JP7069779B2 - Showcase and showcase temperature control method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention is a showcase and a showcase capable of maintaining a product temperature at an appropriate temperature according to a product display state such as a type of product displayed on the product shelf even if the set temperature of the product shelf is set in advance. Regarding the temperature control method of.

Conventionally, for example, a product displayed on a product shelf of a showcase is heated and kept warm by heat transfer from a heater attached to the back surface of the product shelf. In the temperature control of the product shelves by this heater, the temperature of the product shelves is monitored by the temperature sensor provided on the surface of the product shelves, and the energization control to the heater is performed so that the temperature of the product shelves reaches the set temperature. ..

Patent Document 1 describes a heater divided into zones and heater control is performed in each zone in order to reduce temperature variation of products on one product shelf.

In addition, Patent Document 2 describes a monitoring device for monitoring a state of insufficient display of products based on an image of a display area in a store.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-234902 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-58105

However, in the conventional temperature control for the product shelf, the set temperature of the product shelf is input in advance by the controller, and the energization control of the heater is performed so that the temperature detected by the temperature sensor provided on the product shelf becomes the set temperature. Was there. Therefore, even if the temperature of the product shelf is controlled to the set temperature, there is a problem that the temperature of the product deviates from the set temperature depending on the product display state such as the type of the product placed on the product shelf.

For example, even if the product placed on the product shelf at the same set temperature is a 350 ml square PET bottle and the temperature is appropriate, the temperature of the beverage in a 190 ml can, which has a capacity smaller than 350 ml, becomes hot, and 500 ml, which has a capacity larger than 350 ml. The temperature of beverages in round PET bottles can become lukewarm.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and even if the set temperature of the product shelf is set in advance, the temperature of the product is appropriately set according to the product display state such as the type of the product displayed on the product shelf. It is an object of the present invention to provide a showcase and a temperature control method for the showcase that can be maintained in.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the showcase according to the present invention controls the temperature of the product shelf to a set temperature by using a heater provided on the product shelf for displaying the product, and the product. A temperature control device for product shelves that keeps the temperature of products on the shelves within a predetermined temperature range, including a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the product placement area of the product shelf and a temperature detected by the temperature sensor. The temperature control unit that controls the energization of the heater to control the temperature of the product placement area of the product shelf to the set temperature, the image pickup unit that images the product display area on the product shelf, and the image pickup unit. The product information acquisition unit is provided with a product information acquisition unit that acquires product display information including the type of product in the product display area based on the captured image of the product display area, and the temperature control unit is acquired by the product information acquisition unit. It is characterized in that the set temperature is corrected in response to the product display information.

Further, in the showcase according to the present invention, in the above invention, the product shelf is divided into a plurality of product placing areas, and the heater and the temperature sensor are provided for each divided product placing area. , The product information acquisition unit acquires the product display information of each product display area based on the image of the product display area on each divided product placement area, and the temperature control unit acquires the product information. It is characterized in that the set temperature of each product placement area is corrected according to the product display information acquired by the unit.

Further, in the showcase according to the present invention, in the above invention, the product display information is the type of the product, and the temperature control unit corresponds to the type of the product acquired by the product information acquisition unit. It is characterized in that the set temperature is corrected.

Further, in the showcase according to the present invention, in the above invention, the product display information is the presence or absence of the product, and the temperature control unit obtains the product display information that the product information acquisition unit does not have the product. When it is acquired, it is characterized in that the energization of the heater is turned off.

Further, in the showcase temperature control method according to the present invention, the temperature of the product shelf is controlled to a set temperature by using a heater provided on the product shelf on which the product is displayed, and the temperature of the product on the product shelf is predetermined. It is a method of controlling the product temperature of a product shelf that keeps heat within a temperature range, and the product display is based on an imaging step of imaging a product display area on the product shelf and an image of the product display area captured in the imaging step. The set temperature is corrected corresponding to the product information acquisition step of acquiring the product display information including the product type in the area and the product display information acquired in the product information acquisition step, and the product placement area of the product shelf. It is characterized by including a temperature control step for controlling the temperature of the above to the corrected set temperature.

According to the present invention, the product display information including the type of the product in the product display area is acquired based on the image of the product display area captured by the imaging unit, and the temperature control unit corresponds to the product display information. Since the set temperature of the product shelf is corrected, even if the set temperature of the product shelf is set in advance, the temperature of the product can be adjusted to an appropriate temperature according to the product display state such as the type of product displayed on the product shelf. Can be maintained.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an overall configuration of a showcase according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an image captured by the imaging unit. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the relationship between a product image and a corresponding product type. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a correction table. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of correction of the set temperature by the temperature control unit. FIG. 6 is a perspective view schematically showing an example of a product shelf in which a product mounting area is divided into three. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an image of the front surface of the showcase when the product shelf is divided into a plurality of product placement areas. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the relationship between the products placed in each product placement area of the image of the showcase shown in FIG. 7 and the correction contents for these products. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a temperature control processing procedure by the controller of the temperature control device.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<Overall configuration>
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the overall configuration of the showcase 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the showcase 10 has a plurality of product shelves 11 to 16, and products are displayed on each product shelf 11 to 16. The products shown in FIG. 1 are, for example, canned beverages and PET bottled beverages, and the temperature is controlled so as to be within the heat retention temperature range of 50 ° C. to 60 ° C.

The temperature control device 1 arranged in the showcase 10 includes an image pickup unit 2, a controller 3, heaters H1 to H6, and temperature sensors S1 to S6. The temperature control device 1 controls the temperature of the product shelves 11 to 16 to a set temperature by using the heaters H1 to H6 provided on the product shelves 11 to 16 for displaying the products, and the temperature of the products on the product shelves 11 to 16. Keep warm within the heat retention temperature range.

The heaters H1 to H6 are heating units arranged on the back surfaces of the product shelves 11 to 16, respectively. The temperature sensors S1 to S6 are sensors arranged on the surfaces of the product shelves 11 to 16, respectively, and detecting the surface temperature of the product shelves 11 to 16. The image pickup unit 2 is a camera that captures the entire front surface of the showcase 10, and is arranged, for example, on the ceiling 101. The controller 3 monitors the temperature detected by the temperature sensors S1 to S6 and controls the energization of the heaters H1 to H6 so that the temperature of the product shelves 11 to 16 becomes a preset set temperature. At this time, the image pickup is performed. Based on the image of the product display area on the product shelves 11 to 16 captured by the unit 2, the product display information including the product type in the product display area is acquired, and the set temperature is corrected according to the product display information. Then, the temperature is controlled so that the temperature of the product placing area of the product shelves 11 to 16 becomes the corrected set temperature.

The controller 3 has a temperature control unit 4, a product information acquisition unit 5, and a correction table 6. The product information acquisition unit 5 acquires product display information in the product display area, for example, a product type, based on the image of the product display area captured by the image pickup unit 2.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the image D10 captured by the image pickup unit 2. The product information acquisition unit 5 cuts out an image of the product display areas E1 to E6 on the product shelves 11 to 16 (images D11 to D16) from the image D10, and recognizes and identifies the product type from this image.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the relationship between a product image and a corresponding product type. The product information acquisition unit 5 specifies the type of product based on the relationship shown in FIG. 3 (a) to 3 (e) show the relationship between 190 ml cans, 250 ml cans, 350 ml square PET bottles, 350 ml round PET bottles, and 500 ml PET bottles, respectively, and these product images.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the correction table 6. As shown in FIG. 4, the correction table 6 holds the relationship between the type of product and the content of correction. The correction content of the correction table 6 is a correction temperature which is a correction amount of the set temperature. In FIG. 4, for example, in the case of a 190 ml can, the set temperature is lowered by 2 ° C, in the case of a 250 ml can, the set temperature is raised by 1 ° C, in the case of a 350 ml square PET bottle, the set temperature remains the same, and in the case of a 350 ml round PET bottle, the set temperature is set. It is shown that the temperature is lowered by 0.5 ° C and the set temperature is raised by 2 ° C in the case of a 500 ml round PET bottle. These relationships in the correction table 6 are obtained by conducting experiments and the like in advance.

The temperature control unit 4 acquires the correction content corresponding to the product type acquired by the product information acquisition unit 5 based on the correction table 6, corrects the set temperature according to the correction content, and the temperature sensors S1 to S6 perform. The detected temperature is monitored, and the energization control of the heaters H1 to H6 is performed so that the temperature of the product placing area of the product shelves 11 to 16 becomes the corrected set temperature.

For example, when a product is placed as shown in the image D10 shown in FIG. 2, the temperature control unit 4 corrects the set temperature according to the correction content shown in FIG. 5 and performs temperature control. In the image D10 shown in FIG. 2, 190 ml cans are placed on the first and second product shelves 11 and 12, and 350 ml square pet bottles are placed on the third to fifth product shelves 13 to 15. Is placed, and a 500 ml round PET bottle is placed on the sixth-tier product shelf 16, so that the temperature control unit 4 refers to the correction table 6 shown in FIG. 4 as shown in FIG. In addition, the set temperature is lowered by 2 ° C for the product shelves 11 and 12, the set temperature is left unchanged for the product shelves 13 to 15, and the set temperature is raised by 2 ° C for the product shelves 16, respectively. It will be controlled.

In this embodiment, the type of the product to be placed on the product shelf is acquired based on the image of the product display area of the product shelf, and the set temperature is corrected according to the type of the product. , Regardless of the type of product, the temperature of each product can be maintained at an appropriate temperature.

<Division of product placement area on product shelves>
By the way, in the above embodiment, the temperature is controlled for each of the product shelves 11 to 16, but the product mounting area on each product shelf 11 to 16 is divided, and the heater and the temperature are used for each product mounting area. A sensor may be provided.

For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the product loading area SE11 of the product shelf 11 is divided into three product mounting areas SE11, SE12, and SE13, and the heaters H11 and H12 are divided into the product mounting areas SE11, SE12, and SE13. , H13 and temperature sensors S11, S12, S13 are provided. It should be noted that different types of products can be placed in the divided product placement areas SE11, SE12, and SE13. Similarly, the other product shelves 12 to 16 may be divided into a plurality of product placement areas, and the temperature may be controlled individually for each.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an image D10 on the front surface of the showcase 10 when the product shelf is divided into a plurality of product placement areas. In FIG. 7, the product placement areas of the product shelves 11 to 16 are divided into three in the left-right direction. Therefore, in this showcase 10, 18 product placement areas are formed.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the relationship between the products placed in each product placement area of the image D10 of the showcase 10 shown in FIG. 7 and the correction contents for these products. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, since 190 ml cans are placed in the product display areas E11, E12, E21, E22, and E23, the correction content is to lower the set temperature by 2 ° C. Since a 250 ml can is placed in the product display area E13, the correction content is to raise the set temperature by 1 ° C. Further, since 350 ml square PET bottles are placed on E31, E32, E33, E41, E43, E51, and E52, the correction content is the same as the set temperature. Since there are no products in the product display area E42, the correction content is that the energization of the heater is turned off. Further, since the 350 ml round PET bottle is placed in the product display area E53, the correction content is to lower the set temperature by −0.5 ° C. Further, since a 500 ml round PET bottle is placed in the product display areas E61, E62, E63, the correction content is to raise the set temperature by 2 ° C.

This makes it possible to further finely control the temperature of the product. Further, when there is no product in the product display area, the power supply to the heater is turned off, so that power saving can be achieved. It should be noted that this power-off to the heater is also applied to an example of FIGS. 1 and 2 in which the product placement area of the product shelf is not divided.

<Temperature control processing>
Here, the temperature control processing procedure by the controller C of the temperature control device 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 9, first, the controller C causes the image pickup unit 2 to take an image D10 of the entire front surface of the showcase 10 and acquires the image D10 (step S101). After that, the product information acquisition unit 5 may use the product display areas E1 to E6 in the image D10, or the product display areas E11 to E13, E21 to E23, E31 to E33, E41 to E43, E51 to E53, and E61 to E63 (hereinafter referred to as). Based on the image of the product display area E), the product display information (type of product and presence / absence of product) of each product display area E is acquired (step S102).

After that, the temperature control unit 4 selects the product display information in one product display area E (step S103). Then, it is determined whether or not the presence or absence of the product in the selected product display information is "there is a product" (step S104). When "there is a product" (step S104, Yes), the correction table 6 is referred to and the set temperature is corrected according to the type of the product (step S105). On the other hand, when it is not "there is a product" (step S104, No), since there is no product in the product display area, the energization of the heater corresponding to the selected product display area E is turned off (step S106).

After the processing of step S105 and step S106, the temperature control unit 4 determines whether or not there is another unprocessed product display area E (step S107). If there is another product display area E (steps S107, Yes), the process proceeds to step S103 to acquire the product display information of the other product display area E, and then the above-mentioned process is repeated.

On the other hand, when there is no other unprocessed product display area E (steps S107, No), the temperature control unit 4 sets the set temperature of the product placement area corresponding to each product display area E to be corrected. Temperature control is performed to control the energization of the heater so that the temperature becomes high (step S108), and this process is terminated. The above process is repeated at predetermined time intervals.

In the above embodiment, the product type and the presence or absence of the product are obtained as the product display information, but the number or the product occupancy density appearing on the front surface of the product shelf in the product display area E is included as the product display information. May be good. For example, when it is possible for a maximum of four products to appear in front of the product display area E, and two products appear, the correction value of the set temperature is weighted by 0.5. It may be a correction value. If the product display area E is further subdivided and the set temperature of the divided product placement area is corrected, the temperature is more appropriate than the set temperature is corrected by the number of products appearing on the front surface of the product or the product occupancy density. You can control it. For example, the product display area E may be one product unit that appears on the front surface of the product shelf.

Further, when the temperature control unit 4 has a plurality of products (multiple rows) appearing in front of the product display area E on the product placement area whose temperature is controlled by an independent heater, when different products are placed. , If the correction amount of all products is a positive correction amount, the minimum correction amount is the correction amount of each product, and if the correction amount of all products is a negative correction amount, the minimum correction amount is the correction amount of each product. When the correction amount of each product is a mixture of a positive correction amount and a negative correction amount, it is advisable not to correct the amount.

For example, in the case of the correction content of the correction table 6 shown in FIG. 4, a product of 250 ml cans (correction amount: + 1 ° C.) is one row and a product of a 500 ml round PET bottle (correction amount: + 1 ° C.) in one product display area E. When three rows of correction amounts (+ 2 ° C.) are arranged, the correction amount of each product is positive, so the minimum correction amount of + 1 ° C. is applied as the correction amount. Further, for example, in one product display area E, 350 ml round PET bottle products (correction amount: −0.5 ° C.) are arranged in one row, and 190 ml can products (correction amount: −2 ° C.) are arranged in three rows. If so, the correction amount of each product is negative, so the minimum correction amount of −0.5 ° C. is applied as the correction amount. Further, for example, when two rows of 190 ml can products (correction amount: -2 ° C) and two rows of 500 ml round PET bottle products (correction amount: + 2 ° C) are arranged in one product display area E. Since the correction amount of each product is a mixture of positive and negative, no correction is performed.

It should be noted that each configuration shown in the above embodiment is a schematic function, and does not necessarily have to be physically shown. That is, the form of distribution / integration of each device and component is not limited to the one shown in the figure, and all or part of them may be functionally or physically distributed / integrated in any unit according to various usage conditions. Can be configured.

1 Temperature control device 2 Imaging unit 3 Controller 4 Temperature control unit 5 Product information acquisition unit 6 Correction table 10 Showcase 11 to 16 Product shelf 101 Ceiling D10, D11 to D16 Image E1 to E6, E11 to E13, E21 to E23, E31 ~ E33, E41 ~ E43, E51 ~ E53, E61 ~ E63 Product display area H1 ~ H6, H11, H12, H13 Heater S1 ~ S6, S11, S12, S13 Temperature sensor SE11, SE12 Product placement area

Claims (4)

A showcase that controls the temperature of the product shelves to a set temperature using a heater provided on the product shelves for displaying products, and keeps the temperature of the products on the product shelves within a predetermined temperature range.
A temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the product placement area on the product shelf, and
A temperature control unit that controls the energization of the heater based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor to control the temperature of the product mounting area of the product shelf to the set temperature.
An image pickup unit that captures an image of a product display area on the product shelf,
A product information acquisition unit that acquires product display information including product types in the product display area based on an image of the product display area captured by the image pickup unit, and a product information acquisition unit.
The temperature control unit corrects the set temperature in response to the product display information acquired by the product information acquisition unit.
The product display information indicates the presence or absence of the product.
A showcase characterized in that the temperature control unit turns off the energization of the heater when the product information acquisition unit acquires product display information indicating that the product does not exist . The product shelf is divided into a plurality of product placement areas.
The heater and the temperature sensor are provided for each divided product mounting area.
The product information acquisition unit acquires the product display information of each product display area based on the image of the product display area on each divided product placement area.
The showcase according to claim 1, wherein the temperature control unit corrects the set temperature of each product mounting area in response to the product display information acquired by the product information acquisition unit. The product display information is the type of the product.
The showcase according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the temperature control unit corrects the set temperature according to the type of the product acquired by the product information acquisition unit. It is a showcase temperature control method that controls the temperature of the product shelves to a set temperature using a heater provided on the product shelves for displaying products, and keeps the temperature of the products on the product shelves within a predetermined temperature range. hand,
An imaging step for imaging the product display area on the product shelf,
A product information acquisition step for acquiring product display information including a product type in the product display area based on an image of the product display area captured in the imaging step, and a product information acquisition step.
A temperature control step that corrects the set temperature in response to the product display information acquired in the product information acquisition step and controls the temperature of the product placement area of the product shelf to the corrected set temperature.
Including
The product display information indicates the presence or absence of the product.
The temperature control step is a showcase temperature control method comprising turning off the energization of the heater when the product display information that the product is not present is acquired by the product information acquisition unit .

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