JPH04106381A - Cooling device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To promote the sweeping or the replacement of a dust-proof filter by a method wherein a display indicating means, indicating the message of clogging of a filter in a display when an air amount detecting unit has detected the shortage of the ventilating amount, is provided. CONSTITUTION:When atmosphere is introduced into the case 2 of a main body by a motor fan 3, the air receiving unit 8b of a pushing member 8 of a switch 5 receives airflow and, therefore, the whole of the pushing member 8 is pivoted against the resilient force of a spring 9. Accordingly, the button 7 of the switch 5 is returned to the initial projected position and a contact (s) is opened. When dust is adhered to a dust-proof filter 4 from this condition and clogging is generated, ventilating amount for the inside of a main body case 2 is reduced gradually. When the ventilating amount for the inside of the main body case 2 is reduced to a degree, in which internal elements can not be cooled sufficiently, the pushing member 8 is returned to the initial position thereof perfectly to push the button 7 and close the contact (s) of the switch 5. A message is indicated on a display by a display indicating means. On the other hand, clogging information is transmitted to a host computer together with the terminal number of ECR.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cooling device for suppressing an abnormal rise in the internal temperature of an electronic device.

Conventional technology In electronic devices such as ECRs, the temperature inside the device increases with use. Therefore, if the temperature inside the device rises abnormally, problems such as malfunction and destruction of internal elements may occur. Therefore, it has been common practice in the past to provide electronic equipment with a cooling device. Conventionally, this cooling device has a structure in which an electric fan is attached to the main body case of an electronic device and the electric fan introduces outside air into the device.

On the other hand, when a cooling device having such a structure is attached to an electronic device, dust, dirt, and the like may be brought into the device along with the outside air. Therefore, conventional electric fans have a structure in which a dust filter is attached to the intake side of the electric fan.

Problem to be Solved by the Invention When electronic equipment is used continuously, a large amount of dust and dirt adheres to the dust filter of the cooling device, causing it to become clogged. Therefore, the dust filter needs to be cleaned or replaced. The timing for such cleaning and replacement is often determined in advance.

However, the timing at which dust filters become clogged is not constant due to differences in usage time and surrounding environment.

Therefore, the dust filter may become clogged before the predetermined time for cleaning or replacement. Therefore, a clogged dust filter reduces the amount of air blown by the electric fan, which has the disadvantage that the cooling device cannot fulfill its purpose of preventing an abnormal rise in the internal temperature of the device.

Means for Solving the Problems The invention as set forth in claim 1 provides an air volume detection unit located on the exhaust side of an electric fan to detect when the air volume of the electric fan is insufficient. A display means is provided for displaying a filter clogging message on the display when a shortage of the filter is detected.

The invention according to claim 2 provides an air volume detection unit located on the exhaust side of the electric fan to detect that the air volume of the electric fan is insufficient. A print display means for causing a printer to print a filter clogging message is provided.

In the invention according to claim 1, when the air volume detection section detects an insufficient amount of air blown by the electric fan, the display means displays a message on the display indicating that the dust filter is clogged. This makes it clear that the dust filter is clogged, prompting cleaning or replacement of the dust filter.

In the invention as set forth in claim 2, when the air volume detection section detects an insufficient amount of air blown by the electric fan, the print display means prints and issues a message to the effect that the dust filter is clogged. This makes it clear that the dust filter is clogged, prompting cleaning or replacement of the dust filter.

Embodiment A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9. First, the overall structure of the cooling device 1 is shown in FIG. An electric fan 3 is attached to the negative side of a main body case 2 of an electronic device such as an ECR. That is, this electric fan 3 is attached with the intake side 3a facing the outside of the main body case 2, and the exhaust side 3b facing the inside of the main body case 2. Therefore, when the electric fan 3 operates, air flows from the outside to the inside of the main body case 2. This state is indicated by an arrow in FIG. Further, a dustproof filter 4 is attached to the main body case 2, and is located on the intake side 3a of the electric fan 3 to completely cover the intake side 3a. 5 is attached.

Here, the switch 5 is provided with a button 7 projecting from the upper part of one side of the switch body 6, and a pressing member 8 is rotatably attached to the lower part of the same side as a fulcrum. The button 7 is configured to be buried inside the switch body 6 when pressed, and to return to its original protruding position when the button is no longer pressed. The contacts S of the switch 5 are connected when the button 7 is protruding, and closed when the button 7 is buried inside the switch body 6. The pressing member 8 also includes a narrow support portion 8a that is directly attached to the switch body 6, and a wide wind receiving portion 8 that extends from the support portion 8a.
b is an integrally formed member. The respective parts are positioned so that when the pressing member 8 rotates, its support portion 8a comes into contact with and separates from the button 7. Further, a spring 9 is hung between the switch body 6 and the support portion 8a of the pressing member 8, and this spring 9
As a result, a biasing force is applied to the pressing member 8 in the direction of the switch body 6. As a result, unless a particular external force is applied, in the switch 5, the support portion 8a of the pressing member 8 presses the button 7, and the switch contact S is maintained in an open state.

The switch 5 configured in this way is installed in the main body case 2 with the button 7 facing in the same direction as the exhaust side 3b of the electric fan 3.

Next, the electrical connection state of the cooling device 1 will be explained based on the block diagram of FIG. 1. First, a CPU10 is provided that stores the entire operating program, etc., and this CPU
An air volume detection unit 11 including the switch 5 is connected to l0, and an LED 13 is connected to this air volume detection unit 11 via an LED controller 12. Moreover, the CPU
A memory 15 for storing messages to be displayed on a display 14, which will be described later, is connected to l0 via a memory access section 16, and a data output section 17 is connected thereto. The data output section I7 is connected to the display I4 via a display controller 18, and to the receipt printer 20 via a printer controller 19. Furthermore, a host computer (not shown) is connected to the data output section 17 via an interface 21, and a payment printer (not shown) is also connected to this host computer. Here, the CPtJ 10, the memory access section 16, the memory 15, the data output section 17, the display controller 18. The display 14 constitutes a display means 22. Further, the CPU I O, the memory access unit 1
6. The memory 15, the data output section 17, the printer controller 19, and the receipt printer 20 constitute a print display means 23. The display display means 22 displays the information stored in the memory 15 on the display 4 only when the output of the Nantes gate 24 becomes L level, and the print display means displays the information stored in the memory 15 on the display 4. The information stored in the memory 15 is caused to be printed out by the receipt printer 20 only when the output of 24 becomes L level.
It is configured.

Here, details of the electrical connection state of the air volume detection section 11, the LED controller 12, and the LEDs 3 will be explained based on the circuit diagram of FIG. 4.

First, as the air volume detection unit 11, the input side of the Nantes gate 24 is connected to the other contact s of the switch 5 whose one contact S1 is grounded to the ground G, and the +5V power supply 25 is connected to the middle point of the connection. has been done. Further, a binarization element (not shown) is connected to the other input side of the Nant gate 23 so that the reset is turned on and off.

The output side of the Nant gate 25 is connected to the CPU1.
0 through a control bus. Then, the above L
One terminal of the ED 13 is connected to a +5V LED power supply 26 that serves as a driving source for the LED 13. and,
The other terminal of the LED] 3 is connected to the output side of the Nantes gate 24 via the LED controller 12.

Here, this LED controller 12 is made up of one transistor Tr and a plurality of resistors R, and the transistor Tr is the one described above. , E D l 3 switches. The switch formed by the transistor Tr is configured to close when the output of the Nant gate 24 is at H level, and open when the output goes to L level.

In such a configuration, when the electronic device to which the cooling device 1 is attached is operated, a fan (not shown) of the electric fan 3 rotates based on a command from a control unit (not shown). As a result, air flows from the outside to the inside of the main body case 2, and outside air is introduced into the inside of the main body case 2 to cool the internal elements. At this time, dust also tries to be sucked into the inside of the main body case 2, but such dust is blocked by the dustproof filter 4 and does not enter into the inside of the main body case 2.

On the other hand, a lot of dust adheres to the dust filter 4.

Therefore, the amount of air blown into the main body case 2 gradually decreases,
The cooling effect of internal elements decreases. Therefore, the dust filter 4 is cleaned or replaced as necessary. When to clean the dust filter 4, etc., check the display 1.
4 as a message, etc., to the operator.

Here, the operation for indicating the time to clean or replace the dust filter 4 will be explained. First, when outside air is introduced into the main body case 2 by the electric fan 3, the wind receiving part 8b of the pressing member 8 of the switch 5 receives the wind.
The entire body rotates against the force of the spring 9. As a result, the button 7 of the switch 5 returns to its original protruding position, and the contact S opens.

This state is shown in FIG. 5(a). In this state, if dust adheres to the dustproof filter 4 and it becomes clogged, the amount of air blown into the main body case 2 gradually decreases.

Therefore, the pressing member 8 is also gradually returned to its original position by the force of the spring 9. This state is shown in FIG. 5(b). When the amount of air blown into the main body case 2 decreases to the extent that the internal elements cannot be sufficiently cooled, the suppressing member 8 completely returns to its original position, presses the button 7, and closes the contact S of the switch 5. . This state is shown in FIG. 5(c).

In this way, the contact S of the switch 5 is turned on and off depending on the amount of air blown into the main body case 2. Therefore, the relationship between the connection and disconnection of the contact S of the switch 5 and the input and output of the Nantes gate 24 will be explained based on the timing chart of FIG. First, an H level is always input to the reset side input of the Nant gate 24.

Therefore, in FIG. 6, the standby state is entered when the +5V power supply rises and the reset is turned on. On the other hand, the input of the switch 5 side of the Nant gate 24 is connected to the +
5v is applied. In other words, in Nantes Gate 24,
When the contact S of the switch 5 is open, the power supply 25 is connected to the ground G, so an L level is input, and when the contact S of the switch 5 is closed, the power supply 25 is cut off from the ground G, so the H level is input. is input. Therefore, the Nant gate 24 outputs the L level only when the H level is input to the two input terminals, the contact S of the switch 5
It outputs the L level only when it is closed, that is, when the pressing member 8 has returned to its initial position as shown in FIG. 5(c).

In this way, when the output of the Nant gate 24 reaches the L level, an operation is performed to indicate to the operator that it is time to clean or replace the dust filter 4.

First, the input/output of the Nant gate 24 turns on the switch in the LED controller 12, causing the LED 13 to light up. For example, by placing the LED 13 in a conspicuous location on the main body case 2, it is possible to alert the operator.

Next, in the flowchart shown in FIG. 7, for example, the ECR in the POS system is equipped with the cooling device l, and the timing of cleaning or replacing the dust filter 4 is determined in the flow of the operation of this POS system. Shows how the suggested action is performed.

First, it is detected whether the dust filter 4 is clogged, that is, whether the output of the Nant gate 24 is at L level. The clogging detection bit in the CPU 10 is normally O when the output of the Nant gate 24 is at the H level, but becomes +1 when the Nant gate 24 outputs the L level.

Then, the registration mode is selected and the registration process is performed.
When the normal ECH operation of issuing a receipt when the deposit/cash key is pressed, the clogging detection bit becomes +.
You can see if it is set to 1. If it is not +1, it means that the dust filter 4 is not clogged, and the operation is terminated. On the other hand, if the clogging detection bit is +1, the dustproof filter 4 is clogged, so the display means 22 displays a message on the display 14. That is, this message is stored in the memory 15 in advance,
This is taken out through the memory access 16, sent to the data output section 17, and displayed on the display 14 through the display controller 18. In addition, as this message, for example, rPlease Filr
, er CleantngJ, or any other language that can draw the operator's attention, such as a specific symbol. Thereafter, the print display means 23 causes the receipt printer 20 to print out the message.

That is, the message stored in the memory 15 is taken out by the data output section 17 and printed out by the receipt printer 20 via the print controller 19. Specifically, a message is printed on the receipt and issued, but the receipt 27 issued in this way
An example is shown in FIG. Note that when performing a receipt issuing task, the operator focuses his attention on the receipt issuing port of the receipt printer 20. Therefore, when the receipt printer 20 issues a receipt 27 as shown in FIG. 8, it is possible to best inform the operator that it is time to clean the dust filter 4.

Furthermore, since the message regarding the clogging of the dust filter 4 is displayed and printed out after the registration work and receipt issuing work are completed, normal work is not disturbed.

On the other hand, if the registration mode is not selected, it can be seen whether the payment mode has been selected. If the payment mode is not selected, other mode processing is performed, but if the payment mode is selected, payment data is sent to the host computer. Here, too, it is checked whether the clogging detection bit is +1, and if it is +1, the dust filter 4 is clogged, so the clogging information is sent to the host computer together with the terminal number of the ECR. Here, the message information stored in the memory 15 is used as is as the clogging information. When the host computer receives the clogging information, it prints out the message using the payment printer. FIG. 9 shows an example of a printer paper 28 on which a message is printed and issued by a payment printer. In addition, when performing settlement operations,
The operator is paying attention to the printer paper issuing port of the payment printer. Therefore, if the payment printer issues printer paper 27 as shown in FIG. 9, it is best to inform the operator that it is time to clean the dust filter 4.

A second embodiment of the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 10 and 11. Components that are the same as those described in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and explanations will be omitted.

In this embodiment, the switch 30 opens the contact S when the button 7 is pushed in, and closes the contact S in the initial position where the button 7 protrudes.
has been established. Then, the type 7 side is the exhaust side 3b of the electric fan 3.
The switch 30 was attached to the main body case 2 so as to face each other. Further, a support rod 31 was provided upright between the switch 30 and the electric fan 3, and a spring 9 was hung between the support rod 31 and the support portion 8a of the pressing member 8.

In such a configuration, since the pressing member 8 is pulled by the spring 9, it does not press the button 7 in the initial state. Therefore, contact S of switch 30 is closed. In this state, when the fan of the electric fan 3 rotates and outside air is introduced into the main body case 2, the pressing member 8
and press the button 7 of the switch 30. Therefore, the contact S of the switch 30 is opened, and the output of the Nandt gate 24 becomes H level. From this state, when the dust filter 4 becomes clogged and the amount of air introduced into the main body case 2 decreases to an extent insufficient to cool the internal elements, the pressing member 8 is returned to the initial position by the spring 9. Therefore, the button 7 of the switch 30 returns to its initial state, the contact S opens, the output of the Nant gate 24 becomes L level, and clogging of the dust filter 4 is detected.

Effects of the Invention This invention provides a display means for displaying a filter clogged message on the display when the air volume detection unit detects insufficient air flow from the electric fan, or causes a printer to print a filter clogged message. Since the printed display means is provided, the clogging of the dustproof filter can be seen at a glance by the display or printed matter. Therefore, by cleaning or replacing the dustproof filter according to these indications or printed matter, the temperature inside the electronic device can be reduced. Abnormal rises can be reliably prevented, and electronic equipment can be protected from malfunctions and destruction of internal elements.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of the electrical configuration showing the first embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is an overall longitudinal sectional side view, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the switch, Fig. 4 is an electric circuit diagram, and Fig. 5 The figure is a side view showing changes in the state of the switch as the airflow rate fluctuates, Figure 6 is a timing chart showing the input/output timing of the NAND gate, Figure 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of registration work, and Figure 8 is a FIG. 9 is a plan view showing an example of a message printed by a receipt printer; FIG. 9 is a plan view showing an example of a message printed by a payment printer; FIG.
The figure is a perspective view of a switch showing a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional side view of the entire switch. l...Cooling device, 2...Main case, 3...Electric fan, 3a...Intake side, 3b...Exhaust side, 4...
・Dust-proof filter, 11...Air volume detection unit, 22...
Display display means, 23...Print display means

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. In a cooling device having a structure in which an electric fan that introduces outside air is provided inside the main body case, and a dustproof filter is attached to the intake side of the conduction fan, when the electric fan is located on the exhaust side of the electric fan, the amount of air blown by the electric fan is insufficient. 1. A cooling device comprising: an air volume detection unit that detects that the air flow rate is insufficient; and display means that displays a filter clogging message on a display when the air volume detection unit detects that the air volume is insufficient. 2. In a cooling device having a structure in which an electric fan that introduces outside air is provided inside the main body case and a dustproof filter is attached to the intake side of the electric fan, when the electric fan is located on the exhaust side of the electric fan, the amount of air blown by the electric fan is insufficient. 1. A cooling device comprising: an air volume detection section for detecting a lack of air flow; and print display means for causing a printer to print a filter clogging message when the air volume detection section detects a shortage of air flow.