JP6502773B2 - Cold storage device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a cold storage device.

  Conventionally, as a cold storage device, for example, the one described in Patent Document 1 is known. Patent Document 1 discloses a refrigerator including a cold storage room and a heating room, which can store hot food and cold food under refrigeration, and then reheat and take out hot food in the hot room. In general, when a cooling device for cooling a refrigerator compartment and a heating compartment is operated, frost adheres to the cooler and the cooling capacity is reduced. For this reason, in the cold and warm storage apparatus, when the cooling apparatus is operated, the operation of the cooling apparatus is temporarily stopped to perform defrosting processing to melt the frost.

JP, 2011-43310, A

  However, for example, when the heating operation of the heating chamber is performed while the defrosting process of the cooler for cooling the refrigerating chamber is performed, the heat of the heating chamber raises the temperature of the refrigerating chamber, and the temperature of the food is increased. Has a problem of rising. This invention is completed based on the above situations, Comprising: It aims at performing a defrost process of a cooler, suppressing the temperature rise of a refrigerator compartment.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned subject, the cold storage device of the present invention is provided with a refrigerator, a heating chamber, and a cooling device provided with a cooler capable of cooling the refrigerator, and a heating device capable of heating the heating chamber. And a control unit capable of controlling the cooling device, and a time setting unit capable of setting a defrosting start time of the defrosting process of the cooler, wherein the control unit operates the cooling device. When the defrosting start time comes during, the defrosting process is performed by stopping the operation of the cooling device, and the defrosting start time is the first of the heating start time by the heating device. The time setting unit includes at least a first start time that is a predetermined time before and a second start time that is a second predetermined time before the first start time, and the time setting unit is configured to determine the first predetermined time and the second predetermined time. It is characterized in that it is possible to set each time.

  According to the present invention, the defrosting start time of the cooler can be set based on the heating start time. Thus, by appropriately setting the first predetermined time, it is possible to prevent the defrosting process from being performed during the operation of the heating device. As a result, it is possible to perform the defrosting process of the cooler while suppressing a situation in which the temperature of the cold storage room rises due to the heat of the heating room. Further, according to the present invention, the second predetermined time can be set separately from the first predetermined time. As described above, the first predetermined time is preferably set to a time at which the defrosting process is completed at the heating start time. On the other hand, the second predetermined time does not need to be set in this way, and can be set more flexibly according to the ambient temperature of the refrigerator compartment and the like.

  The control unit further includes a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature in the cold storage room, and the control unit ends the defrosting process when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor reaches a predetermined defrost end temperature. It can be done. With such a configuration, it is possible to suppress a situation in which the temperature in the refrigerating chamber becomes a temperature higher than the defrosting end temperature during the defrosting process.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the defrosting process of a cooler can be performed, suppressing the temperature rise of a refrigerator compartment.

An exploded perspective view of a cold / cool storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention Cross-sectional view (a cross-sectional view as viewed from the front side) showing a cold storage device Block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the cold storage device Flow chart showing the defrosting process by the control unit Diagram showing the relationship between defrosting start time and heating start time

(Configuration of cold storage device)
One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 1, the cold / cool storage device 9 of the present embodiment includes a cart 10 for storing the tray X, and a station 30 for storing the cart 10 so as to be able to be put in and out. Incidentally, such a cold storage device 9 is called a reheating cart. The cart 10 is composed of a cart main body 11 made of an insulating box and a frame cart 20 for storing the tray X. Both the front and rear sides of the cart body 11 are opened, and a double-door type heat insulating door 12 is attached to the opening 11A. A caster 13 is provided on the bottom of the cart body 11.

  The frame cart 20 has a structure in which metal frames 23 are raised from the left and right side edges of the bottom plate 21 provided with the casters 22 and can be taken in and out from the front side of the cart body 11 described above. . A partition wall 24 is provided in a substantially central portion in the left-right direction of the frame cart 20 over the entire front-rear direction. The partition wall 24 has a shape in which a plurality of unit partition walls 24A having high thermal insulation properties are stacked, and the tray X is stored across multiple stages while penetrating between the upper and lower unit partition walls 24A from both front and rear surfaces. It is supposed to be. When the frame cart 20 is stored in the cart main body 11, as shown in FIG. 2, the inside of the cart main body 11 is divided into right and left by the partition wall 24, the heating chamber 25H is on the left side of the partition wall 24, The refrigerator compartment 25C is formed.

  The station 30 has a substantially box-like shape with an open front, through which the cart 10 can be taken in and out. On the ceiling portion of the station 30, as shown in FIG. 2, the first heat exchange chamber 31 and the second heat exchange chamber 32 are formed side by side, and are divided and formed on the left side of the heating chamber 25H. In the first heat exchange chamber 31, a cooler 33H capable of cooling the heating chamber 25H and a heater 34 (heating device) capable of heating the heating chamber 25H are provided. On the other hand, a cooler 33C capable of cooling the cold storage room 25C is provided in the second heat exchange room 32 on the right side disposed above the cold storage room 25C.

  A circulation fan 35 H is provided in the first heat exchange chamber 31, and a circulation fan 35 C is provided in the second heat exchange chamber 32. Both coolers 33H and 33C (evaporator) constitute a cooling device 37 together with a compressor 38 and a condenser (not shown) arranged in the machine chamber 36 of the station 30, a condenser fan (not shown) and the like. It is assumed. That is, each of the coolers 33H and 33C is circulatingly connected to the compressor 38 and the condenser by the refrigerant pipe, and cold air is generated by configuring a known refrigeration cycle. Further, both the coolers 33H and 33C are connected in parallel to, for example, the compressor 38 and the condenser via an on-off valve (for example, a solenoid valve or the like). Thus, by controlling the opening and closing of the on-off valve, the coolers 33H and 33C can be operated individually. Specifically, by controlling the opening and closing of the valve member, it is possible to control the flow of the refrigerant to the coolers 33H and 33C and its stop, that is, the performance of the cooling function and its stop.

  In the state where the cart 10 is stored in the station 30, a first air circulation passage 41 is formed which enables air to be circulated between the first heat exchange chamber 31 and the heating chamber 25H, and the second heat exchange chamber 32 and A second air circulation passage 42 capable of circulating air is formed between the refrigerator compartment 25C. The air in the heating chamber 25H is drawn from the ceiling side of the heating chamber 25H by the first air circulation path 41 and the circulation fan 35H and sent to the first heat exchange chamber 31, and the air is subjected to heat exchange, It is possible to drive from the side of 25H. That is, the heating chamber 25H (cooling chamber) functions as a refrigerating chamber when the cooler 33H is operating, and functions as a heating chamber when the heater 34 is operating. It is supposed to be. Further, the air in the refrigerator compartment 25C is drawn from the ceiling side of the refrigerator compartment 25C by the second air circulation path 42 and the circulation fan 35C and sent to the second heat exchange chamber 32, and the air is heat exchanged, and then the refrigerator compartment 25C It is possible to drive from the side of

(Electrical configuration of cold storage device)
Next, the electrical configuration of the cold storage device 9 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the cold storage device 9 includes a control unit 50. The control unit 50 includes a display unit 54A, an operation unit 54B, temperature sensors 43H and 43C, circulation fans 35H and 35C, a heater 34, a cooling device 37 (more specifically, a compressor 38), a built-in clock 57, and a storage unit 56. Are electrically connected.

  The control unit 50 mainly includes, for example, a CPU, and the storage unit 56 includes, for example, a ROM, a RAM, and the like. The control unit 50 executes the program stored in the storage unit 56 to allow the devices (the display unit 54A, the circulation fans 35H and 35C, the heater 34, and the compressor 38 of the cooling device 37) connected to the control unit 50 to operate. It is possible to control the In addition, although the control part 50 and the memory | storage part 56 are accommodated in the electrical equipment box 26 (refer FIG. 1) arrange | positioned in the machine room 36, for example, it is not limited to this. The display unit 54A and the operation unit 54B are configured by the touch panel 54 shown in FIG. By operating the switch displayed on the touch panel 54, the operator can perform the operation of the cooling and heating apparatus 9 and various settings (for example, input of arrangement time, heating temperature, etc.). The internal clock 57 counts the current time, and the control unit 50 can control each device based on the current time of the internal clock 57.

(An example of usage of cold storage device)
Next, an example of usage of the cold / cool storage device 9 of the present embodiment will be described. First, hot and cold foods prepared for cooking and the like are divided into trays X, and the trays X are stored in the frame cart 20, and the frame cart 20 is stored in the cart main body 11 to configure the cart 10 ( Laying process). Next, when the cart 10 is put into the station 30 and the operation switch is turned on, the refrigeration mode is executed.

  In the cold storage mode, the coolers 33H and 33C are activated in both heat exchange chambers 31 and 32, and cold air is circulated and supplied to both the heating room 25H and the cooling room 25C. Both food and cold food are stored refrigerated (chilled storage). In the cold storage mode, the temperature inside the storage room 25H is detected by the temperature sensor 43H, and the temperature inside the storage room 25C is detected by the temperature sensor 43C. Each detected temperature of the temperature sensors 43H and 43C is compared with each preset temperature set in advance, and on-off switching of the on-off valve provided in the cooling device 37 or on-off switching of the compressor 38 is performed based on the comparison. The operation or non-operation of the coolers 33H and 33C of the heat exchange chambers 31 and 32 corresponding to the chambers 25H and 25C is controlled. As a result, the internal temperatures of the heating room 25H and the refrigerating room 25C are maintained at almost the set temperatures.

  Then, when the current time of the built-in clock 57 built in the cold and cold storage device 9 becomes a predetermined time (heating start time t0) set in advance, the mode is switched to the reheating mode. In addition, such a heating start time t0 is determined by, for example, calculating the time required for heating the food from the arrangement time (time to arrange the food) input in advance. The heating start time t0 may be directly input. In the reheating mode, the cooler 33H is inactivated in the first heat exchange chamber 31, and the operation of the heater 34 is switched to the operation, while the cooler 33C is continuously operated in the second heat exchange chamber 32. Be done. As a result, warm air is circulated in the heating room 25H to reheat the hot food, while cold air is continuously circulated and supplied in the cold room 25C for chilled storage.

  When the predetermined time has passed and the serving time is reached, the reheating mode is ended and the operation switch is turned off. Thereafter, the cart 10 is withdrawn from the station 30, and the tray X is taken out for serving. When the serving is finished, only the frame cart 20 is left at the serving location and used at the lower stage.

(Defrosting process)
The control unit 50 of the present embodiment executes the defrosting process when the defrosting start time set in advance is reached during the operation of the cooling device 37. The defrosting process referred to here means that the cooling device 37 (more specifically, the compressor 38) is temporarily stopped while rotating the circulation fans 35H and 35C (off-cycle defrosting). When the defrosting process is performed, the frost adhering to the coolers 33H and 33C melts, so that the cooling capacity can be recovered. In addition, by rotating the circulation fans 35H and 35C while the cooling device 37 is stopped, wind can be applied to the coolers 33H and 33C to promote defrosting.

  The defrosting process by the control unit 50 will be described in detail using the flowchart of FIG. 4. In the present embodiment, when the operation switch of the cold and warm storage device 9 is turned on, the refrigeration mode described above is started, and a program related to the defrosting process is executed. As shown in FIG. 4, when the cooling device 37 is in operation (YES in step S11), the control unit 50 determines that the current time clocked by the built-in clock 57 is the defrosting start time (YES in step S12). And defrosting processing are started (step S13).

  In addition, control unit 50, during execution of defrosting process, if inside temperature which is detected with temperature sensor 43H and 43C reaches the temperature which is set beforehand (defrost completion temperature) (step S14 is YES) , Resume the operation of the cooling device 37. Thus, the defrosting process ends (step S15). The defrosting end temperature can be set in the heating chamber 25H and the refrigerating chamber 25C, respectively. Moreover, although such a defrost end temperature is set, for example at 11 degrees C or less, it is not limited to this.

  In the present embodiment, the above-mentioned defrosting start time is set based on the heating start time t0 of the heater 34 (start time of the reheating mode) as shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the defrost start time t1 (first start time) immediately before the heating start time t0 is set before the first predetermined time TA of the heating start time t0. Moreover, the defrost start time t2 (2nd start time) one before the defrost start time t1 is set before the 2nd predetermined time TB of the defrost start time t1. Further, the defrosting start time t3 that is one before the defrosting start time t2 is set before the second predetermined time TB before the defrosting start time t2. That is, the defrosting start time t2 to tN (N is an arbitrary integer) before the defrosting start time t1 is set at a time which is traced back by the second predetermined time TB from the defrosting start time t1.

  That is, the first predetermined time TA is to determine the closest defrost start time t1 (first start time) from the heating start time t0. On the other hand, the second predetermined time TB determines the defrosting start time before the defrosting start time t2. In other words, the second predetermined time TB is a time (defrosting interval) from the start of the previous defrosting process to the next start of the defrosting process.

  In the present embodiment, the first predetermined time TA and the second predetermined time TB can be set using, for example, the touch panel 54 described above (the display unit 54A, the operation unit 54B, and an example of the time setting unit). . Specifically, the operator can set the first predetermined time TA and the second predetermined time TB using the dedicated input screen displayed on the touch panel 54. In other words, in the present embodiment, the defrosting start time can be set by setting the first predetermined time TA and the second predetermined time TB. The input first predetermined time TA and the second predetermined time TB are stored in the storage unit 56, for example. Further, the start time calculation unit in the control unit 50 calculates each defrost start time based on, for example, the heating start time t0, and the first predetermined time TA and the second predetermined time TB stored in the storage unit 56. It is assumed.

In the case where the defrost start time immediately before the heating start time t0 is the first defrost start time t1 and the defrost start time immediately before the defrost start time t1 is the second defrost start time t2, The N-th (N times before t0) defrosting start time tN can be obtained by the following equation (1).
tN = t0−TA−TB * (N−1)...

  Further, the first predetermined time TA is set to be longer than the actual "time required for the defrosting process". For example, in an environment where the defrosting process ends in 30 minutes, the first predetermined time TA is set to a time longer than 30 minutes (for example, 1 hour). In this way, the defrosting process immediately before the start of heating can be reliably completed before the heating start time. That is, heating of the heater 34 is not started during the defrosting process.

  In addition, the “time required for the defrosting process” described above differs depending on the installation environment (for example, the ambient temperature, the ambient humidity, and the like) of the refrigeration apparatus 9. For this reason, the first predetermined time TA is appropriately set in accordance with the installation environment. As a rule of thumb, the defrosting process is often completed within 30 minutes, so it is preferable to set, for example, the first predetermined time TA at 1 hour or more, and the first predetermined time TA is, for example, 1 hour It can be set in the range of 6 hours.

  The second predetermined time TB can be set, for example, in the range of 1 hour to 12 hours. The frequency of the defrosting process can be increased by setting the second predetermined time TB as a short time. For this reason, in an environment where frost easily adheres to the cooler 33C, it is preferable to set the second predetermined time TB in a shorter time. On the other hand, when the frequency of the defrosting process is high, the temperature of the refrigerator compartment 25C (and the heating compartment 25H) is likely to rise. For this reason, if the second predetermined time TB is set to be long, it is possible to suppress the temperature rise of the refrigerator compartment 25C (and the heating compartment 25H). The settable range of the first predetermined time TA and the second predetermined time TB is not limited to this. Further, N (the number of defrosting start times to be set) in the above equation (1) can be arbitrarily set.

  Next, the effects of the present embodiment will be described. According to the present embodiment, the defrosting start time tN of the cooler 33C can be set based on the heating start time t0. Thus, by appropriately setting the first predetermined time TA, it is possible to prevent the defrosting process from being performed while the heater 34 is operating. As a result, it is possible to perform the defrosting process on the cooler 33C while suppressing the temperature rise of the refrigerator compartment 25C due to the heat of the heating chamber 25H. Further, according to the present embodiment, the second predetermined time TB can be set separately from the first predetermined time TA. As described above, the first predetermined time TA is preferably set to a time at which the defrosting process is completed at the heating start time t0. On the other hand, the second predetermined time TB does not need to be set in this manner, and can be set more flexibly according to the ambient temperature of the refrigerator compartment 25C and the like.

  In addition, the control unit 50 includes the temperature sensor 43C that detects the temperature in the refrigerator compartment 25C, and the control unit 50 performs the defrosting process when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 43C reaches the defrosting end temperature set in advance. It is assumed to be finished. With such a configuration, it is possible to suppress a situation in which the temperature in the refrigerator compartment 25C becomes a temperature higher than the defrost termination temperature.

Other Embodiments
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above with reference to the drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.
(1) As a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature in the refrigerator compartment 25C, a core temperature sensor for detecting the temperature (for example, core temperature) of the food in the refrigerator compartment 25C may be used.
(2) In the above-mentioned embodiment, although touch panel 54 was illustrated as a time setting part, it is not limited to this. The time setting unit may include, for example, a mechanical input button.
(3) The defrosting start times described above may be set individually for the coolers 33H and 33C. That is, the defrosting process may be performed individually for each of the coolers 33H and 33C.

25C: refrigerator room, 25H: heating room, 33C: cooler, 34: heater (heating device), 37: cooling device, 43C: temperature sensor, 50: control unit, 54: touch panel (time setting unit), t1: Defrost start time (first start time), t2 ... defrost start time (second start time), TA ... first predetermined time, TB ... second predetermined time

Claims (2)

With the cold room,
With a heating room,
A cooling device provided with a cooler capable of cooling the refrigerator compartment;
A heating device capable of heating the heating chamber;
A controller capable of controlling the cooling device;
A time setting unit capable of setting a defrosting start time of the defrosting process of the cooler;
The control unit
When the defrosting start time comes during the operation of the cooling device, the defrosting process is performed by stopping the operation of the cooling device.
The defrosting start time is
A first start time which is a first predetermined time before a heating start time by the heating device;
At least a second start time which is a second predetermined time before the first start time;
The time setting unit
The cold storage apparatus which can set each of the first predetermined time and the second predetermined time. It has a temperature sensor that detects the temperature in the refrigerator compartment,
The cold storage apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit ends the defrosting process when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor reaches a preset defrost end temperature.

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