JP2006221395A - Automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic vending machine capable of detecting failure of a temperature detecting means such as a thermistor by storing the previous period from turning on to turning off of a cooling/warming means and comparing with the current period from turning on to turning off of the cooling/warming means. <P>SOLUTION: The automatic vending machine, comprising the cooling/warming means for cooling or warming the products, the inside temperature detecting means 2 for detecting the inside temperature, and an inside temperature storing means 5a for storing at certain intervals the temperature measured by the inside temperature detecting means 2, can detect the failure of the inside temperature detecting means 2 by storing at certain intervals the temperatures when the cooling/warming means is turned on and off respectively, and comparing with the previous temperatures when the means is turned on and off respectively. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention is provided with a device for cooling or warming a product stored in a warehouse, and a vending machine cooling / heating control device for controlling the interior of the warehouse to a predetermined temperature, in particular, a sensor for detecting the interior temperature, etc. It relates to a failure.

  Conventionally, in this type of vending machine, the temperature inside the cabinet is detected using a thermostat, thermistor, etc., and on / off control of a cooler that cools the inside of the cabinet and a heater that also heats the inside of the cabinet is performed ( For example, see Patent Document 1).

  11, 12, and 13 relate to a failure of a sensor or the like that detects a conventional internal temperature described in Patent Document 1. FIG.

  11, 12, and 13, 1 is a product storage shelf for storing products, 2 is an internal temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the products stored in the product storage shelf, and 3 is for cooling the products in the storage Alternatively, cooling / heating means for heating, 4 is a timer for measuring time, 5 is a storage means for storing on-time and off-time for detecting a predetermined failure, and 6 is a cooling / heating means. Computation control means for detecting that one on time or off time exceeds a predetermined time corresponding to each time.

  The operation of the failure detection apparatus for the vending machine configured as described above will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, the cooling and heating means 3 detects the internal temperature by the internal temperature detection means 2 (STEP 1), and determines whether or not the detected temperature is a temperature at which the cooling / heating means 3 is energized (STEP 2). If the temperature is energized, the cooling / heating means 3 is energized (STEP 3). Then, it is determined whether or not the energization time exceeds the maximum on-time (STEP 4). If not, the process returns to STEP 1. If it exceeds, it is judged as a failure. If it is not the temperature to be energized in STEP 2, the energization to the cooling / warming means 3 is turned off (STEP 5), and it is determined whether the off time has exceeded the maximum off time (STEP 6). Return to STEP1. If it exceeds, it is determined as a failure.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-94584

  However, with the above conventional configuration, only the extreme failure when the thermistor or thermostat that detects the internal temperature is short-circuited or opened can be detected, and the resistance value of the thermistor or thermostat is different from normal. Had a problem that could not be found.

  The present invention solves the conventional problem, and stores repeated temperature cycles by controlling on / off of the cooler and the heater at regular intervals, and compares them with the previous temperature cycle, so that thermistors, thermostats, etc. An object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine capable of detecting the above with higher accuracy.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention includes a cooling / heating means for cooling or heating a product stored in a product storage rack, and a temperature in the cabinet. The internal temperature detection means for detecting, the internal temperature storage means for storing the temperature measured by the internal temperature detection means at regular intervals, the timer for measuring the regular interval, and the cooling / heating means Computation control means for controlling on / off of the cooling / heating means so that the temperature becomes a predetermined temperature, and storing the temperature period from the on-time of the cooling / heating means to the off time at a constant interval, By comparing with a temperature cycle from on-time to off-time, a failure such as a thermistor or a thermostat can be detected more accurately.

  As a result, it is possible to find a failure such as a resistance value different from a normal value, not an extreme failure such as a short circuit or an open circuit in a thermistor or a thermostat that detects the internal temperature.

  The invention according to claim 2 of the present invention is the one according to claim 1, further comprising period number setting means capable of setting the number of temperature periods from the on time to be compared to the off time.

  This is characterized in that a failure can be detected with higher accuracy by comparing a plurality of temperature cycles instead of comparing one temperature cycle.

  The invention according to claim 3 of the present invention is the same as the invention according to claim 1, further comparing the temperature cycle from on time to off time to be compared with the temperature cycle from on time to off time in a separate chamber. It is provided with a calculation control means.

  This makes it possible to detect a failure with higher accuracy by comparing the temperature cycle in the same time period than in the comparison of the temperature cycle from the on time to the off time where the temperature difference of the outside air temperature during sunset or dawn is large.

  The invention according to claim 4 of the present invention is the invention according to claim 1, further comprising an outside air temperature detecting means.

  As a result, even when the temperature difference between the outside air temperatures is large at sunset or dawn, more accurate failure detection can be performed by correcting the temperature.

  Further, the invention according to claim 5 of the present invention is the one according to claim 1, further comprising invalid setting means for invalidating the temperature cycle comparison from the on-time to the off-time in the warehouse. .

  As a result, it is possible to eliminate the temperature cycle comparison of the off time from the invalid on time in the warehouse when the door is opened or when the product is put in, and more efficient failure detection can be performed.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, a thermistor or thermostat that detects the internal temperature is not an extreme failure such as a short circuit or an open circuit, and a failure such as a resistance value different from a normal value can be found.

  The invention according to claim 2 of the present invention can detect a failure with higher accuracy by comparing a plurality of cycles instead of comparing one temperature cycle.

  In addition, the invention according to claim 3 of the present invention makes a comparison in which the temperature difference in the same time zone is smaller than the comparison of the temperature cycle from the on time to the off time during which the temperature difference of the outside air temperature is large from sunset to dawn. Therefore, failure detection with higher accuracy can be performed.

  In the invention according to claim 4 of the present invention, it is possible to detect a failure with higher accuracy by correcting the temperature even when the temperature difference of the outside air temperature is large until sunset or dawn.

  Further, the invention according to claim 5 of the present invention eliminates the temperature cycle comparison of the off time from the on time in the invalid chamber when the door is opened or when the product is put in, thereby enabling more efficient failure detection. it can.

  The invention according to claim 1 is a cooling / heating means for cooling or heating a product stored in a product storage rack, an internal temperature detection means for detecting the internal temperature, and the internal temperature. The internal temperature storage means for storing the temperature measured by the detection means at regular intervals, the timer for measuring the regular interval, and the cooling and heating means so that the internal temperature becomes a predetermined temperature by the cooling and heating means. Computation control means for on / off control of the temperature means, and storing the temperature cycle from the on time to the off time of the cooling / warming means at regular intervals, and comparing with the temperature cycle of the off time from the previous on time Thermistors and thermostats that detect the internal temperature can detect faults such as resistance values differing from normal values, not extreme faults such as short circuits or open circuits.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first aspect of the present invention, there is further provided a cycle number setting means capable of setting the cycle number of the off time from the on time to be compared, and a plurality of cycles of the off time are compared from the on time As a result, a comparison of a plurality of cycles can be performed instead of a comparison of one cycle, and an abnormality can be detected with higher accuracy.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the same as the invention according to claim 1, and further compares the on-time to off-time temperature to be compared with the on-time to off-time temperature in a separate chamber. The comparison of the periods in the separate storage can be made instead of the comparison of the periods, and the abnormality can be detected with higher accuracy.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to claim 1, further comprising an outside air temperature detecting means for detecting the outside air temperature, and correcting the temperature from the on time to the off time in the warehouse by the outside air temperature. Even when the temperature difference between the outside air temperatures is large from sunset to dawn, the predetermined temperature can be corrected, and more accurate abnormality detection can be performed.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to claim 1, further comprising invalid setting means for invalidating the comparison of the off time from the on time in the warehouse, and the on time when the product is put in or the door is opened. By disabling the off-time temperature comparison, it is possible to eliminate the off-time temperature comparison from the invalid on-time when the door is opened or when the product is put in, and more effective abnormality detection can be performed.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a vending machine according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a vending machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the vending machine according to the embodiment.

  In FIGS. 1 and 2, 5a is the internal temperature storage means for storing the temperature from the on time to the off time in one cycle at a constant interval, and 6a is the previous on time stored in the internal temperature storage means. It is a failure determination calculation control unit that compares the off-time temperature and the current on-time to the off-time temperature to determine a failure.

  With respect to the vending machine configured as described above, the operation and action of the arithmetic control unit 6a will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, measurement is started with the timer 4 for detecting the internal temperature at regular intervals (STEP 7), and the process waits until the internal temperature is detected (STEP 8). When it is time to detect the internal temperature, the internal temperature is read and stored in the storage means 5a (STEP 9). It is determined whether or not the detected temperature is a temperature at which the cooling / heating unit 3 is energized (STEP 10). If the read temperature is a temperature at which the cooling / heating unit 3 is energized, energization is performed (STEP 11). When the temperature is not energized, the cooling / heating means 3 is not energized (STEP 14), and is repeated until one on / off cycle is completed (STEP 12). When one ON / OFF cycle is completed, it is compared with the previous ON / OFF cycle (STEP 13). If they match, the internal temperature of the next ON / OFF cycle is detected, and if they do not match, the internal temperature It is determined that the detection means has failed.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the internal temperature storage means 5a for storing the temperature from the on time to the off time in one cycle at a constant interval and the previous on time stored in the internal temperature storage means 5a. Comparing the temperature between the off time and the current on time to the off time, and equipped with a calculation control unit that determines the failure, an extreme failure such as short-circuiting or opening a thermistor or thermostat that detects the internal temperature In addition, it is possible to find a failure such as a resistance value different from the normal value.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the vending machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the vending machine according to the embodiment.

  In FIG. 3, 6b compares the previous, second and third on-time temperatures stored in the internal temperature storage means 5a with the off-time temperature and the current on-time to off-time temperature to determine a failure. It is a failure calculation control unit.

  In the present embodiment, the vending machine according to the first embodiment is further subjected to temperature comparison from on time to off time multiple times.

  The operation and action of the control unit 6b of the vending machine configured as described above will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, measurement is started with the timer 4 for detecting the internal temperature at regular intervals (STEP 14), and the process waits until a time for detecting the internal temperature is reached (STEP 15). When it is time to detect the internal temperature, the internal temperature is read and stored in the storage means 5a (STEP 16). It is determined whether or not the detected temperature is a temperature at which the cooling / heating means 3 is energized (STEP 17). If the read temperature is a temperature at which the cooling / heating means 3 is energized, energization is performed (STEP 18). Further, when the temperature is not energized, the cooling / warming means 3 is not energized (STEP 24), and is repeated until one on / off cycle is completed (STEP 19). Wait until it is time to detect. If it has been completed, it is determined whether the previous on / off cycle has been completed (STEP 20). If the first on / off cycle has not been completed, the system waits until it is time to detect the internal temperature. If it has been completed, it is determined whether or not the previous on / off cycle has been completed (STEP 21). When the three on / off cycles are completed, it is compared with the current on / off cycle (STEP 22), and if they coincide with each other three times, it waits until it is time to detect the internal temperature. If they do not coincide with each other, it is judged whether or not they coincide with each other twice (STEP 23). If they coincide with each other twice, it waits until a time for detecting the inside temperature is reached. If they do not match, it is determined that there is a failure.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, in addition to the invention described in claim 1, by comparing the temperature from the on time to the off time a plurality of times, a plurality of cycles are compared instead of one cycle. Therefore, failure detection with higher accuracy can be performed.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of the vending machine according to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the vending machine according to the embodiment.

  In FIG. 6, 6 c is an arithmetic control unit that compares the temperature from the on time to the off time in the separate box with the temperature from the current on time to the off time and determines a failure.

  In the present embodiment, the vending machine according to the first embodiment is further provided with a calculation control unit that compares the temperature from the on-time to the off-time in the separate storage and the current on-time to the off-time. is there.

  With respect to the vending machine configured as described above, the operation and action of the arithmetic control unit 6c will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, measurement is started with the timer 4 for detecting the internal temperature at regular intervals (STEP 25), and the process waits until the internal temperature is detected (STEP 26). When it is time to detect the internal temperature, the internal temperature is read and stored in the storage means 5a (STEP 27). It is determined whether or not the detected temperature is a temperature at which the cooling / heating means 3 is energized (STEP 28). If the read temperature is a temperature at which the cooling / heating means 3 is energized, energization is performed (STEP 29). When the temperature is not energized, the cooling / warming means 3 is not energized (STEP 32) and is repeated until one on / off cycle is completed (STEP 30). When one on-off cycle is completed, it is compared with the on-off cycle detected in the same manner in another chamber (STEP 31). If they match, the chamber temperature is detected in the next on / off cycle. It is determined that the internal temperature detecting means has failed.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, in addition to the invention described in claim 1, an arithmetic control unit that compares the temperature from the on time to the off time in the separate box and the temperature from the current on time to the off time is further provided. By providing, not only the period in the same box but the period in another box can be compared, and more accurate failure detection can be performed.

(Embodiment 4)
FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram of the vending machine according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the vending machine according to the embodiment.

  In FIG. 7, 6d is a calculation control part which correct | amends the temperature of OFF time from the last ON time by the temperature which the external temperature detection means 7 read, and compares the temperature of OFF time from this ON time. 7 is an outside air temperature detecting means for detecting the outside air temperature for correcting the temperature from the on time to the off time. 8 is a means for inputting a correction value corresponding to the outside air temperature.

  In the present embodiment, an outside air temperature detecting means 7 is further provided in the vending machine according to the first embodiment.

  With respect to the vending machine configured as described above, the operation and action of the arithmetic control unit 6d will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, the correction value input means 8 inputs a correction value for the outside air temperature (STEP 33). Thereafter, measurement is started by the timer 4 for detecting the internal temperature at regular intervals (STEP 34), and the process waits until a time for detecting the internal temperature is reached (STEP 35). Next, the outside air temperature is read and stored (STEP 36). When it is time to detect the internal temperature, the internal temperature is read, and the internal temperature is corrected using the correction value corresponding to the outside air temperature inputted in advance, and stored in the storage means 5a (STEP 38). It is determined whether or not the detected temperature is a temperature at which the cooling / heating means 3 is energized (STEP 39). If the read temperature is a temperature at which the cooling / heating means 3 is energized, energization is performed (STEP 40). When the temperature is not energized, the cooling / heating means 3 is not energized (STEP 43), and is repeated until one on / off cycle is completed (STEP 41). When one on / off cycle is completed, it is compared with the previous on / off cycle (STEP 42). If they match, the internal temperature of the next on / off cycle is detected, and if they do not match, it is determined that the internal temperature detecting means has failed. To do.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the invention described in claim 1 is further provided with an outside air temperature detecting means for detecting the outside air temperature, and corrects the temperature from the on time to the off time in the warehouse by the outside air temperature. Thus, even when the temperature difference between the outside air temperatures is large from sunset to dawn, the predetermined temperature can be corrected, and more accurate abnormality detection can be performed.

(Embodiment 5)
FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram of the vending machine according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the vending machine according to the embodiment.

  In FIG. 10, 6e is an arithmetic control unit which is not compared with the previous on / off cycle when the invalid setting means 9 is set. 9 is an invalid setting means for invalidating the comparison of the temperature period from the on time to the off time when the internal temperature is not stable when the power is turned on or when the door is opened and closed.

  In the present embodiment, the vending machine according to the first embodiment is further provided with invalid setting means 9.

  With respect to the vending machine configured as described above, the operation and action of the arithmetic control unit 6e will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, measurement is started with the timer 4 for detecting the internal temperature at regular intervals (STEP 44), and the process waits until a time for detecting the internal temperature is reached (STEP 45). When it is time to detect the internal temperature, the internal temperature is read and stored in the storage means 5a (STEP 46). If the read temperature is a temperature at which the cooling / warming means 3 is energized, energization is performed (STEP 47). When the temperature is not energized, the cooling / heating means 3 is not energized (STEP 52), and is repeated until one on / off cycle is completed (STEP 49). When one on / off cycle is completed, it is confirmed whether the invalid setting means is set (STEP 50). If it is set, the internal temperature detection of the next on / off cycle is performed. If it is not set, it is compared with the previous on / off cycle (STEP 51), and if it is coincident, the internal temperature of the next on / off cycle is detected, and if it does not coincide, it is determined that the internal temperature detecting means is abnormal.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the invalidity setting means is provided in the invention described in claim 1, so that the temperature from the on-time to the off-time when the product is put in or when the door is opened is changed from the on time to the off time. Comparison can be eliminated and more effective failure detection can be performed.

  As described above, the vending machine according to the present invention detects not only an extreme failure such as a short circuit or an open circuit of a thermistor or a thermostat that detects the internal temperature, but also a failure such as a resistance value different from a normal value. Therefore, it can be applied to uses such as a refrigerator provided with temperature detection means such as cooling and heating means and a thermistor.

Functional block diagram of the vending machine in the first embodiment of the present invention Flowchart showing the operation of the vending machine of the first embodiment Functional block diagram of the vending machine in the second embodiment of the present invention Flowchart showing the operation of the vending machine of the second embodiment Functional block diagram of the vending machine in Embodiment 3 of the present invention Flowchart showing the operation of the vending machine of the third embodiment Functional block diagram of vending machine according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention Flowchart showing the operation of the vending machine of the fourth embodiment Functional block diagram of the vending machine in the fifth embodiment of the present invention Flowchart showing the operation of the vending machine of the fifth embodiment Schematic configuration diagram of a conventional vending machine Functional block diagram of a conventional vending machine Flow chart showing the operation of a conventional vending machine

Explanation of symbols

2 Internal temperature detection means 3 Cooling and heating means 4 Timer 5a Storage means 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e Arithmetic control means 7 Outside air temperature detection means 8 Correction value input means 9 Invalid setting means

Claims (5)

  Cooling / heating means for cooling or heating products stored in the product storage rack, internal temperature detection means for detecting the internal temperature, and temperature measured by the internal temperature detection means at regular intervals The storage temperature storage means for storing in the storage, a timer for measuring a certain interval, and the calculation control means for on / off controlling the cooling / heating means so that the temperature in the storage becomes a predetermined temperature by the cooling / heating means And storing the temperature cycle from the on-time to the off-time of the cooling / warming means at regular intervals, and comparing the temperature cycle from the previous on-time to the off-time to cause a failure of the internal temperature detection means Vending machine characterized by detecting   A cycle number setting means capable of setting the number of temperature cycles from the on time to the off time to be compared is provided, and the failure of the internal temperature detecting means can be detected by comparing the off time from the on time to a plurality of temperature cycles. The vending machine according to claim 1.   The failure detection of the internal temperature detection means can be performed by comparing a temperature cycle from an on time to an off time to be compared with a temperature cycle from an on time to an off time in a separate storage. vending machine.   2. An outside air temperature detecting means for detecting an outside air temperature is provided, and a failure of the inside temperature detecting means can be detected by correcting the temperature cycle from the on-time to the off-time in the inside with the outside air temperature. Vending machine as described in.   Equipped with an invalid setting means to invalidate the comparison of the temperature cycle from the on time to the off time in the cabinet. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein a temperature period from on time to off time can be excluded.

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