Beverage supply device

Abstract

To provide a beverage supply device capable of properly sterilizing a mouth of a container.SOLUTION: The beverage supply device comprises: a container holding part for holding the container; a nozzle for supplying a beverage to the container; an ultraviolet irradiation part; and a relative displacement part for relatively displacing the nozzle and the ultraviolet irradiation part relative to the container holding part until a distance from the container held by the container holding part to the nozzle becomes a set distance. The ultraviolet irradiation part is arranged in a state to allow irradiation of ultraviolet rays on the mouth of the container in a state in which the distance from the container to the nozzle has become the set distance.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a beverage dispensing device and a beverage dispensing method. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, in a beverage supplying device that supplies a beverage from a nozzle to a container, a configuration for sterilizing the nozzle is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The beverage supplying device described in Patent Document 1 includes a stand on which the container is placed, a discharge pipe (nozzle) that is disposed above the stand and supplies the beverage to the container, and an irradiation unit that is disposed below the stand. An opening is formed in the stand to allow ultraviolet light emitted from the irradiation unit to pass through. The ultraviolet light that passes through this opening is irradiated onto the discharge outlet of the discharge pipe, thereby disinfecting the discharge outlet. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-104056 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the beverage dispenser of Patent Document 1, when a container is placed on the stand, the opening is blocked, making it impossible to properly sterilize the drinking spout of the container.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a beverage supplying device and a beverage supplying method that can appropriately sterilize the drinking spout of a container. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The beverage supply device of the present disclosure comprises: Inside the container lifting room a container holding unit for holding a container; a nozzle for supplying a beverage to the container; an ultraviolet ray irradiation unit; and a nozzle for supplying a beverage to the container until the distance from the container held by the container holding unit reaches a set distance. The container holding unit is movable up and down.A relative moving unit, wherein the ultraviolet ray irradiation unit is Provided on a side surface of the container lifting chamber, When the distance from the container to the nozzle is the set distance, ultraviolet light can be irradiated onto the drinking spout of the container. It is configured to .

[0007] The beverage supplying method disclosed herein is a beverage supplying method performed by a beverage supplying device that includes a container holding portion for holding a container, a nozzle for supplying a beverage to the container, and an ultraviolet ray irradiation portion, in which the beverage supplying device moves the nozzle and the ultraviolet ray irradiation portion relative to the container holding portion until the distance from the container held by the container holding portion to the nozzle becomes a set distance, and uses the ultraviolet ray irradiation portion to irradiate ultraviolet rays onto the drinking spout of the container when the distance from the container to the nozzle becomes the set distance. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the beverage supply device and beverage supply method of the present disclosure, the drinking spout of the container can be appropriately sterilized. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] Front view of the beverage dispenser [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container installation section and the beverage supply section as viewed from the front and diagonally upward right side; [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the container installation section as seen from the front and diagonally lower right side [Figure 4] Block diagram of beverage supply device [Diagram 5] Flowchart of standby sterilization process [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a front view of the inside of the beverage dispenser when a sterilization process is being performed during standby; [Figure 7] Flowchart of beverage serving process [Figure 8] Flowchart of beverage serving process [Figure 9] Flowchart of beverage serving process [Figure 10]FIG. 13 is a front view of the inside of the beverage supply device when a sterilization process is being performed during the beverage serving process; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] [Embodiment] Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.

[0011] <Beverage supply device configuration> First, the configuration of the beverage dispenser will be described. Fig. 1 is a front view of the beverage dispenser. The front side is the side that the user of the beverage dispenser faces, and the rear side is the opposite side to the front side. The right side is the right side as seen from the user, and the left side is the opposite side to the right side. The upper side is the upper side when the beverage dispenser is installed on a horizontal plane, and the lower side is the opposite side to the upper side.

[0012] 1, beverage supplying device 1 includes a housing 10, an operation display unit 20, a container installation unit 30, and a beverage supplying unit 40. Beverage supplying device 1 supplies a beverage selected by a user operating operation display unit 20 to a container C. Examples of container C include a cup prepared by an employee or manager (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "employee, etc.") of a store or facility in which beverage supplying device 1 is installed, or a tumbler, water bottle, or cup brought in by a user of the beverage supplying device.

[0013] A container insertion / removal opening 10A for inserting and removing the container C into and from the housing 10 is formed on the front surface of the housing 10. Also, an insertion / removal opening door 11 for opening and closing the container insertion / removal opening 10A is arranged on the front surface of the housing 10. The insertion / removal opening door 11 is arranged so as to be rotatable around the left end portion, for example. A mask 12 having a function of blocking ultraviolet rays U (see FIG. 2) is arranged on the upper portion of the rear surface of the insertion / removal opening door 11 (the surface located on the inside side of the housing 10 when the insertion / removal opening door 11 is closed). This mask 12 can eliminate the influence of ultraviolet rays U on the user when ultraviolet rays U are irradiated to the drinking spout D (see FIG. 2) of the container C or a nozzle 42 (see FIG. 2) of the beverage supply unit 40, which will be described later. The drinking spout D is a portion of the container C that the user comes into contact with when drinking a beverage, and refers to at least the outer peripheral surface of the upper end side of the upper surface of the container C and the outer peripheral surface and inner peripheral surface of the upper end side.

[0014] Furthermore, an opening / closing sensor 13 is disposed above the container loading / unloading opening 10A on the front surface of the housing 10. The opening / closing sensor 13 is configured with a distance measuring sensor. When the opening / closing sensor 13 detects an operation by a user to open the loading / unloading opening door 11 (the user holds his / her hand over the opening / closing sensor 13), it outputs an operation detection signal.

[0015] The operation display unit 20 is disposed at an upper portion on the front surface of the housing 10. The operation display unit 20 is used for selecting a beverage. The operation display unit 20 is configured with a touch panel. The operation display unit 20 displays selection buttons for selecting a beverage that can be served, and when a user presses an area corresponding to a predetermined selection button, outputs a beverage specification signal that specifies the pressed area to a control unit 75 (see FIG. 4) described below. Note that instead of the operation display unit 20, a physical button for selecting a beverage that can be served may be disposed on the housing 10.

[0016] The container installation unit 30 is disposed on the lower side inside the housing 10. A container C is installed in the container installation unit 30. The container installation unit 30 will be described in detail later.

[0017] The beverage supply unit 40 is disposed inside the housing 10. The beverage supply unit 40 supplies a beverage selected by a user to a container C installed in the container installation unit 30. A detailed description of the beverage supply unit 40 will be given later.

[0018] Next, a detailed configuration of the container installation unit 30 will be described. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the container installation unit 30 and the beverage supply unit 40 as viewed from the front and diagonally above right. As shown in Fig. 2, the container installation unit 30 includes a container lifting chamber 31 and a container holding unit 32. Fig. 2 shows a state in which a container C1, such as a relatively tall tumbler or water bottle, is installed in the container installation unit 30 as the container C.

[0019] The container lifting chamber 31 is formed in a vertically long rectangular box shape with an open front. The interior of the container lifting chamber 31 forms a lifting space in which the container C lifts and lowers. A beverage through hole 312 is formed in the left-right center of a top plate 311 that forms the container lifting chamber 31. A beverage supplied from the beverage supply unit 40 passes through the beverage through hole 312 and is supplied to the container C in the container lifting chamber 31. A rack through hole 313 is formed in the left side portion of the top plate 311.

[0020] The container holding unit 32 holds the container C in the container lifting chamber 31, and moves up and down within the container lifting chamber 31. The container holding unit 32 includes a placement unit 33 and an adjustment unit .

[0021] The placement unit 33 is formed in a box shape with an open front and top. The placement unit 33 is arranged so as to be able to move up and down within the container lifting chamber 31. The container C is placed on a bottom plate portion 331 of the placement unit 33.

[0022] The adjustment unit 34 adjusts the horizontal position of the container C by moving the container C in the horizontal direction in synchronization with the movement of the placement unit 33. The adjustment unit 34 includes a pair of contact members 341 and an interlocking control unit (not shown).

[0023] The pair of abutment members 341 are formed in a shape extending in the front-rear direction, and are disposed so as to sandwich the container C from the left and right. The interlocking control unit moves the pair of abutment members 341 in directions approaching each other in synchronization with the upward movement of the mounting unit 33. The interlocking control unit also moves the pair of abutment members 341 in directions away from each other in synchronization with the downward movement of the mounting unit 33.

[0024] Next, a detailed configuration of the beverage supply unit 40 will be described. The beverage supply unit 40 includes a beverage preparation unit 41 (see FIG. 4) that prepares a beverage. The beverage preparation unit 41 includes, for example, a mechanism for extracting coffee from coffee beans, a mechanism for preparing a powder beverage by diluting powder or granules with water or hot water, a mechanism for supplying milk, and the like.

[0025] The beverage supply unit 40 further includes at least one nozzle 42 (six in this embodiment) and a nozzle holder 43. Each nozzle 42 is connected to the beverage production unit 41 via a pipe (not shown), and dispenses different beverages produced in the beverage production unit 41 into the container C. The nozzle holder 43 holds each nozzle 42 so that the beverage dispensed from each nozzle 42 is supplied to the container C in the container lifting chamber 31 through the beverage through-hole 312.

[0026] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the container installation section 30 as viewed from the front and diagonally below to the right. As shown in FIG. 3, a reflecting section 35 made of a material such as aluminum that reflects ultraviolet rays U is disposed in the container lifting chamber 31. The reflecting section 35 includes an upper reflecting section 351 disposed on the lower surface of the top plate 311, a rear reflecting section 352 disposed in an upper and rear portion of the container lifting chamber 31, and a door-side reflecting section 353 (see FIG. 1) disposed on the rear surface of the loading / unloading door 11. The upper reflecting section 351 is configured to diffusely reflect the ultraviolet rays U. The rear reflecting section 352 is formed in an arc plate shape and configured to regularly reflect the ultraviolet rays U. One end of the rear reflecting section 352 in the circumferential direction of the arc is fixed to a central and upper portion of the left side plate 314 of the container lifting chamber 31 in the front-rear direction, and the other end is fixed to a central and upper portion of the right side plate 315 of the container lifting chamber 31 in the front-rear direction. The rear reflecting portion 352 is disposed so as to be recessed rearward in plan view. The door side reflecting portion 353 is formed in a flat plate shape and configured to specularly reflect the ultraviolet ray U. The door side reflecting portion 353 is disposed on the mask 12. The upper reflecting portion 351 may be configured to specularly reflect the ultraviolet ray U, or at least one of the rear reflecting portion 352 and the door side reflecting portion 353 may be configured to diffusely reflect the ultraviolet ray U. The mask 12 may be provided with a function of specularly or diffusely reflecting the ultraviolet ray U without disposing the door side reflecting portion 353 on the mask 12. The reflecting surface of the door side reflecting portion 353 may be formed in a concave shape. When the mask 12 is provided with a function of specularly or diffusely reflecting the ultraviolet ray U, the reflecting surface of the mask 12 may be formed in a concave shape. FIG. 3 shows a state in which a container C2 such as a water bottle or a cup having a relatively low height is disposed on the container installation portion 30 as the container C.

[0027] A rack portion 51 is provided on the left side plate 332 of the mounting portion 33 so as to extend from the lower end of the left side plate 332 to a position above the left side plate 332. A rack groove (not shown) is formed over almost the entire left main surface of the rack portion 51. The rack portion 51 is provided so as to be able to pass through the rack through hole 313 when the mounting portion 33 is raised.

[0028] The beverage dispenser 1 further includes a relative movement unit 50 that raises and lowers the container holding unit 32. The relative movement unit 50 includes the rack unit 51 and the lifting motor 52 described above. The lifting motor 52 is formed of, for example, a servo motor. A drive gear 521 is disposed on the rotation shaft of the lifting motor 52. The lifting motor 52 is disposed such that a part of the drive gear 521 is located inside the container lifting chamber 31 through a gear through-hole formed in the left side plate 314 of the container lifting chamber 31 and engages with the rack groove. The container holding unit 32 is raised and lowered by driving the lifting motor 52.

[0029] The beverage dispenser 1 further includes an ultraviolet ray irradiation unit 60. The ultraviolet ray irradiation unit 60 includes a pair of ultraviolet ray LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) 61. The pair of ultraviolet ray LEDs 61 are configured to irradiate ultraviolet ray U radially (conically). The pair of ultraviolet ray LEDs 61 are fixed to the front and upper portions of the left side plate 314 and the right side plate 315 of the container lifting chamber 31, respectively. The pair of ultraviolet ray LEDs 61 are configured such that their optical axes 61A are inclined upward with respect to the horizontal plane, and the ultraviolet ray U is irradiated obliquely upward. That is, each ultraviolet ray LED 61 is configured to irradiate ultraviolet ray U to the drinking spout D and the nozzle 42 of the container C that are located above the ultraviolet ray LED 61 and within the irradiation range of the ultraviolet ray U. The ultraviolet ray irradiation unit 60 may include a light source that irradiates ultraviolet ray, such as a fluorescent lamp, in addition to the ultraviolet ray LEDs 61 or instead of the ultraviolet ray LEDs 61.

[0030] Under the control of the control unit 75, the ultraviolet ray irradiation unit 60 irradiates ultraviolet ray U while the beverage dispenser 1 is on standby and not performing a beverage serving process, or while the beverage dispenser 1 is in the beverage serving process. When ultraviolet ray U is irradiated while on standby, the nozzle 42 is sterilized because the container C is not present in the container installation unit 30. On the other hand, when ultraviolet ray U is irradiated during the beverage serving process, the drinking spout D and the nozzle 42 are sterilized because the container C is present in the container installation unit 30.

[0031] Fig. 4 is a block diagram of the beverage dispenser 1. As shown in Fig. 4, the beverage dispenser 1 further includes an access door opening / closing unit 70, a sterilization button 71, a detection unit 72, a timing unit 73, a memory unit 74, and a control unit 75.

[0032] The loading / unloading door opening / closing unit 70 opens and closes the loading / unloading door 11. It includes an opening / closing motor 701, a lock unit 702, and the opening / closing sensor 13 described above.

[0033] A drive gear that meshes with a driven gear fixed to a rotating shaft (not shown) of the loading / unloading door 11 is fixed to a rotating shaft (not shown) of the opening / closing motor 701. The opening / closing motor 701 is driven under the control of the control unit 75 to open and close the loading / unloading door 11. The lock unit 702, based on the control of the control unit 75, locks the loading / unloading door 11 so that it does not open from the fully closed state. Note that a well-known configuration having the above-mentioned function can be applied as the lock unit 702.

[0034] The sterilization button 71 is an example of a sterilization operation unit, and when pressed by an employee or the like, a sterilization start signal indicating that the button has been pressed is output to the control unit 75. The sterilization button 71 is pressed when an employee or the like wishes to forcibly sterilize the nozzle 42. The sterilization button 71 may be displayed on the operation display unit 20, or may be configured as a physical button arranged on the housing 10. Note that although the sterilization button 71 has been exemplified as an example of a sterilization operation unit, a switch may also be used.

[0035] The detection unit 72 includes a container origin switch 721 , a container detection unit 722 , and an uppermost position detection unit 723 .

[0036] The container origin switch 721 detects that the container holder 32 is located at the bottom of the range of movement of the container holder 32 (see FIG. 6). In the following, the bottom position of the range of movement of the container holder 32 may be referred to as the "origin position". The container detection unit 722 detects that the container C is present in the container holder 32 located at the origin position. The top position detection unit 723 detects that the container C placed on the container holder 32 is located at a preset top position. The top position is the position where the container C is located when the distance from the top end of the container C to the bottom end of the nozzle 42 becomes a set distance (see FIGS. 2, 3, and 9). When the container C is located at the top position, the spout D is located on the optical axis 61A of the ultraviolet LED 61, and the ultraviolet light U is reliably irradiated to the spout D. In addition, the container origin switch 721, the container detection unit 722, and the top position detection unit 723 can be configured in a known manner having the above-mentioned functions.

[0037] The timekeeping unit 73 keeps track of the current time. The timekeeping unit 73 also has a function as a timer. The timekeeping unit 73 outputs information about the current time and the remaining time in the timer function to the control unit 75.

[0038] The storage unit 74 is configured to be able to transmit and receive various data to and from the control unit 75. The storage unit 74 stores various data for controlling the beverage dispenser 1. For example, the storage unit 74 stores a standby time from the end of beverage provision (hereinafter, may be referred to as a "sterilization standby time"), which is a reference for starting sterilization of the nozzle 42 during standby. The sterilization standby time may be a time during which the proliferation of germs in the nozzle 42 does not start after the end of beverage provision and before the sterilization standby time has elapsed. The storage unit 74 also stores a time at which sterilization of the nozzle 42 starts (hereinafter, may be referred to as a "sterilization start time"). The storage unit 74 also stores a time for which sterilization is continued when sterilization of the nozzle 42 is performed during standby (hereinafter, may be referred to as a "sterilization duration time"). Note that an employee or the like can freely set the sterilization standby time, the sterilization start time, and the sterilization duration time, or may not set them.

[0039] The control unit 75 is configured to be able to transmit and receive various signals between the operation display unit 20, the beverage preparation unit 41, the lifting motor 52, the ultraviolet LED 61, the loading / unloading door opening / closing unit 70, the sterilization button 71, the detection unit 72, and the timing unit 73. The control unit 75 controls the entire beverage supply device 1. The control performed by the control unit 75 will be described later.

[0040] <Operation of beverage supply device> Next, a description will be given of the operation of the beverage supplying device 1. As described above, the beverage supplying device 1 performs sterilization during standby or during the beverage providing process. The details of these sterilization processes will be described below.

[0041] (Standby sterilization process) First, the sterilization process during standby will be described. Fig. 5 is a flow chart of the sterilization process during standby. Fig. 6 is a front view of the inside of beverage dispenser 1 when the sterilization process during standby is being performed.

[0042] First, in a state where the container holding unit 32 on which no container C is placed waits at the origin position (see FIG. 6), the control unit 75 determines whether or not the sterilization standby time has elapsed since the end of serving the last beverage, as shown in FIG. 5 (step S1). The control unit 75 performs the determination process of step S1 based on the elapsed time from the end of serving the last beverage, which is timed by the timing unit 73, and the sterilization standby time stored in the memory unit 74. If the control unit 75 determines that the sterilization standby time has not elapsed since the end of serving the beverage (step S1: NO), it determines whether or not the current time timed by the timing unit 73 is the sterilization start time stored in the memory unit 74 (step S2). If the control unit 75 determines that the current time is not the sterilization start time (step S2: NO), it determines whether or not the sterilization button 71 has been pressed (step S3). If the control unit 75 determines that the sterilization button 71 has not been pressed (step S3: NO), it ends the sterilization process on standby.

[0043] On the other hand, when the control unit 75 determines that the sterilization waiting time has elapsed since the end of the beverage serving (step S1: YES), or when the control unit 75 determines that the current time is the sterilization start time (step S2: YES), or when the control unit 75 determines that the sterilization button 71 has been pressed (step S3: YES), the control unit 75 controls the lock unit 702 to lock the loading / unloading door 11 in a fully closed state (step S4). Next, the control unit 75 controls the ultraviolet ray irradiation unit 60 to sterilize the nozzle 42 by irradiating the ultraviolet ray U (step S5). By the process of step S5, as shown in FIG. 6, the ultraviolet ray U emitted from the ultraviolet ray irradiation unit 60 is directly irradiated to the nozzle 42. In addition, after the ultraviolet ray U is irradiated from the ultraviolet ray irradiation unit 60 to the door side reflection unit 352, the ultraviolet ray U reflected by the rear reflection unit 352 is irradiated to the nozzle 42. In addition, after the ultraviolet ray U is irradiated from the ultraviolet ray irradiation unit 60 to the door side reflection unit 353, the ultraviolet ray U reflected by the door side reflection unit 353 is irradiated to the nozzle 42. The control unit 75 continues sterilization of the nozzle 42 until the time elapsed from the start of sterilization measured by the timing unit 73 reaches the sterilization duration stored in the memory unit 74.

[0044] In the following, ultraviolet light U emitted from the ultraviolet light irradiation unit 60 and directly irradiated to the nozzle 42 or the drinking spout D may be referred to as ultraviolet light U0. Furthermore, ultraviolet light U irradiated from the ultraviolet light irradiation unit 60 to the upward reflecting unit 351, reflected by the upward reflecting unit 351, and irradiated to the drinking spout D may be referred to as ultraviolet light U1. Furthermore, ultraviolet light U irradiated from the ultraviolet light irradiation unit 60 to the rearward reflecting unit 352, reflected by the rearward reflecting unit 352, and irradiated to the nozzle 42 or the drinking spout D may be referred to as ultraviolet light U2.

[0045] 5, when control unit 75 finishes sterilization of nozzle 42, it controls lock unit 702 to unlock access door 11 (step S6), and ends the standby sterilization process. The above steps S1 to S6 are repeated until the user uses open / close sensor 13 to open access door 11, that is, until beverage serving begins. Note that if the user opens access door 11 during irradiation of ultraviolet light U in step S5, control unit 75 immediately finishes sterilization of nozzle 42, performs the process of step S6, and then starts serving beverages.

[0046] As described above, even when the beverage supply device 1 is in standby, it sterilizes the nozzle 42 when the sterilization standby time has elapsed since the beverage supply has ended (a predetermined time has elapsed since the beverage supply has ended), or when the sterilization start time has arrived, or when the sterilization button 71 is pressed, thereby keeping the nozzle 42 clean.

[0047] Furthermore, during the standby sterilization process, the beverage dispenser 1 locks the loading / unloading door 11 while irradiating the ultraviolet rays U0, U2 and the ultraviolet rays U reflected by the door-side reflector 353. In this way, by preventing the loading / unloading door 11 from being opened while irradiating the ultraviolet rays U, it is possible to prevent the ultraviolet rays U from adversely affecting the user.

[0048] (Beverage supply processing) Next, the beverage providing process will be described. Figures 7, 8 and 9 are flowcharts of the beverage providing process. Figure 10 is a front view of the inside of the beverage dispenser 1 when a sterilization process is being performed during the beverage providing process.

[0049] First, when the container holder 32, on which no container C is placed, waits at the origin position, the control unit 75 determines whether or not an operation to open the loading / unloading door 11 has been performed based on the output state of the operation detection signal from the opening / closing sensor 13 as shown in Fig. 7 (step S11). If the control unit 75 determines that an operation to open the loading / unloading door 11 has not been performed (step S11: NO), it performs the process of step S11 again. On the other hand, if the control unit 75 determines that an operation to open the loading / unloading door 11 has been performed (step S11: YES), it controls the opening / closing motor 701 to open the loading / unloading door 11 (step S12).

[0050] Next, the control unit 75 determines whether or not a container C is present in the container holding unit 32 located at the origin position, that is, whether or not a container C has been placed on the container holding unit 32, based on the detection result of the container detection unit 722 (step S13). If the control unit 75 determines that a container C is not present (step S13: NO), it performs the process of step S13 again. On the other hand, if the control unit 75 determines that a container C has been placed on the container holding unit 32 (step S13: YES), it determines whether or not a beverage has been selected by operating the selection button, based on the output state of the beverage specification signal from the operation display unit 20 (step S14). If the control unit 75 determines that a beverage has not been selected (step S14: NO), it performs the process of step S14 again.

[0051] On the other hand, when the control unit 75 determines that a beverage has been selected (step S14: YES), it controls the opening / closing motor 701 to close the loading / unloading door 11, and then controls the locking unit 702 to lock the loading / unloading door 11 (step S15). When the loading / unloading door 11 is locked, the control unit 75 controls the ultraviolet ray irradiation unit 60 to start irradiating ultraviolet ray U (step S16).

[0052] After that, as shown in FIG. 8, the control unit 75 judges whether the container C is at the top position based on the detection result of the top position detection unit 723 (step S17). When the control unit 75 judges that the container C is at the top position (step S17: YES), it determines the supply amount of the beverage (step S18). For example, the control unit 75 may determine the supply amount based on the movement amount of the container holding unit 32 from the origin position to a position where the distance from the upper end of the container C to the lower end of the nozzle 42 is a set distance (hereinafter, may be referred to as the "holding unit movement amount"). In this case, the control unit 75 increases the supply amount as the holding unit movement amount is shorter, that is, the container C is higher and has a larger capacity. When it is judged that the container C is at the top position in the process of step S17, the holding unit movement amount is 0, so the supply amount is the largest. In addition, examples of the method of detecting the holding unit movement amount include a method of detecting based on the rotation angle of the lifting motor 52 and a method of detecting based on the rising speed of the container holding unit 32 and the time from the start of the rise to the end of the rise.

[0053] Here, in step S17, it is determined that the container C is at the top position when the container C is a container C1 such as a tumbler or water bottle that is relatively tall as shown in FIG. 10. In this case, the drinking spout D1 of the container C1 is located above the ultraviolet LED 61 and on the optical axis 61A of the ultraviolet LED 61. Therefore, when the irradiation of the ultraviolet light U is started in step S16, the drinking spout D1 is sterilized by the ultraviolet light U0, U1, U2 and the ultraviolet light U reflected by the door side reflector 353. In this way, the ultraviolet light U1 reflected by the upper reflector 351, the ultraviolet light U2 reflected by the rear reflector 352, and the ultraviolet light U reflected by the door side reflector 353 are irradiated to the drinking spout D1, so that the amount of ultraviolet light U irradiated to the drinking spout D1 can be increased compared to the case where the upper reflector 351, the rear reflector 352, and the door side reflector 353 are not arranged. Therefore, the sterilization ability of the drinking spout D1 can be improved. Furthermore, when irradiation of the ultraviolet rays U starts, similarly to the case of the sterilization process during standby, the nozzle 42 is sterilized by the ultraviolet rays U0, U2 and the ultraviolet rays U reflected by the door-side reflector 353. In other words, sterilization of the drinking spout D1 and the nozzle 42 starts almost simultaneously with the start of irradiation of the ultraviolet rays U.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 8, when it is determined that the container C is not at the uppermost position (step S17: NO), the control unit 75 controls the lift motor 52 to start lifting the container holding unit 32 (step S19).

[0055] Here, in step S17, it is determined that the container C is not at the top position when the container C is, for example, a container C2 such as a water bottle or a cup with a relatively low height as shown in Fig. 3. In this case, the drinking spout D2 of the container C2 is located at a position considerably lower than the ultraviolet LED 61 and outside the irradiation range of the ultraviolet rays U. Therefore, even if irradiation of the ultraviolet rays U is started in step S16, the ultraviolet rays U are not irradiated onto the drinking spout D2, and sterilization of the drinking spout D2 is not started. However, as in the case of the standby sterilization process, the ultraviolet rays U0, U2 and the ultraviolet rays U reflected by the door-side reflector 353 are irradiated onto the nozzle 42 (the nozzle 42 is not shown in Fig. 3), and sterilization of the nozzle 42 is started.

[0056] 8, when the container holding part 32 starts to rise by the process of step S19, the control part 75 determines whether or not the container C is in the top position based on the detection result of the top position detection part 723 (step S20). When the control part 75 determines that the container C is not in the top position (step S20: NO), it executes the process of step S20 again. On the other hand, when the control part 75 determines that the upper end of the container C is in the top position (step S20: YES), it controls the lift motor 52 so that the rise of the container holding part 32 ends (step S21). By the process of this step S21, the container holding part 32 stops at a position where the distance from the upper end of the container C to the lower end of the nozzle 42 becomes the set distance.

[0057] For example, in step S20, a container C2 such as a water bottle or cup with a relatively low height as shown in Fig. 3 is determined to have its upper end at the uppermost position. In this case, the drinking spout D2 of the container C2 is located above the ultraviolet LED 61 and on the optical axis 61A of the ultraviolet LED 61. Therefore, the drinking spout D2 is sterilized by the ultraviolet rays U0, U1, U2 and the ultraviolet rays U reflected by the door-side reflector 353. The sterilization of the drinking spout D2 of such a container C2 is started from the timing when the container C2 starts to rise until the upper end of the container C2 is determined to be at the uppermost position, and starts from the timing when the drinking spout D2 starts to enter the irradiation range of the ultraviolet rays U.

[0058] As described above, the beverage dispenser 1 moves the nozzle 42 and the ultraviolet irradiating unit 60 relative to the container holding unit 32 until the distance from the container C to the nozzle 42 reaches the set distance, and then irradiates the drinking spout D of the container C with ultraviolet light U. Therefore, even when the container C is placed on the container holding unit 32, the drinking spout D of the container C can be properly sterilized. Furthermore, the distance from the drinking spout D to the ultraviolet irradiating unit 60 can be made approximately the same regardless of the height of the container C. Therefore, the drinking spouts D of containers C of various heights can be properly sterilized with the same sterilization ability.

[0059] Furthermore, if the nozzle 42 and the ultraviolet ray irradiation unit 60 are moved to approach the container C, the following problems occur. For example, the resin pipes connecting the nozzle 42 and the beverage production unit 41, and the wiring supplying power to the ultraviolet LEDs 61 of the ultraviolet ray irradiation unit 60, bend and stretch as the nozzle 42 and the ultraviolet ray irradiation unit 60 move up and down. This causes problems such as the risk of the pipes and wiring being damaged, and the need to provide space to allow the pipes and wiring to move. However, by moving the container C while fixing the nozzle 42 and the ultraviolet ray irradiation unit 60 as in this embodiment, the above problems can be eliminated.

[0060] After performing the process of step S21, the control unit 75 determines the amount of beverage to be supplied (step S18). As described above, the control unit 75 determines the amount of beverage to be supplied based on, for example, the amount of movement of the holding unit. Thereafter, the control unit 75 controls the beverage preparation unit 41 to supply the beverage selected by the user to the container C in the amount determined in step S18 (step S22). When the supply of the beverage is completed, the control unit 75 controls the ultraviolet ray irradiation unit 60 to terminate the irradiation of the ultraviolet ray U (step S23). With the end of the irradiation of the ultraviolet ray U, sterilization of the drinking spout D and the nozzle 42 is completed.

[0061] As described above, the control unit 75 sterilizes the drinking spout D and the nozzle 42 by irradiating the ultraviolet ray U while a beverage is being supplied to the container C. Since the sterilization effect is proportional to the product of the intensity of the ultraviolet ray U and the irradiation time, by irradiating the ultraviolet ray U while a beverage is being supplied, as in this embodiment, it is possible to appropriately sterilize the drinking spout D and the nozzle 42 while suppressing the output of the ultraviolet ray LED 61.

[0062] When irradiation of ultraviolet light U is completed, control unit 75 controls lock unit 702 to unlock loading / unloading door 11, and then controls opening / closing motor 701 to open loading / unloading door 11 (step S24).

[0063] As described above, in the sterilization process while serving the beverage, the control unit 75 locks the access door 11 while the ultraviolet rays U are being irradiated. In this way, by preventing the access door 11 from being opened while the ultraviolet rays U are being irradiated, it is possible to prevent the ultraviolet rays U from adversely affecting the user.

[0064] 9, the control unit 75 determines whether the container C that was in the top position continues to exist, that is, whether the container C has been removed from the beverage dispenser 1, based on the detection result of the top position detection unit 723 (step S25). When the control unit 75 determines that the container C has not been removed (step S25: NO), it performs the process of step S25 again.

[0065] On the other hand, when the control unit 75 determines that the container C has been removed (step S25: YES), it controls the open / close motor 701 to close the loading / unloading door 11 (step S26). Next, the control unit 75 controls the lift motor 52 to start the descent of the container holding unit 32 (step S27). The control unit 75 determines whether the container holding unit 32 has reached the origin position based on the on / off state of the container origin switch 721 (step S28). When the control unit 75 determines that the container holding unit 32 has not reached the origin position (step S28: NO), it performs the process of step S28 again. On the other hand, when the control unit 75 determines that the container holding unit 32 has reached the origin position (step S28: YES), it controls the lift motor 52 to end the descent of the container holding unit 32 (step S29). With the above, the beverage serving process is completed.

[0066] [Variations] Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0067] For example, as a configuration for moving the nozzle 42 and the ultraviolet irradiation unit 60 relative to the container holding unit 32, a configuration in which the nozzle 42 and the ultraviolet irradiation unit 60 are fixed and the container holding unit 32 is moved has been exemplified, but the container holding unit 32 may be fixed and the nozzle 42 and the ultraviolet irradiation unit 60 may be lowered until the distance from the upper end of the container C to the lower end of the nozzle 42 becomes the set distance. In this case, the amount of movement of the nozzle 42 and the ultraviolet irradiation unit 60 becomes the amount of relative movement of the nozzle 42 and the ultraviolet irradiation unit 60 with respect to the container holding unit 32 until the distance from the upper end of the container C to the lower end of the nozzle 42 becomes the set distance. Also, the nozzle 42 and the ultraviolet irradiation unit 60 may be lowered and the container holding unit 32 may be raised until the distance from the upper end of the container C to the lower end of the nozzle 42 becomes the set distance.

[0068] The beverage dispenser 1 may be provided with only one or two of the upper reflecting portion 351, the rear reflecting portion 352, and the door side reflecting portion 353.

[0069] The beverage dispenser 1 may not be provided with the locking section 702, and the loading / unloading door 11 may not be locked during irradiation of the ultraviolet ray U.

[0070] The drinking spout D and the nozzle 42 may be sterilized only after the distance from the upper end of the container C to the lower end of the nozzle 42 reaches a set distance and before the supply of the beverage starts. Also, the drinking spout D and the nozzle 42 may be sterilized only from the start to the end of the supply of the beverage.

[0071] The ultraviolet irradiating unit 60 may not irradiate the nozzle 42 with ultraviolet rays U. Furthermore, the ultraviolet LED 61 that irradiates the drinking spout D with ultraviolet rays U and the ultraviolet LED 61 that irradiates the nozzle 42 with ultraviolet rays U may be separately arranged in the beverage dispenser 1. The ultraviolet LED 61 may be arranged so that the optical axis 61A is parallel to the horizontal plane or inclined downward relative to the horizontal plane.

[0072] In order to prevent the ultraviolet LEDs 61 from being soiled or from being irradiated with ultraviolet light to the outside of the beverage dispenser 1, an LED cover may be disposed to cover the ultraviolet LEDs 61. A part of the LED cover is preferably made of UV-transmitting resin (transmitting UV-A and UV-B), or UV-transmitting glass, or quartz glass (transmitting UV-C). In this case, it is preferable to form the UV-transmitting resin, UV-transmitting glass, or quartz glass into a concave lens shape. With such a configuration, the concave lens of the LED cover can widen the irradiation range of the ultraviolet light U, while the part of the LED cover other than the concave lens can limit the irradiation range of the ultraviolet light U. In addition, it is preferable that the LED cover can be removed from the beverage dispenser 1. With such a configuration, the LED cover can be easily washed. In addition, the entire LED cover may be made of a material that does not transmit ultraviolet light U, and a mechanism for moving the LED cover may be provided so that the ultraviolet LEDs 61 are covered with the LED cover when the container C is not placed on the container holder 32, and the ultraviolet LEDs 61 are not covered with the LED cover when the container C is placed on the container holder 32. [Industrial Applicability]

[0073] The present disclosure can be applied to a beverage supplying device and a beverage supplying method. [Explanation of symbols]

[0074] 1 Beverage dispensing equipment 10. Chassis 10A Container insertion / removal opening 11 Access door 12. Mask 13 Open / Close Sensor 20 Operation display section 30 Container installation part 31 Container lifting room 32 Container holding part 33 Placement section 34 Adjustment section 35 Reflector 40 Beverage supply section 41 Beverage production department 42 Nozzle 43 Nozzle holder 50 Relative moving part 51 Rack section 52 Lifting motor 60 Ultraviolet irradiation unit 61 UV LED 61A Optical axis 70 Opening and closing of loading and unloading door 71 Sterilization button 72 Detection unit 73 Timing section 74 Memory section 75 Control Unit 311 Tabletop 312 Beverage through hole 313 Rack through hole 314 Left side plate 315 Right side plate 331 Bottom plate part 332 Left side plate 341 Contact member 351 Upper reflector 352 Back reflector 353 Door side reflector 521 Drive Gear 701 Opening and closing motor 702 Rock Club 721 Container origin switch 722 Container detection unit 723 Top position detector C,C1,C2 container D, D1, D2 mouthpiece U,U0,U1,U2 Ultraviolet rays

Claims

1. A container holding section that holds a container in a container lifting chamber; a nozzle for dispensing a beverage into the container; An ultraviolet ray irradiation unit; a relative movement unit capable of raising and lowering the container holding unit until a distance from the container held by the container holding unit to the nozzle becomes a set distance, The ultraviolet ray irradiation unit is provided on a side surface of the container lifting chamber and is configured to irradiate ultraviolet rays onto the drinking spout of the container when the distance from the container to the nozzle becomes the set distance. Beverage dispensing equipment.

2. A reflecting unit that reflects the ultraviolet light irradiated from the ultraviolet light irradiating unit toward the drinking spout of the container is disposed on the top plate housing of the container lifting chamber.

2. The beverage dispenser of claim 1.

3. The container holder, the container lifting chamber, the nozzle, the ultraviolet irradiation unit, and the relative movement unit are further provided with a housing that accommodates the container holder, the container lifting chamber, the nozzle, the ultraviolet irradiation unit, and the relative movement unit, A container insertion / removal port for inserting and removing the container into and from the housing is formed on one surface of the housing, The housing is provided with an access door for opening and closing the container access port, The reflecting portion is disposed on the access door and includes a door-side reflecting portion that reflects the ultraviolet light toward the drinking spout.

3. The beverage dispenser of claim 2.

4. A locking unit is disposed in the housing to lock the access door relative to the housing while the ultraviolet ray irradiation unit is irradiating the ultraviolet ray.

4. The beverage dispenser of claim 3.

5. The ultraviolet ray irradiation unit irradiates the drinking spout with the ultraviolet ray while the beverage is being supplied to the container. A beverage dispensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The ultraviolet ray irradiation unit is configured to irradiate the nozzle with ultraviolet rays. A beverage dispensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. the ultraviolet ray irradiation unit irradiates the nozzle with the ultraviolet ray at least one of the following timings: while the beverage is being supplied to the container, after a predetermined time has elapsed since the supply of the beverage is completed, and at a preset time.

7. The beverage dispenser of claim 6.

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