Beverage supplying device

A beverage supplying device, wherein the device is provided with a controller for discharging the beverage selected from multiple types of beverages from a prescribed nozzle, and a storage unit for storing data that indicates the dilution ratio of each of the beverages, the remaining amount of each of the syrups, and the supply amount per container of the beverage. The controller calculates the discharge amount per container of syrup used to produce the selected beverage on the basis of the data indicating the dilution ratio of the selected beverage, and the data indicating the supply amount per container of the beverage. Next, the controller calculates the number of selected beverages available for sale on the basis of the data indicating the remaining amount of syrup used to produce the selected beverage and the calculated discharge amount, and displays available-for-sale numbers.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the U.S. National Phase under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application No. PCT/JP2015/005398, filed on Oct. 27, 2015, which in turn claims the benefit of Japanese Application No. 2014-223632, filed on Oct. 31, 2014, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a beverage supplying apparatus that supplies a beverage.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, beverage supplying apparatuses are known which produce a beverage by mixing a syrup with diluted water and/or carbonated water and supply the produced beverage. Such beverage supplying apparatuses can normally produce and supply a plurality of types of beverages.

More specifically, when the beverage supplying apparatus receives an operation for instructing discharge of a selected beverage, it discharges a syrup necessary to produce the beverage from among different types of syrups respectively stored in a plurality of syrup tanks. At the same time, the beverage supplying apparatus discharges diluted water and/or carbonated water and produces a beverage by mixing the syrup with the diluted water and/or carbonated water.

When the remaining amount of syrup in the syrup tank of such a beverage supplying apparatus is reduced, an employee in a store or the like in which the beverage supplying apparatus is installed needs to replace the syrup tank with a new one.

In order to replace the beverage tank at appropriate timing, a technique for displaying the remaining amount of beverage in the beverage tank is being proposed. For example, with a beverage supplying apparatus disclosed in Patent Literature (hereinafter referred to as “PTL”) 1, when a beverage is discharged, the apparatus calculates the remaining amount of the beverage tank by subtracting the discharge amount from the capacity of the beverage tank and causes a display device to display the calculated remaining amount of the beverage tank.

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

However, the beverage supplying apparatus disclosed in PTL 1 is intended to supply one type of beverage (e.g., beer) and display the remaining amount of the beverage, and is not intended to produce and supply each beverage using different syrups or display the remaining amount of each syrup.

Even if the discharge amount for each syrup is subtracted from the capacity of each syrup tank and the remaining amount for each syrup is displayed, by applying the technique disclosed in PTL 1 to the beverage supplying apparatus that supplies a plurality of types of beverages, there are still problems to be solved as follows.

That is, when each beverage is produced using different syrups, the amount per container of syrup used to produce a beverage varies. Therefore, even when the remaining amounts of the plurality of syrups are the same, the number of possible sales may vary from one beverage to another. Therefore, there is a problem that it is difficult for the employee to grasp appropriate replenishment timing (syrup tank replacement timing) of each syrup by just looking at the display of a remaining amount of each syrup.

From above, there is a strong demand for development of a technique of a beverage supplying apparatus that supplies a plurality of types of beverages making it possible to easily grasp appropriate replenishment timing of each syrup.

An object of the present invention is to provide a beverage supplying apparatus making it possible to easily grasp appropriate replenishment timing of each syrup.

Solution to Problem

A beverage supplying apparatus according to the present invention is an apparatus that supplies a beverage in which a syrup and at least one of diluted water and carbonated water are mixed, the apparatus including: a control section that causes a beverage selected from among a plurality of types of beverages to be discharged from a predetermined nozzle; and a storage section that stores data indicating a dilution ratio for each beverage, a remaining amount for each syrup and a supply amount of the beverage per container, in which: the control section calculates a discharge amount per container of a syrup used to produce the selected beverage, based on data indicating the dilution ratio of the beverage selected from among the plurality of types of beverages and the data indicating the supply amount of the beverage per container, and the control section calculates a sellable amount of the selected beverage based on data indicating a remaining amount of the syrup used to produce the selected beverage and the discharge amount of the syrup per container, and displays the sellable amount on a screen.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the present invention, it is possible to easily grasp appropriate replenishment timing of each syrup.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

First, a configuration example of beverage supplying apparatus100according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described usingFIG. 1toFIG. 3.FIG. 1is a front view of beverage supplying apparatus100according to an embodiment of the present invention;FIG. 2is a front view of beverage supplying apparatus100according to the embodiment of the present invention, illustrating an interior thereof when a front door is opened.FIG. 3is a diagram illustrating an external configuration of the beverage supplying apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As shown inFIG. 1, beverage supplying apparatus100is provided with touch panel2on front door1that can be opened/closed. Touch panel2is an operation receiving section that displays beverage choices for a user of beverage supplying apparatus100and receives an operation for selecting a beverage by the user.

More specifically, touch panel2displays choices for a main syrup constituting a main beverage and diluted with diluted water and/or carbonated water and choices for a topping syrup added to the main beverage as a flavor, and performs processing of receiving an operation for selecting the main syrup and the topping syrup from the user.

As shown inFIG. 1, physical buttons3ato3care provided at lower parts of touch panel2. Physical buttons3ato3creceive an operation for instructing discharge of a beverage from the user. Container placement areas4ato4cfor the user to place container (glass, cup, or the like) are provided below physical buttons3ato3c.

Physical button3acorresponds to container placement area4a, and also corresponds to diluted water nozzle5aand syrup nozzle50shown inFIG. 2. Furthermore, physical button3bcorresponds to container placement area4b, and also corresponds to nozzle5bshown inFIG. 2. Physical button3ccorresponds to container placement area4c, and also corresponds to diluted water nozzle5c, syrup nozzle5and carbonated water nozzle52shown inFIG. 2.

The user performs an operation for selecting a beverage on touch panel2, then places a container at one of container placement areas4ato4cand presses one of physical buttons3ato3c.

When, for example, physical button3ais pressed, a syrup in bag-in-box (hereinafter referred to as “BIB”)6shown inFIG. 2is discharged from syrup nozzle50via BIB tube pump26and becomes a discharge flow. This syrup discharge flow collides and is mixed with a discharge flow of diluted water discharged from diluted water nozzle5a. A beverage is thus produced. The beverage produced in this way is supplied to a container placed at container placement area4a.

When, for example, physical button3bis pressed, a syrup is mixed with diluted water and/or carbonated water at nozzle5band a beverage is thus produced. The beverage produced in this way is discharged from nozzle5band supplied to a container placed at container placement area4b.

When, for example, physical button3cis pressed, a syrup in BIB7shown inFIG. 2is discharged from syrup nozzle51via BIB tube pump27and becomes a discharge flow. This syrup discharge flow collides and is mixed with a discharge flow of diluted water discharged from diluted water nozzle5cand/or a discharge flow of carbonated water discharged from carbonated water nozzle52. A beverage is thus produced. The beverage produced in this way is supplied to a container placed at container placement area4c.

Note that each aforementioned beverage is supplied to each container while physical button3ato3cis being pressed.

Aforementioned carbonated water nozzle52may be provided on a BIB6side or may be provided on both BIB6and BIB7sides.

Aforementioned BIBs6and7are provided in a refrigerating area. BIBs6and7store syrups requiring cool storage. Syrups not requiring cool storage are stored in syrup tank10which will be described later usingFIG. 3.

Syrups referred to here in the present embodiment are assumed to include not only condensed liquid containing sugar but also condensed liquid not containing sugar (e.g., stock solution of green tea or tea).

Aforementioned nozzle5bis a mixing section that produces a main beverage by mixing diluted water and/or carbonated water with a main syrup at a prescribed ratio and produces a beverage by mixing an undiluted topping syrup with the main beverage (hereinafter referred to as “flavor-added beverage”). The flavor-added beverage produced at nozzle5bis discharged from nozzle5binto a container placed at container placement area4b.

Mixing two kinds of syrups, that is, main syrup and topping syrup, can drastically increase the number of beverage flavor choices to be provided to the user.

Here, the main syrup and the topping syrup are stored in syrup tanks10shown inFIG. 3which will be described below. Note that nozzle5balso discharges, in addition to the above flavor-added beverage, water only or carbonated water only.

Furthermore, as shown inFIG. 3, beverage supplying apparatus100is provided with cleaning filter8, carbon dioxide gas cylinder9and a plurality of syrup tanks10.

Cleaning filter8cleans tap water supplied from blade tube11and supplies the cleaned water into beverage supplying apparatus100via blade tube12. The cleaned water is used as diluted water or pressurized water or supplied as drinking water. Blade tube12is connected, for example, to a carbonator (not shown) provided inside beverage supplying apparatus100, diluted water nozzles5aand5c, and nozzle5b.

Carbon dioxide gas cylinder9stores a carbon dioxide gas. This carbon dioxide gas is supplied to carbonator23via blade tube14at a prescribed pressure (e.g., 0.6 MPa) set in gas regulator13. This carbon dioxide gas is further supplied to each syrup tank10via blade tube15at a prescribed pressure (e.g., 0.2 MPa) set in gas regulator13.

A plurality of syrup tanks10store different syrups. As described above, these syrups are used as a main syrup or topping syrup. These syrups are pushed out under a pressure of the gas supplied from carbon dioxide gas cylinder9and supplied to nozzle5bvia blade tube16.

Next, a configuration of control section20and peripheral parts thereof of beverage supplying apparatus100according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described usingFIG. 4.FIG. 4is a functional block diagram of beverage supplying apparatus100according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Beverage supplying apparatus100is provided with control section20, storage section21, water solenoid valve23, carbonated water solenoid valve24, syrup solenoid valve25, and BIB tube pumps26and27in addition to touch panel2, and physical buttons3ato3cdescribed inFIG. 1.

Control section20is a control device such as a. CPU (central processing unit). Control section20controls each functional section provided for beverage supplying apparatus100. Storage section21is a memory device such as a ROM (read only memory) or RAM (random access memory). Storage section21stores table28, dilution ratio data29, control data30, total capacity data31, freshness date data32, container capacity data33or the like which will be described later.

Control section20controls touch panel2and controls a beverage supply based on the data read from storage section21. Control of touch panel2will be described in detail later usingFIG. 7andFIG. 8. Here, control of a beverage supply will be described first.

When the user performs an operation for selecting a beverage on touch panel2, control section20reads data relating to the selected beverage from storage section21and produces a beverage based on the read data. This data is, for example, dilution ratio data29and control data30.

Dilution ratio data29is data indicating a dilution ratio between diluted water and/or carbonated water and main syrup and/or topping syrup.

FIG. 5shows an example of dilution ratio data29. As shown inFIG. 5, dilution ratio data29registers a dilution ratio when producing a beverage in association with the type of the beverage. InFIG. 5, r1to r8represent predetermined numerical values. Note thatFIG. 5shows brands using alphabetical letters.

For example, dilution ratio data29registers diluted water r1:main syrup r2as a dilution ratio of a beverage of brand A. Thus, when the user selects the beverage of brand A, a beverage in which diluted water and a main syrup (syrup of brand A) are mixed is produced based on the above dilution ratio.

For example, dilution ratio data29registers diluted water r3:main syrup r4:topping syrup r5as the dilution ratio of a lemon flavor beverage of brand A. Thus, when the user selects the lemon flavor beverage of brand A, a beverage in which diluted water, the main syrup (syrup of brand A) and a topping syrup (syrup of lemon flavor) are mixed is produced based on the dilution ratio.

Furthermore, for example, dilution ratio data29registers diluted water r6:main syrup r7:topping syrup r8as a dilution ratio of a peach flavor beverage of brand A. Thus, when the user selects the peach flavor beverage of brand A, a beverage in which diluted water, a main syrup (syrup of brand A) and a topping syrup (syrup of peach flavor) are mixed is produced based on the above dilution ratio.

In this way, a dilution ratio is set in dilution ratio data29in advance for each beverage that can be produced or supplied by beverage supplying apparatus100.

Examples of control data30include setting data for controlling opening/closing of each solenoid valve (water solenoid valve23, carbonated water solenoid valve24, syrup solenoid valve25) in accordance with the dilution ratio and setting data for controlling driving of BIB tube pumps26and27.

Note that a case will be described hereinafter where supply control of water, carbonated water, main syrup and topping syrup is performed through opening/closing of each solenoid valve, but supply control may also be performed using a pump or the like.

When the user performs an operation for selecting a beverage on touch panel2, control section20reads table28from storage section21. Table28is information indicating physical button3ato3ccorresponding to the beverage selected by the user.

An example of this table28is shown inFIG. 6. As shown inFIG. 5, table28registers information on physical buttons3ato3cin association with beverage brands, physical buttons3ato3ccorresponding to nozzles from which beverages of the brands are discharged respectively. Note thatFIG. 6shows brands using alphabetical letters.

For example, table28associates brand D with physical button3a. Thus, when the user selects a beverage of brand D and presses physical button3a, the beverage of brand D produced as described above is supplied to a container placed at container placement area4acorresponding to physical button3a.

Furthermore, table28associates brand G with physical button3c. Thus, when the user selects a beverage of brand G and presses physical button3c, the beverage of brand G produced as described above is supplied to a container placed at container placement area4ccorresponding to physical button3c.

Furthermore, table28associates brands A to C, E, F, H to J, water and carbonated water with physical button3b. Thus, when the user selects one beverage of brand A to C, E, F, H to J, water and carbonated water and presses physical button3b, the beverage produced as described above (e.g., flavor-added beverage, water, carbonated water) is supplied to a container placed at container placement area4bcorresponding to physical button3b. Note that water and carbonated water are not brands, but water and carbonated water will be handled as one type of brand in the present embodiment for convenience.

Upon detecting that one of physical buttons3ato3cis pressed, control section20controls at least one of opening/closing of solenoid valves23to25and driving of BIB tube pumps26and27and supplies water, carbonated water, main syrup or topping syrup to a nozzle corresponding to pressed physical button3ato3c(diluted water nozzle5a,5c, nozzle5b, syrup nozzle50,51).

When, for example, the user selects one beverage of brand A to C, E, F, H to J and presses physical button3b, control section20opens syrup solenoid valve25provided between syrup tank10storing the syrup (main syrup) of the selected brand and nozzle5band opens water solenoid valve23and/or carbonated water solenoid valve24. Note that when opening water solenoid valve23and carbonated water solenoid valve24, control section20causes water solenoid valve23and carbonated water solenoid valve24to be alternately opened, but control section20may also cause them to be simultaneously opened.

Thus, the syrup is mixed with water and/or carbonated water at nozzle5band a resultant beverage is discharged from nozzle5b.

Note that when the user selects a flavor-added beverage, control section20opens syrup solenoid valve25provided between syrup tank10storing a topping syrup with a flavor selected by the user (e.g., fruit flavor such as orange, grape) and nozzle5bin addition to syrup solenoid valve25provided between syrup tank10storing the main syrup and nozzle5b.

This makes it possible to supply also the topping syrup to nozzle5bin addition to the main syrup and produce a flavor-added beverage by mixing these syrups with water and/or carbonated water.

On the other hand, when the user selects water and presses physical button3b, control section20opens water solenoid valve23provided between cleaning filter8and nozzle5b. This causes water to be discharged from nozzle5b.

Furthermore, when the user selects carbonated water and presses physical button3bcorresponding to nozzle5b, control section20opens carbonated water solenoid valve24provided between the carbonator and nozzle5b. This causes carbonated water to be discharged from nozzle5b.

Similarly, when the user selects a beverage of brand D and presses physical button3a, control section20drives BIB tube pump26provided between BIB6storing the selected syrup of brand D and syrup nozzle50under a predetermined condition. Simultaneously, control section20opens water solenoid valve23and causes diluted water nozzle5ato discharge diluted water.

This causes a beverage in which the syrup of brand D and diluted water are mixed together to be supplied to a container placed at container placement area4a.

When the user selects a beverage of brand G and presses physical button3c, control section20drives BIB tube pump27provided between BIB7storing the selected syrup of brand G and syrup nozzle51under a predetermined condition. Simultaneously, control section20opens water solenoid valve23and/or carbonated water solenoid valve24and causes diluted water nozzle5cand/or carbonated water nozzle52to discharge diluted water and/or carbonated water.

This causes a beverage in which the syrup of brand G and water and/or carbonated water are mixed together to be supplied to a container placed at container placement area4c.

An example of supply control of a beverage executed by control section20has been described so far.

Next, a control example of screen display on touch panel2executed by control section20will be described usingFIG. 7andFIG. 8. Here, a control example where a syrup state screen showing a state of each syrup is displayed on touch panel2will be described.FIG. 7is a flowchart illustrating this control example.FIG. 8is a diagram illustrating a display example of the syrup state screen on touch panel2.

First, every time a beverage is supplied, control section20calculates current remaining amount (step S1). The “current remaining amount” refers to an amount of syrup remaining in the current syrup tank or BIB.

Here, a specific example of calculation of a current remaining amount will be described. When, for example, a beverage of brand A is produced or supplied, control section20detects the amount of syrup of brand A used to produce the beverage, that is, the discharge amount of the syrup of brand A discharged from nozzle5b.

For example, control section20counts pulses of a syrup flowmeter (not shown) and thereby detects the flow rate (discharge amount) of the syrup of brand A. The syrup flowmeter is disposed, for example, between syrup solenoid valve25and nozzle5band generates a pulse every time a unit amount of syrup passes.

Note that as described above, the present embodiment will describe a case where supply control of the syrup (main syrup, topping syrup) is performed by opening/closing each solenoid valve, and when supply control is performed using a pump or the like, control section20counts pulses of a water flowmeter or carbonated water flowmeter (not shown), controls the number of revolutions of the syrup motor and controls the flow rate of a syrup sent from the pump based on the pulses.

Control section20may also detect the flow rate (discharge amount) of the syrup of brand A during this control. The water flowmeter is disposed between water solenoid valve23and nozzle5band generates a pulse every time a unit amount of water passes. The carbonated water flowmeter is disposed between carbonated water solenoid valve24and nozzle5b, and generates a pulse every time a unit amount of carbonated water passes.

Next, control section20reads total capacity data31from storage section21. Total capacity data31is data indicating a total capacity of syrup tank10or BIB6,7(in other words, the amount of syrup stored in syrup tank10or BIB6or7when the tank is full). The total capacity is set in advance by an administrator of beverage supplying apparatus100of a beverage maker or store or the like. Here, control section20reads total capacity data31of syrup tank10storing the syrup of brand A from storage section21, for example.

Next, control section20calculates a current remaining amount by subtracting the detected discharge amount of the syrup from the read total capacity of total capacity data31. Control section20causes storage section21to store current remaining amount data indicating the calculated current remaining amount. Here, by way of example, control section20calculates the remaining amount in syrup tank10storing the syrup of brand A and stores current remaining amount data indicating the remaining amount in storage section21.

Furthermore, control section20calculates a remaining amount ratio which is a ratio of the current remaining amount to the total capacity and causes storage section21to store remaining amount ratio data indicating the remaining amount ratio. Here, for example, control section20calculates a ratio of the current remaining amount of the syrup of brand A to the total capacity of syrup tank10storing the syrup of brand A and stores remaining amount ratio data indicating the ratio in storage section21.

A specific example of calculation of the current remaining amount has been described so far. Hereinafter, the flowchart inFIG. 7will be described again.

After the processing in step S1, control section20determines whether or not in instruction for displaying the syrup state screen has been received (step S2). For example, the administrator of beverage supplying apparatus100can operate an instruction for displaying the syrup state screen on touch panel2or the like. When the above operation is performed on touch panel2, control section20determines that an instruction for displaying the syrup state screen has been received.

As a result of the determination in step S2, if the instruction for displaying the syrup state screen has not been received (step S2: NO), the processing in step S1is executed again.

On the other hand, as a result of the determination in step S2, if the instruction for displaying the syrup state screen has been received (step S2: YES), control section20reads the remaining amount ratio data for each aforementioned syrup from storage section21.

Next, control section20causes touch panel2to display the syrup state screen and causes the syrup state screen to display the remaining amount ratio of the syrup for each brand based on each piece of the read remaining amount ratio data (step S3).

Here, a display example of the syrup state screen in step S3will be described usingFIG. 8. As shown inFIG. 8, a left side region of the syrup state screen displays, for example, brand name information41and remaining amount ratio information42,43.

Brand name information41indicates the name of a brand of a beverage. In the example inFIG. 8, brands A to G are displayed as brand name information41.

Remaining amount ratio information42,43indicates the remaining amount ratio of a syrup used for a beverage of a brand indicated by brand name information41. Remaining amount ratio information42indicates a remaining amount ratio of a syrup using a bar and remaining amount ratio information43indicates a numerical value of the remaining amount ratio of a syrup. Note that in the example inFIG. 8, both pieces of remaining amount ratio information42and43are displayed, but either one may also be displayed.

From the display of such a syrup state screen, the administrator of beverage supplying apparatus100can easily grasp the remaining amount ratio of a syrup for each brand.

Note that inFIG. 8, the right region of the syrup state screen shows total capacity information44, freshness date information45, current remaining amount information46and estimated remaining sales amount information47, but these pieces of information will be described later.

The display example of the syrup state screen in step S3has been described so far. Hereinafter, the flowchart inFIG. 7will be described again.

After the processing in step S3, control section20receives an instruction for selecting a brand on the syrup state screen (step S4). For example, the administrator of beverage supplying apparatus100can perform an operation for selecting one of brands A to G on touch panel2or the like.

Next, control section20acquires current remaining amount data, dilution ratio data29, total capacity data31, freshness date data32and container capacity data33from storage section21(step S5). For example, when brand A is selected in step S4, the above data is as follows.

The current remaining amount data is data indicating the current remaining amount of the syrup of brand A calculated in above step S1.

Dilution ratio data29is dilution ratio data29of the beverage of brand A. Dilution ratio data29here is data indicating a dilution ratio between diluted water and/or carbonated water and the main syrup only (that is, the topping syrup is not included) (e.g., dilution ratio data29at the top shown inFIG. 5).

Total capacity data31is data indicating a total capacity of syrup tank10storing the syrup of brand A.

Freshness date data32is data indicating a freshness date of the syrup of brand A. This freshness date is set in advance, for example, by the administrator of beverage supplying apparatus100.

Container capacity data33is data indicating the capacity of a container to which a beverage is supplied and is data indicating a supply amount of beverage per container. The capacity of the container is set in advance, for example, by the administrator of beverage supplying apparatus100.

As in the present embodiment, if a beverage is supplied to a container only when the user presses physical button3ato3c, the capacity of a beverage supplied by one sale is not known. Thus, an average value of the amount of beverage supplied to the user by one beverage supply (e.g., 180 ml, the setting can be changed depending on the container used) is set in container capacity data33.

When a portion sales format is adopted such as S size (100 ml), M size (200 ml) and L size (300 ml), container capacity data33may be determined depending on the container used by the user. Note that the container capacity is constant irrespective of the brand selected in step S4.

Next, control section20calculated a syrup discharge amount per container based on dilution ratio data29and container capacity data33(step S6). For example, when the dilution ratio is diluted water r1:main syrup r2and the container capacity is v1shown inFIG. 5, syrup discharge amount v2per container is calculated by the following equation.
v2=v1×r2/(r1+r2)

Next, control section20calculates an estimated remaining sales amount based on the current remaining amount data and the syrup discharge amount per container (step S7). The estimated remaining sales amount is a value indicating how many more sales can be expected expressed by the number of containers when a beverage (beverage in which diluted water and/or carbonated water and the main syrup are mixed) is produced using all the current remaining amount of syrup. For example, if the current remaining amount is v3and syrup discharge amount per container is v2, estimated remaining sales amount E is calculated by the following equation.
E=v3/v2

Next, control section20causes an estimated remaining sales amount to be displayed on the syrup state screen being displayed (step S8). At this time, control section20may also cause various kinds of information based on total capacity data31, freshness date data32and current remaining amount data to be displayed.

Here, a display example of the syrup state screen in step S8will be described usingFIG. 8. Here, a case will be described as an example where brand A is selected in step S4.

As shown inFIG. 8, total capacity information44, freshness date information45, current remaining amount information46and estimated remaining sales amount information47are displayed on a right side region of the syrup state screen, for example, as detailed information of the selected syrup of brand A.

Note that as described above, brand name information41and remaining amount ratio information42,43are displayed in the left side region of the syrup state screen. Here, in order to make recognizable the fact that brand A is selected, for example, information41to43of brand A may be shown in a different mode from other brand information41to43(e.g., the display color may be changed or each piece of information may be decorated).

Total capacity information44indicates a total capacity of syrup tank10storing the syrup of brand A. In the example inFIG. 8, the unit of the total capacity is L (liter).

Freshness date information45indicates a freshness date of the syrup of brand A. In the example inFIG. 8, the freshness date is expressed by year, month and day.

Current remaining amount information46indicates a current remaining amount of the syrup of brand A. In the example inFIG. 8, the unit of the current remaining amount is L (liter).

Estimated remaining sales amount information47indicates an estimated remaining sales amount of the beverage of brand A. In the example inFIG. 8, the unit of the estimated remaining sales amount is the number of containers (cups).

A display example of the syrup state screen in step S8has been described so far.

As described above, the present embodiment calculates a syrup discharge amount per container based on a container capacity and a dilution ratio of a syrup, calculates and displays an estimated remaining sales amount based on the syrup discharge amount per container and the current remaining amount of the syrup, and can thereby allow the administrator of beverage supplying apparatus100to grasp appropriate replenishment timing of each syrup (appropriate replacement timing of the syrup tank or BIB).

The embodiment of the present invention has been described so far, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and various modifications can be made.

When, for example, a predetermined brand is selected on the above syrup state screen, the number of days until the beverage of the brand (beverage in which diluted water and/or carbonated water and the main syrup are mixed together) is sold out (hereinafter referred to as “selling out period”) may be calculated and the selling out period may be displayed on the syrup state screen.

A specific example of such a case will be described below. First, control section20records an actual sales amount for every predetermined period (e.g., one week) for each beverage and calculates an average amount of sales per unit period (e.g., one day). Control section20then calculates a period (e.g., the number of days) for the beverage of the brand selected on the syrup state screen to be sold out by dividing the aforementioned estimated remaining sales amount by the average amount of sales and displays the period until the beverage is sold out on the syrup state screen.

Note that although the average amount of sales is used above to calculate the period until the beverage is sold out, the recorded actual sales amount itself may be used or a predicted amount of sales per predetermined unit period may be used.

This allows the administrator of beverage supplying apparatus100to easily grasp appropriate replenishment timing of each syrup (appropriate replacement timing of the syrup tank or BIB).

Furthermore, control section20may calculate an estimated selling out date by adding the selling out period to the current date, and if the estimated selling out date exceeds the freshness date of a syrup used to produce the beverage of the brand selected on the syrup state screen, control section20may display warning information (e.g., a message stating that the syrup may not be sold out even when the freshness date is past) on the syrup state screen.

The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-223632, filed on Oct. 31, 2014, including the specification, drawings and abstract is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention is useful for a beverage supplying apparatus that supplies a beverage.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST