JP2003287335A - Low-temperature transport and temperature control evaluation system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To evaluate the temperature control for each section of collection, trunk transport, and distribution when transporting frozen or refrigerated cargoes, and to easily evaluate a large volume of data. <P>SOLUTION: Frozen or refrigerated cargoes are transported while a temperature recorder to store the temperature detected by a temperature detecting means at predetermined time intervals in a data storage means as the temperature history data is installed at a place of the same temperature condition as the transported cargoes. The temperature history data is taken out of the data storage means of the temperature recorder after the transport is completed, the temperature history data is divided into a plurality of sections A-F based on the transport route, and the temperature control is evaluated for each section based on the total sum of the temperature width with the detected temperature deviated from a predetermined temperature range, and its duration. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a low-temperature transportation / temperature management evaluation system that is effective when, for example, transporting refrigerated foods and other items that require temperature management.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Due to the recent development of physical distribution systems, the transportation of frozen and refrigerated foods has become active. When trucking frozen and refrigerated food with other normal cargo,
Low-temperature refrigerators for freezing and refrigeration are loaded on trucks, and frozen foods and refrigerated foods are put in them respectively and transported to the destination. The cold storage has a regenerator inside, and cools the regenerator before loading it on a truck, and cools the inside of the low regenerator with cold heat accumulated in the regenerator during transportation. At that time, switching between freezing and refrigerating is performed by controlling the operation of a cooling fan provided inside.

On the other hand, in recent years, there is an increasing need to control the temperature of frozen / refrigerated food during transportation in the trend of strengthening hygiene control of food. Therefore, when transporting frozen / refrigerated foods in a low temperature warehouse, place a portable temperature recorder near the food and read the temperature history data from the temperature recorder by a personal computer etc. after arriving at the destination. Then, a temperature management evaluation system has been developed that displays it on a screen and allows a person to visually check it and evaluate the temperature management of food during transportation. If such a system is adopted, whether or not the temperature inside the cold storage was kept normal during transportation,
When an abnormality occurs, it is possible to confirm the time of occurrence and the duration of the abnormality.

[0004] As a conventional document related to such a low temperature transportation / temperature management evaluation system, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
There is 2002-39659 publication (F25D 11/00).

[0005]

By the way, as an operation mode of a transportation company, there is a transportation company in which a local subsidiary takes charge of collection and delivery and a trunk transportation uses a long-distance flight of another company. In such an operation mode, when transporting frozen / refrigerated food, evaluation of temperature control is collected and delivered, main line transportation,
It is necessary to carry out for each category of delivery.

However, in the above-mentioned conventional low temperature transportation / temperature management evaluation system, even if the temperature history data is displayed on the screen, it is not possible to clearly discriminate which part of the data belongs to which category. there were.

Further, in the above system, since the temperature history data is displayed on the screen and a person visually evaluates it, there is a problem that it takes time to evaluate a large amount of data. .

In view of such problems, the present invention makes it possible to easily perform temperature management evaluation for each section of collection and delivery, main line transportation, and delivery, and evaluation of a large amount of data. The purpose is to make it easy.

[0009]

In order to solve the above problems, the low temperature transportation / temperature management evaluation system according to claim 1 has a temperature detecting means, a time measuring means and a data storing means, and the temperature detecting means. The temperature recording device that stores the temperature detected at a predetermined time interval as temperature history data in the data storage means is installed at the same temperature condition as the transported cargo, and the frozen and frozen cargo is transported. After that, temperature history data is fetched from the data storage means of the temperature recording device, the temperature history data is divided into a plurality of sections based on the transportation route, and each section is classified based on the degree to which the detected temperature deviates from a predetermined temperature range. It is characterized in that the temperature control is evaluated. By doing so, it becomes possible to easily perform the temperature control evaluation for each of the categories of collection and delivery, main line transportation, and delivery.

Further, the low-temperature transportation / temperature management evaluation system according to claim 2 evaluates the temperature management based on the cumulative total of the product of the temperature width in which the detected temperature deviates from the predetermined temperature range and its duration. It is characterized by doing so. This makes it possible to easily evaluate a large amount of data.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a transportation route for frozen / refrigerated products. In this case, the refrigerated / frozen foods collected at a local sales office 1 are temporarily stored in a storage warehouse 2 and then accumulated at a transportation company branch office 3 that has jurisdiction over the area, where they are sorted according to destinations, and trucks of other companies 8 Then, the products are transported to the shipping company branch office 4 which has jurisdiction over each destination area. The refrigerated / frozen foods transported to the transportation company branch 4 are temporarily stored in the storage warehouse 5 and then delivered to the delivery destination by the truck at the sales office 6.

As shown in FIG. 2, the truck 8 has a low temperature refrigerator 11 for refrigeration and a low temperature refrigerator 12 for freezing loaded in a cargo compartment together with ordinary cargo. It is stored. Further, in each of the low temperature chambers 11 and 12, a temperature recording device 9 for storing in a memory the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means at a predetermined time interval,
Ten is placed.

The temperature recording devices 9 and 10 are connected to a temperature recording device connection device 14 as shown in FIG. 3, the measurement is started by the management computer 13, and the measurement is continued during transportation.
After the transportation is completed, the temperature recording devices 9 and 10 are taken out from the low temperature warehouses 11 and 12 and sent to the shipping company headquarters 7, where the temperature history data recorded by connecting to the temperature recording device connection device 14 is recorded on the management computer 13. To read.

Now, the temperature recording devices 9 and 10 will be described. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the temperature recording device.
FIG. 4A shows a state in which the temperature recording device and the mounting holder are separated, and FIG. 4B shows a state in which both are integrated. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 15 is a temperature recording apparatus main body, 16 is a temperature recording apparatus holder, and 18 is a mounting holder. The temperature recording device main body 15 has a bottomed cylindrical metal case 15A in which a temperature sensor, a CPU, a memory, a battery, and the like are housed.
The opening of the metal case 15A is electrically insulated from the metal case 15A and closed with a lid member 15B, and has a shape like a button type battery as a whole. Then, like the button type battery, the metal case 15A and the lid member 15B are used as electrodes to be connected to the outside.

Such a temperature recording device body 15 is attached to a plastic temperature recording device holder 16, and a locking collar 17 is formed at the lower end of the tip of the temperature recording device holder 16. After being inserted into the insertion portion 19 of the mounting holder 18, the upper portion of the temperature recording device holder 16 is pushed in, and as shown in FIG.
8 and engage and integrate. Then, a screw can be passed through the screw hole 20 of the attachment holder 18 to be fixed to the wall surfaces of the cold storage 11 for cold storage and the cold storage 12 for freezing.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the temperature recording device. This circuit is housed in the metal case 15A described above and controlled by the CPU 21. Power for operation is supplied by the battery 25. In addition, the memory 22
As shown in FIG. 6, is divided into an area for storing temperature history data, an area for storing temperature distribution data, and an area for storing temperature alarm history data.

The CPU 21 receives a time signal from the clock circuit 23, acquires temperature data from the digital temperature sensor 26 at a preset time interval, for example, one minute interval, and causes the temperature history data area of the memory 22 to sequentially store the temperature data. To go. Further, the acquired temperature data is counted for each of the divided temperature zones and stored in the temperature distribution data area of the memory 22.

Further, the digital temperature sensor 26 can set an alarm threshold value of temperature at an upper limit and a lower limit, and can output an alarm signal when a temperature outside the range is detected. Therefore, using the signal, the time when the detected temperature is out of the predetermined range is stored in the temperature alarm history data area of the memory 22.

Next, the digital temperature sensor will be described. The digital temperature sensor is a temperature detection unit that detects a temperature based on a change in physical properties of a semiconductor and outputs it as a digital signal, a RAM that holds the output of the temperature detection unit, and an E ² RO.
It is a device in which M, a control circuit for controlling them, and the like are integrated on one semiconductor chip. A plurality of external control devices can be connected in a bus form by using only one signal line and one ground line.

Each digital temperature sensor has 64
A unique identification number of the bit is attached, and an external control device can identify a plurality of bus-connected digital temperature sensors based on the identification number. Further, each digital temperature sensor can hold two user-programmable high and low threshold values for alarm, and an alarm can be issued when the detected temperature is out of a predetermined range.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a digital temperature sensor. The input / output circuit 30 has a port for connecting a signal line DQ for transmitting data when communicating with one wire, and a mask R of 64 bits engraved with a laser.
It has OM. Then, the 64-bit mask R
An identification number unique to each digital temperature sensor is written in the OM.

The scratchpad memory 31 is a 9-byte RAM and is used to hold data when communicating with an external control device. The control circuit 32 is composed of a logic circuit, and performs communication by process control according to a command sent from an external control device. The temperature detection unit 33 detects the temperature based on the change in the physical properties of the semiconductor, and stores it in the temperature register in the temperature detection unit 33 as 2-byte temperature data. The high temperature threshold register 34 and the low temperature threshold register 35 hold the high temperature side threshold value and the low temperature side threshold value for temperature alarm, respectively. These thresholds can be rewritten by a command from the external control device side.

The environment setting register 36 holds environment setting data for determining the resolution of the measured temperature and the maximum temperature conversion time. Further, the CRC generation circuit 37 generates a CRC code for error check of the data and provides it to the external control device side when transmitting the data to the external control device.

As shown in FIG. 8, in each byte of the scratchpad memory 31, the temperature data measured by the temperature detection unit 33 is stored in the lower digit and the upper digit in the first 0th byte and the first byte. It is stored separately in and. At the second byte and the third byte, the high temperature threshold and the low temperature threshold for alarm are transferred from the high temperature threshold register 34 and the low temperature threshold register 35 on the E ² ROM each time the power is turned on. At the fourth byte, the environment setting data is transferred from the environment setting register 36 on the E ² ROM every time the power is turned on. The 5th to 7th bytes are not used, and the CRC code is written in the 8th byte by the CRC generation circuit 37.

Such a digital temperature sensor is connected to the CPU 21 of the temperature recording device. At that time, the operating power of the digital temperature sensor can be _supplied through the power supply line V _DD , or the capacitor C is charged by keeping the signal line DQ high for a certain time or more to obtain it. You can also

When a command for instructing the output of temperature data from the CPU 21 is given to such a digital temperature sensor through the signal line DQ, the temperature detection unit 33 writes the temperature data to the scratch pad memory 31, and then the signal is sent. This is done by outputting to line DQ. At that time, the temperature detection unit 33 can measure, for example, in the range of −55 ° C. to + 125 ° C. in steps of 0.5 ° C.

When an alarm search command is given from the CPU 21 through the signal line DQ and the temperature of the temperature detecting section 33 at that time is outside the temperature range set in the high temperature threshold register 34 and the low temperature threshold register 35. Only, the identification number is output to the signal line DQ. In the temperature recording devices 9 and 10, such a digital temperature sensor is used as a temperature sensor.

The temperature of the low temperature transportation cargo is controlled by using such temperature recording devices 9 and 10. At the time of departure,
First, the temperature recording devices 9 and 10 are connected to a temperature recording device connection device 14 as shown in FIG. 3, and the management computer 13 clears the contents of the memory 22 of each of the temperature recording devices 9 and 10 and the temperature recording device. In 9 and 10, the time at that time is set as the measurement start time, and further, the transportation course number and the transportation product type, frozen or refrigerated, are set. At the same time, the temperature recording devices 9 and 10 start the measurement operation. Then, the temperature recording devices 9 and 10 are detached from the temperature recording device connecting device 14 and set in the cold storage 11 for cold storage and the cold storage 12 for freezing.

During transportation, the temperature recording devices 9 and 10 measure and store the temperatures inside the cold storage 11 for cold storage and the cold storage 12 for freezing at predetermined time intervals, for example, at intervals of 1 minute. Go.

When the delivery is completed, the temperature recorders 9 and 1 are installed from the cold storage 11 for refrigeration and the cold storage 12 for freezing.
0 is collected and sent to the shipping company headquarters 7. At the shipping company headquarters 7, the temperature recording devices 9 and 10 are connected to the temperature recording device connecting device 14.
Then, the management computer 13 takes in the data sequence as the measurement start time and the temperature history data from each of the temperature recording devices 9 and 10.

At this time, the departure time and the arrival time are input based on the slip, and only the data within the net transportation period is taken in. Then, as shown in FIG. 9, the temperature history data is displayed on the screen and the evaluation process is performed.

First, based on the slip, the temperature history data is classified by collection, storage, main line transportation, delivery and the like. For the work, for example, a classification information input screen as shown in FIG. 10 is displayed, and classification names such as collection, storage, main line transportation, and delivery, contents of transportation destination, storage location, end date and time of the classification, etc. are displayed. It is done by inputting. As a result, the temperature history data is from A to
It is segmented like F.

The temperature management evaluation is carried out for each of these sections. In the temperature management evaluation, a high temperature alarm temperature, a low temperature alarm temperature, and an evaluation standard are set in advance in a plurality of stages on an evaluation setting screen as shown in FIG. Among them, the high temperature alarm temperature and the low temperature alarm temperature determine the temperature range to be maintained during transportation. When the temperature is higher than the high temperature alarm temperature or lower than the low temperature alarm temperature, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred.

Further, the evaluation is, for example, as shown in FIG. 12, the product of the temperature range in which the product storage temperature deviates from the high temperature alarm temperature and the low temperature alarm temperature and the duration (minutes) within each category. The cumulative total, that is, the extent of the hatched area in FIG. 12 is used, and the level is set in a plurality of stages, for example, five stages, as an evaluation standard.

Then, the management computer 13 determines which level is reached for each section, and the level is determined along with the temperature history data and the input data such as the section name, contents, and end date and time of each section. Save and create a database.

After that, when the evaluation result is confirmed, for example, a search screen as shown in FIG. 13 is displayed, and the course number, the departure date and time, the evaluation result level, etc. are designated to search the database, Check it by displaying it on the screen or printing it out. At this time, it is possible to specify a category so that the data can be disclosed only to the relevant company so that it can be displayed on the screen or printed out.

Furthermore, when the necessary flights are clicked with the mouse on the evaluation result list display screen, the details of the evaluation results including the stored temperature history data can be displayed or printed.

In the above embodiment, the temperature recorder of the type shown in FIG. 4 is used, but the present invention is not limited to this, and any other device can be used as long as it can continuously measure and record the temperature of the cargo. You can also use this type.
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the truck has been described as an example of the moving body for transportation, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can be applied to the case of using a ship, an aircraft, or the like.

[0039]

Since the present invention is constructed as described above, it has the following effects. That is, the low-temperature transportation / temperature management evaluation system according to claim 1 transports refrigerated / frozen cargo with the temperature recording device installed at a location having the same temperature condition as the transportation cargo, and records the temperature after the transportation is completed. Temperature history data is fetched from the data storage means of the device, the temperature history data is divided into a plurality of sections based on the transportation route, and temperature management is performed for each section based on the degree to which the detected temperature deviates from a predetermined temperature range. I tried to evaluate it. As a result, it becomes easy to evaluate the temperature control for each of the categories of collection and delivery, main line transportation, and delivery.

Further, the low-temperature transportation / temperature management evaluation system according to the second aspect evaluates the temperature management based on the cumulative product of the temperature width in which the detected temperature deviates from the predetermined temperature range and its duration. By doing so, it is possible to evaluate on a computer without relying on human eyes, and to easily evaluate a large amount of data.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a transportation route of frozen / refrigerated products.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a transportation truck.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a management computer and a temperature recording device connection device.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a temperature recording device.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a temperature recording device.

FIG. 6 is a memory map of the temperature recording device.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a digital temperature sensor.

FIG. 8 is a memory map of a digital temperature sensor.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a temperature history display screen.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a classification information input screen.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an evaluation setting screen.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining an evaluation method.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an evaluation result search screen.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 6 ... Sales office 2, 5 ... Storage warehouse 3, 4 ... Shipping company branch 7. Transport company headquarters 8 ... Truck 9, 10 ... Temperature recorder 11 ... Cold storage for refrigeration 12 ... Low temperature refrigerator for freezing 13 ... Management computer 14 ... Temperature recording device connection device 15 ... Temperature recorder main body 16 ... Temperature recorder holder 18 ... Mounting holder

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A temperature recording device comprising a temperature detecting means, a time measuring means, and a data storing means, wherein the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means at a predetermined time interval is stored in the data storing means as temperature history data. Carry refrigerated / frozen cargo while it is installed at the same temperature condition as the transported cargo,
After the transportation is completed, temperature history data is taken in from the data storage means of the temperature recording device, the temperature history data is divided into a plurality of sections based on the transportation route, and based on the degree to which the detected temperature deviates from the predetermined temperature range, A low-temperature transportation / temperature management evaluation system characterized in that temperature management is evaluated for each category. 2. The low temperature transportation according to claim 1, wherein the temperature management is evaluated based on a cumulative total of a product of a temperature width in which the detected temperature deviates from a predetermined temperature range and its duration. -Temperature management evaluation system.