JP2014142728A - Automatic dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic dispenser capable of managing a battery suitably by solving a problem of the automatic dispenser not having suitable management of an accumulator as a power source for an emergency in the conventional automatic dispenser and having an end of service life of the accumulator unknown to a manager for the automatic dispenser and the automatic dispenser not function when a blackout occurs due to such as a hazard.SOLUTION: An automatic disperser comprises: a control unit; a battery as an emergency power source; a display unit; and service life prediction means for predicting the service life of the battery in order to solve the problem. A controller is characterized by displaying information of the battery service life calculated by the service life prediction means to a display unit. The battery service life information which is displayed to the display unit is capable of being seen and recognized by a manager for the automatic dispenser according to the composition above and the battery is capable of being well managed.

Description

  The present invention relates to a vending machine, and more particularly to a vending machine equipped with a battery such as a storage battery.

  In a vending machine, a storage battery is installed as an emergency power supply, and when the commercial power supply is interrupted due to the occurrence of a disaster, etc., the storage battery is used so that products in the vending machine can be taken out to the outside. For example, it is disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 and the like. According to this type of vending machine, it is possible to supply products such as beverages in the vending machine even when the commercial power supply fails in the event of a disaster.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 1-68576 JP-A-10-116379

  However, in the conventional vending machine, the appropriate storage battery is not managed, and the life of the storage battery is exhausted without the knowledge of the vending machine administrator (hereinafter referred to as rootman). Therefore, there is a risk that the vending machine does not function when the commercial power supply fails.

  The present invention solves the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide a vending machine capable of appropriately managing batteries.

  In order to solve the above problems, the vending machine of the present invention includes a control unit, a battery as an emergency power source, a display unit, and a life prediction unit for predicting the life of the battery, and the control unit includes: The battery life information calculated by the life prediction means is displayed on the display unit.

  The display unit is provided in a remote controller for setting and operating a vending machine.

  The control unit may display a warning for notifying battery replacement after a certain period before the time when the battery life is exhausted.

  The battery may be disposed in a low temperature storage unit that stores products in a low temperature state.

  In addition, the control unit is equipped with a clock unit connected to a backup power supply, the life prediction means, from the temperature management life of always managing the battery at a constant temperature, the operating time during which the battery is temperature-controlled, A value obtained by subtracting the post-stop correction time obtained by correcting the time when the battery is not temperature-controlled is calculated as the remaining life of the battery.

  Further, the battery is a rechargeable storage battery.

  According to the above configuration, it becomes possible for a route man or the like to recognize and recognize the battery life information displayed on the display unit, and the battery life can be managed well.

  Also, by displaying battery life information on the display of the remote controller (hereinafter referred to as remote control), the possibility of overlooking the battery life information is minimized compared to the case where a display is provided at another location. Can be suppressed.

  In other words, in a conventional vending machine equipped with a battery such as the storage battery as an emergency power supply, an emergency power supply system such as an uninterruptible power supply that drives the vending machine using the battery such as the storage battery in an emergency is optional. As a device, for example, it is often arranged in a part of the outside space or outside the vending machine.

  Therefore, in the vending machine provided with the emergency power supply system as an optional device in this way, the emergency power supply system is configured to display the battery life information from the usage time etc. on its own display unit. However, since the emergency power supply system is arranged in a place that is difficult to see or is not normally visible, there is a high possibility of overlooking the battery life information.

  On the other hand, the visibility can be improved by displaying the battery life on the input amount display unit provided on the front surface of the outer door of the vending machine, the remote controller, or the like. In particular, since the route man visually recognizes the display unit of the remote controller at the time of product replenishment or maintenance, the battery lifetime information can be recognized and managed more reliably by displaying the battery lifetime on the display unit of the remote controller.

  In addition, it is possible to prevent oversight of battery life information by displaying a warning for notifying battery replacement after a certain period before the time when the battery life is exhausted. For example, when such a warning is displayed on the start-up screen or menu screen of the remote controller, it can be understood that rootman and the like are approaching the battery life when viewing the display portion of the remote controller. Therefore, oversight of battery life information can be prevented more effectively.

  In addition, the battery can be extended in life by disposing the battery in the low temperature storage portion. This is because the life of the battery depends mainly on the temperature of the place where the battery is placed, and it is considered that the deterioration rate of the battery will be doubled when the temperature rises by 10 ° C. Furthermore, since the battery is managed at a substantially constant temperature, variations in battery life are reduced, and stable life prediction can be performed.

  In addition, the control unit is equipped with a clock unit connected to a backup power supply, so that the operation time during which the battery is temperature-controlled is calculated from the clock unit, and when there is a power failure or when the power is turned off due to maintenance, etc. From the clock part, it is possible to calculate the stop time when the battery is not temperature-controlled.

  The life prediction means calculates the value obtained by subtracting the operating time and the post-stop correction time obtained by correcting the stop time from the temperature management life in which the battery is always managed at a constant temperature as the remaining battery life. If an appropriate temperature management life and stop time correction value are set, stable life prediction can be performed easily and inexpensively based on the information on the operation time and the stop time.

  Generally, when accurately predicting the battery life, a circuit for detecting the charge / discharge amount of the battery and a circuit for detecting the temperature transition history of the storage battery are required. In the present invention, since the battery is managed at a substantially constant temperature with low self-discharge, a stable life prediction can be performed without using these circuits, and as a result, the battery life can be easily and inexpensively predicted. Can do.

1 is a perspective view of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the state which opened the front door and the inner door of the vending machine. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the vending machine. It is a block diagram of the vending machine. (A), (b) is a figure which shows the state which has arrange | positioned the storage battery in the lower part of the low-temperature storage part of the vending machine, respectively, (a) is a principal part perspective view, (b) is a principal part top view. It is.

  Hereinafter, a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, embodiment shown here is an example to the last, Comprising: It is not necessarily limited to this embodiment.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the vending machine 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a vending machine main body 3 in which an outer door (front door) 2 is supported so as to be freely opened and closed (this embodiment). In the form, a product storage 4 having a heat insulating structure is provided in the upper part from the center part), and the front opening of the product storage 4 can be opened and closed by an inner door 5 having heat insulating properties. Note that reference numeral 20 in FIG. 1 denotes an input amount display unit that is provided near the charge input port of the outer door 2 and displays the input amount.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the inside of the product storage 4 (so-called storage) is partitioned insulatively with respect to the width direction (lateral direction) of the vending machine main body 3 by a partition wall 18 having heat insulating properties. It is divided into a plurality of (three in this embodiment) storage units. As these storage units, there are provided two cold storage units 7, 8 that can be switched between a cooling state and a heating state, and one low temperature storage unit 9 dedicated to cooling (for details, see from the front). The first and second rows from the left are the cold storage units 7, the third column from the left is the cold storage unit 8, and the fourth to sixth columns from the left are the low temperature storage units 9).

  Note that S in FIG. 3 and the like is a product, and the product S stored in the cold storage units 7 and 8 is sold in a cooled state or a warmed state, and the product S stored in the low temperature storage unit 9 is always in a cooled state (low temperature). In this state, about 4 ° C. in the present embodiment). In addition, while warm products are sold only in cold seasons such as winter and autumn, cooling products are sold all year round and are sold in large numbers. Therefore, as shown in FIG. It is formed with a volume larger than 7,8.

In the product storage 4 (that is, the cold storage units 7 and 8 and the low temperature storage unit 9), there are cooling units such as an evaporator (or heat exchanger) 11, a heater (not shown), a blower 12 and the like of the refrigeration cycle. A temperature device and a cooling device are provided, and the internal air is cooled or heated by these, so that the product S
Is indirectly cooled or warmed.

  Thus, the temperature-controlled product S such as a cooled product or a warmed product is sold by the vending machine 1. In addition, since the low temperature storage part 9 is only for cooling, heating apparatuses, such as a heater, are not arrange | positioned inside.

  2 and 3 is arranged at the lower part of the vending machine main body 3 (below the product storage 4 in the vending machine main body 3), and is outside the box (outside the box) where the outside air freely circulates. Space). In the outside (outside space) 13, a condenser (or outside heat exchanger) 14, a compressor 15, a blower 16, and the like of the refrigeration cycle are disposed.

  In addition, the temperature control which consists of the cooling device which warms the goods S indirectly through the air in the goods storage 4 (cold temperature storage parts 7 and 8 and the low temperature storage part 9) (cooling / heating), and a heating apparatus. The device 29 (see FIG. 4) may be configured by both in the refrigeration cycle, or alternatively, a cooling device may be configured by the refrigeration cycle, and a heating device may be configured by a heater. It is not limited.

  From the upper part to the center of the product storage 4 (cold temperature storage unit 7, 8 or low temperature storage unit 9), a product transport path 21 for storing the product S by stacking the product S in a meandering manner and sequentially transporting it downward. Is provided with a product storage section (so-called product stocker) 22 in which a plurality of rows are arranged in front and rear and left and right.

  A replenishment opening 6 is provided at the upper front end of the product storage unit 22 (which is also the upper front end of the product transport path 21), and the product transport path 21 other than the frontmost row has a back end from the replenishment opening 6. An inclined introduction path 21a that is inclined obliquely downward is provided next to the side, and a rear end portion of the inclined introduction path 21a is connected to an upper end portion of a vertical conveyance path 21b that extends vertically while meandering before and after the product conveyance path 21. Has been.

  At the lower part of the product storage unit 22, a product carry-out device 23 that faces the lower end of the product transport path 21 and delivers the products S transported downward one by one downward is provided. A chute 17 for guiding the product S delivered from the product storage unit 22 to the product take-out port 10 side is disposed below the product storage unit 22. A large number of holes are formed.

  Further, a product passage window 19 provided with a heat insulating door corresponding to the chute 17 is provided at the lower part of the lower inner door 5, and the product S dropped on the chute 17 passes through the product passage window 19. And discharged to the product outlet 10.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the vending machine 1 according to the present embodiment includes a power supply switching device 32, a storage battery 33 as an emergency power supply, and a control unit 30. Under normal circumstances, the commercial power supply A is supplied, and the control unit 30 and the like operate to perform a product sales operation accompanying the carry-out of the product S. However, when a disaster operation instruction is received due to a disaster or the like, the power switching device 32 Switches the power source from the commercial power source A to the storage battery 33.

  Here, the storage battery 33 is disposed in the low-temperature storage unit 9. The location of the storage battery 33 is not particularly limited as long as it is in the low-temperature storage unit 9, but the location below the chute 17 in the low-temperature storage unit 9 is preferable because there is a relatively large space for the installation.

  Moreover, since the low temperature storage unit 9 is formed with a larger volume than the cold storage units 7 and 8, there is an advantage that the storage battery 33 can be easily arranged. More specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, an evaporator (or heat exchanger) such as a side portion of the evaporator (or heat exchanger) 11 or the blower 12 below the chute 17 is provided. ) It is preferable that the air flow by the air blower 11 or the air blower 12 is not hindered.

  When a relatively large space is required as a storage space for the storage battery 33, such as when the capacity of the storage battery 33 is large, the height dimension from the chute 17 to the bottom of the product storage 4 (low temperature storage section 9). Is suitable for the rear position in the lower part of the low temperature storage unit 9 (location indicated by E1 and E2 in FIG. 5), corresponding to the installation position of the evaporator (or heat exchanger) 11 and the blower 12, What is necessary is just to select and arrange | position the location shown by E1-E4 in Fig.5 (a), (b). The control unit 30 is disposed in the back surface of the outer door 2 in FIG. 2, and the storage battery 33 and the control unit are connected by a wiring 34.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 4, the control part 30 is provided with the lifetime prediction means 30a which estimates the lifetime of a storage battery, the backup power supply 30b, and the timepiece part 30c. The clock unit 30 c calculates the operating time of the vending machine 1, and the backup power source 30 b and the clock unit 30 c calculate the stop time of the vending machine 1. And the lifetime prediction means 30a calculates the remaining lifetime of the storage battery 33 by the following [Equation 1] based on such information.
[Equation 1]
Remaining life = Temperature management life-Operating time-Time after stop correction

  Here, the temperature management life is a battery life when the storage battery 33 is always temperature-controlled in a low temperature state. For example, when the battery life when the temperature is always controlled at 4 ° C. is 7 years, the temperature management life may be set to 7 years. Thus, the value of the temperature management lifetime can be set as appropriate depending on the type of battery and the temperature at which the battery is managed.

  The operating time is the time during which the vending machine 1 is operating. During the operating time, the cooling device of the temperature control device 29 is also operated, so the storage battery 33 disposed in the low-temperature storage unit 9 has a low temperature. The temperature is controlled in the state.

  Further, the post-stop correction time is a time obtained by correcting the stop time when the vending machine 1 is stopped due to maintenance or the like. During the stop time, the cooling device of the temperature control device 29 is not operated. In many cases, 33 is not temperature-controlled in a low temperature state, and is maintained in an ambient temperature or a slightly lower temperature environment.

  Assuming that the storage battery 33 has a battery deterioration rate of about twice when the ambient temperature is increased by 10 ° C., and assuming that the internal temperature of the low-temperature storage unit 9 is increased by 10 ° C. by stopping the vending machine 1. The deterioration rate of the storage battery 33 during the stop time is approximately doubled. In this case, a value obtained by doubling the stop time may be used as the post-stop correction time. In this way, by estimating the temperature rise value inside the low-temperature storage unit 9 due to the stop of the vending machine 1, a correction value for the time after stop correction can be arbitrarily set.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a remote controller 26 for performing various settings and operations of the vending machine 1 is attached to the back surface of the outer door 2 with a connection cord 27. The remote control 26 is attached to the back surface of the outer door 2 with a magnet or the like and can be easily removed.

  2 and 4, the remote controller 26 includes a remote control input unit 26b for setting and operating the vending machine 1, and a remote control display unit 26a for displaying information on the vending machine 1 according to the input contents. And. The control unit 30 displays the life of the storage battery 33 calculated by the life prediction means 30a on the remote control display unit 26a.

  Further, a warning display for notifying battery replacement is made after a certain period before the time when the life of the storage battery 33 is exhausted. For example, when the life prediction means 30a calculates the remaining life as 6 months or less by [Equation 1], a warning for battery replacement is displayed on the start-up screen or menu screen of the remote control display unit 26a. The time for displaying the battery replacement warning is not limited to when the remaining battery life is 6 months or less, and this time can be arbitrarily set.

  According to the configuration of the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent oversight of the life information of the storage battery 33 by displaying the battery life information on the remote control display unit 26a. This is because the route man or the like manages the vending machine based on the information displayed on the remote control display unit 26a at the time of product replenishment or maintenance, and therefore always checks the information on the remote control display unit 26a. . The battery life information may be displayed on another display unit such as the input amount display unit 20.

  Further, by displaying a warning for notifying the battery replacement a predetermined period before the time when the life of the storage battery 33 is exhausted, for example, when displaying a battery replacement warning on the startup screen or the menu screen of the remote control display unit 26a. The administrator of the vending machine 1 knows that the battery life is approaching when the remote control display 26a is viewed. Therefore, oversight of battery life information can be effectively prevented.

  Moreover, since the storage battery 33 is arrange | positioned in the low temperature accommodating part 9, deterioration and self-discharge of the storage battery 33 can be suppressed, and a battery life can be lengthened. As a result, it is possible to eliminate the need to replace almost all of the expensive batteries, and the maintenance cost as a vending machine can be kept low, and the labor and time for battery replacement can be minimized. it can. Furthermore, since the storage battery 33 is managed at a substantially constant temperature, variations in battery life are reduced, and stable life prediction can be performed.

  In addition, since the backup power supply 30b and the clock unit 30c are mounted on the control unit 30, the operation time can be calculated by the clock unit, and the power of the low-temperature storage unit 9 is turned off in the event of a power failure or maintenance. Can be calculated as the stop time of the vending machine 1 by the backup power source 30b and the clock unit 30c. If an appropriate temperature management lifetime and a correction value for the post-stop correction time are set, stable lifetime prediction can be easily and inexpensively performed using [Equation 1] based on the information on the operation time and the stop time. .

  It should be noted that the stop time of the vending machine 1 is considered to be extremely short compared with the operation time, and therefore the estimated temperature rise value of the low-temperature storage unit 9 due to the stop of the vending machine 1 is roughly estimated and the time after stop correction is calculated. Even if the correction value is set, the life prediction and the actual battery life are not significantly different.

  Moreover, in said embodiment, although the case where the storage battery 33 was used as a battery was described, it is not restricted to this, A primary battery, such as a dry battery, may be used as a battery. The storage battery 33 and the primary battery desirably have a capacity capable of driving at least the control unit 30 and the product carry-out device 23.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vending machine 2 Outer door 3 Vending machine main body 4 Goods storage 5 Inner door 6 Replenishment opening part 7, 8 Cold / warm storage part 9 Low temperature storage part 10 Goods outlet 11 Evaporator 12, 16 Blower 13 Outer box 14 Condenser DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 Compressor 17 Chute | shoot 18 Partition wall 19 Commodity passage window 20 Input amount display part 21 Commodity conveyance path 21a Inclined introduction path 21b Vertical conveyance path 22 Merchandise storage part 23 Commodity carry-out device 26 Remote control 26a Remote control display part 26b Remote control input part 27 Connection code 29 Temperature control device 30 Control unit 30a Life prediction means 30b Backup power source 30c Clock unit 32 Power failure detection device 33 Storage battery 34 Wiring A Commercial power source S Product

Claims (6)

A control unit;
A battery as an emergency power source,
A display unit;
A life prediction means for predicting the life of the battery,
The control unit causes the display unit to display information on the battery life calculated by the life prediction means.   The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the display unit is provided in a remote controller that performs setting and operation of the vending machine.   The vending machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control unit displays a warning for notifying battery replacement after a certain period of time before the time when the battery life is exhausted.   The vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the battery is disposed in a low-temperature storage unit that stores products in a low-temperature state. The control unit is equipped with a clock unit connected to a backup power source,
The life prediction means subtracts an operation time during which the battery is temperature-controlled and a post-stop correction time obtained by correcting the time during which the battery is not temperature-controlled from a temperature management life in which the battery is always managed at a constant temperature. The vending machine according to claim 4, wherein the calculated value is calculated as the remaining life of the battery.   The vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the battery is a rechargeable storage battery.

Images