JP2003227671A - Merchandise display cabinet monitoring device, method and system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a merchandise display cabinet monitoring device, method and system that enable pre-maintenance while preserving merchandise before a serious failure occurs by observing a trouble state of a compressor from information from a sensor disposed in a merchandise display cabinet and estimating a failure occurrence trend indirectly. <P>SOLUTION: Sensor boards 302 detect cabinet temperatures in a plurality of merchandise display cabinets in a store at least along with state changes by door opening/closing of the merchandise display cabinets and removal or addition of merchandise in the cabinets, to thereby detect a fluctuation in the compressor for controlling the temperatures in the plurality of merchandise display cabinets. A monitoring controller 310 determines whether the merchandise display cabinets need maintaining or not from the cabinet temperatures and the compressor fluctuation, and if determining a need of maintenance, requests a computer 321 of a maintenance company to maintain the merchandise display cabinet via a communication line 320. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a commodity display warehouse monitoring apparatus, method and system for monitoring the operation status of a plurality of commodity display warehouses in a store.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Present-day convenience stores (convenience stores) mainly manage and sell products in the form of a product display refrigerator, a freezer, or a warm storage according to their type. The refrigerator and the freezer are controlled by a compressor, and the warmer is controlled by a heater at an appropriate temperature.

Therefore, from the viewpoint of product maintenance, the failure of the compressor or the heater greatly affects the sales at the convenience store.

[0004]

Therefore, the commodity display refrigerator, freezer, or warm storage in the current convenience store is maintained as follows. (1) By controlling the compressor based on the information from the temperature sensor in the store, the temperature in the store is automatically adjusted. (2) When the temperature control system (sensor, compressor) fails, the technician of the maintenance company who received the call goes to the convenience store to check the phenomenon and repair. (3) From the point of view of food hygiene, it is necessary to discard and replace products that are out of order for repair or breakdown, especially products that need to be kept fresh.

These costs are borne by the maintenance company (however, these costs are covered by insurance).

[0006] With such a maintenance method, although the company in charge has some insurance coverage, appropriate profit cannot be obtained, and this is a problem from the viewpoint of economic efficiency.

The present invention has been made in order to solve such a problem, and grasps a defective condition of a compressor based on information from a sensor provided in a commodity display warehouse to indirectly indicate a failure occurrence tendency. It is an object of the present invention to provide a product display storage monitoring device, method, and system capable of presuming and preliminarily maintaining (pre-maintaining) products while preserving them before a serious failure occurs.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a product display storage monitoring device for monitoring the operation status of a plurality of product display storages in a store, and at least the product display storages. Adjust the temperature inside the product display detected by the temperature detection means and the temperature of the product display detected by the detection means as well as the state change caused by opening and closing the door, removing or inserting the goods in the storage. Input means for inputting the fluctuation of the compressor, based on the fluctuation of the internal temperature and the compressor, a judging means for judging whether or not the product display room requires maintenance, and when it is determined that the maintenance is necessary, And a notification unit for notifying the maintenance company via a communication line to perform maintenance of the product storage.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a product display warehouse monitoring device for monitoring the operation status of a plurality of product display warehouses in a store, wherein at least the door opening / closing of the product display warehouse, Along with a change in state due to either pulling out or putting in the inside goods, the inside temperature of the goods display room detected by the temperature detection means, and the fluctuation of the compressor for adjusting the temperature of the goods display room detected by the detection means. Whether or not the product display unit needs maintenance based on the input means for inputting the product transfer information indicating that the product in the product display unit has moved, and the internal temperature, the fluctuation of the compressor, and the product transfer information. If it is determined that the maintenance is necessary, the determination means for determining whether or not the maintenance is performed to the maintenance company via a communication line And having a notification means for knowledge.

Further, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is a commodity display warehouse monitoring system for monitoring the operation status of a plurality of commodity display warehouses in a store, wherein the temperature inside the commodity display warehouse is at least Temperature detection means for detecting a change in state due to opening or closing of the door of the product display, removal or insertion of products in the storage; detection means for detecting fluctuation of a compressor for adjusting the temperature of the product display; Based on the change in the internal temperature and the compressor, a determination means for determining whether or not the product display requires maintenance, and a maintenance company that executes the maintenance of the product display when the maintenance is determined to be necessary. And a notification means for notifying the user via a communication line.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is a commodity display warehouse monitoring system for monitoring the operation status of a plurality of commodity display warehouses in a store, wherein the temperature inside the commodity display warehouse is at least Temperature detection means for detecting a change in state due to opening or closing the door of the product display, extracting or inserting the product in the storage; detection means for detecting a change in a compressor for adjusting the temperature of the product display; Based on the input means for inputting product movement information indicating that the goods in the display warehouse have moved, and the temperature inside the warehouse, the fluctuation of the compressor, and the product movement information, it is determined whether or not the goods display warehouse requires maintenance. When it is determined that the maintenance is necessary, the determination means and the maintenance company are notified via the communication line to perform the maintenance of the product storage. And having a notification unit that.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[Configuration of Convenience Store] First, a general system configuration in a general convenience store (convenience store) and a product management method in the convenience store will be described.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic structure of a convenience store. In FIG. 1, 101 to 104 are commodity display refrigerators, which are connected to a refrigerator compressor in a machine room through a refrigerator compressor common pipe 110. The refrigerator 101 includes a thermostat 121 that automatically adjusts the temperature inside the refrigerator, and refrigerates products such as juice and drinking water. Further, the refrigerator 102 refrigerates daily items (side dishes) at + 15 ° C, the refrigerator 103 refrigerates sandwiches at + 12 ° C, and the refrigerator 104 +1 for bento boxes.
Refrigerate to 3 ° C. Furthermore, piping 110 leading to the refrigerator 101
An electromagnetic valve 111 and a manual valve 112 are provided in the refrigerator so that the refrigerator 101 can also function as a heat-retaining cabinet. Needless to say, a structure may be provided in which a heat insulator is provided separately from the refrigerator.

Reference numeral 105 is a commodity display freezer, which includes a compressor inside and is constituted as an apparatus independent of the above-mentioned refrigerators 101 to 104. 106 and 107 are daily goods shelves, and 108 is a bookshelf. 109 is a counter, and the counter 109 has an accounting machine (PO
S) is provided. Reference numeral 122 denotes an external fan of a refrigerator compressor installed in the machine room. Reference numeral 123 is an external fan of the air conditioning compressor. And 131-137 are ventilation fans.

[Merchandise Management Method] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a flow of merchandise management (purchase and replenishment of merchandise) in a convenience store. As shown in FIG. 2, in a convenience store, when a customer 201 brings the purchased product 202 from the product display refrigerators 101 to 104, the freezer 105, the daily goods shelves 106 and 107, and the book shelf 108 to the counter 109,
Sales are processed by the accounting machine (POS) 203. Accounting machine (P
The OS) 203 is connected to the center computer of the product management franchise headquarters 206 via a communication line 204, and sales and product management are performed online. Therefore, if there is a shortage of products, the product management department 20
6 or the instruction 205 of the store manager, the product is replenished 208 to the corresponding convenience store via the vendor 207, and the product is displayed on the product display store or the product shelf by the store manager or a clerk and newly managed as a product 209.

[Primement monitoring system] Next, with a sensor board additionally installed in a product display refrigerator, freezer, etc. in a convenience store, the temperature inside the refrigerator and the compressor By monitoring pressure fluctuations, etc., a system capable of preliminarily performing maintenance (pre-maintenance) for product maintenance by estimating defects in product display refrigerators, freezers, etc. before the temperature control system function fails. The preliminary maintenance monitoring system) will be described.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of the maintenance monitoring system according to this embodiment. In FIG. 3, 30
Reference numeral 1 is a commodity display warehouse (commodity display refrigerators 101 to 104 and freezer 105 shown in FIG. 1) and ventilation fans (ventilation fans 131 to 137) as monitoring targets. 302 is a sensor board additionally installed on the product display and the ventilation fan 301,
Fluctuations in the internal temperature of the refrigerator, freezer, and heat-retainer and fluctuations in the compressor are constantly collected.

More specifically, the sensor substrate 302 detects that the corresponding refrigerators 101 to 104 and the freezer 105 are withdrawn from the product, the load is changed by loading, the temperature inside the refrigerator is changed by opening and closing the door, and the pressure and electric power of the compressor are changed. It has a function of detecting changes in the temperature and power in the store due to vibration and ventilation fans 131 to 137. That is, the detection items include the following items. 1) Refrigerator / freezer temperature a) Load change (during product sampling and loading) -Delivery of product is equivalent to mass purchase by the customer-Delivery is equivalent to inventory loading b) Temperature fluctuation due to door opening / closing c) Deterioration (aging 2) Compressor a) Pressure fluctuation b) Electric power fluctuation c) Vibration 3) In-store air conditioning or indoor ventilation a) Temperature change b) Electric power change

Further, as the sensor element for detecting the temperature, the pressure and the electric power, for example, the following ones are used, but it goes without saying that they are not limited to these as long as they have the same function. Yes. 1) Detection by temperature sensor temperature detection element 2) Pressure sensor Pressure detection element, detection by indicator gauge reading method 3) Electric power sensor current, voltage 4) Vibration sensor Detection by vibration detection element.

Returning to FIG. 3, reference numeral 310 denotes a monitoring control device, which takes in detection information (temperature, compressor fluctuation, etc.) from the commodity display cabinet and the ventilation fan 301 to be monitored from the sensor board 302 via the sensor bus 303,
It analyzes whether or not maintenance of the product display warehouse or the like to be monitored is necessary, and stores the analysis result in the database 311 as the operation status of the monitoring target. Then, before the function of monitoring from the operating status of the monitoring target accumulated in the database 311 fails, the defective status of the product display refrigerator, freezer, etc. is estimated, and the leased line or the Internet 3
The maintenance information necessary for maintenance is transmitted to the computer 321 of the monitoring / management company via 20.

Further, in FIG. 3, the lower part delimited by the one-dot chain line indicates that when a customer purchases a product at a convenience store, the product sales data and inventory input data are sent from the POS 331 to the computer of the headquarters (332). ) Is
It is a figure which shows the flow which inventory control (333) is carried out by replenishing the convenience store with a further lacking commodity.

[Structure of Supervisory Control Apparatus] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of the supervisory control apparatus shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, 401 is a sensor substrate scan control I / O
And the sensor substrate 30 via the sensor bus 303.
2 is sequentially scanned and the detection information is captured. A control CPU 402 reads a monitoring control program stored in a large-capacity external storage device (HDD) described later into a memory (RAM) according to an operating system (OS) and executes the program. A monitoring data communication control I / O 403 controls data communication with the monitoring / management company 321 executed via a dedicated line or the Internet 320. The protocol used for this communication is PPP, TCP /
It is a general protocol such as IP.

An HDD (hard disk drive) 404 controls access to a large-capacity external storage device such as a hard disk. A memory (cache, main) 405 stores programs and data executed by the control CPU 402. Reference numeral 406 denotes a display unit control unit, which performs display control on a liquid crystal display (LCD) (not shown). An operation key control unit 407 controls a keyboard and a mouse (not shown). Reference numeral 408 denotes an I / O port, which is an interface for connecting to a data collection device (not shown) when data is required for maintenance. The database 311 shown in FIG. 3 is constructed on a hard disk (HD) (not shown).

[Pre-Maintenance] In this embodiment, the past maintenance condition (known data stored) is used as a threshold value to comprehensively estimate whether or not the current maintenance condition of the merchandise store is close to it, and perform maintenance (pre-maintenance) in advance. ) Is a condition for executing.

Here, based on the information collected from the sensor substrate 302 by the monitoring control device 310, it is determined whether or not maintenance of the product display cabinet or the like to be monitored is necessary, and if necessary, pre-maintenance is performed. The operation of notifying the monitoring / management company 321 via the communication line will be described.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the operation of pre-maintenance in this embodiment. First, in step S501, the information (temperature, compressor fluctuation, etc.) collected from each sensor substrate 302 via the sensor bus 303 is used as the sensor substrate scan control I / O 401.
Takes in. Next, in step S502, based on the information, the fluctuation of the compressor is quantified as an actual operating condition in accordance with the change of load due to the extraction and insertion of the product in the product display and the temperature fluctuation due to the opening and closing of the door.

More specifically, even if the temperature in the goods display compartment is high, the compressor may fluctuate if it is due to a change in load, for example, so the actual operating condition is digitized to a value close to normal.

Next, in step S503, the digitized value is compared with an appropriate value as past learning information by the database 311. Here, if the error between the digitized value and the appropriate value exceeds the predetermined value, step S50.
4 and from the monitoring data communication control I / O 403 via the leased line or the Internet 320 to the monitoring / management company 3
The maintenance information is transmitted to 21 as an alarm.
If the error is less than the predetermined value, the process is terminated.

The degree of error may be processed according to the judgment of the engineer (judgment standard). Further, the maintenance information may be information for identifying the individual ID of the product display in the store, the compressor number, the serial number of the sensor substrate, the sensor element, or the like.

On the other hand, the monitoring / management company 321 executes maintenance according to the alarm transmitted from the monitoring control device 310 via the communication line. This eliminates the need for regular inspections and on-call from convenience store stores to dispatch technical personnel as in the past, which enables systematic maintenance and material management, and provides a great relief to customers. It can give a feeling.

[Other Embodiments] Next, other embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

In another embodiment, product movement information such as product sales data and inventory loading data sent from the POS to the computer of the headquarters when the customer purchases the product is input to the monitoring control device and collected from the sensor board. Not only the information but also the product movement information is determined to determine whether or not maintenance of the product display warehouse or the like to be monitored is necessary.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the database is provided in the monitoring control device to monitor / manage one store, but in another embodiment, the monitoring / managing company has a database, for example, for each convenience store chain. It monitors and manages multiple convenience store stores over a wide area, such as in each area.

FIG. 6 is a view showing the arrangement of a maintenance monitoring system according to another embodiment. In FIG. 6, 6
01 is a product display store (refrigerator, freezer,
A warm storage) and 602 are sensor boards additionally installed in the product display storage 601. The sensor substrate 602 is the same as that of the above-described embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

Reference numeral 610 denotes a monitoring control device, which fetches detection information (temperature, compressor fluctuation, etc.) from the product display cabinet 601 to be monitored from the sensor board 602 via the sensor bus 603. Also, when a customer purchases a product (631) at a convenience store, the product sales data and inventory input data (632) are used as the product movement information P.
It is sent from the OS 633 to the monitoring controller 610. The monitoring control device 610 collects all monitoring information in each store, performs necessary data processing, and stores the necessary information, and a necessary data for access from a monitoring / maintenance company described later. Functions as a server having a function of transmitting and receiving.

The flow from the POS 633 to the center computer 634 is the same as in the above-mentioned embodiment,
The description is omitted. In addition, the configuration of the monitoring control device 610 is the same as that of FIG.
Since the configuration is the same as that shown in, the description thereof is omitted. The interface with the POS 633 is also an interface for controlling general data communication, and its description is omitted.

Reference numeral 621 denotes a computer of a monitoring / management company, which performs maintenance and monitoring services based on maintenance information transmitted from the monitoring control device 610 via a dedicated line or the Internet 620. Further, the maintenance information sent from the monitoring control device 610 is accumulated in the database 622, and it is possible to estimate the failure occurrence tendency of the compressor etc. by a statistical method.

Further, in order to confirm whether or not the estimated value of the above-mentioned failure occurrence tendency is within the normal range, the monitoring control device 610 is sent from the computer 621 of the monitoring / management company via the monitoring control device 610. It also has a calibration function that corrects and changes the necessary sensor acquisition conditions and re-acquires the data.

Therefore, the monitoring / management company can carry out maintenance in advance while maintaining the product before the compressor or the like to be monitored actually fails.

[0041]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The following effects can be obtained. (1) Clarification of personnel planning and systematization of maintenance can be realized, and planned maintenance can be performed. (2) Costs can be reduced through planned actions, material management, etc., and economic effects can be obtained. (3) It is possible to realize the relief from the anxiety caused by the equipment failure, and to give the customer a great sense of security.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration in a convenience store.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a flow of product management (purchase and replenishment of products) in a convenience store.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a maintenance monitoring system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the supervisory control device shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a pre-maintenance operation in the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of a maintenance maintenance system according to another embodiment.

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Osamu Kuruma, the inventor             1-8-2 Kokuradai, Wakaba Ward, Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture (72) Inventor Kunimichi Hatanaka             5-21-116-607, Sumiyoshi-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo (72) Inventor Kiyoshi Arai             24-14 Matsugagedai, Atsugi City, Kanagawa Prefecture F term (reference) 3L045 AA02 LA06 LA16 LA18 MA02                       NA19

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A product display storage monitoring device for monitoring the operating status of a plurality of product display storages in a store, the status change being caused by at least opening or closing the doors of the product display storages, extracting or inserting products in the storages. Along with, input means for inputting the internal temperature of the product display compartment detected by the temperature detection means, and a variation of the compressor for adjusting the temperature of the product display compartment detected by the detection means, and the internal storage temperature and Based on the fluctuation of the compressor, a judging means for judging whether or not the product display room requires maintenance, and a communication line to the maintenance company so as to execute the maintenance of the product display room when the maintenance is judged to be necessary. And a notification means for making a notification via the product display monitor. 2. A product display warehouse monitoring device for monitoring the operation status of a plurality of product display warehouses in a store, wherein the state change is caused by at least opening or closing the door of the product display warehouse, extracting or inserting the product in the store. Along with, the internal temperature of the product display detected by the temperature detection means, the fluctuation of the compressor that adjusts the temperature of the product display detected by the detection means, the product in the product display has moved Input means for inputting the product movement information indicating, and a judgment means for judging whether or not the product display warehouse needs maintenance based on the inside temperature, the fluctuation of the compressor, and the goods movement information, and the maintenance is required. And a notification means for notifying the maintenance company via the communication line so as to perform maintenance of the product display storage. Merchandise display cabinet monitoring device for. 3. The detecting means may further detect fluctuations in a compressor that adjusts the temperature of the product display cabinet and air conditioning in the store, and fluctuations in a compressor whose waste heat is used for heating the store. The commodity display warehouse monitoring device according to claim 1 or 2. 4. A product display warehouse monitoring method for monitoring the operating status of a plurality of product display warehouses in a store, the status change being caused by at least opening or closing the door of the product display warehouse, extracting or putting in products in the store. Along with, an input step of inputting the internal temperature of the product display compartment detected by the temperature detection means, and a fluctuation of a compressor for adjusting the temperature of the product display compartment detected by the detection means, and the internal storage temperature and Based on the fluctuation of the compressor, a determination step of determining whether or not the product display room requires maintenance, and a communication line to the maintenance company so that the maintenance of the product display room is performed when the maintenance is determined to be necessary. And a notification step of notifying via a product display method. 5. A merchandise display warehouse monitoring method for monitoring the operating status of a plurality of merchandise display warehouses in a store, the status change being caused by at least opening or closing the door of the merchandise display warehouse, extracting or inserting goods in the store. Along with, the internal temperature of the product display detected by the temperature detection means, the fluctuation of the compressor that adjusts the temperature of the product display detected by the detection means, the product in the product display has moved The input step of inputting the product movement information indicating the item, a determination step of determining whether or not the product display cabinet requires maintenance based on the inside temperature, the fluctuation of the compressor and the product movement information, and the maintenance is required. And a notification step of notifying the maintenance company via a communication line so as to perform maintenance of the product storage. Merchandise display cabinet monitoring how to. 6. The detecting means further detects fluctuations in a compressor that adjusts the temperature of the commodity display room and air conditioning in the store, and fluctuations in a compressor whose waste heat is used for heating the store. The commodity display monitoring method according to claim 4 or 5. 7. A merchandise display warehouse monitoring system for monitoring the operating status of a plurality of merchandise display warehouses in a store, wherein the temperature inside the merchandise display warehouse is at least the door opening / closing of the merchandise display warehouse, Temperature detection means for detecting a change in state due to either removal or insertion, detection means for detecting a change in a compressor for adjusting the temperature of the product display warehouse, and a product display warehouse based on the internal temperature and the change in the compressor A determining means for determining whether or not maintenance is required, and if it is determined that the maintenance is required, a notification means for notifying a maintenance company via a communication line to perform maintenance of the product storage, A product display monitoring system characterized by having. 8. A merchandise display warehouse monitoring system for monitoring the operation status of a plurality of merchandise display warehouses in a store, wherein the interior temperature of the merchandise display warehouse is at least the door opening / closing of the merchandise display warehouse, Temperature detection means for detecting a change in state due to either extraction or insertion, detection means for detecting a change in a compressor that adjusts the temperature of the product display warehouse, and a product indicating that the product in the product display warehouse has moved Input means for inputting movement information, discrimination means for discriminating whether or not the commodity display cabinet requires maintenance based on the inside temperature, fluctuation of the compressor, and commodity movement information, and the maintenance is discriminated. In this case, there is provided notification means for notifying the maintenance company via a communication line so as to perform maintenance of the product display warehouse. Product display monitoring system. 9. The detecting means may further detect fluctuations in a compressor that adjusts the temperature of the commodity display room and air conditioning in the store, and fluctuations in a compressor whose waste heat is used to heat the store. 9. The commodity display warehouse monitoring system according to claim 7 or 8.