JP3800698B2 - vending machine - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention can be applied to a predetermined heat generating unit, for example, a condenser and a compressor, a product display and money processing provided in a space between an outer door and an inner door by a fan that receives electric power generated by an attached solar cell. The present invention relates to a vending machine in which each unit is air-cooled auxiliary to improve the efficiency of cooling the main body and thereby save energy.
[0002]
[Prior art]
It has already been known as a prior art that a solar cell is attached to a vending machine and the generated power is used as auxiliary power to save power used by a commercial power source as a main power source and thereby save energy. There are a system in which the generated power of the solar battery and the commercial power supply are configured as an interconnection system, and a system in which the generated power of the solar battery is combined with a storage battery to be configured as an independent system.
[0003]
The gist of a conventional example of the interconnection system will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. The vending machine 50 is operated mainly with electric power from the commercial power supply 40 and with the generated electric power of the attached solar cell 30 as an auxiliary. The electric power generated by the solar cell 30 is converted into alternating current by an orthogonal conversion means 31, for example, an inverter, and the electric power of the commercial power supply 40 is merged via the grid interconnection means 32 and then supplied to the vending machine 50. When the power of the solar cell 30 is insufficient with respect to the vending machine 50, power is supplied from the commercial power supply 40 via the grid interconnection means 32, and conversely, when the power of the solar cell 30 is surplus, Similarly, the surplus is returned to the commercial power supply 40 via the grid interconnection means 32. The orthogonal transformation means 31 is required to have a voltage adjustment function, a frequency adjustment function, etc., and the grid interconnection means 32 has a switch function for connecting each system of the solar cell 30 and the commercial power source 40, and the direction of power flow. Therefore, functions such as integrated power measurement that can be calculated individually, prevention of intrusion surges flowing from the system of the solar battery 30, and control protection in the event of an accident are required. In addition, monitoring, control, and protection are performed by a control device (not shown) so that the operation as a whole is harmonized.
[0004]
The gist of another conventional example as an independent system will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. Here, the electric power generated by the solar cell 30 is stored in the storage battery 33 in a form used in combination with the commercial power supply 40, converted into alternating current by the orthogonal conversion means 31, and supplied to the vending machine 50. Here, when the power of the solar battery 30 is insufficient, power is supplied from the commercial power supply 40 as in the conventional example, but when the power is left, the storage battery 33 stores the amount. It will be. Again, although not shown in the figure, the control device functions to monitor and control so that the entire operation is harmonized.
[0005]
According to the invention described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-31197, in view of the current situation that power supply to vending machines largely depends on commercial power sources, the system of the interconnected system has been greatly reduced in order to reduce costs. Simplified. A method is used in which the solar battery and the commercial power supply are connected directly to the backflow prevention diode or switch means, and then directly joined without using the grid interconnection means. That is, it is assumed that the power of the solar cell is not returned to sell power to the commercial power source.
[0006]
According to the invention described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-312198, when the generated electric power of the solar cell is excessive, it is the same as that in the other conventional example described above, but in order to reduce the cost, Each system of the commercial power supply is coupled by a switching circuit, and power is selectively supplied from only one system to, for example, only the lighting device of the vending machine.
[0007]
The internal structure of a general conventional example will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 5, the heat insulating material 13 is filled between the outer box 11 and the inner box 12 each having an opening on the left side, and the inner door 14 in the shape of closing the opening is also filled with a heat insulating material that is not labeled. . The outer door 15 is provided with a product display section, a product selection key, an advertising medium, and the like. Four product storage shelves 19 are formed in parallel in the front-rear direction (left-right direction in the figure) as a space extending in the vertical direction while being bent, and cylindrical products 10 are stacked and stored with the axis line horizontal. At the same time, every time it is paid out from the lower side, it is sent downward. At the bottom of each product storage shelf 19, a payout mechanism 20 for paying out the product 10 based on a sales command is provided. The dispensed product 10 falls along the chute 16, pushes open the flap door 17 connected to the lower side of the inner door 14, and is sent to the take-out port 18. In order to bring the inside of the vending machine to an appropriate temperature, a cooler 23 that selectively operates, a heater 24 as a heater, a fan 28 for air circulation, and a temperature control device (not shown) are installed. In addition, a machine room 29 is provided at the bottom of the vending machine, where a refrigeration compressor 21, a condenser (condenser) 22, and a condenser fan 27, which are performed based on a vapor compression refrigeration cycle, are installed. The base 7 that is the bottom plate of the vending machine is provided with level adjusting screws 8 at the four corners of the lower surface thereof.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, the conventional system which attaches the solar cell and uses the generated power to save the power used by the commercial power source and saves energy includes (1) the orthogonal transformation means and the grid interconnection means. There are disadvantages such as costly equipment, (2) lower output due to conversion efficiency, and (3) much maintenance cost when using a storage battery. Further, in the method improved in cost based on the conventional system, for example, in the invention described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-31197, the output of the solar cell, particularly the current, varies widely depending on the weather conditions. It is normal for a vending machine to delete functions such as voltage adjustment function and frequency adjustment function, etc., and functions such as prevention of intrusion surge flowing in from the solar cell system of grid connection means and control protection in the event of an accident. Not only does driving guarantee not be obtained, it also makes it impossible to obtain approval for the use of solar cells by electric power companies. Further, in the invention described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-312198, since a storage battery is used and an orthogonal or AC / DC conversion circuit is required after the switching circuit, a disadvantage in terms of cost still remains. .
[0009]
The problem to be solved by the present invention is that, in view of the drawbacks of the conventional method, the grid-connected system of the generated power of the solar cell and the commercial power source, or the independent system of the solar cell and the commercial power source provided with the storage battery are different. The purpose is to provide a vending machine that saves energy by adopting the method.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The invention includes a solar cell that is attached to the upper surface of the vending machine; internal predetermined heating unit and an auxiliary fan for cooling the auxiliary receives power only when the power generation of the solar cell; wherein the predetermined heating unit is provided in the space between the outer door and inner door, a respective unit of the product display and money handling, auxiliary fan arrangement that is provided in the upper portion of the space between the outer door and inner door are preferred .
[0012]
Therefore, in this invention, the fan that receives the generated power of the attached solar cell dissipates the heat generated by each unit related to product display and money processing installed in the space between the outer door and the inner door to the outside. By reducing the amount of heat entering the inside and saving power for cooling, it is possible to save energy in the vending machine. When the generated power of the solar cell is insufficient at night, rainy weather, cloudy weather, etc., each of the fans is stopped. However, these fans are originally air-cooled in an auxiliary manner, and each unit such as a cooler responsible for the basic functions of a vending machine, a heater, lighting, and a control circuit is supplied by another power system such as a commercial power source. There is no problem because it is driven.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
As embodiments of the present invention, two examples will be described below with reference to the drawings. In view of the fact that the installation space is limited only to the upper surface (ceiling part) of the vending machine, and that the power conversion efficiency is small at the current technical level, these embodiments reduce the generated power of the solar cell. The system is used only for the operation of the condenser fan and eliminates the need for attached means as in the conventional example. One air cooling fan directly cools the heat generated by the condenser and compressor in the vapor compression refrigeration cycle to directly support the increase in refrigeration function, and the other is between the outer door and the inner door. Each cooling unit installed in the space that hinders the cooling of the main body, which is related to product display and money processing, is air-cooled to indirectly save power for cooling.
[0014]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the first embodiment. A solar cell 1 is attached to the upper surface (ceiling part) of the vending machine main body with an inclination angle of about 25 degrees, and an auxiliary fan 2 that operates by receiving the generated power is connected to the rear surface of the main body and a wall surface adjacent to the auxiliary fan 2. Are provided in the upper part of the duct 4 which is an air passage formed between the two. Further, as shown in the internal structure diagram of the conventional example of FIG. 5, a machine room 29 is provided at the lower part of the vending machine main body, and the condenser 22 is operated based on the vapor compression refrigeration cycle. The equipment fans 27 and the compressors 21 are horizontally arranged in rows corresponding to the air intakes 25 provided at the lower part of the outer door 15. The back side of the machine room 29 becomes an air outlet 26 </ b> A and communicates with the lower part of the duct 4. Therefore, the air volume is increased based on the condenser fan 27 and the auxiliary fan 2, whereby the condenser 22 and the compressor 21 are more strongly air-cooled. With this stronger air cooling, it is possible to improve the refrigeration function for cooling the main body and to save energy in the vending machine. Here, in general, the auxiliary fan 2 may be provided on the downstream side of the condenser fan 27. In particular, the auxiliary fan 2 is provided on the upper part of the duct 4 formed between the rear surface of the vending machine main body and the wall surface adjacent thereto, so that the duct 4 has a chimney effect. The cooperative work of the auxiliary fan 2 functions effectively, and as a result, energy saving can be further promoted.
[0015]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the second embodiment. In the space between the outer door 15 and the inner door 14, the fluorescent lamp 5A and the fluorescent lamp stabilizer 5B which are the heat generating units in the product display section, and the coin mech (the circuit section thereof) which is the heat generating unit in the money processing section. ) 5C is installed. Note that the fluorescent lamp 5A and the fluorescent lamp ballast 5B are representatively shown because they are also used for lighting to show general image photographs relating to scenery and still life in addition to lighting of product samples. . The auxiliary fan 3 is provided in the upper part of the space between the outer door 15 and the inner door 14 and is operated by receiving the electric power generated by the solar cell 1. That is, the heat generated by the fluorescent lamp 5A and the fluorescent lamp stabilizer 5B, which are heat generating units installed in the space between the outer door 15 and the inner door 14, and the coin mech (the circuit portion) 5C by the auxiliary fan 3 Heat is radiated to the outside through an air outlet 26B provided in the upper part of the outer door 15. By this heat radiation, the amount of heat entering the main body can be reduced, and the power for cooling can be saved to save energy in the vending machine. Further, in the machine room 29, the condenser fan 27 that receives power supply from the commercial power source takes in the outside air from the air intake 25 on the front side and discharges it from the air outlet 26A. The condenser 22 and the compressor 21 are air-cooled.
[0016]
By the way, when the generated power of the solar cell is insufficient at night, rainy weather, cloudy weather, etc., the auxiliary fans 2 and 3 in the first and second embodiments are stopped. However, the auxiliary fans 2 and 3 are merely air-cooled to the end, and each unit such as a cooler responsible for the basic function of the vending machine, a heater, lighting, and a control circuit is separated by a commercial power source. There is no problem because it is driven. In other words, the amount of energy that could not be saved by stopping the auxiliary fans 2 and 3 is AC / DC conversion means and grid connection for always operating the auxiliary fans 2 and 3 using a solar cell and a commercial power source together. It is far less than the cost of equipment such as means and storage batteries.
[0017]
【The invention's effect】
According to this invention, there are the following excellent effects.
(1) The auxiliary fan that receives power only when the power of the solar cell attached to the upper surface of the vending machine cools the predetermined heat generating unit inside can be air-cooled to save energy of the vending machine. As a result, no AC / DC conversion means, grid interconnection means, storage battery, or the like is used, so that the equipment cost and maintenance cost are not required, and economical and efficient use of solar cells can be realized. Note that the auxiliary fan stops when the power generated by the solar cell is insufficient at night, rainy weather, or cloudy weather, etc., but this auxiliary fan is originally auxiliary air-cooled and is a basic function of the vending machine. Each unit such as the cooler, the heater, the lighting, and the control circuit is operated by another power system, for example, a commercial power source, so that there is no problem. In addition, the use of solar cells in vending machines can greatly contribute to global environmental conservation.
[0019]
(2) When the auxiliary fan installed in the upper part of the space between the outer door and the inner door is operated by using the attached solar battery, the heat generated by each unit related to the product display and money processing installed there By dissipating heat, the amount of heat entering the inside can be reduced, the efficiency of cooling the main body can be improved, and the energy saving of the vending machine can be achieved. At the same time, it is possible to maintain the performance and improve the service life by suppressing the temperature rise of the electric / electronic components incorporated in each unit related to the product display and the money handling.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the second embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of one conventional example. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of another conventional example. Fig. 5 Internal structure diagram of general conventional example [Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Solar cell 2, 3 Auxiliary fan 4 Duct 5A Fluorescent lamp 5B Fluorescent lamp stabilizer 5C Coin mech 14 Inner door 15 Outer door 21 Compressor 22 Condenser 25 Air intake 26A, 26B Air outlet 27 Fan (for condenser)
29 Machine room

Claims (1)

In a vending machine comprising: an attached solar cell; and an auxiliary fan that air-cools an internal predetermined heat generating unit by receiving power from the solar cell, the predetermined heat generating unit is disposed between the outer door and the inner door. A vending machine which is a unit related to product display and money processing provided in a space, and an auxiliary fan is provided in an upper part of a space between an outer door and an inner door .

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