JP2016167228A - Vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To satisfactorily cool internal air of a plurality of commodity storage chambers which are cooled to different temperature ranges from each other.SOLUTION: A vending machine comprises: cooling units which are provided to each of commodity storage chambers 3 in order to cool internal air thereof; and a cooling operation control part 50 which drives first cooling units for cooling internal air of normal cooling chambers and drives second cooling units for cooling internal air of low temperature cooling chambers. The cooling operation control part 50 drives the first cooling units and the second cooling units until all in-chamber temperatures are at or below a priority cooling starting temperature T0 and performs priority cooling in which it drives only the second cooling units while the temperatures are at or below the temperature T0. Subsequently, when the in-chamber temperatures of all cooling chambers are at or below a low temperature cooling off temperature, it allows the first cooling units to drive.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a vending machine, and more particularly to a vending machine that sells products such as plastic bottled drinks.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a vending machine that sells merchandise such as beverages including plastic bottles, a merchandise container that accommodates merchandise is generally disposed inside a main body cabinet that is a heat insulating casing.

  In this type of vending machine, a product storage (hereinafter also referred to as a normal cooling store) that stores the product in a cooled state and a product storage (hereinafter referred to as an ice temperature storage) that stores the product at a temperature below freezing. (For example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2006-48325 A

  By the way, in the vending machine proposed in Patent Document 1 described above, the evaporator that cools the internal air of the normal refrigerator and the evaporator that cools the internal air of the ice cold storage are in parallel with a common refrigerator. Since they are connected to form a refrigeration cycle, there are the following problems.

  That is, even if the internal air of the normal cooler and the internal air of the ice cooler are to be cooled simultaneously, the amount of refrigerant discharged from the refrigerator is the same, and the evaporator of the normal cooler and the ice cooler are evaporated. It was difficult because the evaporating temperature suitable for the vessel was different, and as a result, it was difficult to cool the internal air of the normal cooler and the internal air of the ice warmer well.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine capable of satisfactorily cooling the internal air of a plurality of product containers that are cooled in different temperature zones.

  In order to achieve the above object, a vending machine according to the present invention is provided for each product storage for storing products, and a cooling unit for cooling the internal air of the product storage provided with the vending machine. And driving at least one commodity storage container as a normal cooling box and driving the first cooling unit disposed in the normal cooling room so that the internal air is in a predetermined normal cooling temperature range. Control means for driving the second cooling unit disposed in the low-temperature cooling box so that the internal air is in a predetermined low-temperature cooling temperature range lower than the normal cooling temperature range with the container as the low-temperature cooling box. In the vending machine provided, the control means drives the first cooling unit and the second cooling unit until the preferential cooling processing condition is determined in advance, and the priority is set. Preferential cooling is performed in which only the second cooling unit is driven when the rejection processing condition is satisfied, and then the first cooling is performed when the internal temperature of all the low-temperature cooling chambers is equal to or lower than a predetermined low-temperature cooling off temperature. The unit is allowed to be driven.

  Further, in the vending machine according to the present invention, in the above-described vending machine, when the priority cooling is performed, the control unit is configured to perform second cooling provided in a low-temperature cooling chamber in which the internal temperature is equal to or higher than a predetermined low-temperature cooling on temperature. The unit is driven.

  In the vending machine according to the present invention, in the vending machine, the control unit may be configured such that when the internal temperature of all the low-temperature cooling warehouses is equal to or lower than the low-temperature cooling off temperature, the internal cooling temperature is determined in advance. When there is a normal cooling box as described above, the first cooling unit disposed in the normal cooling box is driven.

  According to the present invention, in the vending machine, when the first cooling unit is driven, the control unit drives a circulation unit that constitutes the second cooling unit and circulates the internal air of the low-temperature refrigerator. It is characterized by making it.

  Further, in the vending machine according to the present invention, the control means is configured such that the inside temperature of all the cold-temperature refrigerators is equal to or lower than the low-temperature cooling off temperature and the inside temperature of all the normal refrigerators is determined in advance. The driving of the first cooling unit and the second cooling unit is stopped when the temperature is equal to or lower than the cooling off temperature.

  Further, in the vending machine according to the present invention, the control means drives a defrosting heater disposed in the low-temperature refrigerator when performing the defrosting operation of the evaporator constituting the cooling unit. And

  Moreover, the present invention is characterized in that, in the vending machine, the control means displays on the display means a preset display in accordance with the internal temperature of the low-temperature refrigerator.

  According to the present invention, the first cooling unit and the second cooling unit are driven until the control means has predetermined priority cooling processing conditions, and when the priority cooling processing conditions are satisfied, only the second cooling unit is driven. Priority cooling to be driven is performed, and after that, when the inside temperature of all the low-temperature cooling chambers is equal to or lower than a predetermined low-temperature cooling off temperature, the first cooling unit is allowed to be driven. Even if connected to the refrigerator in parallel, all the product storage can be cooled to a certain temperature, and the internal air of the low-temperature refrigerator is preferentially cooled, so it is cooled in different temperature zones. There exists an effect that the internal air of several goods storage can be cooled favorably.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the front. FIG. 2 shows the internal structure of the vending machine shown in FIG. 1, and is a cross-sectional side view of the right commodity storage. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram conceptually showing the refrigerant circuit of the vending machine shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically showing a characteristic control system of the vending machine shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the cooling control processing performed by the cooling operation control unit shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the pre-cooling process in the ice temperature storage in the cooling control process shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the cooling end determination process in the pre-cooling process in the ice temperature chamber shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the defrosting control process performed by the cooling operation control unit. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the processing content of the display control processing performed by the cooling operation control unit. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a display example in the display control process shown in FIG. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a modification of the display example in the display control process shown in FIG. FIG. 12 is an explanatory view schematically showing another modification of the display example in the display control process shown in FIG. FIG. 13 is an explanatory view schematically showing another modification of the display example in the display control process shown in FIG.

  Exemplary embodiments of a vending machine according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the front. The vending machine illustrated here includes a main body cabinet 1.

  The main body cabinet 1 has a rectangular shape with an open front surface. The main body cabinet 1 is provided with three independent commodity storage boxes 3 partitioned by two heat insulating partition plates 2 in the left and right sides, for example. This product storage 3 is for storing products such as canned beverages and beverages containing plastic bottles while maintaining them at a desired temperature, and has a heat insulating structure.

  FIG. 2 shows the internal structure of the vending machine shown in FIG. 1 and is a cross-sectional side view of the right product storage case 3. Here, the internal structure of the right product storage (hereinafter also referred to as right storage) 3a is shown, but the central product storage (hereinafter also referred to as intermediate storage) 3b and the left product storage (hereinafter referred to as right storage) 3a. The internal structure of 3c is also substantially the same as that of the right warehouse 3a. In the present specification, the right side indicates the right side when the vending machine is viewed from the front, and the left side indicates the left side when the vending machine is viewed from the front.

  As shown in FIG. 2, an outer door 4 and an inner door 5 are provided on the front surface of the main body cabinet 1. The outer door 4 is for opening and closing the front opening of the main body cabinet 1, and the inner door 5 is for opening and closing the front surface of the commodity storage 3. The inner door 5 is divided into upper and lower parts, and the upper door 5a opens and closes when a product is replenished.

  The product storage 3 is provided with a product storage rack 6, a carry-out mechanism 7 and a carry-out shooter 8. The commodity storage rack 6 is for storing commodities in a manner arranged in the vertical direction. The carry-out mechanism 7 is provided at the lower part of the product storage rack 6 and is used to carry out the products at the bottom of the product group stored in the product storage rack 6 one by one. The carry-out shooter 8 is for guiding the product carried out from the carry-out mechanism 7 to the product take-out port 4 a provided in the outer door 4.

  FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram conceptually showing the refrigerant circuit of the vending machine shown in FIG. The refrigerant circuit 20 illustrated here has a refrigerant sealed therein, and is configured by sequentially connecting a compressor 21, a radiator 22, an expansion mechanism 23, and an evaporator 24 through a refrigerant pipe 25.

  The compressor 21 is disposed in the machine room 9 as shown in FIG. The machine room 9 is a room inside the main body cabinet 1, partitioned from the product storage 3 and below the product storage 3. The compressor 21 sucks the refrigerant through the suction port, compresses the sucked refrigerant to be in a high-temperature and high-pressure state (high-pressure refrigerant), and discharges it from the discharge port.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the radiator 22 is disposed in the machine room 9 similarly to the compressor 21. The radiator 22 constitutes a refrigerator together with the compressor 21, and radiates the refrigerant that passes therethrough. More specifically, the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 21 and discharged from the discharge port and sent out through the refrigerant pipe 25 is subjected to heat exchange with ambient air to dissipate heat.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the expansion mechanism 23 is disposed in the machine room 9 similarly to the compressor 21 and the radiator 22. The expansion mechanism 23 is constituted by, for example, an electronic expansion valve, and adjusts the opening according to a given opening command, and decompresses the refrigerant passing therethrough so as to adiabatically expand.

  A plurality (three in the illustrated example) of the evaporators 24 are provided, which are disposed in the lower interior of each commodity storage 3 and on the front side of the rear duct D (see FIG. 2). These evaporators 24 evaporate the refrigerant that passes therethrough and cool the internal air of the commodity storage 3.

  The refrigerant pipe 25 connecting the evaporator 24 and the expansion mechanism 23 is branched into three by a distributor 26 in the middle thereof, and an evaporator (hereinafter also referred to as a right evaporator) 24a disposed in the right warehouse 3a. An evaporator (hereinafter also referred to as a left evaporator) disposed inside the left chamber 3c on an inlet side of an evaporator (hereinafter also referred to as a middle evaporator) 24b disposed on the inlet side of the left chamber 3c. ) 24c is connected to the inlet side.

  In the refrigerant pipe 25, electromagnetic valves 271, 272, and 273 are provided on the way from the distributor 26 to the right evaporator 24a, the middle evaporator 24b, and the left evaporator 24c, respectively. The solenoid valves 271, 272, and 273 are valve bodies that can be opened and closed, and are opened when an opening command is given and allowed to pass through the refrigerant, but are closed when a closing command is given. It regulates the passage of refrigerant.

  The refrigerant piping 25 connected to the outlet side of the right evaporator 24a, the middle evaporator 24b, and the left evaporator 24c joins at a midway junction P1 and is connected to the compressor 21.

  In addition, the code | symbols H, 28, F1, and F2 in FIG. 3 are a defrost heater, an internal heat exchanger, an internal fan, and an external fan, respectively.

  The defrost heater H is arrange | positioned in the drain flow path which is not shown in the store | warehouse | chamber 3b and the left store | warehouse | chamber 3c. These defrost heaters H are heated to heat the drain passages of the middle warehouse 3b and the left warehouse 3c when energized. Here, the drain flow path is a drain pan (not shown) that stores the drain water that has been melted when the defrosting operation is performed to remove frost that has adhered to the evaporator 24 of the inner warehouse 3b or the left warehouse 3c. It is a passage for leading to

  The internal heat exchanger 28 exchanges heat between the high-pressure refrigerant that has passed through the radiator 22 and the refrigerant (low-pressure refrigerant) that has passed through the evaporator 24.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the internal blower fan F <b> 1 is disposed in the vicinity of the evaporator 24 inside each commodity storage 3. This internal blower fan F1 is a circulation means for driving and circulating the internal air of the product storage case 3 by driving. This internal blower fan F1 constitutes a cooling unit together with the evaporator 24 of the product storage 3 in which it is disposed, and cools the internal air of the product storage 3.

  The external blower fan F2 is disposed in the vicinity of the radiator 22 and is a blower that blows air so as to pass outside air around the external blower fan F2 by being driven.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically showing a characteristic control system of the vending machine shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. As shown in FIG. 4, the vending machine includes a vending machine control unit 100, internal temperature sensors S1 to S3, evaporator temperature sensors S4 to S6, a display (display unit) 30, and a cooling operation control unit (control unit) 50. It has.

  The vending machine control unit 100 controls the sales operation of the vending machine in an integrated manner. The inside temperature sensors S1 to S3 are arranged inside each product storage 3 and detect the internal temperature (internal temperature) of the product storage 3 in which the inside temperature sensors S1 to S3 are arranged, and the detected temperature is detected. This is output to the cooling operation control unit 50 as an internal temperature signal.

  The evaporator temperature sensors S <b> 4 to S <b> 6 are disposed in each evaporator 24, and more specifically, are disposed on the surface of a pipe line serving as a refrigerant passage in each evaporator 24. The evaporator temperature sensors S4 to S6 detect the temperature of the evaporator 24 in which they are disposed, and output the detected temperature to the cooling operation control unit 50 as an evaporator temperature signal.

  The display 30 is a so-called touch panel display screen provided on the front surface of the outer door 4. The display 30 employs a well-known structure that gives a signal corresponding to the pressed position to the vending machine control unit 100 or the like when a predetermined position on the liquid crystal display screen is pressed with a fingertip. The display 30 has a function as display means for displaying a plurality of types of product samples M (see FIG. 10) in alignment. The display 30 also has a function as product selection means, and when any product sample M on the display screen is pressed, a signal corresponding to the pressed location is given to the vending machine control unit 100, and thereafter The product corresponding to the product sample M is paid out from the inside of the main body cabinet 1 under a predetermined condition.

  The cooling operation control unit 50 controls driving of the compressor 21 and the like according to programs and data stored in advance in the memory 60. The cooling operation control unit 50 may be incorporated in the vending machine control unit 100 (not shown) that controls the basic operation of the vending machine, or provided independently of the vending machine control unit 100. May be.

  Here, various types of information are stored in the memory 60. As characteristic features of the present invention, priority cooling processing start temperature information, determination reference temperature information, defrost release temperature information, display reference temperature information, and the like are stored. Has been.

  The priority cooling process start temperature information relates to a priority cooling process start temperature T0 (for example, 7 to 9 ° C.) for starting the priority cooling process. The determination reference temperature information relates to the cooling on temperature that becomes the cooling start temperature and the cooling end temperature that becomes the cooling end temperature in the cooling operation in each commodity storage 3. The defrost release temperature information relates to a defrost release temperature that is a reference when releasing the defrost operation. The display reference temperature information relates to display reference temperatures T1, T2, T3, and T4 (T1> T2> T3> T4) that are used as references when performing the display control process.

  The cooling operation control unit 50 includes an input processing unit 51, a determination processing unit 52, a setting processing unit 53, a compressor driving processing unit 54, a valve driving processing unit 55, a fan driving processing unit 56, a heater driving processing unit 57, and a display control process. Unit 58 and an output processing unit 59.

  The input processing unit 51 inputs a command given from the vending machine control unit 100, an internal temperature signal from the internal temperature sensors S1 to S3, and an evaporator temperature signal from the evaporator temperature sensors S4 to S6.

  The determination processing unit 52 performs a determination by comparing the signal input through the input processing unit 51 with information read from the memory 60. The setting processing unit 53 performs setting according to the result determined through the determination processing unit 52.

  The compressor drive processing unit 54 gives a drive command or a drive stop command to the compressor 21 to drive the compressor 21 or stop the drive, and adjusts the rotation speed of the compressor 21.

  The valve drive processing unit 55 gives an opening degree command to the expansion mechanism 23 to adjust the opening degree of the expansion mechanism 23, or gives an opening command or a closing command to the electromagnetic valves 271, 272, 273 to send the electromagnetic valve 271, 272 and 273 are opened or closed.

  The fan drive processing unit 56 gives a drive command or a drive stop command to the internal blower fan F1 of each commodity storage 3 to drive or stop the internal blower fan F1.

  The heater drive processing unit 57 gives a drive command or a drive stop command to the defrost heater H to turn on (drive) the defrost heater H or turn it off (to stop driving). ).

  The display control processing unit 58 gives a display command to the display 30 to cause various displays. The output processing unit 59 outputs a signal to the vending machine control unit 100.

  When the cooling operation control unit 50 having the above configuration inputs a cooling operation command given from the vending machine control unit 100 through the input processing unit 51, the cooling operation processing described later is performed.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the cooling control processing performed by the cooling operation control unit 50 shown in FIG. In the following, the operation of the vending machine will be described while explaining the cooling control process.

  Note that the vending machine control unit 100 allows the right box 3a to be a normal cooling box (hereinafter also referred to as a normal box) having a normal cooling temperature range (for example, 3 ° C. to 7 ° C.) as a target temperature range. The left warehouse 3c will be described as a low-temperature cooler (hereinafter also referred to as an ice-warm warehouse) whose target temperature is a low-temperature cooling temperature range (for example, −7 ° C. to −3 ° C.) lower than the normal cooling temperature range. .

  That is, the evaporator 24 and the internal fan F1 of the right box 3a constitute a first cooling unit, and the evaporator 24 and the internal fan F1 of the center box 3b and the left box 3c are the second cooling unit. Is configured. In addition, the cooling on temperature (hereinafter also referred to as the ice temperature cooling on temperature) in the ice storage is lower than the cooling off temperature (hereinafter also referred to as the normal cooling off temperature) of the normal storage, and the cooling off temperature in the ice temperature storage. (Hereinafter also referred to as ice temperature cooling off temperature) is lower than the ice temperature cooling on temperature. In addition, the cooling on temperature of the normal warehouse (hereinafter, the normal cooling on temperature) is higher than the normal cooling off temperature.

  In this cooling control process, the cooling operation control unit 50 gives a drive command to the compressor 21 through the compressor drive processing unit 54 to drive the compressor 21 at a predetermined number of revolutions, and the solenoid valve through the valve drive processing unit 55. While opening 271, 272, 273, the opening degree of the expansion mechanism 23 is adjusted, and further, the internal blower fan F <b> 1 of each product storage 3 is driven through the fan drive processing unit 56, whereby the internal air of each product storage 3 Starts cooling (step S101). Thus, the cooling operation control part 50 which started cooling of the internal air of each goods storage 3 waits for the input of the internal temperature signal from each internal temperature sensor S1-S3 (step S102).

  Here, when cooling is started in step S101, the refrigerant compressed and discharged by the compressor 21 reaches the radiator 22 and exchanges heat with ambient air (outside air) while passing through the radiator 22. Dissipate heat. The refrigerant radiated by the radiator 22 reaches the expansion mechanism 23 through the internal heat exchanger 28 and is adiabatically expanded by the expansion mechanism 23. The refrigerant adiabatically expanded by the expansion mechanism 23 is distributed into three by the distributor 26 and reaches each evaporator 24. The refrigerant that reaches each evaporator 24 evaporates, takes heat from the internal air of the product storage 3, and cools the internal air. The cooled internal air circulates in the interior by driving the internal blower fan F1, whereby the products stored in each product storage 3 are cooled to the circulating internal air. The refrigerant evaporated in each evaporator 24 joins at the joining point P1, and then is sucked into the compressor 21 through the internal heat exchanger 28, is compressed by the compressor 21, and repeats the above-described circulation.

  When the internal temperature signals are input from all the internal temperature sensors S <b> 1 to S <b> 3 through the input processing unit 51 in step S <b> 102 (step S <b> 102: Yes), the cooling operation control unit 50 prioritizes from the memory 60 through the determination processing unit 52. The cooling process start temperature information is read, and it is determined whether or not the internal temperature of each product storage case 3 is equal to or lower than the priority cooling process start temperature T0 (step S103).

  When the internal temperature of all the product containers 3 is not equal to or lower than the priority cooling process start temperature T0 (step S103: No), that is, when the internal temperature of at least one of the product containers 3 exceeds the priority cooling process start temperature T0, The cooling operation control unit 50 repeats the processes of step S102 and step S103 described above.

  When the internal temperature of all the product containers 3 is equal to or lower than the priority cooling process start temperature T0 (step S103: Yes), the cooling operation control unit 50 performs the ice temperature internal priority cooling process (step S110).

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the pre-cooling process in the ice temperature storage in the cooling control process shown in FIG.

  In this ice temperature storage priority cooling process, the cooling operation control unit 50 sets the inside of the ice temperature storage (the central storage 3b and the left storage 3c) to the group A through the setting processing unit 53, and also in the normal storage (the right storage 3a). Is set to group B (step S111, step S112).

  The cooling operation control part 50 which implemented step S111 and step S112 starts cooling of the internal air of the ice temperature storage set to the group A (step S113). That is, the cooling operation control unit 50 keeps the solenoid valves 272 and 273 open while closing the solenoid valve 271 through the valve drive processing unit 55, and stores the normal store (right store 3 a) through the fan drive processing unit 56. While the inner blower fan F1 is stopped, the internal blower fan F1 in the ice temperature storage (the inner warehouse 3b and the left warehouse 3c) is kept driven. Further, the rotational speed of the compressor 21 is adjusted through the compressor drive processing unit 54 and the opening degree of the expansion mechanism 23 is adjusted through the valve drive processing unit 55.

  The cooling operation control unit 50 that has started cooling the internal air of the ice warmer set in the group A performs a cooling end determination process (step S130).

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the cooling end determination process in the pre-cooling process in the ice temperature chamber shown in FIG.

  In this cooling end determination process, the cooling operation control unit 50 starts measuring the cooling time using a clock built in through the determination processing unit 52 (step S131). When the cooling time (measurement time) started in step S131 is equal to or longer than the set time stored in the memory 60 (step S132: Yes), the cooling operation control unit 50 starts in step S113 through the determination processing unit 52. Assuming that the cooling of the group A has been completed, the measurement of the cooling time is terminated (step S133), the procedure is returned, and the current cooling termination determination process is terminated.

  Even if the measurement time is less than the set time, when the internal temperature signals are input from the internal temperature sensors S1 to S3 through the input processing unit 51 (step S132: No, step S134: Yes), the cooling operation control unit 50 The ice temperature cooling off temperature (low temperature cooling off temperature) of the criterion information read from the memory 60 by the internal temperature of the ice temperature storage (the central storage 3b and the right storage 3a) set in the group A through the determination processing unit 52, respectively. It is determined whether or not the following is true (step S135).

  In the case where the inside temperature of the ice temperature chamber set to group A is equal to or lower than the ice temperature cooling off temperature (step S135: Yes), the cooling operation control unit 50 performs the above-described step S133, and then To return the procedure to end the current process.

  On the other hand, even if the inside temperature of the ice temperature chamber set in Group A is not lower than the ice temperature cooling off temperature, the chamber once reaches the cooling off temperature (ice temperature cooling off temperature or normal cooling off temperature). When there is a commodity storage 3 in which the internal temperature is equal to or higher than the cooling on temperature (ice temperature cooling on temperature or normal cooling on temperature) again (step S135: No, step S136: Yes), the cooling operation control unit 50 is described above. Step S133 is executed, and then the procedure is returned to end the current process.

  When the cooling operation control unit 50 that has performed such a cooling end determination process inputs an internal temperature signal from each of the internal temperature sensors S1 to S3 through the input processing unit 51 (step S114: Yes), the determination processing unit 52 Through, it is determined whether or not there is an inside of the ice temperature chamber where the inside temperature is equal to or higher than the ice temperature cooling ON temperature (step S115).

  When there is an ice temperature storage where the internal temperature is equal to or higher than the ice temperature cooling ON temperature (step S115: Yes), the cooling operation control unit 50, through the setting processing unit 53, the corresponding ice temperature storage, that is, the internal temperature is The inside of the ice temperature storage that is equal to or higher than the ice temperature cooling ON temperature is set to group A, and the other goods storage 3 is set to group B (step S116, step S117).

  The cooling operation control unit 50 that has newly set the group A and the group B in this way starts cooling the internal air of the ice temperature chamber (for example, the left chamber 3c) of the group A set in step S116 (step S118). ).

  That is, the cooling operation control unit 50 maintains the opening of the electromagnetic valve 273 through the valve drive processing unit 55, newly closes the electromagnetic valve 272, and passes the fan drive processing unit 56 to the inside of the ice temperature storage of the group A. The driving of the blower fan F1 is maintained. At this time, the driving of the internal fan F1 of the ice temperature storage (for example, the central storage 3b) set in the group B is also maintained. Further, the rotational speed of the compressor 21 is adjusted through the compressor drive processing unit 54 and the opening degree of the expansion mechanism 23 is adjusted through the valve drive processing unit 55.

  Thus, the cooling operation control part 50 which implemented the process of step S118 returns to said step S130, and repeats the process mentioned above.

  In step S115, when there is no ice temperature storage whose internal temperature is equal to or higher than the ice temperature cooling ON temperature (step S115: No), the cooling operation control unit 50 determines that the internal temperature of all ice temperature storages is ice through the determination processing unit 52. It is determined whether or not the temperature is equal to or lower than the temperature cooling off temperature (step S119).

  When all the ice temperature chamber temperatures are not equal to or lower than the ice temperature cooling off temperature (step S119: No), that is, the chamber temperature of at least one ice temperature chamber is lower than the ice temperature cooling on temperature and the ice temperature cooling off temperature is set. When it exceeds, the cooling operation control part 50 returns to said step S130, and repeats the process mentioned above.

  When the internal temperature of all the ice temperature chambers is equal to or lower than the ice temperature cooling off temperature in step S119 (step S119: Yes), the cooling operation control unit 50 causes the internal temperature to be equal to or higher than the normal cooling on temperature through the determination processing unit 52. It is determined whether or not there is a normal storage inside, that is, whether or not the internal temperature of the right storage 3a that is the normal storage is equal to or higher than the normal cooling on temperature (step S120).

  When the internal temperature of the right warehouse 3a is equal to or higher than the normal cooling on temperature (step S120: Yes), the cooling operation control unit 50 sets the corresponding normal warehouse (right warehouse 3a) to group A through the setting processing unit 53. In addition, the other commodity storage 3 is set to group B (step S121, step S122).

  Thus, the cooling operation control part 50 which newly set the group A and the group B starts cooling the internal air of the normal store | warehouse | chamber (right store | warehouse | chamber 3a) of the group A set by step S121 (step S123).

  That is, the cooling operation control unit 50 opens the electromagnetic valve 271 through the valve drive processing unit 55 and then closes the electromagnetic valves 272 and 273, and passes through the fan drive processing unit 56 to the normal warehouse (right warehouse 3 a) of the group A. The internal fan F1 is driven. Further, the rotational speed of the compressor 21 is adjusted through the compressor drive processing unit 54 and the opening degree of the expansion mechanism 23 is adjusted through the valve drive processing unit 55.

  The cooling operation control part 50 which implements this step S123 maintains the drive of the ventilation fan F1 in the ice temperature store | warehouse | chamber (inside store | warehouse | chamber 3b and the left store | warehouse | chamber 3c) through the fan drive process part 56 (step S124).

  The cooling operation control part 50 which implemented the process of this step S124 returns to the said step S130, and repeats the process mentioned above.

  In step S120, when there is no normal storage whose internal temperature is equal to or higher than the normal cooling on temperature (step S120: No), that is, when the internal temperature of the normal storage (right storage 3a) is not higher than the normal cooling on temperature, the cooling operation control unit 50, whether or not the inside temperature of all the normal warehouses is not higher than the normal cooling off temperature through the determination processing unit 52, that is, whether or not the inside temperature of the normal warehouse (right warehouse 3a) is lower than the normal cooling off temperature. Is determined (step S125).

  When the internal temperature of the normal store (right store 3a) is not lower than the normal cooling off temperature (step S125: No), that is, the internal temperature of the normal store (right store 3a) is lower than the normal cooling on temperature and the normal cooling is off. When the temperature is higher, the cooling operation control unit 50 returns to step S130 and repeats the above-described processing.

  In step S125, when the internal cabinet temperature is equal to or lower than the normal cooling off temperature, that is, all ice temperature internal temperatures are equal to or lower than the ice temperature cooling off temperature, and all normal internal temperatures are equal to or lower than the normal cooling off temperature. If there is (step S125: Yes), the cooling operation control unit 50 sets the cooling stop through the setting processing unit 53 and sends the fact to the vending machine control unit 100 through the output processing unit 59 (step S126), and then performs the procedure. To finish the priority cooling process in the ice temperature storage.

  The cooling operation control unit 50 that has performed the pre-cooling process in the ice temperature chamber in this manner then returns the procedure and ends the current cooling control process.

  In the cooling control process as described above, there is a commodity storage 3 in which the cooling time is less than the set time in the cooling end determination process, and the internal temperature that has once reached the cooling off temperature is equal to or higher than the cooling on temperature again. In this case, since cooling of the group A started in step S113 has been completed and the measurement of the cooling time has been completed, for example, when cooling of the internal air of the normal warehouse set to group A in step S123 is started. However, when the internal temperature of the ice temperature storage again becomes equal to or higher than the ice temperature cooling on temperature, the cooling of the normal temperature storage is terminated, and the ice temperature that has become equal to or higher than the ice temperature cooling on temperature in subsequent steps S115 to S118. Cooling of the internal air of the storage can be started.

  In addition, the cooling operation control unit 50 performs a defrost control process described later according to a predetermined time schedule. This defrosting control process is preferentially performed even when the above-described cooling control process is performed. In addition, the defrosting control process is performed by stopping the reverse rotation driving of the external blower fan F2 while the process of driving the external blower fan F2 in the reverse rotation is being performed.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the defrosting control process performed by the cooling operation control unit 50. The operation of the vending machine will be described while explaining the processing contents of the defrosting control processing.

  In the defrosting control process, the cooling operation control unit 50 starts measuring the defrosting time using a clock built in through the determination processing unit 52 (step S201). The cooling operation control unit 50 that has started measurement in step S201 gives a drive stop command to the compressor 21 through the compressor drive processing unit 54 to forcibly stop the drive of the compressor 21, and the valve drive processing unit 55. All the solenoid valves 271, 272, 273 are closed by giving a close command to the solenoid valves 271, 272, 273 through (step S202, step S203). Further, the cooling operation control unit 50 gives a drive command to the internal blower fan F1 through the fan drive processing unit 56 to drive the internal blower fan F1, and sends a drive command to the defrost heater H through the heater drive processing unit 57. The defrost heater H is energized to supply power (steps S204 and S205).

  In addition, about the drive of the internal ventilation fan F1 implemented by this step S204, even if the silencing control which makes the internal blower fan F1 drive stop by opening the outer door 4 after that is effective, it maintains. Is done. That is, the internal blower fan F1 is continuously driven regardless of the silence control or the like.

  In this way, the cooling operation control unit 50 that has put the defrost heater H in the energized state passes the determination processing unit 52 and the defrost time (measurement time) started in step S201 is equal to or longer than the set time stored in the memory 60. It is determined whether or not there is (step S206).

  When the measurement time is equal to or longer than the set time (step S206: Yes), the cooling operation control unit 50 gives a drive stop command to the defrost heater H through the heater drive processing unit 57 to make the defrost heater H in a non-energized state. (Step S207), input of the evaporator temperature signals from the evaporator temperature sensors S4 to S6 through the input processing unit 51 is awaited (Step S208).

  Then, when the evaporator temperature is input by inputting the evaporator temperature signal from each of the evaporator temperature sensors S4 to S6 through the input processing unit 51 (step S208: Yes), the cooling operation control unit 50 includes the determination processing unit 52. The defrost release temperature information is read out from the memory 60 through and it is determined whether each evaporator temperature is equal to or higher than the defrost release temperature (step S209).

  When all the evaporator temperatures are equal to or higher than the defrost release temperature (step S209: Yes), the cooling operation control unit 50 sets the defrost release through the setting processing unit 53 (step S210). The cooling operation control unit 50 that has set the defrost release in this way gives a drive stop command to the internal blower fan F1 through the fan drive processing unit 56 to stop the internal blower fan F1 (step S211). Thereafter, the procedure is returned to end the current defrosting control process.

  Further, the cooling operation control unit 50 performs a display control process to be described later except when the defrost control process is performed. The display control process may be performed in conjunction with the cooling control process described above, or may be performed individually.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the display control processing performed by the cooling operation control unit 50. The operation of the vending machine will be described while explaining the processing contents of the display control processing.

  In this display control process, the cooling operation control unit 50 receives an internal temperature signal from the internal temperature sensors S1 and S2 of the ice temperature storage (for example, the central storage 3b and the left storage 3c) through the input processing unit 51, that is, the storage When the internal temperature is input (step S301), the display reference temperature information is read from the memory 60 through the determination processing unit 52, and the internal temperature (input temperature) and the display reference temperatures T1, T2, T3, and T4 are compared (step). S302, step S303, step S304, step S305).

  When the internal temperature is equal to or higher than the display reference temperature T1 (step S302: Yes), the cooling operation control unit 50 displays only the product sample M shown in FIG. 10A on the display 30 through the display control processing unit 58. Is displayed (step S306), and then the procedure is returned to end the current display control process.

  When the internal temperature is equal to or higher than the display reference temperature T2 and lower than the display reference temperature T1 (step S302: No, step S303: Yes), the cooling operation control unit 50 displays the figure on the display 30 through the display control processing unit 58. A small amount of ice I is attached to the product sample M shown in (b) of 10 and displayed (step S307), and then the procedure is returned to end the current display control process.

  When the internal temperature is equal to or higher than the display reference temperature T3 and lower than the display reference temperature T2 (step S302: No, step S303: No, step S304: Yes), the cooling operation control unit 50 passes through the display control processing unit 58. A certain amount of ice I is attached to and displayed on the product sample M shown in FIG. 10C on the display 30 (step S308), and then the procedure is returned to end the current display control process.

  When the internal temperature is equal to or higher than the display reference temperature T4 and lower than the display reference temperature T3 (step S302: No, step S303: No, step S304: No, step S305: Yes), the cooling operation control unit 50 displays the display temperature. A large amount of ice I is attached to and displayed on the sample 30 shown in FIG. 10D on the display 30 through the control processing unit 58 (step S309), and then the procedure is returned to complete the current display control process. To do.

  When the internal temperature is lower than the display reference temperature T4 (Step S302: No, Step S303: No, Step S304: No, Step S305: No), the cooling operation control unit 50 is connected to the display 30 through the display control processing unit 58. Then, a very large amount of ice I is attached to and displayed on the product sample M shown in (e) of FIG. 10 (step S310), and then the procedure is returned to end the present display control processing.

  According to such display control processing, the user of the vending machine can be changed by changing the display of the product on the display 30 in accordance with the internal temperature of the ice temperature storage (for example, the central storage 3b and the left storage 3c). Thus, the temperature state of the product can be appealed visually.

  As described above, in the vending machine according to the embodiment of the present invention, the normal operation (right storage 3a) is performed until the cooling operation control unit 50 causes all the internal temperatures to be equal to or lower than the preferential cooling start temperature T0. And cooling the internal air of the ice temperature storage (the central storage 3b and the left storage 3c), and then cooling only the internal air of the ice temperature storage when all the internal temperatures are below the preferential cooling start temperature T0 After that, when the internal temperature of all the ice temperature chambers is equal to or lower than the ice temperature cooling off temperature, the internal air of the normal temperature chamber is allowed to be cooled. According to this, even if the evaporator 24 of each commodity storage 3 is connected in parallel to a common refrigerator (compressor 21), all the commodity storage 3 can be cooled to a certain temperature. Since the internal air of the ice temperature storage is preferentially cooled, the internal air of the plurality of commodity storages 3 that are cooled in different temperature zones can be favorably cooled.

  According to the vending machine, when the cooling operation control unit 50 performs priority cooling in which only the internal air of the ice temperature storage is cooled, the internal air of the ice temperature storage in which the internal temperature is equal to or higher than the ice temperature cooling ON temperature is stored. Since cooling is performed, it is possible to actively cool the internal air of the ice temperature storage whose internal temperature is equal to or higher than the ice temperature cooling on temperature, and ice that needs to be cooled by effectively utilizing the refrigerant supplied from the compressor 21. The hot storage can be preferentially cooled.

  According to the vending machine described above, the cooling operation control unit 50 performs normal cooling in which the internal temperature is equal to or higher than the normal cooling on temperature when the internal temperature of all the ice temperature storages is equal to or lower than the ice temperature cooling off temperature. Since the internal air is cooled, the refrigerant supplied from the compressor 21 can be effectively used to preferentially cool the normal cabinet that needs to be cooled.

  According to the vending machine, when the cooling operation control unit 50 cools the internal air of the normal storage, the internal air blower fan F1 of the ice temperature storage is driven, so the inside of the ice temperature storage where the temperature is below the freezing point. It is possible to suppress the air from staying downward, and thus it is possible to suppress the product stored below the product storage rack 6 in the ice temperature storage from being damaged.

  According to the vending machine, when the cooling operation control unit 50 performs the defrosting operation of the evaporator 24 of each commodity storage 3, by driving the defrosting heater H arranged in the ice temperature storage, It is possible to prevent the drain water from freezing and to discharge the drain water satisfactorily.

  The preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications can be made.

  In the above-described embodiment, in the cooling control process, it has been described that all the internal temperatures are equal to or lower than the priority cooling start temperature T0, so that the priority cooling process condition is satisfied. However, in the present invention, cooling is started. The preferential cooling process condition may be satisfied when a predetermined time elapses, and the preferential cooling process condition is satisfied when the temperature of the product stored in each product storage is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature. It is good also as what to do.

  In the embodiment described above, the ice temperature storage has been described as the middle storage 3b and the left storage 3c, and the normal storage is the right storage 3a. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and at least one commodity storage is normally cooled. As long as at least one product storage is a low-temperature cooling store, the other product storage may be a room temperature store that brings the internal air to room temperature, or a heating store that heats the internal air. It doesn't matter.

  In the above-described embodiment, the ice temperature storage has been described as an example of the low temperature cooling storage. However, in the present invention, the ice temperature storage is not particularly limited as long as it can be cooled to two or more different temperature zones. In the above-described embodiment, in the display control process, any one of (a) to (e) in FIG. 10 is displayed on the display 30. In the present invention, (a) to (e) in FIG. ), A product sample M having a different display density may be displayed, or as shown in FIGS. 12A to 12E, a product selection button B for selecting a product. The display portion may be displayed with different colors. Further, as shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B, the temperature may be displayed on the money amount display K associated with the product sample M and the product selection button B. Also by this, by changing the display of the product on the display means according to the internal temperature of the low-temperature refrigerator, the user of the vending machine can visually appeal the temperature state of the product.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 Compressor 23 Expansion mechanism 24 Evaporator 271 Electromagnetic valve 272 Electromagnetic valve 273 Electromagnetic valve 30 Display (display means)
50 Cooling operation control unit (control means)
51 Input Processing Unit 52 Judgment Processing Unit 53 Setting Processing Unit 54 Compressor Drive Processing Unit 55 Valve Drive Processing Unit 56 Fan Drive Processing Unit 57 Heater Drive Processing Unit 58 Display Control Processing Unit 59 Output Processing Unit 60 Memory F1 Internal Blower Fan H Defrost heater S1 Internal temperature sensor S2 Internal temperature sensor S3 Internal temperature sensor S4 Evaporator temperature sensor S5 Evaporator temperature sensor S6 Evaporator temperature sensor

Claims (7)

A cooling unit that is provided for each product storage for storing products and that cools the internal air of the product storage where the product is provided;
Using at least one commodity storage as a normal cooling box, the first cooling unit disposed in the normal cooling box is driven so that the internal air is in a predetermined normal cooling temperature range, and at least one commodity storage is And a control means for driving a second cooling unit disposed in the low-temperature refrigerator so that the internal air is in a predetermined low-temperature cooling temperature range lower than the normal cooling temperature range. In vending machines,
The control means drives the first cooling unit and the second cooling unit until predetermined priority cooling processing conditions are satisfied, and drives only the second cooling unit when the priority cooling processing conditions are satisfied. Automatic cooling is performed, and thereafter the first cooling unit is allowed to be driven when the inside temperature of all the low-temperature refrigerators is equal to or lower than a predetermined low-temperature cooling off temperature. Machine.   The said control means drives the 2nd cooling unit arrange | positioned in the low-temperature cooling store | warehouse | chamber in which the internal temperature becomes more than predetermined low-temperature cooling ON temperature, when performing the said priority cooling. The vending machine according to 1.   When the inside temperature of all the low-temperature refrigerators is equal to or lower than the low-temperature cooling off temperature, the control means has a normal refrigerator whose inside temperature is equal to or higher than a predetermined normal cooling on temperature. The vending machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first cooling unit disposed in the normal refrigerator is driven.   The said control means drives the circulation means which circulates the internal air of the said low-temperature cooling box while comprising the said 2nd cooling unit, when driving the said 1st cooling unit. A vending machine according to any one of the above.   The control means is configured such that when the internal temperature of all the cold refrigerators is equal to or lower than the low-temperature cooling off temperature and the internal temperature of all the normal refrigerators is equal to or lower than a predetermined normal cooling off temperature, The vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein driving of the first cooling unit and the second cooling unit is stopped.   The said control means drives the defrost heater arrange | positioned at the said low-temperature cooling box, when performing the defrost operation of the evaporator which comprises the said cooling unit. Vending machine described in one.   The vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the control means performs a preset display on the display means in accordance with the internal temperature of the low-temperature refrigerator.

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