JP2708321B2 - Centralized control device for showcase - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a showcase centralized control device for centrally controlling the operation of a plurality of showcases collectively.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Stores such as supermarkets and convenience stores are provided with a plurality of showcases.
Conventionally, each showcase is individually controlled by a control device including a temperature controller and a timer for defrosting. Therefore, various setting operations related to the temperature of the showcase, defrost control, and the like must be performed individually at the place where the showcase is installed. Therefore, when the setting is changed depending on the season or weather, the operation becomes extremely complicated.

Further, in order to grasp the operating state such as various set values and the temperature of the showcase, it is necessary to go to a place where the showcase is installed and individually check the data. There was a problem that could not be easily grasped.

For this reason, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
In the gazette (F25D21 / 06), a control device of each showcase is connected to a centralized control device constituted by a microcomputer by a signal line, and various setting operations of data relating to operation control of each showcase are performed by the centralized control device. In addition, a system is shown in which a control signal is transmitted from a centralized management device to a control device of each showcase based on the data, and data on the operating state of each showcase is collected by the centralized management device and managed collectively. According to such a system, the operation control of a plurality of showcases can be performed collectively, so that the setting and management work is significantly simplified.

[0005]

However, according to such a system, when an error occurs due to a failure of the central control device, or when an error occurs in a signal line connecting the central control device and the control device of the showcase. , All the control devices of the showcase cannot receive the control signal from the central control device. In such a case, since each showcase will maintain the operating state at the time of the communication being interrupted, it may cause an abnormality in the temperature control, or in particular, the defrosting of the cooler will not be performed, and eventually the frost blockage will occur. There was a problem that an abnormal operation state resulted in a large amount of damage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional technical problem, and it is possible to operate each showcase normally even when an abnormality occurs in centralized control by a host controller. It is an object of the present invention to provide a centralized control device for a showcase capable of performing the following.

[0007]

That is, a centralized control device for a showcase according to the first aspect of the present invention controls the operation of a plurality of showcases collectively, and comprises a host controller and a plurality of showcases. A plurality of terminal-side control devices provided in the case and connected to the host control device by a common signal line, and the host control device inputs data relating to operation control of the plurality of showcases A higher-level control device-side input means, and a higher-level control device for transmitting a control signal to the terminal-side control device based on the data input by the higher-level control device-side input device and receiving data transmitted from the terminal-side control device The terminal-side control device inputs and receives data related to the operation control of its own showcase. Terminal side input means, and a control means for executing control of the device based on the control signal transmitted from the higher-level control device, if the control signal from the higher-level control device is interrupted, or to the control signal When an abnormality occurs, the control means of the predetermined terminal-side control device executes the control of the device based on the data input by its own terminal-side input means, and transmits a control signal based on the data to the terminal-side transmitting / receiving means. To another terminal-side control device.

Further, the centralized control device for a showcase according to the second aspect of the present invention is arranged such that when an abnormality occurs in the communication between the predetermined terminal-side control device and another terminal-side control device, each terminal-side control device is provided. Is characterized by executing the control of the device based on the data inputted by its own terminal side input means.

Further, in the centralized control device for a showcase according to the third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the control means of the predetermined terminal-side control device is returned to the upper-level control device by the terminal-side transmitting / receiving means. In addition to transmitting an inquiry signal as to whether or not the host controller has returned to normal,
The control means of each terminal-side control device returns to control of the device based on the control signal transmitted from the higher-level control device.

Further, a centralized control device for a showcase according to a fourth aspect of the present invention controls the operation of a plurality of showcases collectively, and is provided in a host controller and a plurality of showcases, respectively. A plurality of terminal-side control devices connected to the control device by signal lines, the high-order control device includes a high-order control device-side input unit for inputting data related to a plurality of showcase operation controls; A higher-level control device-side transmitting / receiving means for transmitting a control signal to the terminal-side control device based on the data input by the higher-level control device-side input means and receiving data transmitted from the terminal-side control device. The terminal-side control device has a terminal-side transmitting / receiving means for transmitting / receiving data and a terminal-side input means for inputting data relating to operation control of its own showcase. And an external input terminal, control means for controlling the device, and whether the control means controls the device based on data from the external input terminal or controls the device based on a control signal transmitted from a signal line. And selecting means for selecting

[0011]

According to the centralized control device for a showcase of the first aspect of the present invention, when a higher-level control device or a signal line fails and a control signal is interrupted or an abnormality occurs in a control signal, the control device is connected to the higher-level control device. The control means of the predetermined terminal-side control device among the plurality of terminal-side control devices executes the control of the device based on the data input by its own terminal-side input means, and generates a control signal based on the data. Since the information is transmitted to the other terminal-side control devices, all the showcases execute the control of the device by the control signal from the terminal-side control device in the predetermined showcase. Therefore, in each showcase, the operation control can be normally executed, and particularly, regarding the defrost control, all the showcases are executed in synchronization with the predetermined showcase, so that a great deal of damage due to frost blockage can be prevented. .

According to the centralized control device for a showcase of the second aspect of the present invention, even if an error occurs in communication between a predetermined terminal-side control device and another terminal-side control device, each terminal-side control device can be used. Since the control means executes the control of the device based on the data input by its own terminal-side input means, normal operation control such as defrost control is independently performed in each showcase.

According to the centralized control device for a showcase of the third aspect of the present invention, the upper-level control device returns to a normal state and controls each terminal-side control device based on a control signal transmitted from the higher-level control device. When the control is returned to the normal state, the switching of the control from the failure state to the normal state can be executed with good timing by using the inquiry signal transmitted from the predetermined terminal-side control device.

Further, according to the centralized control device for a showcase of the invention of claim 4, when the control signal from the upper control device is interrupted or an abnormality occurs, the data from the external input terminal is converted by the selecting means. Since the control can be switched to the control based on the data, the defrosting control and the like of each showcase can be normally performed by the data from the external input terminal.

[0015]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a centralized control device 1 for a showcase of the present invention. The system of the centralized control device 1 of the present invention is configured by a host control device 2 composed of a personal computer or the like and a microcomputer,
A plurality of terminal-side control devices 3 (3A are included in each of a plurality of showcases (not shown) installed in a store) and connected to the higher-level control device 2 by common signal lines 14 and 16. The same applies hereinafter. .) And constructed from.

The host controller 2 is provided in a security room of a store or the like, and as shown in FIG. 2, a microcomputer 4 as control means for the host controller, a ROM 6, a RAM 7, an EEPROM 8 connected to the microcomputer 4.
Transmitting / receiving means 9 as a higher-level control device-side transmitting / receiving means,
11, an output control means 12 and an input control means 13. The transmission / reception means 9 and 11 are configured by a serial interface. The transmission / reception means 9 is connected to a signal line 14, and the transmission / reception means 11 is connected to a signal line 16.
The ROM 6 stores a communication protocol and a control program for the higher-level control device 2 itself. The RAM 7 stores various data transmitted from each terminal-side control device 3 and various operation control data transmitted to each terminal-side control device 3. The control data of the host control device 2 itself (display data of the display unit 17 described later, etc.) is stored, and the EEPROM 8 stores data relating to various settings and installation states of each showcase, and is retained even when the power is turned off. Is done. The output control means 12 is connected to a display unit 17 as a display means, and the input control means 13 is a keyboard 1 as an input means on the host controller side.
8 are connected. The keyboard 18 sets data relating to operation control such as temperature control and defrost control of each showcase, or instructs the display unit 17 to display data.

Next, the terminal-side control device 3 is provided in each showcase as described above. As shown in FIG. 3, a microcomputer 21 as a control means, a ROM 22 connected to the microcomputer 21,
It comprises a RAM 23, an EEPROM 24, transmitting / receiving means 26 and 27 as terminal-side transmitting / receiving means, an output control means 28 and an input control means 29. Transmitting and receiving means 26, 2
A transmission / reception means 26 is connected to the signal line 14, and a transmission / reception means 27 is connected to the signal line 16, respectively. ROM 22
Stores a communication protocol and a control program of the terminal-side control device 3 itself, and the RAM 23 stores data relating to showcase operation control transmitted from the host control device 2. Further, the EEPROM 24 stores data relating to various operation controls of the showcase set by the terminal-side control device 3 and is retained even when the power is turned off.

A display section 31 and an actuator 32 are connected to the output control means 28. This actuator 32
Means a defrost heater for a defroster of a showcase, for example, a compressor, an expansion valve or a cooler, lighting, and the like. The input control means 29 is connected to a setting switch 33, a sensor 34 for detecting the temperature inside the refrigerator or the cooler of the showcase, a selection switch 36 as a selection means, and an external input terminal 37. The data detected at
Stored in AM23. The setting switch 33 inputs data relating to individual operation control such as temperature control and defrosting control of the showcase provided with the terminal-side control device 3,
Alternatively, a channel number for identifying the terminal-side control device 3 to the host control device 2 is set. The selection switch 36 is a switch for switching between controlling the actuator 32 based on a control signal received by the microcomputer 21 via the signal line 14 or controlling based on data input from the external input terminal 37. It is. Control data from, for example, a refrigerator (not shown) is input to the external input terminal 37.

The operation of each device having the above configuration will be described. First, the host controller 2 will be described. From the keyboard 18, data relating to the showcase operation control, such as the set temperature in the refrigerator, various alarms, various set values relating to defrosting of the cooler, the management temperature, etc., for each channel number assigned to each terminal-side control device 3. input. Data relating to the operation control of each showcase input and set by the keyboard 18 is stored in the RAM 7 and the EEPROM 8 by the microcomputer 4. The microcomputer 4 sends a control signal based on data input from the keyboard 18 to the signal line 14 from the transmitting / receiving means 9.
To the terminal-side control device 3 of each showcase via the terminal. Further, in particular, regarding the timing of the start and end of the defrost of the cooler of each showcase, for example, since the simultaneous operation is performed for all the showcases, based on the set data, based on the set data, the microcomputer 4 has a timer as a function. A control signal is transmitted from the host control device 2 to each terminal-side control device 3 each time. These control signals are transmitted while being distinguished for each channel number.

On the other hand, the terminal-side control device 3
When the microcomputer 6 receives a control signal addressed to its own channel number from the signal line 14, the microcomputer 21
23 stores setting data such as the set temperature in the refrigerator. The microcomputer 21 compares the output of the sensor 34 relating to the inside temperature of the showcase with the inside set temperature of the setting data transmitted from the host controller 2, and compares the output of the expansion valve or the compressor motor as the actuator 32. To control the internal temperature to the internal set temperature. Also,
Regarding the start and end of the defrosting of the cooler, the microcomputer 21 controls the energization of the defrosting heater as the actuator 32 each time the microcomputer 21 receives the control signal regarding the timing of the start and the end of the defrosting transmitted from the host controller 2. Then, defrost of a cooler (not shown) of the showcase is performed to prevent frost blockage.

The data relating to the operating state such as the temperature in the refrigerator in such a showcase is stored in the microcomputer 2.
1 is sequentially stored in the RAM 23 and updated. The microcomputer 4 of the higher-level control device 2 polls the microcomputer 21 of each terminal-side control device 3 connected to itself, for example, once a minute, for example. When the microcomputer 21 of each terminal-side control device 3 is polled by the host control device 2, the data relating to the operating state of the showcase stored in the RAM 23 together with its own channel number is transmitted from the transmission / reception means 27 via the signal line 16. To the host controller 2. The host controller 2 receives and collects the data relating to the operation state by the transmission / reception means 11 and stores the data relating to the operation state in the RAM 7 for each terminal-side controller 3, that is, for each channel. The data on the operation state in the RAM 7 is updated by transmitting data from the terminal-side control device 3 at the next polling.

The host controller 2 collects data on the operating state of each showcase from each terminal-side controller 3 in such a procedure. The microcomputer 4 reads out the internal temperature from the data collected in the RAM 7 by operating the keyboard 18, the internal set temperature stored in the EEPROM 40, etc., and displays the display unit 17 for each channel number.
To be displayed. Thus, the operation of the plurality of showcases connected to the host control device 2 is centrally controlled.

Next, referring to FIG. 4 and FIG.
Will be described when the control signal is no longer transmitted to each terminal-side control device 3 due to a failure. In the timing chart of FIG. 4, G indicates a period during which the control signal is being transmitted, and H indicates a period during which the control signal is interrupted. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a program of the microcomputer 21 of the terminal-side control device 3.

The microcomputer 21 of the terminal-side control device 3 first determines whether or not the selection switch 36 has been operated in step S1, and if not, proceeds to step S2 to send a control signal from the host control device 2. It is determined whether or not it has been received. If the host controller 2 is normal and the control signal is received from the signal line 14 during the period G in FIG. 4, the microcomputer 21 proceeds to step S10 and the host controller 2 proceeds to step S10. The control as described above is executed by a control signal from the control device 2. Here, if, for example, the higher-level control device 2 breaks down at time t1 in FIG. 4 and no control signal is received in step S2, the process proceeds to step S3, where it is determined whether or not a predetermined waiting time K has elapsed. S2 and step S
3 is repeated until the waiting time K elapses. Next, when the control signal is not received even after the elapse of the waiting time K,
Proceeding from step S3 to step S4, the setting switch 3
The defrosting control of the cooler is executed by the timer having the function of the microcomputer 21 itself based on the data relating to the operation control of the showcase input by 3.
In the embodiment, the temperature control is already performed by the host controller 2.
The control is continued based on the in-chamber setting temperature and the like transmitted from and stored in the RAM 23.

Next, in step S5, it is determined whether or not the terminal device is a terminal device 3A of a predetermined showcase determined in advance by the channel number of the terminal device 3 concerned. In step S6
Then, the transmitting / receiving means 26 is switched to the transmission mode, and in step S7, the data I relating to the defrost start and end timings based on the timer of the microcomputer 21 of the terminal-side control device 3A is transmitted as a control signal to the signal line 14. . Next, the microcomputer 21 of the terminal-side control device 3A sets the transmission / reception means 26 to the reception mode in step S8, and sends the signal line 16 from the transmission / reception means 27 in step S9.
An inquiry signal J is sent to the host control device 2 via the PC to determine whether or not it has returned to normal.

The microcomputer 21 repeats the above control as long as the host controller 2 does not return to normal and the terminal-side controller 3A does not receive a control signal from the host controller 2. At this time, the other control devices 3 except the control device 3A receive the control signal from the control device 3A via the signal line 14 in step S2.
Proceeding to 10, the defrost control of the cooler is executed by the control signal. Therefore, even when the host controller 2 fails, all showcases start and end defrosting in synchronization with the timing determined by the timer of the microcomputer 21 of the terminal-side controller 3A. Abnormal control due to frost blockage or the like can be prevented.

In addition, if the signal line 14 becomes abnormal and communication between the terminal side control devices 3A and 3 becomes impossible, the terminal side control devices 3 execute step S2 as described above. Then, the process again proceeds to step S3 and step S4, and the defrosting is controlled at the timing determined by the timer of the microcomputer 21 of its own, so that the terminal-side control device 3 of each showcase is completely isolated Also, the defrost control is executed normally.

When the selection switch 36 is operated in the terminal-side control device 3, the microcomputer 21 proceeds from step S1 to step S11, in which the microcomputer 21 removes the data based on the data from the refrigerator or the like input from the external input terminal 37. The frost control and the like are executed. Therefore, when the higher-level control device 2 fails, the terminal-side control device 3 is switched from the control based on the control signal from the signal line 14 to the control based on the data from the external input terminal 37 by operating the selection switch 36. be able to.

By the way, when the repair of the failure of the higher-level control device 2 is completed and the status returns to the normal state, and the control signal is transmitted to each terminal-side control device 3 through the signal line 14,
The microcomputer 21 of each terminal-side control device 3 proceeds from step S2 to step S10, and automatically returns to the centralized control by the host control device 2. At this time,
As described above, the microcomputer 21 of the predetermined terminal-side control device 3A transmits the inquiry signal J to the higher-level control device 2 via the signal line 16 in step S9. Therefore,
When the host control device 2 returns to the normal state, it first waits for the reception of the inquiry signal J and resumes the transmission of the control signal at time t2, or resumes after a lapse of the waiting time K or more from the reception of the signal J. With this arrangement (period G in FIG. 4), the control signal I from the terminal-side control device 3A and the control signal from the upper-level control device 2 at the time of restarting are prevented from colliding in each terminal-side control device 3. Thus, the switching from the abnormal state to the normal centralized control state can be smoothly performed.

In the embodiment, the case where the control signal is interrupted due to the failure of the host controller 2 itself has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Is diagnosed, and the same control is executed. Also, when an abnormality occurs in the signal lines 14 and 16 and the control signal from the higher-level control device 2 is interrupted or becomes abnormal, each terminal-side control device 3 executes the same control. At this time, the signal line 14,
It is good to shut off the connection with 16 or to provide a manual shut-off switch separately.

[0031]

As described above in detail, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when a higher-level control device or a signal line fails and a control signal is interrupted or an abnormality occurs in a control signal, a connection to the higher-level control device is made. The control means of a predetermined terminal-side control device among the plurality of terminal-side control devices that have performed the control of the device based on the data input by its own terminal-side input means, and a control signal based on the data. Is transmitted to the other terminal-side control devices, so that all the showcases execute the control of the device by the control signal from the terminal-side control device in the predetermined showcase. Therefore, the same normal control as that of the predetermined showcase can be executed in all the showcases, and particularly in the case of the defrosting control, it is possible to prevent a great deal of damage due to frost blockage.

Further, according to the second aspect of the present invention, even when an abnormality occurs in communication between a predetermined terminal-side control device and another terminal-side control device, the control means of each terminal-side control device is capable of controlling itself. Since the control of the equipment is executed based on the data input by the terminal side input means, the normal operation control such as the defrost control is independently performed in each showcase, and the damage when the showcase is isolated is performed. Generation can be prevented.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the higher-level control device returns to the normal state and each terminal-side control device returns to the control of the device based on the control signal transmitted from the higher-level control device, By using the inquiry signal transmitted from the predetermined terminal-side control device, it is possible to switch the control from the failure state to the normal state with good timing.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the control signal from the host controller is interrupted or an abnormality occurs, the control can be switched to the control based on the data from the external input terminal by the selecting means. In each showcase, defrost control and the like can be normally performed by data from an external input terminal, and it is possible to prevent occurrence of a great deal of damage due to a failure of a higher-level control device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a centralized control device for a showcase of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an electric circuit of the host control device.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an electric circuit of the terminal-side control device.

FIG. 4 is a timing chart showing signals output from a predetermined terminal-side control device.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a program of a terminal-side control device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 central control device 2 higher-level control device 3 terminal-side control device 9 transmitting / receiving means 11 transmitting / receiving means 14 signal line 16 signal line 18 keyboard 21 microcomputer 26 transmitting / receiving means 33 setting switch 36 selection switch 37 external input terminal

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Tomoaki Masada 2--18 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-56-130571 (JP, A)

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A centralized control device for collectively controlling the operation of a plurality of showcases, wherein the centralized control device is provided in a host controller and in each of the plurality of showcases, and is shared by the host controller. A plurality of terminal-side control devices connected by signal lines, wherein the high-order control device includes a high-order control device-side input means for inputting data relating to operation control of the plurality of showcases, and the high-order control While transmitting a control signal to the terminal-side control device based on the data input by the device-side input means,
A higher-level control device-side transmitting / receiving means for receiving data transmitted from the terminal-side control device, wherein the terminal-side control device relates to terminal-side transmitting / receiving means for transmitting / receiving data, and operation control of its own showcase. A terminal-side input unit for inputting data, and a control unit for executing control of a device based on a control signal transmitted from the higher-level control device, wherein the control signal from the higher-level control device is interrupted. Or, when an abnormality occurs in the control signal, the control unit of the predetermined terminal-side control device executes the control of the device based on data input by its own terminal-side input unit, and based on the data. A centralized control device for a showcase, wherein a control signal is transmitted to another terminal-side control device by the terminal-side transmitting / receiving means. 2. When an abnormality occurs in communication between a predetermined terminal-side control device and another terminal-side control device, the control means of each terminal-side control device transmits data input by its own terminal-side input means. The centralized control device for a showcase according to claim 1, wherein the control of the device is executed based on the following. 3. The control means of a predetermined terminal-side control device transmits an inquiry signal as to whether or not the host control device has returned to a normal state by a terminal-side transmitting / receiving means, and the host control device has returned to a normal state. 2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit of each terminal-side control device returns to control of the device based on a control signal transmitted from the host control device.
A centralized control device for the showcase described. 4. A centralized control device for collectively controlling the operation of a plurality of showcases, wherein the centralized control device is provided in each of the plurality of showcases and a signal is transmitted to the plurality of showcases. A plurality of terminal-side control devices connected by a line, wherein the higher-order control device includes a higher-order control device-side input means for inputting data relating to operation control of the plurality of showcases; A higher-level control device-side transmitting / receiving means for transmitting a control signal to the terminal-side control device based on the data input by the input means and receiving data transmitted from the terminal-side control device; The device includes a terminal-side transmitting / receiving means for transmitting / receiving data, a terminal-side input means for inputting data relating to operation control of its own showcase, and an external input terminal. And a control unit for controlling the device, and whether the control unit controls the device based on data from the external input terminal or controls the device based on a control signal transmitted from the signal line. A centralized control device for a showcase, comprising a selection means for selecting a display.