Carbon dioxide gas injection device

Abstract

To provide a carbon dioxide injection apparatus capable of easily detaching a container including carbon dioxide from a housing body.SOLUTION: A carbon dioxide injection apparatus 10 which injects carbon dioxide into a beverage container 12 provided inside a tower 14 comprises: a carbon dioxide cylinder 34 that is filled with carbon dioxide and supplies the carbon dioxide into the beverage container 12; a first magnetic valve 40 that is provided between the carbon dioxide cylinder 34 and the beverage container 12 and executes connection or cutoff between the carbon dioxide cylinder 34 and the beverage container 12; a second magnetic valve 44 that is connected to the beverage container 12 and is capable of releasing the carbon dioxide in the beverage container 12; and protective mechanisms 52, 56 that, before taking out the beverage container 12 from the tower 14, cutoff the first magnetic valve 40 and simultaneously actuate the second magnetic valve 44 to release the carbon dioxide in the beverage container 12.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] This application relates to a carbon dioxide injection device. [Background technology]

[0002] There is a high demand for carbonated drinks because they provide a refreshing feeling when drunk. In recent years, the demand has expanded in the form of carbonated drinks with a high gas volume to provide a stronger refreshing feeling, and the demand for injecting carbon dioxide into drinking water on one's own in conjunction with the growing health consciousness. For this reason, there is a growing demand in restaurants and the like for devices that can inject carbon dioxide into beverages provided to customers, and small beverage dispensers that can be fitted with beverage containers that have already been infused with carbon dioxide and can be provided immediately before the customer so that the gas volume does not decrease.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a beverage dispenser that is small enough to dispense beverages on a table and can release the pressurized gas inside to the outside when the outer lid is removed. However, in the beverage dispenser described in Patent Document 1, the beverage container can be replaced after going through a series of steps, such as releasing the gas inside the container, pulling up the operating part, and removing the outer lid. When a large amount of beverage is consumed in a restaurant or the like, such steps must be repeated frequently, which reduces work efficiency. For this reason, there is room for improvement in terms of safely releasing gas and easily removing the beverage container from the main body. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2017-77908 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In consideration of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a carbon dioxide gas injection device that allows a container containing carbon dioxide gas to be easily removed from a casing. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present disclosure is a carbon dioxide injection device that injects carbon dioxide gas into a container placed inside a housing, the carbon dioxide injection device comprising: a gas supply source filled with carbon dioxide gas and supplying the carbon dioxide gas to the container; a first opening and closing mechanism disposed between the gas supply source and the container and connecting or disconnecting the gas supply source and the container; a second opening and closing mechanism connected to the container and capable of releasing the carbon dioxide gas inside the container; and a protection mechanism that blocks the first opening and closing mechanism and activates the second opening and closing mechanism before the container is removed from the housing, thereby releasing the carbon dioxide gas inside the container.

[0007] Furthermore, as another aspect of the present disclosure, the protection mechanism may include a cover portion that is arranged on the outer periphery of the housing at a position facing the container arranged inside the housing and that can be opened and closed to insert and remove the container, and a switch portion that is turned on and off in conjunction with the opening and closing of the cover portion, and that enables the first opening and closing mechanism to be switched between connected and disconnected by turning on and off, and enables the second opening and closing mechanism to be switched between stopped and activated.

[0008] In addition, as another aspect of the present disclosure, when the cover portion is closed, the device may include an operating portion for activating the first opening and closing mechanism to supply carbon dioxide gas from the gas supply source to the container and stopping the second opening and closing mechanism.

[0009] Additionally, in another aspect of the present disclosure, the container may be a beverage container. Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to a carbon dioxide gas injection device according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the container is connected to the first opening / closing mechanism and the second opening / closing mechanism and is disposed inside the housing. Therefore, the container can be removed from the housing by disconnecting the container from the first opening / closing mechanism and the second opening / closing mechanism. The carbon dioxide gas injection device also includes a protection mechanism, which can shut off the first opening / closing mechanism disposed between the gas supply source and the container and activate the second opening / closing mechanism before removing the container from the housing, thereby releasing the carbon dioxide gas inside the container. Therefore, before removing the container from the housing, the supply of carbon dioxide gas can be shut off and the pressure inside the container can be released. This allows the container to be safely and easily removed from the housing.

[0011] Furthermore, in a carbon dioxide gas injection device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the protection mechanism is disposed at a position facing the container disposed inside the housing on the outer periphery of the housing, and includes a cover section that can be opened and closed to remove the container, and a switch section that is turned on and off in conjunction with the opening and closing of the cover section. Therefore, in order to remove the container from the housing, it is necessary to open the cover section, and opening the cover section turns the switch section on and off, making it possible to switch between connection and disconnection of the first opening and closing mechanism, and to switch between stop and operation of the second opening and closing mechanism. This makes it possible to cut off the supply of carbon dioxide gas and release the pressure in the container before removing the container from the housing, and to safely and easily remove the container from the housing.

[0012] Furthermore, the carbon dioxide gas injection device according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes an operation unit for activating the first opening / closing mechanism and stopping the second opening / closing mechanism when the cover is closed. Therefore, when the cover is closed, a user can operate the operation unit to stop the second opening / closing mechanism and activate the first opening / closing mechanism to connect the gas supply source and the container, thereby supplying carbon dioxide gas from the gas supply source to the container. This allows carbon dioxide gas to be safely and easily supplied to the container.

[0013] Furthermore, in the carbon dioxide injection device according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the container may be a beverage container, so that even in a case where a large amount of beverage is consumed in a restaurant or the like, the beverage container can be safely degassed and the beverage container can be easily removed from the housing. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a carbon dioxide gas injection device according to this embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the carbon dioxide gas injector taken along line 2-2 of FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 shows a rear view of the interior of the carbonator. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 shows a front perspective view of the cover portion. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 shows a vertical cross-sectional view of the cover portion taken along line 5-5 in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] Hereinafter, a carbon dioxide gas injection device according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Similar or corresponding elements are given the same reference numerals, and duplicated explanations will be omitted. In order to facilitate understanding, the scale of the drawings may be changed.

[0016] 1 shows, as an example, a perspective view of a carbon dioxide gas injector 10 for serving a beverage by injecting carbon dioxide gas into a beverage (not shown) contained in a beverage container 12 serving as a container. The carbon dioxide gas injector 10 includes the beverage container 12 and a tower 14 serving as a housing inside which the beverage container 12 is placed and for serving the beverage. A beverage dispensing nozzle 16 for dispensing the beverage contained in the beverage container 12 is attached to the upper side of the beverage container 12. Therefore, by opening and closing the beverage dispensing nozzle 16, the beverage can be poured into a glass or the like (not shown) placed below the beverage dispensing nozzle 16 and served.

[0017] 2 and 3 show a vertical cross-sectional view of the carbon dioxide gas injection device 10 and a rear view of the inside thereof. The beverage container 12 is disposed on the front side of the tower 14, and is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape having an opening 18 at the upper end. Therefore, a container 20 for containing a beverage is formed inside the beverage container 12. The outer surface and bottom surface of the beverage container 12 are covered with a heat insulating material 22. A disk-shaped lid 24 is disposed on the opening 18 of the beverage container 12 so as to cover it, and the lid 24 is removably fixed by a clamp 26. This allows the beverage container 12 containing the beverage to be sealed.

[0018] A beverage suction tube 28 is disposed in the storage unit 20, which is disposed along its inner periphery and extends in the length direction of the storage unit 20, i.e., in the up-down direction. The beverage suction tube 28 is bent so that its upper side penetrates the side of the storage unit 20 and protrudes outward, and the upper end protruding outward is connected to the beverage dispensing nozzle 16. Therefore, the beverage in the storage unit 20 sucked up from the beverage suction tube 28 can be dispensed from the beverage dispensing nozzle 16.

[0019] A carbon dioxide injection tube 30 is attached to the lid 24 in the storage section 20 of the beverage container 12, and is disposed therein for injecting carbon dioxide gas into the beverage in the storage section 20. The carbon dioxide injection tube 30 is disposed penetrating the center of the lid 24, and is formed so as to extend along the length of the beverage container 12, i.e., the up-down direction, when disposed in the storage section 20, and a nozzle 32 is attached to the end on the storage section 20 side. The other end of the carbon dioxide injection tube 30, which is the upper end, is connected to a carbon dioxide gas cylinder 34 as a gas supply source, and carbon dioxide gas filled in the carbon dioxide gas cylinder 34 can be injected into the beverage in the storage section 20 from the nozzle 32 disposed on the bottom side of the storage section 20.

[0020] A baffle plate 36 is attached to the carbonation injection pipe 30 to prevent ice (not shown) from floating up when ice (not shown) is stored in the storage section 20 to cool the beverage. The baffle plate 36 is disposed at a predetermined position in the longitudinal direction of the carbonation injection pipe 30.

[0021] A coupler 38 is attached as a joint to the upper end of the carbonation pipe 30 that extends to the upper side of the lid 24. The upper end of the carbonation pipe 30 to which the coupler 38 is attached is connected to a pipe PP to which a plug or socket corresponding to the socket or plug of the coupler 38 is attached. This allows the carbonation pipe 30 to be easily disconnected from the pipe PP, and the beverage container 12 to which the carbonation pipe 30 is attached can be easily removed from the tower 14. A plurality of pipes PP are further connected to the pipe PP connected to the upper end of the carbonation pipe 30, and extend from the upper side to the lower side of the beverage container 12 on the back side of the carbonation gas injector 10. Although the coupler 38 is used as a joint here, this is not limiting, and other types of joints such as couplings and flanges may be used.

[0022] A first solenoid valve 40 serving as a first opening / closing mechanism is disposed at the bottom on the rear side of the carbon dioxide injection device 10. The first solenoid valve 40 is connected to a pipe PP connected to the carbon dioxide injection pipe 30, and is also connected to the carbon dioxide cylinder 34. Therefore, by opening the first solenoid valve 40, the carbon dioxide gas filled in the carbon dioxide cylinder 34 can be supplied to the beverage container 12 via the first solenoid valve 40 and the nozzle 32 of the carbon dioxide injection pipe 30.

[0023] A pressure relief pipe 42 for relieving, i.e., reducing, the pressure inside the container 20 is attached to the lid 24 of the beverage container 12, penetrating the lid 24. The upper end of the pressure relief pipe 42 is connected to a pipe PP via a coupler 38. A plurality of pipes PP are further connected to the pipe PP connected to the upper end of the pressure relief pipe 42, and extend from the upper side to the lower side of the beverage container 12 on the back side of the carbon dioxide gas injection device 10.

[0024] Two second solenoid valves 44 are arranged as a second opening / closing mechanism at the bottom of the rear side of the carbon dioxide gas injector 10. The second solenoid valve 44 is connected to a pipe PP connected to the exhaust pipe 42. The second solenoid valve 44 is also connected to a silencer 46 connected to the end of the pipe PP. Therefore, by opening the second solenoid valve 44, the pressure in the storage section 20 can be released, i.e., exhausted, via the second solenoid valve 44 and the silencer 46. Furthermore, since the pressure in the exhaust pipe 42 can be exhausted via the silencer 46, it is possible to suppress the generation of noise due to the fast flow of air at the time of exhausting, i.e., to mute the noise. Note that, although the description is given here assuming that two second solenoid valves 44 are provided, this is not limiting, and only one second solenoid valve may be provided.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 4, an operation panel 48 is attached to the upper part of the front side of the tower 14 as an operation unit. As shown in FIG. 3, the operation panel 48 is electrically connected to a board part 50 arranged on the rear side of the carbon dioxide gas injection device 10 via a cable C1. Also, the beverage dispensing nozzle 16 is electrically connected to the board part 50 via the board part 50 and a cable (not shown). Therefore, a user can operate the beverage dispensing nozzle 16 by operating, i.e., pressing, the push button on the operation panel 48, and can dispense the beverage in the beverage container 12 from the beverage dispensing nozzle 16. Also, as described later, a user can press the push button on the operation panel 48 to close the second solenoid valve 44 to maintain the pressure in the storage part 20 and open the first solenoid valve 40 to supply the carbon dioxide gas filled in the carbon dioxide gas cylinder 34 to the beverage container 12. Note that, although a push button for operating the operation panel 48 is shown in FIG. 4, the operation panel as an operation unit may be operated in other ways, such as a switch, a non-contact sensor, or the like, without being limited thereto.

[0026] As shown in Fig. 4, protection mechanisms 52, 56 are configured below the operation panel 48 of the tower 14. Specifically, the protection mechanisms include the cover 52 and fixed claws 54 as a cover section, and a switch section 56. The cover 52, which is rectangular when viewed from the front, is attached to the below of the operation panel 48 of the tower 14 so as to be able to be opened and closed. The cover 52 is configured to be able to rotate toward the front side of the carbon dioxide gas injection device 10 around a rotation axis S1 (see Fig. 5) along the width direction of the tower 14, thereby allowing the cover 52 to be opened and closed.

[0027] Cover 52 is attached to tower 14 at a position where, when closed, it overlaps with the upper ends of carbon dioxide injection pipe 30 and exhaust pressure pipe 42 in a front view, that is, at a position where these are not visible from the outside of carbon dioxide injection device 10. This makes the portion where carbon dioxide injection pipe 30 and exhaust pressure pipe 42 are connected to piping PP via coupler 38 (see FIG. 3) not visible from the outside of carbon dioxide injection device 10, improving the aesthetic appearance of carbon dioxide injection device 10 to which beverage container 12 is attached. Cover 52 can also serve as a protective wall to prevent a user from accidentally touching the portion connected by coupler 38.

[0028] 5, a fixed claw 54 is formed on the tip side of the back surface of the cover 52, i.e., the portion that becomes the lower end when the cover is closed. Inside the tower 14, a switch unit 56 is disposed in a portion that comes into contact with the fixed claw 54 when the cover 52 is closed.

[0029] The switch unit 56 includes a switch body 56a, a push button 56b, and a lever 56c. As shown in FIG. 3, the switch body 56a is configured to be electrically connectable to the substrate unit 50 via a cable C2. The substrate unit 50 is also configured to be electrically connectable to the first solenoid valve 40 via a cable C3. Therefore, by turning the switch unit 56 on and off, the first solenoid valve 40 can be switched between open and closed, and the carbon dioxide gas in the carbon dioxide gas cylinder 34 can be switched between passing and blocking. Specifically, when the switch unit 56 is turned off, the first solenoid valve 40 is closed by electrically blocking the substrate unit 50. When the switch unit 56 is turned on, the first solenoid valve 40 is brought into an openable state, that is, into a state in which carbon dioxide gas can be supplied to the beverage container 12, by electrically connecting the substrate unit 50. Furthermore, the substrate unit 50 is electrically connected to the second solenoid valve 44 via a cable C4. Therefore, when the switch unit 56 is turned off, the second solenoid valve 44 is opened by electrically disconnecting it from the substrate unit 50, and the pressure inside the beverage container 12 is exhausted. Also, when the switch unit 56 is turned on, the second solenoid valve 44 is brought into a closable state, that is, into a state in which the pressure inside the beverage container 12 can be maintained, by electrically connecting it to the substrate unit 50. Therefore, when the switch unit 56 is turned on by closing the cover 52, the user can press the push button on the operation panel 48 to close the second solenoid valve 44 to maintain the pressure inside the storage unit 20, and open the first solenoid valve 40 to supply the carbon dioxide gas filled in the carbon dioxide gas cylinder 34 to the beverage container 12.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 5, the switch unit 56 can be turned on by pressing a push button 56b arranged on the front side of the switch body 56a, and is configured to be turned off when not pressed. A lever 56c is attached to the upper side of the push button 56b of the switch body 56a. The upper end of the lever 56c is attached to the switch body 56a via a torsion spring (not shown). For this reason, the lever 56c is biased toward the front side of the carbon dioxide gas injector 10 with the upper end side attached to the switch body 56a as the center of rotation (one-dot chain line in FIG. 5). When the cover 52 is closed, the lever 56c extends to a position facing the fixed claw 54, and when the cover 52 is closed, the fixed claw 54 can press the lever 56c toward the inside of the carbon dioxide gas injector 10. As a result, the pressed lever 56c presses the push button 56b, and the switch unit 56 can be turned on.

[0031] Next, the operation and effects of the carbon dioxide gas injection device 10 according to this embodiment will be described below.

[0032] According to the carbon dioxide gas injection device 10 of this embodiment, the beverage container 12 is connected to the first solenoid valve 40 and the second solenoid valve 44 and is disposed inside the tower 14. Therefore, the beverage container 12 can be removed from the tower 14 by disconnecting the beverage container 12 from the first solenoid valve 40 and the second solenoid valve 44. The carbon dioxide gas injection device 10 also includes a cover 52, a fixing claw 54, and a switch unit 56 as a protection mechanism. Therefore, by opening and closing the cover 52, the first solenoid valve 40 disposed between the carbon dioxide gas cylinder 34 and the beverage container 12 can be shut off and the second solenoid valve 44 can be operated to release the pressure inside the beverage container 12 before the beverage container 12 is removed from the tower 14 by disconnecting the beverage container 12 from the first solenoid valve 40 and the second solenoid valve 44. Therefore, the supply of carbon dioxide gas can be shut off and the pressure inside the beverage container 12 can be exhausted before the beverage container 12 is removed from the tower 14. This allows for safe and convenient removal of the beverage container 12 from the tower 14.

[0033] Furthermore, the carbon dioxide gas injection device 10 according to this embodiment is configured to include a cover 52 that is disposed at a position facing the beverage container 12 disposed inside the tower 14 on the outer periphery of the tower 14 and can be opened and closed to remove the beverage container 12, and a switch unit 56 that is turned on and off in conjunction with the opening and closing of the cover 52. For this reason, in order to remove the beverage container 12 from the tower 14, it is necessary to open the cover 52, and by opening the cover 52, the switch unit 56 is turned on and off, switching between connection and disconnection of the first solenoid valve 40 and switching between stop and operation of the second solenoid valve 44. As a result, before removing the beverage container 12 from the tower 14, the supply of carbon dioxide gas can be cut off and the pressure in the beverage container 12 can be released, and the beverage container 12 can be safely and easily removed from the tower 14.

[0034] Furthermore, according to the carbon dioxide gas injection device 10 of this embodiment, the carbon dioxide injection pipe 30 and exhaust pipe 42 attached to the beverage container 12 are connected to the piping PP in the tower 14 via the coupler 38. Therefore, the beverage container 12 can be attached to and detached from the tower 14 simply by connecting or disconnecting the coupler 38, and the beverage container 12 can be easily attached to and detached from the tower 14.

[0035] Furthermore, according to the carbon dioxide gas injection device 10 of this embodiment, when the switch unit 56 is turned on by closing the cover 52, the first solenoid valve 40 is made in an openable state and the second solenoid valve 44 is made in a closeable state. In this state, when the user presses the push button on the operation panel 48, the second solenoid valve 44 is closed to maintain the pressure in the storage unit 20, and the first solenoid valve 40 is opened to supply the carbon dioxide gas filled in the carbon dioxide gas cylinder 34 to the beverage container 12. In this way, the carbon dioxide gas can be supplied to the beverage container 12 only when the user presses the push button on the operation panel 48, so that the carbon dioxide gas can be safely and easily supplied to the container.

[0036] In addition, the carbon dioxide gas injection device 10 according to this embodiment can be fitted with a beverage container 12. Therefore, even when a large amount of beverage is consumed in a restaurant or the like, gas can be released safely, and the beverage container 12 can be easily removed from the tower 14.

[0037] As described above, according to the carbon dioxide gas injection device 10 of this embodiment, the beverage container 12 can be easily removed from the tower 14.

[0038] Furthermore, according to the carbon dioxide gas injection device 10 of this embodiment, the cover 52 is attached to the tower 14 at a position such that, in a closed state, the portion where the carbon dioxide injection pipe 30 and the exhaust pressure pipe 42 are connected to the piping PP via the coupler 38 cannot be seen from the outside of the carbon dioxide gas injection device 10 in a front view. This improves the aesthetic appearance of the carbon dioxide gas injection device 10 to which the beverage container 12 is attached. The cover 52 can also function as a protective wall to prevent a user from accidentally touching the portion connected by the coupler 38. Furthermore, the cover 52 can also function as a protective wall in the event that the coupler 38 is accidentally detached due to some mechanical reason, causing the beverage and carbon dioxide gas in the beverage container 12 to spray out.

[0039] Although the embodiment of the carbon dioxide gas injector 10 has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. It is believed that a person skilled in the art would understand that various modifications of the above embodiment are possible.

[0040] Here, the protection mechanism has been described as including the cover 52, the fixed claws 54, and the switch section 56, but the protection mechanism is not limited to this and may be configured in various forms, including, for example, a push button type switch placed at the position where the bottom of the container is placed within the tower, or a switch connected to an ultrasonic sensor or laser sensor placed within the tower to monitor the movement of the container. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 10 Carbon dioxide gas injection device 12 Beverage containers 14 Tower (chassis) 34 Carbon dioxide gas cylinder (gas supply source) 40 First solenoid valve (first opening / closing mechanism) 44 Second solenoid valve (second opening / closing mechanism) 48 Operation panel (operation section) 52 Cover (cover part, protection mechanism) 54 Fixed claw (cover, protection mechanism) 56 Switch section (protection mechanism)

Claims

1. A carbon dioxide gas injection device that injects carbon dioxide gas into a container disposed inside a housing, a gas supply source filled with carbon dioxide gas and supplying the carbon dioxide gas to the container; a first opening / closing mechanism disposed between the gas supply source and the container and configured to connect or disconnect the gas supply source and the container; a second opening / closing mechanism connected to the container and capable of releasing carbon dioxide gas inside the container; a protection mechanism for blocking the first opening / closing mechanism and activating the second opening / closing mechanism before the container is removed from the housing, thereby releasing the carbon dioxide gas inside the container; Equipped with The protection mechanism includes: a cover portion that is disposed on an outer periphery of the housing at a position facing the container disposed inside the housing and that can be opened and closed to insert and remove the container; A carbon dioxide gas injection device comprising: a switch section which is turned on and off in conjunction with the opening and closing of the cover section, and which enables the first opening and closing mechanism to be switched between connected and disconnected by the on / off operation, and enables the second opening and closing mechanism to be switched between stopped and operated.

2. 2. The carbon dioxide gas injection device of claim 1, further comprising an operating unit for activating the first opening / closing mechanism to supply carbon dioxide gas from the gas supply source to the container when the cover portion is closed, and for stopping the second opening / closing mechanism.

3. 3. The carbon dioxide gas injection device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the container is a beverage container.

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