JP6131466B2 - Article cooling device and vending machine equipped with the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an article cooling apparatus that cools an article (product) in a warehouse by circulating air cooled in the warehouse by an internal heat exchanger that constitutes a refrigeration cycle together with a compressor in the warehouse, and It relates to the vending machine provided.

  In general, in vending machines that cool and sell products such as canned beverages, the air cooled by the internal heat exchanger that constitutes the refrigeration cycle together with the compressor is circulated in the storage by an internal fan and stored in the storage The product is cooling.

  When a vending machine is installed, the power is turned on, and the cooling operation is started, or when an empty vending machine is filled in summer, the product temperature (the temperature inside the cabinet) is close to the outside air temperature. To cool to the cooling product temperature (eg 3 ° C. ± 2 ° C.).

  The operation for cooling the inside (product) from the state close to the outside air temperature to the cooling product temperature is generally referred to as initial cooling operation (initial pull-down operation), but during high load operation such as this initial cooling operation. The amount of work performed by the compressor increases and the load on the compressor also increases.

  During high-load operation, if the load on the compressor exceeds the capacity of the compressor, the overload protection device works and the compressor stops, causing a problem that the product cannot be cooled until the compressor is restarted. To do.

  Therefore, when the load detected by the high-pressure load detection means reaches a predetermined load (temperature or pressure), the internal fan is rotated at a low speed, and the ambient temperature of the internal heat exchanger (evaporator) and the heat of the refrigerant It has been proposed to prevent overload by reducing the exchange amount, and then to rotate the internal fan again at a high speed again when the load amount detected by the high-pressure load amount detection means falls below a predetermined load amount ( For example, see Patent Document 1).

JP-A-8-87669

  However, in a vending machine equipped with a plurality of warehouses with different conditions, if the rotation speed of the fan in the warehouse is similarly controlled, the inside of the warehouse with a relatively large amount of heat absorption, the inside of the warehouse with a relatively large volume of the warehouse, is given priority. There was a problem that it took time to cool the inside of the cabinet that had to be cooled.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and in a plurality of warehouses, in a warehouse having a relatively large amount of heat absorption, in a warehouse having a relatively large volume in the warehouse, and in a warehouse that needs to be preferentially cooled. It is an object of the present invention to provide an article cooling device capable of cooling the interior appropriately according to the interior conditions and a vending machine equipped with the same.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an interior of a warehouse having a large amount of heat absorption (or a warehouse having a large interior volume or a chamber that needs to be preferentially cooled) during the initial cooling operation. The fan rotational speed is set higher (larger) than the internal fan rotational speed in the storage with a small amount of heat absorption (or in the storage with a small storage volume or in the storage that does not need to be preferentially cooled).

  Thereby, the inside of a warehouse can be cooled appropriately according to the inside conditions.

  In the present invention, during the initial cooling operation, the fan rotation speed in the cabinet having a large amount of heat absorption (or in a cabinet having a large volume or in a cabinet that needs to be preferentially cooled) has a small amount of heat absorption. Since it is higher (more) than the internal fan rotation speed in the storage (or in the storage with a small storage volume or in the storage that does not need to be cooled preferentially), the storage will be performed appropriately according to the storage conditions. It is possible to provide an article cooling apparatus capable of cooling the inside and a vending machine including the same.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an internal structure of a main body of a vending machine including an article cooling device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Configuration diagram of refrigeration cycle of vending machine of the embodiment Block diagram showing the control system of the vending machine of the embodiment The flowchart which shows the rotation speed control of the fan in a store | warehouse | chamber at the time of the initial stage cooling operation of the vending machine of the embodiment The flowchart which shows rotation speed control of the fan in a store | warehouse | chamber at the time of the initial stage cooling operation of the vending machine provided with the article | item cooling device in Embodiment 2 of this invention.

The first invention is provided with an internal heat exchanger that functions as an evaporator during cooling operation of the refrigeration cycle and an internal fan that circulates the air cooled by the internal heat exchanger in a plurality of internal chambers, and performs initial cooling. An article cooling device in which the operation control means is operated at a lower speed than the normal operation during operation, and the operation control means is configured to perform the initial cooling operation, wherein the operation control means has a large amount of heat absorption. The internal fan rotation speed is set higher than the internal fan rotation speed in the storage with a small amount of heat absorption , and the initial cooling operation of the internal storage fan in the storage with a large amount of heat absorption is performed at a lower speed than during normal operation. The operation time is suppressed to be shorter than that of the internal fan having the small amount of heat absorption .

With the above configuration, the compressor fan is overloaded by suppressing the amount of heat exchange between the refrigerant and the ambient air of the internal heat exchanger by suppressing the internal fan rotation speed at a lower speed than during normal operation during the initial cooling operation. This reduces the problem that cooling in the warehouse with a large amount of heat absorption is slower than cooling in a warehouse with a small amount of heat absorption, and cooling the article (product) in the warehouse with a large amount of heat absorption to a predetermined temperature. The time can be shortened, and the effect of shortening the time until the article (product) in the warehouse is cooled to a predetermined temperature while suppressing the load applied to the compressor even in the warehouse having a large amount of heat absorption can be further reduced. Can be increased .

The second invention includes an internal heat exchanger that functions as an evaporator during the cooling operation of the refrigeration cycle, and an internal fan that circulates the air cooled by the internal heat exchanger, in a plurality of internal chambers, and performs initial cooling. An article cooling device in which the operation control means is operated at a lower speed than the normal operation during operation, and the operation control means is provided in the interior of the warehouse having a large internal volume during the initial cooling operation. The internal fan rotational speed is set to be higher than the internal fan rotational speed in the storage with a small internal volume, and the operation control means performs an initial cooling operation of the internal fan in the internal storage with a large internal volume. Thus, it is characterized in that the operation time with the rotational speed being reduced to a lower speed than during normal operation is made shorter than that of the internal fan having the small internal volume .

With the above configuration, the compressor fan is overloaded by suppressing the amount of heat exchange between the refrigerant and the ambient air of the internal heat exchanger by suppressing the internal fan rotation speed at a lower speed than during normal operation during the initial cooling operation. Cooling the inside of a warehouse with a large warehouse volume is slower than cooling inside a warehouse with a small warehouse volume, and cools articles (products) in a warehouse with a large warehouse volume to a predetermined temperature. It is possible to shorten the time until the product is cooled down to a predetermined temperature while suppressing the load applied to the compressor even in a warehouse with a large interior volume. The effect to do can be heightened more.

The third invention is a vending machine provided with the article cooling device of the first or second invention.

  Embodiments of an article cooling apparatus and a vending machine including the same according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an internal structure of a main body of a vending machine provided with an article cooling apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a control system of the vending machine according to the embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing rotation speed control of the internal fan during the initial cooling operation of the vending machine according to the embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the vending machine 21 provided with the article cooling device according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a left warehouse A, a middle warehouse B, and a right warehouse C that are partitioned by a heat insulating partition wall 22. Each having a product storage column 23A, 23B, 23C for storing products to be sold, and each of the product storage columns 23A, 23B, 23C has a warehouse for measuring the temperature in the column (internal temperature). Inner column temperature sensors 41A, 41B, 41C are provided.

  The vending machine 21 includes an outside temperature sensor 100 for detecting the ambient temperature of the vending machine 21, a controller 27 for controlling the entire vending machine, a cooling device such as a compressor, a product discharge mechanism, and the like. A built-in mechanism 26 is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 2, for the left warehouse A, the internal heat exchanger 51 </ b> A that cools or warms the air in the left warehouse A, and the warehouse that circulates the air in the left warehouse A in the left warehouse A. Inner fan 61A, heater 62A that generates heat when energized and heats the air in the left chamber A, and capillary tube 93A that squeezes and expands the liquid refrigerant that flows into the internal heat exchanger 51A when the air in the left chamber A is cooled. The solenoid valve 81A for switching whether or not to flow the refrigerant to the internal heat exchanger 51A via the capillary tube 93A, the liquid refrigerant flowing out from the internal heat exchanger 51A when the air in the left internal A is heated The capillary tube 93D to be expanded and expanded, and the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the inverter compressor 71 is condensed in the internal heat exchanger 51A when the air in the left internal chamber A is heated by the internal heat exchanger 51A. Heat exchange inside the air inside A The four-way valve 92 that switches the refrigerant flow path of the refrigeration cycle so that the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the inverter compressor 71 is condensed in the external heat exchanger 81 when not heated by the 51A, and the internal heat exchanger 51A An in-compartment heat exchanger temperature sensor 101A for detecting the temperature is provided.

  It should be noted that the internal heat exchanger 51A uses the piping in which the refrigerant flows and functions as an evaporator during the cooling operation for cooling the air in the left internal warehouse A by the internal heat exchanger 51A, and the air in the left internal warehouse A. The refrigerant flows into a pipe that functions as a condenser when the heat pump is heated by the internal heat exchanger 51A.

  Further, for the inside B, the inside heat exchanger 51B that cools the air inside the inside B, the inside fan 61B that circulates the air inside the inside B in the inside B, and generates heat when energized. The heater 62B that heats the inside B and the capillary tube 93B that squeezes and expands the liquid refrigerant that flows into the inside heat exchanger 51B when the air inside the inside B is cooled, and the inside heat via the capillary tube 93B. A three-way valve 94 for switching whether or not the refrigerant flows through the exchanger 51B and an in-compartment heat exchanger temperature sensor 101B for detecting the temperature of the in-compartment heat exchanger 51B are provided.

  For the right warehouse C, the internal heat exchanger 51C that cools the air in the right warehouse C, the internal fan 61C that circulates the air in the right warehouse C in the right warehouse C, and the three-way valve 94 A capillary tube 93C that squeezes and expands the liquid refrigerant flowing through the internal heat exchanger 51C without passing through the internal heat exchanger 51B, and an internal heat exchanger temperature sensor 101C that detects the temperature of the internal heat exchanger 51C are provided. It has been.

  In addition, the mechanism unit 26 (a machine room outside the warehouse) detects the temperature of the outside heat exchanger 81, the outside fan 82 that blows air to the outside heat exchanger 81, and the temperature of the outside heat exchanger 81. The external heat exchanger temperature sensor 102 is provided. Note that the external heat exchanger 81 is divided into two, and the path through which the refrigerant flows is divided between when it acts as an evaporator and when it acts as a condenser.

  Note that the refrigeration cycle for the left chamber A includes an inverter compressor 71, an external heat exchanger 81, electromagnetic valves 81A, 81B, 81C, a four-way valve 92, capillary tubes 93A, 93D, 93E, and an internal chamber. The heat exchanger 51A is connected in a ring shape.

  When cooling the left chamber A, the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the inverter compressor 71 is condensed in the external heat exchanger 81 via the four-way valve 92, and the left chamber A is cooled. At that time, since the solenoid valve 81C is closed, the refrigerant does not flow to the solenoid valve 81C side but is divided into the solenoid valve 81A side and the three-way valve 94 side, and the refrigerant flowing to the solenoid valve 81A side passes through the solenoid valve 81A. The pressure is reduced by the capillary tube 93A, evaporated by the internal heat exchanger 51A, and returned to the inverter compressor 71.

  The refrigerant flowing from the external heat exchanger 81 to the three-way valve 94 side flows out from the three-way valve 94 to the capillary tube 93B side according to the state of the three-way valve 94, and is depressurized by the capillary tube 93B. When the refrigerant evaporates in the heat exchanger 51B and the internal heat exchanger 51C, merges with the refrigerant evaporated in the internal heat exchanger 51A and returns to the inverter compressor 71, the three-way valve 94 flows out to the capillary tube 93C side, The pressure is reduced by the capillary tube 93C, evaporates in the internal heat exchanger 51C without flowing through the capillary tube 93B and the internal heat exchanger 51B, merges with the refrigerant evaporated in the internal heat exchanger 51A, and is combined with the inverter compressor 71. May return to

  The solenoid valve 81B is provided in a pipe connecting the pipe between the capillary tube 93D and the four-way valve 92 and the pipe where the refrigerant flowing out of the internal heat exchangers 51A and 51C merges and returns to the inverter compressor 71. The refrigerant is recovered through the capillary tube 93D from the internal heat exchanger 51A in which the refrigerant flows during the heat pump operation in which the air in the left warehouse is heated by the internal heat exchanger 51A. .

  In addition, when the left chamber A is heated by a heat pump operation that heats the left chamber A by the internal heat exchanger 51A, the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the inverter compressor 71 passes through the four-way valve 92 to When condensed by the heat exchanger 51A, depressurized by the capillary tube 93D, and again condensed by the external heat exchanger 81 via the four-way valve 92, and when the electromagnetic valve 81C is open, the electromagnetic valve 81A and the three-way valve The refrigerant that has been divided into the 94 side and the solenoid valve 81C side and has flowed to the solenoid valve 81C side is decompressed by the capillary tube 93E via the solenoid valve 81C, evaporated by the external heat exchanger 81, and the inverter compressor 71. Return to.

  Note that the refrigerant that has flowed to the solenoid valve 81A and the three-way valve 94 side without flowing to the solenoid valve 81C side flows only to the three-way valve 94 side because the solenoid valve 81A is closed when the left chamber A is heated, When the inside B is heated by the heater 62B or when the inside B is cooled to a predetermined lower limit temperature, it flows out from the three-way valve 94 to the capillary tube 93C, and is depressurized by the capillary tube 93C. The refrigerant evaporates in the internal heat exchanger 51C without flowing through 93B and the internal heat exchanger 51B, and returns to the inverter compressor 71. Further, when the inside B is cooled, it flows out from the three-way valve 94 to the capillary tube 93B, is depressurized by the capillary tube 93B, is evaporated by the inside heat exchanger 51B and the inside heat exchanger 51C, Return to the inverter compressor 71.

  In addition, when heating the left warehouse A without heating the right warehouse C (without evaporating the refrigerant in the warehouse heat exchanger 51C) by the heat pump operation that heats the warehouse heat exchanger 51A, The electromagnetic valve 81C is opened, but it is not necessary to evaporate the refrigerant in the external heat exchanger 81 in order to evaporate the refrigerant in at least the internal heat exchanger 51C of the internal heat exchanger 51B and the internal heat exchanger 51C. In this case, the solenoid valve 81C is closed.

  In addition, the refrigeration cycle for both the inner warehouse B and the right warehouse C includes an inverter compressor 71, a four-way valve 92, an external heat exchanger 81, a three-way valve 94, a capillary tube 93C, and an internal heat exchanger 51C. The refrigerant is sequentially connected in an annular manner, and the refrigerant inlet side of the internal heat exchanger 51B is connected to the other outlet side of the three-way valve 94 via the capillary tube 93B, and the refrigerant outlet side of the internal heat exchanger 51B is connected to the capillary. It is the structure connected to the refrigerant | coolant piping between the tube 93C and the internal heat exchanger 51C.

  And when simultaneously cooling the inside B and the right C, the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the inverter compressor 71 is condensed in the outside heat exchanger 81 via the four-way valve 92, The refrigerant flows from the three-way valve 94 toward the capillary tube 93B, and is depressurized by the capillary tube 93B. A part of the refrigerant evaporates in the internal heat exchanger 51B, and then the remaining liquid refrigerant evaporates in the internal heat exchanger 51C. Then, the process returns to the inverter compressor 71.

  In addition, when only the right compartment C is cooled out of the inner compartment B and the right compartment C, the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the inverter compressor 71 passes through the four-way valve 92 to exchange heat outside the compartment. Condensate in the vessel 81, flow from the three-way valve 94 to the capillary tube 93 </ b> C, depressurize in the capillary tube 93 </ b> C, evaporate in the internal heat exchanger 51 </ b> C, and return to the inverter compressor 71.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the main control means 200 for controlling the vending machine 21 of the present embodiment includes an input processing unit 103, an operation control means 104, a high load state detection means 105, and an internal fan rotation speed setting means 106. , Endothermic amount identifying means 107, endothermic amount storage means 108, high load operation time setting means 109, internal volume identification means 110, internal volume storage means 111, and cooling priority identification means 112.

  The input processing unit 103 receives the temperature data of the internal column temperature sensors 41A, 41B, 41C, the outside air temperature sensor 100, the internal heat exchanger temperature sensors 101A, 101B, 101C, and the external heat exchanger temperature sensor 102. read.

  The operation control means 104 controls the operation of the inverter compressor 71 and the internal fans 61A, 61B, 61C.

  The high load state detection means 105 is high when all the in-compartment column temperature sensors 41A, 41B, 41C, the in-compartment heat exchanger temperature sensors 101A, 101B, 101C, and the outside air temperature sensor 100 are all at or above a predetermined temperature. Detect with load.

  The internal fan rotation speed setting means 106 has a large endothermic amount (or a large internal volume) than the internal space where the endothermic amount is small (or the internal volume is small) during high load operation (initial cooling operation). Set the internal fan speed to high (many). Furthermore, the internal fan speed is set to be lower (less) than in normal operation.

  The endothermic amount identifying means 107 identifies the endothermic values of the left compartment A, the middle compartment B, and the right compartment C.

  The endothermic amount storage means 108 stores the value of the endothermic amount and the rotational speed of each of the internal fans 61A, 61B, 61C set as the endothermic amount. As the heat absorption amount increases, the value at which the number of rotations of the internal fans 61A, 61B, 61C increases (increases) is stored.

  The high load operation time setting means 109 sets an operation time during which the number of rotations of the internal fans 61A, 61B, 61C is set lower (less) than normal during the high load operation (initial cooling operation).

  The internal volume identification unit 110 identifies the internal volume values of the left internal A, the central internal B, and the right internal C.

  The internal volume storage means 111 includes the internal volume values of the left internal compartment A, the central internal compartment B, and the right internal compartment C and the internal compartment volume values of the internal fans 61A, 61B, 61C. Memorize the rotation speed. A value that increases (increases) the number of rotations of each internal fan 61A, 61B, 61C as the internal volume value increases is stored.

  The cooling priority identifying unit 112 identifies which one of the left warehouse A, the middle warehouse B, and the right warehouse C is preferentially cooled.

  The operation and action of the vending machine 21 of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described below with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4, if the high load state detection means 105 detects a high load state (internal column temperature sensors 41A, 41B, 41C, internal heat exchanger temperature sensors 101A, 101B, 101C, outside air When all of the temperature sensors 100 are equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature (STEP 1 in FIG. 4), the endothermic amount identifying means 107 stores the endothermic values of the left compartment A, the middle compartment B, and the right compartment C in the endothermic amount storage means 108. Identify from. The internal fan rotational speed setting means 106 determines the rotational speed of the internal fan when the value of the endothermic amount is A in the left compartment <B in the central compartment <C in the right compartment. B is set so as to satisfy the internal fan C (STEP 2 in FIG. 4).

  At this time, the number of rotations of the internal fans 61A, 61B, 61C during high load operation (initial cooling operation) is set to be lower (less) than during normal operation.

  The operation control means 104 at the time of high load starts the operation of the inverter compressor 71 and the internal fans 61A, 61B, 61C, and the time from the start of the operation of the inverter compressor 71 and the internal fans 61A, 61B, 61C. Is started (STEP 3 in FIG. 4).

  Thereafter, in STEP 4 of FIG. 4, the operation of STEP 3 of FIG. 4 is continued for less than a predetermined time from the start of the high load operation (initial cooling operation), and if the predetermined time or more has elapsed from the start of the high load operation (initial cooling operation). Proceeding to STEP 5 of No. 4, the internal fan is operated at the rotation speed during normal operation.

  As described above, the article cooling device used in the vending machine 21 according to the present embodiment includes the in-compartment heat exchangers 51A, 51B, 51C and the in-compartment heat exchanger 51A, which function as an evaporator during the cooling operation of the refrigeration cycle. The internal fans 61A, 61B, 61 with variable rotation speed for circulating the air cooled by 51B, 51C are provided in a plurality (three) of the left warehouse A, the middle warehouse B, and the right warehouse C, respectively. A high load in which each of the internal column temperature sensors 41A, 41B, 41C, the internal heat exchanger temperature sensors 101A, 101B, 101C, and the outside air temperature sensor 100 detect a predetermined temperature or more as in the cooling operation. When the cooling operation by the refrigeration cycle is performed in the state, the operation control means 104 operates with the rotation speed of the internal fans 61A, 61B, 61 being reduced (lowered) at a lower speed than during the normal operation. When the stage 104 performs the cooling operation by the refrigeration cycle in a high load state as in the initial cooling operation, the heat absorption amount is relatively large (large) in the left compartment A, the middle compartment B, and the right compartment C. The number of revolutions of the internal fan 61C in the right compartment C is determined from the rotational speed of the internal fan 61B in the central compartment B and the internal fan 61A in the left compartment A having a smaller (smaller) endothermic amount than the right compartment C. Is also high.

  With the above configuration, all of the internal column temperature sensors 41A, 41B, and 41C, the internal heat exchanger temperature sensors 101A, 101B, and 101C, and the outside air temperature sensor 100 that detect the predetermined temperature or more as in the initial cooling operation are detected. When the cooling operation by the refrigeration cycle is performed in the high load state, the refrigerant and the internal heat exchangers 51A, 51B, 51C are controlled by suppressing the rotation speed of the internal fans 61A, 61B, 61C to be lower than that during the normal operation. While the amount of heat exchange with the surrounding air is suppressed and the inverter compressor 71 is prevented from being overloaded, the heat absorption amount is relatively large in the left compartment A, the middle compartment B, and the right compartment C ( Larger) Cooling in the right warehouse C is less slow than the cooling in the right warehouse C (smaller) than the cooling in the middle and left warehouses B, reducing the amount of heat absorption. Large item in C in right warehouse ( It is possible to reduce the time required for cooling the goods) to a predetermined temperature.

Further, the article cooling apparatus used in the vending machine 21 of the present embodiment has high load operation time setting means 109 for continuing high load operation (initial cooling operation), and high load operation time setting. Based on the result of the endothermic amount identifying means 107 identifying the endothermic amount in each warehouse from the endothermic amount storage means 108, the means 109 is relatively within the left compartment A, the middle compartment B, and the right compartment C. In the initial cooling operation of the internal fan 61C in the right warehouse C with a large (large) heat absorption amount, the time for operation at a lower speed than during normal operation is smaller (smaller) than in the right warehouse C. Inside fan B of the inside warehouse B,
It is made shorter than the internal fan 61A of the left internal A.

  Therefore, in the left warehouse A, the middle warehouse B, and the right warehouse C, the goods in the warehouse while suppressing the load applied to the inverter compressor 71 in the right warehouse C having a relatively large amount of heat absorption (large). The effect of shortening the time until the (product) is cooled to a predetermined temperature can be further enhanced.

  In addition, the article cooling device used in the vending machine 21 of the present embodiment includes the internal heat exchangers 51A, 51B, 51C and the internal heat exchangers 51A, 51B, 51C that function as evaporators during the cooling operation of the refrigeration cycle. The internal fan 61A, 61B, 61 with variable rotation speed for circulating the air cooled by the air is provided in each of a plurality (three) of the left warehouse A, the middle warehouse B, and the right warehouse C during initial cooling operation. The internal column temperature sensors 41A, 41B, and 41C, the internal heat exchanger temperature sensors 101A, 101B, and 101C, and the outside air temperature sensor 100 are all refrigerated in a high load state that detects a predetermined temperature or more. When performing the cooling operation by the cycle, the operation control means 104 operates with the rotation speed of the internal fans 61A, 61B, 61 being reduced (lowered) at a lower speed than during the normal operation. However, when the cooling operation by the refrigeration cycle is performed in a high load state as in the initial cooling operation, the left chamber A, the middle chamber B, and the right chamber C having a relatively large volume in the right chamber C The number of rotations of the internal fan 61C is set to be higher than the number of rotations of the internal fan 61B in the central storage B and the internal fan 61A in the left storage A having a smaller internal volume than the right storage C.

  With the above configuration, all of the internal column temperature sensors 41A, 41B, and 41C, the internal heat exchanger temperature sensors 101A, 101B, and 101C, and the outside air temperature sensor 100 that detect the predetermined temperature or more as in the initial cooling operation are detected. When the cooling operation by the refrigeration cycle is performed in the high load state, the refrigerant and the internal heat exchangers 51A, 51B, 51C are controlled by suppressing the rotation speed of the internal fans 61A, 61B, 61C to be lower than that during the normal operation. While the amount of heat exchange with the surrounding air is suppressed and the inverter compressor 71 is prevented from being overloaded, the inside volume of the left warehouse A, the middle warehouse B, and the right warehouse C is relatively large. The right warehouse C has a relatively large internal volume, and the cooling of the right warehouse C is reduced compared to the cooling of the central warehouse B and the left warehouse A, which are smaller than the right warehouse C. Up to a predetermined temperature It is possible to shorten the time until retirement.

  Further, the article cooling apparatus used in the vending machine 21 of the present embodiment has high load operation time setting means 109 for continuing high load operation (initial cooling operation), and high load operation time setting. The means 109 is based on the result of the storage volume identification means 110 identifying the storage volume in each storage from the storage volume storage means 111, and the inside of the left storage A, the storage B, and the right storage C In the initial cooling operation of the internal fan 61C in the right warehouse C, which has a relatively large internal volume, the time for operating at a lower speed than in the normal operation is smaller than in the right warehouse C. It is shorter than the internal fan 61B of the internal compartment B and the internal fan 61A of the internal left compartment A.

  Therefore, in the left warehouse A, the middle warehouse B, and the right warehouse C, the right warehouse C having a relatively large volume, while suppressing the load applied to the inverter compressor 71, ) Can be further enhanced in the effect of shortening the time required for cooling to a predetermined temperature.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the rotation speed control of the internal fan during the initial cooling operation of the vending machine equipped with the article cooling device in Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

  The present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the inside of the warehouse to be preferentially cooled is identified and the number of rotations of the inside fan is set, and the other is the same as in the first embodiment. Description is omitted.

Cooling priority identifying means 112 for identifying which of the left warehouse A, middle B and right warehouse C is preferentially cooled during high load operation (initial cooling operation) ing.

  The operation and action of the vending machine 21 of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described below with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the high load state detection means 105 detects a high load state (internal column temperature sensors 41A, 41B, 41C, internal heat exchanger temperature sensors 101A, 101B, 101C, outside air temperature sensors). If all of 100 are equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature (STEP 1 in FIG. 5), the process proceeds to STEP 2 in FIG. 5, and the cooling priority identifying means 112 identifies the interior to be preferentially cooled.

  For example, in the refrigeration cycle shown in FIG. 2, when the refrigerant flows from the three-way valve 94 to the internal heat exchanger 51B in the internal compartment B via the capillary tube 93B, the internal heat exchanger 51B in the internal compartment B The refrigerant that has flowed out flows into the internal heat exchanger 51C in the right warehouse C, cools both the middle warehouse B and the right warehouse C, and the warehouse in the right warehouse C via the capillary tube 93C from the three-way valve 94. When the refrigerant flows into the internal heat exchanger 51C, the refrigerant does not flow into the internal heat exchanger 51B of the internal warehouse B, and only the right internal C is cooled between the internal B and the right internal C. When cooling both the inner warehouse B and the right warehouse C, the refrigerant flows first from the internal heat exchanger 51B, and then the refrigerant flows to the internal heat exchanger 51C. The amount of evaporation in the vessel 51B is large, and the internal heat exchanger 51C is cooled by the surplus refrigerant so that the cooling is not slow. .

  In order to increase the amount of refrigerant evaporated in the internal heat exchanger 51C, it is necessary to reduce the amount of refrigerant evaporated in the internal heat exchanger 51B.

  Therefore, the cooling priority identification unit 112 sets the cooling priority of the right compartment C higher than the middle compartment B. The internal fan rotational speed setting means 106 sets the rotational speed of the internal fan 61C higher than the internal fan 61B.

  When the rotational speed of the internal fan 61B is lower (less) than the rotational speed of the internal fan 61C, the amount of heat exchange between the ambient air of the internal heat exchanger 51B and the refrigerant is reduced, and the internal heat exchanger 51B evaporates. As a result, the amount of heat exchange between the air around the internal heat exchanger 51C and the refrigerant can be increased, and the amount of refrigerant evaporated in the internal heat exchanger 51C can be increased.

  The operation control means 104 at the time of high load starts the operation of the inverter compressor 71 and the internal fans 61A, 61B, 61C, and the time from the start of the operation of the inverter compressor 71 and the internal fans 61A, 61B, 61C. Is started (STEP 3 in FIG. 5).

  Thereafter, in STEP 6 of FIG. 5, the operation of STEP 3 of FIG. 5 is continued for less than a predetermined time from the start of the high load operation (initial cooling operation), and if the predetermined time or more has elapsed from the start of the high load operation (initial cooling operation). The process proceeds to STEP 7 in Step 5, and the internal fan is operated at the rotation speed during normal operation.

As described above, the article cooling device used in the vending machine 21 according to the present embodiment includes the in-compartment heat exchangers 51A, 51B, 51C and the in-compartment heat exchanger 51A, which function as an evaporator during the cooling operation of the refrigeration cycle. The internal fans 61A, 61B, 61 with variable rotation speed for circulating the air cooled by 51B, 51C are provided in a plurality (three) of the left warehouse A, the middle warehouse B, and the right warehouse C, respectively. A high load in which each of the internal column temperature sensors 41A, 41B, 41C, the internal heat exchanger temperature sensors 101A, 101B, 101C, and the outside air temperature sensor 100 detect a predetermined temperature or more as in the cooling operation. When the cooling operation by the refrigeration cycle is performed in the state, the operation control means 104 operates with the rotation speed of the internal fans 61A, 61B, 61 being reduced (lowered) at a lower speed than during the normal operation. When stage 104 performs the cooling operation of both the inside B and the right side C by the refrigeration cycle in a high load state as in the initial cooling operation, the stage 104 has priority among the inside B and the right side C. The rotational speed of the internal fan 61C in the right warehouse C that needs to be cooled to a higher value than the rotational speed of the internal fan 61B in the middle warehouse B that does not need to be cooled preferentially over the right warehouse C. It is.

  With the above configuration, all of the internal column temperature sensors 41A, 41B, and 41C, the internal heat exchanger temperature sensors 101A, 101B, and 101C, and the outside air temperature sensor 100 that detect the predetermined temperature or more as in the initial cooling operation are detected. When the cooling operation of both the inner warehouse B and the right warehouse C by the refrigeration cycle is performed in the high load state, the refrigerant fans 61B and 61C are controlled at a lower speed than during normal operation, Cooling preferentially in the inner compartment B and the right compartment C while suppressing the amount of heat exchange with the ambient air of the internal heat exchangers 51B and 51C and preventing the inverter compressor 71 from being overloaded. The right chamber C that needs to be cooled is reduced compared to the cooling of the middle chamber B that does not need to be cooled preferentially over the right chamber C, and the right that needs to be cooled preferentially. Goods (products) in C It is possible to reduce the time required for cooling to a predetermined temperature.

  As described above, the present invention can appropriately cool a plurality of warehouses according to the interior conditions, and is therefore optimal for beverage vending machines, but is not limited to beverage vending machines but has different conditions. It is applicable also to the use which cools the inside of a plurality of warehouses.

A Left compartment B Inside compartment C Right compartment 21 Vending machine 51A, 51B, 51C In-house heat exchanger 61A, 61B, 61C In-house fan 104 Operation control means 105 High load state detection means 106 In-house fan rotation speed Setting means 107 Endothermic amount identifying means 109 High load operation time setting means 110 Internal volume identifying means 112 Cooling priority identifying means

Claims (3)

An internal heat exchanger that functions as an evaporator during the cooling operation of the refrigeration cycle and an internal fan that circulates the air cooled by the internal heat exchanger are provided in a plurality of internal compartments. An article cooling apparatus that operates with the internal fan rotation speed being controlled at a lower speed than during normal operation, wherein the operation control means sets the internal fan rotation speed in the warehouse with a large amount of heat absorption during the initial cooling operation. Time to operate at a lower speed than during normal operation in the initial cooling operation of the internal fan in the warehouse with a large amount of heat absorption, higher than the internal fan rotation speed in the warehouse with a small amount of heat absorption Is made shorter than the in-compartment fan in the above-mentioned warehouse with little heat absorption . An internal heat exchanger that functions as an evaporator during the cooling operation of the refrigeration cycle and an internal fan that circulates the air cooled by the internal heat exchanger are provided in a plurality of internal compartments. An article cooling device that operates with the internal fan rotation speed being controlled at a lower speed than that during normal operation, wherein the operation control means is configured to rotate the internal fan rotation speed in the internal storage with a large internal volume during the initial cooling operation. Higher than the internal fan rotation speed in the internal storage with a small internal volume, and the operation control means rotates in the initial cooling operation of the internal fan in the internal storage with a large internal storage than during normal operation. The article cooling device characterized in that the time for operation with the number kept low is made shorter than the internal fan in the internal storage with a small internal storage volume . A vending machine comprising the article cooling device according to claim 1.

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