JP7471208B2 - Juice supplying device, juice supplying method and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a juice supplying device, a juice supplying method, and a program.

Patent document 1 discloses a soup supplying device that includes a thermal insulation tank in which soup is stored, an electric heater that heats the soup in the thermal insulation tank, a placement stand that is provided below the thermal insulation tank, and an electromagnetic valve that is provided at the outlet of the thermal insulation tank to supply the soup in the thermal insulation tank heated by the electric heater to dishes placed on a plurality of placement stands.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-53198

However, the soup supplying device described in Patent Document 1 does not have multiple supply paths for simultaneously supplying the soup from the heat-retaining tank to multiple dishes, so the soup from the heat-retaining tank cannot be simultaneously supplied to multiple dishes.

In view of the above circumstances, the present invention aims to provide a soup supplying device, a soup supplying method, and a program that can supply soup cooked by a cooking storage unit to multiple containers simultaneously.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a juice supplying device comprising a heating section which heats water to hot water, a cooking storage section which cooks and stores a juice using the hot water heated by the heating section, a plurality of mounting sections provided below the cooking storage section, a plurality of supply paths which supply the juice from the cooking storage section to a plurality of containers which are respectively mounted on the plurality of mounting sections, a valve unit which opens and closes the plurality of supply paths, and an operating unit which operates the opening and closing of the valve unit. In particular, the cooking storage section has a first cooking storage section and a second cooking storage section, the plurality of placing sections have a first dedicated placing section, a second dedicated placing section and a shared placing section, and the supply path has a first supply path for supplying the soup of the first cooking storage section to the container placed on the first dedicated placing section, a second supply path for supplying the soup of the first cooking storage section to the container placed on the shared placing section, a third supply path for supplying the soup of the second cooking storage section to the container placed on the second dedicated placing section, and a fourth supply path for supplying the soup of the second cooking storage section to the container placed on the shared placing section.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the cooking storage unit can supply cooked liquid to multiple containers simultaneously.

1 is a schematic perspective view showing a juice supplying device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a juice supplying device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a configuration block diagram of a control unit. 10 is a flowchart showing an operation process of the juice supplying device. 13 is a schematic diagram showing an operating section that can be operated in a first automatic flushing mode and a tube that can supply juice. FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing an operating section that can be operated in the second automatic flushing mode and a tube that can supply juice. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a first juice supply mode process in the operation process of the juice supplying device. A schematic diagram showing an operating section that can be operated in the first juice full supply mode of the first juice supply mode and a tube that can supply juice. A schematic diagram showing an operating section that can be operated in the first juice portion supply mode of the first juice supply mode and a tube that can supply juice. 13 is a flowchart showing a second transient juice supply mode process in the operation process of the juice supplying device. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a main part of a juice supplying device according to a second embodiment.

Below, a mode for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as the present embodiment) will be described with reference to the attached drawings. In this specification, the same elements are given the same reference numerals throughout.

(Configuration of juice supply device)
First, the configuration of a juice supplying device 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3.

Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a juice supplying device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a configuration block diagram showing the juice supplying device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3 is a configuration block diagram of a control unit 9. In Fig. 1, the width direction, depth direction (i.e., thickness direction), and height direction of the juice supplying device 1 are respectively defined as directions along the X axis, the Y axis, and the Z axis. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the width direction, depth direction, and height direction of the juice supplying device 1 will be simply referred to as the width direction, depth direction, and height direction.

The soup supplying device 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a device for supplying cooked soup to a container. Specifically, the soup supplying device 1 is a miso soup supplying device that cooks miso soup as a soup using miso and ingredients (e.g., powdered soup stock, kelp chips, etc.) and supplies the cooked miso soup to a dish as a container by operating an operation unit 8 described below. The soup supplying device 1 is installed and used as a commercial device in restaurants such as beef bowl restaurants, curry restaurants, sushi restaurants, and family restaurants.

In this embodiment, the soup supplying device 1 is configured as a miso soup supplying device for supplying miso soup. However, the soup supplying device 1 is not limited to this, and may be configured as, for example, a soup supplying device for cooking soup (e.g., Western soup, Chinese soup, etc.) and supplying the cooked soup to a dish by operating the operation unit 8. Alternatively, the soup supplying device 1 may be configured as a hot beverage supplying device for cooking a hot beverage (e.g., coffee, tea, etc.) and supplying the cooked hot beverage to a cup by operating the operation unit 8.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the juice supply device 1 includes a housing 2, a cooking storage section 3, a heating and keeping warm unit 4, multiple (here, four) tubes 5 as supply paths, multiple (here, three) mounting sections 6, a valve unit 7, an operation unit 8, and a control unit 9.

The housing 2 contains a cooking storage section 3, a heating and keeping warm unit 4, a plurality of tubes 5, a plurality of mounting sections 6, a valve unit 7, an operation unit 8, and a control unit 9. As shown in FIG. 1, the housing 2 is a generally box-shaped storage section that stands on the floor. In addition, a window 21 that is recessed from the front side to the rear side is formed on the front side of the housing 2 (specifically, approximately in the center of the front side).

The window 21 has an upper panel 211, a lower panel 212 facing the upper panel 211, and a bottom panel 213 sandwiched between the upper panel 211 and the lower panel 212. The upper panel 211 is formed with through-holes (not shown) for passing through multiple supply paths. The lower panel 212, which serves as a mounting base, is formed with an opening (not shown), and multiple mounting sections 6 are provided above the opening.

The cooking storage section 3 is a cooking storage section for cooking miso soup using miso and ingredients and temporarily storing the cooked miso soup. The cooking storage section 3 has a first cooking storage section 31 as a first storage section and a second cooking storage section 32 as a second storage section. The first cooking storage section 31 and the second cooking storage section 32 are constructed to the same specifications.

The first cooking storage section 31 and the second cooking storage section 32 are accommodated above the upper panel 211 of the window 21. Specifically, the first cooking storage section 31 and the second cooking storage section 32 are accommodated in a storage space located directly above the upper panel 211 so as to be arranged in sequence along the width direction (specifically, from left to right).

As mentioned above, the first cooking storage section 31 and the second cooking storage section 32 are constructed to the same specifications, so below, only the configuration of the first cooking storage section 31 will be described, and a description of the second cooking storage section 32 will be omitted.

A fluid supply path L that connects the first cooking storage section 31 and the first boiler 41 of the heating and keeping warm unit 4 (described later) is provided between them. The fluid supply path L supplies hot water heated by the first boiler 41 to the first cooking storage section 31. The first cooking storage section 31 has an input section (not shown) for inputting miso and ingredients, and a stirring cooking section (not shown) that cooks miso soup by stirring the miso and ingredients input from the input section and the hot water supplied from the first boiler 41 via the fluid supply path L.

The heating and keeping warm unit 4 is a unit for heating water to be supplied to the cooking storage section 3 to hot water, or for keeping the miso soup in the cooking storage section 3 warm. As shown in FIG. 2, the heating and keeping warm unit 4 has a first boiler 41 and a second boiler 42 as heating sections, and a first keeping warm heater 43 and a second keeping warm heater 44 as keeping warm sections. The first boiler 41 and the second boiler 42 are constructed with the same specifications, and the first keeping warm heater 43 and the second keeping warm heater 44 are constructed with the same specifications.

The first boiler 41 and the second boiler 42 are heaters for heating water supplied from the outside. The first boiler 41 and the second boiler 42 are housed below the lower panel 212 of the window 21. Specifically, the first boiler 41 and the second boiler 42 are housed in a storage space located directly below the lower panel 212 so as to be arranged in sequence along the width direction (specifically, from left to right).

As mentioned above, the first boiler 41 and the second boiler 42 are constructed to the same specifications, so below, only the configuration of the first boiler 41 will be described, and a description of the second boiler 42 will be omitted.

The first boiler 41 heats water supplied from outside via the water softener 10 into hot water, and supplies the heated hot water to the first cooking storage unit 31 through the fluid supply path L. Here, because the water supplied from outside to the first boiler 41 passes through the water softener 10, problems caused by scale buildup in the first boiler 41 or the first cooking storage unit 31 can be prevented.

As described above, the heating and keeping warm unit 4 has the first boiler 41 and the second boiler 42. Even if one of the first boiler 41 and the second boiler 42 fails, hot water can be continued to be supplied using the other of the first boiler 41 and the second boiler 42. As a result, it is possible to avoid an inability to supply hot water due to a boiler failure.

The first warming heater 43 and the second warming heater 44 are heaters for keeping the cooked miso soup in the first cooking storage section 31 and the cooked miso soup in the second cooking storage section 32 at a predetermined temperature. The first warming heater 43 and the second warming heater 44 are provided in the first cooking storage section 31 and the second cooking storage section 32, respectively.

In this embodiment, the heating and keeping warm unit 4 is composed of a first boiler 41, a second boiler 42, a first warming heater 43, and a second warming heater 44, but is not limited to this. For example, the heating and keeping warm unit 4 may be composed of a single boiler, a first warming heater 43, and a second warming heater 44. In this case, the single boiler is capable of supplying heated hot water to both the first cooking storage section 31 and the second cooking storage section 32. Alternatively, the heating and keeping warm unit 4 may be composed of two high-output heating and keeping warm heaters that heat the first cooking storage section 31 and the second cooking storage section 32, respectively. In this case, the number of parts that make up the heating and keeping warm unit 4 can be reduced. In this case, the high-output heating and keeping warm heater is both a warming section that keeps the miso soup warm and a heating section that heats water to hot water.

The multiple tubes 5 are supply paths that supply the miso soup in the cooking storage section 3 to multiple dishes placed on the multiple placement sections 6. This allows the miso soup in a single cooking storage section 3 to be simultaneously supplied to multiple dishes placed on the multiple placement sections 6 through the multiple tubes 5 connected to that cooking storage section 3. As a result, even when the restaurant is busy, the miso soup in a single cooking storage section 3 can be quickly supplied to the dishes.

The multiple tubes 5 include a first tube 51 as a first supply path that supplies miso soup from the first cooking storage section 31 to tableware placed on the first dedicated placement section 61 described below, a second tube 52 as a second supply path that supplies miso soup from the first cooking storage section 31 to tableware placed on the shared placement section 63 described below, a third tube 53 as a third supply path that supplies miso soup from the second cooking storage section 32 to tableware placed on the second dedicated placement section 62 described below, and a fourth tube 54 as a fourth supply path that supplies miso soup from the second cooking storage section 32 to tableware placed on the shared placement section 63 described below.

The second tube 52 and the fourth tube 54 supply the miso soup from the first cooking storage section 31 and the miso soup from the second cooking storage section 32, respectively, to the tableware placed on the shared placement section 63, so that the two placement sections 6 that would normally correspond to the second tube 52 and the fourth tube 54, respectively, can be consolidated into the shared placement section 63. This allows the number of placement sections 6 to be reduced.

The first tube 51, the second tube 52, the fourth tube 54, and the third tube 53 are arranged in order along the width direction (specifically, from left to right) so that they all extend vertically (i.e., in the height direction). In this way, since each tube is arranged to extend vertically, the miso soup can be easily supplied from each cooking storage section 3 through each tube to the dishes placed on each placement section 6 by utilizing the weight of the miso soup itself.

The first tube 51 and the second tube 52 are arranged so that their upper ends as one end are connected to the bottom of the first cooking storage section 31 and their lower ends as the other end are exposed from the through-hole of the upper panel 211. On the other hand, the third tube 53 and the fourth tube 54 are arranged so that their upper ends as one end are connected to the bottom of the second cooking storage section 32 and their lower ends as the other end are exposed from the through-hole of the upper panel 211.

In this way, by directly connecting the two tubes, the first tube 51 and the second tube 52 (or the third tube 53 and the fourth tube 54) to the single first cooking storage unit 31 (or the second cooking storage unit 32), even if one of the two tubes 5 connected to the single cooking storage unit 3 becomes clogged, miso soup can be supplied to the dishes by the other of the two tubes 5 connected to the cooking storage unit 3, thereby preventing the cooking storage unit 3 from becoming unusable due to a clogged tube 5.

The distance between the first tube 51 and the second tube 52 and the distance between the third tube 53 and the fourth tube 54 are both a first distance. On the other hand, the distance between the second tube 52 and the fourth tube 54 is a second distance that is smaller than the first distance. In this way, by making the distance between the second tube 52 and the fourth tube 54 the relatively small second distance, miso soup from the first cooking storage section 31 or the second cooking storage section 32 can be supplied to the tableware placed on the shared placement section 63 by the second tube 52 or the fourth tube 54.

In this embodiment, the first tube 51 and the second tube 52, and the third tube 53 and the fourth tube 54 are directly connected to the first cooking storage section 31 and the second cooking storage section 32, respectively. However, the first tube 51 and the second tube 52, and the third tube 53 and the fourth tube 54 are not limited to these, and may be indirectly connected to the first cooking storage section 31 and the second cooking storage section 32, respectively, for example, via a supply tube. In this case, one supply tube has an upper end connected to the first cooking storage section 31 as one end and a lower end connected to one end of the first tube 51 and one end of the second tube 52 as the other end. The other supply tube has an upper end connected to the second cooking storage section 32 as one end and a lower end connected to one end of the third tube 53 and one end of the fourth tube 54 as the other end.

The multiple placement sections 6 are placement sections for placing tableware. The multiple placement sections 6 are provided below (specifically, directly below) the cooking storage section 3. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the multiple placement sections 6 have a first dedicated placement section 61, a second dedicated placement section 62, and a shared placement section 63. The first dedicated placement section 61, the second dedicated placement section 62, and the shared placement section 63 are constructed to the same specifications.

The first dedicated placement section 61, the shared placement section 63, and the second dedicated placement section 62 are provided on the lower panel 212 of the window 21. Specifically, the first dedicated placement section 61, the shared placement section 63, and the second dedicated placement section 62 are provided on the lower panel 212 so as to be arranged in sequence along the width direction (specifically, from left to right).

The first dedicated placement section 61 is a rectangular plate-shaped member that is provided directly below the lower end of the exposed portion of the first tube 51. This allows miso soup from the first tube 51 to be reliably supplied to the tableware placed on the first dedicated placement section 61.

Similarly, the second dedicated placement section 62 is a rectangular plate-shaped material provided directly below the lower end of the exposed portion of the third tube 53. This allows miso soup from the third tube 53 to be reliably supplied to the tableware placed on the second dedicated placement section 62.

The shared placement portion 63 is a rectangular plate-like material provided directly below the lower end of the exposed portion of the second tube 52 and the lower end of the exposed portion of the fourth tube 54. By using the shared placement portion 63 for the placement portion 6, miso soup from the second tube 52 or the fourth tube 54 can be reliably supplied to the tableware placed on the shared placement portion 63, so the number of placement portions 6 can be reduced. As a result, the reduction in the number of placement portions 6 can simplify and compact the soup supply device 1.

In this way, by providing the shared mounting portion 63 directly below the lower end of the second tube 52 and the lower end of the fourth tube 54, i.e., by making the shared mounting portion 63 correspond to the second tube 52 and the fourth tube 54, the two mounting portions 6 that would normally correspond to the second tube 52 and the fourth tube 54, respectively, can be consolidated into the shared mounting portion 63. This makes it possible to reduce the number of mounting portions 6, and by reducing the number of mounting portions 6, it is possible to make the juice supplying device 1 more compact in the width direction.

The first dedicated placement section 61 has a first dedicated weight detection section 611 and a circular first dedicated discharge port 612. The first dedicated weight detection section 611 is a weight sensor built into the first dedicated placement section 61 and detects the weight of the tableware placed on the first dedicated placement section 61 (the combined weight of the tableware and miso soup when miso soup is supplied to the tableware). The first dedicated discharge port 612 is formed in approximately the center of the first dedicated placement section 61 so as to penetrate the first dedicated placement section 61.

The first dedicated drain outlet 612 is formed so as to be located directly below the first tube 51 (specifically, the lower end of the first tube 51). This allows the first dedicated placement section 61 to be kept clean and the leaked miso soup can be discharged from the first dedicated drain outlet 612 to the outside (specifically, the sewer) even if miso soup leaks from the lower end of the first tube 51 when no tableware is placed on the first dedicated placement section 61.

Similarly, the second dedicated placement section 62 has a second dedicated weight detection section 621 and a circular second dedicated discharge port 622. The second dedicated weight detection section 621 is a weight sensor that is built into the second dedicated placement section 62 and detects the weight of the tableware placed on the second dedicated placement section 62 (the combined weight of the tableware and miso soup when miso soup is supplied to the tableware). The second dedicated discharge port 622 is formed in approximately the center of the second dedicated placement section 62 so as to penetrate the second dedicated placement section 62.

The second dedicated drain outlet 622 is formed so as to be located directly below the third tube 53 (specifically, the lower end of the third tube 53). As a result, even if miso soup leaks from the lower end of the third tube 53 when no tableware is placed on the second dedicated placement section 62, the leaked miso soup can be discharged to the outside from the second dedicated drain outlet 622 without soiling the second dedicated placement section 62.

The shared placement section 63 has a shared weight detection section 631 and a circular shared discharge port 632. The shared weight detection section 631 is a weight sensor that is built into the shared placement section 63 and detects the weight of the tableware placed on the shared placement section 63 (the combined weight of the tableware and miso soup when miso soup is supplied to the tableware). The shared discharge port 632 is formed in approximately the center of the shared placement section 63 so as to penetrate the shared placement section 63.

The shared drain outlet 632 is formed so as to be located directly below the second tube 52 and the fourth tube 54 (specifically, the lower end of the second tube 52 and the lower end of the fourth tube 54). As a result, even if miso soup leaks from the lower end of the second tube 52 or the lower end of the fourth tube 54 when no tableware is placed on the shared placement section 63, the leaked miso soup can be discharged to the outside from the shared drain outlet 632 without soiling the shared placement section 63.

The miso soup or soup from the first dedicated outlet 612, the second dedicated outlet 622, and the shared outlet 632 is discharged to the outside through the opening in the lower panel 212 of the window 21 and a discharge path (not shown) connected to the opening.

The valve unit 7 is a unit that opens and closes the flow paths of the multiple tubes 5. The valve unit 7 is provided on the bottom panel 213 of the window 21. More specifically, the valve unit 7 includes a first solenoid valve 71 that is provided on the first tube 51 and serves as a first valve that opens and closes the flow path of the first tube 51, a second solenoid valve 72 that is provided on the second tube 52 and serves as a second valve that opens and closes the flow path of the second tube 52, a third solenoid valve 73 that is provided on the third tube 53 and serves as a third valve that opens and closes the flow path of the third tube 53, and a fourth solenoid valve 74 that is provided on the fourth tube 54 and serves as a fourth valve that opens and closes the flow path of the fourth tube 54.

The first solenoid valve 71, the second solenoid valve 72, the fourth solenoid valve 74, and the third solenoid valve 73 are provided on the bottom panel 213 so as to be arranged in sequence (specifically, from left to right) along the width direction at the same height position. The distance between the first solenoid valve 71 and the second solenoid valve 72 and the distance between the third solenoid valve 73 and the fourth solenoid valve 74 are both the third distance. On the other hand, the distance between the second solenoid valve 72 and the fourth solenoid valve 74 is the fourth distance which is smaller than the third distance.

Each solenoid valve 71, 72, 73, 74 can stop the supply of miso soup from the cooking storage unit 3 by closing the flow path of each tube 51, 52, 53, 54 corresponding to each solenoid valve 71, 72, 73, 74. On the other hand, each solenoid valve 71, 72, 73, 74 can supply miso soup from the cooking storage unit 3 by opening the flow path of each tube 51, 52, 53, 54 corresponding to each solenoid valve 71, 72, 73, 74.

The operation unit 8 is a unit that operates the opening of the valve unit 7. The operation unit 8 is provided on the operation panel 22 located above the upper panel 211 of the window 21. More specifically, the operation unit 8 has a first dedicated operation button 81 that is provided in correspondence with the first dedicated placement section 61 and serves as a first dedicated operation section that operates the opening of the first solenoid valve 71, a second dedicated operation button 82 that is provided in correspondence with the second dedicated placement section 62 and serves as a second dedicated operation section that operates the opening of the third solenoid valve 73, and a shared operation button 83 that is provided in correspondence with the shared placement section 63 and serves as a shared operation section that operates the opening of the second solenoid valve 72 or the fourth solenoid valve 74.

The first dedicated operation button 81, the shared operation button 83, and the second dedicated operation button 82 are provided on the operation panel 22 so as to be arranged at equal intervals at the same height position and in sequence along the width direction (specifically, from left to right).

When the first dedicated operation button 81, the second dedicated operation button 82, and the shared operation button 83 are in an operable state, a color (here, green) is lit indicating that they are operable, and when they are in an inoperable state, a different color (here, red) is lit indicating that they are inoperable. This allows the user (specifically, the store clerk) to instantly identify whether the first dedicated operation button 81, the second dedicated operation button 82, and the shared operation button 83 are in an operable state or not.

Then, when the user operates the first dedicated operation button 81, the second dedicated operation button 82, or the common operation button 83, the solenoid valves 71, 72, 73, and 74 corresponding to the operated button are opened, and the flow paths of the tubes 51, 52, 53, and 54 corresponding to the opened solenoid valves 71, 72, 73, and 74 are opened. This allows miso soup to be supplied from the first cooking storage section 31 or the second cooking storage section 32 to dishes placed on the placement section 6.

The control unit 9 is a controller that controls the operation of the cooking storage section 3, the heating and keeping warm unit 4, the valve unit 7, and the operation unit 8. In this embodiment, the control unit 9 is configured by a CPU as a computer, but is not limited to this and may be configured by, for example, multiple microcomputers. In addition, the control unit 9 is electrically connected to the cooking storage section 3, the heating and keeping warm unit 4, the placement section 6 (specifically, the weight detection sections 611, 621, 631 of the placement section 6), the valve unit 7, and the operation unit 8.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 9 has a cooking control module 901 as a cooking control unit, a heating control module 902 as a heating control unit, a valve control module 903 as a valve control unit, an operation information acquisition module 904 as an operation information acquisition unit, a weight information acquisition module 905 as a weight information acquisition unit, an operation button control module 906 as an operation button control unit, a weight calculation module 907 as a weight calculation unit, a mode control module 908 as a mode control unit, a judgment module 909 as a judgment unit, a time detection module 910 as a time detection unit, and a memory module 911 as a memory unit. Each module of the control unit 9 may be configured by hardware or software.

The cooking control module 901 is a module that controls the operation of the stirring cooking section of the cooking storage section 3. The heating control module 902 is a module that controls the operation of the heating and keeping warm unit 4. The valve control module 903 is a module that controls the opening and closing operations of each solenoid valve 71, 72, 73, and 74 of the valve unit 7. The operation information acquisition module 904 is a module that acquires operation information corresponding to an operation on the operation unit 8 by a user. The weight information acquisition module 905 is a module that acquires weight information output from each weight detection section 611, 621, and 631 of the placement section 6.

The operation button control module 906 is a module that controls each of the operation buttons 81, 82, 83 to an operable or inoperable state. The weight calculation module 907 is a module that calculates the remaining amount of miso soup in the cooking storage unit 3 based on the weight information output from the weight information acquisition module 905. The mode control module 908 is a module that controls the switching of each mode of the cooking storage unit 3. The judgment module 909 is a module that makes each judgment. The time detection module 910 is a timer that detects the elapsed time in the first transient soup body supply mode or the second transient soup body supply mode, which will be described later. Details of these modules 901 to 910 will be described later.

The storage module 911 is a memory that temporarily stores the weight information output from the weight information acquisition module 905. The storage module 911 also stores the processing programs or algorithm programs executed in each of the modules 91 to 93 and 96 to 98. In this embodiment, the storage module 911 is built into the control unit 9, but is not limited to this and may be provided separately from the control unit 9, for example.

(Operation process of juice supply device)
Next, the operation process of the juice supplying device will be described with reference to FIGS. 4, 5A and 5B.

Figure 4 is a flow chart showing the operation process of the juice supplying device 1. Figure 5A is a schematic diagram showing the operation unit that can be operated in the first automatic flushing mode and the tube that can supply the juice. Figure 5B is a schematic diagram showing the operation unit that can be operated in the second automatic flushing mode and the tube that can supply the juice.

When the juice supplying device 1 is turned on, the operation process of the juice supplying device 1 begins.

As shown in FIG. 4, first, in step S1, the first boiler 41 of the heating and keeping warm unit 4 heats water supplied from the outside into hot water, supplies the heated hot water to the first cooking storage unit 31 as one of the cooking storage units, and proceeds to step S2. Specifically, in step S1, the first boiler 41 heats soft water supplied from the outside through the water softener 10 into hot water based on an operation command for the first boiler 41 output from the heating control module 902 of the control unit 9, supplies the heated hot water to the first cooking storage unit 31 through the fluid supply path L, and proceeds to step S2.

In this way, hot water is supplied from the first boiler 41 to the first cooking storage section 31 prior to the addition of miso and ingredients to the first cooking storage section 31, so that the first cooking storage section 31 is ready for the addition of miso and ingredients.

Next, in step S2, the user puts the miso and ingredients into the first cooking storage unit 31 through the input section of the first cooking storage unit 31, and then proceeds to step S3.

Next, in step S3, the first cooking storage unit 31 cooks miso soup by stirring the miso and ingredients introduced from the introduction unit and the hot water supplied from the first boiler 41 for a predetermined period of time using the stirring cooking unit, and then proceeds to step S4.

Specifically, in step S3, the first cooking storage unit 31 cooks miso soup by uniformly stirring the miso, ingredients, and hot water for a predetermined time using the stirring cooking unit based on the operation command for the first cooking storage unit 31 output from the cooking control module 901 of the control unit 9, outputs a cooked notification to the mode control module 99 of the control unit 9 notifying that the miso soup is ready, and proceeds to step S4. Note that in step S3, the first solenoid valve 71 and the second solenoid valve 72 normally close the first tube 51 and the second tube 52 based on the closing command for the first solenoid valve 71 and the second solenoid valve 72 output from the valve control module 903 of the control unit 9.

Next, in step S4, the mode control module 99 sets the first cooking storage unit 31 to a first soup body supply mode (specifically, a first soup body full supply mode of the first soup body supply mode described below) for supplying miso soup by the first cooking storage unit 31 based on the cooked notification output from the first cooking storage unit 31, and in the first soup body supply mode, the first cooking storage unit 31 supplies miso soup to dishes placed on the first dedicated placement unit 61 or the shared placement unit 63 in response to the user's operation of the first dedicated operation button 81 or the shared operation button 83, and then proceeds to step S5.

In addition, in the first juice supply mode, the third solenoid valve 73 and the fourth solenoid valve 74 normally close the third tube 53 and the fourth tube 54 based on a closing command for the third solenoid valve 73 and the fourth solenoid valve 74 output from the valve control module 903. Details of the first juice supply mode process (step S4) will be described later.

Here, the first juice body supply mode includes a first juice body full supply mode and a first juice body partial supply mode. Details of the first juice body full supply mode processing and the first juice body partial supply mode processing of the first juice body supply mode will be described later.

Next, in step S5, the second boiler 42 of the heating and keeping warm unit 4 heats water supplied from the outside into hot water, supplies the heated hot water to the second cooking storage section 32 as the other cooking storage section, and proceeds to step S6. Specifically, in step S5, before the miso soup stored in the first cooking storage section 31 runs low, the second boiler 42 heats soft water supplied from the outside through the water softener 10 into hot water based on the operation command for the second boiler 42 output from the heating control module 902 of the control unit 9, supplies the heated hot water to the second cooking storage section 32 through the fluid supply path L, and proceeds to step S6.

In this way, hot water is supplied from the second boiler 42 to the second cooking storage section 32 prior to the addition of miso and ingredients to the second cooking storage section 32, so that the second cooking storage section 32 is ready for the addition of miso and ingredients.

As described above, the hot water is supplied from the second boiler 42 to the second cooking storage unit 32 before the miso soup stored in the first cooking storage unit 31 runs low, so time loss can be reduced compared to heating soft water to hot water when the miso soup stored in the first cooking storage unit 31 runs low. This is favorable for restaurant operations.

Next, in step S6, when the amount of miso soup stored in the first cooking storage unit 31 is low, the user puts the miso and ingredients into the second cooking storage unit 32, which has been supplied with hot water from the input port of the second cooking storage unit 32, and then proceeds to step S7.

Next, in step S7, the second cooking storage unit 32 cooks miso soup by stirring the miso and ingredients placed in the second cooking storage unit 32 with the hot water supplied from the second boiler 42 for a predetermined period of time using the stirring cooking unit, and then proceeds to step S8.

Specifically, in step S7, the second cooking storage unit 32 cooks miso soup by uniformly stirring the miso, ingredients, and hot water for a predetermined time using the stirring cooking unit based on the operation command for the second cooking storage unit 32 output from the cooking control module 901, outputs a cooked notification to the mode control module 99 of the control unit 9 notifying that the miso soup is ready, and proceeds to step S8. Note that in step S7, the third solenoid valve 73 and the fourth solenoid valve 74 normally close the third tube 53 and the fourth tube 54 based on the closing command for the third solenoid valve 73 and the fourth solenoid valve 74 output from the valve control module 903.

Next, in step S8, when the first cooking storage section 31 becomes empty, the mode control module 99 switches the first cooking storage section 31 from the first juice supply mode to a first automatic cleaning mode in which the first cooking storage section 31 cleans itself, and in the first automatic cleaning mode, the first cooking storage section 31 cleans itself and proceeds to step S9.

In the first automatic cleaning mode, the first boiler 41 supplies water supplied from the outside to the first cooking storage unit 31 without heating it. The first boiler 41 may also heat the water supplied from the outside to hot water whose temperature is lower than hot water based on an operation command for the first boiler 41 output from the heating control module 902, and supply the heated hot water to the first cooking storage unit 31.

Then, the first cooking storage unit 31 washes the inside of the first cooking storage unit 31 for another predetermined time by stirring the hot water with the stirring cooking unit based on the operation command for the first cooking storage unit 31 output from the cooking control module 901. During the cleaning of the first cooking storage unit 31, the first solenoid valve 71 and the second solenoid valve 72 close the first tube 51 and the second tube 52 based on the closing command for the first solenoid valve 71 and the second solenoid valve 72 output from the valve control module 903.

After that (i.e., after the first cooking storage section 31 has been cleaned), the first solenoid valve 71 and the second solenoid valve 72 open the first tube 51 and the second tube 52 based on an opening command for the first solenoid valve 71 and the second solenoid valve 72 output from the valve control module 903, and the cleaning water stored in the first cooking storage section 31 as cleaning liquid after cleaning is discharged under its own weight through the first tube 51 and the second tube 52 from the first dedicated outlet 612 of the first dedicated placement section 61 and the shared outlet 632 of the shared placement section 63. This ensures that not only the first cooking storage section 31 but also both the first tube 51 and the second tube 52 are cleaned.

As described above, in the first automatic flushing mode, the second tube 52 is flushed and the flushing water from the second tube 52 is discharged from the shared outlet 632 of the shared placement section 63, so miso soup cannot be supplied by the fourth tube 54 connected to the second cooking storage section 32.

Then, when the first automatic flushing mode is ended, that is, when the flushing water stored in the first cooking storage unit 31 is completely discharged from the first dedicated outlet 612 and the shared outlet 632 through the first tube 51 and the second tube 52, the first cooking storage unit 31 outputs a first automatic flushing end notification to the mode control module 99 to notify that the first automatic flushing mode has ended.

Next, in step S9, in response to the first cooking storage unit 31 being switched from the first soup body supply mode to the first automatic cleaning mode, the mode control module 99 sets the second cooking storage unit 32 to a second transient soup body supply mode for supplying miso soup through a single third tube 53, and proceeds to step S10. Details of the second transient soup body supply mode process will be described later.

As shown in FIG. 5A, in the first automatic cleaning mode of the first cooking storage section 31 (i.e., the second transient juice supply mode of the second cooking storage section 32), the operation unit 8 makes the first dedicated operation button 81 and the shared operation button 83 inoperable (red light) and makes the second dedicated operation button 82 operable (green light) based on a control command of the operation unit 8 output from the operation button control module 906 of the control unit 9. This makes it possible to prevent the user from erroneously operating the shared operation button 83 in the first automatic cleaning mode of the first cooking storage section 31 (i.e., the second transient juice supply mode of the second cooking storage section 32).

In this case, the user operates the second dedicated operation button 82 to open the third solenoid valve 73, thereby opening the third tube 53. Then, miso soup can be supplied from the second cooking storage section 32 through the opened third tube 53 to the dishes placed on the second dedicated placement section 62.

In addition, in the first automatic cleaning mode of the first cooking storage section 31 (i.e., the second transient juice supply mode of the second cooking storage section 32), the fourth solenoid valve 74 corresponding to the common operation button 83 normally closes the fourth tube 54 based on a closing command of the fourth solenoid valve 74 output from the valve control module 903 (see the gray portion in Figure 5A).

As a result, in the first automatic cleaning mode of the first cooking storage unit 31 (i.e., the second transient soup supply mode of the second cooking storage unit 32), miso soup from the second cooking storage unit 32 stops being supplied to the tableware through the fourth tube 54 in which the fourth solenoid valve 74 is provided, so that the cleaning water from the first cooking storage unit 31 can be discharged from the shared drain port 632 of the shared placement unit 63 through the second tube 52. As a result, not only the first cooking storage unit 31 and the first tube 51 connected to the first cooking storage unit 31, but also the second tube 52 connected to the first cooking storage unit 31 can be reliably cleaned.

Next, in step S10, the mode control module 99 switches the second cooking storage unit 32 from the second transient soup body supply mode to a second soup body supply mode (specifically, the second soup body full supply mode of the second soup body supply mode) in which miso soup is supplied by the second cooking storage unit 32 based on the cooked notification output from the second cooking storage unit 32 and the first automatic cleaning completion notification output from the first cooking storage unit 31. Then, in the second soup body supply mode, the second cooking storage unit 32 supplies miso soup to dishes placed on the second dedicated placement unit 62 or the shared placement unit 63 in response to the user's operation of the second dedicated operation button 82 or the shared operation button 83, and proceeds to step S11.

In addition, in the second juice supply mode, the first solenoid valve 71 and the second solenoid valve 72 normally close the first tube 51 and the second tube 52 based on a closing command for the first solenoid valve 71 and the second solenoid valve 72 output from the valve control module 903. Note that the second juice supply mode and the first juice supply mode are almost similar, so a detailed description of the second juice supply mode will be omitted.

Here, the second juice supply mode has a second juice full supply mode and a second juice partial supply mode. Note that the second juice full supply mode and the second juice partial supply mode of the second juice supply mode are similar to the first juice full supply mode and the first juice partial supply mode of the first juice supply mode, so a description of these will be omitted.

Next, in step S11, the first boiler 41 heats water supplied from the outside into hot water, supplies the heated hot water to the first cooking storage unit 31, and proceeds to step S6. Specifically, in step S11, before the amount of miso soup stored in the second cooking storage unit 32 runs low, the first boiler 41 heats soft water supplied from the outside through the water softener 10 into hot water based on the operation command for the first boiler 41 output from the heating control module 902 of the control unit 9, supplies the heated hot water to the first cooking storage unit 31 through the fluid supply path L, and proceeds to step S6.

In this way, hot water is supplied from the first boiler 41 to the first cooking storage section 31 prior to the addition of miso and ingredients to the first cooking storage section 31, so that the first cooking storage section 31 is ready for the addition of miso and ingredients.

As described above, the hot water is supplied from the first boiler 41 to the first cooking storage unit 31 before the amount of miso soup stored in the second cooking storage unit 32 runs low, so time loss can be reduced compared to heating soft water to hot water when the miso soup stored in the second cooking storage unit 32 runs low. This is favorable for restaurant operations.

Next, in step S12, when the amount of miso soup stored in the second cooking storage unit 32 is low, the user again puts miso and ingredients into the first cooking storage unit 31 through the input section of the first cooking storage unit 31, and then proceeds to step S13.

Next, in step S13, the first cooking storage unit 31 cooks miso soup by stirring the miso and ingredients placed in the first cooking storage unit 31 with the hot water supplied from the first boiler 41 for a predetermined time using the stirring cooking unit, and then proceeds to step S14. Note that since step S13 and step S3 are similar, a detailed description of step S13 will be omitted.

Next, in step S14, when the second cooking storage section 32 becomes empty, the mode control module 99 switches the second cooking storage section 32 from the second juice supply mode to a second automatic cleaning mode in which the second cooking storage section 32 cleans itself, and in the second automatic cleaning mode, the second cooking storage section 32 cleans itself and proceeds to step S15.

In the second automatic cleaning mode, the second boiler 42 supplies water supplied from the outside to the second cooking storage unit 32 without heating it. The second boiler 42 may also heat water supplied from the outside to hot water whose temperature is lower than hot water based on an operation command for the second boiler 42 output from the heating control module 902, and supply the heated hot water to the second cooking storage unit 32.

Then, the second cooking storage unit 32 washes the inside of the second cooking storage unit 32 for another predetermined time by stirring the hot water with the stirring cooking unit based on the operation command for the second cooking storage unit 32 output from the cooking control module 901. Note that while the second cooking storage unit 32 is being washed, the third solenoid valve 73 and the fourth solenoid valve 74 close the third tube 53 and the fourth tube 54 based on the closing command for the third solenoid valve 73 and the fourth solenoid valve 74 output from the valve control module 903.

After that (i.e., after the second cooking storage section 32 is cleaned), the third solenoid valve 73 and the fourth solenoid valve 74 open the third tube 53 and the fourth tube 54 based on an opening command for the third solenoid valve 73 and the fourth solenoid valve 74 output from the valve control module 903, and the cleaning water as cleaning liquid after cleaning stored in the second cooking storage section 32 is discharged by its own weight through the third tube 53 and the fourth tube 54 from the second dedicated outlet 622 of the second dedicated placement section 62 and the shared outlet 632 of the shared placement section 63. This ensures that not only the second cooking storage section 32 but also both the third tube 53 and the fourth tube 54 are cleaned.

As described above, in the second automatic flushing mode, the fourth tube 54 is flushed and the flushing water from the fourth tube 54 is discharged from the shared outlet 632 of the shared placement section 63, so miso soup cannot be supplied by the second tube 52 connected to the first cooking storage section 31.

Then, when the second automatic flushing mode is terminated, that is, when the flushing water stored in the second cooking storage unit 32 is completely discharged from the second dedicated outlet 622 and the shared outlet 632 through the third tube 53 and the fourth tube 54, the second cooking storage unit 32 outputs a second automatic flushing end notification to the mode control module 99 to notify that the second automatic flushing mode has ended.

Next, in step S15, in response to the second cooking storage unit 32 being switched from the second soup body supply mode to the second automatic cleaning mode, the mode control module 99 sets the first cooking storage unit 31 to the first transient soup body supply mode for supplying miso soup through the single first tube 51, returns to step S4, and repeats each step after step S4. Note that since the first transient soup body supply mode and the second transient soup body supply mode are similar, a detailed description of the first transient soup body supply mode will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 5B, in the second automatic cleaning mode of the second cooking storage section 32 (i.e., the first transient juice supply mode of the first cooking storage section 31), the operation unit 8 makes the second dedicated operation button 82 and the shared operation button 83 inoperable (red light) and makes the first dedicated operation button 81 operable (green light) based on a control command of the operation unit 8 output from the operation button control module 906 of the control unit 9. This makes it possible to prevent the user from erroneously operating the shared operation button 83 in the second automatic cleaning mode of the second cooking storage section 32 (i.e., the first transient juice supply mode of the first cooking storage section 31).

In this case, the user operates the first dedicated operation button 81 to open the first solenoid valve 71, thereby opening the first tube 51. Then, miso soup can be supplied from the first cooking storage section 31 through the opened first tube 51 to the dishes placed on the first dedicated placement section 61.

In addition, in the second automatic cleaning mode of the second cooking storage section 32 (i.e., the first transient juice supply mode of the first cooking storage section 31), the second solenoid valve 72 corresponding to the common operation button 83 normally closes the second tube 52 based on a closing command of the second solenoid valve 72 output from the valve control module 903 (see the gray portion in Figure 5B).

As a result, in the second automatic cleaning mode of the second cooking storage unit 32 (i.e., the first transient soup supply mode of the first cooking storage unit 31), miso soup from the first cooking storage unit 31 stops being supplied to the tableware through the second tube 52 in which the second solenoid valve 72 is provided, so that cleaning water from the second cooking storage unit 32 can be discharged from the shared outlet 632 of the shared placement unit 63 through the fourth tube 54. As a result, not only the second cooking storage unit 32 and the third tube 53 connected to the second cooking storage unit 32, but also the fourth tube 54 connected to the second cooking storage unit 32 can be reliably cleaned.

In this way, the control unit 9 switches between a first soup body supply mode in which miso soup is supplied by the first cooking storage unit 31 and a second soup body supply mode in which miso soup is supplied by the second cooking storage unit 32, by controlling the first solenoid valve 71 and the second solenoid valve 72, or the third solenoid valve 73 and the fourth solenoid valve 74 to be normally closed. In other words, the control unit 9 controls the supply of miso soup by the first cooking storage unit 31 and the supply of miso soup by the second cooking storage unit 32 to be alternated, without simultaneously supplying miso soup by the first cooking storage unit 31 and the second cooking storage unit 32.

By switching between the first soup body supply mode and the second soup body supply mode, the timing of miso soup supply by the first cooking storage unit 31 and the timing of miso soup supply by the second cooking storage unit 32 are shifted, so that it is possible to avoid overlapping of the timing when miso soup supply by the first cooking storage unit 31 is no longer possible and the timing when miso soup supply by the second cooking storage unit 32 is no longer possible. As a result, it is possible to avoid a temporary interruption of miso soup supply by the soup body supplying device 1.

(First juice supply mode processing)
Next, referring to FIG. 6, a flow chart showing the first juice supply mode process (step S4) in the operation process of the juice supplying device 1 is shown.

Figure 6 is a flowchart showing the first juice supply mode processing in the operation processing of the juice supply device.

As shown in FIG. 6, first, in step S401, in the first juice full supply mode of the first juice supply mode set by the mode control module 908, the operation information acquisition module 904 of the control unit 9 acquires operation information corresponding to the user's operation on the operation unit 8 (specifically, the first dedicated operation button 81 or the shared operation button 83), outputs the acquired operation information to the valve control module 903 of the control unit 9, and proceeds to step S402.

Here, we will explain the first juice body full supply mode of the first juice body supply mode with reference to Figure 7.

Figure 7 is a schematic diagram showing the operation unit that can be operated in the first juice full supply mode of the first juice supply mode and the tube that can supply juice.

As shown in FIG. 7, first, in the first juice body full supply mode of the first juice body supply mode, the operation unit 8 makes the second dedicated operation button 82 inoperable (red light) and makes the first dedicated operation button 81 and the shared operation button 83 operable (green light) based on a control command of the operation unit 8 output from the operation button control module 906 from the control unit 9. This makes it possible to prevent the user from erroneously operating the second dedicated operation button 82 in the first juice body full supply mode.

In other words, the first soup body full supply mode is a soup body supply mode in which miso soup from the first cooking storage section 31 can be supplied to multiple dishes through all tubes 5 (specifically, the first tube 51 and the second tube 52) connected to the first cooking storage section 31. As a result, in the first soup body full supply mode, miso soup from the first cooking storage section 31 can be supplied to multiple dishes through the first tube 51 and the second tube 52. Also, as described above, in the first soup body supply mode, the third solenoid valve 73 and the fourth solenoid valve 74 normally close the third tube 53 and the fourth tube 54 based on the closing command of the third solenoid valve 73 and the fourth solenoid valve 74 output from the valve control module 903 (see the gray part in FIG. 7).

Next, in step S402, in the first juice full supply mode, the valve control module 903 generates an opening command for the first solenoid valve 71 and/or the second solenoid valve 72 to open the first solenoid valve 71 and/or the second solenoid valve 72 corresponding to the operation information based on the operation information output from the operation information acquisition module 904, and outputs the generated opening command for the first solenoid valve 71 and/or the second solenoid valve 72 to the first solenoid valve 71 and/or the second solenoid valve 72.

Then, the first solenoid valve 71 and/or the second solenoid valve 72 open based on the opening command for the first solenoid valve 71 and/or the second solenoid valve 72 output from the valve control module 903, thereby supplying miso soup from the first cooking storage section 31 to the tableware through the first tube 51 and/or the second tube 52, and the process proceeds to step S403.

Next, in step S403, in the first soup body full supply mode, the first dedicated weight detection unit 611 and/or the shared weight detection unit 631 detects the total weight of the dishes placed on the first dedicated placement unit 61 and/or the shared placement unit 63 and the miso soup supplied to the dishes, outputs the detected total weight to the determination module 909, and proceeds to step S404.

Next, in step S404, in the first soup volume full supply mode, the determination module 909 determines whether the total weight output from the first dedicated weight detection unit 611 and/or the shared weight detection unit 631 reaches a predetermined weight (i.e., the weight of one serving of miso soup to be supplied).

Then, in step S404, in the first juice full supply mode, if the determination module 909 determines that the total weight has reached the predetermined weight (if Yes), it outputs an achievement notification to the valve control module 903 notifying that the total weight has reached the predetermined weight, and outputs weight information regarding the total weight to the weight information acquisition module 905, and proceeds to step S405. On the other hand, in step S404, if the determination module 909 determines that the total weight has not reached the predetermined weight (if No), it returns to step S402.

Next, if the answer is Yes in step S404, in step S405, in the first juice full supply mode, the valve control module 903 generates a closing command for the first solenoid valve 71 and/or the second solenoid valve 72 to close the first solenoid valve 71 and/or the second solenoid valve 72 based on the achievement notification output from the determination module 909, and outputs the generated closing command for the first solenoid valve 71 and/or the second solenoid valve 72 to the first solenoid valve 71 and/or the second solenoid valve 72.

Then, the first solenoid valve 71 and/or the second solenoid valve 72 close based on a command to close the first solenoid valve 71 and/or the second solenoid valve 72 output from the valve control module 903, thereby stopping the supply of miso soup through the first tube 51 and/or the second tube 52, and the process proceeds to step S406.

Next, in step S406, in the first juice full supply mode, the weight information acquisition module 905 acquires the weight information output from the determination module 909, outputs the acquired weight information to the weight calculation module 907 of the control unit 9, and proceeds to step S407.

Next, in step S407, in the first soup body full supply mode, the weight calculation module 907 calculates the remaining amount of miso soup stored in the first cooking storage unit 31 based on the weight information output from the weight information acquisition module 905, outputs the calculated remaining amount of miso soup to the determination module 909, and proceeds to step S408. That is, in the first soup body full supply mode, the detections by the first dedicated weight detection unit 611 and the shared weight detection unit 631 are used to calculate the remaining amount of miso soup stored in the first cooking storage unit 31.

As a result, in the first soup volume full supply mode, the remaining amount of miso soup stored in the first cooking storage section 31 can be calculated using the total weight output from the first dedicated weight detection section 611 and the shared weight detection section 631, making it easier to perform sanitary management of the first tube 51 and the second tube 52 compared to a case in which a flow sensor that detects the flow rate of miso soup is provided in the first tube 51 and the second tube 52 and the remaining amount of miso soup stored in the first cooking storage section 31 is calculated using the detected flow rate of miso soup.

Specifically, in step S407, in the first soup body full supply mode, the weight calculation module 907 calculates the remaining amount of miso soup stored in the first cooking storage unit 31 for the first time (specifically, the first time the user operates the operation unit 8), by subtracting the difference between the total weight indicated in the weight information and the weight of the tableware previously stored in the memory module 911 from the amount of miso soup stored in advance in the memory module 911 (specifically, the amount of miso soup stored in the first cooking storage unit 31). Then, the weight calculation module 907 outputs the calculated remaining amount of miso soup to the determination module 909 and the memory module 911, and proceeds to step S408. The memory module 911 temporarily stores the remaining amount of miso soup output from the weight calculation module 907.

Also, in step S407, in the first soup body full supply mode, after the first time (specifically, when the user operates the operation unit 8 after the first time), the weight calculation module 907 calculates the remaining amount of miso soup stored in the first cooking storage unit 31 by subtracting the difference between the total weight indicated in the weight information and the weight of the tableware previously stored in the memory module 911 from the previous remaining amount of miso soup stored in the memory module 911 (specifically, the remaining amount of miso soup stored in the first cooking storage unit 31). The weight calculation module 907 then outputs the calculated remaining amount of miso soup to the determination module 909 and the memory module 911, and proceeds to step S408.

Next, in step S408, in the first soup volume full supply mode, the determination module 909 determines whether the remaining amount of miso soup output from the weight calculation module 907 (specifically, the remaining amount of miso soup stored in the first cooking storage section 31) is equal to or more than one serving of dish and less than two servings of dish.

In step S408, in the first soup volume full supply mode, if the determination module 909 determines that the remaining amount of miso soup is equal to or more than one dish but less than two dishes (if Yes), it outputs a first remaining amount notification to the mode control module 908 notifying that the remaining amount of miso soup is equal to or more than one dish but less than two dishes, and proceeds to step S409. On the other hand, in step S408, if the determination module 909 determines that the remaining amount of miso soup is not equal to or more than one dish but less than two dishes (if No), it returns to step S401.

Next, in step S409, the mode control module 908 switches the first cooking storage section 31 from the first juice body full supply mode to the first juice body partial supply mode based on the second remaining amount notification output from the determination module 909, outputs a switching notification of the switch from the first juice body full supply mode to the first juice body partial supply mode to the valve control module 903, and proceeds to step S410.

Here, we will explain the first juice portion supply mode of the first juice supply mode with reference to Figure 8.

Figure 8 is a schematic diagram showing the operating unit that can be operated in the first juice portion supply mode of the first juice supply mode and the tube that can supply juice.

As shown in FIG. 8, in the first juice body portion supply mode of the first juice body supply mode, the operation unit 8 makes the second dedicated operation button 82 and the common operation button 83 inoperable (lit in red) and makes only the first dedicated operation button 81 operable (lit in green) based on a control command of the operation unit 8 output from the operation button control module 906 from the control unit 9. This makes it possible to prevent the user from erroneously operating the second dedicated operation button 82 and the common operation button 83 in the first juice body portion supply mode.

The first soup portion supply mode is a soup portion supply mode in which miso soup from the first cooking storage section 31 can be supplied to a single dish through only a portion of the tubes 5 connected to the first cooking storage section 31 (specifically, the first tube 51).

Next, in step S410, in the first juice portion supply mode, the valve control module 903 generates a second solenoid valve 72 closure command to close the second solenoid valve 72 based on the switching notification output from the mode control module 908, and outputs the generated second solenoid valve 72 closure command to the second solenoid valve 72.

In the first soup portion supply mode, the second solenoid valve 72 closes based on a command to close the second solenoid valve 72 output from the valve control module 903, thereby stopping the supply of miso soup through the second tube 52, and the process proceeds to step S411. In this case, the second solenoid valve 72, the third solenoid valve 73, and the fourth solenoid valve 74 close the second tube 52, the third tube 53, and the fourth tube 54, respectively (see the gray areas in Figure 8).

As a result, in the first soup portion supply mode, miso soup from the first cooking storage section 31 is not supplied to the dishes placed on the shared placement section 63 through the second tube 52, but is supplied only through the first tube 51 to the dishes placed on the first dedicated placement section 61, so that one dish's worth of miso soup can be reliably supplied from the first cooking storage section 31 to the dishes placed on the first dedicated placement section 61 through the first tube 51. As a result, it is possible to prevent a situation in which one dish's worth of miso soup stored in the first cooking storage section 31 is simultaneously supplied to multiple dishes through the first tube 51 and the second tube 52, preventing the failure to supply one dish's worth of miso soup that should be supplied to the dishes.

Next, in step S411, in the first juice portion supply mode, the operation information acquisition module 904 of the control unit 9 acquires operation information corresponding to the user's operation of the first dedicated operation button 81, outputs the acquired operation information to the valve control module 903 of the control unit 9, and proceeds to step S412.

Next, in step S412, in the first soup portion supply mode, the valve control module 903 generates a first solenoid valve 71 open command to open the first solenoid valve 71 corresponding to the operation information output from the operation information acquisition module 904, and outputs the generated first solenoid valve 71 open command to the first solenoid valve 71. Then, the first solenoid valve 71 opens based on the first solenoid valve 71 open command output from the valve control module 903, thereby supplying miso soup from the first cooking storage section 31 to the tableware through the first tube 51.

Next, in step S413, in the first soup portion supply mode, the first dedicated weight detection unit 611 detects the total weight of the tableware placed on the first dedicated placement unit 61 and the miso soup supplied to the tableware, outputs the detected total weight to the determination module 909, and proceeds to step S414.

Next, in step S414, in the first juice portion supply mode, if the determination module 909 determines that the total weight has reached the predetermined weight (if Yes), it outputs an achievement notification to the valve control module 903 notifying that the total weight has reached the predetermined weight, and outputs weight information regarding the total weight to the weight information acquisition module 905, and proceeds to step S415. On the other hand, in step S414, if the determination module 909 determines that the total weight has not reached the predetermined weight (if No), it returns to step S412.

Next, if the answer is Yes in step S414, in step S415, in the first soup portion supply mode, the valve control module 903 generates a first solenoid valve 71 closing command to close the first solenoid valve 71 based on the achievement notification output from the determination module 909, and outputs the generated first solenoid valve 71 closing command to the first solenoid valve 71. Then, the first solenoid valve 71 stops the supply of miso soup through the first tube 51 by closing based on the first solenoid valve 71 closing command output from the valve control module 903, and the process proceeds to step S416. This allows the last bowl's worth of miso soup to be provided to the dish from the first cooking storage section 31 through the first tube 51.

Next, in step S416, in the first juice portion supply mode, the weight information acquisition module 905 acquires the weight information output from the determination module 909, and outputs the acquired weight information to the weight calculation module 907 of the control unit 9.

Then, the weight calculation module 907 calculates the remaining amount of miso soup stored in the first cooking storage unit 31 based on the weight information output from the weight information acquisition module 905, and determines that the calculated remaining amount of miso soup is less than one serving of a dish. The weight calculation module 907 then outputs a second remaining amount notification to the valve control module 903 notifying that the remaining amount of miso soup stored in the first cooking storage unit 31 is less than one serving of a dish, and proceeds to step S417. That is, in the first soup portion supply mode, the detection by the first dedicated weight detection unit 611 is used to calculate the remaining amount of miso soup stored in the first cooking storage unit 31.

Next, in step S417, in the first juice portion supply mode, the valve control module 903 generates a first solenoid valve 71 opening command to open the first solenoid valve 71 based on the second residual amount notification output from the weight information acquisition module 905, and outputs the generated first solenoid valve 71 opening command to the first solenoid valve 71.

Then, the first solenoid valve 71 opens based on the opening command for the first solenoid valve 71 outputted to the valve control module 903, thereby discharging (disposing) the miso soup stored in the first cooking storage section 31 (specifically, miso soup that is less than one serving of a dish) from the first dedicated outlet 612 of the first dedicated placement section 61 through the first tube 51. Then, the first soup body supply mode process (step S4) ends, and the process returns to the operation process of the soup body supplying device 1 shown in FIG. 4.

This allows the miso soup stored in the first cooking storage section 31 to be automatically discharged from the first dedicated outlet 612 without the user having to operate the first dedicated operation button 81 again. As a result, the first cooking storage section 31 becomes empty, and the mode control module 908 can switch the first cooking storage section 31 from the first soup body portion supply mode of the first soup body supply mode to the first automatic cleaning mode.

(Second Transient Juice Supply Mode Processing)
Hereinafter, the second transient juice supply mode process in the operation process of the juice supplying device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 5A and FIG.

Figure 9 is a flowchart showing the second transient juice supply mode process (step S9) in the operation process of the juice supply device 1.

As shown in FIG. 9, first, in step S901, in the second transient juice supply mode, the operation information acquisition module 904 acquires operation information corresponding to the user's operation on the second dedicated operation button 82, outputs the acquired operation information to the valve control module 903, and proceeds to step S902.

Next, in step S902, in the second transient juice supply mode, the valve control module 903 generates an opening command for the third solenoid valve 73 to open the third solenoid valve 73 corresponding to the operation information output from the operation information acquisition module 904, and outputs the generated opening command for the third solenoid valve 73 to the third solenoid valve 73.

Then, the third solenoid valve 73 opens based on the opening command for the third solenoid valve 73 output from the valve control module 903, thereby supplying miso soup from the second cooking storage section 32 to the dish only through the third tube 53, and the process proceeds to step S903.

Next, in step S903, in the second transient soup supply mode, the second dedicated weight detection unit 621 detects the total weight of the tableware placed on the second dedicated placement unit 62 and the miso soup supplied to the tableware, outputs the detected total weight to the determination module 909, and proceeds to step S904.

Next, in step S904, in the second transient soup supply mode, the determination module 909 determines whether the total weight output from the second dedicated weight detection unit 621 reaches a predetermined weight (i.e., the weight of one serving of miso soup to be supplied).

Then, in step S904, in the second transient liquid supply mode, if the determination module 909 determines that the total weight has reached the predetermined weight (if Yes), it outputs an achievement notification to the valve control module 903 notifying that the total weight has reached the predetermined weight, and outputs weight information regarding the total weight to the weight information acquisition module 905, and proceeds to step S905. On the other hand, in step S904, if the determination module 909 determines that the total weight has not reached the predetermined weight (if No), it returns to step S902.

Next, if the answer is Yes in step S904, in step S905, in the second transient juice supply mode, the valve control module 903 generates a closing command for the third solenoid valve 73 to close the third solenoid valve 73 based on the achievement notification output from the determination module 909, and outputs the generated closing command for the third solenoid valve 73 to the third solenoid valve 73.

Then, the third solenoid valve 73 closes based on a closing command for the third solenoid valve 73 output from the valve control module 903, thereby stopping the supply of miso soup through the third tube 53, and the process proceeds to step S906.

Next, in step S906, in the second transient juice supply mode, the weight information acquisition module 905 acquires weight information output from the determination module 909, outputs the acquired weight information to the weight calculation module 907 of the control unit 9, and proceeds to step S907.

Next, in step S907, in the second transient soup supply mode, the weight calculation module 907 calculates the remaining amount of miso soup stored in the second cooking storage unit 32 based on the weight information output from the weight information acquisition module 905, outputs the calculated remaining amount of miso soup to the determination module 909, and proceeds to step S908. That is, in the second transient soup supply mode, the detection by the second dedicated weight detection unit 621 is used to calculate the remaining amount of miso soup stored in the second cooking storage unit 32.

As a result, in the second transient soup supply mode, the remaining amount of miso soup stored in the second cooking storage section 32 can be calculated using the total weight output from the second dedicated weight detection section 621, making it easier to perform sanitary management of the third tube 53 and the fourth tube 54 compared to a case in which a flow sensor that detects the flow rate of miso soup is provided in the third tube 53 and the fourth tube 54 and the remaining amount of miso soup stored in the second cooking storage section 32 is calculated using the detected flow rate of miso soup.

Specifically, in step S907, in the second transient soup supply mode, the weight calculation module 907 calculates the remaining amount of miso soup stored in the second cooking storage unit 32 for the first time (specifically, the first time the user operates the second dedicated operation button 82), by subtracting the difference between the total weight indicated in the weight information and the weight of the tableware previously stored in the memory module 911 from the amount of miso soup stored in advance in the memory module 911 (specifically, the amount of miso soup stored in the second cooking storage unit 32). Then, the weight calculation module 907 outputs the calculated remaining amount of miso soup to the memory module 911 and outputs a remaining amount calculation notification to the time detection module 910 notifying that the remaining amount of miso soup has been calculated, and proceeds to step S908. The memory module 911 temporarily stores the remaining amount of miso soup output from the weight calculation module 907.

Also, in step S907, in the second transient soup supply mode, after the first time (specifically, when the user operates the operation unit 8 after the first time), the weight calculation module 907 calculates the remaining amount of miso soup stored in the second cooking storage unit 32 by subtracting the difference between the total weight indicated in the weight information and the weight of the tableware previously stored in the memory module 911 from the previous remaining amount of miso soup stored in the memory module 911 (specifically, the remaining amount of miso soup stored in the second cooking storage unit 32). The weight calculation module 907 then outputs the calculated remaining amount of miso soup to the memory module 911 and outputs a remaining amount calculation notification to the time detection module 910 notifying that the remaining amount of miso soup has been calculated, and proceeds to step S908.

Next, in step S908, in the second transient juice supply mode, the time detection module 910 detects the elapsed time of the second transient juice supply mode based on the residual amount calculation notification output from the weight calculation module 907. Then, the time detection module 910 outputs the detected elapsed time of the second transient juice supply mode to the determination module 909, and proceeds to step S909.

Next, in step S909, in the second transient juice supply mode, the judgment module 909 judges whether the elapsed time of the second transient juice supply mode output from the time detection module 910 elapses a predetermined time (specifically, the time required for the first automatic cleaning mode) previously stored in the memory module 911.

Then, in step S909, in the second transient juice supply mode, if the determination module 909 determines that the elapsed time in the second transient juice supply mode has exceeded a predetermined time (Yes), the second transient juice supply mode process (step S9) is terminated and the process returns to the operation process of the juice supply device 1 shown in FIG. 4. On the other hand, in step S909, in the second transient juice supply mode, if the determination module 909 determines that the elapsed time in the second transient juice supply mode has not exceeded a predetermined time (No), the process returns to step S901.

(Action and Effect)
The effects of this embodiment will be described below.

The soup supplying device 1 according to this embodiment includes a first boiler 41 and a second boiler 42 that heat water to hot water, a cooking storage section 3 that cooks and stores miso soup using the hot water heated by the first boiler 41 and the second boiler 42, a number of placement sections 6 provided below the cooking storage section 3, a number of tubes 5 that supply the miso soup in the cooking storage section 3 to a number of dishes placed on the number of placement sections 6, a valve unit 7 that opens and closes the number of tubes 5, and an operation unit 8 that operates the opening and closing of the valve unit 7.

With this configuration, miso soup from a single cooking storage unit 3 can be simultaneously supplied to multiple dishes placed on multiple placement units 6 through multiple tubes 5 connected to the cooking storage unit 3. As a result, miso soup from a single cooking storage unit 3 can be quickly supplied to the dishes even when the restaurant is busy.

In this embodiment, the cooking storage section 3 has a first cooking storage section 31 and a second cooking storage section 32, the multiple placement sections 6 have a first dedicated placement section 61, a second dedicated placement section 62, and a shared placement section 63, and the tubes 5 have a first tube 51 that supplies miso soup from the first cooking storage section 31 to the tableware placed on the first dedicated placement section 61, a second tube 52 that supplies miso soup from the first cooking storage section 31 to the tableware placed on the shared placement section 63, a third tube 53 that supplies miso soup from the second cooking storage section 32 to the tableware placed on the second dedicated placement section 62, and a fourth tube 54 that supplies miso soup from the second cooking storage section 32 to the tableware placed on the shared placement section 63.

According to this configuration, by using the shared placement part 63 for the placement part 6, miso soup from the second tube 52 or the fourth tube 54 can be reliably supplied to the tableware placed on the shared placement part 63, so the number of placement parts 6 can be reduced. As a result, the reduction in the number of placement parts 6 can simplify and compact the soup supply device 1.

In this embodiment, the valve unit 7 further includes a first solenoid valve 71 provided on the first tube 51 for opening and closing the first tube 51, a second solenoid valve 72 provided on the second tube 52 for opening and closing the second tube 52, a third solenoid valve 73 provided on the third tube 53 for opening and closing the third tube 53, a fourth solenoid valve 74 provided on the fourth tube 54 for opening and closing the fourth tube 54, and a control unit 9 for switching between a first soup body supply mode for supplying miso soup by the first cooking storage unit 31 and a second soup body supply mode for supplying miso soup by the second cooking storage unit 32 by controlling the first solenoid valve 71 and the second solenoid valve 72, or the third solenoid valve 73 and the fourth solenoid valve 74 to be normally closed.

The juice supply method according to this embodiment is used in the above-mentioned juice supply device 1, and includes a step of controlling the third solenoid valve 73 and the fourth solenoid valve 74 to be normally closed by the control unit 9 in the first juice supply mode, and a step of controlling the first solenoid valve 71 and the second solenoid valve 72 to be normally closed by the control unit 9 in the second juice supply mode.

Furthermore, the program according to this embodiment is used in the above-mentioned juice supply device 1, and causes the computer to execute a step of controlling the third solenoid valve 73 and the fourth solenoid valve 74 to be normally closed by the control unit 9 in the first juice supply mode, and a step of controlling the first solenoid valve 71 and the second solenoid valve 72 to be normally closed by the control unit 9 in the second juice supply mode.

According to this configuration, by switching between the first soup body supply mode and the second soup body supply mode, the timing of miso soup supply by the first cooking storage unit 31 and the timing of miso soup supply by the second cooking storage unit 32 are shifted, so that it is possible to avoid overlapping of the timing when miso soup supply by the first cooking storage unit 31 is no longer possible and the timing when miso soup supply by the second cooking storage unit 32 is no longer possible. As a result, it is possible to avoid temporary interruption of miso soup supply by the soup body supply device 1.

In addition, in this embodiment, the operation unit 8 has a first dedicated operation button 81 provided in correspondence with the first dedicated placement section 61 and for operating the opening of the first solenoid valve 71, a second dedicated operation button 82 provided in correspondence with the second dedicated placement section 62 and for operating the opening of the third solenoid valve 73, and a shared operation button 83 provided in correspondence with the shared placement section 63 and for operating the opening of the second solenoid valve 72 or the fourth solenoid valve 74, and the first juice supply mode is such that the first dedicated operation button 81 and the shared operation button 83 can be operated by the control unit 9, and , a first juice full supply mode that controls the second dedicated operation button 82 to be inoperable, and the second juice full supply mode allows the second dedicated operation button 82 and the common operation button 83 to be operated by the control unit 9, and has a second juice full supply mode that controls the first dedicated operation button 81 to be inoperable, and in the first juice full supply mode, the second solenoid valve 72 is opened by operating the common operation button 83, and in the second juice full supply mode, the fourth solenoid valve 74 is opened by operating the common operation button 83.

With this configuration, the operation section for operating the opening of the second solenoid valve 72 in the first juice full supply mode and the operation section for operating the opening of the fourth solenoid valve 74 in the second juice full supply mode can be integrated into a single shared operation button 83. As a result, it is possible to simplify the operation unit 8, which is composed of multiple operation buttons.

In addition, the control unit 9 makes the second dedicated operation button 82 inoperable in the first juice full supply mode and controls the first dedicated operation button 81 to be inoperable in the second juice full supply mode, thereby preventing the user from erroneously operating the second dedicated operation button 82 in the first juice full supply mode and preventing the user from erroneously operating the first dedicated operation button 81 in the second juice full supply mode.

In addition, in this embodiment, the first dedicated placement section 61 has a first dedicated weight detection section 611, the second dedicated placement section 62 has a second dedicated weight detection section 621, and the shared placement section 63 has a shared weight detection section 631, and the control unit 9 calculates the remaining amount of miso soup stored in the first cooking storage section 31 or the second cooking storage section 32 based on the weight output from the first dedicated weight detection section 611, the weight output from the second dedicated weight detection section 621, or the weight output from the shared weight detection section 631.

With this configuration, the remaining amount of miso soup stored in the first cooking storage unit 31 or the second cooking storage unit 32 can be calculated using the weight output from the first dedicated weight detection unit 611, the weight output from the second dedicated weight detection unit 621, and the weight output from the shared weight detection unit 631. This makes it easier to perform sanitary management of each tube 5 compared to a case in which a flow sensor that detects the flow rate of miso soup is provided in each tube 5 and the remaining amount of miso soup stored in the first cooking storage unit 31 or the second cooking storage unit 32 is calculated using the detected flow rate of miso soup.

In addition, in this embodiment, in the first soup body supply mode, the control unit 9 calculates the remaining amount of miso soup stored in the first cooking storage unit 31 based on the weight output from the first dedicated weight detection unit 611 and the weight output from the shared weight detection unit 631, and in the second soup body supply mode, the control unit 9 calculates the remaining amount of miso soup stored in the second cooking storage unit 32 based on the weight output from the second dedicated weight detection unit 621 and the weight output from the shared weight detection unit 631.

With this configuration, in the first soup volume full supply mode, the remaining amount of miso soup stored in the first cooking storage section 31 can be calculated using the total weight output from the first dedicated weight detection section 611 and the shared weight detection section 631. This makes it easier to perform sanitary management of the first tube 51 and the second tube 52 compared to a case in which a flow sensor that detects the flow rate of miso soup is provided in the first tube 51 and the second tube 52 and the remaining amount of miso soup stored in the first cooking storage section 31 is calculated using the detected flow rate of miso soup.

Similarly, in the second soup volume full supply mode, the remaining amount of miso soup stored in the second cooking storage section 32 can be calculated using the total weight output from the second dedicated weight detection section 621 and the shared weight detection section 631. This makes it easier to perform sanitary management of the third tube 53 and the fourth tube 54 compared to a case in which a flow sensor that detects the flow rate of miso soup is provided in the third tube 53 and the fourth tube 54 and the remaining amount of miso soup stored in the second cooking storage section 32 is calculated using the detected flow rate of miso soup.

Furthermore, since the detection by the shared weight detection unit 631 is used to calculate both the remaining amount of miso soup stored in the first cooking storage unit 31 and the remaining amount of miso soup stored in the second cooking storage unit 32, the weight detection units used to calculate the remaining amount of different miso soups can be consolidated into the shared weight detection unit 631. As a result, the components that make up the soup body supplying device 1 can be simplified.

In addition, in this embodiment, the control unit 9 determines whether the calculated remaining amount of soup stored in the first cooking storage section 31 or the second cooking storage section 32 is equal to or more than one dish and less than two dishes, and controls the second solenoid valve 72 and the fourth solenoid valve 74 to be closed if it determines that the remaining amount of soup stored in the first cooking storage section 31 or the second cooking storage section 32 is equal to or more than one dish and less than two dishes.

According to this configuration, in the first soup portion supply mode, miso soup from the first cooking storage section 31 is not supplied to the dishes placed on the shared placement section 63 through the second tube 52, but is supplied only through the first tube 51 to the dishes placed on the first dedicated placement section 61, so that one dish's worth of miso soup can be reliably supplied from the first cooking storage section 31 to the dishes placed on the first dedicated placement section 61 through the first tube 51. As a result, it is possible to prevent a situation in which one dish's worth of miso soup stored in the first cooking storage section 31 is simultaneously supplied to multiple dishes through the first tube 51 and the second tube 52, preventing the failure to supply one dish's worth of miso soup that should be supplied to the dishes.

Similarly, in the second soup portion supply mode, miso soup from the second cooking storage section 32 is not supplied to the dishes placed on the shared placement section 63 through the fourth tube 54, but is supplied only through the third tube 53 to the dishes placed on the second dedicated placement section 62, so that one dish's worth of miso soup can be reliably supplied from the second cooking storage section 32 to the dishes placed on the second dedicated placement section 62 through the third tube 53. As a result, it is possible to prevent a situation in which one dish's worth of miso soup stored in the second cooking storage section 32 is simultaneously supplied to multiple dishes through the third tube 53 and the fourth tube 54, and the one dish's worth of miso soup that should be supplied to the dish is not supplied.

In this embodiment, the first dedicated placement section 61 further has a first dedicated outlet 612 capable of discharging the juice from the first tube 51, the second dedicated placement section 62 further has a second dedicated outlet 622 capable of discharging the juice from the third tube 53, and the shared placement section 63 further has a shared outlet 632 capable of discharging the juice from the second tube 52 and the juice from the fourth tube 54. When the control unit 9 determines that the remaining amount of juice stored in the first cooking storage section 31 or the second cooking storage section 32 is less than one serving of tableware, it controls the first solenoid valve 71 or the third solenoid valve 73 to open so that the first cooking storage section 31 or the second cooking storage section 32 is empty, thereby discharging the juice stored in the first cooking storage section 31 or the second cooking storage section 32 from the first dedicated outlet 612 or the second dedicated outlet 622.

According to this configuration, the miso soup stored in the first cooking storage section 31 or the second cooking storage section 32 can be automatically discharged from the first dedicated outlet 612 or the second dedicated outlet 622 without the user having to operate the first dedicated operation button 81 or the second dedicated operation button 82 again. As a result, the first cooking storage section 31 or the second cooking storage section 32 becomes empty, and the first cooking storage section 31 or the second cooking storage section 32 can be switched by the control unit 9 (specifically, the mode control module 908) from the first soup body portion supply mode of the first soup body supply mode to the first automatic cleaning mode, or from the second soup body portion supply mode of the second soup body supply mode to the second automatic cleaning mode.

In addition, in this embodiment, when the first cooking storage section 31 becomes empty, the control unit 9 switches the first cooking storage section 31 from the first juice supply mode to a first automatic cleaning mode in which the first cooking storage section 31 cleans itself, and when the second cooking storage section 32 becomes empty, the control unit 9 switches the second cooking storage section 32 from the second juice supply mode to a second automatic cleaning mode in which the second cooking storage section 32 cleans itself.

According to this configuration, the control unit 9 can automatically switch the first cooking storage section 31 from the first juice supply mode to the first automatic cleaning mode in which the first cooking storage section 31 cleans itself when the first cooking storage section 31 is empty, and can automatically switch the second cooking storage section 32 from the second juice supply mode to the second automatic cleaning mode in which the second cooking storage section 32 cleans itself when the second cooking storage section 32 is empty. As a result, the operability of the juice supply device 1 can be improved.

In addition, in this embodiment, the control unit 9 controls the fourth solenoid valve 74 to be normally closed in the first automatic flushing mode, and controls the second solenoid valve 72 to be normally closed in the second automatic flushing mode.

According to this configuration, in the first automatic cleaning mode of the first cooking storage unit 31 (i.e., the second transient soup supply mode of the second cooking storage unit 32), miso soup from the second cooking storage unit 32 stops being supplied to the tableware through the fourth tube 54 in which the fourth solenoid valve 74 is provided, so that the cleaning water from the first cooking storage unit 31 can be discharged from the shared outlet 632 of the shared placement unit 63 through the second tube 52. As a result, not only the first cooking storage unit 31 and the first tube 51 connected to the first cooking storage unit 31, but also the second tube 52 connected to the first cooking storage unit 31 can be reliably cleaned.

Similarly, in the second automatic cleaning mode of the second cooking storage unit 32 (i.e., the first transient soup supply mode of the first cooking storage unit 31), miso soup from the first cooking storage unit 31 stops being supplied to the tableware through the second tube 52 in which the second solenoid valve 72 is provided, so that cleaning water from the second cooking storage unit 32 can be discharged from the shared outlet 632 of the shared placement unit 63 through the fourth tube 54. As a result, not only the second cooking storage unit 32 and the third tube 53 connected to the second cooking storage unit 32, but also the fourth tube 54 connected to the second cooking storage unit 32 can be reliably cleaned.

In addition, in this embodiment, the control unit 9 controls the first solenoid valve 71 and the second solenoid valve 72 to be normally closed when the first automatic cleaning mode ends, and controls the third solenoid valve 73 and the fourth solenoid valve 74 to be normally closed when the second automatic cleaning mode ends.

According to this configuration, when the first automatic cleaning mode ends, the first solenoid valve 71 and the second solenoid valve 72 are controlled to be normally closed, and the second cooking storage section 32 is switched from the second transient soup body supply mode to the second soup body full supply mode, so that miso soup from the second cooking storage section 32 can be supplied to multiple dishes through the third tube 53 and the fourth tube 54.

Similarly, when the second automatic cleaning mode ends, the third solenoid valve 73 and the fourth solenoid valve 74 are controlled to be normally closed, so that the first cooking storage unit 31 is switched from the first transient soup body supply mode to the first soup body full supply mode, and miso soup from the first cooking storage unit 31 can be supplied to multiple dishes through the first tube 51 and the second tube 52.

(Modification)
In the above-described embodiment, the juice supplying device 1 is configured as an upright type that is set upright on the floor, but is not limited to this and may be configured as, for example, a tabletop type that is set up on a desk.

In the above-described embodiment, the tubes connected to the first cooking storage section 31 and the tubes connected to the second cooking storage section 32 are respectively composed of the first tube 51, the second tube 52, and the third tube 53 and the fourth tube 54. However, the tubes connected to the first cooking storage section 31 and the tubes connected to the second cooking storage section 32 are not limited to these, and may be composed of, for example, three or more tubes and three or more tubes, respectively.

In this case, one of the tubes connected to the first cooking storage section 31 and one of the tubes connected to the second cooking storage section 32 are located above the shared placement section. The multiple tubes are provided with multiple solenoid valves that open and close the multiple tubes, respectively. Furthermore, a shared operation button that operates the opening and closing of the two solenoid valves located above the shared placement section is provided corresponding to the shared placement section.

In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the cooking storage section 3 is composed of the first cooking storage section 31 and the second cooking storage section 32, but is not limited to this, and may be configured to have other cooking storage sections in addition to the first cooking storage section 31 and the second cooking storage section 32, for example.

Second Embodiment
Hereinafter, the juice supplying device 1 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 10. Note that in the second embodiment, the description of the same points as in the above-mentioned embodiment will be omitted, and the description will be mainly focused on the points that are different from the above-mentioned embodiment.

Figure 10 is a schematic diagram showing the main parts of the juice supplying device 1 according to the second embodiment.

In the above-described embodiment, the second tube 52 and the fourth tube 54 are both arranged to extend in the vertical direction, but are not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the second tube 52 and the fourth tube 54 may be configured to have upper vertical regions 521, 541 that both extend in the vertical direction, lower vertical regions 522, 542 that extend in the vertical direction, and inclined regions 523, 543 that connect the upper vertical regions 521, 541 and the lower vertical regions 522, 542 and are inclined with respect to the vertical direction.

In this case, the upper vertical regions 521 and 541 have their upper ends connected to the first cooking storage section 31 and the second cooking storage section 32, respectively. The upper vertical regions 521 and 541 are provided with the second solenoid valve 72 and the fourth solenoid valve 74, respectively. Since the distance between the upper vertical regions 521 and 541 is greater than the distance between the lower vertical regions 522 and 542, it is easier to provide the second solenoid valve 72 and the fourth solenoid valve 74, and the freedom of installation of the first cooking storage section 31 and the second cooking storage section 32 can be improved.

By providing the inclined regions 523, 543 between the upper vertical regions 521, 541 and the lower vertical regions 522, 542, the distance between the lower vertical regions 522, 542 can be made smaller than the distance between the upper vertical regions 521, 541. As a result, the lower vertical regions 522, 542 can be provided close to each other, so that even if the tableware is not placed in the center position of the shared placement section 63, miso soup from the first cooking storage section 31 and the second cooking storage section 32 can be supplied to the tableware through the lower vertical regions 522, 542.

In the second embodiment described above, the second tube 52 and the fourth tube 54 are both configured to have inclined regions 523, 543, but this is not limited thereto, and only one of them may be configured to have an inclined region.

The present embodiment and each of the modified examples have been described above, but the above embodiment and each of the modified examples merely show application examples of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention to the specific configurations of the above embodiment.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Juice supply device 2 Housing 3 Cooking storage section 4 Heating and keeping warm unit 5 Tube 6 Placement section 7 Valve unit 8 Operation unit 9 Control unit

Claims (12)

A heating unit for heating water to hot water;
A cooking storage unit that cooks and stores soup using the hot water heated by the heating unit;
A plurality of placement sections provided below the cooking storage section;
a plurality of supply paths for supplying the soup from the cooking storage portion to a plurality of containers placed on the plurality of placement portions;
a valve unit that opens and closes the plurality of supply paths;
An operation unit that operates the opening and closing of the valve unit ,
The cooking reservoir includes a first cooking reservoir and a second cooking reservoir;
The plurality of mounting sections include a first dedicated mounting section, a second dedicated mounting section, and a shared mounting section,
The supply paths include a first supply path for supplying the soup of the first cooking storage portion to the container placed on the first dedicated mounting portion, a second supply path for supplying the soup of the first cooking storage portion to the container placed on the shared mounting portion, a third supply path for supplying the soup of the second cooking storage portion to the container placed on the second dedicated mounting portion, and a fourth supply path for supplying the soup of the second cooking storage portion to the container placed on the shared mounting portion.
Juice supply device. The valve unit includes:
a first valve provided in the first supply passage and configured to open and close the first supply passage;
a second valve provided in the second supply passage and configured to open and close the second supply passage;
a third valve provided in the third supply passage and configured to open and close the third supply passage;
a fourth valve provided in the fourth supply passage and configured to open and close the fourth supply passage;
The apparatus further includes a control unit for switching between a first juice supply mode in which the first cooking storage unit supplies juice and a second juice supply mode in which the second cooking storage unit supplies juice by controlling the first valve and the second valve, or the third valve and the fourth valve, to be normally closed.
The juice supplying device according to claim 1 . The operation unit includes:
a first dedicated operation unit provided in correspondence with the first dedicated placement unit and configured to open the first valve;
A second dedicated operation unit provided in correspondence with the second dedicated placement unit and configured to operate the third valve to open;
a shared operating unit provided corresponding to the shared placement unit and configured to open the second valve or the fourth valve;
The first juice supply mode includes a first juice full supply mode in which the control unit controls the first dedicated operation unit and the common operation unit to be operable and the second dedicated operation unit to be inoperable;
The second juice supply mode includes a second juice full supply mode in which the control unit controls the second dedicated operation unit and the common operation unit to be operable and the first dedicated operation unit to be inoperable;
In the first juice full supply mode, the second valve is opened by operating the common operating unit,
In the second juice full supply mode, the fourth valve is opened by operating the common operating unit.
The juice supplying device according to claim 2 . The first dedicated placement portion has a first dedicated weight detection portion,
The second dedicated placement portion has a second dedicated weight detection portion,
The shared placement unit has a shared weight detection unit,
The control unit calculates a remaining amount of the liquid stored in the first cooking storage unit or the second cooking storage unit based on the weight output from the first dedicated weight detection unit, the weight output from the second dedicated weight detection unit, or the weight output from the shared weight detection unit.
The juice supplying device according to claim 2 or 3 . The control unit
In the first juice supply mode, a remaining amount of the juice stored in the first cooking storage unit is calculated based on the weight output from the first dedicated weight detection unit and the weight output from the shared weight detection unit;
In the second soup supply mode, a remaining amount of the soup stored in the second cooking storage unit is calculated based on the weight output from the second dedicated weight detection unit and the weight output from the shared weight detection unit.
The juice supplying device according to claim 4 . the control unit determines whether the calculated remaining amount of the juice stored in the first cooking storage unit or the second cooking storage unit is equal to or more than one container and less than two containers, and when it determines that the remaining amount of the juice stored in the first cooking storage unit or the second cooking storage unit is equal to or more than one container and less than two containers, controls the second valve and the fourth valve to be closed.
The juice supplying device according to claim 4 or 5 . The first dedicated placement portion further has a first dedicated outlet capable of discharging the liquid from the first supply path,
The second dedicated placement portion further has a second dedicated discharge port capable of discharging the juice from the third supply path,
The shared placement portion further has a shared outlet through which the juice from the second supply path and the juice from the fourth supply path can be discharged,
When the control unit determines that the remaining amount of the juice stored in the first cooking storage unit or the second cooking storage unit is less than a full container, the control unit controls the first valve or the third valve to open so that the first cooking storage unit or the second cooking storage unit is emptied, thereby discharging the juice stored in the first cooking storage unit or the second cooking storage unit from the first dedicated outlet or the second dedicated outlet.
The juice supplying device according to claim 6 . The control unit
When the first cooking storage unit becomes empty, the first cooking storage unit is switched from the first juice supply mode to a first automatic cleaning mode in which the first cooking storage unit performs cleaning by itself;
When the second cooking storage unit becomes empty, the second cooking storage unit is switched from the second juice supply mode to a second automatic cleaning mode for cleaning itself.
The juice supplying device according to claim 7 . The control unit
In the first automatic cleaning mode, the fourth valve is controlled to be normally closed;
In the second automatic cleaning mode, the second valve is controlled to be normally closed.
The juice supplying device according to claim 8 . The control unit
When the first automatic cleaning mode is terminated, the first valve and the second valve are controlled to be normally closed;
When the second automatic cleaning mode is terminated, the third valve and the fourth valve are controlled to be normally closed.
The juice supplying device according to claim 9 . A method for supplying a juice body using the juice body supplying device according to any one of claims 2 to 10 ,
In the first juice supply mode, the third valve and the fourth valve are controlled to be normally closed by the control unit;
and controlling the first valve and the second valve to be normally closed by the control unit in the second juice supply mode.
Juice supply method. A program used for the operation of the juice supplying device according to any one of claims 2 to 10 ,
On the computer,
In the first juice supply mode, the third valve and the fourth valve are controlled to be normally closed by the control unit;
and in the second juice supply mode, controlling the first valve and the second valve to be normally closed by the control unit.
program.

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