unit 60 determines whether the container detection unit 24 has detected that cup C is present in the beverage supply unit 22 (step S101). That is, the container detection unit 24 detects whether cup C is placed on the stage 22b. If cup C is not detected (step S101: No), the control unit 60 repeats the determination process in step S101.

[0030] If cup C is detected to be present (step S101: Yes), the control unit 60 determines whether the door 23 is closed or not based on the detection result of the door opening / closing detection unit 25 (step S102). If the door 23 is not closed (step S102: No), the determination process in step S102 is repeated.

[0031] On the other hand, if the opening / closing door 23 is closed (step S102: Yes), the control unit 60 uses the door opening / closing lock mechanism 26 to lock the opening / closing door 23 in the closed position (step S103).

[0032] The control unit 60 then displays to the display unit 21 the beverages that can be supplied and provides guidance on touching the input unit 21a (step S104).

[0033] Subsequently, the control unit 60 determines whether or not the input unit 21a has been touched (step S105). If the input unit 21a is not touched (step S105: No), the control unit 60 repeats the determination process in step S105.

[0034] On the other hand, if the input unit 21a is touched (step S105: Yes), the control unit 60 assumes that a beverage supply command has been given and dispenses the raw materials to produce the beverage selected by the touch of the input unit 21a (step S106). That is, the control unit 60 drives the discharge drive unit 40 of the corresponding raw material box 30 to dispense a predetermined amount of raw materials to the beverage production unit 50.

[0035] After dispensing the raw materials, the control unit 60 instructs the beverage production unit 50 to produce and supply the beverage to be supplied (step S107). Subsequently, the control unit 60 determines whether or not the beverage supply by the beverage production unit 50 has finished (step S108). If the beverage supply has not finished (step S108: No), the control unit 60 returns to step S107 and continues the beverage production and supply process. On the other hand, if the beverage supply has finished (step S108: Yes), the control unit 60 releases the lock on the door 23 in the closed position by the door opening / closing lock mechanism 26 (step S109), and then returns to the previous step to end the current process.

[0036] <Composition of raw material box 30> Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of one raw material box 30 as shown in Figures 1 and 2. As described above, multiple raw material boxes 30 (four in the illustrated example) are provided and are arranged side by side with other raw material boxes 30. These raw material boxes 30 may contain different types of raw materials, or multiple boxes may contain the same type of raw material, with some containing different types of raw materials. Since each of these raw material boxes 30 has the same configuration, the configuration of one raw material box 30 will be described below, and the configurations of the other raw material boxes 30 will be omitted.

[0037] As shown in Figure 4, the raw material box 30 has an input port 31 formed on its upper surface, which is closed by a lid 32, and has a discharge port 33 at its lower rear end. Such a raw material box 30 is formed such that the cross-sectional area gradually decreases from the input port 31 downwards, and a hollow cylindrical discharge path 34 is formed in such a manner that it communicates with the discharge port 33.

[0038] The raw material box 30 houses the discharge auger 40a, which constitutes the discharge drive unit 40. As shown in Figure 5, the discharge auger 40a is composed of a shaft portion 41 and a blade portion 42.

[0039] The shaft portion 41 is rod-shaped and extends along the front-rear direction in a manner that approaches the discharge outlet 33, and passes through the discharge path 34. The front end portion of this shaft portion 41 is connected to the discharge motor 40b, which together with the discharge auger 40a constitutes the discharge drive unit 40, via a connecting member 43, and as a result the shaft portion 41 rotates around its own central axis when driven by the discharge motor 40b.

[0040] The blade portion 42 extends spirally along the central axis direction of the shaft portion 41 on the outer circumference of the shaft portion 41, projecting radially outward from the shaft portion 41.

[0041] The outer diameter of the discharge auger 40a, which is the maximum width, is determined by the outer diameter of the blade portion 42 and is uniform in the front-to-back direction. This is to keep the gap between the discharge auger 40a and the discharge path 34 constant.

[0042] On the other hand, the shaft portion 41 has a larger diameter in the front portion (first portion) 41a, which is spaced away from the outlet 33, than in the rear portion (second portion) 41b, which is closer to the outlet 33.

[0043] More specifically, the shaft portion 41 is composed of a front portion 41a with an enlarged diameter and a rear portion 41b with a reduced diameter, which are continuous with each other. As shown in Figure 6, the outer diameter of the front portion 41a is 70-90% of the outer diameter of the discharge auger 40a (outer diameter of the blade portion 42).

[0044] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 7, the outer diameter of the rear portion 41b is less than 50% of the outer diameter of the discharge auger 40a, and it gradually decreases as it approaches the discharge port 33. The front portion 41a occupies more than half of the total length of the shaft portion 41, and more specifically, it occupies 50-70% of the total length of the shaft portion 41.

[0045] In the raw material box 30 having the above configuration, the discharge auger 40a rotates around the central axis of the shaft portion 41 as shown in Figure 8, thereby constraining the coffee beans mainly between the pitches of the blade portion 42 in the rear portion 41b of the shaft portion 41, and discharges them toward the discharge port 33, from which the coffee beans are discharged.

[0046] As a result, the coffee beans in the central region in the front-to-back direction of the raw material box 30 are dispensed first, and as shown in Figure 9, the coffee beans in the front and rear regions flow to the central region, resulting in a roughly uniform height of stored coffee beans (remaining coffee beans).

[0047] Therefore, the raw material box 30 prevents uneven distribution of remaining coffee beans and allows for replenishment of coffee beans at the appropriate time.

[0048] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications can be made.

[0049] In the embodiments described above, coffee beans were used as an example of a bean-shaped raw material, but the raw material of the present invention may be something other than coffee beans. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0050] 30...raw material box, 31...input port, 32...lid, 33...discharge port, 34...discharge route, 40...discharge drive unit, 40a...discharge auger, 40b...discharge motor, 41...shaft section, 41a...front section, 41b...rear section, 42...blade section.

Claims

1. A raw material dispensing device that contains and stores raw materials and dispenses the raw materials from a dispensing port by driving a built-in dispensing drive unit, The discharge drive unit comprises a discharge auger having a rod-shaped shaft portion extending in a manner close to the discharge outlet, and a blade portion extending spirally from the outer circumference of the shaft portion in a manner protruding radially outward from the shaft portion, and which discharges the raw material toward the discharge outlet and discharges the raw material from the discharge outlet by rotating around the central axis of the shaft portion. The raw material dispensing device is characterized in that the shaft portion has a diameter that is larger in the first portion that is separated from the dispensing outlet than in the second portion that is close to the dispensing outlet.

2. The raw material dispensing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first part occupies more than half of the total length of the shaft portion.

3. The raw material dispensing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the raw material is coffee beans.

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