Carbon dioxide dissolving device

Abstract

To efficiently dissolve carbon dioxide gas into a beverage.SOLUTION: A carbon dioxide gas dissolving device 100 dissolves carbon dioxide gas into a beverage contained in a container 10. The carbon dioxide gas dissolving device 100 comprises: a head 20 that is attached to the mouth of the container 10 and supports the container 10 in a suspended state; a supply unit 40 that supplies carbon dioxide gas into the container 10 via the head 20; a vibration generator 30 that supports the head 20 and applies vibration to the head 20; and a support structure 50 that supports the vibration generator 30 via a vibration-absorbing part 51.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a carbon dioxide gas dissolving device for dissolving carbon dioxide gas in a beverage contained in a container. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a carbonated water production device consisting of a carbonated water production unit and a vibration unit. The vibration unit is screw- or flange-connected to the carbonated water production unit and supports the carbonated water production unit from below. The vibration unit has a vibration mechanism housing container, a motor located at the bottom of the container, and an eccentric rotor attached to the motor's shaft. The carbonated water production unit is configured to inject carbon dioxide gas into water in a sealed container and has a vibrator that vibrates vertically inside the sealed container. The vibrations generated by the vibration unit vibrate the vibrator, allowing the carbon dioxide gas to dissolve in the water in a short period of time. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 3-165823 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the configuration described in Patent Document 1, in which the container is supported from below and vibrations are transmitted to the container, applying large vibrations to the container can cause the vibration unit itself to vibrate, which can cause the device to become unstable, making it difficult to apply large vibrations to the container. Therefore, with such a device, it is difficult to efficiently dissolve carbon dioxide gas in the beverage.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a carbon dioxide gas dissolving device that is advantageous for efficiently dissolving carbon dioxide gas in a beverage. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present invention relates to a carbon dioxide gas dissolution device that dissolves carbon dioxide gas in a beverage in a container, and the carbon dioxide gas dissolution device comprises a head that is attached to the mouth of the container and supports the container in a suspended state, a supply unit that supplies carbon dioxide gas into the inside of the container via the head, a vibration generator that supports the head and applies vibrations to the head, and a support structure that supports the vibration generator via a vibration absorption unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, a carbon dioxide gas dissolving device is provided which is advantageous for efficiently dissolving carbon dioxide gas in a beverage. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of a carbon dioxide gas dissolving device according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a supply unit that supplies carbon dioxide gas to the inside of a container. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of control of the pressure inside the container by the controller. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a head. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the scope of the invention as claimed, and not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the invention. Two or more of the features described in the embodiments may be arbitrarily combined. Furthermore, the same reference numerals are used for the same or similar components, and redundant descriptions will be omitted.

[0010] FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a carbon dioxide gas dissolving device 100 according to one embodiment. The carbon dioxide gas dissolving device 100 is a device that dissolves carbon dioxide gas in a beverage 14 contained in a container 10. The container 10 may be made of a material such as plastic or metal. The container 10 has a mouth 12, and can be sealed by closing the mouth 12. The beverage 14 may be, for example, a non-carbonated beverage such as water, or a carbonated beverage such as carbonated water. In the latter case, carbon dioxide gas is additionally dissolved in the beverage 14 by the carbon dioxide gas dissolving device 100.

[0011] The carbon dioxide gas dissolving device 100 may include a head 20. The head 20 may be attached to the mouth 12 of the container 10 and configured to support the container 10 in a suspended state. FIG. 4 shows one configuration example of the head 20. The head 20 may have an opening 21 into which the mouth 12 of the container 10 is inserted. The head 20 may be placed in a locked state, holding the container 10, by inserting the mouth 12 of the container 10 into the opening 21. The head 20 may also be placed in an unlocked state, allowing the container 10 to be removed from the head 20, by an unlocking operation. For example, the mouth 12 of the container 10 may have a first engaging portion 13, and the head 20 may have a second engaging portion 26 that engages with the first engaging portion 13 of the mouth 12 to achieve the locked state. In another example, the head 20 may have a bayonet mechanism that holds the container 10 in a locked state and is placed in an unlocked state by an unlocking operation. The head 20 may also have a nozzle 24 for supplying carbon dioxide gas to the interior of the vessel 10 .

[0012] The carbon dioxide gas dissolving device 100 may include a supply unit 40 that supplies carbon dioxide gas to the inside of the container 10 via the head 20. In one example, the supply unit 40 may be configured to supply carbon dioxide gas to the inside of the container 10 by supplying carbon dioxide gas to the nozzle 24 of the head 20. The carbon dioxide gas dissolving device 100 may include a vibration generator 30. The vibration generator 30 may be configured to support the head 20. The vibration generator 30 may support the head 20 directly or via a connecting member 35. The vibration generator 30 may be configured to generate vibrations and apply the vibrations to the head 20. The vibration generator 30 may typically include a rotary motor that converts electrical energy into vibrations. An eccentric weight is connected to the output shaft of the rotary motor, and vibrations can be generated by rotating the output shaft. The vibration generator 30 may be configured to support the head 20 in a suspended state.

[0013] The carbon dioxide gas dissolving device 100 may include a support structure 50 that supports the vibration generator 30 via a vibration absorbing section 51. The support structure 50 supports the container 10 via the vibration absorbing section 51, the head 20, and the vibration generator 30. A structure in which the support structure 50 supports the vibration generator 30 via the vibration absorbing section 51 is advantageous for suppressing vibration of the support structure 50 due to vibrations generated by the vibration generator 30. The vibration absorbing section 51 may include an elastic member. The elastic member may be, for example, a spring such as a coil spring. Alternatively, the elastic member may be an elastic member such as rubber. The vibration absorbing section 51 may include, for example, a plurality of elastic members. The plurality of elastic members is preferably, for example, three or more elastic members, or four or more elastic members. The plurality of elastic members may be arranged so that the head 20 is positioned by their balance. The support structure 50 may include, for example, a top plate 52, a bottom plate 56, and a plurality of support columns 54 connecting the top plate 52 and the bottom plate 56. The vibration absorbing section 51 may be supported by the top plate 52.

[0014] According to a configuration in which the support structure 50 supports the vibration generator 30 via the vibration absorbing section 51, and the vibration generator 30 supports the container 10 via the head 20, it is possible to suppress vibration of the support structure 50 and to stably support the container 10. Therefore, with this configuration, it is possible to apply a larger vibration to the container 10 than with a configuration in which the container 10 is supported from below and vibration is applied. This allows carbon dioxide gas to be dissolved efficiently in the beverage.

[0015] 2 shows an example configuration of the supply unit 40. The supply unit 40 may include a supply flow path 42 that supplies carbon dioxide gas supplied from a carbon dioxide gas source (e.g., a carbon dioxide gas cylinder) 48 to the inside of the container 10, a first valve 45 disposed in the supply flow path 42, and a sensor 44 that detects the pressure inside the container 10. The supply unit 40 may also include a controller 47 that controls the first valve 45. The controller 47 may control the first valve 45 based on the pressure detected by the sensor 44.

[0016] 3 shows an example of control of the pressure inside the container 10 by the controller 47. In one example, the controller 47 controls the first valve 45 so that the pressure detected by the sensor 44 (i.e., the pressure inside the container 10) rises to a predetermined first pressure, and then controls the first valve 45 to close the first valve 45. Furthermore, when the pressure detected by the sensor 44 drops to a predetermined second pressure lower than the first pressure after the first valve 45 is closed, the controller 47 controls the first valve 45 so that the pressure detected by the sensor 44 rises again to the first pressure, and then controls the first valve 45 to close the first valve 45. The first pressure is, for example, 0.7 MPa, but may be a different pressure. The second pressure is, for example, 0.5 MPa, but may be a different pressure.

[0017] Here, when the first valve 45 is closed after the pressure inside the container 10 has risen to the first pressure, the carbon dioxide gas gradually dissolves in the beverage 14 inside the container 10, causing the pressure inside the container 10 to decrease. The first valve 45 is controlled by the controller 47 so that the pressure inside the container 10 is maintained within a range having the first pressure as an upper limit and the second pressure as a lower limit.

[0018] The supply unit 40 may further include an outlet flow path 43 for discharging carbon dioxide gas from the inside of the container 10, and a second valve 46 disposed in the outlet flow path 43. The controller 47 may control the second valve 46 to open the second valve 46 to reduce the pressure inside the container 10. For example, the controller 47 may operate to open the second valve 46 when the pressure inside the container 10 reaches a third pressure higher than the first pressure. In this case, the second valve 46 functions as a safety valve. Alternatively, the controller 47 may operate to open the second valve 46 when the process of dissolving carbon dioxide gas in the beverage 14 is completed.

[0019] In one example, by controlling the pressure as shown in Figure 3, the gas volume (GV) of the beverage 14 can be increased to 6.4 in 10 seconds, and the GV of the beverage 14 can be increased to 6.8 in 60 seconds. The GV is the volume of carbon dioxide dissolved in the beverage divided by the volume of the beverage under standard conditions (1 atmosphere, 0°C).

[0020] The carbon dioxide gas dissolving device 100 may include a fixing part 60 that fixes the support structure 50 onto the support base 65. The fixing part 60 may include, for example, a suction cup. In this case, an adsorption sheet 62 may be disposed between the support base 65 and the fixing part 60. The adsorption sheet 62 may function to increase the suction force of the suction cup. The fixing part 60 may include other configurations, for example, a mechanism (e.g., a clamp mechanism or a clip mechanism) that mechanically connects the support structure 50 to the support base 65. Providing the fixing part 60 can prevent the carbon dioxide gas dissolving device 100 from tipping over or moving on the support base 65. Furthermore, providing the fixing part 60 can reduce vibration of the carbon dioxide gas dissolving device 100 on the support base 65.

[0021] The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the gist of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0022] 10: container, 12: mouth portion, 14: beverage, 20: head, 21: opening, 24: nozzle, 26: second engagement portion, 30: vibration generator, 35: connecting member, 40: supply portion, 42: supply flow path, 43: discharge flow path, 44: sensor, 45: first valve, 46: second valve, 47: controller, 48: carbon dioxide source, 50: support structure, 51: vibration absorbing portion, 60: fixing portion, 62: suction sheet, 65: support base

Claims

1. A carbon dioxide dissolving device for dissolving carbon dioxide in a beverage in a container, a head attached to the mouth of the container and supporting the container in a suspended state; a supply unit that supplies carbon dioxide gas into the container through the head; a vibration generator that supports the head and applies vibration to the head; a support structure that supports the vibration generator via a vibration absorbing part; A carbon dioxide gas dissolving device comprising:

2. The vibration generator supports the head in a suspended state.

2. The carbon dioxide gas dissolving device according to claim 1.

3. The vibration absorbing portion includes an elastic member.

3. The carbon dioxide gas dissolving device according to claim 2.

4. The elastic member includes a spring.

4. The carbon dioxide gas dissolving device according to claim 3.

5. The head has an opening into which the mouth of the container is inserted, and when the mouth is inserted into the opening, the head is put into a locked state in which the container is held, and when an unlocking operation is performed, the head is put into an unlocked state in which the container can be removed from the head.

2. The carbon dioxide gas dissolving device according to claim 1.

6. The supply unit includes: a supply flow path for supplying carbon dioxide gas supplied from a carbon dioxide gas source into the container; a first valve disposed in the supply flow path; a sensor for detecting the pressure inside the container; a controller that controls the first valve so that the pressure detected by the sensor rises to a first pressure, and then controls the first valve to close the first valve; 2. The carbon dioxide gas dissolving device according to claim 1, further comprising:

7. When the pressure detected by the sensor drops to a second pressure lower than the first pressure after the first valve is closed, the controller controls the first valve so that the pressure detected by the sensor rises to the first pressure again, and then controls the first valve to close.

7. The carbon dioxide gas dissolving device according to claim 6.

8. an exhaust flow path for exhausting carbon dioxide gas from inside the container; a second valve disposed in the discharge flow path, the controller opens a second valve to reduce the pressure inside the vessel; 7. The carbon dioxide gas dissolving device according to claim 6.

9. Further provided is a fixing portion for fixing the support structure on a support base.

2. The carbon dioxide gas dissolving device according to claim 1.

10. The fixing portion includes a suction cup.

10. The carbon dioxide gas dissolving device according to claim 9.

11. the fixing portion includes a mechanism for mechanically coupling the support structure to the support base.

10. The carbon dioxide gas dissolving device according to claim 9.

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