JP5011811B2 - vending machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vending machine that cools and heats a product stored in a product storage.

In a conventional vending machine refrigerator, for example, a fluorocarbon gas such as R407c is used, and when such a fluorocarbon gas is released into the atmosphere, it promotes global warming due to the greenhouse effect. For this reason, the use of CFCs is in a global trend from the viewpoint of environmental protection.
In such a background, in recent years, Stirling refrigerators have attracted attention. A Stirling refrigerator is a self-cooling type refrigerator that does not have an external compressor or condenser. By compressing and expanding the internal gas using a reciprocating compressor, the low-temperature cooling unit and the high-temperature high heat Part. Here, a natural refrigerant such as helium gas is used as the gas, and since a chlorofluorocarbon-based gas is not used, the Stirling refrigerator is friendly to the global environment.
However, since the Stirling refrigerator uses the refrigeration effect due to the compression and expansion of gas, the structure of the compression / expansion space is limited, and the area of the cold heat generating part is limited to a small part. .

Therefore, in order to apply the Stirling refrigerator to a vending machine, a container containing an evaporator is disposed in the machine room in communication with the interior of each product storage, and the air inside each product storage (internal atmosphere) ) Between the product storage and the container. Then, the cold heat generated in the Stirling refrigerator is transferred to an evaporator inside the container, and air that passes through the inside of the container is cooled, thereby cooling the goods accommodated in each commodity storage.
On the other hand, when heating a product stored in a vending machine, each of the containers is connected to the product storage box by shutting the communication between the container and the product storage box and circulating the heated air inside the product storage box. A product stored in the product storage is heated (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP-A-2005-3351

By the way, in the vending machine which arrange | positions the container connected to the inside of each goods storage in a machine room, each goods storage communicates through a container. That is, the internal air of one product storage case enters the inside of another product storage case. Therefore, in the vending machine having such a structure, it is required to efficiently cool or heat the products in each product storage.
Here, in the case where a Stirling refrigerator is used, an automatic is provided that includes a container communicating with the interior of each commodity storage, and cools the products in a plurality of commodity storages by cooling the air passing through the interior of the container. Explained at the vending machine. However, for vending machines that do not use a Stirling refrigerator, have containers that communicate with the interior of each product storage, and cool the products in multiple product storages by cooling the air that passes through the interior of the containers. The same is required.
Therefore, the present invention has been considered in view of the above points, and uses the cooling and heating generated in the Stirling refrigerator to be environmentally friendly and efficiently cool or heat the products stored in each product storage. An object is to provide a vending machine that can.

In order to achieve the above-described object, the invention according to claim 1 includes a plurality of commodity storages, a container communicating with the interior of each commodity storage, and a cooling means for cooling the internal air passing through the interior of the container. And a fan duct that discharges air to each product storage by driving a fan in the cabinet, a heating means that heats the internal air passing through the inside of the air duct, and a back surface provided on the back of each product store In a vending machine comprising a duct and a flow path switching means for branching the flow path to the container or the air duct, the flow path switching means is formed between the commodity storage and the container. A shutter plate that opens and closes the opening; and a guide plate whose peripheral edge engages with the air duct to change the flow path cross-sectional area of the flow path, and the shutter plate opens a part of the opening. When in a state, the upper edge of the guide plate The blower duct abuts, when the shutter plate is the opening in the closed state, as the upper edge of the guide plate is spaced apart from the air duct, to adjust the circulation flow rate of air product storage The fluid resistance of the rear duct is changed.

A vending machine according to a second aspect of the present invention is the vending machine according to the first aspect , wherein the detection means for detecting the internal temperature of each commodity storage and the control for driving the flow path switching means based on the detection means. Means for driving the flow path switching means according to a temperature difference between the detected temperature detected by the detecting means and a preset set temperature, so that the product stored in the product storage is brought to a desired temperature state. It is characterized by controlling.

According to the vending machine according to the present invention, a plurality of product storages, containers communicating with the inside of each product storage, cooling means for cooling the internal air passing through the inside of the containers, An air duct that discharges air to each product storage by being driven, a heating means that heats the internal air that passes through the inside of the air duct, a rear duct provided at the back of each product storage, and the container or In a vending machine comprising a flow path switching means for branching a flow path to the air duct, the flow path switching means opens and closes an opening formed between the product storage and the container. A plate and a guide plate whose peripheral edge engages with the air duct to change the flow path cross-sectional area of the flow path, and when the shutter plate is in a state of opening a part of the opening, The upper edge of the guide plate is in contact with the air duct. And, when the shutter plate is the opening in the closed state, the upper edge of the guide plate is spaced apart from the air duct, the fluid of the rear duct to adjust the circulation flow rate of air product storage By changing the resistance, the air circulation amount of each product storage can be properly distributed in the cooling operation, and the air circulation amount of the product storage can be adjusted in the heating operation. Can be efficiently cooled or heated.
Further, the apparatus includes a detection unit that detects an internal temperature of each product storage, and a control unit that drives the flow path switching unit based on the detection unit, and the detection temperature detected by the detection unit is set in advance. Result of reaching the desired temperature state earlier by controlling the product stored in the product storage to a desired temperature state by driving the flow path switching means according to the temperature difference with the set temperature. The products stored in each product storage can be efficiently cooled.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.
1-17 is a figure explaining embodiment which concerns on this invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an overall view of a vending machine showing an embodiment according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional side view of the vending machine shown in FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a plan view taken along a section AA in FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 is a plan view taken along a section BB in FIG. 6, 9, 12, and 15 are explanatory views of the shutter mechanism in the open state, the semi-open state, and the closed state, respectively, and FIGS. 7, 10, and 13 are cross-sectional views of FIGS. FIG. 8, 11, 14, and 16 are schematic diagrams showing the flow of air. FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram of control means for controlling the shutter mechanism.

1 to 5, the vending machine includes a main body cabinet 10 formed as a rectangular heat insulator having an open front surface, an outer door 20 and an inner door 30 provided on the front surface, and the main body cabinet 10. The inside is divided into two upper and lower sections by the bottom plate 11, and the upper part is partitioned by, for example, two heat insulating partition plates 41, for example, three independent product storage units 40a, 40b, and 40c, and the lower part product storage units 40a, 40b, Machine room 50 for storing the cooling unit 60 for cooling 40c, and cooling heat that circulates the cooled or heated air in the product storage 40a, 40b, 40c across the product storage 40a, 40b, 40c and the machine room 50 A circulation unit 70, a shutter mechanism 80 as a flow path switching unit for changing the fluid resistance of the passage inside the cooling / heat circulation unit 70, and the inner side of the outer door 20. The product storage 40a, 40b, 40c includes a cooling unit 60, a cooling / circulation means 70, and a control device 90 for controlling the shutter mechanism 80 by a temperature sensor T.
More specifically, the outer door 20 is for opening and closing the front opening of the main body cabinet 10 and is not shown in the figure, but on the front surface of the outer door 20 is a sample of the product W to be sold. A product display room for displaying products, a selection button for selecting a product W to sell, a money slot for inserting money, a product outlet 21 for taking out the paid product W, etc. Necessary configuration is arranged.

The inner door 30 opens and closes the front surfaces of the product storage boxes 40a, 40b, and 40c to keep the products in the interior warm, and is a box-shaped structure having a heat insulator inside.
The product storage units 40a, 40b, and 40c are for storing the product W such as a canned beverage or a beverage containing a plastic bottle while maintaining the desired temperature, and the capacity of the storage unit is that of the product storage unit 40c. It is distributed in a manner larger than the other commodity storages 40a, 40b. The product storage racks 40a, 40b, and 40c each store the products W in a manner that they are arranged in the vertical direction, and are provided with a product carry-out mechanism for discharging the products W one by one according to a sales signal. , A product carry-out chute 42 for carrying the discharged product W to the sales port 21 of the outer door is provided.
The merchandise carry-out chute 42 is for guiding the merchandise W carried out of the merchandise carry-out mechanism to the merchandise take-out port 21, and the merchandise container 40a is gradually inclined downward from the back of the merchandise container toward the near side. , 40b, 40c are plate-like members. In addition, a large number of holes are formed in the surface so that the cooled or heated air blown out from the cold heat circulation means 70 is allowed to pass therethrough.
Next, the configuration of the cooling unit 60 and the operation of cooling and exhausting heat with the refrigerant in the cooling unit 60 will be described.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the cooling unit 60 includes a Stirling refrigerator 61 disposed in the machine room 50, and a low-temperature part heat exchanger 62 from a low-temperature part 61 a of the Stirling refrigerator 61. An evaporator 64 that is connected to the middle pipe 63a and the liquid pipe 63b, transfers cold and cools the inside of the refrigerator, and the first pipe 66a and the second pipe via the high-temperature part heat exchanger 65 from the high-temperature part 61b of the Stirling refrigerator 61. It is connected to a pipe 66b, and includes a fan 68 that transfers warm heat to a radiator 67 by a pump 69 and exhausts heat from the radiator 67 to the outside of the vending machine.
The Stirling refrigerator 61 is placed horizontally and has a low temperature part 61a that generates cold heat when it operates and a high temperature part 61b that generates high temperature exhaust heat. Further, the Stirling refrigerator 61 is controlled by the control means 90 based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor T or the like disposed inside the product storage 40a, 40b, 40c.
The low temperature part heat exchanger 62 is for transferring cold heat from the low temperature part 61a of the Stirling refrigerator 61, and is connected to the low temperature part 61a in a manner in contact with the outer peripheral surface. A refrigerant is sealed inside the low temperature portion heat exchanger 62, and a plurality of thin tubes serving as refrigerant passages are formed in a row, and each thin tube passes through the cold heat generated in the low temperature portion 61a. The refrigerant is condensed into a condensate. Here, as the refrigerant, for example, a gas such as carbon dioxide which is a gas at normal temperature and does not freeze with the cold heat from the low temperature portion 61a of the Stirling refrigerator 61 (an antifreeze refrigerant) is used.

The evaporator 64 is installed at a position spaced apart from the low-temperature part heat exchanger 62 by a predetermined distance, and is provided with a cooling container 75 (details will be described later) disposed below the corresponding product storage 40a, 40b, 40c. ) Is housed inside. This evaporator 64 is for cooling the air of corresponding goods storage 40a, 40b, 40c. The evaporator 64 is a so-called fin-and-tube heat exchanger structure, and heat is taken away by evaporation of the refrigerant in the tube, and the product storage 40a, It is transferred to 40b and 40c.
The air pipe 63a is a pipe connecting the low-temperature part heat exchanger 62 and the evaporator 64, and moves the refrigerant evaporated in the evaporator 64 from the evaporator 64 to the low-temperature part heat exchanger 62 in a gaseous state. belongs to.

The liquid pipe 63b is a pipe line connecting the evaporator 64 and the low temperature part heat exchanger 62, and the refrigerant condensed in the low temperature part heat exchanger 62 moves from the low temperature part heat exchanger 62 to the evaporator 64 in a liquid state. It is for making it happen.
Although the arrangement relationship between the liquid pipe 63b and the aerial pipe 63a is not clearly shown in the drawing, the aerial pipe 63a is positioned above the liquid pipe 63b. This is because the density of the refrigerant passing through the air pipe 63a is smaller than the density of the refrigerant passing through the liquid pipe 63b. In such a configuration of the refrigerant pipe, the refrigerant circulates while repeating the phase change between the low-temperature part heat exchanger 62 and the evaporator 64, and is called a loop type thermosiphon heat pipe.
The high temperature section heat exchanger 65 is for transferring the heat from the high temperature section 61b of the Stirling refrigerator 61, and is connected to the high temperature section 61b in a manner in contact with the outer peripheral surface. A refrigerant is sealed inside the high-temperature part heat exchanger 65, and a plurality of thin tubes serving as refrigerant passages are formed in a line, and the heat generated in the high-temperature part 61b and each thin tube pass through. Heat exchange is performed with the refrigerant to be performed. Here, various refrigerants can be used. As an example, an antifreeze liquid is used.

The structure of the radiator 67 is a fin-and-tube type similar to the evaporator 64, and the position of the radiator 67 is the upper part on the near side of the machine room 50. The fan 68 is disposed in the vicinity of the radiator 67 and exhausts the heat of condensation of the refrigerant condensed by the radiator 67 to the outside of the vending machine.
The first pipe 66 a is a pipe line connecting the radiator 67 and the high temperature part heat exchanger 65 via the pump 69, and moves the refrigerant absorbed by the radiator 67 to the high temperature part heat exchanger 65 by the pump 69. Is for.
The second pipe 66 b is a pipe line that connects the high-temperature part heat exchanger 65 and the radiator 67, and is for moving the refrigerant received by the high-temperature part heat exchanger 65 to the radiator 67.
Since the refrigerant phase does not change in the radiator 67 and the high-temperature part heat exchanger 65, the first piping 66a and the second piping 66b are limited in position unlike the above-described loop thermosyphon heat pipe. Will not be.

The operation of cooling and heat dissipation of the cooling unit 60 in the configuration of such piping will be described.
The cold heat from the low temperature part 61a of the Stirling refrigerator 61 is transferred into the evaporator 64 as follows. The refrigerant to which the cold heat is transferred in the low temperature part heat exchanger 62 thermally connected to the low temperature part 61a condenses in the low temperature part heat exchanger 62 and becomes a liquid and moves to the evaporator 64 through the liquid pipe 63b. . The moved refrigerant evaporates by exchanging heat with the air from the outside of the evaporator 64, and the evaporation heat is transmitted to the air. The evaporated refrigerant is returned to the low-temperature part heat exchanger 62 through the air pipe 63a, and the cycle of absorbing heat and returning to the liquid is repeated.
On the other hand, the high-temperature exhaust heat from the high-temperature part 61b of the Stirling refrigerator 61 is released to the outside of the vending machine as follows. The refrigerant having transferred high heat in the high temperature part heat exchanger 65 thermally connected to the high temperature part 61 b moves to the radiator 67 through the second pipe 66 b and is radiated by the radiator 67. The radiated heat is released to the outside of the vending machine by the fan 68. Therefore, the high temperature exhaust heat from the high temperature part 61 b of the Stirling refrigerator 61 is released to the outside of the vending machine by the radiator 67. In addition, the refrigerant radiated by the radiator 67 moves to the high temperature part heat exchanger 65 through the first pipe 66a via the pump 69, and repeats the above cycle by receiving heat again in the high temperature part heat exchanger 65. Become. In this refrigerant circuit, the phase change is not performed and the refrigerant in the pipe is circulated by the action of the pump 69 in a liquid phase state.

Next, the structure of the cooling / heating circulation means 70 for circulating the cooled or heated air in the storage and the operation of the air circulation will be described.
As shown in FIG. 3, the cold heat circulation means 70 stores a rear duct 71 and an evaporator 64 therein, and a first chamber 73 and a second chamber defined by the evaporator 64 and a partition wall 76. 74, a container 75 (hereinafter referred to as a cooling container 75), a blower duct 77 having an internal fan 78 and a heater 79, and a shutter mechanism 80.
The back duct 71 is a ventilation channel for returning the air that has cooled or heated the products W in the product storage boxes 40a, 40b, and 40c to the evaporator 64 or the heater 79, and the back surfaces of the product storage boxes 40a, 40b, and 40c. These are plate-shaped members having a U-shaped cross-section respectively installed. The rear duct 71 has a suction port whose upper portion opens toward the front surface, and a lower flow path 72 positioned at the lower portion is formed in such a manner that the front surface communicates with the blower duct 77 and the lower portion communicates with the cooling container 75. ing.

The cooling container 75 is a box-shaped structure made of a heat insulating material, and is disposed on the lower side of the bottom plate 11 and the back side of the machine room 50. Inside the cooling container 75, a heat insulating partition plate 76 is provided so as to partition the suction side and the discharge side of the evaporator 64, so that the first chamber 73 faces the discharge side at the portion facing the suction side. A second chamber 74 is formed.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the bottom plate 11 is formed with a suction passage 12 having a suction port 12a and a discharge port 13b, and a discharge passage 13 corresponding to the product storages 40a, 40b, and 40c. Has been. The first chamber 73 is connected to the lower flow path 72 of the rear duct 71 via the suction passage 12, and the second chamber 74 is connected to the blower duct 77 via the discharge passage 13.
The air duct 77 is a sheet metal member having a U-shaped cross section on the upper surface and side surfaces, and is a flow path for discharging cooled or heated air to the product W in the storage. The air duct 77 is switched in flow path in response to cooling or heating, and communicates with the cooling container 75 via the suction duct 13 and the lower side of the air duct 77 during cooling, and the rear part and the rear duct of the air duct 77 during heating. 71 communicates directly.

The internal fan 78 is for circulating the air inside the product storage 40a, 40b, 40c, and is below the product chute 42 and before the air duct 77 for each of the product storage 40a, 40b, 40c. Arranged on the side.
The heater 79 is for heating the air inside the product storages 40a, 40b, 40c, and the internal fan 78 so that the heated air can be circulated inside the product storages 40a, 40b, 40c. It is arranged in the vicinity.
As shown in FIG. 6, the shutter mechanism 80 is disposed on the bottom plate 11 of each of the product storage boxes 40a, 40b, and 40c, and includes a shutter plate 81, a guide plate 82, a motor 84, a pinion gear 85, and a rack gear 86. It has.
The shutter plate 81 is a flat plate member disposed in parallel with the bottom plate 11 and opens and closes the suction port 12a and the discharge port 13a. The shutter plate 81 is formed with a rectangular through hole 81a as shown in FIG. 7, and the size thereof is the same as that of the discharge port 13a. Further, the length of the shutter plate 81 on the back side of the through hole 81a is the same as the length corresponding to the arrangement interval between the suction port 12a and the discharge port 13a.

The guide plate 82 engages with the top plate 77a and the side surface of the air duct 77 and slides to introduce the air flowing in from the rear duct 71 into the cooling container 75 or directly into the air duct 77. The shutter plate 81 is a flat plate-like member extending in the vertical direction from the rear end edge of 81. The guide plate 82 slides the entire depth distance from the forefront of the suction port 12a to the back surface of the main body cabinet 10.
The motor 84 includes a drive shaft 84a that rotates forward or backward by operating. A pinion gear 85 that meshes with the rack gear 86 is provided at the tip of the drive shaft 84a. For example, a stepping motor capable of controlling the rotation amount of the pinion gear 85 is used as such a motor 84.
One end of the rack gear 86 is attached to the shutter plate 81, and the shutter plate 81 and the guide plate 82 are slid to the front side or the back side by forward or reverse rotation of the drive shaft 84a.

Depending on the slide position of the shutter mechanism 80, the circulating air in the cold circulation means 70 flows as follows.
First, in the cooling operation, in a state where the shutter plate 81 is located on the most front side, the discharge port 13a and the through hole 81a are matched as shown in FIGS. Direct communication with the air duct 77 is blocked.
Therefore, in this state, the air inside the product storage boxes 40a, 40b, and 40c is fed into the rear duct 71, the suction passage 12, the first chamber 73, the evaporator 64, the It passes through the cooling passage formed by the two chambers 74, the discharge passage 13, and the air duct 77, and returns to the inside of the product storage 40 a, 40 b, 40 c.
When the shutter plate 81 and the guide plate 82 are arranged so that the discharge port 13a and the through hole 81a match, the opening area of the discharge port 13a and the suction port 12a by the shutter plate 81 and the guide plate 82 (passage area through which air passes) Is the maximum and the aperture ratio is 100%. Further, the passage area passing through the lower flow path 72 of the back duct 71 is the largest, and the flow path resistance is the smallest.

  In this state, when the motor 84 is driven and the pinion gear 85 is rotated forward to slide the shutter plate 81 and the guide plate 82 to the rear side via the rack gear 86, a through hole is formed with respect to the discharge port 13a. 81a is displaced, a part of the discharge port 13a is blocked by the shutter plate 81, the opening area of the discharge port 13a is reduced, and a part of the suction passage 12 is also blocked by the shutter plate 81, and one of the suction ports 12a The part is also closed by the shutter plate 81. Moreover, the cross-sectional area of the passage in the lower flow path 72 of the rear duct 71 is also reduced. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, when the shutter plate 81 and the guide plate 82 are moved so that the left half of the through hole 81 a and the right half of the discharge port 13 a overlap, the discharge port 13 a by the shutter plate 81 and the guide plate 82. And the opening rate of the suction inlet 12 is 50%. Further, the passage cross-sectional area of the lower flow path 72 of the back duct 71 is 2/3, and the flow velocity is 3/2 times, so the flow resistance of the lower flow path 72 of the back duct 71 is 9/4 times.

Further, since the upper edge and the side edge of the guide plate 82 are in contact with the inner surface of the air duct 77, the communication between the rear duct 71 and the air duct 77 continues to be blocked. Therefore, even in this state, as shown in FIG. 11, the air inside the product storage containers 40 a, 40 b, and 40 c passes through the cooling container 75 by the internal fan 78, while the inside of the product storage containers 40 a, 40 b, and 40 c. Return to.
Thereafter, when the motor 84 is further driven and the pinion gear 85 is rotated forward to cause the shutter plate 81 and the guide plate 82 to slide back through the rack gear 86, the discharge port formed by the shutter plate 81 and the guide plate 82. The opening ratios of 13a and the suction port 12a are further reduced. Eventually, when the shutter plate 81 and the guide plate 82 are moved so that the left end of the through hole 81a and the right end of the discharge port 13a overlap each other, the discharge port 13a is blocked by the shutter plate 81 and discharged by the shutter plate 81 and the guide plate 82. The opening area of the outlet 13a becomes zero, the suction port 12a is also closed by the shutter plate 81, and the opening area of the suction port 12a by the shutter plate 81 and the guide plate 82 is also zero. In addition, since the upper edge and the side edge of the guide plate 82 are in contact with the inner surface of the air duct 77, the communication between the rear duct 71 and the air duct 77 continues to be blocked. Therefore, the air inside the product storage boxes 40a, 40b, and 40c in this state does not circulate. That is, during the cooling operation, the shutter plate 81 moves the opening area of the suction port 12a and the discharge port 13a from the maximum opening area to zero.

On the other hand, in the heating operation, when the motor 84 is further driven and the pinion gear 85 is rotated in the forward direction so that the shutter plate 81 and the guide plate 82 are slid to the back side via the rack gear 86, FIGS. As shown in the drawing, since the discharge port 13a and the suction port 12a are shielded by the shutter plate 81, air does not flow from the rear duct 71 to the cooling container 75. Further, the upper edge of the guide plate 82 is separated from the top plate 77 a of the air duct 77, and a bypass passage port 71 a is formed from the rear duct 71 to the air duct 77. The amount of circulating air is adjusted by the opening area of the passage opening 71a.
Accordingly, in this state, the air inside the product storage boxes 40a, 40b, and 40c passes through the passage opening 71a from the rear duct 71 by the internal fan 78 as shown in FIG. It returns to the inside of the product storage 40a, 40b, 40c through a heating passage formed by the air duct 77 included in the product.

Thereafter, when the motor 84 is further driven and the pinion gear 85 is rotated in the forward direction so that the shutter plate 81 and the guide plate 82 are moved to the rear surface of the cabinet 10 via the rack gear 86, as shown in FIG. A bypass passage port 71 a formed between 71 and the air duct 77 is substantially the same as the cross-sectional area of the rear duct 71. On the other hand, the state where the discharge port 13a and the suction port 12a are blocked by the shutter plate 81 is maintained. At this time, the opening area of the passage opening 71a is maximized, and the amount of circulating air during the heating operation is maximized.
In this state, the air inside the product storage boxes 40a, 40b, and 40c passes through the heating passage constituted by the rear duct 71, the passage opening 72b, and the air duct 77 by the internal fan 78 as shown in FIG. Return to the inside of the product storage 40a, 40b, 40c at the flow rate.
As described above, the shutter mechanism 80 slides the shutter plate 81 and the guide plate 82 in the cooling operation, thereby allowing the fluid resistance of the lower flow path 72 of the rear duct 71 and the suction port 12a communicating with the cooling container 75 to be discharged. Since the passage area of the outlet 13a changes, the amount of circulating air inside the product storage boxes 40a, 40b, and 40c can be adjusted as appropriate. As a result, the products in each product storage can be efficiently cooled without making adjustments that lead to high costs such as selection of a fan corresponding to the product storage and control of the rotation speed. Further, in the heating operation, the passage cross-sectional area of the passage port 71a to the lower flow path 72 of the rear duct 71 is reduced while blocking the inflow and outflow to the suction port 12a and the discharge port 13a communicating with the cooling container 75 by the shutter plate 81. Since it changes, the amount of circulating air inside the product storage boxes 40a, 40b, 40c can be adjusted as appropriate. As a result, the products in each product storage can be efficiently cooled and heated.

Note that the shutter plate 81 and the guide plate 82 have heat insulating members (not shown) attached to the shutter plate 81 and the guide plate 82. By sticking the heat insulating member to the shutter plate 81, it is possible to suppress the movement of heat between the heated air and the air inside the cooling container 75 when the air passes through the heating passage. By sticking the heat insulating member to the guide plate 82, when air passes through the cooling passage, heat is prevented from moving between the air passing through the rear duct 71 and the air passing through the blower duct 77.
Thus, by changing the fluid resistance of the rear duct 71 so that the shutter mechanism 80 adjusts the circulation flow rate of the air in the product storage, in the cooling operation, each product storage 40a, 40b, The air circulation amount distributed to 40c can be adjusted appropriately. Moreover, since the air circulation amount of the product storage can be adjusted in the heating operation, the products in each product storage can be efficiently cooled or heated.

Further, the movement of the shutter plate 81 and the guide plate 82 by the shutter mechanism 80 described above is controlled by the following control means 90.
As shown in FIG. 17, the control means 90 includes a memory 95, a main control unit 96, an internal temperature acquisition unit 97, a movement distance setting unit 98, and an operation command unit 99.
The main control unit 96 comprehensively controls the internal temperature acquisition unit 97, the movement distance setting unit 98, and the operation command unit 99 based on a program or data stored in advance in a memory 95 such as a ROM or a RAM. Is.
The internal temperature acquisition unit 97 is connected to a temperature detection sensor (temperature detection means) T provided in each of the product storages 40a, 40b, 40c, and each product storage 40a detected by the temperature detection sensor T. , 40b, 40c are converted into signals and transmitted to the main control unit 96.

The vending machine as described above uses the control means 90 as follows to adjust the products stored in the product storage 40a, 40b, 40c to a desired temperature. Here, the control of the shutter mechanism 80 by the control unit 90 will be mainly described. Moreover, in the following description, the case where the goods accommodated in all the goods storage 40a, 40b, 40c shall be demonstrated, As the premise, inside the goods storage 40a, 40b, 40c, a warehouse A description will be given assuming that the inner fan 78 is driven. In the initial state in this description, the opening ratios of all the suction ports 12a and the discharge ports 13a are 100%.
The main control unit 96 of the control means 90 acquires the internal temperatures of the product storage units 40a, 40b, and 40c through the internal temperature acquisition unit 97, respectively.
The main control unit 96 that has acquired the internal temperatures of the product storage units 40 a, 40 b, and 40 c passes through the movement distance setting unit 98 to store the internal temperature and the product storage units 40 a, 40 b, 40 c stored in the memory 95 in advance. Compare with the set temperature.

As a result of comparing the internal temperature and the set temperature, the product storage units 40a, 40b, and 40c are identified as those in which the internal temperature has not reached the set temperature, and the main control unit 96 has the highest temperature difference. It sets so that the opening area of the suction inlet 12a and the discharge outlet 13a in the small goods storage 40a, 40b, 40c and the passage area of the lower flow path 72 of the rear duct 71 may be minimized.
After that, the main control unit 96 transmits a command to the corresponding shutter mechanism 80 through the operation command unit 99 and operates the motor 84, so that the suction port 12a and the discharge port 13a of the shutter plate 81 and the guide plate 82 are operated. The opening area and the passage area of the lower flow path 72 of the rear duct 71 are changed to those set. After a predetermined time has elapsed, the above operation is repeated.
Here, a specific example of control of the shutter mechanism 80 by the main control unit 96 will be described. The main control unit 96 acquires the internal temperatures of the product storage units 40a, 40b, and 40c through the internal temperature acquisition unit 97, respectively.

The inside temperature acquired through the inside temperature obtaining unit 97 is the product storage 40a (hereinafter referred to as the left product storage 40a) arranged on the left side in FIG. The product storage 40b (hereinafter referred to as the central product storage 40b) is 3 ° C., and the product storage 40c (hereinafter referred to as the right product storage 40c) disposed on the right side in FIG. Suppose that Further, it is assumed that the set temperature stored in the memory 95 is 2 ° C. in all the product storage cases 40a, 40b, and 40c.
The main control unit 96 sets the opening area of the suction port 12a and the discharge port 13a of the central commodity storage 40b having the smallest temperature difference and the passing area of the lower flow path 72 of the rear duct 71 through the movement distance setting unit 98. To do. As a result, the main control unit 96 transmits an operation command to the corresponding shutter mechanism 80 through the operation command unit 99 and operates the motor 84 so that the opening area of the suction port 12a and the discharge port 13a and the rear duct 71 are increased. The passage area of the lower flow path 72 is made the smallest.

If the opening area of the suction port 12a and the discharge port 13a of the central product storage 40b and the passage area of the lower flow path 72 of the rear duct 71 are reduced, the air resistance of the air flowing from the cooling container 75 to the central product storage 40b increases. . As a result, the amount of air flowing from the cooling container 75 to the left product storage 40a increases, and the amount of air flowing from the cooling container 75 to the right product storage 40c increases. Therefore, since the amount of air flowing to the left product storage 40a and the right product storage 40c can be increased, the internal temperature can be lowered more quickly to approach the set temperature.
After a predetermined time has elapsed, the main control unit 96 acquires the internal temperature of each of the product storage units 40a, 40b, and 40c through the internal temperature acquisition unit 97 again. At this time as well, the internal temperature and the set temperature are respectively compared, and the product internal temperatures of the product storage cases 40a, 40b and 40c are specified. And the main control part 96 makes the opening area of the suction inlet 12a and the discharge outlet 13a in the goods storage 40a, 40b, 40c with the smallest temperature difference among them, and the passage area of the lower flow path 72 of the back surface duct 71 the smallest. Set to do. Thereafter, the above operation is repeated after a predetermined time has elapsed.

As described above, by changing the opening area of the suction port 12a and the discharge port 13a and the passage area of the lower flow path 72 of the back duct 71 as appropriate, the amount of air is adjusted and circulated, so that the product storage boxes 40a and 40b. , 40c can be efficiently reduced to keep the air temperature at, for example, 2 ° C., whereby the product can be efficiently brought to a suitable sales temperature, for example, 5 ° C.
On the other hand, in the vending machine, for example, when only the product stored in the right product storage 40c is heated, a command to move the guide plate 82 into the rear duct 71 is operated from the main control unit 96. The data is transmitted to the shutter mechanism 80 via the command unit 99.
Then, the guide plate 82 is moved to the inside of the rear duct 71, and the rear duct 71 and the air duct 77 are communicated. Thereby, the communication state of the right goods storage 40c and the cooling container 75 is interrupted | blocked. At this time, since the suction port 12a and the discharge port 13a are blocked by the shutter plate 81, the air cooled inside the cooling container 75 does not move to the right product storage 40c. Then, by operating the heater 79 of the right product storage 40c, the air heated by the heater 79 is blown from the lower side of the product chute 42 by the action of the internal fan 78, and the right product storage 40c Circulate inside.

When the heated air passes through the product, heat exchange is performed between the air and the product, and the product is heated. The air that has exchanged heat with the product again enters the rear duct 71, passes through the heating passage, and reaches the heater 79. Then, the heater 79 is heated again.
The air thus heated circulates inside the right product storage 40c, so that the temperature of the product can be set to an appropriate sales temperature (for example, 55 ° C.).
According to the vending machine according to this embodiment, the detected temperature detected by the temperature detection sensor T is compared with the set temperature stored in advance in the memory 95, and the product storage with a relatively small temperature difference. Since the control means 90 for controlling the circulating flow rate of air by reducing the opening area of the suction port 12a and the discharge port 13a and the passage area of the lower flow path 72 of the rear duct 71 in the central product storage 40b, for example, is provided. The amount of air flowing to the product storage units 40a and 40c other than the central product storage unit 40b can be relatively increased, and the internal temperature of these product storage units 40a and 40c can be lowered earlier to the set temperature. You can get closer. Therefore, the goods accommodated in each goods storage 40a, 40b, 40c can be cooled efficiently. Thereby, the cost required for the operation of the vending machine 20 can be reduced, and energy saving can be achieved.

In the above-described embodiment, as an initial state, the opening ratios of all the suction ports 12a and the discharge ports 13a are set to 100%, and the suction ports 12a and the discharge ports in the product storages 40a, 40b, and 40c having the smallest temperature difference. The control means 90 for controlling the circulating flow rate of air by minimizing the opening area of 13a and the passage area of the lower flow path 72 of the rear duct 71 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and as an initial state, the opening ratios of all the suction ports 12a and the discharge ports 13a are, for example, 50%, and the opening areas of the suction ports 12a and the discharge ports 13a in the product storage with the largest temperature difference and Even if control means for controlling the circulating flow rate of air by maximizing the passage area of the lower flow path 72 of the rear duct 71 is provided, the same operation and effect can be achieved.
In the above-described embodiment, the Stirling refrigerator 61 is used. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can also be applied to a vending machine that cools products in a plurality of product storage boxes with one evaporator provided outside.

  As described above, the cooling device according to the present invention is useful for cooling products stored in a plurality of product storage boxes in, for example, a vending machine, using cold heat generated in a Stirling refrigerator.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an overall view of a vending machine according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a sectional side view of the vending machine shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. FIG. 4 is a plan view taken along section AA in FIG. FIG. 5 is a plan view taken along a section BB in FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram in the initial state of the shutter mechanism. FIG. 7 is a schematic view taken along section AA of FIG. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the air flow of FIG. FIG. 9 is an explanatory view of the moving state of the shutter mechanism. FIG. 10 is a schematic view taken along section AA of FIG. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing the air flow of FIG. FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram in the closed state of the shutter mechanism. FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram taken along section AA of FIG. FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing the air flow of FIG. FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram in the final state of the shutter mechanism. FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing the air flow of FIG. FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram of control means for controlling the shutter mechanism.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Main body cabinet 40a Product storage 40b Product storage 40c Product storage 42 Chute 50 Machine room 60 Cooling unit 61 Stirling refrigerator 62 Low temperature part heat exchanger 63a Air piping 63b Liquid piping 64 Evaporator 65 High temperature part heat exchanger 66a First piping 66b Second piping 67 Radiator 68 Fan 69 Pump 70 Cooling / circulating means 71 Rear duct 72 Lower channel 72c Passage port 73 First chamber 74 Second chamber 75 Container (cold container)
76 Partition plate 77 Air duct 77a Top plate 78 Fan in the cabinet 79 Heater 80 Shutter mechanism 81 Shutter plate 82 Guide plate 84 Motor 85 Rack gear 86 Pinion gear 90 Controller

Claims (2)

A plurality of product storages, containers communicating with the interior of each product storage, cooling means for cooling the internal air passing through the inside of the containers, and air in each product storage by driving an internal fan A blowing duct to be discharged, a heating means for heating the internal air passing through the inside of the blowing duct, a rear duct provided at the back of each product storage, and a flow that branches the flow path to the container or the blowing duct In the vending machine provided with the path switching means, the flow path switching means includes a shutter plate that opens and closes an opening formed between the product storage and the container, and a periphery of the shutter plate is associated with the air duct. And a guide plate for changing the flow passage cross-sectional area of the flow passage, and when the shutter plate is in a state of opening a part of the opening, the upper edge of the guide plate is connected to the air duct. The shutter plate is in contact with the opening When in the in the closed state, the upper edge of the guide plate is spaced apart from the air duct, characterized in that changing the fluid resistance of the rear duct to adjust the circulation flow rate of air product storage vending machine. A detection means for detecting the internal temperature of each product storage; and a control means for driving the flow path switching means based on the detection means, the detection temperature detected by the detection means and a preset set temperature 2. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the commodity stored in the commodity storage is controlled to a desired temperature state by driving the flow path switching unit according to a temperature difference between the automatic vending machine and the vending machine.

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