JP3422120B2 - Vending machine cooling system - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cooling device for an automatic vending machine, and more particularly to a cooling device mounted on an automatic vending machine for canned beverages.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of a conventional cooling device for a vending machine. The cooling device 50 includes a compressor 51,
The condenser 52, the distributor 53, and two electromagnetic valves 55A and 55B are provided. Each solenoid valve 5
Capillary tube 54 is attached to each of 5A and 55B.
Evaporator (evaporator) 56A, 5 via A, 54B
6B is connected, and the evaporators 56A and 56B are respectively arranged in two product storage columns (not shown) so that each product storage column can be independently cooled.
Each evaporator 56A, 56B is connected to the compressor 51 via a refrigerant pipe and an accumulator 65. The compressor 51 is connected with an overload relay 51a for detecting the load of the compressor 51 and stopping the driving of the compressor 51 when a load equal to or larger than a predetermined load is applied. The controller 58 controls the opening and closing of the solenoid valves 55A and 55B according to the output of the column temperature measurement sensor (not shown), the output of the evaporator temperature sensor (not shown), and the output of the ambient temperature measurement sensor (not shown).

Next, the general operation will be described. Compressor 5
1 compresses a refrigerant, and a solenoid valve 55A via a condenser 52,
Supply to 55B. In parallel with this, the controller 58
Controls the opening and closing of each solenoid valve 55A, 55B according to the output of the column temperature measuring sensor, the evaporator temperature sensor, and the ambient temperature measuring sensor. Thus each solenoid valve 5
The refrigerant supplied to the evaporators 56A, 56B via the 5A, 55B and the capillary tubes 54A, 54B cools the inside of the product storage column and returns to the compressor 51 via the accumulator 65.

In this case, each solenoid valve 55A, 55
The open / closed state of B is set substantially depending on the set temperature in the column and the ambient temperature of the vending machine. When the set temperature in the column is constant, the solenoid valves 55A, 55A, 55B has a high probability of being in the open state.

[0005]

In the conventional cooling device for a vending machine described above, when the ambient temperature of the vending machine becomes high, a substantial amount of refrigerant is supplied to cool the product storage column. Each solenoid valve 55A, 55B to increase
Will be set to the open state.

On the other hand, in recent vending machines and the like, in order to deal with the problem of the vending machine sticking out on the road, the device is made thin, and even when it is installed, no gap is provided on the back surface. Since it is installed in close contact with the wall surface, the heat exchange efficiency has decreased.

Therefore, when the outside temperature is abnormally high,
As the temperature of the condenser 52 and the temperature of the compressor 51 rise, and the solenoid valves 55A and 55B are all in the open state, the compression load of the compressor 51 becomes excessive and the overload relay 51a operates to drive the compressor 51. There was an outage.

[0008] Stopping the drive of the compressor 51 means that the cooling operation is not performed, and there is a problem that the temperature of the product storage column rises due to the occurrence of the situation in which the cooling operation is required. .

An object of the present invention is to provide a cooling device for a vending machine which can suppress the operation of an overload (excessive load) relay due to an excessive compression load of the compressor and continue the cooling operation. To do.

[0010]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 is for cooling a compressor for compressing a refrigerant, a condenser for condensing the refrigerant, and a product storage. A plurality of evaporators, and a plurality of solenoid valves for controlling the supply / stop of the refrigerant to each of the evaporators, in the cooling device of the vending machine, the ambient temperature of the vending machine or the ambient temperature. Temperature detecting means for detecting a temperature based on the temperature data and outputting it as temperature data, and at least one of the solenoid valves is closed when the temperature of the condenser exceeds a predetermined temperature based on the temperature data.
The operation of at least one of the evaporators is stopped and at least one solenoid valve is opened, and at least one of the at least one solenoid valve is opened .
Electromagnetic valve control means for continuing the operation of the evaporator .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a compressor for compressing the refrigerant, a condenser for condensing the refrigerant, a plurality of evaporators for cooling the goods storage, and each evaporator are provided. In a vending machine cooling device provided with a plurality of solenoid valves for controlling the supply / stop of refrigerant, the ambient temperature of the vending machine or a temperature based on the ambient temperature is detected and output as temperature data. Based on the temperature detection means and the temperature data, the electromagnetic valve is sequentially closed in accordance with the temperature of the condenser, and the evaporator is sequentially operated.
And at least one solenoid valve is maintained in an open state, and at least one evaporator is continuously operated .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a compressor for compressing the refrigerant, a condenser for condensing the refrigerant, a plurality of evaporators for cooling the goods storage, and each evaporator are provided. In a vending machine cooling device provided with a plurality of solenoid valves for controlling the supply / stop of refrigerant, the ambient temperature of the vending machine or a temperature based on the ambient temperature is detected and output as temperature data. At least one solenoid valve is closed by closing at least one solenoid valve in a closed state when the ambient temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature based on the temperature detection means and the temperature data. Open the at least one evaporator
While continuing the operation, configure and a sequentially switched <br/> solenoid valve control unit the evaporator to rest by successively switching the solenoid valve to the closed state.

[0013]

According to the first aspect of the invention, the temperature detecting means detects the ambient temperature of the vending machine or the temperature based on the ambient temperature and outputs it as temperature data to the solenoid valve control means. The solenoid valve control means, when the ambient temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature based on the temperature data, at least one of the above
Operation of at least one of the evaporators with the solenoid valve closed
With at least one solenoid valve open
Then, the operation of at least one of the evaporators is continued . Therefore, since the evaporator connected to the solenoid valve in the closed state is in the rest state, the compressor can be depleted, and the evaporator connected to the solenoid valve in the open state continues the cooling operation. It becomes possible.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the temperature detecting means detects the ambient temperature of the vending machine or the temperature based on the ambient temperature and outputs it as temperature data to the solenoid valve control means. Based on the temperature data , the solenoid valve control means
The solenoid valves are sequentially closed according to the temperature of the condenser,
While stopping the operation of the evaporator sequentially, at least
Hold one solenoid valve open and at least one evaporation
Continue operation of the vessel . Therefore, the solenoid valve is sequentially closed according to the temperature of the condenser, and the evaporator connected to the solenoid valve in the closed state is in the idle state, so the load of the compressor is sequentially reduced according to the temperature of the condenser. In addition, the evaporator connected to the at least one solenoid valve in the open state can continue the cooling operation.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the temperature detecting means detects the ambient temperature of the vending machine or the temperature based on the ambient temperature and outputs it as temperature data to the solenoid valve control means. Solenoid valve control means , based on the temperature data
If the ambient temperature exceeds a specified temperature,
At least one evaporator with the solenoid valve closed.
Operation is stopped and at least one solenoid valve is opened.
Continue operation of at least one evaporator and
Switching the solenoid valve in
Switch generators in sequence . Therefore, since the evaporator connected to the electromagnetic valve in the closed state is in the idle state, the load on the compressor can be reduced and the evaporator that performs the cooling operation can be sequentially switched by switching the electromagnetic valves in the closed state. It is possible to continue the cooling operation of the vending machine as a whole by sequentially switching.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of the inside of the vending machine of the embodiment. The vending machine 1 includes two product storage columns 3A and 3B partitioned by a heat insulating partition 2, column temperature measuring sensors 4A and 4B that measure the temperature inside the product storage columns 3A and 3B, and a vending machine. 1. An ambient temperature measuring sensor 5 for measuring the ambient temperature of 1, and a mechanism section 6 having a controller for controlling the entire vending machine, a cooling device such as a condenser, a merchandise discharging mechanism and the like built therein. ing. The ambient temperature measuring sensor 5 directly detects the temperature of the condenser 12 described later and uses the detected value as the ambient temperature.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the cooling device of the vending machine. The cooling device 10 includes a compressor 11, a condenser 12, a distributor 13, two capillary tubes 14A and 14B, and two solenoid valves 1.
It is configured to include 5A and 15B.

The compressor 11 includes the compressor 11
Is connected to the overload relay 11a that detects the overload of the compressor and stops the operation of the compressor.

Evaporators (evaporators) 16A and 16B are connected to the solenoid valves 15A and 15B via capillary tubes 14A and 14B, respectively.
A and 16B are arranged in the left product storage column 3A and the right product storage column 3B, respectively.
It is possible to independently cool 3B.

Each of the evaporators 16A, 16B is connected to the compressor 11 via a refrigerant pipe and an accumulator 25, and is composed of a thermistor or the like for detecting the inlet temperature and the outlet temperature of each evaporator 16A, 16B. Evaporator temperature sensors 17A and 17B are provided.

The controller 18 comprises a CPU 18a for controlling the controller 18 and a ROM 18b for storing a control program and control data for controlling the on / off states of the solenoid valves 15A, 15B.

Further, the controller 18 has column column temperature measurement signals 19A and 19B, which are outputs from the column temperature measurement sensors 4A and 4B, and evaporator temperature sensors 17A and 17B.
The temperature measurement signals such as the evaporator temperature measurement signals 20A and 20B that are the outputs of the ambient temperature measurement signal and the ambient temperature measurement signal 21 that is the output of the ambient temperature measurement sensor 5 are input, and the controller 18 responds to these temperature measurement signals by the solenoid valve 15A. , 15B are controlled.

Next, the opening / closing control of the solenoid valve during the cooling operation will be described with reference to the processing flowchart of FIG. In the following description, the evaporator 16A and the evaporator 1 will be described.
The case where the mechanical size of 6B and the corresponding cooling load are the same will be described.

First, the CPU 18a of the controller 18
Determines whether all the product storage columns 3A, 3B are set to cool (step S1).

When it is determined in step S1 that all the product storage columns 3A and 3B are not set to be cooled, the solenoid valves are individually controlled according to the settings of the product storage columns 3A and 3B (step S12). ).

When it is determined in step S1 that all the commodity storage columns 3A and 3B are set to be cooled, based on the ambient temperature measurement signal 21, the ambient temperature of the vending machine or the ambient temperature thereof is used. The temperature of the condenser 12 as (or related) temperature is the first set temperature t
It is determined whether or not it is C1 (for example, tC1 = 52 ° C.) or less (step S2).

In the determination of step S2, the condenser 12
If the temperature is less than the first set temperature tC1, the load control flag FLG1 indicating that the load control operation for reducing the load on the compressor 11 is in progress is set as data indicating the load control release state, and each product is stored. The solenoid valves are individually controlled according to the settings of the columns 3A and 3B (step S1).
2).

In the determination of step S2, the condenser 12
If the temperature is higher than the first set temperature tC1, it is determined based on the ambient temperature measurement signal 21 whether the temperature of the condenser 12 is the second set temperature tC2 (for example, tC1 = 58 ° C.) or more ( Step S3).

In the determination of step S3, the condenser 12
Is less than the second set temperature tC2, it is judged whether or not the load control flag FLG1 is data representing the load control state (step S8), and the load control flag FL is set.
If G1 is not data indicating the load control state,
The solenoid valves are individually controlled according to the settings of the product storage columns 3A and 3B (step S12).

When it is determined in step S3 that the temperature of the condenser 12 is equal to or higher than the second set temperature tC2,
When the load control flag FLG1 is data indicating the load control state in the determination of No. 8, the temperature in the right product storage column 3B (abbreviated as "in the right compartment" in the figure) is determined based on the column temperature measurement signal 19B. 2 Set temperature tR2 (for example, tR2
= 8 ° C) or more (step S
4).

If it is determined in step S4 that the temperature inside the right product storage column 3B is equal to or higher than the second set temperature tR2, it is necessary to cool the right product storage column 3B, and the right product storage column 3B is supported. The solenoid valve 15B is opened (step S5), and the capillary tube 14 is closed.
The refrigerant is supplied to the evaporator 16B via B to cool the right product storage column 3B.

With the cooling operation of the right product storage column 3B, in order to reduce the load on the compressor 11, the solenoid valve 15A corresponding to the left product storage column 3A is closed (step S6), and the load control flag FLG1 is loaded. The data indicating the control state is set (step S7), and the process proceeds to step S1.

If the temperature in the right product storage column 3B is less than the second set temperature tR2 in the determination in step S4, the temperature in the right product storage column 3B is determined to be the first temperature based on the column internal temperature measurement signal 19B. Set temperature tR1 (for example, t
It is determined whether or not R1 = 2 ° C.) or less (step S
9).

When the temperature in the right product storage column 3B is higher than the first set temperature tR2 in the determination in step S9, it is determined whether or not the solenoid valve 15B corresponding to the right product storage column 3B is closed. (Step S10).

When the temperature in the right product storage column 3B is below the first set temperature tR1 in the determination of step S9 and when the solenoid valve 15B is closed in the determination of step S10, the left product storage column 3A is opened. As it is necessary to cool the left product storage column 3A, the solenoid valve 15A corresponding to the left product storage column 3A is opened, and the refrigerant is supplied to the evaporator 16A via the capillary tube 14A.
While cooling A, the solenoid valve 15B corresponding to the right product storage column 3B is closed (step S10), and the process proceeds to step S1.

In the determination of step S10, the solenoid valve 15
If B is in the open state, the process proceeds to step S6.

Similarly, when the compressor 11 is likely to be overloaded, the left product storage column 3A and the right product storage column 3B are alternately cooled, and in other cases, both product storage columns are cooled. Since the compressor 11 is cooled, the cooling operation is efficiently performed without the compressor 11 being overloaded.

To summarize the above operation, the temperature of the condenser 12 is detected, and when the temperature of the condenser 12 becomes equal to or higher than the second set temperature tC2, either one of the solenoid valves (15A or 15A).
B) is closed and only one of the left product storage column 3A and the right product storage column 3B is cooled to reduce the load on the compressor 11, and the temperature of the condenser 12 becomes the first set temperature tC1 or less. Since the compressor 11 will not be overloaded, both solenoid valves (15A and 15B) are opened to cool both the left product storage column 3A and the right product storage column 3B.

As described above, according to this embodiment,
It is possible to prevent the compressor 12 from becoming overloaded and not cooling all the product storage columns, and to perform efficient cooling operation.

Other Modifications 1) In the above embodiments, the mechanical size of the evaporator 16A and the evaporator 16B and the corresponding cooling load are assumed to be the same, but the mechanical size and When the corresponding cooling load is different, it is more effective to avoid the overload state of the compressor 11 by controlling to close the solenoid valve corresponding to the evaporator having a large mechanical size or the corresponding large cooling load. is there.

2) In the above embodiments, the case where the number of evaporators is two has been described. However, even when the number of evaporators is three or more, cooling is performed by opening the solenoid valve corresponding to at least one evaporator. By performing the operation and closing the solenoid valves corresponding to other evaporators as appropriate, it is possible to prevent the compressor from becoming overloaded and to prevent the overload relay from operating, resulting in high efficiency. A cooling operation can be performed.

3) Furthermore, when there are three or more evaporators, it is possible to sequentially increase the number of electromagnetic valves to be closed according to the temperature of the condenser. This makes it possible to prevent the compressor from becoming overloaded. In this case, if the solenoid valves to be closed (or the solenoid valve group consisting of a plurality of solenoid valves) are configured to be sequentially switched, the entire vending machine can be treated without increasing the cooling load of the entire vending machine. It is possible to continue the cooling operation of.

4) Further, in the above embodiment, the example in which the detection signal of the ambient temperature sensor 5 attached to the condenser 12 is used as the ambient temperature of the vending machine or the temperature based on the ambient temperature is disclosed. The present invention is not limited to this mode, and the present invention can be applied to any temperature signal related to the ambient temperature.

[0045]

Effects of the Invention According to the first aspect of the invention, the solenoid valve control means, based on the temperature data of the temperature detection means, when the ambient temperature of the vending machine is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature, low
At least one solenoid valve is closed and at least one
The evaporator is stopped and at least one electromagnetic
Open the valve and continue operation of at least one of the evaporators.
Since connection, it is possible to reduce the load of the compressor, preventing the stopping of the compressor due to an overload.

Further, the evaporator connected to the solenoid valve in the open state can continue the cooling operation, and the cooling can be efficiently performed.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the solenoid valve control means sequentially closes the solenoid valves in accordance with the ambient temperature of the vending machine or the temperature based on the ambient temperature based on the temperature data of the temperature detecting means. And the operation of the evaporator is stopped sequentially.
Stop and at least one solenoid valve remains open
Since it is maintained and the operation of at least one evaporator is continued , the load of the compressor can be sequentially reduced according to the temperature of the condenser, and the stop of the compressor due to overload can be sequentially prevented.

Further, the evaporator connected to the at least one solenoid valve in the open state can continue the cooling operation, and the cooling can be efficiently performed.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the solenoid valve control means, when the ambient temperature of the vending machine or the temperature based on the ambient temperature becomes equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature based on the temperature data of the temperature detecting means. the at least one solenoid valve and suspend the operation of at least one evaporator in a closed state, small
At least one evaporator with at least one solenoid valve open
Of the solenoid valves to be closed one after another.
By switching the evaporators to be stopped one after another, it is possible to reduce the load on the compressor and prevent the compressor from stopping due to overload.

Further, by sequentially switching the electromagnetic valves to be closed, it is possible to continue the cooling operation of the vending machine as a whole by sequentially switching the evaporator for performing the cooling operation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an inside of a vending machine.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a cooling device of a vending machine.

FIG. 3 is a processing flowchart of an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional cooling device for a vending machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 vending machine 2 heat insulation partition 3A, 3B product storage column 4A, 4B Column temperature measurement sensor 5 Ambient temperature measurement sensor 6 Mechanical part 10 Cooling device 11 compressor 11a Overload relay 12 Condenser 13 Distributor 14A, 14B Capillary tube 15A, 15B solenoid valve 16A, 16B Evaporator (evaporator) 17A, 17B Evaporator temperature sensor 18 Controller 18a CPU 18b ROM 19A, 19B Column temperature measurement signal 20A, 20B Evaporator temperature measurement signal 21 Ambient temperature measurement signal 25 Accumulator

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-4-319795 (JP, A) JP-A-3-172992 (JP, A) JP-A-2-288996 (JP, A) (58) Field (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G07F 9/10 F25D 11/00

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A compressor for compressing a refrigerant, a condenser for condensing the refrigerant, a plurality of evaporators for cooling a product storage, and supply / stop of the refrigerant to each evaporator. In a cooling device for a vending machine provided with a plurality of solenoid valves for controlling, a temperature detecting means for detecting the ambient temperature of the vending machine or a temperature based on the ambient temperature and outputting it as temperature data, when the temperature of the condenser based on the temperature data is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature, at least one said solenoid valve are closed, small
At least the one solenoid valve to the open state with pauses operation of Kutomo one said evaporator, at least one said evaporator
And a solenoid valve control means for continuing the operation of the container, and a cooling device for a vending machine. 2. A compressor for compressing a refrigerant, a condenser for condensing the refrigerant, a plurality of evaporators for cooling a product storage, and supply / stop of the refrigerant to each evaporator. In a cooling device for a vending machine provided with a plurality of solenoid valves for controlling, a temperature detecting means for detecting the ambient temperature of the vending machine or a temperature based on the ambient temperature and outputting it as temperature data, wherein sequentially said solenoid valve closed in response to the temperature of the condenser based on the temperature data, with pauses operation of sequentially the evaporator, it retains at least one solenoid valve remains open, small
Solenoid valve control means for continuing the operation of at least one evaporator ,
A cooling device for a vending machine, characterized by being equipped with. 3. A compressor for compressing a refrigerant, a condenser for condensing the refrigerant, a plurality of evaporators for cooling a product storage, and supply / stop of the refrigerant to each evaporator. In a cooling device for a vending machine provided with a plurality of solenoid valves for controlling, a temperature detecting means for detecting the ambient temperature of the vending machine or a temperature based on the ambient temperature and outputting it as temperature data, When the temperature of the condenser becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature based on the temperature data, at least one of the solenoid valves is closed to reduce
And pause the operation of Kutomo one evaporator, to continue the operation of the at least one solenoid valve open state and at least one evaporator <br/> Rutotomoni, sequentially switching it a solenoid valve to a closed state
A cooling device for a vending machine, comprising: a solenoid valve control means for sequentially switching the evaporators to be stopped by the above .