Carbonated water production device and carbonated water production method using same

Abstract

[Problem] To provide: a carbonated water production device with which carbonated water having a sufficiently high gas volume can be produced; and a carbonated water production method using the same. [Solution] The present invention is a carbonated water production device 100 comprising: a sealed container 1; a carbon dioxide gas inflow means 2 for causing carbon dioxide gas to flow into the sealed container 1; a water inflow means 3 for causing water to flow into the sealed container 1; an injection part 31 disposed inside the sealed container 1 so that a water injection direction is oriented upward; a carbonated water outflow means 4 for causing carbonated water inside the sealed container 1 to flow out; an outflow pipe part 41 through which the carbonated water circulates on the inside of the sealed container 1; and a detection means 5 for detecting an upper limit and a lower limit of a liquid level of the carbonated water stored inside the sealed container. Under a carbon dioxide gas atmosphere, water is injected upward by the injection part 31. An injection port part 31c of the injection part 31 is located above a position of the upper limit of the liquid level of the stored carbonated water.

Description

Carbonated water production device and method for producing carbonated water using the same

[0001] The present invention relates to a carbonated water production apparatus for producing carbonated water and a method for producing carbonated water using the same, and more particularly to a carbonated water production apparatus for producing carbonated water with a high gas volume and a method for producing carbonated water using the same.

[0002] Carbonated water is used not only in so-called carbonated beverages but also in a variety of fields. Carbonated water is known to be produced by dissolving carbon dioxide gas in water, and various carbonated water production devices have been developed to efficiently produce carbonated water.

[0003] For example, a carbonated water production device is known that introduces carbon dioxide gas and water into a sealed container from above and mixes the carbon dioxide gas and water in the sealed container to produce carbonated water (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0004] In addition, a carbonated water production device is known that produces carbonated water by injecting pressurized water from a water injection nozzle located above a carbonator tank into a carbon dioxide atmosphere inside the carbonator tank pressurized with carbon dioxide, stores the carbonated water in the lower part of the carbonator tank, and ejects the carbonated water to the outside using the gas pressure of the carbon dioxide gas (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

[0005] Also known is a carbonated water generating device that includes a pressure vessel, a cylinder disposed within the pressure vessel with its upper and lower ends open, a partition wall disposed between the peripheral side wall of the cylinder and the peripheral side wall of the pressure vessel, with its lower end connected to the bottom wall of the pressure vessel and both ends connected to the peripheral side walls of the pressure vessel and its upper end positioned below the upper end of the cylinder, a carbon dioxide gas outlet and a water outlet nozzle disposed at the top of the pressure vessel above the cylinder, and a carbonated water outlet disposed at the bottom of the two sections of the pressure vessel space separated by the partition wall where the cylinder is not disposed (see, for example, Patent Document 3).

[0006] Also known is a carbonated water production device that includes at least a first water storage chamber and a second water storage chamber, the first water storage chamber having a condensation pipe, a synthesis chamber for mixing water and gas, and a carbonated water outlet, an atomization inlet and a gas inlet above the synthesis chamber, the first water storage chamber being covered by the second water storage chamber, and the second water storage chamber having a drinking water inlet connected to a drinking water source and a drinking water outlet pipe connected to the atomization inlet of the synthesis chamber of the first water storage chamber (see, for example, Patent Document 4).

[0007] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 03-118825 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-35151 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2015-139745 Registered Utility Model No. 3237539

[0008] In recent years, there has been a demand for carbonated water with a high gas volume, known as strong carbonated water. The carbonated water production devices described in Patent Documents 1 to 4 can produce carbonated water, but cannot be said to be able to produce carbonated water with a sufficiently high gas volume.

[0009] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a carbonated water production device that can produce carbonated water with a sufficiently high gas volume, and a method for producing carbonated water using the same.

[0010] The inventors discovered that the above problem could be solved by providing a spray unit that sprays water upward inside a sealed container, and by having the spray unit spray water upward in an atmosphere of carbon dioxide gas, and thus completed the present invention.

[0011] The present invention is a carbonated water production device for producing carbonated water, comprising: a sealed container having a gas inlet section, a water inlet section, and a carbonated water outlet section; a carbon dioxide gas inlet means connected to the gas inlet section for infusing carbon dioxide gas into the sealed container; a water inlet means connected to the water inlet section for infusing water into the sealed container; a spray section attached to the water inlet section inside the sealed container and positioned so that the water is sprayed upward; a carbonated water outlet means connected to the carbonated water outlet section for discharging the carbonated water inside the sealed container; an outlet pipe section attached to the carbonated water outlet section inside the sealed container through which the carbonated water flows; and a detection means for detecting the upper and lower limits of the liquid level of the carbonated water stored inside the sealed container, wherein the spray section sprays water upward in an atmosphere of carbon dioxide gas, and the spray outlet section of the spray section is positioned above the upper limit of the liquid level of the stored carbonated water.

[0012] In the carbonated water production device of the present invention, it is preferable that the injection port portion is equipped with an injection nozzle for injecting water in the form of particles.

[0013] In the carbonated water production apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable that the apparatus further includes a cooling means for cooling the carbonated water stored in the sealed container, and that the water inlet portion is provided on the lower wall portion of the sealed container or on the side wall portion closer to the lower wall portion than the lower limit of the liquid level of the stored carbonated water.

[0014] In the carbonated water production device of the present invention, it is preferable that the shortest distance from the nozzle to the upper wall of the sealed container is 5.0 cm or more, and the spray pressure of water from the nozzle is 0.3 to 5.0 MPa.

[0015] The present invention is a method for producing carbonated water using the above-mentioned carbonated water production apparatus, which comprises a first step in which carbon dioxide gas is introduced into the interior of a sealed container by a carbon dioxide gas inflow means to make the internal pressure of the sealed container 0.1 MPa or more, a second step in which water is introduced into the interior of the sealed container by a water inflow means and an injection section injects the water upward, and a third step in which the stored carbonated water is discharged to the outside of the sealed container by a carbonated water outflow means, and the method for producing carbonated water starts in the order of the first step, second step, and third step, and when the liquid level falls below a lower limit, the second step is carried out until the liquid level exceeds an upper limit, and the first step is carried out at any timing so as not to fall below the internal pressure.

[0016] The carbonated water production device of the present invention is equipped with at least a carbon dioxide gas inlet means and a water inlet means, so that carbonated water can be produced inside the sealed container. Also, the carbonated water outlet means allows the produced carbonated water to be discharged outside the sealed container.

[0017] In the carbonated water production device of the present invention, a spray unit is provided inside the sealed container, so that when producing carbonated water, water is sprayed upward like a fountain in an atmosphere of carbon dioxide gas. When the water is sprayed upward with a certain force, it loses its force due to its own weight or collides with the upper wall, and then falls through the space or flows down along the inner wall of the side wall.

[0018] This allows the water to be in contact with carbon dioxide gas for as long as possible. Furthermore, by making the shortest distance from the nozzle to the top wall of the sealed container 5.0 cm or more and setting the water spray pressure from the spray nozzle to 0.3 to 5.0 MPa, the water's contact time with carbon dioxide gas can be made sufficiently long. As a result, the carbonated water maker can produce carbonated water with a sufficiently high gas volume.

[0019] In the carbonated water production device of the present invention, the nozzle is located above the upper limit of the liquid level of the carbonated water stored, so the stored carbonated water does not obstruct the upward spray of water from the nozzle, and the stored carbonated water can be prevented from entering the spray part.

[0020] In the carbonated water maker of the present invention, if a spray nozzle that sprays water in the form of particles is attached to the spray outlet, the water is sprayed upward with an increased surface area, making it easier for the water to come into contact with carbon dioxide gas. As a result, the carbonated water maker can produce carbonated water with a higher gas volume.

[0021] In the carbonated water production device of the present invention, by further providing a cooling means for cooling the carbonated water stored in the sealed container, it is possible to maintain a high gas volume of the stored carbonated water. In this case, by providing the water inlet portion on the bottom wall portion of the sealed container or on the side wall portion closer to the bottom wall portion than the position of the lower limit of the liquid level of the stored carbonated water, even if the water flowing from the water inlet portion into the spray portion is not sufficiently cooled, it is possible to cool the water by the stored carbonated water as it flows through the spray portion.

[0022] In the method for producing carbonated water of the present invention, carbonated water can be produced by performing the first step, the second step, and the third step in that order. After producing carbonated water, if the liquid level falls below the lower limit, the second step is performed until the liquid level exceeds the upper limit, thereby stably producing carbonated water with a high gas volume and enabling continuous extraction of carbonated water with a constant gas volume. Furthermore, since the first step is performed at any timing so that the internal pressure does not fall below 0.1 MPa, the carbonated water can maintain a high gas volume.

[0023] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining the structure of a carbonated water production apparatus according to this embodiment. Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining the internal structure of the sealed container 1 shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3(a) is a perspective view showing the spray unit in the carbonated water production apparatus shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 3(b) is an exploded view of the spray unit shown in Fig. 3(a). Fig. 4 is a side view showing an example of a carbonated water outlet means in the carbonated water production apparatus according to this embodiment.

[0024] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as necessary.

[0025] In the drawings, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations will be omitted. Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, the positional relationships, such as up, down, left, and right, are based on the positional relationships shown in the drawings. Furthermore, the dimensional ratios of the drawings are not limited to those shown in the drawings.

[0026] The carbonated water production apparatus of the present invention is an apparatus for producing carbonated water. Furthermore, in the carbonated water production apparatus, the carbonated water is sufficient as long as carbon dioxide gas is dissolved in water and is effervescent, and there is no particular limitation on whether the carbonated water has a taste. Furthermore, in the carbonated water production apparatus, the gas volume of the carbonated water obtained is preferably 2 GV or more, and more preferably 5 GV or more.

[0027] First, a carbonated water production apparatus according to this embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the structure of the carbonated water production apparatus according to this embodiment. FIG. 1 also shows a cooling means 6 in a see-through view. As shown in FIG. 1, the carbonated water production apparatus 100 according to this embodiment includes a sealed container 1, a carbon dioxide gas inflow means 2 for inflowing carbon dioxide gas into the sealed container 1, a water inflow means 3 for inflowing water into the sealed container 1, a carbonated water outflow means 4 for outflowing carbonated water from the sealed container 1, a detection means 5 for detecting upper and lower limits of the liquid level of the carbonated water stored in the sealed container 1, a cooling means 6 for cooling the carbonated water stored in the sealed container 1, and a safety valve 11 for releasing the pressure inside the sealed container 1.

[0028] The carbonated water production device 100 is equipped with a carbon dioxide gas inflow means 2 and a water inflow means 3, so that carbon dioxide gas and water can be introduced into the sealed container 1. This allows carbonated water to be produced inside the sealed container 1. Furthermore, the carbonated water outlet means 4 makes it possible to discharge the produced carbonated water to the outside of the sealed container 1. Furthermore, the cooling means 6 allows the sealed container 1 to be sufficiently cooled. These will be described in detail later.

[0029] In the carbonated water production device 100, the pressure inside the sealed container 1 when producing carbonated water, i.e., the pressure in the space above the carbonated water (hereinafter also referred to as "internal pressure"), is preferably 0.1 MPa or more from the standpoint of efficiency in producing carbonated water with a high gas volume.

[0030] Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the internal structure of the sealed container 1 shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 2 shows the sealed container 1 in a see-through manner. As shown in Fig. 2, the sealed container 1 is a hollow, cylindrical, pressure-resistant container capable of storing carbonated water therein. The sealed container 1 is composed of a disk-shaped upper wall portion 1a and a lower wall portion 1b facing each other, and a side wall portion 1c connecting the upper and lower wall portions 1a and 1b. The upper wall portion 1a is provided with a gas inlet portion 20, a carbonated water outlet portion 40, and a safety valve port 10, which connect the inside and outside of the sealed container 1, and the lower wall portion 1b is provided with a water inlet portion 30, which connects the inside and outside of the sealed container 1.

[0031] The materials of the upper wall 1a, the lower wall 1b, and the side wall 1c of the sealed container 1 are not particularly limited as long as they are pressure-resistant. For example, metals and resins can be used. Among these, stainless steel is preferred as the material for the sealed container 1 from the viewpoints of airtightness and acid resistance, or acrylic resin, polyacetal resin, or polypropylene resin from the viewpoints of acid resistance and lightweight.

[0032] The carbon dioxide gas inflow means 2 is disposed outside the sealed container 1 and is a means for forcibly inflowing carbon dioxide gas (carbon dioxide) into the sealed container 1. A specific example is a gas cylinder filled with carbon dioxide gas. The size of the gas cylinder is not important. The carbon dioxide gas to be inflowed into the sealed container 1 does not necessarily have to be 100% concentrated, and commercially available high-concentration carbon dioxide gas can be used as appropriate.

[0033] The carbon dioxide gas inlet means 2 is attached to the gas inlet port 20 of the sealed container 1 via a gas pipe 22 attached to a carbon dioxide gas outlet (not shown) having a carbon dioxide gas on-off valve (see FIG. 1). In this case, the carbon dioxide gas inlet means 2 preferably has a pressure reducing valve (not shown). Alternatively, a pressure reducing valve (not shown) may be attached to the gas pipe 22. This makes it easier to control the pressure inside the sealed container 1.

[0034] Inside the sealed container 1, a cylindrical outlet 21 is attached to the gas inlet 20. Therefore, the gas inlet 20 of the sealed container 1 is connected to the carbon dioxide gas inlet means 2 via a gas pipe 22 on the outside of the sealed container 1, and is connected to the outlet 21 on the inside of the sealed container 1.

[0035] The water inlet means 3 is disposed outside the sealed container 1 and is a means for forcibly inflowing water into the sealed container 1. Specific examples include tap water, a water purifier, and a water conditioner. The water to be introduced into the sealed container 1 may contain ingredients such as flavorings, fruit pulp, sugar, and minerals. From the viewpoint of improving the solubility of carbon dioxide gas, the temperature of the water to be introduced is preferably 0.1 to 10°C.

[0036] The water inlet means 3 is attached to the water inlet port 30 of the sealed container 1 via a water pipe 32 attached to a water outlet (not shown) having a water on / off valve (see FIG. 1). If the water inlet means 3 is a water supply, a faucet corresponds to the outlet. If the water inlet means 3 is a water purifier, water conditioner, or the like, a pump is provided to forcibly flow water into the sealed container 1. In addition to the cooling means 6, the water inlet means 3 or the water pipe 32 may be provided with a cooling device to cool the water to the above temperature or to maintain the cooled state.

[0037] Inside the sealed container 1, a spray unit 31 is attached to the water inlet 30. The spray unit 31 is a component for spraying water upward inside the sealed container 1. That is, the water inlet 30 of the sealed container 1 is connected to the water inflow means 3 via a water pipe 32 on the outside of the sealed container 1, and is connected to the spray unit 31 on the inside of the sealed container 1.

[0038] The injection unit 31 allows water to flow through it and is designed to inject water upward. Therefore, in the carbonated water production device 100, water flows into the injection unit 31 from the water inflow means 3 in a carbon dioxide gas atmosphere, and the water is injected upward from the injection unit 31. At this time, the water injected upward gradually loses momentum due to its own weight, or collides with the upper wall, and then falls through the space or flows down along the inner wall of the side wall 1b.

[0039] In this way, in the carbon dioxide gas production device 100, the water is not simply allowed to fall, but is intentionally sprayed upward, thereby making it possible to maximize the time the water hangs in the air from when it is sprayed until it hits the stored carbonated water. In other words, by spraying water upward in a carbon dioxide gas atmosphere, the time the water comes into contact with the carbon dioxide gas can be made sufficiently long. As a result, it is possible to produce carbonated water with a high gas volume.

[0040] As described above, the spray portion 31 is attached to the lower wall portion 1b and has a cylindrical shape extending in the vertical direction. Therefore, even if the water flowing into the spray portion 31 from the water inlet portion 30 is not sufficiently cooled, the water can be cooled by the stored carbonated water as it flows through the spray portion 31. The carbonated water is cooled by the cooling means 6, which will be described later. As a result, it is possible to suppress temperature changes in the carbonated water and maintain a high gas volume in the carbonated water.

[0041] The spray unit 31 is positioned so that the upper nozzle 31c is higher than the upper limit of the liquid level of the stored carbonated water, which will be described later. This prevents the stored carbonated water from obstructing the upward spray of water from the nozzle. It also prevents the stored carbonated water from entering the spray unit 31.

[0042] In the carbonated water producing device 100, the shortest distance H from the nozzle 31c to the upper wall 1a of the sealed container 1 is preferably 5.0 cm or more, and more preferably 5 to 50 m. If the shortest distance H from the nozzle 31c to the upper wall 1a of the sealed container 1 is less than 5.0 cm, sufficient hang time may not be obtained compared to when the shortest distance H is within the above range, and carbonated water with a high gas volume may not be obtained.

[0043] Furthermore, the spray pressure of water from spray unit 31 is preferably higher than the internal pressure described above and is 0.3 to 5.0 MPa. If the spray pressure of water from spray unit 31 is less than 0.3 MPa, the water may not be sprayed to a sufficient height and may not stay in the air for a sufficient period of time, as compared with a spray pressure within the above range. If the spray pressure of water from spray unit 31 exceeds 5.0 MPa, the water may collide with upper wall 1a over time, causing wear to upper wall 1a, as compared with a spray pressure within the above range.

[0044] It is also preferable that the flow rate of water in the spray unit 31 is 5 to 500 mL / s. If the flow rate of water in the spray unit 31 is less than 5 mL / s, it will take longer to produce carbonated water than when the flow rate is within the above range, and if the flow rate of water in the spray unit 31 exceeds 500 mL / s, the gas volume of the resulting carbonated water will tend to be lower than when the flow rate is within the above range.

[0045] Fig. 3(a) is a perspective view showing the spray unit of the carbonated water production device shown in Fig. 2, and Fig. 3(b) is an exploded view of the spray unit shown in Fig. 3(a). As shown in Fig. 3(a), the spray unit 31 comprises a cylindrical spray main body 31a, a connecting part 31b provided at the lower end of the spray main body 31a, and a spray nozzle 33 attached to a spray opening part 31c at the upper end of the spray main body 31a.

[0046] In the spray unit 31, the spray main body 31a is cylindrical and extends in the vertical direction, and is integrated with the similarly cylindrical connecting portion 31b. The internal spaces of the spray main body 31a and the connecting portion 31b are continuous, allowing water to flow through. In the spray unit 31, the connecting portion 31b is attached by screwing to the water inlet 30 provided in the lower wall portion 1b. This allows the sealed container 1 to maintain sufficient airtightness.

[0047] 3(b), the injection nozzle 33 has an injection lid 33a attached to close the injection port 31c, and an injection piece 33b attached to the underside of the injection lid 33a (the injection body 31a side). The injection lid 33a is disk-shaped and has a round through-hole N in its center. The injection lid 33a is attached to the injection port 31c of the injection body 31a.

[0048] On the other hand, the injection piece 33b is a disk-shaped piece that is thicker than the injection lid 33a and has a spiral groove on its side. The injection piece 33b is provided on the inner wall of the injection body 31a and is attached to the injection body 31a by being sandwiched between the injection lid 33a and a base (not shown) that protrudes inward from the inner wall.

[0049] In the injection unit 31, when water flowing through the injection main body 31a reaches the injection piece 33b, it flows through the spiral groove of the injection piece 33b. The spiral water then becomes granular and is injected from the through-hole N. In the carbonated water production device 100, the water is injected in granular form by the injection nozzle 33, so the surface area of ​​the water increases and it is more likely to come into contact with the carbon dioxide gas. As a result, the carbonated water production device 100 can produce carbonated water with a higher gas volume.

[0050] Returning to FIG. 1 , the carbonated water discharging means 4 is disposed outside the sealed container 1 and is a means for discharging the carbonated water inside the sealed container 1 to the outside of the sealed container 1. FIG. 4 is a side view showing an example of the carbonated water discharging means in the carbonated water production apparatus according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4 , the carbonated water discharging means 4 comprises, for example, a dispensing unit 43 supported by a support plate 44 erected on a stage unit 45. The dispensing unit 43 has a dispensing nozzle 43a for dispensing the carbonated water, a stopcock (not shown) provided in the carbonated water flow path, and a dispensing lever 43b for opening and closing the stopcock. The dispensing unit 43 (carbonated water discharging means 4) is attached to the carbonated water outlet 40 of the sealed container 1 via a carbonated water pipe 42 attached to the dispensing unit 43 (see FIG. 2 ).

[0051] Returning to Figure 2, inside the sealed container 1, an outlet pipe 41 is attached to the carbonated water outlet 40. The outlet pipe 41 is a component for circulating carbonated water inside the sealed container 1. That is, the carbonated water outlet 40 is connected to an extracting part 43 (carbonated water outlet means 4) via a carbonated water pipe 42 on the outside of the sealed container 1, and is connected to the outlet pipe 41 on the inside of the sealed container 1.

[0052] The outlet pipe 41 is cylindrical and extends vertically, allowing carbonated water to flow through it. The lower end of the outlet pipe 41 is located below the lower limit of the liquid level of the stored carbonated water, which will be described later. Therefore, in the carbonated water production device 100, the internal pressure of the sealed container 1 is higher than atmospheric pressure, so that by opening the stopcock with the outlet lever 43b of the outlet part 43, the carbonated water flows through the outlet pipe 41, passes through the carbonated water pipe 42, and is dispensed from the dispensing nozzle 43a.

[0053] The detection means 5 is a means for detecting the upper and lower limits of the liquid level of the carbonated water stored inside the sealed container 1. In the carbonated water production device 100, an electrode-type level switch having a pair of electrodes 51 is used as the detection means 5. This makes it possible to control the amount of carbonated water stored. For example, when the liquid level of the carbonated water is at the lower limit, water can be introduced from the water inlet means 3 to produce carbonated water, and when the liquid level of the carbonated water is at the upper limit, the inflow of water from the water inlet means 3 can be stopped and carbonated water can be poured from the carbonated water outlet means 4.

[0054] Furthermore, since the liquid level of carbonated water fluctuates between an upper limit and a lower limit, in order to avoid being affected by fluctuations in the liquid level, as described above, the spray section 31 is positioned so that the upper end of the spray section 31 is above the upper limit of the liquid level, and the outflow pipe section 41 is positioned so that the lower end of the outflow pipe section 41 is below the lower limit of the liquid level.

[0055] The safety valve 11 is disposed outside the sealed container 1 and is directly connected to the safety valve port 10. The safety valve 11 is a valve for releasing the pressure in the sealed container 1. When the internal pressure of the sealed container 1 exceeds a certain value, the safety valve 11 opens and automatically releases the carbon dioxide gas in the sealed container 1 to the outside. In other words, the safety valve 11 has the function of maintaining the internal pressure of the sealed container 1 at or below a certain value. This certain value can be set arbitrarily. The safety valve 11 can also be used when filling the sealed container 1 with carbon dioxide gas before use, or when venting the carbon dioxide gas from the sealed container 1 after use.

[0056] In the carbonated water production device 100, the materials of the injection part 31, injection lid 33a, injection piece 33b, and outflow pipe part 41 can be appropriately selected from the same materials as those of the above-mentioned sealed container 1. These may be made of the same material or different materials.

[0057] 1 , the cooling means 6 is box-shaped and capable of cooling the inside thereof. The sealed container 1 is housed inside the cooling means 6. A specific cooling method for the cooling means 6 is, for example, liquid cooling, in which ice water or a cooling liquid is stored inside a box and the sealed container 1 is immersed in the liquid.

[0058] In the carbonated water production device 100, the carbonated water stored in the sealed container 1 is cooled by the cooling means 6 and maintained in that state. As a result, it is possible to sufficiently maintain the high gas volume of the stored carbonated water. The temperature of the carbonated water is preferably 0.1 to 10°C, and more preferably 0.1 to 4°C. In other words, it is preferable that the cooling means 6 cools the sealed container 1 so that the temperature of the carbonated water is maintained within the above range.

[0059] The carbonated water producing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment can be installed in a factory or other facility for producing large quantities of carbonated water, or placed on a table in a restaurant or other facility for dispensing the required amount of carbonated water as needed. In the latter case, the carbonated water is used as a dilution liquid for alcoholic beverage concentrates such as shochu, whiskey, liqueur, highball, plum wine, and fruit wine, or for alcohol-free beverage concentrates such as fruit concentrates.

[0060] Next, a description will be given of a method for producing carbonated water according to this embodiment, which uses the carbonated water producing apparatus 100 described above. The method for producing carbonated water according to this embodiment includes a first step in which carbon dioxide gas is introduced into the sealed container 1 by the carbon dioxide gas inflow means 2 to set the internal pressure of the sealed container 1 to 0.1 MPa or higher, a second step in which water is introduced into the sealed container 1 by the water inflow means 3 and the spray unit 31 sprays the water upward, and a third step in which the stored carbonated water is discharged to the outside of the sealed container 1 by the carbonated water discharge means 4. The produced carbonated water can be stored and also poured out.

[0061] In the method for producing carbonated water, since the inside of the sealed container 1 is empty at the start of production of carbonated water, the first step is followed by the second step. That is, first, the carbon dioxide gas on-off valve of the carbon dioxide gas inlet means 2 is opened, and carbon dioxide gas is filled into the inside of the sealed container 1 until the internal pressure reaches the above-mentioned level. Then, in this state, the water on-off valve of the water inlet means 3 is opened, and water is allowed to flow into the inside of the sealed container 1. This makes it possible to produce carbonated water with a high gas volume. Note that, before performing the first step, a substitution step may be performed in advance, in which the carbon dioxide gas on-off valve of the carbon dioxide gas inlet means 2 is opened with the safety valve open, and the inside of the sealed container 1 is substituted with carbon dioxide gas as much as possible.

[0062] In the method for producing carbonated water, after carbonated water is produced, the second and third steps are performed so that the liquid level of the carbonated water does not exceed an upper limit or fall below a lower limit. That is, by opening the stopcock with the dispensing lever 43b of the dispensing portion 43 (carbonated water dispensing means 4), carbonated water with a constant gas volume can be continuously dispensed from the dispensing nozzle 43a. In this case, the amount of carbonated water stored inside the sealed container 1 decreases, and the internal pressure of the sealed container 1 also decreases. Furthermore, by injecting water into the sealed container 1 using the water inlet means 3, carbonated water with a high gas volume can be stably produced. In this case, the amount of carbonated water stored inside the sealed container 1 increases, and the internal pressure of the sealed container 1 also increases.

[0063] In this case, the first step is performed as needed to prevent the internal pressure from falling below the above-mentioned level. That is, if the degree of decrease in the internal pressure of the sealed container 1 due to the third step is greater than the degree of increase in the internal pressure of the sealed container 1 due to the second step, and the internal pressure is likely to fall below the above-mentioned level, the carbon dioxide gas inflow means 2 flows carbon dioxide gas into the sealed container 1. This allows the carbonated water to maintain a high gas volume. Conversely, if the internal pressure of the sealed container 1 is too high, the safety valve is opened to release the carbon dioxide gas inside the sealed container 1, thereby returning the internal pressure to the specified level.

[0064] In the method for producing carbonated water, as described above, the spray unit sprays water upward, so that the water particles can be kept in a carbon dioxide gas atmosphere for as long as possible. As a result, although the rate at which carbon dioxide gas dissolves in water is usually slow, by keeping the water in a carbon dioxide gas atmosphere, the dissolution of carbon dioxide gas in water can be promoted. Incidentally, when the sprayed water particles collide with the top wall or side wall of the sealed container and adhere to the top wall or side wall due to the surface tension of the water, they can be kept in that state in a carbon dioxide gas atmosphere for as long as possible.

[0065] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments.

[0066] In the carbonated water production apparatus 100 according to this embodiment, the sealed container 1 has a hollow cylindrical shape, but is not limited to this as long as it is a pressure-resistant container. The sealed container 1 is directly or indirectly equipped with a safety valve 11, a carbon dioxide gas inlet means 2, a water inlet means 3, a carbonated water outlet means 4, a detection means 5, and a cooling means 6. In addition to these, a pressure gauge or the like for measuring the internal pressure of the sealed container 1 may also be provided.

[0067] In the carbonated water production device 100 according to this embodiment, the sealed container 1 is an integrated container having an upper wall portion 1a, a side wall portion 1c, and a lower wall portion 1b, but is not limited to this. For example, the upper wall portion 1a may be detachable and used as a lid.

[0068] In the carbonated water production apparatus 100 of this embodiment, the water pipe 32 protrudes downward from the underside of the lower wall portion 1b of the sealed container 1, but it is also possible to provide a groove in the lower wall portion 1b and embed the water pipe 32 in it.

[0069] In the carbonated water producing apparatus 100 according to this embodiment, the spray unit 31 is attached to the bottom wall 1b, but may also be provided on the side wall 1c closer to the bottom wall 1b than the lowest limit of the liquid level of the stored carbonated water. That is, the water inlet 30 may be provided on the side wall 1c closer to the bottom wall 1b than the lowest limit of the liquid level. In this case, the spray unit 31 has an L-shape when viewed from the side.

[0070] In the carbonated water production device 100 according to this embodiment, the spray unit 31 comprises a cylindrical spray main body 31a, a connecting portion 31b provided at the lower end of the spray main body 31a, and a spray nozzle 33 attached to the spray port 31c at the upper end of the spray main body 31a, but this configuration is not limited thereto. For example, the connecting portion 31b has a threaded groove on its side and is attached to the water inlet 30 provided in the lower wall portion 1b by threading, but it may also be attached by press-fitting or fitting. It may also be fixed with fasteners such as bolts or screws. The spray nozzle 33 includes a spray lid 33a and a spray piece 33b, but is not limited thereto. For example, the spray nozzle may simply be a lid with multiple micro-holes.

[0071] In the carbonated water production device 100 according to this embodiment, the carbonated water outlet means 4 is configured as a pouring portion 43 supported on a support plate 44 erected on a stage portion 45, but is not limited to this. For example, the carbonated water outlet means 4 may simply be configured as a carbonated water pipe 42 with an on-off valve provided at the tip thereof.

[0072] In the carbonated water production device 100 according to this embodiment, an electrode-type level switch having a pair of electrodes 51 is used as the detection means 5, but this is not limited to this. For example, various sensors such as a float switch can also be used.

[0073] The carbonated water production device 100 according to this embodiment is provided with a box-shaped cooling means 6, but this is not essential. The cooling method is also not limited to liquid cooling, and convection cooling using a cooling fan, thermoelectric cooling using a Peltier element, cooling using ice, etc. can also be used.

[0074] In the carbonated water production apparatus 100 according to this embodiment, each pipe may be fitted with a pressure reducing valve or a check valve.

[0075] The carbonated water maker 100 of the present invention can be used as an apparatus for producing carbonated water. The carbonated water production method of the present invention can be used as a method for producing carbonated water. The carbonated water maker 100 and the carbonated water production method of the present invention can produce carbonated water with a sufficiently high gas volume.

[0076] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Sealed container 10...Safety valve opening 100...Carbonated water production device 11...Safety valve 1a...Upper wall 1b...Lower wall 1c...Side wall 2...Carbonated gas inlet means 20...Gas inlet 21...Outlet 22...Gas pipe 3...Water inlet means 30...Water inlet 31...Injection section 31a...Injection main body 31b...Connecting section 31c...Injection nozzle 32...Water pipe 33...Injection nozzle 33a...Injection lid 33b...Injection piece 4...Carbonated water outlet means 40...Carbonated water outlet 41...Outlet pipe 42...Carbonated water pipe 43...Dispensing section 43a...Dispensing nozzle 43b...Dispensing lever 5...Detection means 51...Electrode 6...Cooling means N...Through hole

Claims

1. A carbonated water production apparatus for producing carbonated water, comprising: a sealed container having a gas inlet portion, a water inlet portion, and a carbonated water outlet portion; carbon dioxide gas inlet means connected to the gas inlet portion for inflowing carbon dioxide gas into the sealed container; water inlet means connected to the water inlet portion for inflowing water into the sealed container; a spray portion attached to the water inlet portion inside the sealed container and positioned so that the water is sprayed in an upward direction; carbonated water outlet means connected to the carbonated water outlet portion for discharging the carbonated water inside the sealed container; an outlet pipe portion attached to the carbonated water outlet portion inside the sealed container and through which the carbonated water flows; and detection means for detecting upper and lower limits of the liquid level of the carbonated water stored inside the sealed container, wherein the water is sprayed upward by the spray portion in an atmosphere of carbon dioxide gas, and the spray outlet portion of the spray portion is positioned above the upper limit of the liquid level of the stored carbonated water.

2. A carbonated water production device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outlet portion is fitted with an injection nozzle for injecting water in the form of particles.

3. A carbonated water production device as described in claim 1, further comprising a cooling means for cooling the carbonated water stored in the sealed container, and the water inlet portion is provided on the lower wall portion of the sealed container or on the side wall portion closer to the lower wall portion than the lower limit of the liquid level of the stored carbonated water.

4. A carbonated water production device as described in claim 1, wherein the shortest distance from the nozzle to the upper wall of the sealed container is 5.0 cm or more, and the spray pressure of the water from the nozzle is 0.3 to 5.0 MPa.

5. A method for producing carbonated water using the carbonated water production device described in any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising: a first step in which the carbon dioxide gas inflow means causes the carbon dioxide gas to flow into the inside of the sealed container and the internal pressure of the sealed container is set to 0.1 MPa or more; a second step in which the water inflow means causes water to flow into the inside of the sealed container and the spray unit sprays the water upward; and a third step in which the carbonated water outflow means causes the stored carbonated water to flow out of the sealed container, wherein the first step, the second step, and the third step are started in that order; when the liquid level falls below the lower limit, the second step is carried out until the liquid level exceeds the upper limit; and the first step is carried out at any timing so as not to fall below the internal pressure.

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