Beverage supply device

Abstract

A beverage supply device 1 comprises: a control unit 14 that executes a liquid supply mode in which a liquid for beverage is supplied from a container 2 filled with liquid to a flow path 4; a recording holding body 24 that is attached to the container 2; and a reading unit 28 that reads information from the recording holding body 24 and transmits the information to the control unit 14. The recording holding body 24 holds individual information B1 of the container 2 and information on an expiration date C1 of the liquid filled in the container 2. The individual information B1 includes a serial number B1a, a lot number B1b, and a manufacturer number B1c of the liquid, and the control unit 14 determines whether the liquid is a genuine product or not on the basis of one or more of the serial number B1a, the lot number B1b, and the manufacturer number B1c read by the reading unit 28, and does not permit execution of the liquid supply mode when the liquid is not the genuine product.

Description

beverage dispensing equipment

[0001] The present invention relates to a beverage supplying apparatus, and more particularly to a beverage supplying apparatus having a container filled with a beverage liquid installed therein.

[0002] A beverage supply device, such as a coffee machine, is equipped with a container, i.e., a milk carton, for storing a beverage liquid, such as milk to be mixed with coffee. Patent Document 1 discloses a coffee machine in which a milk carton is placed in a milk cooler. The milk cooler has a refrigerating chamber for storing milk at low temperature and is provided in a milk supply section formed in the coffee machine.

[0003] The milk cartons used are commercially available products, and an appropriate number are stocked in the refrigerator. A milk pumping tube is inserted into the milk carton, and a fixed amount of milk is extracted from here by the action of the pump. Also, the milk does not necessarily have to be stored in the commercially available milk cartons; workers can open the milk cartons and transfer the milk from the milk cartons to a large-capacity milk tank for storage.

[0004] Patent No. 5730042

[0005] In the beverage dispenser of Patent Document 1, the installation of milk cartons and the refilling of milk into the milk tank are performed manually by an operator at any time. Therefore, there is a possibility that the operator may refill milk other than the regular milk. Furthermore, there is a possibility that a milk carton whose expiration date has passed may be installed, or that milk from a milk carton whose expiration date has passed may be refilled into the milk tank.

[0006] Furthermore, even if the expiration date has not yet arrived at the time of refilling the milk, there is a possibility that milk whose expiration date has arrived may be used after refilling the milk. Conventionally, there has been no means of checking these acts of action or omission, making it impossible to thoroughly control the quality of beverage liquids.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of such problems, and aims to provide a beverage supply device that can provide users with safe and secure beverages by thoroughly controlling the quality of the beverage liquid.

[0008] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the beverage supply device of the present invention is a beverage supply device having a container filled with beverage liquid installed therein, and is equipped with a control unit that executes a liquid supply mode in which the liquid is supplied from the container to a flow path, a record holder attached to the container, and a reading unit that reads information from the record holder and transmits the information to the control unit, the record holder holds individual information about the container and information about the expiration date of the liquid filled in the container, the individual information including the liquid's serial number, lot number, and manufacturer number, and the control unit determines whether the liquid is genuine based on one or more of the serial number, lot number, and manufacturer number read by the reading unit, and if the liquid is not genuine, does not allow the liquid supply mode to be executed.

[0009] The control unit also stores a record table in which the individual information read by the reading unit and information on the expiration date are recorded, and executes the liquid supply mode based on the information recorded in the record table. Furthermore, the control unit determines whether the individual information newly read by the reading unit matches the individual information recorded in the record table, and if the individual information matches, does not allow the liquid supply mode to be executed.

[0010] Furthermore, the control unit determines whether the date the record carrier is read by the reading unit is before the expiration date recorded in the record table, and if the read date is not before the expiration date, does not allow execution of the liquid supply mode. Furthermore, the control unit calculates the expiration date of the liquid by adding the number of days the liquid can be used to the read date, determines whether the expiration date is before the expiration date, and if the expiration date is before the expiration date, allows execution of the liquid supply mode until the expiration date, but if the expiration date is not before the expiration date, allows execution of the liquid supply mode until the expiration date.

[0011] Furthermore, the control unit commands replacement with a new container when execution of the liquid supply mode is not permitted. Furthermore, a plurality of beverage dispensers are operated, and information in a plurality of record tables stored in the control units of the beverage dispensers is shared among them.

[0012] According to the beverage supply device of the present invention, thorough quality control of the beverage liquid can be performed, thereby providing users with safe and secure beverages.

[0013] 8 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of a beverage supply device. A perspective view of a container. A perspective view of an inner bag that constitutes the container. A front perspective view of a container stored in a storage chamber, as viewed from the front. A side perspective view of a container stored in a storage chamber according to a modified example, as viewed from the side. A conceptual diagram showing information held by a barcode. A conceptual diagram showing a variety table and a record table stored in a control unit, and information recorded in each of these tables. A flowchart explaining a sequence for determining whether or not to execute a milk supply mode. (a) is a time chart showing the state of step S6 in FIG. 8, and (b) is a time chart showing the state of step S8 in FIG. 8. An external view of a beverage supply device according to a modified example.

[0014] A beverage dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 shows an internal configuration diagram of the beverage dispenser 1. The beverage dispenser 1 shown in Fig. 1 is a milk unit that supplies milk to a coffee machine (not shown). Milk as a beverage liquid is supplied from the milk unit to coffee liquid formed in the coffee machine, thereby providing a user with coffee with milk as a beverage.

[0015] The beverage supply device 1 has a container 2 filled with milk installed, and a milk flow path 4 connected to the container 2. A pump 6, a switching valve 8, and a warmer 10 are installed in the flow path 4 in this order in the direction of milk flow. When producing warm milk, the milk sucked from the container 2 by the pump 6 is supplied to the warmer 10 by switching the switching valve 8 to the warmer 10 side, and the milk is supplied to a cup (not shown) from a nozzle (not shown) of the coffee machine.

[0016] On the other hand, when producing cold milk, unheated milk is supplied from the nozzle of the coffee machine to a cup by switching the switching valve 8 to the bypass side of the warmer 10, i.e., the junction side of the flow path 4. The beverage supply device 1 also includes a control unit 14, which executes a milk supply mode (liquid supply mode) in which milk is supplied from the container 2 to the flow path 4. Specifically, the pump 6, switching valve 8, and warmer 10 described above are electrically connected to the control unit 14, and these are operated appropriately in response to commands from the control unit 14 in the milk supply mode.

[0017] As a result, a predetermined amount of milk at a predetermined temperature is supplied to the cup from a nozzle on the coffee machine side at a predetermined timing. The beverage supply device 1 may be provided with a flow path cleaning system (not shown) for automatically and periodically cleaning the flow path 4. In this case, the control unit 14 executes a cleaning mode in which the flow path 4 is cleaned by supplying a cleaning agent to the flow path 4.

[0018] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the container 2, and FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the inner bag 18 that constitutes the container 2. The container 2 of this embodiment is in the form of a bag-in-box (BIB) configuration, and is configured by housing an inner bag 18 made of plastic or the like in an outer packaging 16 formed of a cardboard case or the like. The inner bag 18 has an opening 22 that can be opened and closed with a cap 20, and milk filled in the inner bag 18 is supplied to the flow path 4 through the opening 22. A sticker on which a barcode (record carrier) 24 is printed is affixed to the outer packaging 16 of the container 2. The barcode 24 is, for example, a two-dimensional code as shown in FIG. 2. The barcode 24 may also be printed directly on the outer packaging 16.

[0019] 4 shows a front perspective view of the container 2 stored in the storage chamber 26. The beverage dispenser 1 is formed with the storage chamber 26 for storing the container 2, and a reading unit 28 is installed on a side wall 26a of the storage chamber 26. The reading unit 28 is electrically connected to the control unit 14, reads information from the barcode 24, and transmits the information of the read barcode 24 to the control unit 14.

[0020] Figure 5 shows a side perspective view of a container 2 stored in a storage chamber 26 according to a modified example. The position of the reading unit 28 can be changed depending on the position of the barcode 24 when the container 2 is stored in the storage chamber 26, and as shown in Figure 5, the reading unit 28 may be installed on the rear wall 26b of the storage chamber 26. In the cases shown in Figures 4 and 5, the reading unit 28 is a barcode reader, and simply placing the container 2 on a stand provided in the storage chamber 26 ensures an appropriate distance between the reading unit 28 and the barcode 24, making it possible to automatically read the barcode 24.

[0021] 6 is a conceptual diagram showing the information stored in the barcode 24. The barcode 24 records and stores information such as type information A1 of the milk filled in the container 2, individual information B1 of the container 2, expiration date C1 of the milk filled in the container 2, and amount D1 of the milk filled in the container 2. The individual information B1 includes the milk's serial number B1a, lot number B1b, and manufacturer number B1c.

[0022] This information is read by the reading unit 28 and transmitted to the control unit 14. It is preferable that this information is encrypted and stored in the barcode 24, and then decrypted when read by the reading unit 28. This makes it possible to prevent the information in the barcode 24 from being forged.

[0023] 7 is a conceptual diagram showing the variety table TB1 and record table TB2 stored in the control unit 14 and the information recorded in these tables TB1 and TB2. The variety table TB1 pre-records variety information A0 of milk that can be used in the beverage dispenser 1. The record table TB2 records information read by the reading unit 28 as individual information B0 of the container 2, the milk's expiration date C0, and the milk content amount D0. The individual information B0 includes the milk's serial number B0a, lot number B0b, and manufacturer number B0c.

[0024] The control unit 14 executes the milk supply mode based on this information recorded in the record table TB2. The control unit 14 also calculates the expiration date E of the milk by adding the number of days the milk can be used after opening the container 2 to the date the container 2 was opened, in other words, the date the barcode 24 was read by the reading unit 28. Information about this expiration date E is also recorded in the record table TB2.

[0025] Furthermore, when multiple beverage dispensers 1 are in operation, the information in the multiple record tables TB2 stored in the control unit 14 of each beverage dispenser 1 is shared with each other via wireless or wired communication. Note that the information in the multiple record tables TB2 can be shared regardless of whether the beverage dispensers 1 are installed in the same store or in different stores.

[0026] 8 shows a flowchart illustrating the sequence for determining whether or not to execute the milk supply mode. When the reading unit 28 starts reading the barcode 24, a predetermined algorithm is used to determine whether or not the milk is authentic based on the individual information B1 read by the reading unit 28, i.e., one or more of the serial number B1a, lot number B1b, and manufacturer number B1c (step S1). If the determination result is No, meaning the milk is not authentic, execution of the milk supply mode is not permitted (step S2).

[0027] In the above algorithm, whether the variety information A1 read by the reading unit 28 matches the variety information A0 recorded in the variety table TB1 may be used to determine whether the milk is genuine. On the other hand, if the determination result is Yes, meaning the milk is genuine, it is determined whether the individual information B1 newly read by the reading unit 28 matches the individual information B0 recorded in the record table TB2 (step S3).

[0028] If the determination result is Yes and the individual information B1 and B0 match, it is determined that the barcode 24 may have been reused or that an empty container 2 may have been refilled with milk other than the designated one, and execution of the milk supply mode is not permitted (step S2).On the other hand, if the determination result is No and the individual information B1 and B0 do not match, it is determined whether the reading date t1 of the barcode 24 by the reading unit 28 is before the expiration date C0 recorded in the record table TB2 (step S4).

[0029] If the result of the determination is No and the read date t1 is not before the expiration date C0, the expiration date C0 of the milk has already arrived at the time when the barcode 24 is read, i.e., when the container 2 is opened. Since such milk cannot be used, execution of the milk supply mode is not permitted (step S2). On the other hand, if the result of the determination is Yes and the read date t1 is before the expiration date C0, it is determined whether the expiration date E of the milk is before the expiration date C0 recorded in the record table TB2 (step S5).

[0030] Figure 9 shows (a) a time chart showing the state of step S6 in Figure 8, and (b) a time chart showing the state of step S8 in Figure 8. When the determination result in step S5 is Yes, as shown in Figure 9(a), the expiration date E of the milk, which is obtained by adding the number of days N during which the milk can be used after opening the container 2 to the reading date t1 of the barcode 24, is before the expiration date C0.

[0031] In this case, the expiration date E will arrive before the expiration date C0, so the execution deadline t2 for the milk supply mode is set to the expiration date E (step S6), execution of the milk supply mode is permitted until the expiration date E (step S7), and this sequence ends. On the other hand, if the determination result in step S5 is No, as shown in Figure 9(b), the expiration date E of the milk, which is obtained by adding the number of days N that the milk can be used after opening the container 2 to the reading date t1 of the barcode 24, is later than the expiration date C0.

[0032] In this case, the expiration date C0 will arrive before the expiration date E, so the execution deadline t2 for the milk supply mode is set to the expiration date C0 (step S8), execution of the milk supply mode until the expiration date C0 is permitted (step S7), and this sequence ends. When execution of the milk supply mode is permitted, the milk supply mode is executed by command from the control unit 14 in response to a request from the coffee machine.

[0033] Going back to step S2, if execution of the milk supply mode is not permitted, a command to replace with a new container 2 is issued (step S9). This prompts replacement with a new container 2 filled with genuine milk that has not yet reached its expiration date C0, and then the sequence ends. It is possible to estimate whether the milk in the container 2 has been used up based on the amount of milk D0 recorded in the record table TB2 and the number of times milk has been supplied.

[0034] Therefore, the command in step S9 may be issued when it is estimated that the milk in container 2 has been used up. Furthermore, it is preferable that the command in step S9 be issued not only when reading barcode 24 by reading unit 28, but also periodically, for example, at a set time every day, until container 2 is replaced. Furthermore, rather than ending this sequence immediately after issuing the command in step S9, the command in step S9 may be issued multiple times, for example, every few hours, until container 2 is replaced, and if container 2 is still not replaced, the sequence may be ended.

[0035] As described above, in the beverage dispenser 1 of this embodiment, the barcode 24 is affixed to the container 2 filled with milk, and the information in the barcode 24 is read by the reading unit 28 and transmitted to the control unit 14. The barcode 24 holds individual information B1 of the container 2 and information on the expiration date C1 of the milk, and the individual information B1 includes the milk's serial number B1a, lot number B1b, and manufacturer number B1c.

[0036] 8, the control unit 14 determines whether the milk is genuine based on one or more of the serial number B1a, lot number B1b, and manufacturer number B1c read by the reading unit 28 (step S1), and does not allow the execution of the milk supply mode if the milk is not genuine (step S2). This allows the milk supply mode to be executed using genuine milk, thereby enabling thorough milk quality control and providing users with a safe and secure drink.

[0037] The control unit 14 also stores a record table TB2 in which information such as the individual container 2 information B1 and the milk expiration date C1 read by the reading unit 28 is recorded, and executes the milk supply mode based on this information recorded in the record table TB2 (steps S3 to S8). By managing such information about each individual container 2 and milk in the record table TB2, it is possible to reliably execute a predetermined milk supply mode at a predetermined timing using a predetermined milk filled in a predetermined container 2. This eliminates the possibility of operator action or omission, and ensures thorough quality control of the milk, ensuring that users can be assured of receiving safe and reliable beverages.

[0038] Furthermore, the control unit 14 determines whether the individual information B1 newly read by the reading unit 28 matches the individual information B0 recorded in the recording table TB2 (step S3), and if the individual information B1 and B0 match, does not permit execution of the milk supply mode (step S2). Normally, it is difficult to imagine that after opening the container 2 and placing it in the beverage supply device 1, the container 2 would be removed before all the milk is used up and then the same container 2 would be placed in the beverage supply device 1 again.

[0039] In such a situation, there is a concern that the barcode 24 sticker may be peeled off from the container 2 and the barcode 24 may be reused, or that an undesignated milk may be refilled into an empty container 2. Therefore, by not allowing execution of the milk supply mode using a barcode 24 that has been used once, thorough quality control of the milk can be achieved.

[0040] The control unit 14 also determines whether the reading date t1 of the barcode 24 by the reading unit 28 is before the expiration date C0 recorded in the record table TB2 (step S4), and if the reading date t1 is not before the expiration date C0, does not allow the milk supply mode to be executed (step S2). This makes it possible to prevent the use of milk that has passed the expiration date C0, thereby enabling more thorough quality control of the milk.

[0041] In addition, the control unit 14 determines whether the expiration date E of the milk is before the expiration date C0 recorded in the record table TB2 (step S5), and if the expiration date E is before the expiration date C0, sets the expiration date t2 for executing the milk supply mode to the expiration date E (step S6) and allows the milk supply mode to be executed until the expiration date E (step S7).

[0042] On the other hand, if the expiration date E is not before the expiration date C0, the execution deadline date t2 of the milk supply mode is set to the expiration date C0 (step S8), and execution of the milk supply mode is permitted until the expiration date C0 (step S7). This makes it possible to prevent the use of milk that has passed the expiration date E and the expiration date C0, thereby enabling more thorough quality control of the milk.

[0043] Furthermore, when execution of the milk supply mode is not permitted (step S2), the control unit 14 commands replacement with a new container 2 (step S9). This encourages replacement with a container 2 that is permitted to execute the milk supply mode, and is expected to ensure that the container 2 is replaced in a timely manner. This prevents the milk supply suspension period from becoming redundant and reduces lost sales opportunities for the product.

[0044] Furthermore, if multiple beverage dispensers 1 are operated in the same store, for example, the information in the multiple record tables TB2 stored in the control unit 14 of each beverage dispenser 1 is shared among them. This allows thorough milk quality control because execution of the milk supply mode using a barcode 24 that has been used once is not permitted. Furthermore, since the execution status of the milk supply mode and the milk usage status of each beverage dispenser 1 can be grasped all at once, execution of the milk supply mode in each beverage dispenser 1 can be efficiently performed.

[0045] This concludes the description of the embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, the reading unit 28 is provided in the storage chamber 26 for the container 2 formed inside the beverage dispenser 1. However, this is not limiting. As shown in FIG. 10 , the reading unit 28 may be provided on the outer surface of the beverage dispenser 1 (i.e., a coffee machine) other than the milk unit, for example, below an exhibition section (or display) 30 for displaying product samples. Also, as shown in FIG. 10 , multiple barcodes 24 may be affixed to the container 2. In this way, even if one barcode 24 is damaged, information can still be read using the other barcodes 24.

[0046] Furthermore, instead of or in addition to the expiration dates C0 and C1 described above, information on the expiration date of the milk may be stored, read, recorded, and managed in the barcode 24. Furthermore, as long as the barcode 24 can be managed uniquely with respect to each individual container 2, it may be printed on an object other than the container 2, such as a management form such as a receipt, and then inserted into or attached to the container 2.

[0047] Furthermore, as long as it is possible to record, store, and read information, a record carrier other than the barcode 24, such as an RFID tag, may be attached to the container 2. Furthermore, the reading unit 28 may be, as long as it is possible to read information from the record carrier, such as a camera, other than a barcode reader.

[0048] 1 and the sequence for determining whether or not to execute the milk supply mode shown in FIG. 8 are not limited to a milk unit that supplies milk to coffee liquid, but can also be applied to devices that produce and supply various other beverages. The configuration of the beverage supply device 1 may differ from that of the above embodiment.

[0049] Furthermore, the container 2 is not limited to the BIB form described above, but may be in the form of, for example, a pouch (a container sealed with a flexible film and having an openable opening) or a paper pack with a cap. In either case, the same effect can be achieved by attaching a barcode 24 to the outer surface of the container.

[0050] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 beverage supply device 2 container 4 flow path 14 control unit 24 barcode (record holder) 28 reading unit B0, B1 individual information C0, C1 expiry date E expiry date B0a, B1a serial number B0b, B1b lot number B0c, B1c manufacturer number TB2 record table t1 reading date N number of usable days

Claims

1. A beverage supply device having a container filled with beverage liquid, the beverage supply device comprising: a control unit that executes a liquid supply mode in which the liquid is supplied from the container to a flow path; a record holder attached to the container; and a reading unit that reads information from the record holder and transmits the information to the control unit, the record holder holds individual information of the container and information on the expiration date of the liquid filled in the container, the individual information including a serial number, lot number, and manufacturer number of the liquid, the control unit determining whether the liquid is genuine based on one or more of the serial number, lot number, and manufacturer number read by the reading unit, and does not allow the liquid supply mode to be executed if the liquid is not genuine.

2. A beverage supply device as described in claim 1, wherein the control unit stores a record table in which the individual information read by the reading unit and the expiration date information are recorded, and executes the liquid supply mode based on the information recorded in the record table.

3. A beverage supply device as described in claim 2, wherein the control unit determines whether the individual information newly read by the reading unit matches the individual information recorded in the recording table, and when the individual information matches, does not allow the liquid supply mode to be executed.

4. A beverage supply device as described in claim 3, wherein the control unit determines whether the date on which the record holder is read by the reading unit is before the expiration date recorded in the record table, and does not allow execution of the liquid supply mode if the reading date is not before the expiration date.

5. The beverage supply device of claim 4, wherein the control unit calculates the expiration date of the liquid by adding the number of days the liquid can be used to the reading date, determines whether the expiration date is before the expiration date, and, if the expiration date is before the expiration date, allows the liquid supply mode to be executed until the expiration date, while, if the expiration date is not before the expiration date, allows the liquid supply mode to be executed until the expiration date.

6. The beverage dispenser according to claim 5, wherein the control unit commands replacement of the container with a new one when execution of the liquid dispensing mode is not permitted.

7. The beverage supplying device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the beverage supplying devices are operated, and information of the plurality of record tables stored in the control unit of each of the beverage supplying devices is shared with each other.

Images