JPH01291085A - Centralized controller for showcase - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate the control of a plurality of showcases and permit the reduction of a cost, by controlling respective showcases based on data set in a control device. CONSTITUTION:An objective temperature, the starting time of defrosting, a returning temperature, ON/OFF of fluorescent lamps in the showcases and the like are set in a centralized control device 50 while these set values are transmitted to the controllers 10 of the showcases through signal wires A. Respective controllers compare the transmitted set temperature with the detecting of themselves to control the load apparatuses in the showcases and transmit the detecting temperatures and operating conditions to the centralized control device as data. The centralized control device indicates the operating conditions of the showcases and outputs an alarm if necessary in accordance with the contents of the data from respective controllers. According to this method, a plurality of showcases may be controlled and the operating conditions of respective showcases may be controlled easily while devices, common in respective showcases, may be unnecessitated and the cost of the showcase maintenance may be reduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a control device for centrally controlling a plurality of showcases.

[Conventional technology] Multiple showcases are installed in stores such as supermarkets, and each showcase has a built-in temperature controller, a defrost thermometer, etc. that detects the end of defrosting based on the temperature inside the refrigerator. are individually controlled by a control device. This installation method has the following problems.

[Problems to be solved by the invention] ■Since each showcase has a built-in control device, various settings can only be performed at the installation location, and the settings cannot be viewed all at once. Therefore, it takes a lot of effort to change settings depending on the season or weather.

(2) As a control device for the showcase, it is necessary to have a setting device in each showcase, which increases the cost.

■Even if a device, such as an outside temperature detector, can be shared by each showcase, it will be required individually, which will increase the cost accordingly.

■Since there are a wide variety of control methods for showcases, it is necessary to develop and design control devices for each type, which increases development and design costs. In order to avoid this, if we try to make the control device more general-purpose, the number of redundant parts will increase, which will also result in higher costs.

■If you want to check the operating status of each showcase, such as the internal temperature, you have to go around all the showcases, which makes management difficult.

This invention was made to eliminate such problems, and makes it easier to manage multiple showcases.
The purpose of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive control device.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The jitter case of the present invention includes a plurality of showcases,
A central control device comprising a management device that collectively manages the showcases via a signal line, the management device controlling a set temperature for each showcase.

an input device for inputting defrost start time, defrost return temperature, etc.; a main control circuit that converts each data inputted by the input device into predetermined transmission data and outputs it at a predetermined timing; and a main control circuit. The controller of each showcase is equipped with a temperature sensor that detects the temperature inside the refrigerator, and a transmission interface that transmits the transmission signal outputted by a comparison circuit that compares the temperature with the temperature inside the refrigerator detected by the sensor; and a control device that controls the load equipment of the showcase based on the comparison result of the comparison circuit and data such as defrost start time and defrost return temperature. It is characterized by having the following.

[Function] According to the above configuration, data such as set temperature and defrost start time are inputted in advance to the control device of each showcase in the management device, and these data are sent to the control device of each showcase at a predetermined timing. It is transmitted to each control device via the transmission interface.

In each control device, a comparison circuit compares the temperature inside the refrigerator detected by the temperature sensor and the set temperature transmitted from the management device, and the control device compares the comparison result of the comparison circuit, the defrost start time, and the defrost return. The load equipment of the showcase is controlled based on data such as temperature.

[Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing one embodiment of the central control device of the present invention.

50 is a management device installed in a management room or the like, IO is a control device for each showcase, and central management device 50
is connected to the two-wire signal line A from the central control device 50 to the central control device 24 via the power line B.
Receive the power supply of V1).

As an overview of the system, the central control device 50 sets target temperature, defrost start time, defrost return temperature, on/off of internal fluorescent lights, on/off of special sale display, etc. for each showcase. Values are set, and these set values are transmitted to the control device IO of each showcase through the signal line A. Each control device 10 controls the showcase by comparing the transmitted set temperature and the temperature detected by itself, and also transmits the detected temperature and operating status to the central control device 50 as data. The central management device 50 displays the operating status of the showcase and issues an alarm as necessary, depending on the content of the data transmitted from each control device 10.

Additionally, by adding a predetermined device and communicating with a host computer via a communication line, remote monitoring is also possible.

FIG. 2 shows a control block diagram of the above-mentioned centralized control circuit 50.

51 is a main control circuit that centrally controls the system. 52 is an outside temperature sensor that detects outside temperature;
3 is an analog circuit that converts the detection signal of the outside temperature sensor 52 into a signal representing temperature. Reference numeral 54 denotes a digital input interface for inputting data necessary for detecting an abnormality in the refrigerator or determining whether to cut high pressure.

Reference numeral 55 denotes a setting input device for inputting setting data for each showcase, and the setting data includes, for example, the type of showcase indicating what kind of products are displayed, as shown in Table 11, and Table 2. There are temperature settings to turn the valve on and off.

56 is a monitor that displays various input data and the like that have been set. 57 and 58 are connected to each control device l via signal line A.
It is a transmission interface for communicating with O. Also, 5
9.60 is a transmission interface and an NCu modem provided as necessary for communicating with an external host computer or the like via a telephone line. Reference numeral 61 denotes a power source for this management device 50, which supplies 24V to each control device IO via a power line B.

Next, the control operation in the above management device 50 will be explained based on the flowchart of FIG. 3.

After turning on the power, first in step S1, various data shown in Table 1 are input. After inputting the data, the setting data is taken into the main control circuit 51 together with the outside temperature measured by the outside temperature sensor 52 in step S2. In step S3, the set temperature is automatically corrected according to the outside temperature.

-For example, if the outside temperature is below 15℃, the set temperature is 14℃.
If the outside temperature is 15°C to 26°C, the set temperature is corrected by +2°C, and if the outside temperature is 26°C or higher, the set temperature is corrected as if there were no correction. In step S4, a text of data to be transmitted to each control device IO is created, and in step S5, the data is transmitted to each control device 10, and data from each control device IO is received as described later. In step S6, it is determined whether or not there is an abnormality in the received data. If there is abnormal data, a warning is issued to the monitor 56 in step S7. If the abnormality has been resolved the next time this flow is executed, the alarm is stopped in step S8.

FIG. 4 shows a control block diagram of each of the control devices 10 described above. Reference numeral 11 denotes a control circuit consisting of a 4-bit microcomputer, which includes a timer T and an A/D.
It has a built-in converter.

I2 is an address setting device for setting a unique address to each of the microcomputers. 13 connects 24V of power line B to 5 as a control power source for the control circuit 11.
This is a converter for converting to V. 14 is a transmission interface for connecting the control circuit 11 and the signal line A. 15 and 16 are sensors for detecting the temperature inside the refrigerator and the cold air blowing temperature, and 17 is the sensor 15.
, 16 detection signals into predetermined temperature signals. 18 is a relay drive circuit that drives various relays X to Xn, and 19 is a digital temperature display provided as necessary.

Next, the control operation in the control device IO will be explained based on FIG. 5.

When the control device IO is powered on, a timer T is activated in step Sll, and in step S12 it is determined whether there has been any communication with the management device 50 in the past.If there has been no communication, the process advances to step S13, and the timer T is activated. It is determined whether T has timed out a predetermined time (3 minutes in this example).

If communication is made with the management device 50 in the timer interrupt flow described later before the timer T times out 3 minutes, steps S12 to S13 to S1
2 and proceeds to S15, where the received data is sent to the control circuit 1.
1.

It is determined whether or not there is a defrost command in the data received in step S16. If there is a defrost command, defrost operation is performed in step S17, but if not, the process advances to step 818, and the defrost operation is currently in progress. If so, the operation will be stopped. In step S19, it is determined whether the internal temperature of each control device 10 measured in the flow of the timer interrupt has exceeded the set temperature from the management device 50, and when the internal temperature has exceeded the set temperature, step S20 At step S21, the valve is opened and a cooling operation is performed, but if the internal temperature is below the set temperature, the process proceeds to step S21, and if the valve is open at that time, it is closed. After that, the process returns to step SZ.

During execution of the above flow, a timer interrupt occurs every 2 mS, and the interrupt routine shown in FIG. 6 is executed.

First, in step S31, control circuit! The address set in (2) is read out and prepared for communication from the management device 50. Next, in step S32, if the temperature inside the refrigerator has been detected, it is dynamically displayed on the digital temperature display 19. In step S33, this flow is executed 4 times.
It is determined whether or not it is the 0×Nth time, that is, the 40th, 80th, 120th, etc., and if not, the process proceeds to step S34, and the flow execution is the 40XN+1th time, that is, the 41.81, 121th, etc. - It is determined whether or not it is the third time, and if not, that is, 0 to 39.42 to 79...
If it is the third time, the process advances to step 838.

On the other hand, at the 40×N time, that is, every 80 m5, the process proceeds to step S35, where the temperature signals detected by the sensors 15 and 16 are digitally converted by the A/D converter. Then, when the flow is executed next time, step S33. From S34 to step 936. Proceeding to S37, the A/D converted data is taken into the control circuit 11 and processed.

In the next step S38, it is determined whether or not there is communication from the management device 50, and if there is communication, step S4
Communication is performed with the management device 50 at step S41.
Various control data indicating various load conditions in the control device IO are transmitted to the management device, and if there is an abnormality in the transmitted data, a display notifying the abnormality is made on the monitor 56. After that, return to the original flow.

The effects of the above device are listed in Table 3.

Now, in the flowchart of FIG. 5 described above, if there is no communication with the management device 50 even after 3 minutes have elapsed, the process proceeds from step S13 to step S14, and as shown in the time chart of FIG. This default operation is a control operation that is performed independently based on the control operation set in advance on each control device 10 side even if communication with the management device 50 becomes impossible. When restarted, normal operation is resumed based on commands from the management device 50. Fig. 8 shows details of a time chart of default operation.

Table 2 [Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, each showcase is controlled based on the data set in the management device, so it is possible to control multiple showcases, and The operating status of each showcase can be easily managed, and since common equipment for each showcase is not required, the cost of the system can be reduced.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the system configuration of a centralized control device for a showcase of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a control block diagram showing one embodiment of the management device, and FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of the management device shown in FIG. 2. A flowchart showing the operation, FIG.
FIGS. 5 and 6 are control block diagrams showing the embodiment, and a flowchart showing the control operation of the control device in FIG.
The figure is a time chart showing control operations in each control device, and FIG. 8 is a time chart showing details of the default operation in FIG. 7. IO...control device, 11...control circuit, 12...
Address setter, 13...Converter, 14...Transmission interface, 15.16...Sensor, 17...
・Analog circuit, 18...Relay drive circuit, 19...
・Digital temperature display, 50... Management device, 51...
- Main control circuit, 52... Outside temperature sensor, 53... Analog circuit, 54... Digital input interface,
55...Setting input device, 56...Monitor, 57,5
8.59...Transmission interface, 60...NCu
Modem, 61...power supply, T...timer. Patent applicant: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd. Agent: Patent attorney: Aohaku Ao and 1 other person Figure 5

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A centralized control device consisting of a plurality of showcases and a management device that collectively manages the showcases via a signal line, the management device controlling the set temperature and starting defrost for each showcase. An input device for inputting time, defrost return temperature, etc.; a main control circuit that converts each data input by the input device into predetermined transmission data and outputs it at a predetermined timing; and an output by the main control circuit. On the other hand, the control device of each showcase has a temperature sensor that detects the temperature inside the refrigerator, and a transmission interface that transmits the transmitted signal transmitted via the signal line. Based on a comparison circuit that compares the internal temperature detected by the sensor, the comparison results of the comparison circuit, and data such as defrost start time and defrost return temperature,
1. A centralized management device for a showcase, comprising: a control device for controlling load equipment of the showcase.