JP2584913Y2 - Centralized management system for showcases - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The invention relates to a system for centrally managing a plurality of sets of showcases provided in a supermarket or the like by a data processing unit provided in the center.

[Prior art] Conventionally, this type of showcase generally operates independently for each showcase, and an operator directly checks the inside temperature periodically to check for abnormalities in temperature control. Was.

[Problem to be solved by the invention] However, such a method requires a great deal of manpower and labor, and even if an obvious abnormality has occurred, the abnormality is detected until the operator checks it. I couldn't do it, maybe overlooking signs of anomalies,
There was also a risk of developing a serious accident.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem,
A centralized management system that collects the data detected in each showcase in the central data processing unit and can perform data processing collectively, so that a large number of showcases can be properly managed with a very small number. The purpose is to provide.

The present invention further provides a centralized management system that can prevent a serious accident from occurring by using an anomaly transition data when an anomaly occurred in the past and displaying a notice before the anomaly occurs. The purpose is to provide.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The centralized management system according to the present invention includes a plurality of showcases (1.1,...) As schematically shown in FIG. A centralized data processing unit (2) is used for centralized management.

Each of the above showcases (1) is provided with an address identifying itself, and the showcase body (4)
A refrigeration unit (5) for cooling the interior (14) of the showcase body (4), and the operation of the refrigeration unit (5) can be controlled to keep the interior temperature of the showcase (1) substantially constant. And a control unit (6).

The control unit (6) further includes a self-diagnosis function and a control state diagnosis function. When the self-diagnosis function detects an internal abnormality of the control unit (6) itself, a first alarm display is performed. When an abnormality in the control performed by the control unit (6) is detected, a second alarm display can be performed, and temperature change data of a value corresponding to a temperature change inside each showcase is specified by its own address. While transmitting the data to the data processing unit (2).

In the data processing unit (2), the temperature change data sent from each control unit (6) can be centrally stored and managed, and the temperature change data is analyzed at an appropriate time, and if a temperature abnormality has occurred in the past. Using the transition data up to the abnormality when it occurred, it is possible to display an advance notice of the abnormality before the abnormality occurs, and every time a new abnormality is confirmed, the temperature change data is displayed as transition data for the advance display It is configured to self-learn by adding as.

[Operation] With the above-described configuration, various data such as the evaporator temperature and the internal temperature can be obtained in each showcase (1) with control in the showcase (1).
Data processing unit (2) while specifying the position of
By sending temperature change data to the data processing unit (2), all the showcases (1.1,
Control of the control state in (.) Is performed.

In the data processing unit (2), each showcase (1)
Is continuously stored while specifying the showcase (1), and a sign of abnormality included in the data is examined using past transition data, and when a sign of abnormality is determined. In addition, the warning display of the abnormality notice is performed, and the temperature change data in which the abnormality is newly confirmed is added as the transition data for the notice display.

[Embodiment] As shown in FIG. 1, a centralized showcase management system according to the present invention includes a plurality of open-type showcases (1...) And data provided in the center. The processing units (2) are connected so as to be capable of two-way communication via a data transmission path (3), and the data processing unit (2) performs data processing of the entire system.

Each of the showcases (1) is configured so as to be capable of automatically controlling the temperature inside the refrigerator by itself, and as shown in FIG. 2, the showcase body (4) and the interior of the showcase body (4). And a control unit (6) for performing various controls on the refrigeration unit (5).

The showcase body (4) has substantially the same configuration as the conventional case, and has a main body case (1) having a product outlet (11) on the front side.
An inner case (13) is provided inside the main body case (12) at a predetermined distance from the inner case (12), and the interior (14) inside the inner case (13) is used as a display space, while the inner case is provided. (13)
A cool air circulation path (15) is formed between the main body case (12) and the product outlet (11).

In the compartment (14), a predetermined number of display shelves (16) are provided so that products can be placed on the shelves, and illumination lamps (17) are arranged at appropriate places such as the front edge of the display shelves (16). I have.

The refrigeration unit (5) circulates a predetermined refrigerant in a flow path (24) including a compressor (21), a condenser (22), and an evaporator (heat exchanger) (23), and By arranging 23) across the circulation path (15), heat exchange is performed between the evaporator (23) and the circulation air (25), and the air (25) flowing through the circulation path (15) is exchanged. ) Lower the temperature. Furthermore,
An electromagnetic valve (26) is interposed in the refrigerant flow path (24), and the opening / closing timing of the electromagnetic valve (26) is controlled to regulate the period in which the refrigerant flows to the evaporator (23), so that the inside of the refrigerator can be controlled. The temperature of (14) is maintained at a predetermined constant value.

Further, a fan (27) is provided on the downstream side of the evaporator (23), and the air (25) cooled through the evaporator (23) is supplied to the cool air outlet (18) provided above the product outlet (11). ) To cool the interior (14) and at the same time, form an air curtain (28) with cold air in the product outlet (11) to create an interior (14)
After the heat is prevented from entering, the cool air is taken in from a cool air suction port (19) provided below the product outlet (11) and returned to the evaporator (23) side.

The control unit (6) includes, as a control center, a control device (31) having a microprocessor, the operation of which is regulated by a program. The control unit (6) includes a temperature sensor (32) provided in the interior (14) and the evaporator (23). Based on the temperature data input from 33), it is possible to control the opening / closing timing of the solenoid valve (26) and the timing of starting and ending the energization of the defrost heater (29) of the evaporator (23). ) Allows the control status to be displayed.

The control device (31) includes, as shown in FIG.
After various kinds of temperature information are taken and subjected to predetermined calculations according to the procedure described later, the data is stored in the storage unit (36), and the control output unit (37) or the alarm output unit (38)
And outputs various signals corresponding to the calculation results.

Temperature information taken into calculation unit (35) is a three temperatures T _A, the temperature T _B and the set temperature T _C of-compartment (14) of the evaporator (23) in the refrigerator (14). For temperature detection, temperature sensors (32 and 33) that can output an electric signal corresponding to a temperature change like a thermistor are used. One temperature sensor (3
2) For example, by arranging the upper part of the warehouse (14),
Air temperature can be detected and the other temperature sensor (33)
Is disposed on the refrigerant conduit of the evaporator (23) at a position where the cool air does not directly hit, so that the surface temperature of the evaporator (23) itself can be directly detected. Further, the analog signals output from the two sensors (32 and 33) are input to the A / D converter (40) at predetermined time intervals via the switch (39), converted into digital values, and stored in the storage unit ( 36) and the calculation unit (35). On the other hand, the in-compartment set temperature T _C enables the temperature to be kept constant in the in-compartment (14) to be manually set to an arbitrary value using, for example, a digital switch.

The display (34) enables various kinds of display by visual such as a lamp and a number display or by sound such as a buzzer, and corresponds to a signal output from the alarm output unit (38). Thus, a predetermined alarm display, which will be described later, is mainly performed, and the data stored in the storage unit (36) is appropriately extracted and displayed.

There are two types of warning display performed on the display (34).
Executable by preparing for 1). The self-diagnosis function performs a self-diagnosis of an internal abnormality of the control device (31) itself, and when a functional abnormality of the control device (31) such as a control operation becomes impossible is detected, a predetermined warning display is displayed. I do.
On the other hand, the control state diagnosis function is controlled,
While the inside temperature was raised or lowered beyond the allowable range of the set temperature T _C, an abnormality in the control, such as when continued for a predetermined time that temperature is sensed, a warning by performing predetermined display.

Each showcase (1) has a unique address, and various information processed by the arithmetic unit (35) is transmitted from the interface unit (41) to the data processing unit (2) via the transmission path (3). Sent.

The interface section (41) and the data processing section (2) are connected by a data transmission section (3) so that data can be multiplexed and transmitted in a predetermined manner such as a star or bus. Specify the address and data to be specified as 1
As a set, bidirectional data transmission is performed between the two (41.2).

For the data processing unit (2), for example, a computer of a predetermined size used for data processing of a POS system is used,
The detection data sent from the control unit (6) of each showcase (1) is stored separately for each showcase (1), and the data can be displayed on the CRT at an appropriate time. Furthermore, examining the change state of various data such as the inside temperature at predetermined time intervals, for example, the internal detection temperature T _A sharply elevated remained lowered without such abnormal state is detected, the corresponding on the CRT The position of the showcase (1) and the contents of the abnormality are specified and displayed, and transition data up to the abnormality are displayed.

Furthermore, pre-maintenance software is created based on the transition data up to the abnormality that has actually occurred or is assumed to occur as described above, and is incorporated into the data processing unit (2) system. In this way, when a temperature transition of the same pattern is detected, a warning of the occurrence of an abnormality is displayed before the abnormality is detected. This notice warning function is self-learning with data added every time a new pattern abnormality is detected, so that the same pattern abnormality that has occurred at least once in the past is detected and displayed in advance. Is done.

Further, from the data processing unit (2), each control device (31) is specified, the data stored in the storage unit (36) of the control device (31) is taken out, the illumination lamp (17) blinks or the defrost heater is turned on. Various command data such as the start of energization of (29) are sent, and the control device (31) can perform a predetermined operation based on the command data.

Next, an example of a control procedure when the inside temperature is steady will be described with reference to the waveform diagram shown in FIG. 4 and the flowchart shown in FIG.

When the control device (31) is started (step 50), predetermined initialization (step 51) is performed, and then the solenoid valve (26)
The temperature control process of the inside (14) by the opening / closing control of the refrigerator is started. Incidentally, during the temperature control process, the interrupt at a predetermined time interval is multiplied, it is captured the internal detected temperature T _A and the evaporator detected temperature T _B, the storage each temperature change in the storage unit in the order (36) Is done.

When entering the temperature control step, first, at step 52, a desired temperature change rate ΔT _AM at that time is set. This is represented, for example, by the equation ΔT _AM = K (T _C -T _A ), where the in-chamber set temperature T _C and the actual measured temperature T _A
If the temperature change rate ΔT _AM becomes zero when the difference temperature with the temperature is zero, and the temperature change rate is set to increase as the difference temperature increases, the temperature in the refrigerator can be set to the set temperature T _C more quickly and without overshooting. And it is based on the finding that the temperature is maintained. Such a relationship is obtained in advance by obtaining the relationship between the temperature difference and the temperature change per unit time by an experiment or the like, and the relationship is previously stored in the ROM area of the storage unit (36), and the internal set temperature T _C at that time is obtained.
And by calculating the temperature difference between the storage room detected temperature T _A, the temperature change [Delta] T _AM per corresponding unit time is used is taken out.

In step 53, the actual temperature change rate [Delta] T _A is calculated. This is be one that is calculated from the detection data inside temperature T _A continuous in the storage unit (36) is stored,
Divided by the time difference therebetween a temperature difference between the predetermined time before the inside temperature and the current chamber temperature is determined as the temperature change [Delta] T _A per unit time.

By the way, by opening the solenoid valve (26) and starting the circulation of the refrigerant to the evaporator (23), it takes time from the start of the cooling of the circulating air (25) to the start of the internal temperature decrease. Inevitability is inevitable, and the relationship does not correspond linearly. On the other hand, when the solenoid valve (26) is closed, the surface temperature of the evaporator (23) rapidly saturates to the internal temperature, and when the solenoid valve (26) is opened, the surface temperature reaches a constant temperature determined by the refrigerating capacity of the refrigerating unit (5). Saturates. Therefore, the target set temperature T _D of the evaporator (23) for determining the timing for regulating the circulation time of the refrigerant to the evaporator (23) is set to the temperature in the vicinity where the temperature change in the evaporator (23) is most severe. , The accuracy of detecting the temperature of the evaporator (23) increases. Therefore, in the present embodiment, in step 54, the target temperature T _D of the evaporator (23) is set in the refrigerator based on the relationship between ΔT _AM , ΔT _A , T _A and T _C obtained in steps 52 and 53 described above. (14) of the set temperature T _C than X [° C.] is set to the most intense near the temperature of the temperature change as only low (step 55), the detected temperature T _B is the set temperature T _D of the evaporator (23) After reaching, the time to continue opening or closing the solenoid valve (26),
t _a and t _b are set.

For example, at time t _1, after setting X, t _a, the t _b in step 52 to 55 described above, the evaporator in step 56 (23)
The detected temperature T _B of determining whether above or below the set temperature T _D. Times of Day
In t _1, since the determination in step (56) is "YES",
The control output is turned on, and the solenoid valve (26) is opened (step 57). Then the detection temperature T _B of the evaporator (23) starts lowering, in step 58, waits for a detection temperature T _B of the evaporator (23) that falls to the set temperature T _D. Set temperature T _{D at} time t ₂
If it is determined that reached, a timer is started at step 59, waits for the elapse of further time t _a at step 60.

When time t _3, the process returns to step 52 again, since at this point the determination in step 56 is "NO", the step 61
In closing the solenoid valve (26), the detected temperature T _B is detected to have reached the set temperature T _D (a time of the evaporator in step 62 (23)
and t _4), waits for a lapse of time t _b at step 63 · 64, the time t ₅
Is reached, the determination operation of steps 52 to 56 is repeated again.

Here, for example, the cooling process during the time starting from the time t ₅
to t _6, when the amount of heat in excess of a steady state in the refrigerator (14) there is penetration or generation, closing the solenoid valve (26) at time t _7, which is set at the time t _5, the set interior temperature T _A further increases while exceeding the value T _C. Thus, at time t _7, by setting change-chamber set temperature T _C and the evaporator temperature difference X between the set temperature T _D (23) to a larger value X ', the evaporator (23)
Set temperature T _D of the lower than the detected temperature T _B, the determination in step 56 at time t ₇ in such a "YES", the electromagnetic valve (26)
Is kept open for a predetermined period of time to correct the rise in the internal temperature due to the amount of heat added extra.

Even during the temperature control in the above-mentioned steady state, an interruption is made every few seconds or less to capture the detection data, and the data processing unit (2) is transmitted from the interface unit (41) via the transmission line (3). ). In the data processing unit (2), each showcase (1)
The data sent from the controller are stored in association with the addresses, and the changes in the in-chamber detected temperature T _A and the evaporator detected temperature T _B are constantly monitored.If any signs of abnormality are found, the CRT The location of the showcase on the screen,
Alternatively, a warning display of a notice of abnormality occurrence including necessary information such as transition data of the detected temperature is displayed. However, even if the sign of this abnormality is overlooked, an abnormality such as an extremely high or low temperature in the refrigerator is detected, a predetermined warning is displayed, and the transition data is analyzed and estimated. By identifying the cause of the abnormality to be performed and by taking this data as new data for the above-described abnormality notice, it is possible to prepare for the next occurrence of the abnormality having the same tendency.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, the present invention collects data detected in each showcase (1) in the central data processing unit (2) and performs data processing collectively. The showcase (1.1,...) Can be efficiently managed by a very small number of people.

Further, by using the abnormal transition data when an abnormality has occurred in the past and displaying a notice before the abnormality occurs, it is possible to prevent a serious accident from occurring.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 to 3 show an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the configuration of the showcase shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram specifically illustrating the configuration of the control device shown in FIG. 4 and 5 are diagrams for explaining a temperature control operation performed for each showcase. FIG. 4 is a waveform diagram showing a relationship between various temperatures and a control output of a solenoid valve. The figure is a flowchart showing the operation procedure of the control device. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Showcase 2, 2 ... Data processing part, 3 ... Transmission path, 4 ... Showcase body, 5 ... Refrigerator part, 6 ... Control part, 14 ... Inside, 23 ... Heat exchanger (Evaporator).

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A plurality of showcases (1.1,...)
Is centrally managed by a data processing unit (2) provided in the center. Each of the above showcases (1) is provided with an address for identifying itself, and a showcase body (4) Showcase body (4) inside (1
4) A cooling unit (5) for cooling the cooling unit and a control unit (6) for controlling the operation of the freezing unit (5) so as to maintain the inside temperature of the showcase (1) substantially constant. The control unit (6) further includes a self-diagnosis function and a control state diagnosis function. When the self-diagnosis function detects an internal abnormality of the control unit (6) itself, a first alarm display is performed. When the diagnostic function detects a control abnormality performed by the control unit (6), a second alarm display can be performed, and the temperature change data of a value corresponding to the temperature change inside each showcase is stored in its own. While the data can be transmitted to the data processing unit (2) while specifying the address, the data processing unit (2) can store and manage the temperature change data sent from each control unit (6) in a concentrated manner. And analyze the temperature change data at appropriate times, When an abnormal temperature occurs, it is possible to use the transition data up to the abnormal condition to display a notice of the occurrence of the abnormal condition before the abnormal condition is reached. A centralized showcase management system that self-learns by adding it as transition data for display.