JP2007018137A - Vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve safety by reducing a risk of leaking of the refrigerant, save energy and lower noise, in a vending machine equipped with a cooling device using a combustible refrigerant. <P>SOLUTION: A machine room 4 is equipped with a cooling device 8 comprising a compressor 5, a condenser 6, a plurality of condenser fans 7 and a combustible refrigerant 9. The condenser fans 7 are driven by a DC power source. A rotational number control means 15 can change a rotational number to a higher or lower number. In addition, as a DC power source is thus employed, energy-saving effect is high, and, as a rotational number can be changed to be low by the rotation number control means, energy-saving and lowered noise can be realized. Even if the refrigerant happens to leak from a pipe, the plurality of condenser fans 7 can compulsorily diffuse the leaked refrigerant. Therefore, a risk in leak of the refrigerant is reduced, safety is improved, and an increase in power consumption is restrained. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vending machine using a cooling device using a combustible refrigerant.

  In recent years, from the viewpoint of protecting the earth's ozone layer, the use of refrigerants containing chlorine atoms, such as refrigerant CFC (chlorofluorocarbon) -12 or HCFC (hydrochlorofluorocarbon) -22, which has been used in the refrigeration cycle of the cooling device has been regulated. However, conversion to an HFC (hydrofluorocarbon) refrigerant that does not contain chlorine atoms and does not destroy the ozone layer is in progress.

  Conventionally, in vending machines mainly using HCFC-22, R407C, which is a mixed refrigerant of HFC refrigerant, is adopted and sold as an alternative refrigerant.

  However, currently used HFC refrigerants such as R407C do not destroy the ozone layer, but because of their high global warming potential, they are insufficient for global warming, and therefore have low global warming potential. Therefore, natural refrigerants such as HC (hydrocarbon) are attracting attention in place of HFC.

  On the other hand, since HC refrigerants are flammable, safety is an issue when used as a refrigerant in a refrigeration cycle in a cooling device, and consideration for refrigerant leakage, that is, precautionary measures by diffusion measures are necessary. It is.

  For this reason, as an example of preventing the flammable refrigerant from leaking into the sealed chamber, a refrigeration system is connected in cascade, a refrigeration cycle using the flammable refrigerant is provided outside the cabinet, and brine is placed inside the cabinet. There is a method of sink cooling (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  In addition, there is a refrigerator disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 2) that can reduce the refrigerant leakage to the inside and avoid the risk of ignition and explosion even if a flammable refrigerant leaks.

  In addition, there is a vending machine that detects a refrigerant leak in a warehouse and discharges the leaked refrigerant from an exhaust port provided with a damper (for example, see Patent Document 3).

In addition, there is a disclosure of a vending machine equipped with an exhaust means for exhausting outside the vending machine body (for example, see Patent Document 4).
JP 2001-118134 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-42817 JP 2001-134827 A JP 2003-178362 A

  However, in a vending machine or the like, the cooling system piping is not limited to the interior of the cabinet, but refrigerant leakage from the cooling system in the machine room provided at the lower part of the main body of the vending machine is also conceivable.

  In addition, in the installation situation of the vending machine, the back surface may be blocked by a wall or the like, and it is conceivable that leaked refrigerant stays in the machine room. In the unlikely event of a refrigerant leak, it is necessary to diffuse it around before reaching the explosion concentration. Therefore, the exhaust means for exhausting the exhaust gas from the vending machine body is always operated, but there are problems of energy saving and noise caused by the fan.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and provides a highly safe vending machine that saves energy and reduces noise and reduces risk even when a flammable refrigerant is used as a refrigerant in a refrigeration cycle. With the goal.

  In order to solve the conventional problems, a vending machine according to the present invention includes a cooling device including a compressor, a condenser, a condenser fan, and a combustible refrigerant disposed in a machine room, and the condenser fan is a DC power source. It is provided with a plurality of rotational speed control means capable of changing the rotational speed to a high speed and a low speed. As a result, since it is driven by a DC power source, energy saving is high, and further, energy can be saved and noise can be reduced by changing the rotation speed to a low speed by the rotation speed control means. In the unlikely event that a refrigerant leaks from the refrigerant piping in the storage room or machine room, multiple refrigerant fans forcibly diffuse the leaked refrigerant to the surroundings, and quickly reduce the concentration of flammable refrigerant gas in the air. Can do. Further, by providing a plurality of condenser fans, the diffusion effect by the fans can be ensured even if one condenser fan fails.

  The vending machine of the present invention includes a compressor, a condenser, a cooling device comprising a plurality of condenser fans and a flammable refrigerant driven by a DC power source in a machine room, and includes a compressor operation detecting means. Fan control means for operating all the condenser fans when the compressor is operating and operating only one condenser fan when the compressor is stopped is provided. This eliminates the need for cooling the condenser when the compressor is stopped, so that only one condenser fan is operated to provide an efficient cooling system, while ensuring safety by diffusion and reducing noise. In addition, the increase in power consumption is suppressed and the life of the condenser fan is extended.

  Since the vending machine of the present invention forcibly diffuses the leaked refrigerant around by a plurality of condenser fans, the concentration of the flammable refrigerant gas in the air can be lowered quickly, and is driven by a DC power source. Energy saving is high, and energy saving and noise reduction can be further achieved by changing the rotation speed to low speed by the rotation speed control means.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, a cooling device comprising a compressor, a condenser, a condenser fan, and a flammable refrigerant is disposed in a machine room. The condenser fan is provided with a plurality of units driven by a DC power source and has a high rotational speed. By providing the rotational speed control means that can be changed to low speed, since it is a DC power supply drive, energy saving is high, and furthermore, the rotational speed can be changed to low speed by the rotational speed control means, and energy saving and noise reduction can be achieved. In the unlikely event that a refrigerant leaks from the refrigerant piping in the storage room or machine room, multiple refrigerant fans forcibly diffuse the leaked refrigerant to the surroundings, and quickly reduce the concentration of flammable refrigerant gas in the air. It is possible to reduce the risk of refrigerant leakage, improve safety, and suppress the increase in power consumption. Further, by providing a plurality of condenser fans, the diffusion effect by the fans can be ensured even if one condenser fan fails.

  In the vending machine according to the first aspect of the invention, in particular, in the vending machine according to the first aspect, the temperature detected by the outside air temperature detecting means is compared with the temperature set in the storage unit, and when the outside air temperature is higher than a predetermined temperature, the condenser fan Rotation speed control means to operate the condenser fan at a low speed when the outside air temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature, ensuring the air volume under high temperature conditions that require cooling of the compressor and the condenser However, in low-temperature conditions that do not require much airflow to cool the compressor and condenser, it operates at a low speed, so it becomes an efficient cooling device, while ensuring safety by diffusion and reducing noise and increasing power consumption. Can be suppressed. Further, by providing a plurality of condenser fans, the diffusion effect by the fans can be ensured even if one condenser fan fails.

  In a third aspect of the invention, in particular, in the vending machine of the first aspect of the invention, the compressor operation detecting means is provided, and when the compressor is operating, the condenser fan is operated at a high speed and the compressor is stopped. By providing a rotation speed control means for operating the condenser fan at a low speed, it is not necessary to cool the condenser when the compressor is stopped. Thus, while ensuring safety by diffusion, it is possible to reduce noise and suppress an increase in power consumption. Further, by providing a plurality of condenser fans, the diffusion effect by the fans can be ensured even if one condenser fan fails.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a compressor, a condenser, a cooling device composed of a plurality of condenser fans and a flammable refrigerant driven by a DC power source are disposed in the machine room, provided with a compressor operation detecting means, and the compressor operates. When the compressor is stopped, it is possible to cool the condenser when the compressor is stopped by providing fan control means that operates all the condenser fans when the compressor is stopped. Since it is unnecessary, by operating only one condenser fan, it is possible to reduce noise and suppress an increase in power consumption while ensuring safety by diffusion even in the event of a refrigerant leak.

  In the fifth invention, in particular, in the vending machine according to any one of the first to fourth inventions, a plurality of condenser fans are arranged at an angle with respect to the wind direction by driving a DC power source. Exhaust can be performed evenly and safety by diffusion can be secured.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a vending machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the machine room of the vending machine according to the embodiment.

  In the figure, the storage chamber 1 has a semi-hermetic structure by a heat insulating material. The storage shelf 2 stores and stores products such as canned beverages and beverages contained in PET containers, and the cooler 3 cools the products stored in the storage shelf 2. The machine room 4 is a machine room isolated from the storage room 1 and is formed in the lower part of the main body, and stores the compressor 5, the condenser 6 and the condenser fan 7. The condenser fan 7 is a brushless motor driven by a DC power source, and the two condenser fans 7 are arranged side by side so as to be within the width and height of the condenser 6. The cooling device 8 is composed of a compressor 5, a condenser 6, a decompression device (not shown), and a cooler 3 that are sequentially connected to constitute a refrigeration cycle and cool the interior of the storage chamber 1. The refrigerant 9 is a flammable refrigerant enclosed in the cooling device 8, and is an R290 single refrigerant, an R600a single refrigerant or a mixed refrigerant containing them. The internal fan 10 is a DC power-driven fan provided in the storage chamber 1, and the duct 11 is a circulation duct for returning cool air blown to the storage shelf 2 by the internal fan 10.

  The front vent 12 at the lower part of the door and the rear vent 13 at the rear of the machine room 4 are vents for taking in and discharging the wind of the condenser fan 7. That is, the machine room 4 of the vending machine is arranged in the order of the front vent hole 12, the condenser 6, the two condenser fans 7, the compressor 5 and the rear vent hole 13 from the front side.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the vending machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the vending machine according to the embodiment.

  In the figure, the outside air temperature detecting means 14 is a detecting means for detecting the outside air temperature. A rotation speed control means 15 for controlling the operation of the condenser fan 7 based on a signal from the outside air temperature detection means 14 is provided. As the rotation speed control means 15, there are a method of performing intermittent control and a method of changing the applied voltage. Here, it is assumed that a method of changing the applied voltage is used. The arithmetic control unit 16 includes a rotation speed control means 15 and a storage unit 17.

  The operation of the vending machine configured as described above will be described.

  When the product stored in the storage shelf 2 is cooled, the cooling device 8 is operated, and the cool air cooled by the cooler 3 by the internal fan 10 is circulated. The cool air cools the product stored in the storage shelf 2 by the internal fan 10 and returns to the cooler 3 again through the duct 11 to repeat cooling.

  At this time, the combustible refrigerant 9 enclosed in the cooling device 8 is compressed by the compressor 5 to become high-temperature and high-pressure gas, and is liquefied by being cooled by the condenser fan 7 by the condenser 6. The liquefied combustible refrigerant 9 is decompressed by a decompression device (not shown), evaporated by the cooler 3 and gasified. When gasifying, the cooler is cooled by latent heat of vaporization, and cool air is circulated by the internal fan 10 to cool the product.

  Although the combustible refrigerant 9 is sealed and sealed in the cooling device 8, if the pipe is damaged due to vibration of the pipe or the like and the refrigerant leaks unexpectedly in the machine room 4, it is quickly diffused by the condenser fan 7 and combustible gas air. The concentration in it can be quickly reduced. The condenser fan 7 is a brushless motor driven by a DC power source, and can be used safely with no ignitability against combustible gas, and can also reduce power consumption. The air taken in from the front vent 12 of the machine room 4 passes through the condenser 6, flows toward the compressor 5 by the condenser fan 7, passes through the rear vent 13, and is discharged to the outside. The

  The operation of the main part of the vending machine configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, in step 1, the outside air temperature detecting means 14 detects the outside air temperature T. Next, in step 2, the temperature A preset in the storage unit 17 and the outside air temperature T are compared. If it is determined that the outside air temperature T is higher than the temperature A, the rotational speed control means 15 in step 3 The condenser fan 7 is operated by a DC power supply 24V which is the rating of the condenser fan 7 so as to operate at high speed. However, if it is determined that the outside air temperature T is lower than the temperature A, the applied voltage is lowered from the rating of the condenser fan 7 so that the condenser fan 7 is operated at a low speed by the rotational speed control means 15 in step 4. Operate with DC 14V.

  That is, in the case of a high outside air temperature condition, the condenser fan 7 operates at a high speed in order to efficiently cool the compressor 5 by lowering the cooling and condensing temperature. In the case of a low outside air temperature condition, the cooling is not so much required. Therefore, the condenser fan 7 is operated in a state where the rotational speed is lowered to save the air volume and power consumption.

  As described above, in the vending machine according to the present embodiment, the cooling device 8 including the compressor 5, the condenser 6, the condenser fan 7, and the combustible refrigerant 9 is disposed in the machine room 4. A plurality of DC power supply drives are provided, and the temperature detected by the outside air temperature detecting means 14 and the outside air temperature detecting means 14 is compared with the temperature set in the storage unit 17, and when the outside air temperature is higher than a predetermined temperature, the condenser fan 7 Is provided with a rotation speed control means 15 that operates the condenser fan 7 at a low speed when the outside air temperature is lower than a predetermined temperature, so that the refrigerant leaks from the refrigerant pipe in the storage chamber 1 or the machine chamber 4 by any chance. In this case, a plurality of condenser fans 7 can forcibly diffuse the leaked refrigerant to the surroundings to quickly reduce the concentration of the flammable refrigerant in the air. Is expensiveFurther, while ensuring the air volume under the high temperature condition that requires cooling of the compressor 5 and the condenser 6, it is efficient because it is operated at a low speed in the low temperature condition where the air volume is not so necessary for cooling the compressor 5 and the condenser 6. The cooling device 8 can be used to reduce noise and suppress an increase in power consumption. Further, by providing a plurality of condenser fans 7, it is possible to ensure a diffusion effect by the fan even if one condenser fan 7 fails, and when the outside air temperature is lower than a predetermined temperature, the condenser fan By operating 7 at a low speed, a longer life of the fan can be expected, and the risk of refrigerant leakage can be reduced, and a highly safe vending machine can be provided.

(Embodiment 2)
Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the vending machine according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a vending machine according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the vending machine according to the embodiment.

  In the figure, a compressor operation detecting means 18 is a detecting means for detecting the operation of the compressor 5. A rotation speed control means 15a for controlling the operation of the condenser fan 7 based on a signal from the compressor operation detection means 18 is provided. As the rotation speed control means 15a, there are a method of performing intermittent control, a method of changing an applied voltage, and the like. The arithmetic control unit 16a has a built-in rotation speed control means 15a.

  The operation of the main part of the vending machine configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, in step 1, the compressor operation detecting means 18 detects whether the compressor 5 is operating. Next, when it is determined in step 2 that the compressor is operating, in step 3, the condenser fan 7 is operated with a DC power supply 24V, which is rated for the condenser fan 7, so as to operate at high speed. However, if it is determined that the compressor is stopped (not operating), in step 4, the applied voltage is determined from the rating of the condenser fan 7 so that the condenser fan 7 is operated at a low speed by the rotation speed control means 15a. Lower and operate at DC14V.

  In other words, when the compressor is operating, the condenser fan 7 operates at a high speed to cool the compressor 5 and condense the refrigerant with the condenser 6, and at a low speed when the compressor is stopped, while saving air volume and power consumption. The condenser fan 7 is operated.

  As described above, in the vending machine according to the present embodiment, a plurality of condenser fans 7 are driven by a DC power source, the compressor operation detecting means 18 is provided, and the condenser fan 7 is operated at a low speed when the compressor 5 is stopped. Since the rotation speed control means 15a is provided, the condenser fan 7 is driven by a DC power source, so that it can be used safely without ignitability with high energy savings. Further, the compressor 5 and the condenser 6 need to be cooled. While operating the compressor, it operates at a high speed to ensure the air volume, while when the compressor is stopped, cooling is not necessary, but it is operated at a low speed to ensure a diffusion effect in case of a refrigerant leak, so that noise is reduced. An increase in power consumption can be suppressed. Further, by providing a plurality of condenser fans 7, it is possible to ensure a diffusion effect by the fans even if one condenser fan 7 fails, and by operating at low speed when the compressor is stopped, Can be expected to prolong the service life, reduce the risk of refrigerant leakage, and provide a highly safe vending machine.

(Embodiment 3)
The third embodiment of the vending machine according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a vending machine according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the vending machine according to the embodiment.

  In the figure, a compressor operation detecting means 18 is a detecting means for detecting the operation of the compressor 5. A fan control means 19 for controlling the operation of the condenser fan 7 based on a signal from the compressor operation detecting means 18 is provided. The arithmetic control unit 16b has a fan control means 19 built-in.

  The operation of the main part of the vending machine configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, in step 1, the compressor operation detecting means 18 detects whether the compressor 5 is operating. Next, when it is determined in step 2 that the compressor is operating, in step 3, the fan control means 19 operates all the plurality of condenser fans 7. However, if it is determined that the compressor is stopped (not operating), in step 4, only one condenser fan 7 is operated by the fan control means 19, and the other condenser fans 7 are stopped.

  That is, when the compressor is operating, the compressor 5 is cooled and the refrigerant is condensed by the condenser 6, so that the condenser fan 7 is operated in plural, and when the compressor is stopped, only one is operated, and the air volume and power consumption. The condenser fan 7 is operated in a state where the above is saved.

  As described above, in the vending machine according to the present embodiment, a plurality of condenser fans 7 are driven by a DC power source, the compressor operation detecting means 18 is provided, and only one condenser fan 7 is provided when the compressor 5 is stopped. Since the condenser fan 7 is driven by a DC power supply, it can be used safely without ignitability, and the compressor 5 and the condenser 6 need to be cooled. When the compressor is operating, the plurality of condenser fans 7 are operated to secure the air flow, while when the compressor is stopped, the cooling is not necessary, but the condenser fan 7 is installed so as to ensure a diffusion effect in case of a refrigerant leak. Since only one unit is operated, noise can be reduced and an increase in power consumption can be suppressed. In addition, by using a plurality of condenser fans 7, it is possible to ensure the diffusion effect by the fans even if one condenser fan 7 fails, and only one can be operated when the compressor is stopped. In addition, the fan can be expected to have a long service life, the risk of refrigerant leakage can be reduced, and a highly safe vending machine can be provided.

(Embodiment 4)
The fourth embodiment of the vending machine according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the machine room of the vending machine according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

  In the figure, a machine room 4 is a machine room isolated from the storage room 1 and is formed in the lower part of the main body, and stores a compressor 5, a condenser 6 and a condenser fan 7. The condenser fan 7 is a brushless motor driven by a DC power source. The condenser fan 7 is provided with a plurality, and the wind direction is arranged at an angle. The evaporating dish 20 is a container for receiving drain water and dew condensation water from the cooler 3, and is provided with an evaporation accelerator 21, which evaporates by applying the wind of the condenser fan 7 to the evaporated evaporation accelerator 21. Is to do. The arrangement of the condenser fan 7 is devised so that the wind easily hits the evaporation accelerator 21, and the wind direction plate is eliminated, which is rationalized. The cooling device 8 is composed of a compressor 5, a condenser 6, a decompression device (not shown), and a cooler 3 that are sequentially connected to constitute a refrigeration cycle and cool the interior of the storage chamber 1. The refrigerant 9 is a flammable refrigerant enclosed in the cooling device 8, and is a mixed refrigerant including R290 single refrigerant, R600a single refrigerant, or R290. The front vent 12 at the lower part of the door and the rear vent 13 at the rear of the machine room 4 are vents for taking in and discharging the wind of the condenser fan 7.

  The operation of the vending machine configured as described above will be described.

  The combustible refrigerant 9 is sealed and sealed in the cooling device 8, but if the pipe is damaged due to pipe vibration or the like and the refrigerant leaks unexpectedly in the machine room 4, it is quickly diffused by the plurality of condenser fans 7 and combustible. The concentration of gas in the air can be immediately reduced. The condenser fan 7 is a brushless motor driven by a DC power source, and can be used safely with no ignitability against combustible gas, and can also reduce power consumption. Note that the air taken in from the front vent 12 of the machine room 4 passes through the condenser 6, and one of the air flows toward the evaporation accelerator 21 by the condenser fan 7. It passes through the pores 13 and is discharged to the outside.

  As described above, the vending machine according to the present embodiment effectively discharges the machine room 4 at a wide angle by arranging a plurality of condenser fans at an angle with respect to the wind direction by DC power supply driving. It is possible to reduce the risk of refrigerant leakage and provide a highly safe vending machine.

  The plurality of condenser fans 7 are not limited to the case where a plurality of condenser fans of the same specification are used, and the same operation and effect can be obtained even if those having different rated specifications such as size and air volume are used.

  As described above, the vending machine according to the present invention can improve the safety at the time of leakage of the refrigerant even if the flammable refrigerant is used, and can achieve energy saving and low noise. It can also be applied to applications such as freezer / refrigerator showcases that use refrigeration and commercial refrigerators / refrigerators.

1 is a side sectional view of a vending machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Sectional view of the machine room of the vending machine of the embodiment Block diagram of the vending machine of the embodiment A flowchart showing the operation of the vending machine of the embodiment Block diagram of a vending machine according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention A flowchart showing the operation of the vending machine of the embodiment Block diagram of a vending machine according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention A flowchart showing the operation of the vending machine of the embodiment Sectional drawing of the machine room of the vending machine by Embodiment 4 of this invention

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Storage chamber 4 Machine room 5 Compressor 6 Condenser 7 Condenser fan 8 Cooling device 9 Combustible refrigerant 14 Outside temperature detection means 15, 15a Rotational speed control means 17 Storage part 18 Compressor operation detection means 19 Fan control means

Claims (5)

  In a vending machine having a storage room for storing products in the upper part of the main body and a machine room isolated from the storage room in the lower part of the main body, the machine room is composed of a compressor, a condenser, a condenser fan, and a combustible refrigerant. A vending machine comprising a cooling device, wherein the condenser fan is provided with a plurality of DC power supply drives, and is provided with rotation speed control means capable of changing the rotation speed between high speed and low speed.   The temperature detected by the outside air temperature detection means is compared with the temperature set in the storage unit. When the outside air temperature is higher than the predetermined temperature, the condenser fan is operated at high speed, and when the outside air temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature, the condenser fan The vending machine according to claim 1, further comprising a rotation speed control means for operating the motor at a low speed.   A compressor operation detecting means is provided, and a rotation speed control means for operating the condenser fan at a high speed when the compressor is operating and operating the condenser fan at a low speed when the compressor is stopped is provided. The vending machine according to claim 1.   In a vending machine having a storage room for storing products in the upper part of the main body and a machine room isolated from the storage room in the lower part of the main body, a compressor, a condenser, and a plurality of condenser fans driven by a DC power source in the machine room And a combustible refrigerant cooling device, equipped with compressor operation detection means. When the compressor is operating, all the condenser fans are activated, and when the compressor is stopped, one condenser fan is provided. Vending machine with fan control means to operate only.   The vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a plurality of condenser fans are arranged at an angle with respect to the wind direction by being driven by a DC power source.

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