Bottle holding mechanism and carbon dioxide injection device

Abstract

To provide a bottle holding mechanism with which a user can easily recognize that a bottle has been held, and a carbon dioxide gas injection device.SOLUTION: A bottle holding mechanism includes: a housing; a holder that holds the housing so as to be rotatable in a first rotary direction and in a second rotary direction; a first member disposed translation-movably in a first translating direction and in a second translating direction in the housing and having a first inclined face; and a second member having a second inclined face that meets the first inclined face, an opening into which a mouth of a bottle is inserted, and a groove that engages with a protrusion disposed in the mouth. According to a movement where the housing rotates in the first rotary direction, the first member and the second member move in the second translating direction while the first member is pressed against the second member; according to a movement where the housing rotates in the second rotary direction, the first member moves in the first translating direction so that the first inclined face is detached from the second inclined face; and the groove includes a restriction part that restricts a position of the protrusion when the mouth is inserted into a predetermined depth with respect to the opening.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

Technical Field

[0004] ,

[0006] , , , , , ,

[0005] , , ,

[0003] , , , , ,

[0001] The present invention relates to a bottle holding mechanism and a carbon dioxide gas injection device.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a clamping device that forms part of a carbonation head assembly for attaching a container of carbonated beverage to a carbonation device. This clamping device has a plurality of prongs radially arranged to hold the mouth of the container, and a clamping ring that tightens the plurality of prongs so that when the user positions the container in a non-vertical state on the carbonation head assembly and moves the container to a vertical state, the mouth of the container is held by the plurality of prongs.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the clamping device of Patent Document 1, after positioning the mouth of the container on the carbonation head assembly in a non-vertical state, the container is rotated to a vertical state, and the mouth of the container is held by a plurality of clamps. However, it is difficult for the user to know at which point the container is securely held, which may give the user a sense of unease.

[0005] The present invention provides a bottle holding mechanism and a carbon dioxide gas injection device in which it is easy for the user to know that the bottle is held.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A first aspect of the present invention relates to a bottle holding mechanism, the bottle holding mechanism comprising: a housing; a holder that holds the housing so as to be rotatable in a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction which are opposite to each other; a first member having a first inclined surface and arranged within the housing so as to be translatably movable in a first translational direction and a second translational direction which are opposite to each other; and a second member having a second inclined surface that abuts against the first inclined surface, an opening into which the mouth of a bottle is inserted, and a groove into which a projection provided on the mouth of the bottle engages, wherein the first member and the second member move in the second translational direction as the housing rotates in the first rotational direction while being pressed against the second member, and the first member moves in the first translational direction as the housing rotates in the second rotational direction so as to separate the first inclined surface from the second inclined surface, and the groove includes a restricting portion that restricts the position of the projection so as to prevent the mouth from moving in the second translational direction relative to the groove when the mouth of the bottle is inserted into the opening to a predetermined depth.

[0007] A second aspect of the present invention relates to a carbon dioxide injection device for injecting carbon dioxide into a bottle, comprising a bottle holding mechanism relating to the first aspect, and a carbon dioxide supply unit for supplying carbon dioxide to the bottle held by the bottle holding mechanism. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, a bottle holding mechanism and a carbon dioxide injection device are provided that make it easy for the user to understand that the bottle is being held. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] A diagram illustrating the configuration of a carbon dioxide injection device according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] An enlarged view of a carbon dioxide injection device according to one embodiment. [Figure 3] An enlarged view of a carbon dioxide injection device according to one embodiment. [Figure 4] A diagram showing two states of a carbon dioxide injection device or bottle holding mechanism according to one embodiment. [Figure 5] A diagram illustrating the configuration and operation of a carbon dioxide injection device or bottle holding mechanism according to one embodiment. [Figure 6] A diagram illustrating the configuration and operation of a carbon dioxide injection device or bottle holding mechanism according to one embodiment. [Figure 7] A diagram illustrating the configuration and operation of a carbon dioxide injection device or bottle holding mechanism according to one embodiment. [Figure 8] A diagram illustrating the configuration and operation of a carbon dioxide injection device or bottle holding mechanism according to one embodiment. [Figure 9] A diagram illustrating the configuration and operation of a carbon dioxide injection device or bottle holding mechanism according to one embodiment. [Figure 10] A diagram illustrating the configuration and operation of a carbon dioxide injection device or bottle holding mechanism according to one embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] The embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the invention as defined in the claims, and not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential to the invention. Two or more features from the multiple features described in the embodiments may be arbitrarily combined. Furthermore, identical or similar configurations will be given the same reference numeral, and redundant descriptions will be omitted.

[0011] Figure 1 illustrates the configuration of a carbon dioxide injection device 100 according to one embodiment. Figures 2 and 3 show enlarged views of a part of the carbon dioxide injection device 100 shown in Figure 1. Here, Figure 2 shows the state in which the bottle 1 is attached to the carbon dioxide injection device 100 or the state in which the bottle 1 is removed from the carbon dioxide injection device 100. Figure 3 shows the state in which the carbon dioxide injection device 100 is ready to inject carbon dioxide into the bottle 1, the state in which the carbon dioxide injection device 100 is injecting carbon dioxide into the bottle 1, or the state in which the carbon dioxide injection device 100 has completed the operation of injecting carbon dioxide into the bottle 1.

[0012] The mouth of bottle 1 is inserted into the opening of the bottle holding mechanism BHM in a state where the axial direction of bottle 1 is inclined with respect to the vertical, i.e., in an inclined state, and can be held by the bottle holding mechanism BHM or the carbon dioxide injection device 100 by being pushed in the mounting direction (diagonally upward direction) U. This state is illustrated in Figure 2. In other words, according to this embodiment, bottle 1 is inserted into the opening of the bottle holding mechanism BHM in an inclined state and is held by the bottle holding mechanism BHM by being pushed in one direction (mounting direction U). To put it more simply, according to this embodiment, bottle 1 is held by the bottle holding mechanism BHM simply by pushing bottle 1 into the opening of the bottle holding mechanism BHM. Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is easy for the user to understand that bottle 1 is being held by the bottle holding mechanism BHM. Furthermore, the operation until bottle 1 is held by the bottle holding mechanism BHM is simple.

[0013] Subsequently, bottle 1 may be rotated in the first rotational direction R1 to a state parallel to the vertical, i.e., a vertical state. This state is illustrated in Figure 3. In this state, carbon dioxide gas may be injected into bottle 1 through tube 85 by the carbon dioxide gas supply unit 90. Subsequently, bottle 1 may be rotated in the second rotational direction R2, which is opposite to the first rotational direction R1, to return to the inclined state. This state is illustrated in Figure 2. Subsequently, bottle 1 may be removed from the bottle holding mechanism BHM or the carbon dioxide gas injection device 100 by being pulled out from the bottle holding mechanism BHM in the removal direction (diagonally downward) D, which is opposite to the mounting direction U.

[0014] FIG. 4(a) schematically shows a state where the carbon dioxide injection device 100 or the bottle holding mechanism BHM is waiting for the attachment (insertion) of the bottle 1, or a state where the bottle 1 has been removed from the carbon dioxide injection device 100 or the bottle holding mechanism BHM. FIG. 4(b) schematically shows a state where the bottle 1 is attached to the carbon dioxide injection device 100 or the bottle holding mechanism BHM and the bottle 1 is in a vertical state. The bottle holding mechanism BHM can receive the bottle 1 in an inclined state where its axial direction is inclined with respect to the vertical direction.

[0015] As schematically shown in FIG. 4(a), the bottle 1 may have a mouth portion 2 provided with a protrusion 3. The carbon dioxide injection device 100 or the bottle holding mechanism BHM can hold the bottle 1 or the mouth portion 2 of the bottle 1 using the protrusion 3. When the bottle 1 is held by the bottle holding mechanism BHM in a vertical state, the bottle holding mechanism BHM can also be in a vertical state where its axial direction is parallel to the vertical direction.

[0016] Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 4 to 10 in addition to FIG. 4, the configurations and operations of the bottle holding mechanism BHM and the carbon dioxide injection device 100 will be exemplarily described. The bottle holding mechanism BHM may include a housing 10 and a holder 20 that holds the housing 10 so as to be rotatable in a first rotation direction R1 and a second rotation direction R2 that are opposite to each other. Further, the bottle holding mechanism BHM may include a first member 30 and a second member 40. The first member 30 and the second member 40 can be held by the housing 10. The first member 30 and the second member 40 can be held by the housing 10 so as to be translatable in a first translation direction S1 and a second translation direction S2 that are relative directions with respect to the housing 10. When the housing 10 and the bottle 1 are in an inclined state, the first translation direction S1 and the second translation direction S2 can be parallel to the attachment direction U and the removal direction D. When the housing 10 and the bottle 1 are in a vertical state, the first translation direction S1 and the second translation direction S2 can be parallel to the vertical direction.

[0017] The first member 30 may have a first inclined surface 31. The second member 40 may have a second inclined surface 42 that abuts against the first inclined surface 31, an opening 43 into which the mouth portion 2 of the bottle 1 is inserted, and a groove 44 with which a protrusion 3 provided on the mouth portion 2 engages. The bottle holding mechanism BHM may include a restricting portion 70 as schematically shown in FIG. 5 and the like. The restricting portion 70 may restrict the second member 40 from being pushed into the direction of the first member 30 by pressing the mouth portion 2 in a state where the protrusion 3 is not positioned in the groove 44. Specifically, the restricting portion 70 may prevent the second member 40 from being pushed into the direction of the first member 30 by pressing the mouth portion 2 such that the second inclined surface 42 of the second member 40 abuts against the first inclined surface 31 of the first member 30 in a state where the protrusion 3 is not positioned in the groove 44. The restricting portion 70 may function to guide the protrusion 3 of the mouth portion 2 when the mouth portion 2 of the bottle 1 is inserted into the opening 43 of the second member 40. The restricting portion 70 may be fixed to the first member 30, for example.

[0018] In response to the operation of the housing 10 rotating in the first rotation direction R1, the first member 30 and the second member 40 may move in the second translation direction S2 while the first member 30 is pressed against the second member 40. Also, in response to the operation of the housing 10 rotating in the second rotation direction R2, the first member 30 may move in the first translation direction S1 such that the first inclined surface 31 is separated from the second inclined surface 42.

[0019] The groove 44 provided in the second member 40 may include a restricting portion 46 that restricts the position of the protrusion 3 of the bottle 1 so that the mouth portion 2 of the bottle 1 does not move in the second translation direction S2 with respect to the groove 44 when the mouth portion 2 of the bottle 1 is inserted to a predetermined depth into the opening 43 of the second member 40. The groove 44 of the second member 40 may be arranged such that the protrusion 3 of the bottle 1 is inserted into the groove 44 of the second member 40 when the mouth portion 2 of the bottle 1 is inserted into the opening 43 of the second member 40.

[0020] The groove 44 may be configured such that, in response to the operation of inserting the mouth portion 2 of the bottle 1 into the opening 43 of the second member 40 to a predetermined depth, the second inclined surface 42 of the second member 40 is pressed against the first inclined surface 31 of the first member 30, thereby causing the second member 40 to move in the first translational direction S1 and rotate around an axis parallel to the first translational direction S1, so that the projection 3 of the bottle 1 is held by the regulating portion 46 and the limiting portion 70.

[0021] When the mouth portion 2 of the bottle 1 is inserted into the opening 43 of the second member 40 to a predetermined depth, and the housing 10 is rotated by a predetermined angle in the first rotational direction R1, that is, in the state shown in Figures 3 and 4(b), the projection 3 is held in place by the regulating portion 46 and the limiting portion 70 unless the housing 10 is rotated in the second rotational direction R2.

[0022] The housing 10 may include a bottom portion 12 and a side portion 13 extending from the bottom portion 12 (in a direction parallel to the first translational direction S1). The bottom portion 12 may have an insertion hole 11 into which the mouth portion 2 of the bottle 1 is inserted, and may be configured to restrict the first member 30 with respect to the second translational direction S2. The side portion 13 may be configured to at least partially surround the first member 30 and the second member 40. The side portion 13 may have, for example, a rectangular tube shape.

[0023] The bottle holding mechanism BHM may further include a holding member 50 that holds the first member 30 within the housing 10. As schematically shown in Figures 5 to 10, a slot 15 may be provided in the side portion 13 of the housing 10. The holding member 50 may have a projection 52 that protrudes through the slot 15 provided in the side portion 13 of the housing 10. The holder 20 may have a pivot portion 22 that pivots the housing 10 to enable the housing 10 to rotate in a first rotation direction R1 and a second rotation direction R2, and a guide groove 24 that guides the projection 52. The rotation of the housing 10 in the first rotation direction R1 and the second rotation direction R2 may be converted into movement of the first member 30 in a first translation direction S1 and a second translation direction S2 by the projection 52 moving in the guide groove 24.

[0024] The first member 30 may have a cylindrical shape in which a plurality of first inclined surfaces 31 are arranged in an annular shape. Similarly, the second member 40 may have a cylindrical shape in which a plurality of second inclined surfaces 42 are arranged in an annular shape. One of the plurality of second inclined surfaces 42 may face each of the plurality of first inclined surfaces 31.

[0025] The bottle holding mechanism BHM may further include a coil spring 60 that applies a force to the first member 30 and the second member 40 in a direction that separates the first member 30 and the second member 40 from each other. As schematically shown in Figure 10, the bottle holding mechanism BHM may include a sealing portion 80 that seals the mouth 2 of the bottle 1 when the mouth 2 of the bottle 1 is inserted into the opening 43 of the second member 40 to a predetermined depth. The bottle holding mechanism BHM may further include a tube 85 that penetrates the first member 30 and the second member 40. The carbon dioxide supply unit 90 of the carbon dioxide injection device 100 may be configured to inject carbon dioxide into the bottle 1 (the beverage inside the bottle 1) through the tube 85. The sealing portion 80 may be attached to the tube 85.

[0026] The following describes, with reference to Figures 5 to 9, the attachment of bottle 1 to the carbon dioxide injection device 100 or the bottle holding mechanism BHM, and the removal of bottle 1 from the carbon dioxide injection device 100 or the bottle holding mechanism BHM.

[0027] Figure 5 shows the mouth portion 2 of the bottle 1 inserted into the opening 43 of the second member 40 (insertion hole 11 of the housing 10), and the projection 3 of the mouth portion 2 engaging with the groove 44 of the second member 40. In Figure 5, the portion of the bottle 1 inserted into the opening 43 of the second member 40 is shown by a dashed line, and the portion of the limiting portion 70 hidden by the second member 40 is shown by a dotted line. Figure 6 shows the same state as in Figure 5, but the portion of the bottle 1 inserted into the opening 43 of the second member 40 and the portion of the limiting portion 70 hidden by the second member 40 are not shown.

[0028] Figure 7 shows the state in which the mouth portion 2 of the bottle 1 is pushed into the opening 43 of the second member 40, and inserted into the opening 43 of the second member 40 to a predetermined depth, from the state shown in Figures 5 and 6. In response to the operation of inserting the mouth portion 2 of the bottle 1 into the opening 43 of the second member 40 to a predetermined depth, the second inclined surface 42 of the second member 40 is pressed against the first inclined surface 31 of the first member 30. As a result, the second member 40 moves in the first translational direction S1 and rotates around an axis parallel to the first translational direction S1 (clockwise with respect to the first translational direction S1). Along with this movement, the projection 3 provided on the mouth portion 2 moves while its movement is restricted by the limiting portion 70 and it engages with the groove 44 of the second member 40, and is finally held by the regulating portion 46 and the limiting portion 70.

[0029] Figure 8 shows the state in which the bottle 1 has been rotated in the first rotational direction R1 to become vertical, starting from the state shown in Figure 7. In Figure 8, the portion of the bottle 1 inserted into the opening 43 of the second member 40 is shown by a dashed line, and the portion of the limiting portion 70 hidden by the second member 40 is shown by a dotted line. Figure 9 shows the same state as in Figure 8, but the portion of the bottle 1 inserted into the opening 43 of the second member 40 and the limiting portion 70 are not shown.

[0030] When bottle 1 rotates in the first rotational direction R1, housing 10 also rotates in the first rotational direction. As housing 10 rotates in the first rotational direction R1, the first member 30 is pressed against the second member 40, and both the first member 30 and the second member 40 move in the second translational direction S2, reaching the state shown in Figures 8 and 9 (Figures 3 and 4(b)). In this state, the projection 3 remains held by the regulating part 46 and the limiting part 70 unless bottle 1 rotates in the second rotational direction R2, thereby preventing housing 10 from rotating in the second rotational direction R2. In other words, in the state shown in Figures 8 and 9, the limiting part 70 can function to restrict the rotation of bottle 1 so that it cannot be rotated counterclockwise with respect to the first translational direction S1. Therefore, from the state shown in Figures 8 and 9, it is possible to prevent erroneous operations such as rotating bottle 1 counterclockwise with respect to the first translational direction S1 and then rotating bottle 1 in the second rotational direction R2. In addition, by restricting the rotation of bottle 1 by the limiting part 70, it is possible to prevent the operation of rotating bottle 1 when injecting carbon dioxide gas as described below, thereby ensuring safety.

[0031] In the state shown in Figures 8 and 9, carbon dioxide can be injected into bottle 1 (the beverage filled in bottle 1) through tube 85 by the carbon dioxide supply unit 90. The injection of carbon dioxide into bottle 1 may be performed in response to the user operating an operation button (not shown). Alternatively, the injection of carbon dioxide into bottle 1 may be performed or stopped in response to the output of a sensor that detects that the housing 10 is in the vertical position shown in Figures 8 and 9. This configuration, in which carbon dioxide is injected into bottle 1 by the carbon dioxide supply unit 90 only when the state shown in Figures 8 and 9 is achieved, prevents carbon dioxide from being sprayed from the carbon dioxide supply unit 90 even if bottle 1 is not properly attached to the bottle holding mechanism BHM.

[0032] After the carbon dioxide injection device 100 has finished injecting carbon dioxide into the bottle 1, it may prompt the user to return the bottle 1 to its tilted position, for example, by an notification unit (not shown). When the bottle 1 is returned to its tilted position, that is, when the housing 10 is rotated in the second rotational direction R2, the first member 30 may move in the first translational direction R1 such that the first inclined surface 31 separates from the second inclined surface 42, as shown in Figures 5 and 6. This releases the holding of the projection 3 or the mouth 2 by the regulating part 46 and the limiting part 70. The user can remove the bottle 1 from the bottle holding mechanism BHM or the carbon dioxide injection device 100 by rotating the bottle 1 in the second rotational direction R2 from the state shown in Figures 3 and 4(b) to the state shown in Figures 2 and 4(a).

[0033] The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0034] 1: Bottle, 2: Mouth, 3: Protrusion, BHM: Bottle holding mechanism, U: Mounting direction, D: Removal direction, 10: Housing, 11: Insertion hole, 12: Bottom surface, 13: Side surface, 20: Holder, 22: Support part, 24: Guide groove, 30: First member, 31: First inclined surface, 40: Second member, 42: Second inclined surface, 43: Opening, 44: Groove, 46: Restricting part, 50: Holding member, 52: Protruding part, 60: Coil spring, 70: Restricting part, 80: Seal part, 85: Tube, 90: Carbon dioxide supply part, 100: Carbon dioxide injection device, S1: First translational direction, S2: Second translational direction

Claims

1. Housing and A holder that holds the housing so that it can rotate in a first rotation direction and a second rotation direction which are opposite to each other, Within the housing, a first member having a first inclined surface is arranged to be translatably movable in a first translational direction and a second translational direction which are opposite to each other. A second member having a second inclined surface that contacts the first inclined surface, an opening into which the mouth of the bottle is inserted, and a groove into which a projection provided on the mouth engages, Equipped with, As the housing rotates in the first rotational direction, the first member is pressed against the second member and the first and second members move in the second translational direction, and as the housing rotates in the second rotational direction, the first member moves in the first translational direction such that the first inclined surface separates from the second inclined surface. The groove includes a restricting portion that restricts the position of the projection so that the mouth portion does not move in the second translational direction relative to the groove when the mouth portion is inserted into the opening to a predetermined depth. A bottle holding mechanism characterized by the following features.

2. The groove is arranged such that the projection is inserted into the groove when the mouth is inserted into the opening. The groove is configured such that, in response to the operation of inserting the opening to the predetermined depth, the second inclined surface is pressed against the first inclined surface, thereby causing the second member to move in the first translational direction and rotate around an axis parallel to the first translational direction, and the projection is held by the restricting portion. The bottle holding mechanism according to feature 1.

3. When the opening is inserted into the opening to the predetermined depth and the housing is rotated by a predetermined angle in the first rotational direction, the projection remains held by the restricting portion as long as the housing is not rotated in the second rotational direction. The bottle holding mechanism according to feature 2.

4. The housing includes a bottom portion having an insertion hole into which the opening is inserted and restricting the first member with respect to the second translational direction, and a side portion extending from the bottom portion so as to at least partially surround the first member and the second member. The bottle holding mechanism according to feature 2.

5. The aforementioned side portion has a rectangular tube shape. The bottle holding mechanism according to feature 4.

6. The housing further comprises a retaining member for holding the first member, The retaining member has a protruding portion that protrudes through a slot provided on the side surface of the housing, The holder has a pivot portion that pivots the housing so as to enable the housing to rotate in the first rotation direction and the second rotation direction, and a guide groove that guides the protruding portion. The bottle holding mechanism according to feature 4.

7. The rotation of the housing in the first rotational direction and the second rotational direction is converted into movement of the first member in the first translational direction and the second translational direction by the projection moving in the guide groove. The bottle holding mechanism according to feature 6.

8. The first member has a cylindrical shape in which a plurality of first inclined surfaces are arranged in an annular manner. The second member has a cylindrical shape in which a plurality of the second inclined surfaces are arranged in an annular manner. Each of the plurality of first inclined surfaces is opposed by one of the plurality of second inclined surfaces. The bottle holding mechanism according to feature 1.

9. The system further includes a limiting portion that prevents the second member from being pushed in the direction of the first member by pressing the opening when the projection is not positioned in the groove. The bottle holding mechanism according to feature 1.

10. The limiting portion is fixed to the first member. The bottle holding mechanism according to feature 9.

11. The device further includes a coil spring that applies a force to the first member and the second member in a direction that separates the first member and the second member from each other. The bottle holding mechanism according to feature 1.

12. The system further includes a sealing portion that seals the opening when the opening is inserted to the predetermined depth. The bottle holding mechanism according to feature 1.

13. The device further comprises a tube that penetrates the first member and the second member, The sealing portion is attached to the tube, The bottle holding mechanism according to feature 12.

14. A carbon dioxide injection device for injecting carbon dioxide into a bottle, A bottle holding mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 13, A carbon dioxide supply unit that supplies carbon dioxide to a bottle held by the bottle holding mechanism, A carbon dioxide injection device characterized by comprising the following features.

Images