IP Library Granted Patent US 10,947,101
Granted Patent B2
US 10,947,101 · App. 16/614,719 · Granted Mar 16, 2021

Beverage supply apparatus

Inventors: Toru Asami (Isesaki, JP); Takahiro Toriumi (Isesak, JP)
Assignee: SANDEN RETAIL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
B67D1/0871A47J31/40A47J31/46B67D1/0857B67D1/0895G01F23/292A47J31/41A47J2203/00B67D1/07B67D1/1247B67D1/1275B67D2210/00118B67D2210/00157G01F23/0007G01F23/2922
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,947,101
App. No.
16/614,719
Granted
Mar 16, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A beverage supply apparatus includes cooling device 6 , milk tank 5 in storage chamber 6 a of cooling device 6 , and detection device 7 that detects the milk. Detection device 7 has first light guide body 7 c to penetrate partition wall 12 having a multilayer box body that partitions storage chamber 6 a , second light guide body 7 d to penetrate partition wall 12 which faces first light guide body 7 c , light projection unit 7 a attached to partition-wall outer-surface-side end of first light guide body 7 c to project light via the body 7 c , and light receiving unit 7 b attached to the partition-wall outer-surface-side end of second light guide body 7 d to receive light transmitted through milk tank 5 via second light guide body 7 d . The detection device detects the presence or absence of or the remaining amount of milk based on a light reception state in the light receiving unit 7 b.

Claims (18)

1. A beverage supply apparatus comprising a cooling device which has a storage chamber partitioned by a partition wall and which cools air in the storage chamber, a liquid beverage container accommodated in the storage chamber, and a detection device for detecting presence or absence of or a remaining amount of a liquid beverage in the liquid beverage container, wherein the beverage supply apparatus supplies a beverage including the liquid beverage cooled by the cooling device to an outer portion, wherein

the partition wall is a box body having a multilayer structure, and an end part of the box body has an opening that is closed by a predetermined closing member,

the detection device has a first light guide body provided to penetrate a predetermined part of the partition wall, a second light guide body provided to penetrate a predetermined part of the partition wall which faces the first light guide body, a light projection unit which is attached to a partition-wall outer-surface-side end of the first light guide body and which projects light toward the liquid beverage container via the first light guide body, and a light receiving unit which is attached to a partition-wall outer-surface-side end of the second light guide body and which can receive the light transmitted through the liquid beverage container via the second light guide body, the detection device detects the presence or absence of, or the remaining amount of, the liquid beverage based on a light reception state in the light receiving unit, and

the liquid beverage container is made of a member in which at least parts corresponding to the first light guide body and the second light guide body can transmit the light.

2. The beverage supply apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second light guide bodies is formed in a tubular shape having a tube hole penetrated from one end to the other end,

the first light guide body has a first light guide member in the tube hole, and the first light guide member guides the light projected from the light projection unit to the liquid beverage container side, and

the second light guide body has a second light guide member in the tube hole, and the second light guide body guides the light transmitted through the liquid beverage container to the light receiving unit side.

3. The beverage supply apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the light projecting unit is provided at the partition-wall outer-surface-side end of the first light guide body by being attached to the partition-wall outer-surface-side end of the first light guide member, and

the light receiving unit is provided at the partition-wall outer-surface-side end of the second light guide body by being attached to the partition-wall outer-surface-side end of the second light guide member.

4. The beverage supply apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second light guide bodies is formed in a bottomed tubular shape in which a partition-wall inner-surface-side end is closed.

5. The beverage supply apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second light guide bodies is formed in a solid column shape.

6. The beverage supply apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the partition wall at least has an inner wall having an inner surface that is exposed to the storage chamber, and a heat insulating member disposed to cover a periphery of the inner wall, and

each of the first and second light guide bodies penetrates the inner wall and the heat insulating member.

7. The beverage supply apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the partition wall further includes an outer wall disposed to cover the periphery of the heat insulating member, and the heat insulating member is filled between the inner wall and the outer wall,

each of the first and second light guide bodies penetrates the inner wall, the heat insulating member, and the outer wall, and

the partition wall further includes

a first support portion which is provided at a penetration part of the first light guide body in the outer wall and which supports the partition-wall outer-surface-side end of the first light guide body, and

a second support portion which is provided at a penetration part of the second light guide body in the outer wall and which supports the partition-wall outer-surface-side end of the second light guide body.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 15, 2026
From: SANDEN RETAIL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
To: SDRS INC.
Reel/Frame 075624/0773 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 19, 2019
From: ASAMI, TORU; TORIUMI, TAKAHIRO
To: SANDEN RETAIL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 051047/0430 →