Dispenser

Abstract

To provide a dispenser capable of preventing unintentional feed of a feed object material.SOLUTION: A dispenser includes: a shutter device 42 for discharging ice, a water feed valve 44 for discharging water, and control means 38 that controls activation of the shutter device 42 and the water feed valve 44. The dispenser further includes: a front panel provided with a non-contact sensor 46 that detects in a non-contact manner a detection object such as a hand finger; and a timer 50 which starts counting time when the non-contact sensor 46 detects the detection object. The control means 38 controls activation of the shutter device 42 and the water feed valve 44 to start discharging the ice and the water on condition that a duration time counted by the timer 50 has reached a feed determination time.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a dispenser capable of supplying a supply object.

Background Art

[0002] As a dispenser for supplying a supply object, for example, as disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, a dispenser equipped with an ice maker and capable of supplying ice as a supply object is known. In this dispenser, an ice discharge part that opens downward is provided at the front part of the main body, and a non-contact switch for detecting a container such as a cup in a non-contact manner is provided below the discharge part. Then, when the non-contact switch detects that a container is positioned below the discharge part, the dispenser is configured to discharge ice from the discharge part and supply it to the container.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the above dispenser, when a part of the body of a customer or the like who does not intend to supply the supply object approaches the non-contact switch in a state where no container is placed on the receiving base, the non-contact switch may enter a detection state, and ice may be discharged from the discharge part. In this case, there is a problem that the ice scatters around and wets or soils the periphery of the dispenser. Also, it is pointed out that, although the supply of the supply object is not intended, the discharge of ice may be misinterpreted as a malfunction, resulting in unnecessary inspections and the like being carried out despite being normal.

[0005] In view of the above problems inherent in the prior art described above, the present invention has been proposed to preferably solve these problems, and an object thereof is to provide a dispenser capable of preventing the supply of an unintended object to be supplied.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In order to overcome the above problems and achieve the intended purpose, The first means is, In a dispenser including a supply mechanism for supplying an object to be supplied and a non-contact detection means capable of detecting a detection object non-contact, a timing means for measuring the duration of the state in which the non-contact detection means detects the detection object, a control means for controlling the operation of the supply mechanism, The gist is that the control means is configured to control the operation of the supply mechanism so as to start the supply of the object to be supplied when the duration measured by the timing means reaches a predetermined supply determination time. This configuration In this case, since the supply of the object to be supplied is configured to start on the condition that the duration of the detection state by the non-contact detection means reaches the supply determination time, for example, when a customer or the like who does not intend to supply the object to be supplied passes in front of the dispenser, even if the non-contact detection means temporarily enters the detection state for a time shorter than the supply determination time, the object to be supplied is not supplied, so that the object to be supplied can be prevented from scattering around and wetting or soiling the periphery of the dispenser. That is, since the object to be supplied is supplied only when the user intentionally sets the non-contact detection means in the detection state for the supply determination time, the supply of the unintended object to be supplied can be prevented. In addition, it is possible to suppress the dispenser from being misjudged as malfunctioning, and there is no need to perform unnecessary inspections or the like.

[0007] The second means is, The gist is that it includes a notification means for notifying that it is in the supply standby state during the supply standby of the object to be supplied from when the non-contact detection means detects the detection object until the timing means measures the supply determination time. This configuration Before the supply of the object to be supplied is started, by notifying that it is in a waiting state for supply by the notification means, even if the start of the supply of the object to be supplied is delayed after the non-contact detection means enters the detection state, it is possible to prevent the user from misinterpreting that there is a failure.

[0008] The third means is The gist is that the notification means is configured to notify that the object to be supplied is in a waiting state for supply by changing to a light emission mode different from the normal mode when the non-contact detection means enters the detection state. This configuration By changing the light emission mode of the notification means, it is possible to visually notify that it is in a waiting state for supply.

Advantages of the Invention

[0009] According to the dispenser according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the supply of an unintended object to be supplied and to suppress being misinterpreted as a malfunction.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Next, the dispenser according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings by giving preferred embodiments.

Embodiment

[0012] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the dispenser of the embodiment includes an ice maker 12, a stocker 14 for storing ice (the supplied material) produced by the ice maker 12, and a refrigeration device (not shown) for cooling the ice-making section of the ice maker 12, disposed inside a box-shaped main body 10. Also, on the front side of the stocker 14, there are located an ice discharge section (discharge section) 16 capable of discharging ice downward from the stocker 14 and a water discharge section (discharge section) 18 capable of discharging water (the supplied material, drinking water) downward. Further, a shutter device 42, which will be described later, for supplying the ice stored in the stocker 14 to the ice discharge section 16 is disposed. The main body 10 includes a housing section 20 that houses the ice maker 12, the stocker 14, etc., and a front panel 22 that is detachably disposed on the upper front portion of the housing section 20 and protrudes forward. The front panel 22 is disposed on the housing section 20 so as to cover the ice discharge section 16, the water discharge section 18, and the shutter device 42 from the front side. Also, a cradle 24 on which a container such as a cup can be placed is provided on the lower front portion of the housing section 20 so as to protrude forward. The front panel 22 is open downward so as to allow the discharge of ice and water from the discharge ports of the ice discharge section 16 and the water discharge section 18. The ice and water discharged from the ice discharge section 16 and the water discharge section 18 are supplied to the container placed on the cradle 24.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 1, the front panel 22 is provided with a control panel 28 having various buttons that can be manually operated by the user. The control panel 28 is provided with an ice selection button 30 for selecting the discharge of only ice, an ice water selection button 32 for selecting the discharge of both ice and water, a water selection button 34 for selecting the discharge of only water, and a supply button 36 for discharging (supplying) the type of supplied material selected by the selection buttons 30, 32, 34. As shown in FIG. 3, the control panel 28 is electrically connected to a control means 38 for controlling the dispenser. By operating the supply button 36, the control means 38 is configured to operationally control supply mechanisms 42, 44 described later so that the supplied material selected by the selection buttons 30, 32, 34 is discharged from the discharge portions 16, 18. Note that switches corresponding to the selection buttons 30, 32, 34 and the supply button 36 are provided on a substrate 40 disposed on the back side of the control panel 28, and the operation of the manually operated buttons 30, 32, 34, 36 is detected by the switches. In the embodiment, the control means 38 is configured to operationally control the supply mechanisms 42, 44 so that the discharge of the supplied material continues while the supply button 36 is being operated, that is, while the corresponding switch continues to detect the operation, and the discharge of the supplied material stops when the switch becomes a non-detection state of the operation.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 3, on the control panel 28, lamps 30a, 32a, 34a, 36a such as LEDs are provided corresponding to the selection buttons 30, 32, 34 and the supply button 36 respectively. By lighting the selection lamps 30a, 32a, 34a corresponding to the selection buttons 30, 32, 34, it is configured to notify the type of the object to be supplied that is selected. When any one of the selection buttons 30, 32, 34 is operated, the control means 38 lights the selection lamp 30a, 32a, 34a corresponding to the operated selection button 30, 32, 34, and recognizes that the object to be supplied of the type corresponding to the operated selection button 30, 32, 34 is selected. Further, when another selection button 30, 32, 34 is operated while the type of the object to be supplied is selected, the control means 38 turns off the selection lamps 30a, 32a, 34a of the selection buttons 30, 32, 34 corresponding to the type of the object to be supplied that has been selected so far, lights the selection lamps 30a, 32a, 34a corresponding to the newly operated selection button 30, 32, 34, and recognizes that the object to be supplied of the type corresponding to the newly operated selection button 30, 32, 34 is selected. The supply lamp 36a corresponding to the supply button 36 is configured to notify that the object to be supplied is in a supplyable state by lighting. Incidentally, hereinafter, it may be said that the selection buttons 30, 32, 34 are selected when the type of the object to be supplied is selected by operating the selection buttons 30, 32, 34.

[0015] As the ice maker 12 disposed inside the main body 10, a known auger-type ice maker 12 is used in the embodiment. The auger-type ice maker 12 forms a layer of thin ice on the inner wall surface of a refrigeration casing (ice-making section) forcibly cooled by a refrigeration device, and scrapes and transfers the thin ice upward while being scraped by an auger disposed inside the refrigeration casing. Then, the flake ice being scraped and transferred upward by the auger is compressed by passing through a pressing head, and the compressed ice is discharged and stored in the stocker 14 disposed at the upper part of the refrigeration casing. Further, a shutter device 42 as an ice supply mechanism (supply mechanism) is disposed in an ice guiding path between the stocker 14 and the ice discharge section 16. When either the ice selection button 30 or the ice water selection button 32 is selected, the control means 38 controls the operation of the shutter device 42 to open the ice guiding path by operating the supply button 36. The ice stored in the stocker 14 is guided to the ice discharge section 16 through the ice guiding path and is discharged to the outside from the ice discharge section 16.

[0016] Inside the main body 10, a water tank or a beverage pipe (not shown) connected to an external water supply source is disposed, and the water discharge section 18 is connected to the downstream side of a water supply valve 44 (see FIG. 3) disposed in the beverage pipe. When either the ice water selection button 32 or the water selection button 34 is selected, the control means 38 controls the opening of the water supply valve 44 by operating the supply button 36, and water from the water tank or the external water supply source is discharged to the outside from the water discharge section 18. In the embodiment, the water supply valve 44 constitutes a water supply mechanism (supply mechanism). The water supply valve 44 of the water supply mechanism and the shutter device 42 as the ice supply mechanism are electrically connected to the control means 38. Then, the control means 38 is configured to discharge either only ice, ice and water, or only water by controlling the operation of the shutter device 42 and the water supply valve 44 according to the selection state of the selection buttons 30, 32, 34. That is, the dispenser of the embodiment is configured to be able to select and supply a plurality of types of supplied substances (only ice, ice and water, only water) by the supply mechanisms of the shutter device 42 and the water supply valve 44.

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a non-contact sensor 46 as non-contact detection means capable of detecting an object to be detected, such as a finger, without contact is disposed on the front panel 22. In the embodiment, a reflective optical sensor is used as the non-contact sensor 46. The front panel 22 is provided with a sensor window 48 made of a resin plate through which light can pass, and the non-contact sensor 46 that irradiates light toward the sensor window 48 is disposed on the substrate 40 facing the back side of the sensor window 48. The non-contact sensor 46 detects the presence of the object to be detected by receiving the light reflected by the object to be detected present in the detection area set in front of the sensor window 48. The non-contact sensor 46 is configured to output a detection signal to the control means 38 when detecting the presence of the object to be detected. Then, based on the detection signal output from the non-contact sensor 46, the control means 38 controls the operation of the shutter device 42 and the water supply valve 44 according to the selection state of the selection buttons 30, 32, 34, so as to discharge only ice, ice and water, or only water. That is, the dispenser of the embodiment is configured to supply the object to be supplied based on either the manual operation of the supply button 36 or the output of the detection signal of the non-contact sensor 46 (detection by non-contact with the object to be detected). The detection area of the non-contact sensor 46 is set in the range of about 10 to 50 mm in front of the sensor window 48, and by holding a finger in front of the non-contact sensor 46 in the detection area, the non-contact sensor 46 is configured to enter the detection state and output a detection signal.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 3, the dispenser of the embodiment includes a timer 50 as a time measuring means for measuring the duration during which the detection state continues after the non-contact sensor 46 detects the object to be detected. Specifically, the timer 50 starts timing when the non-contact sensor 46 detects the object to be detected, continues timing while the non-contact sensor 46 remains in the detection state, and stops timing when the non-contact sensor 46 switches from the detection state to the non-detection state. The control means 38 controls the operation of the shutter device 42 and the water supply valve 44 so as to start the discharge (supply) of the object to be supplied selected by the selection buttons 30, 32, 34 on the condition that the duration measured by the timer 50 reaches a preset supply determination time. That is, the control means 38 determines (recognizes) that the user intends to supply the object to be supplied and sets the non-contact sensor 46 in the detection state by the non-contact sensor 46 remaining in the detection state during the supply determination time, and is configured to start the discharge of the object to be supplied. The supply determination time is a time that can be distinguished from a situation where the non-contact sensor 46 temporarily enters the detection state although the user does not intend to supply the object to be supplied, and is preset by tests, simulations, etc. In the embodiment, 0.5 seconds is set as the supply determination time, but it can be arbitrarily changed. As a situation where the non-contact sensor 46 temporarily enters the detection state although the user does not intend to supply the object to be supplied, for example, when a customer or the like passes in front of the dispenser, it is conceivable that the non-contact sensor 46 immediately enters the non-detection state after entering the detection state. Further, the control means 38 controls the operation of the shutter device 42 and the water supply valve 44 so as to continue the discharge of the object to be supplied while the non-contact sensor 46 remains in the detection state (the state of outputting a detection signal) after the supply determination time has elapsed, and stop the discharge of the object to be supplied when the non-contact sensor 46 enters the non-detection state.

[0019] In the detection state (state of outputting a detection signal) of the non-contact sensor 46, the control means 38 switches (changes) the supply lamp 36a, which is the existing light-emitting means corresponding to the supply button 36, to a blinking light-emitting mode (notification mode) different from the lighting (normal mode) for notifying the supply-enabled state, and is configured to notify that the non-contact sensor 46 is in a detection state where the object to be detected is normally detected. That is, when the non-contact sensor 46 detects the object to be detected (when it enters the detection state), the light-emitting mode of the supply lamp 36a changes from lighting to blinking, and the change in the light-emitting mode notifies the user that the supply is in a standby state until the timer 50 measures the supply determination time and the supply of the object to be supplied is started. Further, when the non-contact sensor 46 enters a non-detection state, that is, when the discharge (supply) of the object to be supplied ends, the light-emitting mode of the supply lamp 36a switches from blinking to lighting. In the embodiment, the supply lamp 36a is a notification means for notifying that the supply is in a standby state during the supply standby of the object to be supplied from when the non-contact sensor 46 detects the object to be detected until the timer 50 measures the supply determination time.

[0020] 〔Operation of the Embodiment〕 Next, the supply determination process executed by the control means 38 of the dispenser according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 4. In step S10, the control means 38 determines whether the non-contact sensor 46 is in a detection state. If the determination result in step S10 is negative (the non-contact sensor 46 is in a non-detection state), the supply determination process is repeated. If the determination result in step S10 is positive (the non-contact sensor 46 is in a detection state), the control means 38 proceeds to step S11 and starts the measurement by the timer 50.

[0021] Next, in step S12, the control means 38 determines whether or not the non-contact sensor 46 has entered a non-detection state. If the determination result in step S12 is affirmative (the non-contact sensor 46 is in a non-detection state), the timer 50 is reset in step S17 without starting the discharge of the object to be supplied, and then the supply determination process is repeated. If the determination result in step S12 is negative, that is, if the detection state of the non-contact sensor 46 continues, the control means 38 proceeds to step S13 and determines whether or not the elapsed time measured by the timer 50 has reached the supply determination time. If the determination result in step S13 is negative, the control means 38 returns to step S12 and repeats the determination of whether or not the non-contact sensor 46 has entered a non-detection state and the determination of whether or not the elapsed time measured by the timer 50 has reached the supply determination time. If the determination result in step S13 is affirmative before the determination result in step S12 is affirmative, the control means 38 controls the operation of the shutter device 42 and the water supply valve 44 to open the ice guiding path and the valve, and starts the discharge of the object to be supplied (step S14).

[0022] In step S15, the control means 38 determines whether or not the non-contact sensor 46 has entered a non-detection state. If the determination result in step S15 is negative (if the non-contact sensor 46 continues to be in a detection state), the determination in step S15 is repeated. If the determination result in step S15 is affirmative (if the non-contact sensor 46 has entered a non-detection state), the control means 38 controls the operation of the shutter device 42 and the water supply valve 44 to close the ice guiding path and the valve, and stops the discharge of the object to be supplied (step S16). Then, after resetting the timer 50 in step S17, the supply determination process is repeated.

[0023] The dispenser according to the embodiment is configured to start discharging the object to be supplied on the condition that the detection state of the non-contact sensor 46 continues for a preset supply determination time. That is, with the container placed on the receiving base 24, it is determined that the user is holding a finger over the detection area so that the non-contact sensor 46 is in a detection state with the intention of supplying the object to be supplied, and the discharge of the object to be supplied is started. Thus, ice or water can be supplied to the container. On the other hand, if the non-contact sensor 46 detects a part of the customer's body and enters a detection state, but then returns to a non-detection state before reaching the supply determination time, even though the customer is not intending to supply the object to be supplied, such as when the customer passes by in front of the dispenser, ice or water will not be discharged, preventing the ice or water from splashing around and wetting or soiling the surroundings. That is, it is possible to prevent the unintended discharge (supply) of the object to be supplied. Also, when the non-contact sensor 46 is temporarily in a detection state for a time shorter than the supply determination time, such as when the customer passes by in front of the dispenser, the object to be supplied will not be discharged, so it is possible to avoid being misjudged as a malfunction of the dispenser and causing a claim, or unnecessary inspections.

[0024] In the dispenser according to the embodiment, after the non-contact sensor 46 enters a detection state and before the supply of the object to be supplied starts, the light emission mode of the supply lamp 36a is switched (changed) to notify that the supply of the object to be supplied is in a standby state. That is, when the user holds a finger in front of the non-contact sensor 46 in the detection area with the intention of supplying the object to be supplied, but the discharge of the object to be supplied does not start immediately, it is possible to prevent the user from misjudging that there is a malfunction. Therefore, even though the non-contact sensor 46 is normal, it is possible to avoid being misjudged as a malfunction and causing a claim, or being forced into unnecessary inspections. Also, since the notification that the supply of the object to be supplied is in a standby state is made using the existing supply lamp 36a, there is no need to provide a dedicated lamp, and the number of parts will not increase and the cost will not increase. Furthermore, by changing the light emission mode of the supply lamp 36a, the user can visually and clearly recognize that the supply of the object to be supplied is in a standby state.

[0025] 〔Modification example〕 The present invention is not limited to the configurations of the embodiments, and can be modified and implemented, for example, as follows. Also, not limited to the following modification examples, various embodiments can be adopted for the configurations described in the embodiments within the scope of the gist of the present invention. (1) The non-contact detection means is not limited to an optical sensor, and various sensors and switches such as inductive, capacitive, ultrasonic, and magnetic types can be adopted. (2) In the embodiment, a dispenser configured to be able to supply ice and water was described, but a dispenser configured to be able to supply ice and beverages such as juice or cola, or a dispenser that supplies only ice or only beverages may also be used. Also, the supplied material is not limited to ice, water, and beverages, and a dispenser that can supply miso soup or soup by discharging miso raw materials, soup raw materials, and hot water that can be supplied by a supply mechanism may also be used. (3) In the embodiment, a supply button for manual operation was provided separately from the non-contact sensor, but the supply button can be omitted, and a configuration in which the supplied material is supplied only by the non-contact sensor can be adopted. (4) In the embodiment, the supply lamp whose light emission mode is switched to blinking when the non-contact sensor enters the detection state is configured to maintain the blinking mode until the supply of the supplied material is completed. However, it may be configured to blink from the time when the non-contact sensor enters the detection state until the supply of the supplied material starts, and then switch to a lighting or other light emission mode. That is, as long as the light emission mode can be switched so as to notify that the supplied material is waiting for supply at least from the time when the non-contact sensor enters the detection state until the supply determination time elapses (until the supply of the supplied material starts). (5) As a change in the mode of notifying that the supplied material is waiting for supply by the supply lamp, it is not limited to changing from lighting to blinking, and the lighting color may be made different. For example, it may emit white light in a supplyable state and emit green light when the supplied material is waiting for supply (in the detection state of the non-contact sensor).

[0026] (6) In the embodiment, it is configured to notify that the supply of the object to be supplied is in a standby state by the supply lamp. However, by switching the existing selection lamp corresponding to the type selected by the selection button from lighting to flashing, it may be configured to notify that the supply of the object to be supplied is in a standby state. (7) In the embodiment, it is configured to notify that the supply of the object to be supplied is in a standby state by using the existing supply lamp. However, a configuration in which a dedicated notification lamp is provided can be adopted. Further, as the notification means, a speaker or a display means such as a liquid crystal can be provided, and various notification means can be adopted such as notifying that the supply of the object to be supplied is in a standby state by sound or displaying characters or the like on the display means to notify that the supply of the object to be supplied is in a standby state. (8) In the dispenser of the embodiment, a configuration in which the supply determination time can be arbitrarily changed by a changing means can be adopted. For example, when the control means determines that two of the existing three selection buttons (such as the ice selection button and the iced water selection button) are operated in a mode switching manner in which they are simultaneously long-pressed for a specific time (for example, 3 seconds or more), it is configured to switch from the normal mode to the supply determination time change mode. Then, in the change mode, the supply determination time is displayed on a display means such as a liquid crystal provided on the front panel, and the supply determination time becomes longer by operating any one of the three selection buttons (for example, the ice selection button), and the supply determination time becomes shorter by operating any other one of the selection buttons (for example, the water selection button). A configuration can be adopted. As for the configuration to return from the change mode to the normal mode, a configuration in which the two selection buttons are long-pressed again to switch to the normal mode or a configuration in which it is automatically switched from the change mode to the normal mode when the control means determines that a predetermined time (for example, 20 seconds) has elapsed after switching to the change mode can be adopted. (9) In the embodiment, an auger type ice maker is used as the ice maker, but various types of ice makers such as an injection type and a flow-down type can be adopted.

Explanation of Signs

[0027] 36a Supply lamp (notification means), 38 Control means, 42 Shutter device (supply mechanism) 44 Water supply valve (supply mechanism), 46 non-contact sensor (non-contact detection means) 50 Timer (timing means)

Claims

1. In a dispenser comprising a supply mechanism (42, 44) for supplying a supply object and a non-contact detection means (46) capable of detecting a detection object in a non-contact manner, selection buttons (30, 32, 34) for selecting the type of the supply object to be supplied by the supply mechanism (42, 44); a timing means (50) for timing the duration of the state in which the non-contact detection means (46) detects the detection object; and a control means (38) for controlling the operation of the supply mechanism (42, 44), the control means (38) is configured to control the operation of the supply mechanism (42, 44) so as to start supplying the supply object when the duration timed by the timing means (50) reaches a predetermined supply determination time; when the control means (38) determines that the selection buttons (30, 32, 34) have been operated in a mode switching manner, the control means (38) switches to a change mode of the supply determination time and is configured to change the supply determination time by operating the selection buttons (30, 32, 34) in the change mode A dispenser characterized by the above.

2. In a dispenser comprising a supply mechanism (42, 44) for supplying a supply object and a non-contact detection means (46) capable of detecting a detection object in a non-contact manner, a plurality of selection buttons (30, 32, 34) for selecting the type of the supply object to be supplied by the supply mechanism (42, 44); a timing means (50) for timing the duration of the state in which the non-contact detection means (46) detects the detection object; and a control means (38) for controlling the operation of the supply mechanism (42, 44), the control means (38) is configured to control the operation of the supply mechanism (42, 44) so as to start supplying the supply object when the duration timed by the timing means (50) reaches a predetermined supply determination time; when the control means (38) determines that the plurality of selection buttons (30, 32, 34) have been operated in a mode switching manner in which they are simultaneously long-pressed, the control means (38) switches to a change mode of the supply determination time and is configured to change the supply determination time by operating the selection buttons (30, 32, 34) in the change mode A dispenser characterized by the above.

3. The dispenser according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control means (38) is configured to automatically terminate the change mode when it is determined that a predetermined time has elapsed since the change mode was switched.

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