JP3118386B2 - Vending machine cooling system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cooling device for a vending machine, and more particularly to a cooling device mounted on a vending machine for canned beverages and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a conventional cooling device for a vending machine.

The cooling device 50 is provided with a compressor 51, and two solenoid valves 54A and 54B are connected in parallel to the output side of the compressor 51 via a condenser (condenser) 52 and a distributor 53. ing.

[0004] A capillary tube 55A (55B) and an evaporator (evaporator) 56A (56B) are connected in series to each solenoid valve 54A (54B).
The output side of A (56B) is connected to the compressor 51 via the refrigerant pipe 57 and the accumulator 60.

Further, temperature sensors 58A and 58B (two in the figure) for detecting the temperature in the product storage columns are provided in a plurality of product storage columns (not shown) of the vending machine, respectively. A controller 59 that controls the on / off (open / close) of the solenoid valve and the entire cooling device 50 of the vending machine based on the outputs of the sensors 58A and 58B.
Is provided.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to the timing chart of FIG. In this case, the temperature control in the product storage column is such that the upper limit temperature (cooling start temperature) is 8
° C and the lower limit temperature (cooling stop temperature) is set to 2 ° C.

The controller 58 includes a temperature sensor 58A,
When the temperature of each product storage column becomes the cooling start temperature = 8 ° C. based on the output of 58B, the solenoid valve 55A (55B) is opened (ON state), and the temperature of each product storage column becomes the cooling stop temperature = 2. When the temperature reached ° C, the solenoid valve 55A (55B) was controlled to be closed (off state).

[0008]

In the above-described conventional vending machine cooling device, since the temperature control of each product storage column is performed completely independently, as shown in FIG. Is kept on,
There is a problem that the operation rate of the compressor increases and energy saving cannot be achieved.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to reduce the operation rate of the compressor and save energy even when a plurality of product storage columns are provided and each product storage column is independently controlled for cooling. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vending machine cooling device.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a compressor for compressing a refrigerant, an evaporator in each of a plurality of commodity storages, and a supply / stop of the refrigerant to the evaporator. A cooling device for a vending machine provided with a solenoid valve for performing a cooling operation in each of the plurality of product storages, and a plurality of temperature detecting means for measuring a temperature of each of the plurality of product storages and outputting temperature data. A mixed state detecting means for determining whether or not the product storage in the state and the product storage in the cooling operation stopped state are mixed; and the product storage in the cooling operation state by the mixed state detecting means. In the case where the product storages in the cooling operation stopped state are mixed, the temperature in any one of the product storages in the cooling operation stopped state based on the temperature data. Determining means for determining whether or not the temperature has risen and has reached a predetermined temperature that is a temperature substantially intermediate between the cooling operation start temperature and the cooling operation stop temperature preset for the product storage; At the timing when the temperature in one of the product storages reaches the predetermined temperature, if the other product storage is in the cooling operation and is at or above the predetermined temperature, it corresponds to the one product storage. And a drive control means for opening the solenoid valve to be opened.

[0011]

According to the present invention, each temperature detecting means measures the temperatures of a plurality of product storages and outputs temperature data to the discriminating means.

In parallel with the output of the temperature data, the mixed state detecting means determines whether or not a plurality of product storages in a cooling operation state and a product storage state in a cooling operation stopped state are mixed. I do.

[0013] The discriminating means, when the commodity storage in the cooling operation state and the commodity storage in the cooling operation stopped state are mixed by the mixed state detecting means, the cooling operation stopped state based on the input temperature data. The temperature in any one of the commodity storages is increasing, and is a predetermined temperature that is substantially intermediate between the cooling operation start temperature and the cooling operation stop temperature preset for the commodity storage. Is determined.

The drive control means, based on the result of the determination by the determination means, performs a cooling operation on the other product storage at the timing when the temperature in the one product storage reaches a predetermined temperature and the predetermined temperature or more. If, the solenoid valve corresponding to the one product storage is opened.

Therefore, the cooling operation of the one product storage box when the temperature in the product storage box reaches the predetermined temperature can be performed in parallel with the cooling operation of the other product storage box, and the cooling operation is substantially performed. The time can be reduced, and the operating rate of the compressor can be reduced.

[0016]

Next, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration diagram of the inside of a vending machine.

The vending machine 1 has three product storage columns 3A, 3B, 3C partitioned by a heat insulating partition 2, and a column temperature measuring sensor 4A for measuring the temperature in each of the product storage columns 3A, 3B, 3C. , 4B, 4C, an ambient temperature measuring sensor 5 for measuring the ambient temperature of the vending machine 1, a mechanism for controlling the entire vending machine, a cooling device such as a condenser, a product discharging mechanism, and the like. Part 6
And is provided.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration diagram of a cooling device of a vending machine.

The cooling device 10 includes a compressor 11, a condenser 12, an electronic expansion valve 13, a distributor 14, and three solenoid valves 15A, 15B and 15C.

Each of the solenoid valves 15A, 15B, 15C is connected to an evaporator (evaporator) 16A,
16B, 16C are connected, and each evaporator 16A, 16B,
16C is arrange | positioned in each of the goods storage columns 3A, 3B, 3C, and can cool each goods storage column 3A, 3B, 3C independently.

Each of the evaporators 16A, 16B and 16C is connected to a compressor 11 via a refrigerant pipe and an accumulator 25.
And each evaporator 16A, 16B,
Evaporator temperature sensors 17A and 17B each configured by a thermistor or the like for detecting an inlet temperature and an outlet temperature of 16C,
17C.

The electronic expansion valve 13 is constituted by, for example, a stepping motor type expansion valve, and is electrically connected to the controller 18 to open the valve in accordance with the number of drive pulse signals output from the controller 18. The degree is controlled.

The controller 18 includes an in-column temperature measurement signal 19A, 19B, 19C which is an output of the in-column temperature measurement sensor 4A, 4B, 4C, and an evaporator temperature sensor 17.
A, 17B, 17C output evaporator temperature measurement signal 2
0A, 20B, 20C and an ambient temperature measurement signal 21 which is an output of the ambient temperature measurement sensor 5, etc. are input, and the opening degree of the electronic expansion valve 13 and the opening / closing of the solenoid valves 15A, 15B, 15C according to these temperature measurement signals. Perform control.

Next, the processing flow chart of FIG.
The operation will be described with reference to the timing chart of FIG. In the following description, three product storage columns 3A, 3
B and 3C are all controlled within the same temperature range,
Cooling operation start temperature, that is, the solenoid valves 15A, 15B,
The temperature at which the 15C is opened is 8 ° C., the cooling operation stop temperature,
That is, the temperature at which the solenoid valves 15A, 15B, and 15C are closed is set to 2 ° C. Further, the solenoid valve 15
A, 15B, intermediate temperature TM for controlling 15C
Is set to TM = 4.5 [° C.]. It is preferable to set the intermediate temperature to a value near the average of the cooling operation start temperature and the cooling operation stop temperature. In this embodiment, a value around 5 [° C.] is preferable.

First, the controller 18 determines whether or not a plurality of solenoid valves are provided (step S1).

When only one solenoid valve is provided (Step S1; No), the opening and closing (ON / OFF) of the solenoid valve is performed based on the set temperatures (= cooling operation start temperature and cooling operation stop temperature). The determination is made (step S10), the solenoid valve is opened and closed (on / off), and the normal processing (step S5) is performed.
S9: Details will be described later. )I do. In this case, when the solenoid valve is opened, the refrigerant flows, and the cooling operation is performed.

If a plurality of solenoid valves are provided (corresponding to the present embodiment), it is determined whether or not the product storage columns corresponding to the plurality of solenoid valves are set to the cooling setting (step S2).

The reason why the determination in step S2 is made is that the invention according to the present embodiment lowers the operation rate of the compressor and saves energy when a plurality of product storage columns are set to be cooled.

On the other hand, in a usual vending machine, even if there is a product storage column, one or more product storage columns are heated by providing a heater (not shown), and the remaining product storage columns are provided. (It may not be present.) Can be set to be cooled, and a plurality of product storage columns are not always set to be cooled.

Next, the commodity storage columns set to be cooled, in this embodiment, the commodity storage columns 3A, 3B, 3
It is determined whether or not the solenoid valves 15A, 15B, and 15C corresponding to C include both the open state (on state) and the closed state (off state) (step S3).

If it is determined in step S3 that the open state (on state) and the closed state (off state) are not mixed, more specifically, at time t1, all the solenoid valves 15A, 15B, 15C are set. Is open (step S3; No), the solenoid valve 15C
(Steps S10 to S11).

If it is determined in step S3 that both the open state (on state) and the closed state (off state) are present, more specifically, at time t2, the solenoid valve 15
Since A and 15B are in the closed state and the solenoid valve 15C is in the open state (Step S3; Yes), based on the temperature measurement signal 19C in the column of the solenoid valve 15C, the controller 18 determines that the temperature in the product storage column is equal to or higher than the intermediate temperature. It is determined whether or not this is the case (step S4).

In the determination of step S4, since the temperature in the column of the product storage column 3C is equal to or higher than the intermediate temperature, the product storage column 3B is set to the cooling state and the corresponding solenoid valve 1 is set.
It is determined whether 5B is in a closed state (off state) (step S5).

In the determination in step S5, when the product storage column 3B is set to the cooling state and the corresponding solenoid valve 15B is not in the closed state (off state), that is, the solenoid valve 15
If B is in the open state (on state), the open / close (on / off) of the solenoid valve 15B is determined based on the normal set temperatures (= cooling operation start temperature and cooling operation stop temperature) (step S10). The electromagnetic valve 15 is opened and closed (on / off), and normal processing (steps S5 to S9) is performed.

If it is determined in step S5 that the product storage column 3B is set to the cooling state and the corresponding solenoid valve 15B is closed (off state), the product storage column 3B
It is determined whether or not the temperature is equal to or higher than the intermediate temperature (step S
6).

If it is determined in step S6 that the temperature of the product storage column 3B is equal to or higher than the intermediate temperature (step S6).
6; Yes), the controller 18 opens the solenoid valve 15B (ON state) by the controller 18 (step S).
7; see time t2).

If the temperature of the product storage column 3B is lower than the intermediate temperature according to the determination in step S6 (step S6;
If No, the controller 18 closes (turns off) the solenoid valve 15B by the controller 18 (step S).
9).

Next, the controller 18 determines whether or not the determination of all the product storage columns 3A to 3C is completed (step S8), and if the determination of all the product storage columns 3A to 3C is completed (step S8). S8; Yes), the process proceeds to step S1.

If it is determined in step S8 that all the product storage columns 3A to 3C have not been determined (step S8; No), the process proceeds to step S3, and the processes in steps S3 to S9 are repeated. .

By repeating the above processing,
The period during which the compressor is in the operating state (= T1 + T2 + T3 + T4) with respect to the entire operation time can be made shorter than before, so that the operating rate of the compressor can be reduced and energy saving can be achieved.

[0042]

According to the present invention, the discriminating means detects the input temperature when the product storage in the cooling operation state and the product storage in the cooling operation stopped state are mixed by the mixing state detecting means. The temperature in any one of the commodity storages in the cooling operation stopped state based on the data is rising, and the cooling operation start temperature and the cooling operation stop temperature preset for the commodity storage are set. The drive control means determines whether or not the temperature reaches a predetermined temperature that is a substantially intermediate temperature, and, based on the determination result of the determination means, at the timing when the temperature in one product storage reaches the predetermined temperature, When the product storage is in the cooling operation and at the predetermined temperature, the solenoid valve corresponding to the one product storage is opened, so that
The cooling operation of the one product storage in which the temperature in the product storage reaches a predetermined temperature can be performed in parallel with the cooling operation of the other product storage, thereby substantially shortening the cooling operation time. In addition, the substantial operation rate of the compressor can be reduced, so that power consumption can be reduced and energy can be saved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of the inside of a vending machine.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a cooling device of a vending machine.

FIG. 3 is a processing flowchart of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a timing chart of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a cooling device of a conventional vending machine.

FIG. 6 is a timing chart of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vending machine 2 Heat insulation partition 3A, 3B, 3C Product storage column 4A, 4B, 4C Column temperature measurement sensor 5 Ambient temperature measurement sensor 6 Mechanical unit 10 Cooling device 11 Compressor 12 Condenser (condenser) 13 Electronic expansion valve 14 Distributor 15A, 15B, 15C Solenoid valve 16A, 16B, 16C Evaporator (evaporator) 17A, 17B, 17C Evaporator temperature sensor 18 Controller 19A, 19B, 19C Column temperature measurement signal 20A, 20B, 20C Evaporator temperature measurement signal 21 Around Temperature measurement signal

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Katsuyoshi Tajima 2-5-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) F25D 11/00-31/00 F25B 5/02 G07F 9/10

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A cooling device for a vending machine, comprising: a compressor for compressing a refrigerant; and an evaporator provided in each of a plurality of commodity storages and an electromagnetic valve for controlling supply / stop of the refrigerant to the evaporator. A plurality of temperature detecting means for measuring a temperature of each of the plurality of product storages and outputting temperature data; and a cooling operation in the plurality of product storages and a cooling operation in the cooling operation stopped state. A mixed state detecting means for determining whether or not a product storage is mixed; and the product storage in the cooling operation state and the product storage in the cooling stopped state are mixed by the mixed state detecting means. In this case, based on the temperature data, the temperature in any one of the product storages in the cooling operation stopped state is increasing, and the product storage is Determining means for determining whether or not a predetermined temperature, which is a substantially intermediate temperature between the cooling operation start temperature and the cooling operation stop temperature, is set; and a temperature in the one product storage reaches the predetermined temperature. At the timing of the other product storage during the cooling operation,
And a drive control means for opening an electromagnetic valve corresponding to the one product storage when the temperature is equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature, a cooling device for a vending machine.