JP2009258950A - Vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To secure the life of a sensor, and to quickly and precisely detect the leakage of a refrigerant in a vending machine for reducing the risk of explosion by discharging the refrigerant which has leaked to the inside of a storage box. <P>SOLUTION: This vending machine is provided with: a guide pipe 44 for connecting the inside of a storage box 23 with the outside of the storage box 23 below in front of the storage box 23, a leakage detection sensor 45 installed in a machine chamber 61 arranged at a position lower than the position of the guide pipe 44 and outside the storage box of the storage box 23, a sensor storage unit 46 having a seamless structure, and a projection part 50 integrally formed for connecting the guide pipe 44 to the storage unit 46, thereby improving the air-tightness and the detection precision of the sensor 45. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vending machine that sells products such as canned beverages that are cooled or heated, and detects the leakage of refrigerant when hydrocarbon refrigerant used in the cooling or heating system leaks into the cabinet. Related to the machine.

  In recent years, a cooling system using a natural refrigerant made of hydrocarbons such as isobutane and propane has been desired from the viewpoint of protecting the ozone layer and preventing global warming. When using flammable hydrocarbons as refrigerants in cooling storages such as vending machines, explosion-proof electrical components are used. To further increase safety, refrigerant leaks are detected and the cooler is shut off. The thing which suppresses the amount of leakage by doing is proposed (for example, refer patent document 1).

  Hereinafter, a conventional vending machine will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing an internal configuration as seen from the front of a conventional vending machine.

  In FIG. 5, the vending machine main body 1 is provided with a plurality of storages 2 having a heat insulating structure, and a machine room 4 is disposed below each storage 2. Each storage 2 is provided with an evaporator 5 and an internal fan 6, and each evaporator 5 is connected to a refrigeration circuit. In the machine room 4, a compressor 7 and a condenser 8 constituting a refrigeration circuit are arranged, and one end side of the condenser 8 is connected to the discharge side of the compressor 7. Further, the other end side of the condenser 8 is connected to one end side of the second electromagnetic valve 11 via the expansion valve 9.

  A product storage column 3 is installed in each storage 2. Moreover, the storage 2 has the refrigerant | coolant leak detection sensor 12 in the downstream of the air of the evaporator 5, respectively. The refrigerant leakage detection sensor 12 in the machine room 4 is arranged on the downstream side of the compressor 8 and the condenser 10 of the air flowing through the room, and when the refrigerant is detected, a detection signal is output to the control unit.

  In addition, the vending machine includes a control unit that controls the first electromagnetic valve 10 and the compressor 8 of the refrigeration circuit based on the detection signal of the refrigerant leakage detection sensor 12. When the detection signal of the refrigerant leakage detection sensor 12 is output, the control unit closes each first electromagnetic valve 10 and the second electromagnetic valve 11 to block the refrigeration circuit into a plurality.

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

When the refrigerant leaks from the refrigeration circuit in the storage 2, the refrigerant leak detection sensor 12 disposed on the downstream side of the evaporator 5 detects the leak and outputs a detection signal to the control unit. When the detection signal is output, the control unit closes the first electromagnetic valve 10 and the second electromagnetic valve 11 to block the refrigeration circuit into a plurality. As a result, the amount of leakage when the refrigerant leaks can be minimized.
JP 2003-178361 A

  However, in the vending machine, the storage 2 may be heated as well as cooled, and by disposing the leak detection sensor 12 in the storage 2, the sensor deteriorates due to being placed in a high temperature environment. was there. In addition, there is a problem that the performance of the refrigerant leakage detection sensor 12 is deteriorated due to poisoning by the gas generated from the sealant used for fixing the heat insulating material in the storage 2 of the vending machine. In addition, by disposing the refrigerant leak detection sensors 12 in each storage 2, the same number of refrigerant leak detection sensors 12 as the number of the storages 2 are required, which increases the cost.

  The present invention solves the conventional problems, and provides a vending machine that can detect refrigerant leakage at a low cost and prevent deterioration of the leakage detection sensor, and improve detection accuracy of the leakage detection sensor when refrigerant leaks. The purpose is to do.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, the vending machine of the present invention includes a machine room below a plurality of storages having a product storage column for storing products, and a combustible refrigerant for cooling the storage. In a vending machine in which a cooling system using a storage is housed in the machine room, a leak detection sensor for detecting a leaked refrigerant is installed in the machine room so that the refrigerant leaked in the storage can be detected by the leak detection sensor. The inside of the storage and the machine room communicate with each other through a conduit, and the sensor housing for housing the leak detection sensor has a seamless structure, and a protrusion for connecting the conduit to the sensor housing is formed integrally. It is a thing.

  Accordingly, it is possible to detect the refrigerant leakage of all the storages with one leakage detection sensor without arranging the leakage detection sensor in the storage, and the sensor storage part of the leakage sensor can be seamlessly made of a resin molded product or the like. By adopting the structure, it is possible to increase the confidentiality of the sensor storage unit and increase the detection accuracy of the leak detection sensor.

  The vending machine of the present invention has a leak detection sensor installed in the machine room, and connects the inside of the storage room and the machine room with a conduit so that the refrigerant leaking in the storage room can be detected by the leak detection sensor. The sensor storage part for storing the sensor has a seamless structure, and the protrusion for connecting the conduit to the sensor storage part is integrally formed to prevent deterioration of the leak detection sensor and to improve detection accuracy. It is possible to improve the reliability of the vending machine using the combustible refrigerant.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, a machine room is provided below a plurality of storages having product storage columns for storing products, and a cooling system using a flammable refrigerant to cool the storage is provided in the machine room. In the vending machine housed in the storage room, a leak detection sensor for detecting a leaked refrigerant is installed in the machine room, and the leak in the storage room can be detected by the leak detection sensor. The sensor housing portion for housing the leak detection sensor has a seamless structure, and a projection portion for connecting the conduit to the sensor housing portion is formed integrally with the leak detection sensor. It is possible to detect the refrigerant leakage of all the storages with one leakage detection sensor without arranging in the storage, and the sensor storage part of the leakage sensor With Muresu structure, increasing the confidentiality of the sensor housing portion, increasing the detection accuracy of the leak detection sensor, it is possible to improve the reliability.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion connecting the conduit is provided on the upper surface of the sensor housing portion, and the combustible refrigerant heavier than air passes through the conduit, Since the leak detection sensor is reliably reached, the detection accuracy is increased.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a guide member for guiding the projection and the conduit connecting the conduit, the conduit being protected by the guide member, Deformation and breakage can be prevented, and the conduit can be prevented from coming off easily.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to claim 3, wherein the guide member is provided with an opening hole through which the conduit is inserted, and the conduit is guided when the conduit is moved such as when the conduit is installed. The member is surely protected, it is possible to prevent the root from being broken by applying a force to the root, and to prevent the conduit from coming off reliably.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, an inspection hole is provided on the upper surface of the sensor housing portion, and a failure diagnosis of the leak detection sensor is performed. It can be done easily.

  The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a nail for fixing the leak detection sensor is formed in the sensor housing portion, and is necessary for molding the nail. It is arranged so that the Nusumi part is covered and closed by the bottom surface of the leak detection sensor, and it is possible to improve the attachment of the leak detection sensor, and the refrigerant leaks from the sensor storage part by filling the gap of the Nusumi part. By preventing this, detection accuracy can be increased.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of 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 longitudinal sectional view of a vending machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention cut left and right and the left side cut surface viewed from the right. FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the sensor storage part of the vending machine according to the embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a sensor of the vending machine according to the embodiment. The longitudinal cross-sectional view of a storage part is shown.

  1 and 2, an outer door 22 for displaying sample products, receiving and receiving money, and taking out products is disposed on the front surface of the vending machine main body 21 so as to be openable and closable. There is a storage 23 for storing goods such as cans. Between the storage 23 and the vending machine main body 21, a back panel 24, an upper panel 25, and a lower panel 26 are disposed around the storage 23 as heat insulating walls made of urethane foam or the like.

  An upper inner door 27 and a lower inner door 28 divided into upper and lower parts are provided as heat insulating walls on the front surface of the storage 23, and the front surface of the storage 23 is configured to be opened and closed independently. The lower inner door 28 is provided with a merchandise outlet 29 that communicates with the interior.

  The outer door 22 is provided with a product outlet 30 and is disposed in front of the product outlet 29. A hanging metal fitting 32 is disposed in the upper part of the storage 23, and all the products are stored by suspending a plurality of product storage columns 33 to 35 for storing products such as canned beverages. When the product is sold, the product rolls on the chute 31 that is arranged below the product storage columns 33 to 35 and is inclined toward the product carry-out port 29 and reaches the product take-out port 30 through the product carry-out port 29. Receives the merchandise that was unloaded.

  Below the product storage columns 33 to 35, there is a cooling greenhouse 60 partitioned by a chute 31, and an electric heater 36, an internal fan 37, and an indoor heat exchanger 38 are installed in the cooling greenhouse 60. Specifically, the indoor heat exchanger 38, the internal fan 37, and the electric heater 36 are arranged on a substantially straight line in this order from the rear to the front of the storage 23. A machine room 61 is disposed below the storage 23, and a cooling system including a compressor 39, a machine room fan 40, an external heat exchanger 41, expansion means (not shown), and the like is provided therein. .

  And the indoor heat exchanger 38 in the store | warehouse | chamber 23 is cooled by the driving | operation of a compressor, and goods are cooled because cool air is transmitted to goods with the fan 37 in a store | warehouse | chamber. Product cooling is set at about 3 ° C. Further, by using the indoor heat exchanger 38 as a radiator by energizing the electric heater or switching the refrigerant circuit, the storage 23 can be heated, and the product is kept warm at about 55 ° C. during heating. Yes. As a refrigerant for such a cooling and heating system, isobutane, which is a flammable refrigerant having an ozone depletion coefficient of 0, a low global warming coefficient, and an extremely low environmental impact, is used. The machine room fan 40 is always continuously operated in preparation for the case where the refrigerant of the cooling and heating system leaks in the machine room.

  The upper inner door 27 is provided with an outside air inlet 42 and a suction fan 43. Here, the outside air suction port 42 and the suction fan 43 are provided in the upper inner door 27, which corresponds to the evaporator 38, which has a welded portion of the piping and has the highest possibility as a gas leak portion in the storage 23. It is the farthest corner, and is best suited for outside air introduction and complete indoor air replacement. Furthermore, since the upper inner door 27 is protected by the outer door 22, there is no concern about crime prevention, and the outside air inlet 42 can be formed with a light and simple structure.

  A conduit 44 is provided at the bottom of the storage 23 and is connected to a leak detection sensor 45 provided in the machine room 61. For the conduit 44, a copper tube, an iron tube, a stainless steel tube, a hose made of resin, or the like can be used. Reference numeral 46 denotes a sensor storage unit that stores a leak detection sensor 45. Each storage unit includes a conduit 44 that communicates with the inside of each storage unit 23, and each conduit 44 is inserted into the sensor storage unit 46 to detect one leak. The sensor 45 has a structure that can cope with leakage of the plurality of storages 23.

  Since isobutane has a higher specific gravity than air, a leak detection sensor 45 is provided at a position lower than the conduit 44. Further, the storage 23 is thermally insulated into a plurality of chambers in the left-right direction by a partition wall 23a, and a plurality of conduits 44 are provided corresponding to the number of each chamber. Each of the plurality of storages 23 partitioned right and left on the partition wall 23a is provided with a cooling greenhouse 60. In the case of the embodiment, since there are three chambers, three conduits 44 are provided in the lower front part of each storage 23. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the sensor storage unit 46 is installed at a position near the center of the storage 23 at the upper front of the external heat exchanger 41 so that the length of the conduit 44 is shortened for each storage 23. Yes.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the entire circumference of the sensor housing portion 46 is a seamless integrated structure using resin molding, a sheet metal welding member, and the like, and the opening 47 is closed on the front upper portion of the external heat exchanger so as to be closed. It attaches so that it may contact | adhere to the sensor As attachment member 48 with which it was equipped. At this time, a foam member or the like can be brought into closer contact by being inserted between the sensor housing portion 46 and the sensor As mounting member 48.

  The upper top surface of the sensor housing portion 46 is provided with projections 50 for inserting the through holes 49 and the conduits 44 in the same quantity as the conduits 44, and the tip portions 51 of the projections 50 are larger than the inner diameter of the conduits 44, In addition, the conduit 44 can be easily inserted into the protrusion 50 by making the portion below the tip portion 51 of the protrusion 50 the same as or smaller than the inner diameter of the conduit 44. It is formed so as not to come off. In addition, a guide member 52 is integrally formed on the upper top surface of the sensor housing portion 46 so as to surround the projection portion 50 in a direction parallel to the projection portion 50, and the guide member 52 passes through the conduit 44. The conduit restriction holes 53 larger than the outer diameter of the conduit 44 are opened in the same quantity as the conduit 44. In addition, the conduit restriction hole 53 may be larger by about 1 to 2 mm than the outer diameter of the conduit 44 so that the conduit 44 hits and no force is applied to the root when the conduit 44 is moved with the conduit 44 attached. desirable.

  Further, an inspection hole 54 is provided on the top surface of the sensor housing 46 so that the refrigerant can be easily injected when a failure diagnosis of the leak detection sensor 45 is performed. Even if the inspection hole 54 is provided above the front surface or the side surface, the same effect is obtained.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a claw portion 55 protrudes inside the sensor housing portion 46, and the leak detection sensor 45 is fixed by sandwiching the base between the claw portions 55. At this time, the gap between the pussies 56 is filled by positioning so that the nuisances 56 necessary for forming the claw parts 55 are covered with the bottom surface of the leak detection sensor 45.

  Here, the electrical components installed inside and outside the storage 23 have an explosion-proof structure so as to satisfy the requirements shown in the Vending Machine Manufacturers Association voluntary standards (JVMA 2B001, Annex 2 “Safety of Cooling Unit”). . This explosion-proof structure prevents electrical components from becoming an ignition source when refrigerant leaks from the cooling and heating system. The structure that diffuses the leaked refrigerant, the structure that keeps the surface temperature low, and the flame to the outside Includes a simple explosion-proof structure that does not propagate.

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

  When the product in the storage 23 is cooled or heated, the cooling system or the cooling and heating system is operated to operate the internal fan 37 to control the product to a predetermined temperature. However, when there is little sale at night, the cooling system and the internal fan 37 may be temporarily stopped by a timer for energy saving. In some cases, the cooling system and the internal fan 37 are temporarily stopped as a peak cut operation during the daytime when the amount of power consumption in summer becomes a peak.

  That is, the internal fan 37 may be stopped as well as operating. When the internal heat exchanger 38 disposed in the cooling chamber 60 or the piping of the cooling and heating system is damaged and the refrigerant leaks, when the internal fan 37 is stopped, the specific gravity of isobutane is greater than that of air. Since it is heavy, it spreads over the lower part of the storage 23, that is, the bottom of the cooled greenhouse 60. The leaked refrigerant flows out from the lower part in front of the cooling greenhouse 50 through the conduit 44 to the sensor housing 46, and the leak detection sensor 45 detects the leak.

  On the other hand, if the refrigerant leaks while the internal fan 37 is operating, the isobutane is stirred in the storage 23, but the stirred refrigerant is similarly passed from the lower part in front of the cooling greenhouse 50 to the sensor housing 46 through the conduit 44. The leakage detection sensor 45 detects leakage. Since the conduit 44 is shortened to reduce the in-pipe resistance, the leakage of the refrigerant can be detected quickly and reliably. Moreover, since the machine room 61 which is the lower part of the storage 23 is provided with the leakage detection sensor 45, the refrigerant leakage in the storage 23 can be detected outside the storage regardless of ON / OFF of the internal fan 37.

  When the leakage detection sensor 45 detects the refrigerant leakage, the suction fan 43 operates, sucks outside air, and gradually discharges the refrigerant leaked from the product outlet 29 and the like while reducing the refrigerant concentration by the dynamic pressure.

  Moreover, since each storage 23 and the leak detection sensor 45 vicinity are connected by the conduit | pipe 44, since one leak detection sensor 45 provided outside the storage 23 can detect the refrigerant | coolant leak in all the stores 23. In addition, it is possible to detect refrigerant leakage at a lower cost than disposing the leakage detection sensor 45 in each storage 23, and dispose the leakage detection sensor 43 in the lower part of the storage 23 heated to about 50 ° C to 60 ° C. Degradation of the leak detection sensor 45 caused by the deterioration of the leak detection sensor 45 due to poisoning due to the silicon-based sealant used for fixing the rear panel 24, the upper panel 25, and the lower panel 26 in the storage 23 Can be prevented.

  Further, by injecting the refrigerant from the inspection hole 54 attached to the upper part of the sensor housing portion 46, the failure diagnosis of the leak detection sensor 45 can be easily performed. At this time, the inspection hole 54 is located above the leak detection sensor 43. Since the specific gravity of isobutane is heavier than air, the refrigerant will not leak from the sensor storage section 46 through the inspection hole 54 when the refrigerant leaks. Therefore, failure diagnosis of the leak detection sensor 45 can be performed.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the machine room fan 40 is always continuously operated in preparation for the case where the refrigerant leaks due to damage to the piping of the cooling and heating system disposed outside the storage 23, but leakage detection The machine room fan 40 may be operated only when the sensor 43 detects refrigerant leakage.

  Moreover, in this Embodiment, it was set as the structure which heats the storage 23 using the heater 36, However, The internal heat exchanger 38 in the storage 23 is used as a condenser, and the external heat exchanger 41 is used as an evaporator. Even when the storage 23 is heated by the waste heat of condensation (heat pump method), the same effect of detecting the refrigerant leaked by the internal heat exchanger 38 can be expected.

  As described above, the vending machine according to the present invention communicates from the lower part of the storage to the leakage detection sensor of the machine room with a conduit, so that when the refrigerant leaks inside the storage, the leakage detection sensor arranged outside the storage. Since the refrigerant leakage inside the storage can be detected earlier, it can be applied to refrigerant leakage detection in refrigeration or refrigeration equipment such as a showcase using a flammable refrigerant or a commercial refrigerator-freezer.

The longitudinal cross-sectional view at the time of cutting the vending machine in Embodiment 1 of this invention into right and left Plan sectional view when the vending machine of the embodiment is cut up and down The perspective view of the sensor storage part of the vending machine of the embodiment Longitudinal sectional view of the sensor storage part of the vending machine of the same embodiment Schematic showing the internal structure seen from the front of a conventional vending machine

Explanation of symbols

23 Storage 44 Conduit 45 Leakage detection sensor 46 Sensor housing part 50 Projection part 52 Guide member 53 Conduit restriction hole (opening hole)
54 Inspection hole 55 Claw part 56 Nusumi part 61 Machine room

Claims (6)

  In a vending machine provided with a machine room below a plurality of storages having product storage columns for storing products, and storing a cooling system using a flammable refrigerant in the machine room for cooling the storage, A leak detection sensor for detecting the refrigerant that has been detected is installed in the machine room, and the inside of the storage room and the machine room are connected by a conduit so that the refrigerant leaked in the storage room can be detected by the leak detection sensor. A vending machine characterized in that a sensor housing portion for housing a leak detection sensor has a seamless structure, and a projection portion for connecting the conduit is formed integrally with the sensor housing portion.   The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein a protrusion that connects the conduit is provided on an upper surface of the sensor housing.   The vending machine according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a projection member for connecting the conduit and a guide member for guiding the conduit.   4. The vending machine according to claim 3, wherein an opening hole through which the conduit is inserted is provided in the guide member.   The vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein an inspection hole is provided on an upper surface of the sensor storage unit.   2. A claw for fixing the leak detection sensor is formed in the sensor storage portion, and a nuisance portion required at the time of molding the claw is arranged so as to be covered with a bottom surface of the leak detection sensor. The vending machine according to any one of 5.