Patent Description:
In a restaurant, a liquid supply system is generally used as a device for providing a liquid, for example, beer. When the beer is used as an example, the liquid supply system includes a carbon dioxide gas cylinder, a beer barrel filled with beer, a supply pipe, and a beer dispenser. The liquid supply system pressurizes the beer within the beer barrel with a carbon dioxide gas of the carbon dioxide gas cylinder, and pumps the liquid from the supply pipe to the beer dispenser. The beer dispenser has a beer cooling pipe provided within a cooling tank, a refrigeration machine, and a dispensing outlet. The beer dispenser freezes a part of a cooling water within the cooling tank by the refrigeration machine, cools the beer while causing the beer to flow within the beer cooling pipe by a lever operation at the dispensing outlet, and dispenses the beer to a drinking container such as a beer mug.

In this manner, the beer within the beer barrel is provided to a customer.

As described above, in the beer dispenser, the beer is cooled and dispensed with heat exchange between the beer passing through the beer cooling pipe immersed in the cooling water of which a part is frozen and the cooling water. Meanwhile, the beer barrel filled with the beer may be placed in a room temperature environment. Thus, a temperature of the cooling water rises near an inlet part of the beer cooling pipe in the beer dispenser due to heat exchange with the beer at a substantially room temperature, and therefore ice in the cooling water goes on melt. Accordingly, in the prior art, the refrigeration machine is operated, for example based on the detected amount of ice, to decrease the temperature of the cooling water such that the temperature of the dispensed beer is maintained in a predetermined range.

However, beer orders may be concentrated at one time at restaurants, and in such a case, a freezing operation of the cooling water using the refrigeration machine is not in time, and thus, beer that is not very well cooled may be provided. It is considered that such an event occurs due to mismatching between the amount of beer consumed and the coolability of the beer dispenser.

The above Patent Document <NUM> discloses to focus on a relationship between the quality of the cooling water within the beer dispenser and a cooling water cooling function. The above Patent Document <NUM> discloses that a flow rate of each type of beverage to be dispensed can be monitored. Thus, the Patent Documents <NUM> and <NUM> do not describe to focus on the relationship between the amount of beer consumed and the coolability of the beer dispenser, as in the present application. The above Patent Document <NUM> discloses a device according to the preamble of claim <NUM>.

The present invention has been made in order to solve such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid quality management device in which liquid quality management is performed by focusing on a flow rate of a liquid and capability of a dispensing device.

To achieve the aforementioned object, the present invention consists of a liquid quality management device according to claim <NUM>.

In accordance with the liquid quality management device according to the aspect, the actual flow rate preparation unit, the dispensing liquid temperature sensor, and the determination unit are provided. Thus, it is possible to determine whether or not the coolability, which term indicates the cooling performance of the dispensing device, is suitable by comparing the integrated flow rate of the liquid with the temperature equal to or higher than the set temperature with the determination value, and then it is possible to perform the quality management of the liquid to be dispensed.

Specifically, according to the liquid quality management device, it is possible to determine that the coolability of the dispensing device is suitable when the integrated flow rate with the temperature equal to or higher than the set temperature among the actual measured flow rates at which the liquid is dispensed into the drinking container is smaller than the determination value, whereas it is possible to determine that the coolability is insufficient when the integrated flow rate is equal to or larger than the determination value. Further, in a state in which the integrated flow rate is smaller than the determination value, it is possible to determine whether or not the coolability of the dispensing device is excessive.

In this way, according to the liquid quality management device, it is possible to select the dispensing device having coolability matching a usage situation.

Furthermore, selecting the dispensing device having the suitable capacity in this manner leads to optimize power consumption of the refrigeration machine in addition to be able to provide the liquid having the optimum temperature to the customer. Accordingly, it is possible to contribute to energy saving, and it is possible to help cost saving at restaurants using the liquid quality management device.

A liquid quality management device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or similar components are denoted by the same reference symbols. In order to avoid the following description from being unnecessarily redundant and to facilitate the understanding of those skilled in the art, detailed description of well-known matters and redundant description of substantially the same configuration may be omitted. The following description and the contents of the accompanying drawings are not intended to limit the subject matter described in the claims.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the liquid quality management device according to the embodiment to be described below is a liquid quality management device <NUM> capable of being added to, that is, capable of being electrically and mechanically connected to an existing liquid supply system <NUM>. In the present embodiment, one liquid quality management device <NUM> is attached to one set of liquid supply systems <NUM>.

In the following embodiment, beer is used as an example of a liquid to be handled, but the liquid is not limited to beer. Alcohol drinks such as low-malt beer, liqueur, shochu highball, whiskey, and wine, drinking water, soft drinks, and carbonated drinks may be used.

Here, the liquid supply system <NUM> includes a storage container <NUM>, a pressurization source <NUM>, a supply pipe <NUM>, and a dispensing device <NUM>, and is a system that supplies, that is, transfers a liquid (beer in the embodiment as described above) <NUM> within the storage container <NUM> to the dispensing device <NUM> through the supply pipe <NUM> with pressurization by using the pressurization source <NUM>, and dispenses the liquid from the dispensing device <NUM> to a drinking container (for example, a cup, a beer mug, or a pitcher) <NUM>. Here, in the embodiment, the storage container <NUM> is a stainless steel container called as a beer barrel filled with beer in a beer manufacturer, and has a capacity of, for example, <NUM> liters, <NUM> liters, or <NUM> liters. The pressurization source <NUM> is a carbon dioxide gas cylinder. The supply pipe <NUM> is a flexible resin tube made of, for example, polyamide, polyurethane, or polyester which enables beer to flow between the storage container <NUM> and the dispensing device <NUM>. As will be described below, a device included in the liquid quality management device <NUM> is attached to the supply pipe <NUM>. It is preferable that inner diameters of flow passages of a fluid from the supply pipe <NUM> to a liquid dispensing outlet <NUM> in the dispensing device <NUM> are designed to have the same dimension such that a cleaning with a sponge becomes easy.

In the embodiment, a beer dispenser (may be referred to as a "beer server") will be described as an example of the dispensing device <NUM> (hereinafter, may be accordingly referred to as the beer dispenser <NUM>). As already described above, the beer dispenser <NUM> includes a liquid cooling pipe (beer cooling pipe in the embodiment) <NUM> disposed inside a cooling tank <NUM>, a refrigeration machine <NUM>, and the liquid dispensing outlet <NUM>. The beer dispenser freezes a part of a cooling water <NUM> within the cooling tank <NUM> by using the refrigeration machine <NUM>, and cools the liquid (beer) <NUM> passing through the beer cooling pipe <NUM> by using the cooling water <NUM>. The beer <NUM> transferred by the pressurization source <NUM> passes through the beer cooling pipe <NUM> by operating a lever <NUM> at the dispensing outlet <NUM> while being cooled by heat exchange with the cooling pipe, is dispensed into the drinking container <NUM> such as the beer mug, and is provided to a customer. The refrigeration machine <NUM> operates according to a rise in temperature of the cooling water <NUM> due to the aforementioned heat exchange, and the temperature of the cooling water <NUM> is controlled. However, for example, when the liquid is continuously dispensed into many drinking containers <NUM>, the coolability of the refrigeration machine <NUM> cannot keep up and the liquid <NUM> exceeding a set temperature may be dispensed.

The beer dispenser <NUM> is generally used in an environment in which an external air temperature is equal to or higher than <NUM> and is equal to or lower than <NUM>. The liquid <NUM> handled by the dispensing device <NUM> is not limited to the beer, and may be a drinking water. In the embodiment, the beer dispenser <NUM> cools the beer as a target liquid, but the dispensing device <NUM> included in the embodiment may also heat the target liquid or keep the target liquid warm.

Hereinafter, the liquid quality management device <NUM> according to the embodiment will be described in detail.

In the present embodiment, the liquid quality management device <NUM> is a device which can determine whether or not the coolability of the dispensing device <NUM> (beer dispenser <NUM>) is good, more specifically, whether or not the coolability of the dispensing device <NUM> with respect to a fluid amount of the liquid <NUM> to be dispensed into the drinking container <NUM> is suitable and can maintain good quality of the liquid <NUM> to be dispensed.

As illustrated in <FIG>, such a liquid quality management device <NUM> includes, as basic configurations, an actual flow rate preparation unit <NUM>, a dispensing liquid temperature sensor <NUM>, and a determination unit <NUM>. In addition to these basic configurations, the liquid quality management device <NUM> may further include a warning unit <NUM>, a display device <NUM>, a transmission and reception unit <NUM>, and a fluid flow path adjustment device <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>.

These components will be sequentially described below.

The actual flow rate preparation unit <NUM> has a flow rate sensor <NUM> that detects the amount of liquid dispensed into the drinking container <NUM>, and the actual flow rate determining unit determines an actual measured flow rate of the liquid <NUM>, that is, the beer in the embodiment, dispensed into the drinking container <NUM> from the dispensing device <NUM> based on a detection signal of the flow rate sensor <NUM>. Whether or not the detection signal from the flow rate sensor <NUM> is sent corresponds to whether or not an operation of dispensing the liquid <NUM> is executed. In the embodiment, the flow rate sensor <NUM> sends the detection signal, for example, every <NUM> seconds, and the actual flow rate preparation unit <NUM> also prepares an actual flow rate every Δt time, for example, every <NUM> seconds described above.

In the embodiment, the flow rate sensor <NUM> is installed at an appropriate position between an outlet of the storage container <NUM> and the beer dispenser <NUM> so as to sandwich the beer passing through the supply pipe <NUM>. The installation position is not limited thereto, and the flow rate sensor may be attached to, for example, the supply pipe <NUM> of the dispensing device <NUM>. In the embodiment, an ultrasonic sensor is used as the flow rate sensor <NUM>.

The dispensing liquid temperature sensor <NUM> is a sensor which directly or indirectly measures the temperature of the liquid <NUM> to be dispensed into the drinking container <NUM>, and for example, a thermocouple, a resistance temperature detector, and a thermistor may be used. An installation position of the sensor <NUM> is an appropriate position between the liquid cooling pipe <NUM> and the liquid dispensing outlet <NUM> in the dispensing device <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the dispensing liquid temperature sensor <NUM> is located at a surface layer part of the cooling water <NUM> on the liquid cooling pipe <NUM> immersed in the cooling water <NUM>, and is installed in contact with an outer surface of the liquid cooling pipe <NUM>. An example of the surface layer part corresponds to an upper and lower range in which a position is centered at about <NUM> below a liquid surface of the cooling water <NUM>. However, the installation position is not limited thereto, and may be, for example, an inner surface of the liquid cooling pipe <NUM> at the surface layer part, and the dispensing liquid temperature sensor <NUM> may directly detect the liquid temperature. In this configuration, when the liquid <NUM> is drinkable like the beer, the dispensing liquid temperature sensor <NUM> is installed with a structure that complies with laws and regulations. Alternatively, the dispensing liquid temperature sensor may be installed outside the cooling water <NUM>, for example, in contact with the liquid cooling pipe <NUM>, or may be installed at such as the liquid dispensing outlet <NUM>.

The determination unit <NUM> is electrically connected to the actual flow rate preparation unit <NUM>, the dispensing liquid temperature sensor <NUM>, and also the fluid flow path adjustment device <NUM> in the present embodiment. Further in the present embodiment, the determination unit <NUM> includes a time information generation unit <NUM> generating time information for month, day, hour, and minute.

Such a determination unit <NUM> determines an integrated flow rate of the liquid (beer) <NUM> dispensed into the drinking container <NUM> based on the actual measured flow rate obtained from the actual flow rate preparation unit <NUM> for a period in which the temperature of the liquid <NUM> (beer in the present embodiment) measured by the dispensing liquid temperature sensor <NUM> is equal to or greater than a set temperature (for example, <NUM> in the present embodiment) by utilizing the time information. The determination unit <NUM> also determines whether or not the coolability of the dispensing device <NUM> is suitable by comparing the determined integrated flow rate with a predetermined determination value (flow rate value).

The operation of the determination unit <NUM> including the operation of determining whether or not the coolability is suitable will be described below in detail with reference to <FIG>.

The determination unit <NUM> may further include a value-added information preparation unit <NUM> (<FIG>). The value-added information preparation unit <NUM> prepares value-added warning information by adding information of month, day, hour, and minute included in the time information generated with the time information generation unit <NUM> into the result of determining whether or not the coolability is suitable, particularly, into information on the determination that the coolability is insufficient.

Furthermore, the determination unit <NUM> may include a determination value change unit <NUM> (<FIG>) for changing the aforementioned determination value. That is, as described above, since the liquid <NUM> is cooled with the heat exchange between the liquid <NUM> and the cooling water <NUM>, the coolability of the dispensing device <NUM> is influenced by a flow velocity of the liquid <NUM> flowing in the liquid cooling pipe <NUM>. The flow velocity also changes based on the fact that a length of the liquid cooling pipe <NUM> differs depending on types of the dispensing devices <NUM>. Thus, for example, the determination value change unit <NUM> determines the flow velocity of the liquid <NUM> from the amount of liquid per unit time obtained by the actual flow rate preparation unit <NUM>, and changes the aforementioned determination value according to the obtained flow velocity. Also, the determination value change unit <NUM> can change the determination value according to the types of the dispensing devices <NUM>.

Further, the determination unit <NUM> may include a total value preparation unit <NUM> (<FIG>) described in detail later.

Such a determination unit <NUM> is actually realized by using a computer, and is constituted by utilizing software corresponding to each of the aforementioned functions with the time information generation unit <NUM>, the value-added information preparation unit <NUM>, the determination value change unit <NUM>, and the total value preparation unit <NUM>, and by utilizing hardware composed with such as a central processing unit (CPU) and a memory for executing the software. It is preferable that the computer actually corresponds to a microcomputer incorporated in the liquid quality management device <NUM>, but a stand-alone personal computer may be used.

Next, the warning unit <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> will be described. The warning unit <NUM> is electrically connected to the determination unit <NUM>, and generates warning information when the determination unit <NUM> determines that the coolability of the dispensing device <NUM> is insufficient. The display device <NUM> visually displaying the warning information may be connected to the warning unit <NUM>.

The transmission and reception unit <NUM> is electrically connected to the determination unit <NUM>, and transmits various information generated by the determination unit <NUM> to a communication line <NUM>. Thus, the transmission and reception unit <NUM> can transmit the value-added warning information prepared by the value-added information preparation unit <NUM> of the determination unit <NUM>, for example. Here, the transmission and reception unit <NUM> may transmit just information regarding the actual measured flow rate without adding the time information and information generated by the determination unit <NUM>. The transmission and reception unit <NUM> can receive information from the communication line <NUM>, and can supply the received information to the determination unit <NUM>.

The fluid flow path adjustment device <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>.

The fluid flow path adjustment device <NUM> is a device as disclosed in, for example, <CIT> by the applicant of the present invention, and is a device that is mounted with respect to the supply pipe <NUM> and stops the dispensing of the beer (the liquid <NUM>) from the liquid dispensing outlet <NUM> into the drinking container <NUM>. The fluid flow path adjustment device <NUM> can prevent the carbon dioxide gas which is a pressurized gas from being ejected from the liquid dispensing outlet <NUM> of the dispensing device <NUM>, for example, when the beer within the storage container <NUM> is exhausted (when the storage container <NUM> is empty) while the liquid <NUM> is being dispensed and when the storage container <NUM> is replaced.

In order to prevent such ejection of the carbon dioxide gas, the fluid flow path adjustment device <NUM> includes a fluid stopper device <NUM> and a detection unit <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the detection unit <NUM> includes a light emitting element <NUM>, a light receiving element <NUM>, and a liquid state determination unit <NUM>. The light emitting element <NUM> and the light receiving element <NUM> are positioned at a housing <NUM> in the fluid flow path adjustment device <NUM>, the housing being arranged so as to sandwich the resin supply pipe <NUM> within the fluid flow path adjustment device <NUM>, and the elements being arranged to be opposed to each other across the beer passing through the supply pipe <NUM>. The light emitting element <NUM> emits infrared light, and the light receiving element <NUM> receives the emitted infrared light. The light emitting element <NUM> and the light receiving element <NUM> are electrically connected to the liquid state determination unit <NUM> that detects the state of the passing beer. That is, a refractive index of the light traveling from the light emitting element <NUM> to the light receiving element <NUM> varies depending on whether an object passing through the supply pipe <NUM> is a liquid, gas, or a mixture thereof. Therefore, the amount of light received by the light receiving element <NUM> varies depending on the object passing through the supply pipe <NUM>. The liquid state determination unit <NUM> detects a change in the amount of received light, and activates the fluid stopper device <NUM> when the passing object becomes gas.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the fluid stopper device <NUM> includes, as a configuration example, the supply pipe <NUM> arranged in a loop shape, and a movement mechanism <NUM> for moving a holding unit that holds the supply pipe <NUM>. The movement mechanism <NUM> moves the supply pipe <NUM> in an arrow direction with the control of the liquid state determination unit <NUM>, and thus, a flow path is blocked by bending and crushing the supply pipe <NUM>. The supply pipe <NUM> of which the flow path is blocked is returned by the movement mechanism <NUM>.

The fluid flow path adjustment device <NUM> having such a configuration and operation is electrically connected to the determination unit <NUM> in the present embodiment. Thus, the operation of the fluid stopper device <NUM> in the fluid flow path adjustment device <NUM> may be controlled by the determination unit <NUM>.

In the operation control using the determination unit <NUM>, the operation of the fluid stopper device <NUM> may be controlled by the determination unit <NUM> according to the information received by the transmission and reception unit <NUM>.

The liquid quality management device <NUM> in the embodiment having the configuration described above operates as follows.

The store staff manipulates the lever <NUM> in the dispensing device (beer dispenser) <NUM>, and thus, the liquid (beer) <NUM> is dispensed into the drinking container <NUM>. The amount of dispensed beer is measured by using the actual flow rate preparation unit <NUM>, information obtained is supplied, as the actual measured flow rate, to the determination unit <NUM>.

Next, an operation of the determination unit <NUM> including an operation of determining whether or not the coolability is suitable in the dispensing device <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>. As a precondition for the operation of determining whether or not the coolability is suitable, it is assumed that the liquid <NUM> is transferred at a set pressure, in other words, at a set flow velocity with the pressurization source <NUM> and the refrigeration machine <NUM> in the dispensing device <NUM> operates normally.

In <FIG>, <FIG>, a heavy black line represents a dispensing operation period during which the liquid <NUM> is dispensed into one drinking container <NUM> such as a cup, a beer mug, or a pitcher.

First, a change of the liquid temperature measured by using the dispensing liquid temperature sensor <NUM> will be described.

As already described, due to the operation of the lever <NUM> at the liquid dispensing outlet <NUM>, the liquid (beer) <NUM> transferred with the pressure of the pressurization source <NUM> passes through the liquid cooling pipe <NUM>, is cooled with heat exchange between the liquid <NUM> and the cooling water <NUM>, and is dispensed into the drinking container <NUM>. As in the present embodiment, in a state in which the dispensing liquid temperature sensor <NUM> is installed within the cooling water <NUM>, the temperature of the liquid <NUM> measured by the dispensing liquid temperature sensor <NUM> changes, for example, as illustrated in <FIG>.

That is, when the dispensing of the liquid <NUM> is started from time t1 and then a dispensing operation is continuously or almost continuously performed to one or a plurality of drinking containers <NUM>, the liquid temperature measured by the dispensing liquid temperature sensor <NUM> usually starts to rise immediately after the time t1. At this time, as described above, information on the amount of liquid dispensed is supplied from the actual flow rate preparation unit <NUM> to the determination unit <NUM> every Δt time (in the present embodiment, for example, every <NUM> seconds).

Due to the heat exchange between the liquid <NUM> and the cooling water <NUM> associated with the continuous dispensing operation, the temperature of the cooling water <NUM> rises, and accordingly, the measured liquid temperature also continues to rise. At time t2 after the time t1, the measured liquid temperature reaches a set temperature ST (for example, <NUM>) predetermined in the determination unit <NUM> in advance.

In <FIG>, the liquid temperature appears to exceed the set temperature ST during one dispensing operation period into the drinking container <NUM>. However, this example corresponds to an example in which the drinking container <NUM> is, for example, a beer mug and the beer is intermittently dispensed into a plurality of beer mugs. Thus, when the beer is dispensed into only one beer mug, the liquid temperature does not usually reach the set temperature ST during the dispensing operation period. On the other hand, when the drinking container <NUM> such as the pitcher has a larger capacity than the drinking container <NUM> such as the cup or the beer mug, the liquid temperature might reach the set temperature ST during the single dispensing operation period into only one drinking container.

The raised temperature of the cooling water <NUM> starts to decrease due to the termination of the dispensing of the liquid <NUM> from the dispensing device <NUM>. As a result, the rising of the measured liquid temperature also becomes to slow down and stops as illustrated in <FIG>, and eventually the liquid temperature also decreases. Accordingly, in the example illustrated in <FIG>, the liquid temperature measured is equal to or higher than the set temperature ST during a period from time t2 to time t4.

Next, in the liquid temperature change as mentioned above, an operation including determination of the coolability in the determination unit <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>.

In step S11 in <FIG>, the determination unit <NUM> determines whether or not the liquid temperature measured by the dispensing liquid temperature sensor <NUM> reaches the set temperature ST. Here, the set temperature ST may be set to, for example, <NUM>. When the liquid temperature reaches the set temperature ST, that is, at time t2 in the aforementioned example, the determination unit <NUM> starts to integrate the amount of liquid supplied every Δt time from the actual flow rate preparation unit <NUM>, in the next step S12. Thereafter, the determination unit <NUM> continues to integrate the amount of liquid until a determination point of time of the next step S13.

In the step S13, the determination unit <NUM> determines whether or not the dispensing of the liquid is terminated on the basis of the detection of the actual flow rate preparation unit <NUM>, that is, on the basis of whether or not the information on the actual measured flow rate is supplied from the actual flow rate preparation unit <NUM>, or whether or not the liquid temperature is lower than the set temperature ST based on the information on the liquid temperature from the dispensing liquid temperature sensor <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, after the time t2, in a case the dispensing operation of the liquid <NUM> is terminated at time t3 before time t4, that is, the dispensing operation for one drinking container <NUM> is terminated at the time t3, the determination unit <NUM> continues to integrate the amount of liquid from the time t2 to the time t3, and determines the integrated flow rate (step S14). As already described, the termination as well as the start of the dispensing operation can be determined depending on whether or not there is the detection signal of the flow rate sensor <NUM>. Also, as described above, the integrated flow rate is decided by the termination of the dispensing operation, and after the determination, the determination unit <NUM> resets the integrated flow rate obtained and prepares for the next integration operation.

Meanwhile, in a case that an ending time of the dispensing operation of the liquid <NUM> is after the time t4, the determination unit <NUM> determines the integrated flow rate from the time t2 to the time t4 corresponding to a period in which the liquid temperature is equal to or higher than the set temperature ST (step S13 and step S14).

In the present embodiment, as seen above, a period in which the integrated flow rate is determined corresponds to a period required to dispense a liquid into essentially one drinking container <NUM>, and corresponds to a period in which the liquid temperature measured by the dispensing liquid temperature sensor <NUM> is equal to or higher than the set temperature ST, or a period in which the liquid is being dispensed within a period of the set temperature ST or higher.

In the next step S15, the determination unit <NUM> determines whether or not the obtained integrated flow rate is equal to or larger than a predetermined determination value. When the integrated flow rate is equal to or larger than the determination value, the determination unit <NUM> determines that the coolability of dispensing device <NUM> is insufficient.

Here, in the present embodiment, for example, the determination value is set to a value smaller than a capacity of one drinking container <NUM> having the smallest capacity among drinking containers with various sizes used in restaurants. In the present embodiment, for example, the determination value can be set a value such as <NUM> or <NUM>. For example, when the determination value is <NUM>, if the integrated flow rate with the set temperature ST or higher obtained in the step S14 is, for example, <NUM>, the determination unit <NUM> determines that the coolability of the dispensing device <NUM> is insufficient. In this example, specifically, when the drinking container <NUM> is, for example, a medium beer mug (about <NUM> per mug), almost all the entire amount is the liquid (beer) <NUM> of the set temperature ST or higher, that is, of a temperature of <NUM> or higher, and is so-called "warm" beer.

Meanwhile, when the obtained integrated flow rate is smaller than the determination value, the determination unit <NUM> determines that the coolability of the dispensing device <NUM> is sufficient and suitable. For example, as illustrated in <FIG>, when the liquid is dispensed into one drinking container <NUM> from time t1 to time t5, even though the liquid of the set temperature ST or higher is dispensed from time t2 to time t3, in a case where the integrated flow rate from the time t2 to the time t3 is smaller than the determination value, the determination unit <NUM> determines that the coolability of the dispensing device <NUM> is sufficient and suitable.

However, the aforementioned method is an example as the processing method in step S15, and the present invention is not limited thereto. It has been described in the present embodiment that the determination operation is performed for one drinking container <NUM>. However, for example, the determination unit <NUM> may determine the integrated flow rate corresponding to a set time by using the time information generated by the time information generation unit <NUM> of the determination unit <NUM>, and then may compare the obtained integrated flow rate with the determination value. In this case, the determination value may be calculated by multiplying a reference value per unit time by the set time.

Although the description will go back and forth, for example, like a liquid temperature <NUM> indicated with a dotted line in <FIG>, when the liquid temperature <NUM> rises with the dispensing operation, but falls below the set temperature ST, the determination unit <NUM> can determine that the coolability of the dispensing device <NUM> is suitable.

When the obtained integrated flow rate is smaller than the determination value, the determination unit <NUM> may further perform the following determination. In this case, the determination unit <NUM> further includes the total value preparation unit <NUM> that performs the following totalization of the flow rates in a set period.

That is, as illustrated in the next step S16, the total value preparation unit <NUM> determines a total value by adding up flow rates of the liquid <NUM> during the set period, the flow rates being measured by the flow rate sensor <NUM> and having a temperature lower than the set temperature ST. Then, when the total value is smaller than a predetermined value, the determination unit <NUM> determines that the coolability of the dispensing device <NUM> is excessive. Meanwhile, when the total value is equal to or larger than the predetermined value in a state that the integrated flow rate is smaller than the determination value, the determination unit <NUM> determines that the coolability of the dispensing device <NUM> is sufficient and suitable.

Here, the set period corresponds to, for example, one business day. At this time, the total value is a flow rate value obtained by adding up the flow rates in the set temperature ST or lower within the period of one business day. As for the predetermined value, for example, a target flow rate value set in advance with respect to each dispensing device <NUM> so as not to cause the insufficient coolability, or a value of about <NUM>% of a manufacturer recommended value of the dispensing device <NUM> may be set as the predetermined value. Specifically, in a case that the target flow rate value is <NUM> liters and the predetermined value is <NUM> liters, if the total value is, for example, <NUM> liters, the coolability of the dispensing device <NUM> is determined to be excessive, and if the total value is, for example, <NUM> liters, the coolability is determined to be suitable.

Although the aforementioned explanation corresponds to a case where the dispensing liquid temperature sensor <NUM> is disposed within the cooling water <NUM> as in the present embodiment, the dispensing liquid temperature sensor <NUM> may be installed outside the cooling water <NUM>, for example, at the liquid dispensing outlet <NUM>. In this case, the liquid temperature measured by the dispensing liquid temperature sensor <NUM> changes as illustrated in <FIG>.

That is, before the dispensing operation of the liquid <NUM>, the dispensing liquid temperature sensor <NUM> detects approximately a room temperature (for example, around <NUM>). At time t11, when the dispensing operation is started, since a temperature measured by the dispensing liquid temperature sensor is the temperature of the dispensed liquid <NUM>, the measured liquid temperature sharply decreases to the set temperature ST or lower. Subsequently, as in the case of <FIG>, the liquid temperature reaches the set temperature ST at time t12 through the continuous or intermittent dispensing operation into one or the plurality of drinking containers <NUM>. Thereafter, the rising of the liquid temperature becomes to slow down and stops due to the operation of the refrigeration machine <NUM>. When the dispensing operation is ended at time t13, the measured liquid temperature rises substantially toward the room temperature again.

Even when the liquid temperature to be measured represents a change as illustrated in <FIG>, the determination unit <NUM> can work the aforementioned operation described with reference to <FIG>. At this time, the integrated flow rate corresponds to flow rates from time t11 to time t11-<NUM> and from time t12 to time t13 in the dispensing operation with respect to one drinking container <NUM>. Here, a period from time t11 to time t11-<NUM> is instantaneous, and the integrated flow rate in this period can be ignored.

According to the liquid quality management device <NUM> including the determination unit <NUM> that performs the operation described above, the following effects can be achieved.

The determination unit <NUM> can compare the integrated flow rate of the liquid <NUM> dispensed into one drinking container <NUM> in the period in which the temperature of the liquid (beer) <NUM> is equal to or higher than the set temperature ST with the determination value, and can determine whether or not the coolability of the dispensing device (beer dispenser) <NUM> is suitable according to this comparison result. As a result, the quality management of the liquid <NUM> to be dispensed can be performed.

That is to say, since a concept of the integrated flow rate is used as a criterion for judgment, it is possible to detect the normalized, i.e., continued insufficient coolability rather than temporary insufficient coolability of the beer dispenser <NUM>. Specifically, even in a severe situation for the beer dispenser <NUM>, for example, even in the intermittent beer (liquid) dispensing operation for the plurality of drinking containers <NUM>, it is possible to select the beer dispenser <NUM> having the coolability suitable to provide the beer <NUM> having, for example, a temperature lower than the set temperature ST to the customer. Therefore, the quality control of the beer <NUM> can be performed for the customer.

For example, in the configuration having the warning unit <NUM> and the display device <NUM>, the warning information such as insufficient coolability can be prepared based on the determination result of the determination unit <NUM>, and can be further displayed on the liquid quality management device <NUM>. Therefore, the staff of the restaurant can recognize the warning information, and then it is useful for quality management of the beer <NUM> for the customer.

In the configuration having the transmission and reception unit <NUM>, information obtained by adding the time information for month, day, hour, and minute to various information including such as the warning information which indicates that the coolability is insufficient and is generated by the determination unit <NUM> can be transmitted as the value-added warning information to the communication line <NUM>. As described above, the information may be transmitted without adding the time information.

Therefore, for example, an analysis device <NUM> (computer) in the beer manufacturer connected to the communication line <NUM> can obtain, for example, the value-added warning information from each restaurant. Therefore, the beer manufacturer can select and recommend the beer dispenser <NUM> having coolability corresponding to the continuous dispensing operation (in other words, a busy time) of the beer <NUM> at each restaurant. Meanwhile, it is also possible to determine that the beer dispenser <NUM> has excessive coolability. Thus, according to the liquid quality management device <NUM>, it is possible to select the dispensing device <NUM> having coolability suitable for a usage situation of the dispensing device <NUM>.

In addition, selecting the dispensing device <NUM> with the suitable capacity in this manner also leads to optimize power consumption of the refrigeration machine <NUM>. Therefore, it is possible to contribute to energy saving, and it is possible to help cost saving at such as restaurants using the beer dispenser <NUM>.

The following effects can be achieved as accompanying effects. That is, as already described, in the present embodiment, the dispensing liquid temperature sensor <NUM> is located at a surface layer part of the cooling water <NUM> on the liquid cooling pipe <NUM> immersed in the cooling water <NUM>, and is installed in contact with an outer surface of the liquid cooling pipe <NUM>. Thus, when the refrigeration machine <NUM> in the dispensing device <NUM> is operating normally, the liquid temperature, which has once risen, begins to decrease when the dispensing is stopped, as illustrated and described in <FIG>.

Accordingly, if a situation in which the measured liquid temperature does not start to decrease even though the dispensing of the liquid <NUM> is stopped is detected, it is possible to determine a failure of the refrigeration machine <NUM> or a stirring device provided to stir the cooling water <NUM>.

It is possible to adopt a configuration in which the aforementioned configurations are appropriately combined. In the present embodiment, "electrically connected" is a concept that includes not only wired connection but also wireless connection.

Although the present invention has been fully described in connection with preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is to be understood that such changes and modifications are intended to be included therein without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Claim 1:
A liquid quality management device (<NUM>) capable of being added to a liquid supply system (<NUM>), the liquid supply system (<NUM>) supplying a liquid within a storage container (<NUM>) to a dispensing device (<NUM>) through a supply pipe (<NUM>) with the liquid pressurized in order to cool the liquid in the dispensing device (<NUM>), and dispensing the cooled liquid to a drinking container (<NUM>) from the dispensing device (<NUM>), the liquid quality management device (<NUM>) comprising:
an actual flow rate preparation unit (<NUM>) including a flow rate sensor (<NUM>) which is configured to detect the amount of liquid dispensed into the drinking container (<NUM>), and configured to determine an actual measured flow rate of the liquid dispensed into the drinking container (<NUM>) from the dispensing device (<NUM>);
a dispensing liquid temperature sensor (<NUM>) configured to measure a temperature of the liquid dispensed into the drinking container (<NUM>);
a determination unit (<NUM>) electrically connected to the actual flow rate preparation unit (<NUM>) and the dispensing liquid temperature sensor (<NUM>),
a warning unit (<NUM>) electrically connected to the determination unit (<NUM>) and configured to generate warning information in a state it is determined that the cooling performance is insufficient
characterised in that the determination unit (<NUM>) is configured:
to determine a first integral of flow rate obtained by an integration of the liquid dispensed into the drinking container (<NUM>) in a period in which the measured liquid temperature is equal to or higher than a set temperature (ST),
to compare the first integral of flow rate with a first predetermined determination value, and
to determine that a cooling performance of the dispensing device (<NUM>) is suitable if the first integral of flow rate is less than the first predetermined determination value and that the cooling performance of the dispensing device (<NUM>) is insufficient if the first integral of flow rate is equal to or more than the first predetermined determination value.