JP7792289B2 - Disinfection storage cabinet and disinfection storage system - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to a disinfectant storage cabinet and a disinfectant storage system.

A disinfecting cabinet for disinfecting and storing tableware is known as commercial kitchen equipment. The disinfecting cabinet sterilizes and dries the washed tableware stored therein, and then stores the tableware until the next time it is used. The disinfecting cabinet is equipped with, for example, an electric heater, which heats and disinfects the tableware.

In large-scale kitchen facilities, multiple sterilization cabinets are installed to heat and sterilize large quantities of tableware. These cabinets are used individually, or alternatively, they are connected in series (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In a system where multiple disinfection cabinets are connected in series, the multiple disinfection cabinets will begin heat disinfection in sequence when an operation command is given to the first disinfection cabinet. When one disinfection cabinet completes heat disinfection, the next disinfection cabinet will begin heat disinfection. When the last disinfection cabinet completes heat disinfection, heat disinfection for the entire system will be completed.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-252237

When a large number of tableware items are stored across multiple sterilization cabinets and these items are heated and sterilized using multiple sterilization cabinets, the heater in each cabinet is repeatedly turned on and off to control the temperature inside the cabinet to the set temperature. This keeps the temperature inside the cabinet roughly constant. However, in this case, the heater's waiting time is the period from when the temperature inside the cabinet exceeds the set temperature and the heater is turned off until the temperature drops to the set temperature and the heater is turned on again.

For this reason, if sterilization cabinets are operated one by one in sequence, it takes a long time to complete the heat sterilization of all tableware stored in multiple sterilization cabinets. On the other hand, operating multiple sterilization cabinets simultaneously increases the facility's hourly power consumption. Increased hourly power consumption leads to higher electricity bills.

Accordingly, according to one aspect of the present disclosure, it is desirable to provide technology that can efficiently heat and disinfect objects using multiple disinfection storage cabinets while reducing power consumption per hour.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a sterilization storage cabinet is provided. The sterilization storage cabinet includes a heater, a controller, and an input/output circuit. The heater is configured to heat items stored in the cabinet. Here, a heater included in the sterilization storage cabinet is referred to as an internal heater.

The controller is configured to control the self-heater. The input/output circuit is configured to input signals from an external storage cabinet, which is an external disinfection storage cabinet, and to output signals intended for the external storage cabinet.

The controller outputs a first notification signal regarding the operation of the internal heater to the external storage cabinet via the input/output circuit. The controller controls the internal heater based on a second notification signal regarding the operation of the external heater, which is a heater provided in the external storage cabinet and is input from the external storage cabinet via the input/output circuit.

A disinfection storage cabinet according to one aspect of the present disclosure can control its own heater depending on the operating status of the external heater in the external storage cabinet. In an environment where the internal temperature of the external storage cabinet is sufficient for thermal disinfection, the power consumption of the external heater may decrease, or the external heater may stop and its power consumption may become zero.

Based on the second notification signal, the controller can increase the output of the internal heater or activate the internal heater to heat and disinfect the items stored in the external storage cabinet, for example, in an environment where the power consumption of the external heater is reduced or zero, until the temperature inside the external storage cabinet drops to a temperature where heating is required again.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the external storage cabinet may also operate in the same manner as the above-described sterilization storage cabinet. When the external storage cabinet is configured in the same manner as the above-described sterilization storage cabinet, each of the multiple sterilization storage cabinets, including the external storage cabinet, can mutually perform heat sterilization of its own stored items during a period when power consumption in the external sterilization storage cabinets other than itself is reduced based on the second notification signal.

Therefore, according to one aspect of the present disclosure, when multiple disinfection storage cabinets are used to heat disinfect a large number of objects, it is possible to efficiently heat disinfect a large number of objects while reducing the amount of electricity consumed per hour at the facility.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the controller may be configured to activate the internal heater based on the second notification signal, provided that the external heater is stopped. According to one aspect of the present disclosure, when a predetermined stop condition is satisfied while the internal heater is operating, the controller may stop the internal heater and output a signal indicating that the internal heater has been stopped as a first notification signal to the external storage cabinet.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the controller may output a signal indicating operation of the internal heater to the external storage cabinet as a first notification signal, and activate the internal heater, on the condition that a signal indicating the stop of the external heater is input as a second notification signal from the external storage cabinet while the internal heater is stopped. This input/output of notification signals allows heat sterilization to be performed without simultaneously operating heaters in multiple sterilization cabinets.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the sterilization storage cabinet may include a detector configured to detect the internal temperature of the cabinet. When the internal temperature detected by the detector exceeds a set temperature while the internal heater is operating, the controller may determine that the stop condition is satisfied and stop the internal heater. Such control of the internal heater can prevent excessive heating.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, when a set time has elapsed since the start of operation of the internal heater, the controller may determine that the stop condition has been satisfied and stop the internal heater. This control of the internal heater can prevent the external heater from being unable to operate for a long period of time due to the internal heater operating for a long period of time when heating the interior of the refrigerator from a low temperature.

Therefore, multiple disinfection storage cabinets can be heated in stages from a low temperature, using a method that roughly aligns the internal temperatures of multiple disinfection storage cabinets. The higher the temperature inside the cabinet, the greater the temperature difference with the surrounding environment, and therefore the greater the heat dissipation from inside the cabinet. Therefore, heating multiple disinfection storage cabinets in this manner is effective for efficient heating.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the controller may start a heating process that includes repeatedly activating the self-heater based on the second notification signal when a heating process start condition is satisfied and deactivating the self-heater when a stop condition is satisfied. When a termination condition is satisfied, the controller may terminate the heating process and keep the self-heater in a deactivated state.

By carrying out the heat treatment in this manner, heat treatment in multiple sterilization storage cabinets can be carried out in parallel while reducing the amount of power consumed per hour across the entire sterilization storage cabinets. While the internal temperature in one sterilization storage cabinet is sufficient for heat sterilization and the heater is turned off, the heater in another sterilization storage cabinet can be operated, allowing for efficient heat sterilization using multiple sterilization storage cabinets.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the device may be provided with a user interface. When an operating instruction is input through the user interface, the controller may output a first interlock signal to the external storage cabinet through the input/output circuit.

When a second interlock signal is input from the external storage cabinet via the input/output circuit in response to the first interlock signal, the controller may determine that the heating process start conditions have been met, output a signal indicating the operation of the internal heater as a first notification signal to the external storage cabinet, and start the heating process.

By exchanging interlock signals, heating processes can be performed appropriately in coordination between multiple disinfection storage cabinets based on a user's operating instructions for one disinfection storage cabinet. For example, heating processes based on operating instructions can be started while confirming that external storage cabinets are connected in a manner that allows for interlocking.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, when a first interlock signal is input from the external storage cabinet without an operation instruction being input through the user interface while the internal heater is stopped, the controller may output a second interlock signal to the external storage cabinet and start heating processing on the condition that the external heater is stopped.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a disinfectant storage system may be provided. The disinfectant storage system may include a first disinfectant storage cabinet and a second disinfectant storage cabinet. The first disinfectant storage cabinet may be configured to perform a first heating process to heat stored items by controlling a heater included in the first disinfectant storage cabinet.

The second sterilization storage cabinet can be configured to perform a second heating process to heat the stored items by controlling a heater provided in the second sterilization storage cabinet. The first heating process and the second heating process can be performed in parallel so that the heater provided in the first sterilization storage cabinet and the heater provided in the second sterilization storage cabinet do not operate simultaneously. This system makes it possible to efficiently heat and sterilize objects using the first and second sterilization storage cabinets while keeping the maximum power consumption to approximately that of one unit.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there may be provided a disinfectant storage system including a first disinfectant storage cabinet and a second disinfectant storage cabinet, each of which is the disinfectant storage cabinet described above.

The first disinfection storage cabinet and the second disinfection storage cabinet can each output a first notification signal to the second disinfection storage cabinet or the first disinfection storage cabinet as an external storage cabinet, and can control their own heaters based on the second notification signal from the external storage cabinet. This allows the first disinfection storage cabinet and the second disinfection storage cabinet to alternately activate their own heaters and alternately heat items stored in the first disinfection storage cabinet and the second disinfection storage cabinet.

With this system, the first disinfection storage cabinet and the second disinfection storage cabinet alternately operate their own heaters, allowing heat disinfection in multiple disinfection storage cabinets to be carried out in parallel while reducing power consumption per hour. Therefore, with this system, it is possible to efficiently heat disinfect a large number of objects while reducing power consumption per hour.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a disinfection storage system according to a first embodiment. FIG. FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the disinfection storage cabinet, and FIG. 2B is a front view of the disinfection storage cabinet. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the disinfection storage cabinet. 4A-4D are diagrams (part 1) for explaining signal input and output between disinfection cabinets. 5A-5C are diagrams (part 2) for explaining signal input and output between disinfection cabinets. 10 is a graph showing the change in temperature inside the refrigerator over time, along with the heater switching timing. 10 is a flowchart (part 1) illustrating a first control process executed by a controller. 10 is a second flowchart illustrating a first control process executed by the controller. 10 is a flowchart showing a signal switching process executed by a controller. 10 is a flowchart showing a second control process executed by the controller. 10 is a flowchart (part 1) illustrating an alternating operation process executed by a controller. 10 is a flowchart (part 2) illustrating the alternating operation process executed by the controller. FIG. 13A is a block diagram showing the configuration of a disinfecting storage system according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 13B is a block diagram showing the configuration of a disinfecting storage system according to a modified example.

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the drawings.
[First embodiment]
The disinfection storage system 1 of this embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is a system in which two disinfection storage cabinets 10 and 10E of the same type are connected to each other so as to be able to input and output signals.

In the following, we will focus on one of the two disinfection storage cabinets 10, 10E, and will refer to the disinfection storage cabinet 10 in question simply as the disinfection storage cabinet 10, while the other will be referred to as the external storage cabinet 10E. The external storage cabinet 10E is an external disinfection storage cabinet when viewed from the disinfection storage cabinet 10 in question. The external storage cabinet 10E is configured in the same way as the disinfection storage cabinet 10, which will be described in detail below.

A first group of signal lines F1 is provided between the disinfection storage cabinet 10 and the external storage cabinet 10E for inputting signals output from the disinfection storage cabinet 10 to the external storage cabinet 10E, and a second group of signal lines F2 is provided for inputting signals output from the external storage cabinet 10E to the disinfection storage cabinet 10.

The first signal line group F1 is wired so that its first end is connected to the output port group of the sterilization storage cabinet 10 and its second end is connected to the input port group of the external storage cabinet 10E. The second signal line group F2 is wired so that its first end is connected to the output port group of the external storage cabinet 10E and its second end is connected to the input port group of the sterilization storage cabinet 10.

The first signal line group F1 includes a signal line F11 for inputting the interlock signal output from the disinfection storage cabinet 10 to the external storage cabinet 10E, a signal line F12 for inputting the heating notification signal output from the disinfection storage cabinet 10 (hereinafter referred to as the self-heating notification signal) to the external storage cabinet 10E, a signal line F13 for inputting the completion notification signal output from the disinfection storage cabinet 10 (hereinafter referred to as the self-completion notification signal) to the external storage cabinet 10E, and a signal line F14 for inputting the chain operation signal output from the disinfection storage cabinet 10 to the external storage cabinet 10E.

The second signal line group F2 includes a signal line F21 for inputting the interlock signal output from the external storage cabinet 10E to the sterilization storage cabinet 10, a signal line F22 for inputting the heating notification signal output from the external storage cabinet 10E (hereinafter referred to as the other-unit heating notification signal) to the sterilization storage cabinet 10, a signal line F23 for inputting the completion notification signal output from the external storage cabinet 10E (hereinafter referred to as the other-unit completion notification signal) to the sterilization storage cabinet 10, and a signal line F24 for inputting the chain operation signal output from the external storage cabinet 10E to the sterilization storage cabinet 10. Here, the "own unit" corresponds to the sterilization storage cabinet 10 of interest, and the "other unit" corresponds to the external storage cabinet 10E.

As shown in Figures 2A and 2B, the sterilization storage cabinet 10 is a box-shaped storage cabinet that has a storage space 20 inside the housing 21 for storing tableware to be stored, and further has a double door 23 at the opening of the housing 21 for accessing the storage space 20 from the outside.

The double doors 23 are installed so that they open from the center by rotating the two doors 23A, 23B via hinges attached to the left and right sides of the disinfection storage cabinet 10. Tableware is stored in the storage space 20 by an operator with the double doors 23 open. Specifically, after being washed, the tableware is stored in the storage space 20 for disinfection and drying.

When the double doors 23 are closed, the storage space 20 is substantially sealed except for an air passage (not shown). With the double doors 23 closed, the tableware stored in the storage space 20 is heated, thereby drying and disinfecting the tableware, and then stored.

Figure 2A is a perspective view that schematically shows the exterior of the sterilization storage cabinet 10 with the double doors 23 closed. Figure 2B is a front view that shows the configuration of the storage space 20 of the sterilization storage cabinet 10 with the double doors 23 open, particularly with the double doors 23 not shown. The storage space 20 is divided by shelves 25, allowing the sterilization storage cabinet 10 to efficiently store a large number of tableware.

The sterilization storage cabinet 10 is equipped with heaters 27 on both the left and right sides of the storage space 20 inside the housing 21, and a fan 29 above the storage space 20. The heaters 27 are electric and are positioned to add heat to the air in the storage space 20 by resistance heating. The high-temperature air heated by the heaters 27 is circulated through the storage space 20 by the airflow generated by the fans 29. As a result, the tableware stored in the storage space 20 is heated.

The disinfection storage cabinet 10 is equipped with an operation panel 31 on top of the housing 21 to accept operations from the operator. The operation panel 31 has various switches and functions as a user interface that can accept temperature setting operations, interlocking mode setting operations, and operation instructions from the operator. The operation panel 31 also has a display unit (not shown) for displaying the set temperature Ts, the internal temperature T, and other operating and setting states of the disinfection storage cabinet 10.

The sterilization storage cabinet 10 described here is an integrated type that integrates a heater 27, fan 29, operation panel 31, and storage space 20. However, the sterilization storage cabinet 10 is not limited to this, and may be a separate type in which the heating system is configured separately from the storage space 20 inside the cabinet. In a separate type (e.g., a ceiling-hanging type), a heating device installed outside a movable container that stores tableware, for example a heating device installed on the ceiling, is connected to the container through a duct extending from the heating device. The heating device may include a heater 27, fan 29, and operation panel 31. Hot air sent from the heating device through the duct into the storage space 20 of the container circulates within the storage space 20. After heat sterilization is completed, the duct is removed. This allows the container to be moved while still storing tableware.

As shown in FIG. 3, the sterilization storage cabinet 10 includes a heater 27, a fan 29, and an operation panel 31, as well as a controller 33, an input/output circuit 35, a temperature sensor 37, and a power supply circuit 39. The power supply circuit 39 uses power input from the power cable P0 to generate power to be supplied to each component within the sterilization storage cabinet 10.

The controller 33 operates by receiving power from the power supply circuit 39, and performs processing based on operation signals input through the operation panel 31 and signals input from outside the disinfection storage cabinet 10 through the input/output circuit 35, thereby controlling each part within the disinfection storage cabinet 10.

The controller 33 specifically includes a processor 33A and a memory 33B. The processing performed by the controller 33 is specifically realized by the processor 33A executing processing in accordance with a computer program stored in the memory 33B.

The input/output circuit 35 includes an input circuit configured to input an input signal from the external storage 10E to the controller 33 as a digital signal, and an output circuit configured to output a signal intended for the external storage 10E in accordance with a control signal from the controller 33. According to one example, the input/output circuit 35 may be incorporated into the controller 33.

The input/output circuit 35 has an output port connected to signal line F11 and outputting an interlock signal to signal line F11, an output port connected to signal line F12 and outputting a self-unit heating notification signal to signal line F12, an output port connected to signal line F13 and outputting a self-unit completion notification signal to signal line F13, and an output port connected to signal line F14 and outputting a chain operation signal to signal line F14.

The input/output circuit 35 further includes an input port connected to signal line F21 for inputting the interlock signal from signal line F21 to the controller 33, an input port connected to signal line F22 for inputting the other unit heating notification signal from signal line F22 to the controller 33, an input port connected to signal line F23 for inputting the other unit completion notification signal from signal line F23 to the controller 33, and an input port connected to signal line F24 for inputting the chain operation signal from signal line F24 to the controller 33.

The temperature sensor 37 is a detector installed in the storage space 20 and configured to detect the temperature of the storage space 20 as the internal temperature T.

Next, using Figures 4A-4D, 5A-5D, and 6, we will briefly explain the signal input/output between the disinfection storage cabinets 10, 10E and the control of the heater 27 when the disinfection storage system 1 of this embodiment operates in the alternating interlocking mode. Then, using Figures 7 to 12, we will explain in detail the processing executed by the controller 33 to realize these signal input/output and heater 27 control.

In this embodiment, the sterilization cabinets 10, 10E transition from the single-action mode to the alternating interlocking mode in response to a predetermined operation by an operator on the operation panel 31 of the sterilization cabinets 10, 10E. The single-action mode is an operating mode of the sterilization cabinets 10, 10E in which the sterilization cabinets 10, 10E are not interlocked and each operates independently to heat and sterilize tableware.

The alternating interlocking mode is an operating mode of the sterilization cabinets 10, 10E in which the sterilization cabinets 10, 10E alternately operate their own heaters 27 exclusively, thereby limiting the maximum power consumption of the sterilization cabinets 10, 10E to approximately that of one cabinet, while simultaneously heating and sterilizing tableware between the sterilization cabinets 10, 10E.

In the alternating interlock mode, when an operation command is input, for example, by an operator operating the operation panel 31 of the sterilization storage cabinet 10, the sterilization storage cabinet 10 outputs an ON signal as an interlock signal to the external storage cabinet 10E, as shown in FIG. 4A. In response to this interlock signal, the external storage cabinet 10E outputs an ON interlock signal, which is input to the sterilization storage cabinet 10. The interlock signal corresponds to a signal for interlocking. When an ON signal is input as an interlock signal, the sterilization storage cabinets 10 and 10E prohibit the acceptance of any operations from the operation panel 31 in order to interlock.

The interlock signal, heating notification signal, completion notification signal, and chain operation signal propagating through signal line groups F1 and F2 are output as an ON signal or OFF signal. Each of these signals is an OFF signal in its initial state. An OFF signal corresponds to a LOW signal or a 0V signal, and an ON signal corresponds to a HIGH signal or a signal with a predetermined voltage greater than 0V (e.g., 5V).

When the interlock signal input from the external storage cabinet 10E switches from an OFF signal to an ON signal, the sterilization storage cabinet 10 outputs an ON signal to the external storage cabinet 10E as a self-heating notification signal indicating the operation of its own heater 27 to heat and sterilize the tableware stored in its own storage space 20, as shown in Figure 4B, and starts the heat sterilization process.

In response to this ON signal, the external storage cabinet 10E operates to prevent the heater 27 of the external storage cabinet 10E from operating. At this time, the external storage cabinet 10E outputs an OFF signal to the sterilization storage cabinet 10 as a heating notification signal, indicating that the heater 27 of the external storage cabinet 10E is stopped.

After outputting an ON signal as its own heating notification signal, the sterilization storage cabinet 10 activates its own heater 27 on the condition that an OFF signal has been input as the other-device heating notification signal. As a result, the sterilization storage cabinet 10 heats the tableware stored in its own storage space 20.

After that, on the condition that the heat disinfection process has progressed to a stage where predetermined conditions are satisfied, the disinfection storage cabinet 10 stops the heater 27 and switches its own heating notification signal output to the external storage cabinet 10E to an OFF signal, as shown in Figure 4C. Note that the stopping of the heater 27 and the stopping of the fan 29 are not linked, and the fan 29 continues to rotate from the start to the end of the heat disinfection process, including when the heater 27 is stopped, in order to circulate air within the storage space 20.

On the condition that the heating notification signal from the sterilization storage cabinet 10 has switched to an OFF signal, the external storage cabinet 10E switches the heating notification signal output to the sterilization storage cabinet 10 to an ON signal. Furthermore, the external storage cabinet 10E activates its own heater 27, i.e., its own heater 27, thereby causing the external storage cabinet 10E to start the heating sterilization process.

After that, provided that the heat sterilization process has progressed to a stage where predetermined conditions are satisfied, the external storage cabinet 10E stops the heater 27 of the external storage cabinet 10E and switches the heating notification signal output to the sterilization storage cabinet 10 to an off signal, as shown in Figure 4B.

When the other-device heating notification signal from the external storage cabinet 10E has switched to an OFF signal, the sterilization storage cabinet 10 switches its own device heating notification signal output to the external storage cabinet 10E to an ON signal. The sterilization storage cabinet 10 then activates its own heater 27 when the temperature has dropped to a predetermined level, thereby heating the tableware stored in the storage space 20 of the sterilization storage cabinet 10.

The sterilization storage cabinet 10 and the external storage cabinet 10E alternately activate their own heaters 27 through the input and output of signals shown in Figures 4B and 4C, thereby gradually carrying out the heat sterilization process on the tableware stored in their own storage spaces 20.

When the heat disinfection process in the disinfection storage cabinet 10 is completed, the disinfection storage cabinet 10 switches its own completion notification signal output to the external storage cabinet 10E to an ON signal, as shown in Figure 4D. This causes the disinfection storage cabinet 10 to notify the external storage cabinet 10E that the heat disinfection process has been completed. At this time, if the external storage cabinet 10E has not completed the heat disinfection process, an OFF signal is output from the external storage cabinet 10E as a completion notification signal and input to the disinfection storage cabinet 10.

Then, the external storage cabinet 10E operates its own heater 27 until its own heating disinfection process is completed. Once the heating disinfection process is completed, as shown in FIG. 5A, it stops its own heater 27 and outputs an ON signal to the disinfection storage cabinet 10 as a completion notification signal.

Then, the disinfection storage cabinet 10 switches the interlock signal output to the external storage cabinet 10E to an OFF signal, as shown in FIG. 5B, on the condition that the self-machine completion notification signal and the other-machine completion notification signal are set to ON. In response, the external storage cabinet 10E switches the interlock signal output to the disinfection storage cabinet 10 to an OFF signal.

When the input interlock signal switches to an OFF signal, the disinfection storage cabinet 10 temporarily switches the chain operation signal output to the external storage cabinet 10E to an ON signal. In response, the external storage cabinet 10E temporarily inputs an ON signal as a chain operation signal to the disinfection storage cabinet 10.

This completes the heating and sterilization of tableware in the alternating interlocking mode between the sterilization storage cabinets 10 and 10E. The chain operation signal is a signal used to realize the loop-type interlocking described below (see Figures 13A and 13B). The usefulness of the chain operation signal will become even clearer in the second embodiment.

Using the method described above, the disinfection storage cabinet 10 stops the heater 27 multiple times from the start to the end of the heat disinfection process, allows the heater 27 in the external storage cabinet 10E to operate, and when the heater 27 in the external storage cabinet 10E stops, activates its own heater 27.

In this way, the sterilization storage cabinets 10, 10E alternately operate their own heaters 27, alternately heating the tableware in the sterilization storage cabinets 10, 10E. As a result, the sterilization storage system 1 performs heat sterilization processes in multiple sterilization storage cabinets 10, 10E in parallel while limiting the maximum power consumption to approximately that of one cabinet.

In this embodiment, once the interior of the cabinet (i.e., storage space 20) has been heated at or above the set temperature Ts for a predetermined time after the start of the heat sterilization process, the sterilization of the tableware is deemed complete and the heat sterilization process is terminated. For example, once the interior of the cabinet has been heated at or above the set temperature of 90°C for 60 minutes or more, the heat sterilization of the tableware is deemed complete.

When the internal temperature T exceeds the set temperature Ts due to heating by its own heater 27, the disinfection storage cabinet 10 stops operation of the heater 27 and allows operation of the heater 27 in the external storage cabinet 10E. The external storage cabinet 10E operates in the same way. As a result, the heaters 27 operate alternately between the disinfection storage cabinets 10 and 10E. The operation of stopping the heater 27, provided that the above-mentioned heat disinfection process has progressed to a stage where the specified conditions are satisfied, corresponds to the operation of stopping operation of the heater 27 when the internal temperature T exceeds the set temperature Ts or when a set time has elapsed since the heater 27 started operating.

By turning the heater 27 on and off in this way, the disinfection storage cabinet 10, 10E will terminate its own heating disinfection process when a termination condition is met, such as when the cumulative time during which its internal temperature T is at or above the set temperature Ts exceeds a predetermined time.

The graph in Figure 6 is a graph that schematically shows the change in the internal temperature T over time from the start of the heat sterilization process. Figure 6 also uses inverted triangle symbols to indicate the timing at which the heater 27 switches between operating and stopping between the sterilization storage cabinet 10 and the external storage cabinet 10E. The white inverted triangle symbols correspond to the timing at which the heater 27 of the sterilization storage cabinet 10 operates (i.e., turns on), and the black inverted triangle symbols correspond to the timing at which the heater 27 of the external storage cabinet 10E operates. In Figure 6, the heater 27 of the sterilization storage cabinet 10 operates at time zero.

In Figure 6, the solid line represents the trajectory of the internal temperature T of the sterilization storage cabinet 10, and the dashed line represents the trajectory of the internal temperature T of the external storage cabinet 10E. The dashed-dotted line represents the trajectory of the temperature of the tableware stored in the sterilization storage cabinet 10, and the dashed-two-dotted line represents the trajectory of the temperature of the tableware stored in the sterilization storage cabinet 10E.

The temperature of the dishes rises with a delay from the internal temperature. Even if the heater 27 is stopped, the internal temperature T continues to rise temporarily due to the time lag between the high-temperature air heated by the heater 27 circulating and spreading and being detected as the internal temperature T by the temperature sensor 37.

Even if the heater 27 is stopped when the internal temperature T detected by the temperature sensor 37 exceeds the set temperature Ts, the internal temperature T does not drop immediately, and the heat sterilization of tableware continues through the circulating high-temperature air. In other words, the heat sterilization of tableware continues effectively even when the heater 27 is stopped. In this way, it takes time for the internal temperature T to fall below the set temperature Ts after the heater 27 is stopped, and the heat sterilization of tableware in the storage space 20 continues at a sufficient temperature even after the heater 27 is stopped.

In this embodiment, while the heater 27 of this sterilization storage cabinet 10 is stopped, the heater 27 of the external storage cabinet 10E is operated to raise the internal temperature T of the external storage cabinet 10E to a temperature that again exceeds the set temperature Ts. In other words, during a period when the internal temperature T of one sterilization storage cabinet 10 is sufficient for thermal sterilization and the heater 27 is stopped, the heater 27 of another sterilization storage cabinet 10E is operated.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the heat sterilization process can be performed in parallel between multiple sterilization storage cabinets 10, 10E while keeping the maximum power consumption to approximately that of one unit, allowing for more efficient heat sterilization in a shorter time than if multiple sterilization storage cabinets 10, 10E were heat sterilized sequentially.

Next, the details of the processing executed by the controller 33 in the alternating interlocking mode will be explained using Figures 7-12. In the alternating interlocking mode, of the disinfection storage cabinets 10, 10E, the disinfection storage cabinet to which an operation command is input via the operation panel 31 functions as the parent unit, and the other functions as the child unit.

In other words, the disinfection storage cabinet 10 functions as a parent unit when an operation command is input from its own operation panel 31, and functions as a child unit when an operation command is input from the operation panel 31 of the external storage cabinet 10E.

The heat disinfection process in the disinfection storage cabinets 10 and 10E in the alternating interlocking mode is initiated by the slave unit in response to an operation command input from the master unit. Figures 4A-4D and 5A-5C explain the signal input and output when the disinfection storage cabinet 10 functions as the master unit and the external storage cabinet 10E functions as the slave unit.

Figures 7 and 8 are flowcharts showing the first control process repeatedly executed by the controller 33 to mainly realize the functions of a parent unit, and Figure 9 is a flowchart showing the signal switching process repeatedly executed by the controller 33 to realize the functions of a child unit. Figure 10 is a flowchart showing the second control process repeatedly executed by the controller 33 to realize the functions of a child unit. Figures 11 and 12 are flowcharts showing the alternating operation process executed by the controller 33 in the first and second control processes.

When the first control process begins, the controller 33 waits until an operation command is input from the operator via the operation panel 31, or until an ON signal is input as a chain operation signal from the signal line F24 via the input/output circuit 35 (S110, S115).

When an operation command is input or an ON signal is input as a chain operation signal (Yes in S110 or S115), the controller 33 determines whether the completion flag is set to value 1 (S120). When the heat disinfection process is completed, the completion flag is set to value 1 (S240), and then reset to value 0 under predetermined conditions (S180).

If it is determined that the completion flag is not set to value 1 (No in S120), the controller 33 outputs an on signal as an interlock signal to the signal line F11 via the input/output circuit 35 (S130). This interlock signal is input to the external storage cabinet 10E.

Then, when the external storage cabinet 10E responds to the interlock signal output in S130, and an ON signal is input as an interlock signal from the signal line F21 through the input/output circuit 35 (Yes in S140), the controller 33 executes the process of S210 (see Figure 7). On the other hand, if the interlock signal remains an OFF signal (No in S140), the controller 33 displays error information on the operation panel 31 (S150) and ends the first control process.

In S210, the controller 33 sets the parent unit flag to 1. The parent unit flag is set to 1 when the local warehouse is the parent unit. Then, the alternating operation process shown in Figures 11 and 12 is executed (S220).

The alternating operation process (S220) is repeatedly executed until the termination conditions are met. The heat disinfection process described above corresponds to repeatedly executing the alternating operation process until the termination conditions are met (S220, S230).

When the alternating operation process begins, the controller 33 determines whether the current internal temperature T detected by the temperature sensor 37 is equal to or lower than the set temperature Ts (S310). If the internal temperature T exceeds the set temperature Ts, the heater 27 in the internal refrigerator is not activated and the controller waits until the internal temperature T falls below the set temperature Ts.

When the internal temperature T falls below the set temperature Ts (Yes in S310), the controller 33 determines whether an OFF signal has been input as the other-unit heating notification signal (S320). If the heater 27 of the external storage cabinet 10E is operating, an ON signal is input as the other-unit heating notification signal, but if the heater 27 of the external storage cabinet 10E is stopped, an OFF signal is input as the other-unit heating notification signal.

If an ON signal has been input as the other-unit heating notification signal, the controller 33 makes a negative determination in S320, keeps the heater 27 in its own refrigerator stopped, and continuously outputs an OFF signal as its own-unit heating notification signal (S325).

On the other hand, if an OFF signal has been input as the other-device heating notification signal, the controller 33 makes a positive determination in S320 and switches the self-device heating notification signal output to signal line F12 via the input/output circuit 35 to an ON signal (S330).

If the OFF signal continues to be input as the other-unit heating notification signal (Yes in S340), the controller 33 activates the heater 27 in the refrigerator that is currently stopped (S350) to heat the refrigerator interior.

The controller 33 continues to operate the heater 27 to heat the interior of the refrigerator until the set time has elapsed since the heater 27 started operating in S350 or until the interior temperature T detected by the temperature sensor 37 exceeds the set temperature Ts.

When the controller 33 determines that the set time has elapsed (Yes in S360), it stops the heater 27 in its own refrigerator (S370) and then switches the own heating notification signal output to signal line F12 via the input/output circuit 35 from an ON signal to an OFF signal (S375). The controller 33 then determines whether the other-unit heating notification signal input from signal line F22 via the input/output circuit 35 remains an OFF signal for a predetermined time (S380).

If the internal temperature T in the external storage cabinet 10E has not dropped below the set temperature Ts, or if the heat sterilization process has finished in the external storage cabinet 10E, the other-device heating notification signal may remain an OFF signal. As long as the other-device heating notification signal remains an OFF signal, operation of the heater 27 in the external storage cabinet 10E will not commence.

If it is determined in S380 that the other-unit heating notification signal remains an OFF signal for a predetermined period of time, the controller 33 executes the process of S330. That is, the controller 33 switches the own-unit heating notification signal to an ON signal (S330). Thereafter, if the other-unit heating notification signal remains an OFF signal (Yes in S340), the controller 33 executes the process from S350 onwards.

When it is determined in S380 that the other-unit heating notification signal has switched from an OFF signal to an ON signal, the controller 33 ends the alternating operation process.
In addition, if the controller 33 determines that the operation of the heater 27 in the refrigerator has caused the refrigerator temperature T to exceed the set temperature Ts (Yes in S365), it stops the heater 27 in the refrigerator (S390) and then switches the refrigerator heating notification signal from an ON signal to an OFF signal (S395), similar to the process in S375. Thereafter, the controller 33 ends the alternating operation process.

In addition, if it is determined in S340 that an ON signal has been input as the other unit heating notification signal, the controller 33 determines whether the parent unit flag is set to a value of 1 (S400), as shown in FIG. 12.

If it is determined that the parent unit flag is set to value 1 (Yes in S400), the controller 33 waits until the other unit heating notification signal switches to an OFF signal (S410) while outputting an ON signal to the signal line F12 as the parent unit heating notification signal. When the other unit heating notification signal switches to an OFF signal (Yes in S410), the controller 33 activates the heater 27 in its own refrigerator (S420) and executes the processing from S360 onwards.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the parent unit flag is not set to value 1 (No in S400), the unit's own heating notification signal is switched from an ON signal to an OFF signal (S430), and then processing from S320 onwards is executed.

As a result, if the disinfection storage cabinet 10 is not the parent unit, it will prioritize the operation of the heater 27 in the external storage cabinet 10E and suspend operation of the heater 27 in its own cabinet until the heater 27 in the external storage cabinet 10E stops.

The controller 33 repeatedly executes this alternating operation process in S220 (see Figure 8) until the termination condition for the repeated alternating operation process is satisfied. When the termination condition is satisfied (Yes in S230), the controller 33 sets the completion flag to value 1 and terminates the repeated alternating operation process (S240). This terminates the heat disinfection process performed by the repeated alternating operation process. Setting the completion flag to value 1 indicates the end of the heat disinfection process.

The termination condition corresponds to the condition under which the tableware is sufficiently heat-sterilized. Specifically, the termination condition is met when the cumulative time during which the internal temperature T is at or above the set temperature Ts from the start of the heat-sterilization process exceeds a predetermined time, or when the cumulative time during which the internal temperature T first exceeds the set temperature Ts exceeds a predetermined time. For example, the termination condition is met when the cumulative time during which the internal temperature T is at or above 90°C exceeds 60 minutes from the start of the heat-sterilization process, or when the cumulative time during which the internal temperature T first exceeds 90°C exceeds 60 minutes.

Then, the controller 33 switches the self-device completion notification signal output to signal line F13 via the input/output circuit 35 from an OFF signal to an ON signal (S250). Furthermore, the controller 33 waits until the other-device completion notification signal input from signal line F23 via the input/output circuit 35 switches to an ON signal (S260).

When the other device completion notification signal switches to an ON signal (Yes in S260), the controller 33 switches the interlock signal output to the signal line F11 via the input/output circuit 35 to an OFF signal (S270).

The controller 33 further determines whether the interlock signal input from the signal line F21 via the input/output circuit 35 has switched to an OFF signal as a result of the processing in S270 (S280).

When it is determined that the input interlock signal has switched to an OFF signal (Yes in S280), the controller 33 switches the chain operation signal output to the signal line F14 via the input/output circuit 35 to an ON signal (S290), and then terminates the first control process.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the input interlock signal has not switched to an OFF signal (No in S280), the controller 33 executes a predetermined error process (S295) and then terminates the first control process.

In S290, when the output chain operation signal is switched to an ON signal, the external storage cabinet 10E responds by inputting an ON signal as a chain operation signal from signal line F24 via the input/output circuit 35.

When the input chain operation signal switches to an ON signal due to repeated execution of the first control process, the controller 33 makes a positive determination in S115. At this time, the completion flag is usually set to a value of 1, so the controller 33 makes a positive determination in S120 and executes S160.

In S160, the controller 33 determines whether the parent unit flag is set to a value of 1. In the first control process immediately after executing the process of S290, the controller 33 typically makes a positive determination in S115 and S120, and also makes a positive determination in S160.

If it is determined that the parent unit flag is set to a value of 1 (Yes in S160), the controller 33 executes a reset process (S180). In the reset process, the controller 33 resets the completion flag and parent unit flag to a value of 0. As a result, the controller 33 initializes the completion notification signal to an OFF signal.

In this embodiment, when the reset process causes the interlock signal to remain at the OFF signal for a predetermined period of time or longer, the external storage unit 10E also resets the completion flag and parent unit flag and initializes the completion notification signal to the OFF signal.

If the controller 33 determines in S160 that the master unit flag is not set to value 1, it temporarily switches the chain operation signal output to signal line F24 of the input/output circuit 35 to an ON signal (S170), and then terminates the first control process.

The processing of S170 is executed when the disinfection storage cabinet 10 is a slave unit. The external storage cabinet 10E also executes the first control processing in the same way as the disinfection storage cabinet 10. Therefore, when the disinfection storage cabinet 10 is a master unit and the external storage cabinet 10E is a slave unit, in response to the chain operation signal that the disinfection storage cabinet 10 switched to an ON signal in the processing of S290, the external storage cabinet 10E, which is a slave unit, switches the chain operation signal that it outputs to the disinfection storage cabinet 10 to an ON signal in S170 after processing of S115, S120, and S160.

In addition, when the chain operation signal from the external storage cabinet 10E to the disinfection storage cabinet 10 switches to an ON signal, the disinfection storage cabinet 10 performs steps S115, S120, and S160, and then executes a reset process at S180. This ends the chain operation.

Next, the details of the signal switching process repeatedly executed by the controller 33 will be explained using Figure 9. The controller 33 executes the signal switching process to turn on/off the interlock signal output to the signal line F11 via the input/output circuit 35 in response to an interlock signal that is actively turned on/off by the parent unit and input from the signal line F21 via the input/output circuit 35. As another example, the signal switching process may be realized by the circuit configuration included in the input/output circuit 35, without the involvement of the controller 33.

According to the signal switching process shown in FIG. 9, if an ON signal is input as an interlock signal from signal line F21 via input/output circuit 35 (Yes in S510), controller 33 sets the interlock signal output to signal line F11 via input/output circuit 35 to an ON signal (S530).

On the other hand, if the input interlock signal is an OFF signal (No in S510), the controller 33 sets the interlock signal output to signal line F11 via the input/output circuit 35 to an OFF signal (S540). Through this signal switching process, the controller 33 turns the output interlock signal ON/OFF depending on whether the input interlock signal is ON/OFF.

Next, details of the second control process repeatedly executed by the controller 33 will be explained using Figure 10. Execution of the second control process is prohibited when the parent unit flag is set to value 1, and is only executed while the parent unit flag is reset to value 0, i.e., when the warehouse is a child unit.

When the second control process is initiated, the controller 33 waits until both the interlock signal input from signal line F21 and the other-unit heating notification signal input from signal line F22 become ON signals while the heater 27 in the refrigerator is stopped (S610, S620, S630).

When the heater 27 in the own refrigerator is stopped and the input interlock signal and other unit heating notification signal become ON signals (Yes in S630), the controller 33 determines whether the own refrigerator is operable (S640). If it determines that the own refrigerator is not operable (No in S640), it sets the completion flag to value 1 and further switches the own unit completion notification signal output to signal line F13 via the input/output circuit 35 to an ON signal (S645), thereby terminating the second control process.

On the other hand, if the controller 33 determines that its own garage is operable (Yes in S640), it waits until the other-unit heating notification signal input from signal line F22 switches to an off signal (S650).

When the other-unit heating notification signal switches to an OFF signal (Yes in S650), the controller 33 executes the alternating operation process shown in Figures 11 and 12 (S660), similar to the first control process. The controller 33 repeatedly executes the alternating operation process until the termination condition is satisfied, similar to the first control process.

When the termination condition is met (Yes in S670), the controller 33 sets the completion flag to 1 and terminates the repeated alternating operation process (S680). This terminates the heat disinfection process, which is carried out in stages through the repeated alternating operation process. The heat disinfection process in this sub-unit begins after the input interlock signal switches to an ON signal without an operation command from the operation panel 31, and the other-unit heating notification signal switches to an ON signal, after this other-unit heating notification signal switches to an OFF signal.

After completing the processing of S680, the controller 33 switches the own device completion notification signal output to the signal line F13 via the input/output circuit 35 to an ON signal (S690), and ends the second control processing.

According to the disinfection storage system 1 of this embodiment described above, the disinfection storage cabinets 10, 10E corresponding to the first and second disinfection storage cabinets have the same configuration. Each disinfection storage cabinet 10, 10E outputs a self-heating notification signal as a first notification signal to the other, and controls its own heater 27 based on an other-device heating notification signal as a second notification signal input from the other disinfection storage cabinet 10E, 10.

As a result, the sterilization storage cabinets 10, 10E control their own heaters 27 based on the operating status of each other's heaters 27. The sterilization storage cabinets 10, 10E alternately operate their own heaters 27 by activating their own heaters 27 on the condition that each other's heaters 27 are stopped, thereby alternately activating their own heaters 27 and heating the tableware stored in the sterilization storage cabinets 10, 10E. By repeating this alternating heating, the sterilization storage cabinets 10, 10E heat and sterilize tableware in parallel, limiting the maximum power consumption to approximately that of one cabinet.

As a first comparative example, when multiple disinfection storage cabinets 10, 10E are not linked and perform heat disinfection processing simultaneously, the hourly power consumption of the disinfection storage system 1 becomes very high due to the simultaneous heating of the heaters 27.

As a second comparative example, if each of the multiple disinfection storage cabinets 10, 10E continuously performs the heat disinfection process in sequence from start to finish, and other disinfection storage cabinets do not perform the heat disinfection process during that time, it will take some time for the heat disinfection process to be completed in the entire disinfection storage system 1, which includes the multiple disinfection storage cabinets 10, 10E.

As described above, in an environment where the internal temperature is sufficient for thermal sterilization, the heater 27 will stop even during the thermal sterilization process. According to this embodiment, while the heater 27 in the external storage cabinet 10E is stopped, the heater 27 in the sterilization storage cabinet 10 will operate.

Therefore, parallel execution of the heat disinfection process by alternately turning the heater 27 on and off as in this embodiment allows the heat disinfection process to be completed in all of the multiple disinfection storage cabinets 10, 10E in a shorter time than when the heat disinfection process is performed in each of the multiple disinfection storage cabinets 10, 10E in turn.

In this embodiment, when the start condition for the heat disinfection process is satisfied (Yes in S140 or Yes in S650), the controller 33 starts the heat disinfection process, which includes repeatedly operating the heater 27 based on the other-device heating notification signal and stopping the heater 27 when the stop condition is satisfied, until the end condition is met, such as when the cumulative heating at or above the set temperature Ts exceeds a predetermined time (S220, S660). If the end condition is met, such as when the cumulative heating at or above the set temperature Ts exceeds a predetermined time (Yes in S230, Yes in S670), the heat disinfection process is terminated and the heater 27 is kept stopped.

In particular, when a predetermined stop condition is met while the heater 27 in the storage unit is operating, the controller 33 stops the heater 27 and outputs an off signal indicating that the heater 27 has stopped as a self-heating notification signal to the external storage unit 10E via the input/output circuit 35.

When an OFF signal indicating that the heater 27 in the external storage cabinet 10E has been stopped is input from the external storage cabinet 10E as an other-device heating notification signal, the controller 33 activates the heater 27 in its own cabinet and outputs an ON signal indicating that the heater 27 is operating to the external storage cabinet 10E as its own device heating notification signal. This input/output of notification signals allows heat sterilization to be performed so that the heaters 27 do not operate simultaneously across multiple sterilization cabinets 10, 10E.

In this embodiment, when the internal temperature T detected by the temperature sensor 37 while the internal heater 27 is operating exceeds the set temperature Ts, the controller 33 determines that the stop condition is satisfied and stops the heater 27 (S390). This control of the heater 27 makes it possible to prevent excessive heating for the heating purpose.

The controller 33 determines that the stop condition is satisfied and stops the heater 27 even if the set time has elapsed since the heater 27 started operating (S370). This control of the heater 27 prevents the heater 27 from operating for a long period of time when heating the interior from a low temperature, thereby preventing the heater 27 of the external storage cabinet 10E from not operating for a long period of time.

Accordingly, according to this embodiment, multiple sterilization storage cabinets 10, 10E can be heated in stages from a low temperature in a manner that roughly aligns the internal temperatures T between the multiple sterilization storage cabinets 10, 10E. The higher the temperature inside the cabinet, the greater the temperature difference with the surrounding environment, and therefore the greater the amount of heat dissipated from inside the cabinet. Therefore, heating multiple sterilization storage cabinets 10, 10E in this manner is effective for efficient heating.

In addition, in this embodiment, when an operation instruction is input via the operation panel 31 serving as a user interface, the controller 33 outputs an interlock signal (ON signal) to the external storage cabinet 10E via the input/output circuit 35.

When an interlock signal (ON signal) is input from the external storage cabinet 10E via the input/output circuit 35 in response to this interlock signal (ON signal), the controller 33 determines that the conditions for starting the heat sterilization process have been met (Yes in S140), outputs a self-heating notification signal to the external storage cabinet 10E, and starts the heat sterilization process.

In this embodiment, when an ON signal is input as an interlock signal from the parent unit by executing the signal switching process (see Figure 9), the child unit outputs an ON signal as an interlock signal. However, the child unit may be configured to make a positive determination in S510 and switch the output of the interlock signal to an ON signal so as to respond to the interlock signal from the parent unit only when its own heater 27 is stopped and in an interlockable state.

[Second embodiment]
Next, the configuration of the disinfection storage system 2 of the second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 13A. The disinfection storage system 2 of this embodiment is configured to include four disinfection storage cabinets 101, 102, 103, and 104 of the same type as the disinfection storage cabinet 10 of the first embodiment.

The pair of disinfection storage cabinets 101, 102 corresponds to the pair of disinfection storage cabinets 10, 10E of the first embodiment and constitutes a disinfection storage system 1A that is substantially the same as the disinfection storage system 1 of the first embodiment. The difference between disinfection storage system 1A and disinfection storage system 1 is that the first ends of signal lines F21, F24, the second ends of which are connected to the input port group of disinfection storage cabinet 101, are connected to the output port group of disinfection storage cabinet 104, not to disinfection storage cabinet 102. In addition, the second ends of signal lines F21, F24, the first ends of which are connected to the output port group of disinfection storage cabinet 102, are connected to the input port group of disinfection storage cabinet 103, not to disinfection storage cabinet 101.

In the disinfection storage system 1A, a signal line group F31 including signal lines F11, F12, F13, and F14, and a signal line group F32 including signal lines F22 and F23 are wired between the disinfection storage cabinet 101 and the disinfection storage cabinet 102, a signal line group F33 including signal lines F21 and F24 is wired between the disinfection storage cabinet 104 and the disinfection storage cabinet 101, and another signal line group F43 including signal lines F21 and F24 is wired between the disinfection storage cabinet 102 and the disinfection storage cabinet 103.

Similarly, the pair of disinfection storage cabinets 103 and 104 corresponds to the pair of disinfection storage cabinets 10 and 10E in the first embodiment and constitutes a disinfection storage system 1B that is substantially the same as the disinfection storage system 1 in the first embodiment.

Disinfection storage system 1B differs from disinfection storage system 1 in that the first ends of signal lines F21 and F24, the second ends of which are connected to the input port group of disinfection storage cabinet 103, are connected to the output port group of disinfection storage cabinet 102, not to disinfection storage cabinet 104. Also, the second ends of signal lines F21 and F24, the first ends of which are connected to the output port group of disinfection storage cabinet 104, are connected to the input port group of disinfection storage cabinet 101, not to disinfection storage cabinet 103.

In the disinfection storage system 1B, a signal line group F41 including signal lines F11, F12, F13, and F14, and a signal line group F42 including signal lines F22 and F23 are wired between the disinfection storage cabinets 103 and 104, a signal line group F43 including signal lines F21 and F24 is wired between the disinfection storage cabinets 103 and 102, and another signal line group F33 including signal lines F21 and F24 is wired between the disinfection storage cabinets 104 and 101.

In this way, the disinfecting storage system 2 is configured with disinfecting storage systems 1A and 1B, similar to the disinfecting storage system 1 of the first embodiment, connected in a loop. In the disinfecting storage system 2, the above-mentioned signal line group F31, signal line group F43, signal line group F41, and signal line group F33 form a loop of transmission paths for interlock signals and chain operation signals.

In this disinfection storage system 2, when an operator inputs an operation command via the operation panel 31 of the disinfection storage cabinet 101, the chain operation signal function causes a heat disinfection process to be carried out in the disinfection storage cabinets 101 and 102 of the disinfection storage system 1A, and then a heat disinfection process to be carried out in the disinfection storage cabinets 103 and 104 of the disinfection storage system 1B. In this way, the disinfection storage systems 1A and 1B carry out heat disinfection processes in a chain reaction.

Specifically, when an operation command is input via the operation panel 31 of the disinfection storage cabinet 101, the disinfection storage cabinet 101 outputs an ON signal as an interlock signal. This interlock signal (ON signal) is input to disinfection storage cabinets 102, 103, and 104 in order, propagating along the loop, and then input to the disinfection storage cabinet 101.

In response to the input of this interlock signal (ON signal), the disinfection storage cabinet 101 makes a positive determination in S140 and executes subsequent processing. As a result, in the disinfection storage cabinets 101 and 102, the heat disinfection process is executed in parallel by repeating the alternating operation process, just like the disinfection storage system 1 of the first embodiment.

When the heat disinfection process is completed in both disinfection storage cabinets 101 and 102, an OFF signal is output as an interlock signal from disinfection storage cabinet 101 (S270), and an ON signal is output as a chain operation signal from disinfection storage cabinet 101 (S290). In response to the input of this ON signal (Yes in S115), disinfection storage cabinet 102 outputs an ON signal as a chain operation signal (S170).

Upon receiving the input of this chain operation signal (ON signal), the disinfection storage cabinet 103 makes a positive determination in S115, a negative determination in S120, and outputs an ON signal as an interlock signal in S130. As a result, the interlock signal as an ON signal propagates through the above loop again.
The disinfection storage cabinet 103 receives the input of the interlock signal (ON signal) by this propagation, makes a positive determination in S140, and starts the heat disinfection process by repeating the alternating operation process. Accordingly, the disinfection storage cabinet 104 also executes the heat disinfection process by repeating the alternating operation process so as to alternately operate the heaters 27 between the disinfection storage cabinets 103 and 104, as in the disinfection storage system 1.

In this way, the heat disinfection process is performed in parallel in disinfection storage cabinets 103 and 104. When the heat disinfection process is completed in both disinfection storage cabinets 103 and 104, an OFF signal is output as an interlock signal from disinfection storage cabinet 103 (S270), and then an ON signal is output as a chain operation signal from disinfection storage cabinet 103 (S290). In response to the input of this ON signal, disinfection storage cabinet 104 outputs an ON signal as a chain operation signal (S170).

Upon receiving this chain operation signal (ON signal), the disinfection storage cabinet 101 makes a positive determination in S115. At this time, the disinfection storage cabinet 101 has already completed the heat disinfection process and the completion flag is set to a value of 1, so the disinfection storage cabinet 101 makes a positive determination in S120 and then again in S160, and executes the reset process (S180).

As a result, the interlock signal and chain operation signal are switched to OFF signals, and the completion flag and parent unit flag are reset to a value of 0. Furthermore, when the interlock signal is maintained at OFF for a predetermined period of time or longer, all disinfection storage cabinets 102, 103, and 104 on the interlock signal transmission path reset their completion flags and parent unit flags, and initialize various signals to OFF signals.

In this way, in the second embodiment, disinfection storage cabinets 101, 102, 103, and 104, which have the same configuration as the disinfection storage cabinet 10 of the first embodiment, are connected as shown in FIG. 13A, so that the heat disinfection process can be performed in parallel between the disinfection storage cabinets 101 and 102 and between the disinfection storage cabinets 103 and 104 while keeping the maximum power consumption to approximately that of one unit, and the heat disinfection process can be performed sequentially between the disinfection storage system 1A including the disinfection storage cabinets 101 and 102 and the disinfection storage system 1B including the disinfection storage cabinets 103 and 104.

In particular, a loop-shaped transmission path is provided between disinfecting storage system 1A and disinfecting storage system 1B as a transmission path for interlock signals and chain operation signals, so that regardless of whether an operation command is input to disinfecting storage cabinet 101 of disinfecting storage system 1A or disinfecting storage cabinet 103 of disinfecting storage system 1B, the heat disinfection process is carried out in a chain reaction in disinfecting storage system 1A and disinfecting storage system 1B.

In this way, with the disinfecting storage system 2 of this embodiment, a single operating command from an operator can cause multiple disinfecting storage cabinets 101, 102, 103, and 104 to perform heat disinfection processing with the maximum power consumption of approximately one cabinet, allowing tableware to be efficiently heat disinfected.

[others]
The disinfection storage systems 1 and 2 of the first and second embodiments have been described above, but the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can take on various forms.

For example, by adopting the connection method of the disinfection storage cabinets 101-104 of the second embodiment, it is possible to configure a disinfection storage system 3 that includes a total of six disinfection storage cabinets 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, and 106, by adding an additional disinfection storage system 1C to the disinfection storage systems 1A and 1B, as shown in Figure 13B.

In the disinfection storage system 3, the signal line groups F51 and F52 wired between the disinfection storage cabinets 105 and 106 correspond to the signal line groups F41 and F42 wired between the disinfection storage cabinets 103 and 104, and the signal line group F53 wired between the disinfection storage cabinets 104 and 105 corresponds to the signal line group F43 wired between the disinfection storage cabinets 102 and 103.

In disinfection storage system 2, signal line group F33, which is wired between disinfection storage cabinet 101 and disinfection storage cabinet 104, is wired between disinfection storage cabinet 101 and disinfection storage cabinet 106 in disinfection storage system 3. By adopting this connection method, it is possible to configure a disinfection storage system that can be efficiently linked using more than six disinfection storage cabinets. Note that disinfection storage systems 2 and 3 are disinfection storage systems made up of pairs of disinfection storage cabinets that have switched to alternating linkage mode, but this is not limited to this, and a disinfection storage system that includes a mixture of disinfection storage cabinets that can be linked individually may also be used.

In addition, in the above-mentioned disinfection storage system 1, the heaters 27 operate alternately between the disinfection storage cabinet 10 and the disinfection storage cabinet 10E in order to keep the maximum power consumption to approximately that of one unit, but these heaters 27 may also operate simultaneously as long as the amount of power consumed per hour does not exceed a preset upper limit.

For example, if the current input to the heater 27 gradually increases as the heater 27 starts operating and gradually decreases before the heater 27 stops, the amount of power consumed per hour can be reduced even if the heater 27 in the sterilization storage cabinet 10E starts operating just before the heater 27 in the sterilization storage cabinet 10 stops. By operating the heater 27 in this manner in an overlapping manner, it is possible to shorten the time required to complete heat sterilization in both the sterilization storage cabinets 10 and 10E. A similar concept can also be applied to the sterilization storage systems 2 and 3.

The sterilization storage cabinet 10 can be put on standby or temporarily stopped under the control of an external management system (for example, a demand control system that controls the facility's power consumption). By putting the sterilization storage cabinet 10 on standby or temporarily stopping it, the external management system can give priority to the operation of other kitchen equipment (for example, a cleaning device or a cooking device). When the sterilization storage cabinet 10 resumes its own operation after the operation of the other kitchen equipment has finished, it can restore the internal temperature T, which dropped while the cabinet was temporarily stopped, to the temperature at the time of temporary stop, and then resume the remaining operation time.

The functions of one component in the above embodiments may be distributed among multiple components. The functions of multiple components may be integrated into one component. Part of the configuration of the above embodiments may be omitted. At least part of the configuration of the above embodiments may be added to or substituted for the configuration of another of the above embodiments. All aspects included in the technical concept identified by the wording of the claims are embodiments of the present disclosure.

1, 1A, 1B, 1C, 2, 3... Disinfection storage system, 10, 10E... Disinfection storage cabinet, 20... Storage space, 21... Housing, 23... Double door, 25... Shelf, 27... Heater, 29... Fan, 31... Operation panel, 33... Controller, 33A... Processor, 33B... Memory, 35... Input/output circuit, 37... Temperature sensor, 39... Power supply circuit, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106... Disinfection storage cabinet, F1, F2... Signal line group, F11, F12, F13, F14... Signal line, F21, F22, F23, F24... Signal line, F31, F32, F33... Signal line group, F41, F42, F43... Signal line group, F51, F52, F53... Signal line group, P0... Power cable.

Claims (10)

A disinfection storage cabinet,
A self-heater configured to heat items stored in the refrigerator;
a controller configured to control the self-heater;
An input/output circuit configured to input a signal from an external storage cabinet, which is an external disinfection storage cabinet, and output a signal for the external storage cabinet;
Equipped with
The controller
outputting a first notification signal regarding the operation of the self-heater to the external storage cabinet through the input/output circuit;
A disinfection storage cabinet that controls its own heater based on a second notification signal regarding the operation of an external heater, which is a heater provided in the external storage cabinet, input from the external storage cabinet through the input/output circuit so that the total hourly power consumption of the disinfection storage cabinet and the external storage cabinet does not exceed a set upper limit . A disinfection storage cabinet,
A self-heater configured to heat items stored in the refrigerator;
a controller configured to control the self-heater;
An input/output circuit configured to input a signal from an external storage cabinet, which is an external disinfection storage cabinet, and output a signal for the external storage cabinet;
Equipped with
The controller
outputting a first notification signal regarding the operation of the self-heater to the external storage cabinet through the input/output circuit;
A disinfection storage cabinet that controls its own heater to operate on the condition that the external heater is stopped, based on a second notification signal regarding the operation of the external heater, which is a heater provided in the external storage cabinet , input from the external storage cabinet through the input/output circuit. The controller
When a predetermined stop condition is satisfied during operation of the self-heater, the self-heater is stopped, and a signal indicating the stop of the self-heater is output to the external storage as the first notification signal;
A disinfection storage cabinet as described in claim 2, wherein, on the condition that a signal indicating the stop of the external heater is input as the second notification signal from the external storage cabinet while the internal heater is stopped, a signal indicating the operation of the internal heater is output to the external storage cabinet as the first notification signal, thereby activating the internal heater. The disinfection storage cabinet includes a detector configured to detect an internal temperature of the cabinet;
A disinfection storage cabinet as described in claim 3, wherein the controller determines that the stop condition is satisfied and stops the self-heater when the internal temperature detected by the detector while the self-heater is operating exceeds a set temperature. A disinfection storage cabinet as described in claim 3, wherein the controller determines that the stop condition is satisfied and stops the self-heater when a set time has elapsed since the self-heater started operating. When a heat treatment start condition is satisfied, the controller
starting a heating process including repeatedly activating the self-heater based on the second notification signal and terminating the self-heater when the terminating condition is satisfied;
4. The disinfection storage cabinet according to claim 3, wherein when a termination condition is met, the heating process is terminated and the self-heater is kept in a stopped state. It has a user interface,
When an operation instruction is input through the user interface, the controller outputs a first interlock signal to the external storage cabinet through the input/output circuit;
A disinfection storage cabinet as described in claim 6, wherein when a second interlock signal is input from the external storage cabinet through the input/output circuit in response to the first interlock signal, it is determined that the heating treatment start condition is satisfied, a signal indicating the operation of the self-heater is output to the external storage cabinet as the first notification signal, and the heating treatment is started. The disinfection storage cabinet of claim 7, wherein when an interlock signal is input from the external storage cabinet due to an operation instruction to the external storage cabinet without input of the operation instruction to the disinfection storage cabinet through the user interface while the internal heater is stopped, the controller outputs an interlock signal to the external storage cabinet in response to the interlock signal from the external storage cabinet , and starts the heating process on the condition that the external heater is stopped. 1. A disinfectant storage system comprising:
A first disinfection storage cabinet and a second disinfection storage cabinet are provided,
The first disinfection storage cabinet is configured to control a heater provided in the first disinfection storage cabinet based on a notification signal from the second disinfection storage cabinet, and to perform a first heating process for heating stored items by controlling the heater provided in the first disinfection storage cabinet ,
The second disinfection storage cabinet is configured to control a heater provided in the second disinfection storage cabinet based on a notification signal from the first disinfection storage cabinet, and to perform a second heating process for heating stored items by controlling the heater provided in the second disinfection storage cabinet ,
Each of the first sterilization storage cabinet and the second sterilization storage cabinet outputs a notification signal regarding the operation of the heater provided therein as the notification signal,
A disinfection storage system in which the first heating process and the second heating process are performed in parallel so that the heater provided in the first disinfection storage cabinet and the heater provided in the second disinfection storage cabinet do not operate simultaneously. 1. A disinfectant storage system comprising:
A first disinfection storage cabinet and a second disinfection storage cabinet are provided,
Each of the first disinfection storage cabinet and the second disinfection storage cabinet is a disinfection storage cabinet according to any one of claims 2 to 8,
The first disinfection storage cabinet and the second disinfection storage cabinet each output the first notification signal to the second disinfection storage cabinet or the first disinfection storage cabinet as the external storage cabinet, and control the self-heater based on the second notification signal from the external storage cabinet,
A disinfectant storage system in which the first disinfectant storage cabinet and the second disinfectant storage cabinet alternately operate their self-heaters to alternately heat items stored in the first disinfectant storage cabinet and items stored in the second disinfectant storage cabinet.