JP2003130520A - Refrigerating container remote monitoring system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide refrigerating container remote monitoring system capable of remotely monitoring an inside temperature of refrigerating containers, and capable of early detecting a temperature change in the inside temperature before the refrigerating containers reach an abnormal state. SOLUTION: This refrigerating container remote monitoring system 3 is provided with a digital camera 11 for forming image data by imaging a temperature display displayed on a control part 10 of the respective refrigerating containers 2, transmission cables 12 and 13 for transmitting the image data formed by this digital camera 11, and a monitor 14 capable of monitoring the inside temperature of the respective refrigerating containers 2 by receiving the image data transmitted by the transmission cables 12 and 13. The digital camera 11 is provided with a cover member 22 for covering and holding the digital camera 11, and an installing mechanism 23 for installing this cover member 22 in the control part 10 of the refrigerating containers 2 so that the position can be adjusted.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a refrigerating container remote monitoring system, and more particularly, to a refrigerating container remote monitoring system capable of remotely monitoring the internal temperature of a refrigerating container based on image data generated by imaging a temperature display.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in order to transport cargoes such as fresh foods such as meats and frozen desserts such as ice creams that need to be controlled at low temperature, frozen containers that can maintain the internal temperature at low temperature are widely used. Has been. Such a refrigeration container is provided with a refrigerator and a defroster, and these refrigerators and defrosters operate according to an instruction value of a temperature sensor that detects the internal temperature of the refrigeration container, and the internal temperature is set to a predetermined value. Keep within temperature range.

Not only the above-mentioned refrigerating containers, but ships are often used to transport the containers to remote areas.
A container yard for storing various containers including a refrigerating container is provided near the shipping port and the unloading port. However, in situations such as waiting for the arrival of ships and trailers for land transportation, there are cases where refrigerated containers must be stored in the container yard for a long period of time. It is necessary to control the internal temperature of the device within a predetermined temperature range.

Conventionally, temperature control of a refrigerating container in a container yard is often performed as follows. That is, when the refrigerating container was placed in the container yard, the power of the container yard was connected to the refrigerating container to operate the refrigerator, and the staff in the container yard displayed the control section of the refrigerating container at regular intervals. Check the temperature display or temperature chart to check the internal temperature of the freezing container. In some cases, the load current value of the refrigerator and the abnormality signal of the refrigerating container are captured and these data are transmitted to the control room, and the operation state of the refrigerating container is remotely monitored in the control room.

[0005]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In order to confirm the internal temperature of each refrigerating container by the method as described above,
It is necessary for multiple staff members to be stationed in the container yard day and night, and several hundred frozen containers, for example, may be stored in the container yard. Become. Even when the operating condition of the freezing container is remotely monitored by the load current value of the freezer and the abnormal signal of the freezing container, it is possible to manage the temperature within a very narrow temperature range such as ice cream and fresh food. In the case of required cargo, when the abnormality of the refrigerating container is discovered, the internal temperature is often out of the temperature range in many cases. An object of the present invention is to provide a remote monitoring system for a refrigeration container capable of remotely monitoring the internal temperature of the refrigeration container, detecting the temperature change of the internal temperature early before the refrigeration container reaches an abnormal state, and the like. It is to be.

[0006]

A refrigerating container remote monitoring system according to claim 1 is a system for monitoring the internal temperature of a plurality of refrigerating containers, in which a temperature display displayed on a control unit of each refrigerating container is imaged. Temperature display / imaging means for generating image data, transmitting means for transmitting the image data generated by the temperature display / imaging means, and image data transmitted by the transmitting means for monitoring the internal temperature of each refrigeration container It is provided with a possible monitoring means.

Each refrigeration container is provided with a control unit for controlling the refrigerator or the like so as to maintain the internal temperature within a preset predetermined temperature range. It is displayed. This temperature display is imaged by the temperature display imaging means, and its image data is generated. This image data is transmitted to a management room in a container yard, for example, by a transmission means such as a signal cable or a wireless device. The sent image data is
Since it is received by the monitoring means in the control room and displayed on the screen of a monitor or the like, the staff can always remotely monitor the internal temperature of each refrigeration container in the control room.

A refrigeration container remote monitoring system according to a second aspect of the present invention is the refrigeration container remote monitoring system according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the temperature display / imaging means comprises a digital camera, and the digital camera includes a cover member for covering and holding the digital camera. An attaching means for attaching the cover member to the control portion of the refrigerating container in a positionally adjustable manner is provided.

The digital camera for picking up the temperature display is held by the cover member and covered with the cover member. Therefore, since the inside of the cover member is maintained at substantially the same illuminance regardless of the time zone, the image data of the temperature display can be generated with a stable image quality by the digital camera. In addition, the cover member also plays a role of protecting the digital camera from weather and foreign matter from the outside. Further, in general, the shape of the control part and the display position of the temperature display in the control part differ depending on the type of the refrigeration container, but the cover member can be attached to the control part of each refrigeration container by position adjustment so that the position can be adjusted. Therefore, the digital camera can be arranged at a position where the temperature display can be imaged for various types of refrigeration containers.

A refrigeration container remote monitoring system according to a third aspect of the present invention is the refrigeration container remote monitoring system according to the second aspect of the present invention, wherein the mounting means is arranged so as to surround the temperature display in the control section, and has a predetermined length. A magnet provided for the cover member to attract the cover member to the steel plate frame, and the steel plate frame has a hook portion for attaching the steel plate frame to the control portion. Is.

The steel plate frame is arranged in the control part so as to surround the temperature display in each refrigeration container, and the steel plate frame is attached to the control part by the hook part so that the position of the steel plate frame can be adjusted. Further, the steel plate frame has a predetermined length, and the magnet can attract the cover member to the steel plate frame so that the position of the cover member can be adjusted in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, it becomes possible to arrange the digital camera at a position where the temperature display can be imaged with respect to the control units of various types of refrigerating containers.

A refrigeration container remote monitoring system according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the second aspect of the present invention, the mounting means has a magnet provided on the cover member for attracting the cover member to the control portion. Is. Therefore, since the cover member can be directly attached to the control unit by this magnet so that the position of the cover member can be adjusted, the digital camera is arranged at a position where the temperature display can be imaged with respect to the control units of various types of refrigerating containers. It will be possible.

A refrigeration container remote monitoring system according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the refrigeration container remote monitoring system according to any one of the first to fourth aspects of the invention, wherein the monitoring means has a data conversion means for image-processing the image data and converting it into numerical temperature data. It is a feature. Therefore, by using the converted numerical data of the temperature, the internal temperature of each refrigeration container can be automatically monitored remotely by the monitoring means.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described. This embodiment is an example in which the present invention is applied to a system that monitors the internal temperature of a plurality of refrigerating containers stored in a container yard. As shown in FIG. 1, in a container yard 1, for example, as shown in FIG.
A total of 18 rows and 6 columns are arranged as one set, and one set of the refrigerating containers 2 is arranged side by side.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, a refrigerating container remote monitoring system 3 for remotely monitoring the internal temperature of these refrigerating containers 2 includes a control unit 1 of each refrigerating container 2.
A digital camera 11 (temperature display image pickup means) for picking up the temperature display displayed at 0 to generate the image data, and transmission cables 12, 13 (transmitting means) for sending the image data generated by the digital camera 11. , Transmission cable 1
The monitoring device 14 (monitoring means) capable of receiving the image data transmitted in 2 and 13 and monitoring the internal temperature of each refrigeration container 2.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the controller 10 controls the refrigerator inside the refrigeration container 2 in order to maintain the internal temperature within a predetermined temperature range preset for each refrigeration container 2. It also operates the defroster. The control unit 10 includes a temperature display unit 15 for displaying an internal temperature, a setting button 16 for setting a predetermined temperature range, and an abnormality in the refrigerator or the defroster when the internal temperature is out of the predetermined temperature range. An alarm mechanism (not shown) for issuing an alarm when the operation is performed, a recording paper (not shown) for recording a change in internal temperature, and the like are provided. Control unit 1
On the front of 0, a door part 2 made of, for example, stainless steel that can be opened and closed
No. 0 is provided, and the door 20 can be opened to change the set temperature, and the recording paper can be replaced or replenished.
The door 20 is provided with a window 21 formed by inserting transparent glass, and the internal temperature and operating state of the freezing container 2 can be confirmed from the outside through the window 21.

As the digital camera 11, for example, one provided with a CCD element or a MOS element is used, and this digital camera 11 takes an image of the temperature display of each refrigeration container 2 and generates its image data. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5,
The digital camera 11 includes a cover member 22 that covers and holds the digital camera 11, and the cover member 22.
Is attached to the control unit 10 of each refrigeration container 2 such that its position can be adjusted.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the cover member 22
Is, for example, a metal rectangular parallelepiped, the surface on the back side (refrigerating container side) is open, and the left and right sides of the open surface are formed with flange portions 22a protruding inward, respectively. . The digital camera 11 is fixed to the inner part of the front side (the side opposite to the freezing container) of the cover member 22, and the transmission cable 12 connected to the digital camera 11 penetrates the right side of the cover member 22 to the outside. Extending to. Since a lighting device (not shown) is provided inside the cover member 22 and external light is shielded, the inside of the cover member 22 is maintained at substantially the same illuminance regardless of the time zone.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the mounting mechanism 23
Is a thin steel plate frame 24 arranged so as to surround the temperature display in the control unit 10, and the steel plate frame 24.
A magnet 25 for attracting the cover member 22 is provided.
The steel plate frame 24 is a hook portion 24 a for attaching the steel plate frame 24 to the door portion 20 of the control portion 10 by engaging it.
And a rectangular frame-shaped frame portion 2 having a predetermined length in the vertical direction.
4b is integrally formed. As shown in FIG.
The tip of the hook portion 24a is bent downward so as to be slightly inclined inward with respect to the vertical direction in order to easily engage with the upper end of the door portion 20. This hook 24a
By sliding the left and right with respect to the door portion 20, the position of the steel plate frame 24 in the left and right direction can be adjusted.

The frame portion 24b is formed such that the outer width thereof is larger than the width of the window portion and is substantially equal to the width of the cover member 22, and the inner width thereof is substantially equal to the width of the window portion 21. . The length of the inside of the frame portion 24b in the vertical direction is the window portion 2
It is almost twice the vertical length of 1. One end of a spring 26 is attached to the lower end of the frame 24b, and the other end of the spring 26 is engaged with the lower end of the door 20. The spring 26 allows the steel plate frame 24 even if the vertical length of the door portion 20 varies depending on the type of the refrigeration container 2.
Can be securely attached to the door portion 20.

Sheet-shaped magnets 25 are fixed to the inner surfaces of the left and right flanges 22a of the cover member 22, respectively.
The cover member 22 is attracted to the frame portion 24b by these magnets 25. Therefore, the position of the cover member 22 with respect to the frame portion 24b can be easily changed, and the cover member 2
The vertical position of 2 can be freely adjusted. Accordingly, the position of the steel plate frame 24 can be freely adjusted in the left-right direction with respect to the door portion 20 of the control unit 10, and the cover member 22 is positioned in the vertical direction with respect to the steel plate frame 24. Can be adjusted.

A transmission cable 12 for transmitting image data extends from each digital camera 11, and the transmission cable 12 is connected to a remote sequential switch 27 provided for each set of the freezing containers 2. These remote sequential switches 27 are
In response to a command from the monitoring device 14, which refrigeration container 2 image data to be transmitted to the monitoring device 14 is selected and switched. Remote sequential switch 2
From 7, the image data of the selected freezing container 2 is transmitted to the monitoring device 14 by the transmission cable 13.

The monitoring device 14 is provided in the management room 30 of the container yard 1, and the monitoring device 14 issues a command for switching the image data to the remote sequential switch 27 and receives the image data.
And a monitor 32 that displays the received image data
And a personal computer main body 33 (data conversion means) for image-processing the image data and converting it into numerical value data of temperature.

The control unit 31 controls each remote sequential switch 27 by manual operation or automatic operation by an attendant.
To the predetermined refrigerating container 2. At the same time, the control unit 31 receives the image data of the selected freezing container 2 via the transmission cables 12 and 13,
This image data is sent to the personal computer body 33. The image data sent to the personal computer main body 33 is displayed on the monitor 32 and stored in the hard disk built in the personal computer main body 33. Further, the image data is image-processed by the image processing software incorporated in the main body 33 of the personal computer, and is automatically converted into temperature numerical data, and these numerical data are also stored in the hard disk. The PC body 33 is
These numerical data are compared with a predetermined temperature range set in advance in each refrigeration container 2 and the refrigeration container 2 is automatically
The internal temperature of can be monitored remotely, and when the internal temperature is out of the temperature range, it automatically issues a command to issue an alarm.

Next, the operation of the refrigeration container remote monitoring system 3 will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, the position of the cover member 22 with respect to the control unit 10 is adjusted in advance by the steel plate frame 24 and the magnet 25 so that the digital camera 11 can capture the temperature display, and then the cover member 22 is closed. Attach it to 20. Then, the monitoring device 14 selects the frozen container 2 to be remotely monitored, and the remote sequential switch 27 switches the image data of the selected frozen container 2 to be transmitted to the control unit 31.

Since the illuminance inside the cover body 22 is kept substantially constant, the temperature display of the selected refrigerating container 2 is
The digital camera 11 always captures images with stable image quality to generate image data, which is transmitted by the transmission cable 1
It is transmitted to the monitoring device 14 via the numbers 2 and 13. The image data received by the monitoring device 14 is displayed on the monitor 32 via the personal computer main body 33 and the personal computer main body 3
It is stored in the hard disk of 3.

At the same time, the image data displayed on the monitor 32 is subjected to image processing by image processing software incorporated in the personal computer main body 33 and automatically converted into numerical temperature data. Numerical data of these temperatures is stored in the hard disk of the personal computer 33,
Compares the numerical data of these temperatures with a predetermined temperature range preset for each refrigerating container 2, and issues an alarm issuing command when the internal temperature is out of the predetermined temperature range, thereby automatically The internal temperature of the refrigerating container 2 is remotely monitored. Further, by using the numerical data of these temperatures in various software installed in the personal computer main body 33, it is possible to create a book or predict the failure of the refrigerator, for example.

According to the refrigerating container remote monitoring system 3 described above, the following effects can be obtained. 1) The temperature display displayed on the control unit 10 is imaged by the digital camera 11 to generate the image data,
By projecting this image data on the monitor 32 of the control room 30, the internal temperature of the refrigerating container 2 can be remotely monitored. Therefore, it is not necessary for an attendant to patrol the container yard 1 to monitor the internal temperature. , Personnel expenses can be reduced by reducing the number of staff permanently stationed in the container yard 1.
Further, since the internal temperature of the freezing container 2 can be constantly monitored in the control room 30, even before the internal temperature deviates from the predetermined temperature range set in advance, the temperature change until the abnormality is detected is detected early, and the load It is possible to prevent the quality from deteriorating.

2) Since the digital camera 11 for picking up the temperature display of the freezing container 2 is held by the cover member 22 and is covered with this cover member 22, the cover is maintained at substantially the same illuminance regardless of the time zone. Since the temperature display can be imaged inside the member 22, it is possible to always generate image data of stable image quality. Further, the cover member 22 can protect the digital camera 11 from wind and rain and foreign matter from the outside, and the lens surface is not soiled.

3) A mounting mechanism 23 for mounting the cover member 22 includes a steel plate frame 24 arranged so as to surround the temperature display and having a predetermined length, and a steel plate frame 24 provided on the cover member 22. The steel plate frame 24 has a magnet 25 for attracting the cover member 22.
Since it has a hook portion 24a for attaching to 0, the steel plate frame 24 surrounds the temperature display and the control portion 1
It is possible to attach the cover member 2 to the steel plate frame 24 so that the position can be adjusted in the left-right direction with respect to 0.
Since the magnet 2 can be vertically attracted by the magnet 25, the cover member 22 can be attached to the control unit 10 at any position.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the digital camera 11 can be applied to the freezing container 2 in which the shapes of the door portions 20A to 20C of the control portions 10A to 10C and the positions of the temperature display portions 15A to 15C are different. Each cover member 22 can be positioned and attached at a predetermined position so that the temperature display can be imaged.

4) Since the image data received by the monitoring device 14 can be image-processed by the personal computer 33 and converted into numerical value data of temperature, the internal temperature of the refrigerating container 2 is automatically monitored remotely and the internal temperature is automatically monitored. When is out of a predetermined temperature range set in advance, an alarm issuing command can be automatically issued. Therefore, it is not necessary to have a staff member resident in the management room on holidays or the like, and personnel costs can be reduced. Further, since it is possible to automatically prepare a form and predict the failure of the refrigerator from the numerical data, it is possible to reduce the work load on the staff on weekdays.

Next, a description will be given of a modified form in which various modifications are made to the above embodiment. The same parts as those in the above embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. 1] The steel plate frame 24 may have various shapes as long as its position can be adjusted with respect to the control unit 10. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the tip of the hook portion 40 of the steel plate frame 24D may be bent and formed so as to extend straight downward. 2] As shown in FIG. 10, when the door portion 20E of the control portion 10E is made of a magnetic material such as steel, the steel plate frame 24
Alternatively, the case member 22 may be directly attracted to the door portion 20E by the magnet 25 so that the position can be adjusted.

3] The control section 10 may wirelessly transmit the image data to the monitoring apparatus 14. In addition, the control unit 10 may be configured to be able to transmit the load current value of the refrigerator and various signals indicating the operating state to the monitoring device 14. 4] The image data of the temperature display and the numerical value data of the temperature converted by the personal computer main body 33 may be transferred to another place apart from the control room 30. For example, by transferring these data to the mobile phone of the staff member outside the container yard 1, the staff member can easily know the state of the frozen container 2 even from the outside of the container yard 1.

[0035]

According to the invention of claim 1, the temperature display displayed on the control section of each refrigeration container is imaged by the temperature display imaging means to generate image data thereof, and the image data is stored in the control room. Since it can be displayed on the monitoring means and the internal temperature of each refrigeration container can be remotely monitored,
It is not necessary for the staff to patrol the inside of the container yard in order to monitor the internal temperature of the refrigerating container, and it is possible to reduce the personnel cost by reducing the staff resident in the container yard. Moreover, since the internal temperature of the freezing container can be constantly monitored in the control room, even before the internal temperature deviates from the preset temperature range, the temperature change until it reaches an abnormality can be detected early and the cargo quality can be improved. It is possible to prevent the deterioration.

According to the invention of claim 2, since the digital camera for picking up the temperature display of the refrigerating container is held by the cover member and covered with this cover member, the illuminance is maintained substantially the same regardless of the time zone. Since the temperature display can be imaged inside the covered cover member, it is possible to always generate image data of stable image quality. Further, the cover member can protect the digital camera from wind and rain and external foreign matter, and the lens surface is not soiled.

Further, generally, the display position of the temperature display in the control section differs depending on the type of the refrigeration container, but since the cover member can be attached to the control section of each refrigeration container by the mounting means so that the position can be adjusted, the control section can be adjusted. It is possible to arrange the digital camera at a position where the temperature display can be imaged even for various refrigeration containers having different shapes, temperature display positions, and the like. In addition, the same effect as that of the first aspect can be obtained.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the mounting means includes a steel plate frame arranged so as to surround the temperature display in the control portion and having a predetermined length, and a steel plate frame provided on the cover member. The steel plate frame has a magnet for attracting the cover member, and the steel plate frame has a hook part for attaching the steel plate frame to the control part. The cover member can be attached to the control portion with a position adjustable, and the cover member can be attracted to the steel plate frame with a magnet so that the position can be adjusted. Therefore, it is possible to arrange the digital camera at a position where the temperature display can be imaged even for various refrigeration containers having different shapes of the control unit, the position of the temperature display, and the like. In addition, the same effect as that of the second aspect can be obtained.

According to the invention of claim 4, the attaching means has a magnet provided on the cover member for attracting the cover member to the control portion, so that the position of the cover member with respect to the control portion can be adjusted by this magnet. Since it can be directly attached to the refrigerator, the digital camera can be arranged at a position where the temperature display can be imaged even for various refrigeration containers having different shapes of the control unit, the position of the temperature display, and the like. In addition, the same effect as that of the second aspect can be obtained.

According to the invention of claim 5, by using the numerical value data of the temperature converted by the data converting means, for example,
Comparing the numerical data of temperature with a preset temperature range and automatically issuing an alarm issuance when the temperature is out of this range, the monitoring unit automatically monitors the internal temperature of each refrigeration container remotely. Can be monitored. Therefore,
Labor costs can be reduced because there is no need to have a staff member in the management room on holidays. In addition, it is possible to automatically create a form and predict refrigerator failure from numerical data.
The work load on the staff on weekdays can also be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a refrigeration container remote monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a set of refrigeration containers.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a refrigeration container.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a control unit, a digital camera and the like (before mounting the digital camera).

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a control unit, a digital camera, etc. (in a state where the digital camera is attached).

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another type of control unit.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another type of control unit.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another type of control unit.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a modified steel plate frame.

FIG. 10 is a view corresponding to FIG. 5 of the modified embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 Frozen container 3 Refrigeration container remote monitoring system 10,10A-10C, 10E Control unit 11 digital camera 12,13 Transmission cable 14 Monitoring device 22 Cover member 23 Mounting mechanism 24, 24D steel plate frame 24a hook part 25 magnets 33 PC body

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. In a system for monitoring the internal temperature of a plurality of refrigerating containers, a temperature display image pickup means for picking up an image of a temperature display displayed on a control part of each refrigeration container and generating image data thereof, the temperature display image pickup device. A refrigerating container comprising: a transmitting unit that transmits the image data generated by the means; and a monitoring unit that can monitor the internal temperature of each refrigerating container by receiving the image data transmitted by the transmitting unit. Remote monitoring system. 2. The temperature display image pickup means comprises a digital camera, and a cover member for covering and holding the digital camera, and a mounting means for mounting the cover member on a control section of a refrigerating container in a positionally adjustable manner. The refrigeration container remote monitoring system according to claim 1, further comprising: 3. The mounting means is provided in the control section so as to surround the temperature display and has a predetermined length, and a steel plate frame provided on the cover member for adsorbing the cover member to the steel plate frame. 3. The refrigeration container remote monitoring system according to claim 2, wherein the refrigeration container remote monitoring system comprises the magnet of claim 1, and the steel plate frame has a hook part for attaching the steel plate frame to the control part. 4. The refrigerating container remote monitoring system according to claim 2, wherein the attaching means has a magnet provided on the cover member to attract the cover member to the control section. 5. The refrigeration container remote monitoring according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring means has a data converting means for image-processing the image data and converting it into numerical value data of temperature. system.