JP4703447B2 - Control system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a control system constructed with a host control device and a switch terminal device communicably connected thereto.

  Stores such as supermarkets and convenience stores have multiple showcases, refrigerators, refrigeration equipment (refrigerators), etc., but each showcase has been controlled by a temperature controller and a defrosting timer. The current situation is that the devices are individually controlled. Accordingly, various setting operations relating to the temperature of the showcase and the like and the defrost control must be performed individually at the place where the showcase and the like are installed. Therefore, when changing the setting according to the season or weather, the work becomes extremely complicated.

  In addition, in order to grasp the operating conditions such as various set values and the temperature of the showcase, etc., not only go to the place where the showcase etc. is installed and examine it individually, but also data on the operating condition of the showcase etc. There was a problem that could not be easily grasped.

For this reason, for example, in Patent Document 1, a terminal-side control device of each showcase is connected to a host control device configured by a microcomputer by a signal line, and various setting operations for data related to operation control of each showcase are performed by the host control device. Based on the data, a control signal is transmitted from the host control device to the terminal-side control device of each showcase, and data relating to the operating state of each showcase is collected in the host control device and collectively managed. ing. According to such a system, operation control of a plurality of showcases can be performed collectively, so that setting and management operations are significantly simplified.
JP 2002-303478 A

  Here, in stores such as this kind of supermarket, the cooling equipment that supplies refrigerant to the showcase is stopped at night when customers are decreasing, at specific times, or in specific seasons, and the interior of the showcase is cooled. In some cases, so-called non-cold control is used without using. Control in which the showcase is switched between cold / non-cool as described above may be automatically executed by a schedule function preset in the host control device or may be executed by the user as needed. In the latter case, an instruction is issued using a switch terminal device connected to the host controller.

  That is, a specific switch terminal device is grouped with respect to a host control device together with a specific refrigeration device that performs cold / non-cool control and a showcase to which a refrigerant is supplied. This switch terminal device has a changeover switch (rotary switch) for instructing three control states of "automatic"-"non-cooling"-"cooling", and is communicably connected to a host control device. .

  And when operating the cooling equipment of the same group and using a showcase in the cooling state, the changeover switch is set to “cooling”. When the change-over switch is set to “cooling”, the switch terminal device transmits a signal indicating cooling with 2-bit communication information to the host control device. When the cooling equipment is stopped and the showcase is used in a non-cooled state, the changeover switch is set to “non-cooled”. When the changeover switch is set to “non-cool”, the switch terminal device transmits a signal indicating non-cool with 2-bit communication information to the host control device. Further, when the refrigeration equipment of the same group is automatically operated / stopped by the scheduling function of the host controller, the changeover switch is automatically switched. When the change-over switch is set to “automatic”, the switch terminal device transmits a signal indicating auto with 2-bit communication information to the host control device.

  Based on the 2-bit communication information transmitted from the switch terminal device, the host control device controls the operation of the refrigeration equipment when a signal indicating that the switch of the switch terminal device is “cooled” is received, When a signal that is “non-cooled” is received, the cooling equipment is controlled to stop, and when a signal that is “automatic” is received, the automatic operation / The stop control was executed.

  Thus, conventionally, in order to distinguish the three types of control states in the switch terminal device, the upper control device requires two circuit inputs and performs communication using 2-bit communication information. Because of the restriction on the number of input circuits, the number of terminals that can be connected is reduced. For this reason, when the number of installed showcases or the like is large, there is a problem that a large number of host control devices must be added.

  The present invention has been made to solve the conventional technical problem, and provides a control system that can simplify communication information and reduce the burden on an input circuit in a host control device. .

  The control system of the present invention is constructed by including a host control device and a switch terminal device that is communicably connected to the host control device. The switch terminal device transmits ON to the host control device. In addition to the first and second control states specified by the contact information of OFF and OFF, the third control state can be selected. In the third control state, communication with the host controller is performed. When the communication with the switch terminal device is disabled, the host control device specifies that the switch terminal device is in the third control state.

  A control system according to a second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that a plurality of switch terminal devices are connected to the host control device.

  According to the present invention, in a control system constructed with a host control device and a switch terminal device communicably connected to the host control device, the switch terminal device transmits ON and OFF to the host control device. In addition to the first and second control states specified by the contact information, the third control state can be selected, and communication with the host control device is disabled in the third control state. In addition, when the communication with the switch terminal device becomes impossible, the host control device specifies that the switch terminal device has entered the third control state. The switch terminal device is in the first control state based on the ON contact information input from the terminal device, the switch terminal device is in the second control state based on the OFF contact information, and communication is not possible. It is the switching terminal because it became it is possible to identify that a third control state.

  That is, it is possible to make the host control device recognize the three types of control states of the switch terminal device while using ON or OFF contact information as communication information input to the host control device. As a result, the host control device can recognize the three types of control states of the switch terminal device from 1-bit communication information with a single input circuit, so that the burden on the input circuit of the host control device is reduced. When a plurality of switch terminal devices are connected as in FIG. 2, a large number of terminals can be connected by a single host control device, and the system configuration can be significantly simplified.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a configuration diagram of a centralized management system 1 such as a showcase as an embodiment of a control system of the present invention. In this figure, a centralized management system 1 according to an embodiment includes a centralized management controller 2 as a host control device and a terminal side control device 4 mounted in each of a plurality of showcases 3... Installed in a store such as a supermarket. And a terminal-side control device 4 mounted on the refrigeration equipment (refrigerator) 6 and a switch terminal device 7 installed in a store management room or the like.

  The showcase 3 is connected by piping so as to cool the inside of the refrigerator by receiving a refrigerant supply from the refrigeration equipment 6 through an electromagnetic valve. On the other hand, each terminal side control device 4... And the switch terminal device 7 are connected to the centralized management controller 2 by a communication line 8, and each terminal side control device 4. Is capable of data communication with the centralized management controller 2. In this case, each terminal-side control device 4... And switch terminal device 7 has its own ID, and the centralized controller 2 uses this ID to identify each terminal-side control device 4. Identify. Further, in the embodiment, the showcase 3 and the terminal side control devices 4 of the refrigeration equipment 6 and the switch terminal device 7 shown in the figure are set in the centralized management controller 2 as the same group.

  Further, the central control controller 2 sets data related to the set temperature and defrosting of each showcase 3, and further sets the operation / stop schedule of the cooling equipment 6. These control data are transmitted via the communication line 8. It is distributed to the showcase 3 and the cooling equipment 6. In that case, the centralized management controller 2 adds data to each terminal side control device 4. Each terminal-side control device 4... Confirms and recognizes that the data is addressed to itself, holds it, and performs temperature control and operation / stop. Further, the terminal-side control devices 4... Transmit the temperature information and abnormality occurrences in the showcase 3 and the temperature information and abnormality occurrence data from the refrigeration equipment 6 to the centralized management controller 2. Thereby, the centralized management controller 2 can centrally manage the operation states of the showcases 3 and the cooling equipment 6.

  Here, the operation / stop schedule of the refrigeration equipment 6 set in the centralized management controller 2 is, for example, driving during the daytime, stopping at night, stopping only in a specific time period, stopping in a specific season, etc. Automatic operation / stop schedule. Operating the refrigeration equipment 6 means using the showcase 3 that is supplied with the refrigerant in the cooled state, and stopping it means using the showcase 3 in the non-cooled state.

  On the other hand, the switch terminal device 7 is a device for an administrator to select such operation / stop of the refrigeration equipment 6 at any time, and is “cooling” (first control state), “non-cooling” (second cooling). A rotary switch 9 for setting three types of control states, that is, “control state” and “automatic” (third control state). When the rotary switch 9 is “cooled”, ON contact information is transmitted from the communication line 8 to the central control controller 2, and when it is “non-cooled”, OFF contact information is transmitted to the communication line. 8 to the centralized management controller 2. When switched to “automatic”, communication with the centralized management controller 2 is disabled (blocked). Specifically, the switch terminal device 7 turns off its own power supply or disconnects the communication line 8 between the switch terminal device 7 and the centralized management controller 2.

  Next, the operation of the centralized management system 1 based on the operation of the switch terminal device 7 will be described. The centralized management controller 2 constantly monitors the communication state with the switch terminal device 7. When the rotary switch 9 of the switch terminal device 7 is set to “cooling” and ON contact information is transmitted to the central management controller 2, the central management controller 2 sends the “operation” to the terminal device 4 of the cooling equipment 6. ”Control data is transmitted. When the terminal device 4 of the refrigeration equipment 6 receives the “operation” control data from the centralized management controller 2, the refrigeration equipment 6 can be operated and the showcase 3. Actually, in each showcase 3..., The terminal device 4 opens and closes the above-described solenoid valve, and when any of the showcases 3 opens the solenoid valve and refrigerant supply is required, The terminal device 4 operates the cooling device, and the cooling device 6 is stopped when the solenoid valves of all the showcases 3.

  On the other hand, when the administrator selects to stop the cooling device 6, the rotary switch 9 of the switch terminal device 7 is set to “non-cool”. As a result, the contact information of OFF is transmitted from the switch terminal device 7 to the centralized management controller 2, and the centralized management controller 2 transmits “stop” control data to the terminal device 4 of the refrigeration equipment 6. When the terminal device 4 of the refrigeration equipment 6 receives the “stop” control data from the centralized management controller 2, the refrigeration equipment 6 is always stopped and the showcase 3.

  Next, when the automatic operation / stop control of the cooling apparatus 6 is performed according to the schedule set in the centralized management controller 2, the rotary switch 9 of the switch terminal device 7 is set to “automatic”. Thereby, the communication with the centralized management controller 2 is disabled from the switch terminal device 7. When communication with the switch terminal device 7 becomes impossible, the centralized management controller 2 identifies that the switch terminal device 7 is set to “automatic”, and the terminal device of the refrigeration equipment 6 according to the schedule set by itself. The control data “RUN / STOP” is automatically transmitted to 4. Thereby, the terminal device 4 of the refrigeration equipment 6 performs the operation / stop control based on the schedule set in the centralized management controller 2 (FIG. 2).

  Thus, when the switch terminal device 7 is set to “automatic” (third control state), communication with the central management controller 2 is disabled, and the central management controller 2 When the communication with the switch terminal device 7 becomes impossible, the central control controller 2 identifies the switch terminal device 7 as “automatic”, so that the central control controller 2 receives the ON contact point input from the switch terminal device 7. The switch terminal device 7 is “cooled” based on the information, the switch terminal device 7 is “non-cooled” based on the contact information of OFF, and the switch terminal device 7 is “automatic” because communication is disabled. ”Can be specified.

  That is, three types of control states (“cooling”, “non-cooling”, “automatic”) of the switch terminal device 7 are concentrated while using ON / OFF contact information as communication information input to the centralized management controller 2. The management controller 2 can be recognized. As a result, the central management controller 2 can recognize the three types of control states of the switch terminal device 7 from 1-bit communication information with a single input circuit, thereby reducing the burden on the input circuit of the central management controller 2. .

  This means that when a plurality of switch terminal devices 7 are connected, a large number of terminal side control devices 4 and switch terminal devices 7 can be connected by a single centralized management controller 2. As a result, the system configuration can be significantly simplified.

  In the above embodiment, the centralized management system such as a showcase has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is effective for a centralized management system including a centralized management system and a switch terminal device. It goes without saying that there is.

It is a block diagram of centralized management systems, such as a showcase, as an Example of the control system of this invention. It is a block diagram of the centralized management system at the time of switching the switch terminal device of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 Centralized management system 2 Centralized management controller (high-level control device)
3 Showcase 4 Terminal-side control device 6 Refrigeration equipment 7 Switch terminal device 8 Communication line 9 Rotary switch

Claims (2)

In a control system constructed with a host control device and a switch terminal device communicably connected to the host control device,
The switch terminal device can select a third control state in addition to the first and second control states specified by the ON and OFF contact information transmitted to the host control device. In the control state 3, the communication with the host controller is disabled.
The control system is characterized in that, when communication with the switch terminal device becomes impossible, the host control device specifies that the switch terminal device is in a third control state.   The control system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the switch terminal devices are connected to the host control device.

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