JP4940782B2 - Beverage production equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a beverage production apparatus that produces a beverage using a powder raw material.

  This type of beverage production apparatus stores powder raw materials such as sugar, powdered milk, and powdered cocoa inside the device casing, and produces beverages by mixing these powder raw materials with white water or coffee extract. Is.

  Normally, powder raw materials are stored in individual powder containers for each type, and each time a predetermined amount is dispensed into a beverage container such as a cup and used for the production of beverages. For storage of these powder raw materials, humidity control is extremely important. That is, when the powder raw material is placed under a high humidity condition, it may solidify due to moisture absorption and cause problems such as difficulty in dispensing from the powder container. For this reason, in the conventional beverage production | generation apparatus, what was preventing the coagulation | solidification by moisture absorption of a powder raw material by arrange | positioning the dehumidification cooler inside an apparatus housing | casing is provided (for example, patent document 1). reference).

Japanese Patent No. 2998863

  However, the inside of the device housing is very often at a high temperature and high humidity due to hot water used to produce a beverage. Therefore, even if a dehumidifying cooler is installed in the device casing, it takes a lot of time to reduce the humidity of the entire interior, and the powder raw material stored in the powder container is exposed to a high humidity state. It is difficult to prevent. Incidentally, although these problems can be solved by installing a large-capacity cooler, not only the manufacturing cost and running cost are greatly increased, but also the size of the device casing is significantly increased. can not deny.

  In view of the above circumstances, the present invention provides a beverage production device capable of storing powder raw materials in a good state inside a device housing without causing a situation in which manufacturing costs and running costs are significantly increased. The purpose is to do.

In order to achieve the above object, a beverage production device according to claim 1 of the present invention includes a powder container for storing a powder raw material inside the device casing, and produces a beverage using the powder raw material dispensed from the powder container. in the beverage production device which performs, and defined in a manner to surround the periphery of the powder container and the housing chamber inside is opened when opening the door, a unit casing which is disposed within the housing chamber,
A moisture adsorber disposed inside the unit casing and air in the housing chamber are introduced into the unit casing in a manner that circulates between the first area and the second area set inside the unit casing. The air circulation means for returning to the accommodation chamber after passing through the first area, the heating means for heating the moisture adsorbent in the second area, and when the humidity of the accommodation chamber is equal to or higher than a preset humidity, The air circulation means is driven on the condition that the door body is not opened / closed. On the other hand, when the opening / closing operation of the door body is detected, the air circulation means is driven after waiting for a preset time to elapse. And a control means .

  Moreover, the drink production | generation apparatus which concerns on Claim 2 of this invention is provided with the cooling means which cools the air of a 2nd area | region, and condenses a water | moisture content in the above-mentioned Claim 1, and the storage means which stores the condensed water | moisture content. It is characterized by that.

  According to the present invention, since the air in the storage chamber surrounding the periphery of the powder container is introduced into the unit casing and dehumidified by the moisture adsorbent disposed inside the unit casing, the apparatus casing Even when the inside of the container becomes highly humid, it is possible to prevent the powder raw material stored inside the powder container from being exposed to the high humidity state, and the powder raw material may solidify due to moisture absorption. Also disappear. In addition, since the internal atmosphere of the storage chamber is only repeatedly dehumidified by the moisture adsorber disposed inside the unit housing, there is no possibility of causing an increase in manufacturing cost and running cost.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a beverage production device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings as appropriate.

  FIG. 1 shows a beverage production apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The beverage production apparatus exemplified here produces a beverage using powder raw materials such as sugar, powdered milk, and powdered cocoa, and includes a powder container 10 that stores the powder raw materials inside the apparatus housing 1. .

  As shown in FIG. 2, the powder container 10 includes a charging opening 11 for charging powder raw material at the upper end portion, and an auger screw 12 at the lower end portion. The auger screw 12 is driven by the auger motor 14 of the drive unit 13. When rotated, a predetermined amount of powder raw material is dispensed from the nozzle 15 in front of the lower end. The charging opening 11 is provided with a lid 16 for opening and closing it. The powder raw material discharged from the nozzle 15 of the powder container 10 is supplied to the temporary storage cylinder 18 through the cap 17 and then discharged to the cup C by opening the bottom of the temporary storage cylinder 18 at an appropriate timing. Used to produce beverages. In the present embodiment, a large number of independent powder containers 10 having the same configuration are arranged inside the apparatus housing 1 in a manner in which they are arranged side by side.

  In the beverage production device, a storage chamber 20 is provided at a site surrounding the powder container 10 inside the device housing 1. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the storage chamber 20 is defined in such a manner as to surround all the powder containers 10, and is configured in a rectangular shape having a door 21 at the upper front portion. The upper wall 22, the four side walls 23 and the bottom wall 24, and the door body 21 of the storage chamber 20 are all constituted by wall members having sufficiently small heat insulation properties. The desired airtightness is ensured.

  Inside the storage chamber 20, there are a drive unit 13 for rotating the auger screw 12, an entire portion of the powder container 10 including the nozzle 15 and the cap 17, and a temporary storage cylinder 18 for receiving the powder raw material discharged from the nozzle 15. The structure up to the upper end is accommodated. Specifically, a support frame 25 is provided on the bottom wall 24 of the storage chamber 20, and the entire part of the powder container 10 including the drive unit 13, the nozzle 15, and the cap 17 is attached to the upper surface of the support frame 25, The upper end portion of the temporary storage cylinder 18 is attached to the bottom wall 24 of the storage chamber 20 so as not to contact the cap 17.

  The door body 21 of the storage chamber 20 is supported so as to be slidable in the vertical direction, and the internal powder container 10 can be handled by opening the storage chamber 20 by sliding downward. . The opening / closing movement of the door body 21 can be detected by the opening sensor 30 and the closing sensor 31 provided in the moving area of the door body 21. Furthermore, the front side wall 23 can be attached to and detached from the storage chamber 20, and the nozzle 15, the cap 17, and the temporary storage cylinder 18 can be handled by removing the front side wall 23.

  Further, the beverage production device is provided with a dehumidifying unit 40 inside the storage chamber 20. The dehumidifying unit 40 is for dehumidifying the internal atmosphere of the storage chamber 20, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a moisture adsorbent 42, a drive motor 43, an air introduction fan (air A circulation means) 44, a heater (heating means) 45, an air circulation fan 46 and a storage container (storage means) 47 are provided.

  The unit housing 41 is a box having a rectangular shape with predetermined airtightness. Inside the unit housing 41, a partition plate 48 is provided at a substantially middle portion in the vertical direction, and a first region 41A is defined in the lower half of the partition plate 48, while a first region 41A is defined in the upper half. Two areas 41B are defined.

  The moisture adsorbent 42 is formed in a disc shape using a desiccant such as zeolite as a material, and has a shaft member 42a at the center thereof. In the moisture adsorbing body 42, the shaft member 42 a is arranged along the extending direction of the partition plate 48, whereby the upper half portion is accommodated in the second region 41 </ b> B of the unit housing 41, while the lower half portion The unit housing 41 is disposed so as to be rotatable around the axis of the shaft member 42a in a manner of being accommodated in the first region 41A of the unit housing 41.

  The drive motor 43 is connected to the moisture adsorbing body 42 via the shaft member 42a, and rotates the moisture adsorbing body 42 around the axis. When the drive motor 43 rotates, the moisture adsorbent 42 rotated around the axis of the shaft member 42a circulates between the first region 41A and the second region 41B.

  The air introduction fan 44 is for introducing the internal atmosphere of the storage chamber 20 into the unit housing 41, and is an air circulation passage (air circulation means) 49 provided between the air introduction port 49 a and the air discharge port 49 b. Is disposed inside. The air introduction port 49 a is an opening provided on the side surface of the unit housing 41. The air discharge port 49 b is an opening provided on the upper surface of the unit casing 41, and communicates with the air duct 51 through the communication passage 50. The air duct 51 extends along the juxtaposition direction of the plurality of powder containers 10 in the upper part of the storage chamber 20, and has a plurality of air outlets 51a on the bottom wall thereof. As is clear from FIG. 3, the air circulation passage 49 passes through the moisture adsorbing body 42 disposed in the first region 41A of the unit housing 41, and the air introduced from the air introduction port 49a is the air discharge port. It is comprised so that it may contact with the water | moisture-content adsorption body 42 until it discharges | emits from 49b.

  The heater 45 is for heating the moisture adsorbing body 42, and is disposed in a manner close to the moisture adsorbing body 42 in the second region 41 </ b> B of the unit housing 41.

  The air circulation fan 46 circulates air between the first region 41A and the second region 41B via a vent hole 48a provided in the partition plate 48 and a circulation passage (cooling means) 52. In the region 41B, the air heated by the heater 45 is disposed at a position to blow the moisture adsorbent 42. The ventilation hole 48 a is opened at a part of the partition plate 48 that is a lower area of the heater 45. The circulation passage 52 is a passage extending in the vertical direction in such a manner that it passes through a portion upstream of the moisture adsorbing body 42 in the air circulation passage 49, and communicates between the first region 41A and the second region 41B. It is provided in the mode to do. The circulation passage 52 supplies air from the second region 41B to the first region 41A when the air circulation fan 46 is driven, and also flows from the second region 41B to the first region 41A by the air passing through the air circulation passage 49. It is intended to cool the supplied air.

  The storage container 47 is a container whose upper surface is open, and is disposed in the first region 41 </ b> A in a state where the opening is matched with the lower end lower region of the circulation passage 52. A drainage passage 53 is provided in the storage container 47. The drainage passage 53 discharges the water stored in the storage container 47 to the outside, and is provided in such a manner that its downstream end is immersed in the cooling water tank 60. The cooling water tank 60 is provided to produce a cold beverage, and stores cooling water for drinking at approximately 0 ° C. therein.

  In the dehumidifying unit 40 configured as described above, when the air introduction fan 44 is driven, the air in the storage chamber 20 introduced from the air introduction port 49a is included when passing through the moisture adsorbing body 42 in the air circulation passage 49. Moisture is removed and then discharged through the air outlet 49b. The air discharged from the air discharge port 49 b is supplied from the air outlet 51 a of the blower duct 51 to the inside of the storage chamber 20.

  During this time, since the heater 45 and the air circulation fan 46 are driven, hot air is supplied to the moisture adsorbing body 42 in the second area 41B, so that moisture adsorbed in the air circulation passage 49 is released from the moisture adsorbing body 42 in the second area 41B. Will be.

  Hereinafter, if the drive motor 43 is driven and the moisture adsorbing body 42 is circulated and moved between the first region 41A and the second region 41B while the dehumidifying unit 40 is driven, the above-described adsorption and release of moisture are performed. As a result, the dried portion of the moisture adsorbing body 42 can always be brought into contact with the air in the air circulation passage 49, and moisture contained therein can be continuously adsorbed.

  Furthermore, the air in the second region 41B, which has become high temperature and humidity due to the release of moisture from the moisture adsorbent 42, is cooled while being supplied to the first region 41A via the circulation passage 52 by driving the air circulation fan 46. As a result, the moisture is condensed in the circulation passage 52 and removed. That is, the moisture contained in the air introduced into the unit casing 41 is removed by the moisture adsorbent 42 and is finally condensed in the circulation passage 52 and further dropped from the circulation passage 52 and stored in the storage container 47. Will be.

  FIG. 4 schematically shows the air circulation supply system of the beverage production apparatus described above. The control means 70 shown in FIG. 4 controls the driving of the dehumidifying unit 40 based on the output results of the humidity sensor 71, the opening sensor 30 and the closing sensor 31 provided in the storage chamber 20.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the contents of the dehumidifying process that is repeatedly performed by the control means 70 shown in FIG. Hereinafter, the contents of the dehumidification process in the beverage production device will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 as appropriate.

  In the dehumidifying process, the control means 70 first detects the humidity of the storage chamber 20 through the humidity sensor 71 (step S101).

  When the humidity of the storage chamber 20 detected by the humidity sensor 71 is equal to or higher than a preset humidity (for example, 20%) (step S102: YES), the control means 70 passes through the output results of the opening sensor 30 and the closing sensor 31. It is determined whether or not the door body 21 of the storage chamber 20 has been opened / closed (step S103), and the dehumidifying unit 40 is driven on the condition that the door body 21 has not been opened / closed (step S103: NO) (step S103). S104). The driving of the dehumidifying unit 40 continues until the humidity detected in step S102 becomes less than the set value unless the door 21 of the storage chamber 20 is opened / closed (step S102: NO → step S105). .

  When the dehumidifying unit 40 is driven, as described above, the internal atmosphere of the storage chamber 20 is introduced into the unit housing 41, and after moisture contained therein is removed by the moisture adsorbing body 42, from the outlet 51a of the air duct 51. Will be discharged. Therefore, the inside of the storage chamber 20 is maintained in a low humidity state of 20% or less, and there is no possibility that the powder raw material stored in the powder container 10 will be solidified due to moisture absorption.

  In this case, since only the internal atmosphere of the storage chamber 20 is repeatedly dehumidified by the moisture adsorbing body 42 disposed inside the unit housing 41, there is no need to provide a large dehumidifying unit, and manufacturing costs and running costs increase. There is no fear of inviting a situation to do.

  On the other hand, when the door opening / closing operation is detected in step S103 described above, that is, when it is detected that the door body 21 of the storage chamber 20 has been once opened through the opening sensor 30 and the closing sensor 31 (step S103). (S103: YES), the control means 70 stops the dehumidifying unit 40 (step S106), then starts a timer (step S107), waits until a preset time elapses, and does not execute other processes (step S106). S108).

  Therefore, for example, when the door body 21 of the storage chamber 20 is opened and the powder container 10 is replenished with the powder raw material, and then the door body 21 is closed, the humidity detected by the humidity sensor 71 exceeds 20%. Even in the state, the dehumidifying unit 40 is stopped only for a preset time (for example, 5 minutes).

  Here, it is considered that the door body 21 of the storage chamber 20 is mostly opened to replenish the powder container 10 with the powder raw material. Therefore, if the driving of the dehumidifying unit 40 is stopped for about 5 minutes after the replenishment of the powder raw material, even if the powder raw material is scattered inside the storage chamber 20, this may be introduced into the unit housing 41. This eliminates the possibility that the powder raw material adheres to the moisture adsorbent 42 and causes a problem such as a decrease in its moisture adsorption performance.

  When the timer expires, the procedure is returned, and in step S101, a process of detecting the humidity of the storage chamber 20 is performed. If this is equal to or greater than the set value, the dehumidifying unit 40 is driven again.

  In the above-described embodiment, the dew condensation water stored in the storage container 47 is discharged to the cooling water tank 60. For example, if the storage container 47 is detachably provided to the unit housing 41, it may be periodically Therefore, the dew condensation water can be discharged, and the drainage passage 53 need not be provided.

  Furthermore, in embodiment mentioned above, what consists of a zeolite is illustrated as the water | moisture-content adsorption body 42, However, If it adsorb | sucks the water | moisture content contained in the air to pass, and will discharge | release a water | moisture content when heated, You may apply what consists of other materials. Further, although the moisture adsorbing body 42 is formed in a disk shape, the shape is not necessarily a disk, and the moisture adsorbing body 42 is circulated and moved between the first area and the second area set inside the unit housing. Any shape may be applied.

It is a principal part perspective view which shows notionally the structure of the drink production | generation apparatus which is embodiment of this invention. It is a cross-sectional side view of the storage chamber and powder container applied to the drink production | generation apparatus shown in FIG. It is a conceptual diagram which shows typically the internal structure of the dehumidification unit applied to the drink production | generation apparatus shown in FIG. It is the conceptual diagram which showed typically the air circulation supply system of the drink production | generation apparatus shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the content of the dehumidification process which the control means shown in FIG. 4 repeatedly implements by predetermined cycle time.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Apparatus housing | casing 10 Powder container 11 Opening opening 12 Auger screw 13 Drive unit 14 Auger motor 15 Nozzle 16 Cover body 17 Cap 18 Temporary storage cylinder 20 Storage chamber 21 Door body 25 Support frame 30 Opening sensor 31 Closing sensor 40 Dehumidifying unit 41 Unit housing 41A 1st area 41B 2nd area 42 Moisture adsorption body 43 Drive motor 44 Air introduction fan 45 Heater 46 Air circulation fan 47 Storage container 48 Partition plate 49 Air distribution passage 50 Communication passage 51 Blower duct 52 Circulation passage 53 Drainage passage 60 Cooling water tank 70 Control means 71 Humidity sensor

Claims (2)

In a beverage production device comprising a powder container for storing a powder raw material inside the device casing and producing a beverage using the powder raw material dispensed from the powder container,
A housing chamber in the interior is opened when you defined in a manner to surround the periphery of the powder container, and open the door,
A unit housing disposed inside the storage chamber;
A moisture adsorber disposed inside the unit casing in a manner that circulates between the first area and the second area set inside the unit casing;
Air circulation means for introducing the air in the storage chamber into the interior of the unit housing and returning it to the storage chamber after passing through the first region;
Heating means for heating the moisture adsorbent in the second region ;
When the humidity of the storage chamber is equal to or higher than a preset humidity, the air circulation means is driven on the condition that the door body is not opened / closed. A beverage production device comprising: control means for driving the air circulation means after waiting until a set time has elapsed . Cooling means for cooling the air in the second region to condense moisture;
The beverage production device according to claim 1, further comprising: a storage unit that stores the condensed moisture.

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