Canned beverage dispenser

Abstract

To provide a canned beverage server capable of speeding up a cooling rate or a heating rate of a liquid inside a beverage can.SOLUTION: A canned beverage server 12 capable of cooling or heating a liquid inside a beverage can C, and configured such that the beverage can C can be stored inside, comprises: a cooling / heating water tank 26 capable of adjusting a temperature of the inside; and a liquid cooling / heating device 10 having rotating tables 32, 34 rotatably fixed on a lower side inside the cooling / heating water tank 26, and configured such that the beverage can C can be arranged thereon.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to a canned beverage server.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an apparatus including a cooling engine configured such that a plurality of cooling cells hold a beverage container, a cup holder including a thermally conductive material, and a cooling device fixed to an outer surface of the cup holder and in thermally conductive contact with the outer surface, and a processor configured to control the cooling engine. Thereby, a beverage container such as a can or a bottle can be cooled quickly or on demand.

[0003] However, when cooling or heating canned beverages (liquids) from the outside through a heat transfer container or the like, the beverage container is cooled or heated in a stationary state inside the heat transfer container or the like, and the liquid in the beverage container circulates by natural convection. For this reason, the relative speed between the liquid circulating by natural convection and the inner side surfaces and bottom surface (inner wall) of the beverage container in contact with this liquid is small, and the heat transfer rate between the beverage container and the beverage becomes low. Therefore, the cooling rate or heating rate until the liquid is cooled or heated as a whole is slower than the rate at which the beverage container is cooled or heated. As a result, the cooling time or heating time becomes longer.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In consideration of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a canned beverage server capable of increasing the cooling rate or heating rate of the liquid inside a beverage can.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] One aspect of the present disclosure is a canned beverage server capable of cooling or heating the liquid inside a beverage can, comprising a liquid cooling and heating device having a cooling / heating water tank configured to accommodate a beverage can inside and whose internal temperature is adjustable, and a rotating table rotatably fixed to the lower side inside the cooling / heating water tank and configured to accommodate a beverage can.

[0007] Furthermore, in another aspect of the present disclosure, the liquid cooling and heating device may have a heat transfer container whose lower end is fixed to a rotating table and whose interior is formed to accommodate a beverage can, wherein the rotating table rotates with a variable speed.

[0008] Furthermore, in another aspect of the present disclosure, a pair of eccentric gears comprising a drive gear and a driven gear may be provided, wherein the drive gear is eccentrically connected to the rotary drive shaft of the drive mechanism, and the driven gear is eccentrically connected to the rotation shaft of the rotating table.

[0009] Furthermore, in another aspect of the present disclosure, a pair of eccentric gears comprising a drive gear and a driven gear is provided, wherein the drive gear is eccentrically connected to the rotary drive shaft of the drive mechanism, and the driven gear is eccentrically connected to the master rotation shaft for rotating the master rotation gear, and the master rotation gear may mesh with a slave gear formed integrally with the rotation table.

[0010] Furthermore, in another aspect of this disclosure, the system may include a plurality of rotating tables, each having a smaller gear that meshes with a larger rotating gear.

[0011] Furthermore, in another aspect of this disclosure, the axis of rotation of the rotation table may be rotatably mounted on a rotatable circular orbital base. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the canned beverage server includes a liquid cooling and heating device comprising a cooling and heating water tank configured to accommodate beverage cans and whose internal temperature is adjustable, and a rotating table rotatably fixed to the lower side inside the cooling and heating water tank and configured to accommodate beverage cans. As a result, the rotation of the rotating table on which the beverage cans are placed in the cooling and heating water tank further promotes the agitation of the liquid inside the beverage cans. This promotes heat exchange between the beverage cans and the liquid inside, increasing the heat transfer coefficient. This makes it possible to speed up the cooling or heating rate of the liquid inside the beverage cans. Furthermore, compared to the case in which multiple beverage cans are simply placed in the cooling and heating water tank, variations due to the placement position of the beverage cans in the cooling and heating water tank are eliminated, and the beverage cans can be cooled or heated uniformly.

[0013] Furthermore, according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the rotating table rotates with fluctuating speed. As a result, the beverage can housed inside the heat transfer container can also be rotated with fluctuating speed. In this case, since the liquid inside the beverage can cannot completely follow the speed fluctuations, relative slippage occurs between the inner wall of the beverage can and the liquid, further promoting the agitation of the liquid. As a result, heat exchange between the beverage can and the liquid is promoted, and the heat transfer coefficient increases. This makes it possible to speed up the cooling or heating rate of the liquid inside the beverage can.

[0014] Furthermore, according to one aspect of the present disclosure, a canned beverage server is configured with a pair of eccentric gears, consisting of a drive gear eccentrically connected to the rotating drive shaft of the drive mechanism and a driven gear eccentrically connected to the rotating shaft of the rotating table. Therefore, when the drive gear is driven, the driven gear rotates while changing its position relative to the drive gear. Because the driven gear rotates while changing its position relative to the drive gear, the rotational speed of the driven gear increases when the position relative to the drive gear is close to the rotating shaft of the rotating table, and decreases when it is farther away. This allows the driven gear and the automatic table to rotate alternately at high and low rotational speeds, thereby increasing the cooling or heating rate of the liquid inside the beverage can.

[0015] Furthermore, according to one aspect of the present disclosure, a canned beverage server is configured with a pair of eccentric gears, consisting of a drive gear eccentrically connected to the rotating drive shaft of the drive mechanism and a driven gear eccentrically connected to the rotating shaft of the rotating table. As a result, the driven gear and the master rotating gear can be rotated by alternating between a fast rotation speed and a slow rotation speed, thereby varying the rotation speed of the rotating table on which the slave gear meshed with the master rotating gear is formed. This allows for an increased cooling or heating rate of the liquid inside the beverage can.

[0016] Furthermore, according to one aspect of the present disclosure, a canned beverage server is provided with a plurality of rotating tables, each having a smaller gear that meshes with a larger rotating gear. Therefore, by driving a drive gear, the plurality of automatic tables can be rotated simultaneously with varying speeds. This makes it possible to efficiently cool or heat a plurality of beverage cans housed in a plurality of heat transfer containers.

[0017] Furthermore, according to one aspect of the canned beverage server of this disclosure, the rotation axis of the rotating table is rotatably mounted on a rotatable circular orbital base. This allows multiple automatic tables to be rotated stably. In addition, by rotating the orbital base, the rotation speed of the orbital base can be superimposed on the rotation speed of the rotating table, thereby promoting the stirring of the liquid. This promotes heat exchange between the beverage can and the liquid, increasing the heat transfer coefficient, and thus accelerating the cooling or heating rate of the liquid inside the beverage can. Moreover, for example, a beverage can to be removed from among the beverage cans housed in heat transfer containers fixed to multiple rotating tables can be rotated to a predetermined position. This allows users of the canned beverage server to easily remove the beverage can they desire. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0018] [Figure 1] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a canned beverage server using the canned beverage server according to this embodiment. [Figure 2]FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the liquid cooling and heating device according to the present embodiment as seen from above. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the liquid cooling and heating device according to the present embodiment as seen from below. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 shows an example of the arrangement of the rotating table according to the present embodiment.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0019] Hereinafter, a canned beverage server according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same or corresponding elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions are omitted. For ease of understanding, the scale of the drawings may be changed for the description.

[0020] FIG. 1 shows, as an example, a perspective view of a canned beverage server 12 including a liquid cooling and heating device 10. The canned beverage server 12 includes a holding part (tower) 14 for attaching the liquid cooling and heating device 10. The holding part 14 has a glass receiver 16 on which a glass GL for pouring a beverage is placed on the lower side and which is formed to be able to accommodate the spilled beverage without allowing it to fall. Further, the holding part 14 has a switching cock 18 that can be tilted vertically or horizontally and a beverage pouring nozzle 20 on the upper side. Therefore, by tilting the switching cock 18, a beverage flow pipe (not shown) connected to the beverage can C disposed in the liquid cooling and heating device 10 is opened and closed, and the beverage injected (enclosed) in the beverage can C can be poured into the glass GL through the beverage pouring nozzle 20.

[0021] The liquid cooling and heating device 10 includes a movable part 22 configured to be able to cool or heat the accommodated beverage can C while rotating on the upper side, and a driving part 24 having a driving device (base rotation motor 48 and table rotation motor 50) for driving the movable part 22 disposed on the lower side.

[0022] The liquid cooling and heating device 10 can accommodate a beverage can C filled with a beverage and can cool or heat the beverage can C and the beverage inside, so there is no need to provide a mechanism for cooling or heating on the holding part 14 side of the canned beverage server 12. Therefore, the holding part 14 and the canned beverage server 12 can be made smaller compared to existing beverage servers.

[0023] Since the liquid cooling and heating device 10 is configured to simply arrange a plurality of beverage cans C on the movable part 22, it is possible to easily take out the beverage can C that has been emptied by pouring out the beverage and arrange a new beverage can C. Therefore, for example, there is no need to separately arrange a beverage can such as a beer barrel that is larger and heavier than the beverage can C inside or outside the beverage server. Therefore, the attachment and removal of the beverage can can be easily performed.

[0024] FIGS. 2 and 3 show perspective views of the inside of the liquid cooling and heating device 10 as viewed from the upper and lower sides. Inside the movable part 22 of the liquid cooling and heating device 10, a cylindrical cooling and heating water tank 26 for cooling the beverage can C is arranged. A refrigerant cooled to a low temperature is injected into the cooling and heating water tank 26. Further, a heat pump (not shown) is connected to the cooling and heating water tank 26, and the refrigerant in the cooling and heating water tank 26 is circulated to enable cooling. Here, it is described that a refrigerant is injected into the cooling and heating water tank 26 and a heat pump is connected, but this is not limited thereto. For example, a water-cooled cooler may be connected to the cooling and heating water tank to circulate cooling water, or the cooling and heating water tank may be configured to be openable and closable, for example, by making the upper lid removable, and a low-temperature refrigerant or water and ice may be exchangeable therefrom.

[0025] Inside the cooling and heating water tank 26, multiple heat transfer containers 28 are arranged at equal intervals along the circumferential direction of the cooling and heating water tank 26. In this embodiment, six heat transfer containers 28 are arranged at 60-degree intervals along the circumferential direction of the cooling and heating water tank 26. The heat transfer containers 28 are formed in a cylindrical shape with an opening 28a on the upper side, and are placed in the cooling and heating water tank 26 with the opening 28a open from the top lid 26a of the cooling and heating water tank 26. As a result, as shown in Figure 1, a cylindrical beverage can C can be accommodated inside. The heat transfer containers 28 are also rotatably attached to the top lid 26a of the cooling and heating water tank 26.

[0026] The heat transfer container 28 is made of a material with high thermal conductivity, such as iron, and can be cooled using a refrigerant inside the cooling water tank 26 that is in contact with its outer surface. Therefore, the beverage can C housed inside the heat transfer container 28 can be cooled.

[0027] In this explanation, it is assumed that a cooling and heating water tank 26 is located inside the movable part 22, but the invention is not limited to this; a heating water tank for heating beverage cans may also be located inside the movable part.

[0028] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, a disc-shaped orbital base 30 and a plurality of disc-shaped rotating tables 32 and 34 are arranged at the bottom of the cooling and heating water tank 26, rotatably attached to the upper surface of the orbital base 30. In this embodiment, a parent table 32 is positioned in the center of the cooling and heating water tank 26 as a rotating table, and six child tables 34 are arranged on the outer circumference of the parent table 32 at equal intervals of 60 degrees along the circumferential direction of the cooling and heating water tank 26. The bottom of a heat transfer container 28 is fixed to each of the six child tables 34.

[0029] Figure 4 shows a perspective view from above of the parent table 32 and child tables 34 arranged on the orbital base 30 according to this embodiment. The parent table 32 has a parent rotation axis 32a at the center of its lower surface. The multiple child tables 34 each have a child rotation axis 34a at the center of their lower surfaces, and these are rotatably mounted on the orbital base 30. The parent table 32 has a parent gear portion 36 as a parent rotation gear with teeth (not shown) formed along its outer surface, and the child table 34 has a child gear portion 38 as a child gear with teeth formed along its outer surface to mesh with the parent gear portion 36. Therefore, when the parent table 32 rotates, the child tables 34 rotate via the parent gear portion 36 and the child gear portion 38.

[0030] The orbital base 30 has a base rotation shaft 30a at the center of its lower side, and the lower end of the base rotation shaft 30a is connected to the center of a disc-shaped orbital gear 40, which has teeth formed along its outer edge. The orbital gear 40 is mounted on the rotation shaft of the base rotation motor 48 and meshes with a rotation shaft gear 42, which also has teeth formed along its outer edge. Therefore, the orbital base 30 can be rotated by the base rotation motor 48 via the orbital gear 40 and the rotation shaft gear 42.

[0031] The main rotating shaft 32a of the main table 32 penetrates the orbital base 30 and the orbital gear 40, and extends to the lower surface of the orbital gear 40. An elliptical driven gear 44, with teeth formed along its outer edge, is eccentrically connected to the lower end of the main rotating shaft 32a.

[0032] The driven gear 44 is paired (meets) with an elliptical plate-shaped drive gear 46, which has teeth formed along its outer surface. The drive gear 46 is eccentrically mounted on the motor rotation shaft 50a, which is the rotation drive shaft of the table rotation motor 50, which is the drive mechanism. In this way, the driven gear 44 and the drive gear 46 mesh to form a pair of eccentric gears. Therefore, by rotating the table rotation motor 50, the main table 32 can be rotated via the driven gear 44 and the drive gear 46. Here, the driven gear 44 and the drive gear 46 are described as being elliptical plate-shaped, but they are not limited to this, and the driven gear and the drive gear may also be disc-shaped.

[0033] Here, the drive gear 46 is eccentrically connected to the motor rotating shaft 50a, and the driven gear 44 is eccentrically connected to the master rotating shaft 32a. Therefore, when the drive gear 46 is driven, the driven gear 44 rotates while changing the position in which it meshes with the drive gear 46. Specifically, because the driven gear 44 rotates while changing the position in which it meshes with the drive gear 46, the rotational speed of the driven gear 44 increases when the meshing position is close to the rotation axis of the master rotating shaft 32a, and decreases when it is farther away. This allows the master table 32 connected to the driven gear 44 to rotate by repeatedly alternating between high and low rotational speeds.

[0034] In this explanation, the master table 32 is rotated at a variable speed by a pair of eccentric gears, a driven gear 44 and a drive gear 46. However, the explanation is not limited to this, and the rotational speed of the master table may also be varied by directly controlling the rotational speed of the table rotation motor using a control device.

[0035] Next, the operation and effects of the canned beverage server 12 according to this embodiment will be described below.

[0036] In the canned beverage server 12 according to this embodiment, a sub-table 34 is fixed to the lower end of the heat transfer container 28, and the sub-table 34 rotates with fluctuating speed. As a result, the beverage can C housed inside the heat transfer container 28 can also be rotated with fluctuating speed. At this time, the liquid (beverage) inside the beverage can C cannot completely follow the speed fluctuations, so relative slippage occurs between the inner wall of the beverage can C and the beverage, promoting agitation of the beverage. As a result, heat exchange between the beverage can C and the beverage is promoted, and the heat transfer coefficient increases. This makes it possible to speed up the cooling rate of the beverage inside the beverage can C.

[0037] Furthermore, according to the canned beverage server 12 of this embodiment, a drive gear 46 eccentrically connected to the motor rotation shaft 50a of the table rotation motor 50 and a driven gear 44 eccentrically connected to the main rotation shaft 32a of the main table 32 are combined to form a pair of eccentric gears. Therefore, when the drive gear 46 is driven, the driven gear 44 rotates while changing the position in which it is coupled with the drive gear 46. Because the driven gear 44 rotates while changing the position in which it is coupled with the drive gear 46, the rotation speed of the driven gear 44 increases when the coupled position is close to the rotation axis of the main rotation shaft 32a, and decreases when it is farther away. This makes it possible to rotate the driven gear 44 by repeatedly alternating between a fast rotation speed and a slow rotation speed.

[0038] Furthermore, as the driven gear 44 rotates, the main table 32, which rotates with the main rotating shaft 32a as its axis of rotation, rotates at a variable speed. When the main table 32 rotates, the child table 34 also rotates at a variable speed via the child gear section 38 which meshes with the main gear section 36. This makes it possible to speed up the cooling rate of the beverage inside the beverage can C, which is contained in the heat transfer container 28 fixed to the child table 34.

[0039] Furthermore, the canned beverage server 12 according to this embodiment includes a parent table 32 and a plurality of child tables 34 whose gears mesh with each other. Therefore, by driving the drive gear 46, the plurality of child tables 34 can be rotated simultaneously while varying their speed. This makes it possible to efficiently cool a plurality of beverage cans C housed in a plurality of heat transfer containers 28.

[0040] Furthermore, according to the canned beverage server 12 of this embodiment, the child rotation shaft 34a of the child table 34 is rotatably attached to the revolving base 30. This allows multiple child tables 34 to rotate stably. Also, by rotating the revolving base 30, the rotation speed due to the rotation of the revolving base 30 can be superimposed on the rotation speed of the child tables 34, thereby promoting the stirring of the beverage. This promotes heat exchange between the beverage can C and the beverage, increasing the heat transfer coefficient, and thus accelerating the cooling rate of the beverage inside the beverage can C.

[0041] Furthermore, since the orbital base 30 can be rotated to a predetermined position, the user using the liquid cooling and heating device 10 can easily retrieve the desired beverage can C from among the multiple beverage cans C housed in the heat transfer containers 28 fixed to the multiple sub-tables 34.

[0042] Furthermore, according to the canned beverage server 12 of this embodiment, by rotating and cooling a plurality of beverage cans C arranged concentrically on the rotating tables 32 and 34, variations due to the arrangement position within the cooling and heating water tank 26 are eliminated, and the beverage cans C can be cooled uniformly, compared to the case where a plurality of beverage cans C are simply placed in the cooling and heating water tank 26.

[0043] As described above, the canned beverage server 12 according to this embodiment can speed up the cooling rate of the beverage inside the beverage can C.

[0044] Although embodiments of the canned beverage server 12 have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications of the above embodiments are possible.

[0045] In this explanation, the beverage can C is described as being housed in a heat transfer container 28. However, this is not limited to this configuration. For example, without a heat transfer container, the beverage can may be placed on a rotating table via an external cylindrical frame or the like provided on the rotating table, and configured to come into direct contact with the cooled or heated liquid in the cooling and heating water tank.

[0046] Furthermore, although the canned beverage server 12 has been described here as a device for cooling the beverage inside the beverage can C, the canned beverage server is not limited to this and may also be used to speed up the heating rate of the beverage inside the beverage can.

[0047] Furthermore, in this configuration, the canned beverage server 12 is configured to vary the rotational speed of the rotating tables 32 and 34 using a parent table 32, a child table 34, a parent gear section 36, and a child gear section 38. However, it is not limited to this configuration, and the rotational speed of the rotating tables may be varied using, for example, a drive device capable of speed variation, such as a stepping motor. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0048] 10 Liquid cooling and heating device 12-can beverage dispenser 26 Cooling and heating water tank 28 Heat transfer vessel 30 revolutions per day 32 Parent Table (Rotation Table) 32a Main rotation axis 34. Child Table (Rotating Table) 34a Sub-rotating shaft 36. Main gear section (main rotating gear) 38. Small gear section (small gear) 44 Driven gear 46 drive gears 50 Table Rotation Motor (Drive Mechanism) 50a Motor Rotation Shaft (Rotation Drive Shaft) C Beverage Jar

Claims

1. A canned beverage server capable of cooling or heating the liquid inside a beverage can, The liquid cooling and heating device comprises a cooling and heating water tank configured to accommodate the beverage can inside and whose internal temperature can be adjusted, and a rotating table rotatably fixed to the lower side inside the cooling and heating water tank and configured to accommodate the beverage can, A canned beverage server in which the axis of rotation of the aforementioned rotating table is rotatably mounted on a rotatable circular orbital base.

2. The liquid cooling and heating device has a heat transfer container whose lower end is fixed to the rotating table and whose interior is formed to accommodate the beverage can. The canned beverage server according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotating table rotates while its speed fluctuates.

3. It is equipped with a pair of eccentric gears that combine a drive gear and a driven gear, The aforementioned drive gear is eccentrically connected to the rotary drive shaft of the drive mechanism, The canned beverage server according to claim 2, characterized in that the driven gear is eccentrically connected to the rotation axis of the rotating table.

4. It is equipped with a pair of eccentric gears that combine a drive gear and a driven gear, The aforementioned drive gear is eccentrically connected to the rotary drive shaft of the drive mechanism, The driven gear is eccentrically connected to the main rotating shaft for rotating the main rotating gear, The canned beverage server according to claim 2, characterized in that the main rotating gear meshes with a sub-gear formed integrally with the rotating table.

5. The canned beverage server according to claim 4, further comprising a plurality of rotating tables on which the sub-gears that mesh with the main rotating gear are formed.

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