JP4872473B2 - Showcase - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a showcase provided with a water level sensor that detects drain water, for example.

  An open type vertical freezer / refrigeration showcase installed in a store such as a supermarket has a condenser 2 and a compressor (not shown) in a machine room 3 formed at the lower part of the showcase body as shown in FIG. The product stored in the product storage 1 is cooled by cool air cooled by a cooler installed on the back side of the showcase body, and the cool air is circulated. In the figure, 5 is a condenser fan, 6 is an evaporation plate, 7 is a showcase controller, and 8 is a drain water full warning lamp.

  As described above, the cool air is circulated in the cabinet, but since the front surface of the product storage 1 is opened as a product entrance, warm outside air flows from here, and moisture contained therein is Condensation occurs in the cooler and forms frost.

  And in order to prevent that the capacity | capacitance of a cooler falls by this frost formation, although it defrosts suitably, the defrosted water | moisture content generate | occur | produces as drain water.

  The drain water is usually connected to a drain pipe and led to a drain groove outside the store by this pipe. When the pipe is fixed, the installation position of the showcase is fixed by this pipe. Therefore, in a showcase in which a compressor is incorporated for easy movement, drain water is also stored in a drain water receiver 4 such as a drain tank or drain pan installed in the showcase so as not to impair mobility. .

  In this way, when drain water is stored in the drain water receiver 4, it is necessary to drain the water regularly. However, the amount of drain water generated depends on the weather, the size and temperature range of the showcase, It depends on the amount.

  For this reason, it is necessary to grasp the storage amount of the drain water and drain it before overflowing, and an ultrasonic sensor or the like is provided as the water level sensor 20 in the drain water receiver 4 to detect the storage amount. As shown, when the showcase is horizontally long and large, a plurality of drain water receptacles 4 are arranged in the horizontal direction, and a water level sensor 20 is also provided for each drain water receptacle 4.

  The prior art is generally performed by those skilled in the art, and is not related to a known invention.

  The detection signal from the water level sensor is input to the showcase controller and the water level is calculated. If a water level sensor is provided for each of the plurality of drain water receivers, the number of water level sensors (i.e. It is necessary to prepare as many connectors for input as possible, and a showcase controller having such a structure is required.

  However, in reality, there are few types of showcases in which a plurality of drain water receptacles are installed, and most of the showcases have a single drain water receptacle. On the other hand, the same type of showcase controller is commonly used for most models, so even for most showcases where only one drain water receiver is installed, a show with multiple drain water receivers installed. A showcase controller capable of handling the case will be incorporated, which is wasteful in cost.

  The object of the present invention is to eliminate the inconvenience of the conventional example, and in a showcase in which a plurality of drain water receivers are installed, even when all drain water receivers are provided with water level sensors, the input unit to the showcase controller is 1 A single water level sensor can be used to manage the full water level of all drain water receptacles. One type of showcase controller has a connector for input, and a single water level sensor can be used for any type of showcase. Thus, it is to provide a showcase capable of reducing the cost.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 1 includes a water level sensor for providing a plurality of drain water receivers in one showcase and detecting the water level of the drain water in the drain water receiver, In the showcase provided with a control device that detects the water receiving state of the drain water receiver based on the output from the water level sensor and notifies when the water level exceeds a predetermined value, the water level sensor includes a plurality of drains. Provided for each water receiver, the output from each water level sensor is input to the input unit of the control device via an OR circuit, and notification is started when any of the plurality of drain water receivers reaches the notification start water level. Is.

  As described above, the drain water detection method of the showcase of the present invention provides a control device that outputs from each water level detection device via an OR circuit even when a water level detection device is provided for each of a plurality of drain water receivers. Therefore, only the output from one water level detection device is always input to the control device. Therefore, only one input connector is provided in the control device, that is, the showcase controller, and the cost of the showcase controller can be reduced.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a detection circuit diagram showing a first embodiment of the showcase drain water detection method of the present invention, and the entire configuration of the showcase in which the method of the present invention is implemented is the same as the conventional example described with reference to FIG. Detailed description here is omitted.

  Further, in the showcase in which the first embodiment of the present invention is implemented, as shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of drain water receivers 4a, 4b, 4c are installed in parallel, and each drain water receiver 4a, 4b, 4c is provided. Water level sensors 20a, 20b, and 20c are installed. In the figure, 19 is the bottom of the showcase, and 18 is a display shelf for goods.

  The water level sensors 20a, 20b, and 20c are, for example, of the ultrasonic type, and an ultrasonic transmission circuit 11 and an ultrasonic reception circuit 12 that control the ultrasonic element 10 are connected to the control unit 9 as shown in FIG. The time until the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the ultrasonic element 10 by the output from the ultrasonic wave transmitting circuit 11 is reflected on the water surface, returned to the ultrasonic element 10 and detected by the ultrasonic receiving circuit 12 is a numerical value of the distance by the control unit 9. This distance numerical value is output to the comparator 14 of the showcase controller 7 via the DA conversion circuit 13.

  In this case, for example, the control unit 9 of the water level sensor 20a determines whether or not the distance to the drain water is, for example, less than 100 mm, and outputs H when the distance is less than 100 mm, that is, when the water level is full or close to full. Output L when there is more than 100mm.

  The showcase controller 7 receives this H output or L output, and outputs it to the control unit 15 at 4.5 V or less or higher by the comparator 14.

  Thus, when there is H output from any of the plurality of water level sensors 20a, 20b, 20c, for example, the water level sensor 20a installed in the drain water receiver 4a, the output from the other water level sensors 20b, 20c. All the drain water receivers 4a, 4b, 4c are drained by assuming that all the remaining drain water receivers 4b, 4c are full or close to this and reach the notification water level.

As a result, even if a plurality of water level sensors 20a, 20b, and 20c are installed, the drain water of all drain water receivers 4a, 4b, and 4c can be drained only by the output from one of the water level sensors. One input connector for the case controller 7 is sufficient.

  FIG. 2 shows the second embodiment, and the basic form is the same as that of the first embodiment, but the contents of the distance numerical value output from the control unit 9 of the water level sensors 20a, 20b, 20c include the distance information, For example, sensor number information for specifying the output water level sensors 20a, 20b, and 20c is included.

Then, this distance numerical value output is output to the showcase controller 7 via the information output buffer circuit 16. The information output buffer circuit 16 determines whether a signal from another water level sensor is not flowing through the transmission line of the output destination, and outputs it only when it is not flowing. Thus, always not be only outputted from exactly one level sensor input to the reception buffer circuit 17 of the showcase controller 7, connectors for input showcases controller 7 is sufficient in one.

  FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment, in which a plurality of drain water receivers 4a, 4b, 4c are connected by a flow path 21 for balancing the water level, and only one drain water receiver 4b arranged at the center position of the showcase. The water level sensor 20 is provided in the water level sensor 20, and the water level sensor 20 detects the total amount of drain water in the plurality of drain water receivers 4a, 4b, 4c.

In this case, even suffice one connector for input showcases controller 7 from the water level sensor 20 installed is one. The installation position of the water level sensor 20 is set at the center of the showcase because when the showcase is installed at an inclination, the accurate water level is measured when the water level sensor 20 is installed at the end of the showcase. This is because there is a possibility that it will not be possible.

  FIG. 5 shows a fourth embodiment, in which a plurality of drain water receivers 4a, 4b, 4c are connected by a flow path 21 for balancing the water level, and all drain water receivers 4a are connected as in the fourth embodiment. Water level sensors 20a, 20b, and 20c were installed at 4b and 4c, respectively.

The output method of the showcase controller 7 from each of the water level sensors 20a, 20b, and 20c in this case is performed in the same manner as in the first and second embodiments, but the difference between the water levels measured by the water level sensors 20a and 20c at both ends is calculated. By detecting it, it becomes possible to detect the level of the installed showcase body.
However, although three water level sensors 20 and three drain water receivers 4 are used in FIG. 5, the number of drain receivers is not a restriction for horizontal inspection, and the minimum configuration is one drain receiver 4. Even two water level sensors 20 are possible.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the level detection operation. The water level sensors 20a and 20c on both sides measure the distance to the water surface (step 1), and the difference between the distances measured by both water level sensors 20a and 20c is within 5 mm. If it is determined (step 2), it is determined that the inclination of the airframe of the showcase is normally installed within an allowable range (step 3).

  On the other hand, if the difference in distance is 5 mm or more in (Step 2), it is determined that the showcase body is installed tilted, and that fact is notified (Step 4). When a plurality of water level sensors are provided in this way, they can be used as means for detecting the level of installation of the showcase body.

In addition, although the said embodiment demonstrated the case where it implemented to a vertical-type freezing / refrigeration open showcase, it is not limited by external appearance or form, The flat-type freezing / refrigeration showcase or closed type which formed the upper surface in the opening is demonstrated. Even so, it can be applied to freezer and refrigerated showcases.
Moreover, if it is functionally similar, it is not limited to the name of the showcase.

It is a detection circuit diagram which shows 1st Embodiment of the drain water detection method of the showcase of this invention. It is a flowchart of the detection operation | movement which shows 2nd Embodiment of the drain water detection method of the showcase of this invention. It is a front view of the showcase in which 1st, 2nd embodiment of the drain water detection method of the showcase of this invention is implemented. It is a front view of the showcase in which 3rd Embodiment of the drain water detection method of the showcase of this invention is implemented. It is a front view of the showcase in which 4th Embodiment of the drain water detection method of the showcase of this invention is implemented. It is a flowchart which shows the levelness detection operation | movement by the showcase in which the drain water detection method of this invention is implemented. It is a partial perspective view of a freezing and refrigeration showcase.

Explanation of symbols

1 product storage, 2 condenser, 3 machine room, 4 4a, 4b, 4c drain water receiver, 5 fan, 6 evaporating plate, 7 showcase controller, 8 full water warning lamp, 9 control unit, 10 ultrasonic element, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Ultrasonic transmission circuit, 12 Ultrasonic reception circuit, 13 DA conversion circuit, 14 Comparator, 15 Control part, 16 Information output buffer circuit, 17 Reception buffer circuit, 18 Display shelf, 19 Inside bottom part, 20, 20a, 20b, 20c Water level sensor, 21 flow path.

Claims (5)

A plurality of drain water receivers are installed in one showcase, and a water level sensor that detects the water level of the drain water in the drain water receiver and the water level of the drain water receiver detected by the output from the water level sensor. The water level sensor is provided for each of the plurality of drain water receivers, and the output from each water level sensor is via an OR circuit. A showcase that is input to an input unit of a control device and starts notification when any of a plurality of drain water receptacles reaches a notification start water level. 2. When it is determined that any one of the plurality of drain water receptacles has reached the notification start water level, it is determined that all other drain water receptacles have reached the notification water level. Showcase. A plurality of drain water receivers are installed in one showcase, and a water level sensor that detects the water level of the drain water in the drain water receiver and the water level of the drain water receiver detected by the output from the water level sensor. In a showcase provided with a control device that controls to notify when a predetermined value is exceeded, the water level sensor is provided for each of the plurality of drain water receivers, and the output signal from each water level sensor is sent to the same signal line A showcase in which the output from another water level detection device is kept on standby while an output signal is sent from one of the water level sensors to the control device.
When a plurality of drain water receivers connected by flow paths are provided in one showcase to balance the water level, and the drain water receivers are arranged in a horizontal row, the drain water receivers located in the center are located near the upper center. A showcase in which a water level sensor is provided. 5. The showcase according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of drain water receivers are connected by a flow path for balancing the water levels, and the total amount of drain water in the plurality of drain water receivers is detected by the water level sensor.

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