JP6873849B2 - Cold storage device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a cold storage device.

Conventionally, as a cold storage device, for example, the one described in Patent Document 1 is known. Patent Document 1 describes a cold storage device including a station and a cart that can be taken in and out of the station. The station is provided with an evaporator and a heater so that the food placed in the cart can be cooled or heated. Further, the cart is provided with a heat insulating box constituting the storage chamber, and is provided with a shutter capable of opening and closing an opening (suction path or outlet path) provided in the heat insulating box.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-43310

In the above configuration, when the shutter is in the closed position, air circulation does not occur between the station and the storage chamber, which makes it difficult to cool or heat the storage in the cart. Therefore, there is a demand for a configuration capable of determining that the shutter is in the closed position for the user of the cold storage device.

The present invention has been completed based on the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a cold storage device capable of determining that a shutter provided on a cart is in a closed position.

In order to solve the above problems, the cold storage device of the present invention includes a cart provided with a heat insulating box constituting a storage chamber and a station having a storage chamber in which the cart is stored, and the station comprises heat exchange. In the chamber, the heater provided in the heat exchange chamber, the cooling device provided with the evaporator provided in the heat exchange chamber, the duct communicating the heat exchange chamber and the storage chamber, and the heat exchange chamber. A temperature sensor provided, a circulation fan provided in the heat exchange chamber and capable of circulating air between the storage chamber and the heat exchange chamber via the duct, the heater, and the cooling. The heat insulating box includes a device and a control unit capable of controlling the circulation fan, respectively, and the heat insulating box has an opening to which the duct is connected, a wall portion constituting the storage chamber, and a closing closing the opening. A shutter that can be displaced between the position and the open position that opens the opening is provided, and the control unit operates a heating operation that operates the heater and the circulation fan, or operates the cooling device and the circulation fan. It is characterized in that it executes a determination process for determining whether or not the shutter is in the closed position based on the temperature change of the detection temperature of the temperature sensor when the cooling operation is executed.

When the shutter is in the open position, air circulates between the storage chamber and the heat exchange chamber through the duct. As a result, the warm air generated by the heater or the cold air generated by the evaporator can be sent to the storage chamber. On the other hand, when the shutter is in the closed position, the situation where the warm or cold air in the heat exchange chamber goes to the storage chamber is suppressed. Therefore, when the shutter is in the closed position, the temperature detected by the temperature sensor rises sharply when the heating operation is executed, and the temperature detected by the temperature sensor drops sharply when the cooling operation is executed. Therefore, it can be determined that the shutter is in the closed position based on the temperature change of the detection temperature of the temperature sensor provided in the heat exchange chamber.

Further, the control unit determines that the shutter is in the closed position when the time at which the detection temperature of the temperature sensor when the cooling operation is executed decreases by a predetermined temperature is not more than a predetermined time in the determination process. It can be determined. When the shutter is in the closed position, the situation in which the cold air in the heat exchange chamber goes to the storage chamber is suppressed, so that the temperature detected by the temperature sensor drops sharply when the cooling operation is executed. Therefore, it can be determined that the shutter is in the closed position when the time for the temperature sensor detection temperature to drop by a predetermined temperature is less than or equal to a predetermined time.

Further, the control unit executes a heater stop process for stopping the heater when the detection temperature of the temperature sensor reaches a preset set temperature during the heating operation, and in the determination process, the heater is stopped. The shutter is in the closed position when the detection temperature of the temperature sensor after the stop process is executed becomes higher than the detection temperature of the temperature sensor at the time when the heater stop process is executed. Can be determined. When the shutter is in the closed position, the warm air in the heat exchange chamber generated by the residual heat after the heater is stopped is suppressed from going to the storage chamber, so that the temperature detected by the temperature sensor rises sharply. Therefore, when the detection temperature of the temperature sensor becomes higher than the detection temperature of the temperature sensor at the time when the heater stop processing is executed, it can be determined that the shutter is in the closed position.

Further, the control unit determines that the shutter is in the closed position when the detection temperature of the temperature sensor when the heating operation is executed in the determination process rises by a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time or less. It can be determined. When the shutter is in the closed position, the situation where the warm air in the heat exchange chamber goes to the storage chamber is suppressed, so that the temperature detected by the temperature sensor rises sharply when the heating operation is executed. Therefore, it can be determined that the shutter is in the closed position when the time for the detection temperature of the temperature sensor to rise by a predetermined temperature is less than or equal to a predetermined time.

Further, the control unit includes a notification unit, and when the determination process determines that the shutter is in the closed position, the notification unit executes a notification process for notifying that the shutter is in the closed position. Can be. The notification process can notify the user of the situation where the shutter is in the closed position.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a cold storage device capable of determining that the shutter provided on the cart is in the closed position.

An exploded perspective view of a cold storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Cross-sectional view showing a cold storage device (cross-sectional view seen from the front side) Plan view showing the cart body (shutter closed position) Cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the shutter (corresponding to the view cut along the IV-IV line in FIG. 3) Block diagram showing the electrical configuration of a cold storage device Flow chart showing processing by the control unit during precooling operation Graph showing the detected temperature of the temperature sensor during precooling operation Flow chart showing judgment processing by the control unit during heating operation Flow chart showing the judgment process by the control unit after the heater is stopped Graph showing the temperature detected by the temperature sensor when the shutter is in the open position Graph showing the temperature detected by the temperature sensor when the shutter is in the closed position

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 11. As shown in FIG. 1, the cold storage device 1 of the present embodiment includes a cart 10 (insulation cart) and a station 30 for storing the cart 10 so that it can be taken in and out. The cart 10 includes a cart main body 11 having a heat insulating box 11A constituting a storage chamber 11B (insulation chamber), and a frame cart 20 for storing the tray 40. In addition, such a cold storage device 1 may be generally called a reheating cart. Both front and rear sides of the heat insulating box 11A are open, and the heat insulating box 11A is equipped with a double door 12 that opens and closes the front and rear openings. In FIG. 1, the heat insulating door on the right side of the opening on the front side is not shown. Further, a caster 13 is provided on the bottom surface of the heat insulating box 11A.

The frame cart 20 has a structure in which a metal frame 23 is raised from the left and right side edges of a bottom plate 21 provided with casters 22. The frame cart 20 can be taken in and out of the cart body 11 from the front side. A heat insulating partition wall 24 is provided in the substantially central portion of the frame cart 20 in the left-right direction over the entire area in the front-rear direction. The partition wall 24 is configured by stacking a plurality of unit partition walls 24A. The tray 40 is stored in a plurality of stages while penetrating between the upper and lower unit partition walls 24A from both the front and rear sides. As shown in FIG. 2, when the frame cart 20 is housed in the cart main body 11, the storage chamber 11B is partitioned to the left and right by the partition wall 24, so that the refrigerating chamber 25H is formed on the left side and the refrigerating chamber 25C is formed on the right side. Is formed.

The left inner panel 14A is provided inside the cart main body 11 so as to face the left heat insulating wall, and the air circulation passage 41 is formed by the left heat insulating wall and the left inner panel 14A. Further, although omitted in FIG. 2, the right inner panel is provided inside the cart body 11 so as to face the right heat insulating wall in the same manner as the left inner panel 14A, and the right inner panel is provided. The air circulation passage 42 is formed by the wall and the inner panel on the right side. The left inner panel 14A and the right inner panel are formed with a plurality of holes 14B (see FIG. 1) for allowing air to flow into the cart body 11.

As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of openings 17A, 17B, 17C, and 17D are formed in the ceiling wall portion 15 (wall portion constituting the storage chamber) of the heat insulating box 11A. As shown in FIG. 2, the opening 17A is formed above the air circulation passage 41, and the opening 17B is formed above the cold storage chamber 25H. Further, the opening 17C is formed above the refrigerating chamber 25C, and the opening 17D is formed above the air circulation passage 42. Further, the openings 17B and 17C can be opened and closed by the shutter 18 (see the broken line in FIG. 3).

The station 30 has a substantially box shape having a storage chamber 30A opened in the front. The cart 10 can be stored in the storage chamber 30A. A machine room 36 is formed in the upper part of the station 30. The machine room 36 houses a compressor 38, a condenser 39, a condenser fan 39A, and the like that constitute the cooling device 37. As shown in FIG. 2, a heat exchange chamber 31 and a heat exchange chamber 32 are horizontally arranged side by side under the machine room 36. The heat exchange chamber 31 is arranged above the cold storage chamber 25H. The heat exchange chamber 31 houses an evaporator 33A (cooler), a heater 34, and a circulation fan 35A. The evaporator 33A constitutes a part of the cooling device 37.

The heat exchange chamber 32 is arranged above the refrigerating chamber 25C. The heat exchange chamber 32 houses an evaporator 33B and a circulation fan 35B. The evaporator 33B constitutes a part of the cooling device 37. The evaporator 33A and the evaporator 33B are connected in parallel with the compressor 38 and the condenser 39 via a refrigerant pipe and an on-off valve (not shown), and constitute a cooling cycle. The control unit 80 (see FIG. 5 below) can control the supply of the refrigerant to the evaporators 33A and 33B by switching the on-off valve. As a result, the control unit 80 can switch between a state in which both the evaporator 33A and the evaporator 33B are operating, a state in which only the evaporator 33A is operating, and a state in which only the evaporator 33B is operating. it can.

Further, the heat exchange chamber 31 is provided with a temperature sensor 61H for detecting the temperature of the refrigerating chamber 25H, and the heat exchange chamber 32 is provided with a temperature sensor 61C for detecting the temperature of the refrigerating chamber 25C. The temperature sensor 61H (temperature sensor provided in the heat exchange chamber) is arranged adjacent to the suction side of the circulation fan 35A, and can detect the temperature of the air in the cold storage chamber 25H sucked by the circulation fan 35A. It has become. The temperature sensor 61C is arranged adjacent to the suction side of the circulation fan 35B, and can detect the temperature of the air in the refrigerating chamber 25C sucked by the circulation fan 35B. Further, the heat exchange chamber 31 is provided with a temperature sensor 62H adjacent to the discharge side of the circulation fan 35A. The temperature sensor 62H can detect the temperature of the air sent to the cold storage chamber 25H by the circulation fan 35A.

As shown in FIG. 2, a duct mechanism 50 is arranged below the heat exchange chambers 31 and 32. The duct mechanism 50 is for expanding and contracting four ducts 52, 53, 54, 55, a duct holding member 51 for holding each duct 52, 53, 54, 55, a spring member 56, and each duct 52 to 55. It is equipped with an operation lever 57 (switching unit). The heat exchange chambers 31 and 32 and the storage chamber 11B are configured to communicate with each other via ducts 52 to 55.

The ducts 52 and 53 extend downward (on the storage chamber 11B side) from the heat exchange chamber 31, and the ducts 54 and 55 extend downward (on the storage chamber 11B side) from the heat exchange chamber 32. The ducts 52 to 55 are, for example, bellows-shaped members made of a rubber material and can be expanded and contracted in the vertical direction. Ducts 52-55 are fixed to the bottom wall of the corresponding heat exchange chamber at their upper ends. The operation lever 57 is provided on the front surface of the station 30. By rotating the operation lever 57, the operator can push down the duct holding member 51 by a cam (not shown) provided on the operation lever 57. As shown in FIG. 2, when the duct holding member 51 is pushed down, the total length of the ducts 52 to 55 is extended, and the lower end of each duct 52 to 55 extends toward the storage chamber 11B side of the cart 10, so that each duct is extended. The lower end portions (trumpet-shaped portions) of 52 to 55 abut against the ceiling wall portion 15 so as to surround the openings 17A to 17D of the ceiling wall portion 15 of the heat insulating box 11A.

As a result, the heat exchange chamber 31 and the air circulation passage 41 are communicated with each other by the duct 52, and the heat exchange chamber 31 and the cold storage chamber 25H are communicated with each other by the duct 53. As a result, an air circulation path for circulating air is formed between the heat exchange chamber 31 and the cold storage chamber 25H via the ducts 52 and 53. Further, the heat exchange chamber 32 and the refrigerating chamber 25C are communicated with each other by the duct 54, and the heat exchange chamber 32 and the air circulation passage 42 are communicated with each other by the duct 55. As a result, an air circulation path for circulating air is formed between the heat exchange chamber 32 and the refrigerating chamber 25C via the ducts 54 and 55.

Further, when the operator rotates the operation lever 57 counterclockwise from the state shown in FIG. 2, the pressure of the duct holding member 51 by the cam of the operation lever 57 is released, and as a result, the spring member 56 elastically returns. Then, the duct holding member 51 is pulled up. As a result, the ducts 52 to 55 shrink, so that the lower ends of the ducts 52 to 55 are separated from the ceiling wall portion 15. As described above, in the present embodiment, the ducts 52 to 55 can be expanded and contracted by operating the operation lever 57, and the connection and non-connection of the ducts 52 to 55 with respect to the openings 17A to 17D can be switched. As a result, it is possible to suppress a situation in which the ducts 52 to 55 and the cart 10 interfere with each other when the station 30 is taken in and out of the cart 10.

When the circulation fan 35A rotates while the above-mentioned air circulation path is formed, the air in the cold storage chamber 25H is sucked into the heat exchange chamber 31 through the duct 53. The air sucked into the heat exchange chamber 31 is cooled by the evaporator 33A (or heated by the heater 34) and sent from the duct 52 to the air circulation passage 41. The air sent into the air circulation passage 41 flows into the cold storage chamber 25H through a plurality of holes formed in the left inner panel 14A. As described above, in the present embodiment, the operation of the circulation fan 35A allows air to be circulated between the cold storage chamber 25H and the heat exchange chamber 31 via the ducts 52 and 53.

Further, when the circulation fan 35B rotates while the above-mentioned air circulation path is formed, the air in the refrigerating chamber 25C is sucked into the heat exchange chamber 32 through the duct 54. The air sucked into the heat exchange chamber 32 is cooled by the evaporator 33B and sent from the duct 55 to the air circulation passage 42. The air sent into the air circulation passage 42 flows into the refrigerating chamber 25C through a plurality of holes formed in the right inner panel. As described above, in the present embodiment, the operation of the circulation fan 35B allows air to be circulated between the refrigerating chamber 25C and the heat exchange chamber 32 via the ducts 54 and 55.

Next, the configuration of the shutter 18 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the shutter 18 is a plate material having a substantially rectangular shape, and is arranged so as to overlap the ceiling wall portion 15 of the heat insulating box 11A from below. The shutter 18 is formed with shutter-side openings 18B and 18C having substantially the same shape as the openings 17B and 17C. Further, the shutters 18 are attached to the pair of guide rails 16 and 16 provided on the ceiling wall portion 15 at both ends in the left-right direction, and the shutters 18 are attached to the front-rear direction (vertical direction in FIG. 3). ), It is configured so that it can be slid. As a result, the shutter 18 is between the closed position where the openings 17B and 17C are closed (position shown in FIG. 3) and the open position where the openings 17B and 17C and the shutter side openings 18B and 18C overlap each other (the position shown in FIG. 4). It is possible to displace with. That is, when the shutter 18 is in the open position, the openings 17B and 17C are open. In the closed position, as shown in FIG. 3, the shutter side openings 18B and 18C are arranged on the rear side (upper side of FIG. 3) with respect to the openings 17B and 17C.

Further, a pin 19 is formed at the rear end portion of the shutter 18. The pin 19 projects upward from the ceiling wall portion 15 through a longitudinal through hole 15A formed in the ceiling wall portion 15. As shown in FIG. 4, a bracket 71 is provided on the inner surface of the back wall 30B of the station 30 so as to project to the front side (left side in FIG. 4). The bracket 71 is arranged at the same height as the pin 19, and is arranged at the same position as the pin 19 in the left-right direction (the paper penetrating direction in FIG. 4). When the user stores the cart 10 in the storage chamber 30A of the station 30, the cart 10 is inserted into the storage chamber 30A from the front. At this time, the pin 19 is pressed from the rear side by the front end portion of the bracket 71. As a result, the shutter 18 in the closed position is displaced to the open position. That is, the pin 19 and the bracket 71 constitute a shutter displacement mechanism 26 that displaces the shutter 18 in the closed position to the open position in conjunction with the cart 10 being stored in the storage chamber 30A.

Further, a cart detection unit 70 for detecting that the cart 10 is stored in a regular storage position is attached to the bracket 71. When the cart 10 is stored in the regular storage position, the contact portion 72 of the cart detection unit 70 is pushed onto the upper part of the cart 10 (insulation box 11A), so that the cart detection unit 70 is turned on. The regular storage position of the cart 10 is a position where the corresponding openings 17A to 17D are arranged below the ducts 52 to 55, respectively.

Next, the electrical configuration of the cold storage device 1 will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, the cold storage device 1 includes a control unit 80. The control unit 80 includes an operation unit 81A, a display unit 81B, temperature sensors 61C, 61H, 62H, circulation fans 35A, 35B, a heater 34, a cooling device 37 (more specifically, a compressor 38, a condenser fan 39A, and opening / closing. The valve), the timing unit 64, the storage unit 63, the cart detection unit 70, and the duct detection unit 60 are electrically connected. The duct detection unit 60 detects whether or not the ducts 52 to 55 are in an extended state (a state in which the ducts 52 to 55 are in contact with the ceiling wall portion 15 in FIG. 2), and is configured by, for example, a magnetic proximity sensor. There is.

The control unit 80 is mainly composed of, for example, a CPU, and the storage unit 63 is composed of, for example, a ROM or a RAM. The control unit 80 executes the program stored in the storage unit 63 to execute the display unit 81B, the circulation fans 35A and 35B, the heater 34, and the cooling device 37 (and thus the evaporators 33A and 33B) connected to the control unit 80. It is possible to control each of the operations of. The control unit 80 and the storage unit 63 are housed in, for example, an electrical box arranged in the machine room 36, but the present invention is not limited to this.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a touch panel 81 (more specifically, a liquid crystal panel with a touch panel) is provided on the front wall portion of the station 30. The touch panel 81 constitutes an operation unit 81A and a display unit 81B (notification unit). By operating the switch displayed on the touch panel 81, the operator performs operations related to the operation of the cold storage device 1, various settings (for example, input of cooking completion time, target temperature, etc.), confirmation of operation history, and the like. be able to. The timekeeping unit 64 (built-in clock) is supposed to measure the current time, and the control unit 80 can control each device based on the current time of the timekeeping unit 64.

In the cold storage device 1 of the present embodiment, the control unit 80 controls each device (heater 34, cooling device 37, circulation fans 35A, 35B) based on a predetermined operation course. The control unit 80 controls each device (heater 34, cooling device 37, circulation fan 35A, circulation fan 35B, etc.) so that the temperature detected by the temperature sensors 61H and 61C becomes a preset set temperature. Examples of the operation course include precooling operation, chilled operation, heating operation, and the like. The control unit 80 controls the operation or non-operation of the evaporators 33A and 33B by switching the opening / closing of the on-off valve included in the cooling device 37 and switching the compressor 38 on / off.

The chilled operation is an operation of chilling the refrigerating chamber 25C and the refrigerating / heating chamber 25H, and the control unit 80 operates the evaporators 33A and 33B, the circulation fan 35A, and the circulation fan 35B. The heating operation is an operation in which the refrigerating chamber 25C is kept cold and the refrigerating chamber 25H is heated. The control unit 80 stops the operation of the evaporator 33A, and the heater 34, the evaporator 33B, the circulation fan 35A, and the circulation fan. Operate 35B. Further, the pre-cooling operation is an operation for cooling the inside of the empty storage chamber 11B after the heating operation and before the next meal is put in, and the control unit 80 includes the evaporators 33A and 33B, the circulation fan 35A, and the circulation. Operate the fan 35B.

In the present embodiment, when the shutter displacement mechanism 26 fails, the shutter 18 may be set in the station 30 in the closed position. In that case, the refrigerating / heating chamber 25H and the heat exchange chamber 31 may be set. Air cannot be circulated between the refrigerator chamber 25C and the heat exchange chamber 32. Therefore, the control unit 80 has a function of executing a determination process for determining whether or not the shutter 18 is in the closed position. The height of the station 30 (the height of the storage chamber 30A) can be adjusted, but if the height is not adjusted correctly, the pin 19 hits the bracket 71. It is conceivable that they will not come into contact with each other, and even in that case, the shutter 18 will be set in the station 30 in the closed position. Further, even when the shutter 18 is in the open position, an air circulation path (for example, a filter (not shown) provided in the station 30) between the heat exchange chambers 31 and 32 and the storage chamber 11B may be used by a food tag or the like installed on the tray 40. Etc.) is partially closed, so that the same phenomenon as when the shutter 18 is closed can occur.

The control unit 80 determines whether or not the shutter 18 is in the closed position based on the temperature change of the detected temperature of the temperature sensors 61H and 62H, and a notification process for notifying that the shutter 18 is in the closed position. And execute. The determination process is executed when the heating operation and the precooling operation (an example of the cooling operation) are executed.

FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of the determination process during the precooling operation. Further, FIG. 7 shows an example of the detected temperature and time transition of the temperature sensor 61H during the precooling operation. The horizontal axis shown in FIG. 7 is the time based on the start time of the precooling operation (0 minutes), and the vertical axis is the detected temperature of the temperature sensor 61H. Further, in FIG. 7, a reference numeral K1 is attached to the detection temperature in the state where the shutter 18 is in the open position (normal state), and a reference numeral H1 is attached to the detection temperature in the state where the shutter 18 is in the closed position. In the precooling operation, the cold air generated in the heat exchange chambers 31 and 32 heads toward the storage chamber 11B, so that the temperature of the temperature sensor 61H decreases. As shown by reference numeral H1 in FIG. 7, when the shutter 18 is in the closed position during the precooling operation, the cold air in the heat exchange chamber 31 becomes difficult to move toward the cold storage chamber 25H, and the cold air stays in the heat exchange chamber 31. Therefore, the detection temperature of the temperature sensor 61H drops sharply as compared with the normal state (see reference numeral K1 in FIG. 7).

Therefore, during the precooling operation, if the rate of decrease in the detection temperature of the temperature sensor 61H is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, it can be determined that the shutter 18 is in the closed position. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 80 determines a time (temperature decrease time T1) at which the detection temperature of the temperature sensor 61H decreases by a predetermined temperature T12 after starting the precooling operation (step S11). When the time is T2 or less, it is determined that the shutter 18 is in the closed position (determination process, step S12). For example, the control unit 80 takes less than 10 minutes when the detection temperature of the temperature sensor 61H drops from 20 ° C. (first predetermined temperature) to 5 ° C. (second predetermined temperature) (predetermined temperature T12 = 15 ° C.). In some cases, it is determined that the shutter 18 is in the closed position, but the temperature and time illustrated here are examples and are not limited to these values.

When the control unit 80 determines that the shutter 18 is in the closed position (YES in step S12), the control unit 80 operates the display unit 81B to perform the notification process (step S13). In the notification process, the control unit 80 displays, for example, a warning message "an abnormality in the temperature inside the refrigerator has been detected" on the display unit 81B (touch panel 81), and informs the user of possible causes of the abnormality. The message to be presented is displayed on the display unit 81B. The messages displayed on the display 81B are "Did you open the door during heating?", "Is the cart set correctly?", "Is there a food tag on the filter?", It is possible to exemplify words such as "Is the shutter of the cart closed?" The temperature inside the refrigerator is the temperature inside the cold storage chamber 25H.

8 and 9 show a flowchart of the determination process during the heating operation. FIG. 8 shows a determination process based on the temperature change during the operation of the heater 34, and FIG. 9 shows the determination process based on the temperature change after the heater 34 is stopped. Further, FIGS. 10 and 11 show an example of the detected temperature and time transition of the temperature sensors 61H and 62H in the heating operation. The horizontal axis shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 is the time based on the start time of the heating operation (0 minutes), and the vertical axis is the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 61H or the temperature sensor 62H. In FIG. 10, a reference numeral K2 is attached to the detection temperature of the temperature sensor 61H in the state where the shutter 18 is in the open position (normal state), and a reference numeral K3 is attached to the detection temperature of the temperature sensor 62H. Further, in FIG. 11, a reference numeral H2 is attached to the detection temperature of the temperature sensor 61H in the state where the shutter 18 is in the closed position, and a reference numeral H3 is attached to the detection temperature of the temperature sensor 62H. Further, in FIG. 10, the operation waveform (electric power) of the heater 34 is indicated by reference numeral A1, and in FIG. 11, the operation waveform (electric power) of the heater 34 is indicated by reference numeral A2.

In the heating operation, the heater 34 is stopped when the detection temperature of the temperature sensor 61H reaches the set temperature or when the detection temperature of the temperature sensor 62H reaches the set temperature. The temperature sensor 62H has a function of measuring the temperature of the warm air toward the cold storage chamber 25H, and the control unit 80 stops the heater 34 based on the detection temperature of the temperature sensor 62H, so that high-temperature air is released. It is possible to suppress the situation of going to the cold / hot storage room 25H and protect the tableware and the like in the cold / hot storage room 25H. Note that FIG. 10 illustrates a case where the heater 34 is stopped when the detection temperature of the temperature sensor 62H reaches 200 ° C. Further, the control unit 80 repeatedly turns on and off the heater 34 so that the detection temperature of the temperature sensor 61H becomes a set temperature (for example, 115 ° C.).

Here, in the state where the shutter 18 is in the closed position (see FIG. 11), the air circulation path between the heat exchange chamber 31 and the cold storage chamber 25H is not formed, so that the warm air generated by the heater 34 is cold and hot. The situation toward the storage chamber 25H is suppressed, and the temperature of the heat exchange chamber 31 tends to rise as compared with the normal state (see FIG. 10). Therefore, in the present embodiment, the control unit 80 closes the shutter 18 based on the rate of increase in the detected temperature of the temperature sensor 61H during the heating operation (during the operation of the heater 34) or the rate of increase in the detected temperature of the temperature sensor 62H. Determine if it is in position. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, the control unit 80 determines a time (temperature rise time T3) in which the detection temperature of the temperature sensor 61H rises by a predetermined temperature T13 after starting the heating operation (step S21). When the time T4 or less, or when the time when the detection temperature of the temperature sensor 62H rises by the predetermined temperature T14 (temperature rise time T5) is the predetermined time T6 or less, it is determined that the shutter 18 is in the closed position (determination process). , Step S22).

The control unit 80 determines that the temperature rise time T3 when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 61H rises from, for example, 30 ° C. to 80 ° C. (predetermined temperature T13 = 50 ° C.) is 5 minutes (predetermined time T4) or less. It is determined that the shutter 18 is in the closed position. Further, the control unit 80 determines that the temperature rise time T5 when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 62H rises from 100 ° C. to 150 ° C. (predetermined temperature T14 = 50 ° C.) is 2 minutes or less (predetermined time T6). It is determined that the shutter 18 is in the closed position. The above temperature and time are examples, and are not limited thereto. Then, when the control unit 80 determines that the shutter 18 is in the closed position (YES in step S22), the control unit 80 operates the display unit 81B in the same manner as in the precooling operation to perform the notification process (step S23).

Further, the control unit 80 performs a determination process based on the temperature change of the temperature sensor 61H after the heater 34 is stopped. When the shutter 18 is in the closed position, the warm air generated by the residual heat after the heater 34 is stopped does not go to the cold storage chamber 25H, so that the temperature of the heat exchange chamber 31 rises more than in the normal state (see FIG. 10). It becomes easier to do. Therefore, whether or not the shutter 18 is in the closed position based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 61H after the heater 34 is stopped (more specifically, from the time the heater 34 is stopped until the next time the heater 34 is operated). Can be determined. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, when the detection temperature T7 of the temperature sensor 61H reaches the set temperature T8 (YES in step S32) after the heating operation is started (step S31). The operation of the heater 34 is stopped (heater stop processing, step S33).

After that, in the control unit 80, the detection temperature T9 of the temperature sensor 61H after the heater stop processing was executed became higher than the detection temperature T10 of the temperature sensor 61H at the time when the heater stop processing was executed by a predetermined temperature T11 or more. In this case, it is determined that the shutter 18 is in the closed position (determination process, step S34). For example, in the control unit 80, the detection temperature T9 of the temperature sensor 61H after the heater stop processing is executed is higher than the detection temperature T10 (119 ° C. in FIG. 11) of the temperature sensor 61H at the time when the heater stop processing is executed. When the temperature rises by 10 ° C. (T11) or more (see T15 in FIG. 11), it is determined that the shutter 18 is in the closed position. The above temperature and time are examples, and are not limited thereto. Further, the set temperature T8 of the heater 34 may be used instead of the detection temperature T10 of the temperature sensor 61H at the time when the heater stop process is executed. Then, when the control unit 80 determines that the shutter 18 is in the closed position (YES in step S34), the control unit 80 operates the display unit 81B to perform the notification process (step S35).

Regarding the control of the heater 34, the control unit 80 determines the detected temperatures of the temperature sensors 61H and 62H by, for example, the average value of five measured values acquired every 0.2 seconds (sampling time = 0.2 seconds). Is used for control. Further, regarding the control of the cooling device 37, the control unit 80 sets the average value of the five measured values acquired every 2 seconds (sampling time = 2 seconds) for the detected temperatures of the temperature sensors 61H, 62H, 61C, for example. It is used for control. Further, the display unit 81B can display the detection temperatures acquired by the temperature sensors 61H, 62H, and 61C, respectively. Regarding the display of the display unit 81B, the control unit 80 displays the temperature sensors 61H, 62H, and 61C by using, for example, an average value of five measured values acquired every two seconds. That is, the temperature display of the display unit 81B is updated every 10 seconds.

As described above, regarding the control of the heater 34, by making the sampling time of the detected temperatures of the temperature sensors 61H and 62H smaller, the accuracy of the control of the heater 34, particularly the determination process after the heater stop process described above, is further improved. can do. Further, regarding the display of the display unit 81B, by increasing the sampling time as compared with the control of the heater 34, it is possible to suppress the situation where the display of the display unit 81B is not busy, and the user can easily check the temperature display.

Next, the effect of this embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, when the shutter 18 is in the open position, air circulates between the storage chamber 11B and the heat exchange chambers 31 and 32 via the ducts 52 to 55. As a result, the warm air generated by the heater 34 or the cold air generated by the evaporators 33A and 33B can be sent to the storage chamber 20A. On the other hand, when the shutter 18 is in the closed position, the situation where the warm or cold air of the heat exchange chamber 31 goes toward the storage chamber 20A is suppressed. Therefore, when the shutter 18 is in the closed position, the detection temperature of the temperature sensors 61H and 62H rises sharply when the heating operation is executed, and the detection temperature of the temperature sensor 61H is set when the cooling operation is executed. It drops sharply. Therefore, it can be determined that the shutter 18 is in the closed position based on the temperature change of the detected temperature of the temperature sensors 61H and 62H provided in the heat exchange chamber 31.

Specifically, when the shutter 18 is in the closed position, the situation in which the cold air in the heat exchange chamber 31 goes toward the storage chamber 11B is suppressed, so that the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 61H is set when the cooling operation is executed. It drops sharply. Therefore, it can be determined that the shutter 18 is in the closed position when the detection temperature of the temperature sensor 61H drops by a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time or less.

Further, when the shutter 18 is in the closed position, the warm air of the heat exchange chamber 31 generated by the residual heat after the heater 34 is stopped is suppressed from going to the storage chamber 11B, so that the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 61H is set. It rises sharply. Therefore, when the detection temperature of the temperature sensor 61H becomes higher than the detection temperature of the temperature sensor 61H at the time when the heater stop processing is executed, it can be determined that the shutter 18 is in the closed position.

Further, when the shutter 18 is in the closed position, the situation where the warm air of the heat exchange chamber 31 goes to the storage chamber 11B is suppressed, so that the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 61H rises sharply when the heating operation is executed. To do. Therefore, it can be determined that the shutter 18 is in the closed position when the detection temperature of the temperature sensor 61H rises by a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time or less.

Further, the display unit 81B is provided, and when the control unit 80 determines in the determination process that the shutter 18 is in the closed position, the display unit 81B executes a notification process for notifying that the shutter 18 is in the closed position. The notification process can notify the user of the situation where the shutter 18 is in the closed position.

<Other Embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described in the above description and drawings, and for example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.
(1) In the above embodiment, the display unit of the touch panel is illustrated as the notification unit, but the present invention is not limited to this. A buzzer, a lamp, or the like may be used as the notification unit, or a buzzer sound or lighting of the lamp may be used to notify that the shutter 18 is in the closed position.
(2) Each predetermined temperature and each predetermined time in the determination process of the shutter 18 are not limited to those described above, and can be set as appropriate. Each predetermined temperature and each predetermined time in the determination process of the shutter 18 can be determined based on the test results of the test conducted in the state where the shutter 18 is in the open position and the state in which the shutter 18 is in the closed position.
(3) In the above embodiment, the configuration in which the determination process is performed during the cooling operation, during the heater operation, and after the heater is stopped has been illustrated, but the determination process can be performed during the cooling operation, during the heater operation, or after the heater is stopped. It may be done only in the state of.

1 ... Cooling and heating device, 10 ... Cart, 11A ... Insulation box, 11B ... Storage room, 15 ... Ceiling wall (wall), 17B ... Opening, 18 ... Shutter, 30 ... Station, 30A ... Storage room, 31 ... Heat Exchange room, 33A ... Evaporator, 34 ... Heater, 35A ... Circulation fan, 37 ... Cooling device, 53 ... Duct, 61H ... Temperature sensor, 80 ... Control unit, 81B ... Display unit (Notification unit)

Claims (5)

A cart with a heat insulating box that makes up the storage room,
A station having a storage room in which the cart is stored,
The station
Heat exchange room and
The heater provided in the heat exchange chamber and
A cooling device provided with an evaporator provided in the heat exchange chamber, and
A duct communicating the heat exchange chamber and the storage chamber,
The temperature sensor provided in the heat exchange chamber and
A circulation fan provided in the heat exchange chamber and capable of circulating air between the storage chamber and the heat exchange chamber via the duct.
The heater, the cooling device, and a control unit capable of controlling the circulation fan are provided.
The heat insulating box is
With an opening to which the duct is connected and a wall portion constituting the storage chamber,
A shutter that can be displaced between a closed position that closes the opening and an open position that opens the opening is provided.
The control unit
The shutter is moved to the closed position based on the temperature change of the temperature detected by the temperature sensor when the heating operation for operating the heater and the circulation fan or the cooling operation for operating the cooling device and the circulation fan is executed. A cold storage device that executes a determination process to determine whether or not there is one. The control unit
In the determination process
The cold storage device according to claim 1, wherein it is determined that the shutter is in the closed position when the time during which the detection temperature of the temperature sensor drops by a predetermined temperature when the cooling operation is executed is not more than a predetermined time. .. The control unit
During the heating operation, a heater stop process for stopping the heater when the detection temperature of the temperature sensor reaches a preset set temperature is executed.
In the determination process
When the temperature detected by the temperature sensor after the heater stop process is executed becomes higher than the detection temperature of the temperature sensor at the time when the heater stop process is executed, the shutter is in the closed position. The cold and hot storage device according to claim 1 or 2, which is determined to be in the above. The control unit
In the determination process
Any of claims 1 to 3 for determining that the shutter is in the closed position when the time for which the temperature detected by the temperature sensor rises by a predetermined temperature when the heating operation is executed is not more than a predetermined time. Or the cold storage device according to item 1. Equipped with a notification unit
The control unit
Any one of claims 1 to 4, when the determination process determines that the shutter is in the closed position, the notification unit executes a notification process for notifying that the shutter is in the closed position. The cold storage device described in the section.

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