Management device

Abstract

To provide an advantageous technique to facilitate gas cylinder replacement.SOLUTION: A management apparatus MA includes: a pressure sensor 12 that detects a pressure of a gas cylinder 110 supplying carbon dioxide gas to a beverage barrel 120 so as to supply a beverage to a beverage server 150 from the beverage barrel 120; and a control unit 20 that performs notification facilitating a replacement of the gas cylinder 110 based on an output from the pressure sensor 12.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a management device. [Background technology]

[0002] There is a beverage server system that uses the pressure of carbon dioxide gas to dispense beverages from a beverage barrel. In this beverage server system, carbon dioxide gas is supplied from a gas cylinder to a dispense head attached to the mouth of the beverage barrel, forcing the beverage from the beverage barrel through the dispense head and supplying it to the beverage server. The beverage server cools the supplied beverage and dispenses it into a beverage serving container through a dispensing tap.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a carbon dioxide pressure regulator that controls the supply pressure of carbon dioxide gas according to temperature. The carbon dioxide pressure regulator is configured to control the supply pressure of carbon dioxide gas using a control map that defines the relationship between temperature and supply pressure of carbon dioxide gas, and the control maps include a normal mode control map and a closed mode control map. The normal mode control map defines the relationship between temperature and supply pressure so that supply pressure P2 is constant below a predetermined temperature T1 and is constant at a temperature above T2, and the supply pressure monotonically increases from P2 to P4 as temperature increases within the temperature range from T1 to T2. The closed mode control map defines the relationship between temperature and supply pressure so that supply pressure P1 is constant regardless of temperature changes and is 0.01 MPa to 0.10 MPa lower than supply pressure P2. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-173664 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Previously, there was no function available to detect the remaining amount of carbon dioxide in a gas cylinder or to prompt the user to replace the gas cylinder based on the result. When the amount of carbon dioxide in a gas cylinder decreases, the carbon dioxide is no longer supplied to the beverage barrel at the set pressure. Therefore, when the amount of carbon dioxide in the gas cylinder decreases, the beverage server will no longer be able to supply beverages at the appropriate pressure, and eventually the server will no longer be able to dispense the beverage. This can result in a decrease in the quality of the beverage dispensed into the beverage serving container (e.g., amount of carbon dioxide, foam). Furthermore, if the server suddenly becomes unable to dispense beverages during peak order times, this can lead to a decrease in customer satisfaction and lost sales opportunities.

[0006] The present invention aims to provide an advantageous technique for facilitating the replacement of gas cylinders. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] One aspect of the present invention relates to a management device, the management device comprising: a pressure sensor that detects the pressure of a gas cylinder that supplies carbon dioxide gas to a beverage barrel so that a beverage is supplied from the beverage barrel to a beverage server; and a control unit that issues a notification urging the replacement of the gas cylinder based on the output of the pressure sensor, wherein the control unit: For each of the beverage kegs having different capacities or for the capacity of the beverage keg specified by the user, Based on the output of the pressure sensor, the number of beverage barrels from which beverages can be dispensed using the carbon dioxide gas from the gas cylinder is calculated, and an announcement is made according to the number. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] The present invention provides an advantageous technique for facilitating gas cylinder replacement. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a beverage dispensing system incorporating a management device according to an embodiment; [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the pressure of a gas cylinder and the amount of beverage that can be dispensed. [Figure 3] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation of a control unit. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation of a monitoring program. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, the 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 explanations will be omitted.

[0011] 1 illustrates the configuration of a beverage dispensing system SS incorporating a management device MA according to one embodiment. The beverage dispensing system SS may include a dispense head 30 attached to the opening of a beverage barrel 120 filled with a beverage (e.g., beer, beer-based beverages such as happoshu, etc.), and a beverage server 150 that cools the beverage supplied from the beverage barrel 120 through the dispense head 30 and dispenses it into a beverage serving container through a dispense cock 152. A gas cylinder 110 supplies carbon dioxide gas to the beverage barrel 120 through the dispense head 30 so that the beverage is supplied from the beverage barrel 120 to the beverage server 150. A regulator 10 is attached to the gas cylinder 110, which reduces the pressure of the carbon dioxide gas supplied from the gas cylinder 110 to a set pressure and sends it to the secondary side.

[0012] Carbon dioxide gas is supplied to the dispense head 30 from a gas cylinder 110 containing carbon dioxide gas via a regulator 10 and a gas supply path 130. The carbon dioxide gas is supplied to the interior space of the beverage barrel 120 and applies pressure to the liquid surface of the beverage, thereby forcing the beverage out of the dispense head 30. The beverage is supplied to a beverage server 150 through a flow path 140.

[0013] The management device MA may include a pressure sensor 12 that detects the pressure of the gas cylinder 110, and a control unit 20 that issues a notification urging replacement of the gas cylinder 110 based on the output of the pressure sensor 12. The management device MA may further include a regulator 10, and the control unit 20 may be configured to urge replacement of the gas cylinder 110 based on the set pressure of the regulator 10 as well as the output of the pressure sensor 12. In one example, the control unit 20 may include a CPU and a memory that provides a program to the CPU. In one example, the pressure sensor 12 may be incorporated into the regulator 10.

[0014] The control unit 20 may be configured to calculate the number of beverage kegs 120 capable of dispensing beverages using the carbon dioxide gas from the gas cylinder 110 based on the output of the pressure sensor 12 and to issue a warning based on the calculated number. The control unit 20 may also be configured to issue a warning when the number of beverage kegs 120 capable of dispensing beverages is equal to or less than a predetermined number. The control unit 20 may issue a warning when the number of beverage kegs 120 capable of dispensing beverages is equal to or less than the predetermined number, separately from a warning when the number is greater than the predetermined number. For example, when the number of beverage kegs 120 capable of dispensing beverages is greater than the predetermined number, a first level warning may be issued, and when the number of beverage kegs 120 capable of dispensing beverages is equal to or less than the predetermined number, a second level warning that is more stimulating to the operator than the first level warning may be issued. If the warning includes a sound warning, the second bell warning may be, for example, louder than the first level warning. When the notification includes notification by light or display, the first level notification may be, for example, a notification that does not involve flashing, and the second level notification may be, for example, a notification that involves flashing.

[0015] The management device MA may further include a beverage sensor 50 and a circuit breaker 60. The beverage sensor 50 is disposed in a beverage flow path 140 between the beverage keg 120 and the beverage server 150 to detect the beverage. The beverage sensor 50 may include, for example, a light emitter whose optical axis is disposed so as to intersect with the flow path 140, and a light receiver that receives light from the light emitter via the flow path 140. In one example, the light emitter and the light receiver are disposed outside a tube that constitutes the flow path 140, and the tube may have a window that transmits light from the light emitter. Alternatively, the tube may be entirely composed of a light-transmitting tube. The beverage sensor 50 may also be composed of various other sensors.

[0016] The interrupter 60 may be configured to interrupt the flow path 140. The interrupter 60 may be configured to interrupt the flow path 140, for example, by compressing a tube that constitutes the flow path 140 and reducing the cross-sectional area of ​​the flow path 140. The interrupter 60 may be, for example, the fluid stopper device shown in Figures 6C and 6D of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2019-104504.

[0017] The control unit 20 may be configured to determine whether the gas cylinder 110 has been replaced when the number of beverage barrels 120 capable of dispensing beverage is one or less and replacement of the beverage barrel 120 is detected based on the output of the beverage sensor 50. The control unit 20 may also control the circuit breaker 60 to block the flow path 140 if the gas cylinder 110 has not been replaced. This is effective in preventing a low-quality beverage from being dispensed by forcing replacement of the gas cylinder 110.

[0018] The control unit 20 may include an alarm unit 22 attached to the beverage server 150. When it is determined based on the output of the pressure sensor 12 that replacement of the gas cylinder is recommended, the control unit 20 may control the alarm unit 22 to issue an alarm urging replacement of the gas cylinder. The control unit 20 may also control the alarm unit 22 to emphasize the alarm urging replacement of the gas cylinder 110 when a beverage is dispensed. Here, the management device MA may further include a dispensing detection unit (not shown) that detects the dispensing of a beverage by the beverage server 150. The dispensing detection unit may include, for example, a sensor that detects operation of the dispensing cock 152, and can detect the dispensing of a beverage based on an output from the sensor. Alternatively, the dispensing detection unit may detect a beverage by detecting sound or vibration generated by a beverage flowing through a beverage supply path arranged in the beverage server 150, thereby detecting the beverage.

[0019] The control unit 20 can recognize the dispensing of a beverage based on the output of the dispensing detection unit. Furthermore, when replacement of the gas cylinder 110 should be recommended based on the output of the pressure sensor 12 and when a beverage is being dispensed, the control unit 20 can control the alarm unit 22 to emphasize the notification urging replacement of the gas cylinder 110. For example, the control unit 20 can: a) issue a first level notification when replacement of the gas cylinder 110 should be recommended based on the output of the pressure sensor 12 and when a beverage is not being dispensed; or b) issue a second level notification that is more stimulating to the operator than the first level notification when replacement of the gas cylinder 110 should be recommended based on the output of the pressure sensor 12 and when a beverage is being dispensed. If the notification includes a sound notification, the second level notification can be, for example, a louder notification than the first level notification. When the notification includes notification by light or display, the first level notification may be, for example, a notification that does not involve flashing, and the second level notification may be, for example, a notification that involves flashing.

[0020] The control unit 20 may be configured to transmit the output of the pressure sensor 12 or information obtained by processing the output to the information collecting device 70. The information collecting device 70 may be provided, for example, in a control unit that manages multiple stores. The information collecting device 70 is connected to the control unit 20 of the management device MA of each store via a communication line or the like, and can manage the status of the gas cylinder 110 based on the output of the pressure sensor 12 provided from the control unit 20 or information obtained by processing the output. Such management may include, for example, providing the store with information urging the replacement of the gas cylinder 110, arranging for delivery of the gas cylinder 110 to the store, or statistically processing the timing of replacement of the gas cylinder 110.

[0021] 2 illustrates the relationship between the pressure of the gas cylinder 110 and the amount of beverage that can be dispensed. The horizontal axis represents the pressure of the gas cylinder 110, which is the pressure that can be detected by the pressure sensor 12. The vertical axis represents the amount of beverage that can be dispensed (extractable amount) using the carbon dioxide gas remaining in the gas cylinder 110. The solid line shows the relationship between the pressure of the gas cylinder 110 and the amount of beverage that can be dispensed when the set pressure of the regulator 10 (the secondary side, i.e., the pressure on the outlet side of the regulator 10) is 0.25 [Mpa], and the dotted line shows the relationship between the pressure of the gas cylinder 110 and the amount of beverage that can be dispensed when the set pressure of the regulator 10 (the secondary side, i.e., the pressure on the outlet side of the regulator 10) is 0.35 [Mpa].

[0022] 2, when the pressure of the gas cylinder 110 is the same, the higher the set pressure of the regulator 10, the smaller the amount of dispensable gas. Therefore, as described above, the control unit 20 can be configured to prompt the user to replace the gas cylinder 110 based on the set pressure of the regulator 10 as well as the output of the pressure sensor 12. More specifically, the control unit 20 can be configured to detect the arrival of a state in which replacement of the gas cylinder 110 should be recommended based on a function or lookup table, etc., with the output (pressure) of the pressure sensor 12 and the set pressure of the regulator 10 as variables, and to prompt the user to replace the gas cylinder 110 in response to this detection.

[0023] The beverage barrels 120 may have various capacities. The number of beverage barrels 120 that can be dispensed depending on the amount of carbon dioxide remaining in the gas cylinder 110 depends on the capacity of the beverage barrels 120. Therefore, the control unit 20 or the notification unit 22 may notify the number of beverage barrels 120 that can be dispensed depending on the amount of carbon dioxide remaining in the gas cylinder 110, in accordance with the capacity of the beverage barrels 120.

[0024] The control unit 20 can calculate the number of beverage barrels 120 from which beverages can be dispensed using the carbon dioxide gas from the gas cylinder 110 (the remaining amount of carbon dioxide gas in the gas cylinder 110) based on the relationship illustrated in Figure 2 and the capacity of the beverage barrels 120.

[0025] For example, if the set pressure of regulator 10 is 0.35 [Mpa] and the pressure of gas cylinder 110 detected by pressure sensor 12 is 1 [Mpa], the dispenseable amount is 11 [L]. If a beverage barrel with a capacity of 10 [L] and a beverage barrel with a capacity of 19 [L] are available as beverage barrels 120, control unit 20 may calculate that the number of bottles that can be dispensed from the 10 [L] beverage barrel is 1, and the number of bottles that can be dispensed from the 19 [L] beverage barrel is 0.5, and may report the result.

[0026] As another example, if the set pressure of regulator 10 is 0.35 [Mpa] and the pressure of gas cylinder 110 detected by pressure sensor 12 is 1.56 [Mpa], the dispenseable amount is 20 [L]. If a beverage barrel with a capacity of 10 [L] and a beverage barrel with a capacity of 19 [L] are available as beverage barrels 120, control unit 20 may calculate that the number of beverage barrels that can be dispensed from the 10 [L] beverage barrel is two, and the number of beverage barrels that can be dispensed from the 19 [L] beverage barrel is one, and may report the result.

[0027] 3 illustrates an example of the operation of the control unit 20. In step S301, the control unit 20 acquires information indicating the set pressure of the regulator 10. In step S302, the control unit 20 acquires the output (pressure) of the pressure sensor 12. Here, the output of the pressure sensor 12 may be information indicating the pressure of the gas cylinder 110 in a predetermined unit (e.g., MPa), or may be information correlated with the pressure of the gas cylinder 110 (e.g., a value proportional to the pressure, or information indicating which class of multiple classes the current pressure belongs to).

[0028] In step S303, the control unit 20 calculates the number of beverage kegs 120 that can be dispensed based on the relationship illustrated in Fig. 2, the set pressure of the regulator 10, and the output (pressure) of the pressure sensor 12. Here, if the beverage kegs 120 can have various capacities, the control unit 20 may calculate the number of beverages that can be dispensed for each capacity, as in the example described above. Alternatively, in a configuration in which the capacity of the beverage kegs 120 to be used can be set by a user, the control unit 20 may calculate the number of beverages that can be dispensed based on the set capacity.

[0029] In step S304, the control unit 20 determines whether the number of beverage barrels 120 from which beverages can be dispensed is equal to or less than a predetermined number (e.g., 1, 2, or 3), and if the number is equal to or less than the predetermined number, issues an alert in step S305. This alert can be made through the alert unit 22. The main body constituting the control unit 20 and the alert unit 22 may be configured to be housed in separate housings, or may be housed in the same housing. If the main body constituting the control unit 20 and the alert unit 22 are housed in separate housings, the main body and the alert unit 22 are connected by wire or wirelessly. If the number of beverage barrels 120 from which beverages can be dispensed is greater than the predetermined number in step S304, the processing by the control unit 20 returns to step S301.

[0030] In step S306, the control unit 20 determines whether the number of beverage barrels 120 from which beverages can be dispensed is one or less, and if the number is one or less (for example, if the calculated number is 1.0 or less), starts the monitoring program in step S307. If the number of beverage barrels 120 from which beverages can be dispensed is more than one in step S306 (for example, if the calculated number is greater than 1.0), the processing by the control unit 20 returns to step S301.

[0031] Figure 4 illustrates the operation of the monitoring program started in step S307 of Figure 3. In step S401, the control unit 20 determines whether the beverage barrel 120 has been replaced. This determination can be made, for example, based on the output of the beverage sensor 50. More specifically, the control unit 20 can determine that the beverage barrel 120 has been replaced when the output of the beverage sensor 50 transitions from a state in which a beverage is detected to a state in which a beverage is not detected, and then transitions again to a state in which a beverage is detected. Alternatively, the control unit 20 or the like can be provided with a user interface (not shown), and the control unit 20 can determine that the beverage barrel 120 has been replaced when the user inputs into the user interface that the beverage barrel 120 has been replaced.

[0032] If it is determined in step S401 that the beverage barrel 120 has been replaced, step S402 is executed. In step S402, the control unit 20 determines whether the gas cylinder 110 has been replaced. This determination can be made, for example, based on the output of the pressure sensor 12. More specifically, the control unit 20 can determine that the gas cylinder 110 has been replaced if the output of the pressure sensor 12 exceeds a reference value.

[0033] If it is determined in step S402 that the gas cylinder 110 has been replaced, the monitoring program ends. On the other hand, if it is not determined in step S402 that the gas cylinder 110 has been replaced, that is, if it is not determined that the gas cylinder 110 has been replaced in conjunction with the replacement of the beverage barrel 120, the control unit 20 may control the circuit breaker 60 to block the flow path 140. This forces the replacement of the gas cylinder 110 when the number of beverage barrels 120 from which beverage can be dispensed is one or less and the replacement of the beverage barrel 120 has been detected but the gas cylinder 110 has not been replaced. This is effective in preventing a low-quality beverage from being dispensed.

[0034] In step S404, the control unit 20 determines whether the gas cylinder 110 has been replaced. As described above, this determination can be made based on, for example, the output of the pressure sensor 12. If it is determined in step S404 that the gas cylinder 110 has been replaced, the control unit 20 controls the circuit breaker 60 to stop blocking the flow path 140 in step S405, and ends the monitoring program.

[0035] 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]

[0036] MA: Management device, SS: Beverage dispensing system, 10: Regulator, 12: Pressure sensor, 20: Control unit, 22: Notification unit, 30: Dispense head, 50: Beverage sensor, 60: Circuit breaker, 70: Information collection device, 110: Gas cylinder, 120: Beverage barrel, 130: Gas supply path, 140: Flow path, 150: Beverage server, 152: Dispensing cock

Claims

1. a pressure sensor for detecting the pressure of a gas cylinder for supplying carbon dioxide gas to the beverage barrel so that the beverage is supplied from the beverage barrel to the beverage server; a control unit that issues a notification to prompt replacement of the gas cylinder based on the output of the pressure sensor, The control unit calculates the number of beverage barrels from which beverages can be dispensed using the carbon dioxide gas from the gas cylinder based on the output of the pressure sensor for each of the beverage barrels having different capacities or for the capacity of the beverage barrel specified by the user, and issues a notification according to the number of beverage barrels. A management device characterized by:

2. The apparatus further includes a regulator that reduces the pressure of the carbon dioxide gas supplied from the gas cylinder to a set pressure, the control unit prompts replacement of the gas cylinder based on the set pressure in addition to the output of the pressure sensor. The management device according to claim 1 .

3. The apparatus further includes a regulator that reduces the pressure of the carbon dioxide gas supplied from the gas cylinder to a set pressure, The control unit calculates the number of beverage barrels from which beverages can be dispensed using the carbon dioxide gas from the gas cylinder based on the output of the pressure sensor and the set pressure, and issues a notification according to the number of beverage barrels. The management device according to claim 1 .

4. The control unit notifies the user when the number is equal to or less than a predetermined number.

4. The management device according to claim 3.

5. The control unit notifies a case where the number is equal to or less than a predetermined number, distinguishing from a case where the number is greater than the predetermined number.

4. The management device according to claim 3.

6. a beverage sensor disposed in a beverage flow path between the beverage barrel and the beverage server to detect the beverage; a circuit breaker that blocks the flow path; When the number of barrels is one or less and replacement of the beverage barrel is detected based on the output of the beverage sensor, the control unit determines whether the gas cylinder has been replaced, and when the gas cylinder has not been replaced, controls the circuit breaker to block the flow path.

6. The management device according to claim 1, wherein the management device is a device for managing a plurality of data.

7. The control unit includes an alarm unit attached to the beverage server, When replacement of the gas cylinder is required, the notification unit is controlled to issue a notification to prompt replacement of the gas cylinder.

7. The management device according to claim 1, wherein the management device is a device for managing a plurality of data items.

8. the control unit transmits the output of the pressure sensor or information obtained by processing the output to an information collection device.

8. The management device according to claim 1, wherein the management device is a device for managing a plurality of data items.

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