KR101138330B1 - Water supply apparatus for small-sized automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a water supply device for a small vending machine, the main body having a pump therein; A control unit controlling an operation of the pump; One side is connected to the inlet of the pump and the other side of the inlet pipe connected to the water supply port of the external water tank or water treatment device; And one side is connected to the water outlet of the pump and the other side includes a water outlet pipe connected to the water supply of the vending machine through the water supply connector, the water supply connector is a water supply stopper coupled to the inlet of the water supply; A water level detector provided at the water supply stopper and detecting a water level inside the water supply tank and inputting a detection signal to the controller; and a pipe connector provided at the water supply stopper to communicate the water discharge pipe into the water supply tank; The water level detector is fixed to the fixed support provided extending downward from the water supply stopper inside the water supply tank, a Hall sensor fixed to the fixed support and transmitting a detection signal to the control unit, and is movably coupled to the fixed support Float which is raised and lowered according to the water level of the water supply tank, and is provided in the float and spaced apart or close to the hall sensor as the float is raised and lowered It includes, wherein the control unit is characterized in that to operate the said pump in accordance with the detection signal input by the water level sensor or stop working.

Vending machines, pumps, water pipes, water pipes, water supply line connections, water level detectors

Description

WATER SUPPLY APPARATUS FOR SMALL-SIZED AUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINE}

The present invention relates to a water supply device for a small vending machine, and more particularly, to a water supply device for a small vending machine that can selectively supply the water contained in an external bucket such as a bottled water or water treated in a cold / hot water or water purifier to a vending machine. It is about.

In general, a small vending machine has a small internal space, which makes it difficult to provide a device with various functions. Therefore, a coffee machine including a coffee powder, a prim powder, a sugar powder, and the like with hot water or a tea powder with a hot powder mixed with hot water can be used. It consists of a simple structure that serves only drinks.

However, since the demand for hot drinks is high when the weather is cold in winter, the demand for cold drinks is high when the weather is hot in summer. It often becomes useless. Accordingly, there is an increasing demand for a small vending machine that can provide both hot and cold beverages.

However, to provide a cold beverage, a refrigeration system for cooling the water to a low temperature is required. A conventional refrigeration system includes a compressor for compressing a refrigerant, a condenser for discharging heat of the compressed refrigerant to the outside, an expansion valve for expanding the condensed refrigerant, and an evaporator for absorbing heat using the latent heat of evaporation of the expanded refrigerant. Since it is made of a complicated structure, when the refrigeration system is provided with a vending machine, there is a problem that the size and weight are greatly increased, thereby losing the advantages of the small vending machine.

In addition, purchasing a new vending machine capable of providing a cold beverage from the standpoint of operating the vending machine is a great burden in terms of cost, and there is a problem in that the processing of the existing vending machine is difficult and unnecessary waste is generated.

In order to solve this problem, the applicant of the present invention has proposed a cold water supply device for a small vending machine as disclosed in Korean Utility Model Registration No. 420056, which is shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the cold water supply device includes a storage tank 20 installed inside the case 12, and partitions an upper storage tank A and a lower storage tank B into the storage tank 20. The partition plate 28 is installed. As a means for cooling the water contained in the lower reservoir (B) is provided with an evaporator 53 and a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve connected to the evaporator 53 to form a refrigeration cycle. The lower storage tank (B) is connected to the first water supply pipe 27 connected to the cold water supply line of the vending machine, and the upper storage tank (A) to the second water supply pipe (26) connected to the room temperature water supply line of the automatic vending machine. This is connected. In addition, the upper portion of the reservoir 20 is formed with an insertion hole is inserted into the inlet portion of the bucket (11).

In the cold water supply device as described above, when the water tank 11, such as a bottle of water, is placed in the upper portion of the reservoir 20 so that the inlet is inserted into the insertion hole, water is supplied to the upper reservoir A and the lower reservoir B, In accordance with the opening and closing of the valve provided on the first water supply pipe 27 and the second water supply pipe 26 side, the water cooled in the lower reservoir B is supplied to the vending machine through the first water supply pipe 27 or the upper storage tank A The room temperature water accommodated in the) is supplied to the vending machine through the second water supply pipe 26.

Since the cold water supply device cools the water contained in the bucket 11 in the reservoir 20 and supplies it to the vending machine, supplying purified water to the vending machine is beneficial for hygiene and health promotion, and it is difficult to install the cooling device. Even through a small vending machine, there is an advantage such as providing a cold beverage.

However, since the conventional cold water supply device has to lift the heavy and bulky bucket 11 and then turn the inlet portion into the insertion hole so as to be placed on the upper portion of the reservoir 20, especially the weak and the elderly are weak. In this case, it is difficult to replace the bucket, such as inconvenient in use, there is a problem that the storage tank 20 and the case 12 and the like to be heavy and larger than necessary to support the heavy bucket (11).

In addition, since the water is supplied to the vending machine only through the bucket 11, when the water in the bucket 11 is exhausted, the water cannot be supplied to the vending machine, and the water of the room temperature supplied from the bucket 1 is cooled. There is a problem that the complicated size of the cooling device and the associated control unit is required to increase the size and weight of the device and the manufacturing cost is also high.

The present invention is to solve the problems as described above, to provide a water supply device for a small vending machine to be able to supply water more conveniently by arranging freely in the desired direction in a desired position without lifting the water tank and coupling to the device. The purpose is to.

In addition, the present invention can be selectively connected to the water supply port of the water tank or water purifier or cold and hot water dispenser as needed, in particular, to supply the water cooled in the water purifier or cold and hot water dispenser to the vending machine so that it does not have to have a cooling device on its own. Another object is to provide a water supply for a small vending machine.

The present invention for achieving the above object, the body provided with a pump therein; A control unit controlling an operation of the pump; One side is connected to the inlet of the pump and the other side of the inlet pipe connected to the water supply port of the external water tank or water treatment device; And one side is connected to the water outlet of the pump and the other side includes a water outlet pipe connected to the water supply of the vending machine through the water supply connector, the water supply connector is a water supply stopper coupled to the inlet of the water supply; A water level detector provided at the water supply stopper and detecting a water level inside the water supply tank and inputting a detection signal to the controller; and a pipe connector provided at the water supply stopper to communicate the water discharge pipe into the water supply tank; The water level detector is fixed to the fixed support provided extending downward from the water supply stopper inside the water supply tank, a Hall sensor fixed to the fixed support and transmitting a detection signal to the control unit, and is movably coupled to the fixed support Float which is raised and lowered according to the water level of the water supply tank, and is provided in the float and spaced apart or close to the hall sensor as the float is raised and lowered Includes, wherein the controller provides a small Vending water supply equipment, comprising a step to actuate said pump according to the detected signal input by the water level sensor or stop working.

The water supply apparatus of the present invention further includes a water tank connector for connecting the water supply pipe to the water tank, wherein the water tank connector is inserted into the water inlet and outlet of the water tank, and the water bottle stopper having a coupling hole connected up and down at the center thereof, the coupling It may be configured to include an absorption tube coupled to the bucket stopper through the ball extending into the bucket.

In this case, the absorption tube may be provided integrally with the water inlet tube.

In addition, the water supply apparatus of the present invention further includes a water supply port connector for connecting the water supply pipe with the water supply port of the water supply treatment device, wherein the water supply port connector is connected to the water supply port and the water supply pipe of the water supply treatment device on both sides, respectively. It is made of a tubular shape provided with a coupling portion, it may be made of a structure in which the branch pipe protruding to the inlet pipe is connected to one side.

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The water supply apparatus of the present invention further includes a flow sensor installed in the water inlet pipe or the water outlet pipe, and the control unit of the pump if the flow of water is not detected by the flow sensor for a predetermined time after the operation of the pump is started. It is preferred to be configured to stop operation.

In addition, a plurality of inlet pipes may be provided, and each inlet pipe may be connected to the water tank or the water supply port, and a branch valve may be installed to communicate at least one inlet pipe with the pump between the inlet part of the pump and the inlet pipe. have.

In addition, an outer cover may be provided to be coupled to the upper portion of the water supply bottle cap of the water supply connector.

The present invention as described above has the following effects.

(1) The pump is operated according to the level of the beverage water contained in the water supply tank of the vending machine to automatically supply the water contained in the water supply tank to the water supply tank so that the water tank can be freely disposed in the desired position and direction according to the surrounding environment or the needs of the user. It can be, the inconvenience of lifting the bucket when installing and replacing the bucket is eliminated, there is an effect that the vending machine using the bucket is more convenient.

(2) If necessary, water can be easily supplied to the vending machine by using a water treatment device such as a water purifier or a cold / hot water machine, so that clean beverage water can be provided more easily, and cold water can be supplied without a cooling device. As a result, the size of the device is reduced, manufacturing costs are reduced, and maintenance is easy.

(3) By allowing the water inlet pipe to be easily connected to and disconnected from the water tank or the water supply port of the water treatment apparatus through the water connector, the water source can be easily switched, thereby improving convenience of use.

(4) By providing the water level detector and pipe connector integrally with the water supply port connector, simply install the water supply port connector at the inlet of the water supply tank instead of the existing stopper, and the installation is completed. By having a water level sensor having a simple structure consisting of a magnet which is lifted by a float and a Hall sensor that senses the approach of the magnet, there is an effect of reducing the manufacturing cost.

(5) By installing a flow sensor in the inlet pipe or outlet pipe to stop the pump operation when no water is supplied while the pump is in operation, there is an effect that can prevent damage and breakage due to the pump idle. .

(6) a plurality of inlet pipes respectively connected to a water tank or a water supply treatment device, and a part of the inlet pipes is selectively connected to the inlet part of the pump by a branch valve, so that the inlet pipe and the water tank connector and the water supply port connector There is no need to replace the connection has the effect of improving the convenience of use.

(7) It is equipped with an outer cover covering the water tank connector so that external dust or foreign matter does not adhere to the water tank connector, thereby preventing contamination of the water tank connector, improving the cleanliness of the vending machine, and convenient maintenance. It is effective.

The objects, features and advantages of the present invention described above will become more apparent from the following detailed description. Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of the water supply device for a small vending machine according to the present invention, Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the internal configuration of the main body in the water supply device, Figures 4 and 5 are the water supply device The installation and use state of the is shown.

As shown, the water supply device for a small vending machine of the present invention includes a main body 100 in which a pump 110 and a control unit 120 for controlling the operation of the pump 110 are installed in the case 101. An inlet pipe 131 connected to the inlet 111 of the pump 110, a water tank connector 140 and a water supply port connector 150 selectively connected to the inlet pipe 131, and the pump 110 of the pump 110. It is configured to include a water outlet pipe 132 connected to the water outlet 112 and the water supply pipe connector 160 connected to the water outlet pipe 132.

The pump 110 sucks water through the water inlet pipe 131 and supplies it to the vending machine 3 through the water outlet pipe 132, and has a gear-type pump having a small motor driven by DC power. It is preferable that it consists of.

The water supply pipe 131 may be selectively connected to the water tank 1, such as a conventional bottled water through the water tank connector 140, and the water supply device 9, such as a water purifier or cold or hot water through the water supply port connector 150 It may be connected to the water supply port 10 of the).

The bucket connector 140 is inserted into the inlet and outlet (1a) of the bucket (1) and the water bottle stopper (141) and the water bottle stopper (141) formed with a coupling hole 142 is communicated up and down in the center ( It consists of an absorption tube 143 coupled to 141. The bucket stopper 141 has an air communication path formed on its own or a communication path is formed between the wall surface of the entrance and exit 1a so that air can be introduced into the bucket 1 when the water is inhaled. The absorption tube 143 is preferably extended so that the inner end is close to the bottom portion of the bucket (1), may be provided as a separate tube coupled to the inlet pipe 131 or the inlet pipe 131 It may be formed integrally.

The water supply port connector 150 is inserted into and connected between the water supply port 10 provided in the water supply treatment device 9 and the water supply pipe to which the water supply port 10 was connected. The water supply port 10 and It is made of a tubular shape provided with screw coupling parts 152 and 154 coupled to a water supply pipe, and a branch pipe 153 to which the water supply pipe 131 is coupled to one side is protruded.

The water outlet pipe 132 is connected to the water supply tank 4 in which the beverage water of the vending machine 3 is stored through the water supply connector 160.

The water supply port connector 160 is coupled to the inlet (5) of the water supply tank 4 and the water supply stopper 161 is provided with a detector installation hole 162 and the pipe coupling hole 164, and the detector installation hole The water level sensor 171 coupled to the 162, the pipe connector 163 coupled to the pipe coupling hole 164, and the outer cover 170 coupled to cover the upper portion of the water supply cap 161. Is done.

The level sensor 171 is provided with a hall sensor 168 and a float 166 that are fixed to the fixed support 165 of the shaft type. The fixed support 165 is inserted into the sensor installation hole 162 so that the lower part is positioned inside the water supply container 4, and a signal line 169 connected to the hall sensor 168 is wired therein. . The float 166 is composed of an annular hollow body is moved up and down in accordance with the level of water contained in the water supply container 4 in a state coupled to the fixed support 165, the magnet 167 is provided on one side to the movement Accordingly, the hall sensor 168 is configured to output a detection signal.

The control unit 120 controls the operating power of the pump 110 through the power supply in accordance with the power supply for supplying the operating power to the pump 110 and the detection signal input from the hall sensor 168. It is preferably provided with a 121, and is provided on the circuit board as shown. The circuit board provided with the control unit 120 is a power supply lamp 102 for displaying the power ON / OFF, the water supply lamp 103 for notifying the water supply request when water is dropped, such as the water tank 1, the operation starts after supplying water The water supply button 104 and the like for inputting is provided.

On the other hand, the present embodiment is to illustrate that it is configured to use a conventional household AC power, a transformer for converting the high pressure power supplied through the outlet to a low pressure suitable for driving the pump 110 and the control unit 120 is supplied 109 is provided on one side of the main body 100.

Referring to the operation of the small vending machine water supply device of the present invention configured as described above are as follows.

First, when the beverage water is to be supplied to the vending machine 3 using the bucket 1, as shown in FIG. 4, the bucket connector 140 is inserted into the inlet and outlet 1a of the bucket 1. Coupling, and couples the water supply connector (160) to the inlet (5) of the water supply container 4 provided in the vending machine (3).

In this state, when the water level of the beverage water accommodated in the water supply container 4 is low, the control unit 120 outputs an operation signal to operate the pump 110, whereby the water contained in the water container 1 It is pumped through the water inlet pipe 131 and is supplied to the water supply tank 4 through the water outlet pipe 132.

When a predetermined amount of water is supplied to raise the water level of the water container 4, the float 166 floats and the hall sensor 168 detects the approach of the magnet 167, and the detection signal is applied to the controller ( When input to 120, the power supply is cut off and the pump 110 stops operating.

Subsequently, when the vending machine 3 provides a drink and the water level of the water supply container 4 becomes low, the float 166 is lowered so that the magnet 167 is spaced apart from the hall sensor 168, and the hall sensor 168. According to the change in the detection signal of the control unit 120 to operate the pump 110 again so that the appropriate amount of water is replenished in the water supply tank (4).

As described above, the water supply device of the present invention pumps the water contained in the water tank 1 through the water tank connector 140 by operating the pump 110 according to the water level of the beverage water contained in the water supply tank 4 of the vending machine 3. It is configured to supply, so that there is no need to raise the bucket upside down as in the conventional case and placed upside down, vending machine (3) by installing the bucket (1) freely in the desired position and direction according to the surrounding environment or user needs Can supply water. Therefore, there is an advantage that the ease of use is improved by eliminating the inconvenience when installing and replacing the bucket (1).

On the other hand, if you want to supply the beverage water to the vending machine (3) using the water supply treatment device (9), as shown in Figure 5, the water supply pipe to the branch pipe 153 of the water supply port connector 150 When the water supply port connector 150 is coupled between the water supply port 10 and the water supply pipe of the water supply treatment device 9, the water discharged from the water supply port 10 of the water supply treatment device 9 is combined. It is pumped by this pump 110, and is supplied to the water supply container 4 of the vending machine 3. As shown in FIG.

As described above, the water supply device of the present invention may simply supply water to the vending machine 3 by using a water supply treatment device 9 such as a water purifier or a cold / hot water heater, which is installed in place of the water tank 1 as needed. In particular, when using a water purifier as the water supply treatment device (9), it is possible to simply provide a clean drink water without the need for a separate purification treatment, and when using a cold or hot water supply, the cold water discharged from the cold water port is supplied There is no need to provide a cooling device in the device can reduce the size of the device, the manufacturing cost can be reduced and maintenance is easy.

In addition, since the water inlet pipe 131 can be easily connected to and disconnected from the water supply pipe 131 or the water supply port 10 using the water supply connector 140 and the water supply port connector 150, the convenience of use There is a further advantage.

Meanwhile, in the above-described embodiment, the operation of the pump 110 is controlled to be controlled only according to the level of the water supply container 4 sensed by the water level sensor 171, but in the second embodiment shown in FIG. If the flow sensor 181 is installed in the water inlet pipe 131 or the water outlet pipe 132 as described above, and the flow of water is not detected for a predetermined time while the operation of the pump 110 is started by the controller 120. The operation of the pump 110 is stopped to prevent damage due to idling of the pump 110 when water in the bucket 1 falls or when water is not supplied from the water supply port 10 of the water supply treatment device 9. It can also be configured to.

In addition, in the above-described embodiment provided with a water inlet pipe 131 is illustrated to be configured to selectively connect the water inlet pipe 131 to the bucket 1 or the water supply treatment device 9, but shown in FIG. As in the second embodiment, the water supply pipe 131 is provided with a plurality of two or more, and each water supply pipe 131 is coupled to the water tank connector 140 and the water supply port connector 150, the acquisition of the pump 110 Inconvenience to replace the water supply pipe 131 and the water tank connector 140 and the water supply port connector 150 by installing a manual or electric branch valve 183 for selectively connecting the unit 111 with the water inlet pipe 131 on both sides. Without the water supply from the bucket 1 or the water supply treatment device 9 can be configured to be more easily.

The present invention described above is not limited to the above-described embodiment and the accompanying drawings, and various substitutions, modifications, and changes are possible within the scope without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention. It will be evident to those who have knowledge of.

1 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional cold water supply device for a small vending machine.

2 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a water supply device for a small vending machine according to the present invention.

3 is a perspective view showing an internal configuration of a main body in the water supply device of the first embodiment.

4 is an installation state diagram illustrating that the water supply device of the first embodiment is used in connection with a water tank.

5 is an installation state diagram illustrating that the water supply apparatus of the first embodiment is used in connection with a water supply treatment apparatus.

6 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a second embodiment of a water supply device for a small vending machine according to the present invention.

Description of the Related Art

1: Bucket 3: Vending Machine

4: water supply container 9: water supply treatment device

10: water supply port 100: main body

101: case 109: transformer

110: pump 111: inlet

112: water extraction unit 120: control unit

121: microcomputer 131: intake pipe

132: outlet pipe 140: bucket connection

141: water bottle cap 150: water supply port connector

153: branch pipe 160: water supply connector

161: water bottle cap 163: pipe connector

165: fixed support 166: float

167: magnet 168: Hall sensor

171: water level sensor 181: flow sensor

183: branch valve

Claims (8)

A main body provided with a pump therein; A control unit controlling an operation of the pump; One side is connected to the inlet of the pump and the other side of the inlet pipe connected to the water supply port of the external water tank or water treatment device; And One side is connected to the water outlet of the pump and the other side includes a water outlet pipe connected to the water supply of the vending machine through the water supply connector, The water supply connector is a water supply stopper coupled to the inlet of the water supply, the water level detector provided in the water supply stopper to detect the water level inside the water supply and input a detection signal to the controller, and the water supply stopper It is provided with a pipe connector for communicating the water discharge pipe into the water reservoir, The water level detector is a fixed support provided extending downward from the water supply stopper inside the water supply tank, a Hall sensor fixed to the fixed support and transmitting a detection signal to the control unit, and movably coupled to the fixed support Float which is raised and lowered according to the water level of the tube, and the magnet is provided in the float spaced apart or close to the hall sensor in accordance with the lifting of the float, The control unit is a water supply device for a small vending machine, characterized in that for operating or stopping the pump according to the detection signal input by the water level sensor. The method of claim 1, Further comprising a bucket connector for connecting the water inlet pipe and the bucket, the bucket connector is coupled to the water inlet and outlet of the bucket and the coupling hole is formed in the upper and lower communication in the center and coupled to the bucket stopper through the coupling hole Water supply device for a small vending machine comprising an absorption tube extending inward of the. 3. The method of claim 2, The absorption pipe is a water supply device for a small vending machine, characterized in that it is provided integrally with the water supply pipe. The method of claim 1, Further comprising a water supply port connector for connecting the water supply pipe and the water supply port of the water supply treatment device, wherein the water supply port connector is formed in a tubular shape having a screw coupling portion coupled to the water supply port and the water supply pipe of the water supply treatment device on both sides, respectively. Water supply device for a small vending machine, characterized in that the branch pipe is protruded to one side is connected to the water supply pipe. delete The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, It further comprises a flow sensor installed in the water inlet or outlet pipe, the control unit is characterized in that to stop the operation of the pump if the flow of water is not detected by the flow sensor for a predetermined time after the operation of the pump is started. Water supply for small vending machines. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The inlet pipe is provided with a plurality of each inlet pipe is connected to the bucket or the water supply port, characterized in that the branch valve for communicating at least one inlet pipe and the pump between the inlet and the inlet pipe of the pump is installed Water supply for small vending machines. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, Water supply device for a small vending machine further comprises an outer cover coupled to cover the upper portion of the water supply bottle cap of the water supply connector.

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