JP3146769B2 - Ice machine control device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a control device for an ice maker in a cup-type vending machine for selling iced beverages.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional cup-type vending machine, ice discharge control involves opening an ice discharge door for a time corresponding to a set amount of ice discharge and simultaneously rotating an agitator (its structure will be described in detail later). Ice is being discharged. FIG.
Is a graph showing the ice discharge amount with respect to the opening time of the ice discharge door, and shows the relationship between the open time and the discharge amount as indicated by a straight line L from the results (indicated by dots) performed a plurality of times at each time. Equation is obtained, and the ice is discharged based on this relational expression.

[0003]

However, as can be seen from the experimental results in FIG. 1, even when the door opening time is constant, the discharge amount at that time varies considerably. The reason is that the rotational position of the agitator when the door is opened is different. Therefore, even if the opening time of the door is controlled accurately in accordance with the straight line L, the amount of ice discharged varies every time, so that it is not possible to provide an iced beverage having an optimal temperature, and this may disturb customers' willingness to purchase. There were challenges. The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and has as its object to provide a control device capable of always discharging a fixed amount of ice regardless of the rotational position of an agitator.

[0004]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a stocker for storing ice, a door for discharging ice provided on a side surface of the stocker, a solenoid for opening and closing the door, and an agitator for stirring ice in the stocker. In the control device of the ice making machine having, corresponding to the ice discharge amount set for each beverage,
A storage means for storing the opening time T _{0 of the} door, and a sales command drives the motor of the agitator to open the door when the solenoid is turned on. A door / motor control unit that closes the door by turning off the motor and stops the motor of the agitator;
An ice passage detecting means for detecting passage of ice discharged by opening the door, a switch-on detector for detecting a switch-on signal outputted by the ice detection of the ice passage detecting means, and an input of the switch-on signal. If the door opening time is counted and the door opening time T ₀ for the beverage stored in the storage means is counted up, a door opening time counter that sends a drive stop signal to the door / motor control unit,
It is characterized by having.

[0005] A second invention is a stocker for storing ice,
An ice discharge door provided on the side of the stocker, a solenoid for opening and closing the door, and an agitator for stirring the ice in the stocker. Correspondingly, the opening time T of the door
_{While the} storage means storing ₀ and the sales command drive the motor of the agitator and open the door by turning on the solenoid, the input of a drive stop signal described later
A door / motor control unit for closing the door by turning off the solenoid to stop the motor of the agitator; ice passage detecting means for detecting the passage of ice discharged by opening the door by weight; and ice for the ice passage detecting means. a switch-on counter for counting the period of the switch-on signal output by the detection, counting time by the switch-on counter, if reaches the door opening time T ₀ for the beverage that has been stored in the storage means, the door A discharge end determination unit that sends a drive stop signal to the motor control unit;

A third invention is a stocker for storing ice,
An ice discharge door provided on the side of the stocker, a solenoid for opening and closing the door, and an agitator for stirring the ice in the stocker. Correspondingly, the opening time T of the door
Storage means for storing ₀ , a humidity sensor for correcting the humidity around the stocker, an elapsed time after ice making calculating section for elapse of ice making time for ice in the stocker, and the ice based on the humidity and the elapsed time after ice making. A fuzzy inference unit for fuzzy inference of the state of ice from the discharge door, and a correction open time T ₀ ′ by adjusting the opening time T _{0 of the} door based on the state of ice obtained from the fuzzy inference unit. The agitator motor is operated by the open time correction unit to be output and the sales command, and the door is opened by turning on the solenoid, and the door is closed by turning off the solenoid by the input of a drive stop signal described later, and the agitator is turned on. Door / motor control unit for stopping the motor, ice passage detection means for detecting passage of ice discharged by opening the door, and a switch output by ice detection of the ice passage detection means A switch-on counter that counts the period of the ON signal, and if the time counted by the switch-on counter reaches the door opening time T ₀ ′ for the beverage stored in the storage means, the door / motor control unit A discharge end determination unit that sends a drive stop signal to the
It is characterized by having.

[0007]

According to the first aspect, the counting of the door opening time T ₀ stored in the storage means is performed from the actual ice discharge start timing, so that the ice discharging time T ₀ is used instead of the door opening time.
Since the door is closed, the amount of ice discharged is accurate.

In the second aspect of the present invention, the above-described ice discharge time T ₀ is counted by integrating the period during which ice is actually discharged, so that even when the ice discharge is interrupted halfway, the net ice discharge time T 0 is obtained. ₀ can be counted, and thus more accurate ice discharge can be performed.

[0009] Even if the time during which ice is actually discharged can be accurately controlled, the humidity at that time and the ice quality in the stocker can be controlled.
(This is mainly affected by the elapsed time after ice making), and the condition of ice discharge from the ice discharge door differs. Therefore, in the third invention, the output condition of ice from the door for the ice discharge based on the humidity and ice elapsed time and fuzzy inference, based on this, and corrects the opening time T ₀ of the door.

[0010]

FIG. 2 is a control block diagram showing an embodiment of the apparatus of the first invention. Reference numeral 1 denotes an ice making machine, which comprises a cylindrical ice making unit 2 for making ice and an ice stocker 3 located above the ice making unit 2. In the ice making unit 2 and the stocker 3, the motor 1 is rotated by a horizontal rotating power of a motor 4 via a gear box (not shown).
The agitator shaft 5 stands upright. A spiral partition 6 is provided around the agitator shaft 5 located in the ice making unit 2, and an evaporator 7 as an evaporator is provided around the ice making unit 2 where the partition 6 is located. .
A fixed blade 8 is provided at the upper end of the ice making unit 2.

An agitator 9 for stirring is attached to the agitator shaft 3 located in the stocker 3, and as shown in FIG. 3, the agitator 9 is inclined obliquely downward and at 45 °. A pair of rods B1 to B4 attached to each direction are formed at 45 °. As shown in FIG. 4, these bars are B4, B3, B2,
B1 is attached to the agitator shaft 5 in the order of B1, and the inclination is gentle in the order of B4, B3, B2, and B1. In FIG. 4, each bar is drawn in one direction so that the bars can be easily compared with each other.

An opening 1 provided in a predetermined portion of the stocker 3
0 is provided with a door 11, which is slid upward by the excitation of the solenoid 12, and the opening 10 is opened.

In this configuration, water supplied from the lower part of the ice making unit 2 and filled in the partition 6 is frozen by an evaporator 7 to become ice, and the ice is formed by rotation of the partition 6 of the agitator shaft 3. Is pushed upward. The pushed-up ice is crushed by the fixed blade 8 and sent to the stocker 3. In the stocker 3, the crushed ice is stirred by an agitator 9 so as not to stick to each other. When the door 11 is slid upward, the ice discharged from the opening 10 is guided to the shooter 13 and becomes unusable. It is dropped into the illustrated cup.

The shooter 13 is provided with an ice passage detector 14 for detecting the passage of ice. The ice passage detector 14 is provided with a limit switch 14 as shown in FIG.
a, a receiving plate 14c provided at the tip of the movable contact piece 14b of the limit switch 14a.

Reference numeral 21 denotes an ice maker control unit for controlling the ice maker 1, and reference numeral 31 denotes a central control unit for generally controlling the vending machine. In the ice making machine control unit 21, a switch-on detector 22 detects a switch-on of the ice passage detection switch 14 and sends a count start signal to a door opening time counter 23. When the door opening time counter 23 counts up the door opening time sent from the centralized control unit 31, the door opening time counter 23 sends a predetermined drive stop signal to the door / motor control unit 24. When the door / motor control unit 24 receives the sales command from the central control unit 31, the door / motor control unit 24 excites the solenoid 12 and drives the motor 4. However, the input of the drive stop signal causes the solenoid 12 to be excited and the motor 4 to operate. To stop.

The numeral 32 indicates the amount of ice to be discharged in each of the beverages sold,
This is a keyboard for setting and inputting a value converted into the opening time of the door 11.

In the above configuration, when there is a beverage sales request, a sales command signal is sent from the central control unit 31 to the door / motor control unit 24, whereby the motor 4 rotates and the agitator 9 rotates, and at the same time, the solenoid Ice is discharged from the opening 10 when the door 12 is excited and the door 11 slides upward. When the ice passes through the shooter 13, the receiving plate 14c is pushed downward by the weight of the ice, whereby the limit switch 14a is switched on. When the switch-on signal is applied to the switch-on detector 22, a timer start signal is sent from the switch-on detector 22 to the door open time counter 23, whereby the door open time counter 23 starts counting. . When the door open time counter 23 counts up the door open time output from the centralized control unit 31, it outputs a drive stop signal to the door / motor control unit 24, thereby stopping the motor 4. At the same time, the excitation of the solenoid 12 is stopped, the door 11 returns to the original position, the opening 10 is closed, and the discharge of ice ends.

According to this control device, the counting of the door opening time is started when ice is actually discharged to the shooter 13, so that an accurate amount of ice can be discharged.
The motor 4 is used to prevent the ice in the stocker 3 from sticking to each other.
Is operated regularly.

FIG. 6 is a control block diagram showing an embodiment of the second invention, in which portions having the same functions as those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals. 6 is different from FIG. 2 in that a switch-on counter 25 for counting the switch-on period is provided instead of the switch-on detector 22, and a switch-on counter 25 is provided instead of the door-open time counter 23. That is, a discharge end determination unit 26 that outputs a drive stop signal when the time is counted is provided.

According to this control device, the period in which the ice is actually passed through the shooter 13 is counted by the switch counter 25, so that even if the ice discharge is temporarily interrupted during a series of ice discharges, Thus, the net ice discharge time can be counted, and more accurate ice discharge can be performed.

FIG. 7 is a control block diagram showing an embodiment of the third invention, and portions having the same functions as those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In FIG. 7, the same parts as those in the previous embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals. Reference numeral 41 denotes a post-ice making elapsed time calculation unit that knows the elapsed time since the ice was made in the stocker 3. This time refers to the time elapsed since the stocker 3 became full of ice for the first time after the vending machine was installed. However, in actuality, when the ice in the stocker 3 decreases, ice making is performed every time. Therefore, old ice and new ice are mixed in the stocker 3. Therefore, a value calculated by the following equation was adopted as the elapsed time t after ice making in such a state.

T = {(V ₀ −Vs) · (t ₀ + Δt) + Vn · Δt} / V, where V: ice volume in the stocker V ₀ : ice volume in the stocker at the time of the last sales start Vs: ice volume of the last sales Ice export volume Vn: The amount of ice produced between the end of the previous sale and the start of this sale. This value is given by the following equation. Vn = ice making capacity × Δta Δta is the accumulated operation time of the motor 4 from the last sale to the present sale t ₀ : elapsed time after ice making at the start of the previous sale Δt: elapsed time from the last sale to the present sale

For this calculation, the post-ice making time calculating section 41 has a timer inside, and outputs an ON signal of the motor 4 output from the door / motor control section 24 and a full ice detection provided in the stocker 3. full detecting signal from the sensor S _1, and the data of the stock capacity and ice making capacity of the ice making machine 1 of the stocker 3 to be set from the keyboard 32 are incorporated.

[0025] 42, the elapsed time after the ice making t calculated by the elapsed time after the ice making operation unit 41, based on the humidity from the humidity sensor S ₂ which is installed in the vicinity of the ice making machine 1, from the door 11 for the ice discharge Is a fuzzy inference unit that performs fuzzy inference on the condition of ice discharge.

The fuzzy inference performed here will be briefly described. In the first and second embodiments of the present invention, it is assumed that the opening time of the ice discharging door is proportional to the amount of ice discharged from the door, but the humidity at the time of storing ice in the stocker 3 and the ice making The main reason is that the ice quality varies depending on the elapsed time after the ice making in the machine 1, and the door opening time and the ice discharge amount are not simply proportional, and a tendency as shown in FIG. 8 is observed. Therefore, the following fuzzy rules are set.

The IF humidity is high and the elapsed time after ice making is small. The THEN function 1 is applied. The IF humidity is normal and the elapsed time after ice making is small. THEN
Apply Function 2 IF The humidity is low and the elapsed time after ice making is short THEN
Apply function 3

FIGS. 8 and 9 show antecedent (condition) membership functions set for humidity and elapsed time after ice making. A linear function is used as a consequent part (conclusion part) for making a conclusion according to the data of the antecedent part. That is,
For a given input value (humidity and elapsed time after ice making), the weight that each function holds is deduced, and the quality of the discharge condition obtained from each function is weighted and averaged based on each weight, and the final value is obtained. Good or bad discharge condition.

[0029] 43, based on the ejection condition of the ice inferred by fuzzy inference unit 42, an open time correction unit which outputs the corrected door open time T ₀ 'by adjusting the door opening time T _0.

Accordingly, when the switch-on time counted by the switch-on counter 25 reaches the corrected door open time T ₀ ′, the discharge end determination unit 26 outputs a drive stop signal to the door / motor control unit 24, As a result, the door 11 is closed, and the discharge of ice is stopped. Although a mechanical switch is used as the ice passage detector 14 in the above embodiment, the passage of ice may be detected by a pair of light emitting and receiving elements.

[0031]

As described in the foregoing, in the first invention, door opening time counting T ₀ that has been stored in the storage means, by performing the actual ice ejection start point, instead of the door opening time, with an ice discharge time T ₀ accurately perform the discharge of ice for you to close the door. According to the second aspect, the ice discharge time T ₀ is counted by integrating the period during which ice is actually discharged, so that the net ice discharge time T ₀ is counted even when the ice discharge is interrupted halfway. Therefore, more accurate ice discharge can be performed. Further, in the third invention, based on the humidity and the like at that time, the quality of the discharge condition of the ice fuzzy inference, based on the discharge condition, since to correct the ice discharge time T ₀ in the second invention, always constant The amount of ice can be discharged accurately.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a relationship between an ice discharge amount and a door opening time.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the control device according to the first invention;

FIG. 3 is a top view of a rod constituting the agitator.

FIG. 4 is a side view of an agitator rod.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing details of an ice passage detector in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the control device according to the second invention;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the control device according to the third invention;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing how ice is discharged depending on humidity and elapsed time after ice making.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a membership function set in fuzzy inference performed in the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing membership functions set in fuzzy inference performed in the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ice machine 2 Ice making part 3 Stocker 4 Motor 5 Agitator shaft 6 Partition 7 Evaporator 8 Fixed blade 9 Agitator 10 Opening 11 Door 12 Solenoid 13 Shooter 14 Ice passage detector 21 Ice machine controller 22 Switch-on detector 23 Door open time counter 24 door motor controller 25 switches on the counter 26 the discharge end determining unit 31 centralized control unit 32 keyboard 41 time since the ice making operation unit 42 fuzzy inference section 43 opening time correction unit S ₁ ice full state detection sensor S ₂ humidity sensor

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-6-348951 (JP, A) JP-A-6-251240 (JP, A) JP-A-4-238596 (JP, A) JP-A-6-111119 (JP) JP-A-5-258171 (JP, A) JP-A-5-182073 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G07F 13/06

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] An ice making machine comprising: a stocker for storing ice, an ice discharging door provided on a side surface of the stocker, a solenoid for opening and closing the door, and an agitator for stirring ice in the stocker. in response to ice discharge amount set for each beverage a storage unit for storing the open time T ₀ of the door, by vending command, the door by turning on the solenoid to operate the motor of the agitator On the other hand, the door / motor control unit that closes the door by turning off the solenoid to stop the motor of the agitator, and detects the passage of ice discharged by opening the door by inputting a drive stop signal described later. Ice passage detection means, a switch-on detector for detecting a switch-on signal output by the ice detection of the ice passage detection means, and a door open time by inputting the switch-on signal. And und, if the count up door opening time T ₀ for the beverage that has been stored in the storage means, and door opening time counter for transmitting a driving stop signal to the door motor control unit, further comprising a A control device for an ice machine. 2. A control device for an ice making machine comprising: a stocker for storing ice; a door for discharging ice provided on a side surface of the stocker; a solenoid for opening and closing the door; and an agitator for stirring ice in the stocker. in response to ice discharge amount set for each beverage a storage unit for storing the open time T ₀ of the door, by vending command, the door by turning on the solenoid to operate the motor of the agitator On the other hand, by inputting a drive stop signal described later, a door / motor control unit that closes the door by turning off the solenoid and stops the motor of the agitator, and passes the ice discharged by opening the door by weight. An ice passage detection means for detecting, a switch-on counter for counting a period of a switch-on signal outputted by the ice detection of the ice passage detection means, Counted time data is if reaches the door opening time T ₀ for the beverage that has been stored in the storage means, and a discharge end determination unit for sending a drive stop signal to the door motor controller Control device for an ice making machine 3. A control device for an ice making machine having a stocker for storing ice, a door for discharging ice provided on a side surface of the stocker, a solenoid for opening and closing the door, and an agitator for stirring ice in the stocker. in response to ice discharge amount set for each beverage a storage unit for storing the open time T ₀ of the door, a humidity sensor for correcting the humidity around the stocker, ice-making course for ice in the stocker A post-ice-making elapsed time calculating unit for obtaining time, a fuzzy inference unit for fuzzy inferring the state of ice from the ice discharge door based on the humidity and the elapsed time after ice-making, and an ice discharge obtained from the fuzzy inference unit. based on condition, and an open time correction unit that outputs a correction opening time T ₀ 'by adjusting the opening time T ₀ of the door, by vending command, the on of the solenoid to operate the motor of the agitator While the door is opened, the input of a drive stop signal described later closes the door by turning off the solenoid to stop the motor of the agitator, and the passage of ice discharged by opening the door. An ice passage detecting means for detecting, a switch-on counter for counting a period of a switch-on signal output by ice detection of the ice passage detecting means, and a time counted by the switch-on counter is stored in the storage means. And a discharge end determination unit that sends a drive stop signal to the door / motor control unit when the door opening time T ₀ ′ for the beverage reaches the control unit for the ice making machine.