JPH04327774A - Food storing device and monitoring system therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform a concentrated monitoring of food storing devices such as a plurality of refrigerators and freezers and the like. CONSTITUTION:A cooling controller 17 outputs a control signal to a refrigerant circulating device 13 and controls an operation of the refrigerant circulating device 13 in response to a temperature set by a refrigerator temperature setting device 14 and a refrigerator temperature detected by a refrigerator temperature sensor 15. The refrigerant circulating device 13 circulates and supplies the refrigerant to a cooler 12 disposed in a storing device 11 to keep the storing device 11 at the set temperature. In turn, the set signal and the signal expressing the detected temperature as well as a control signal from the cooling controller 17 are transmitted to a receiver device 10 through a data forming circuit 22, a parallel-serial conversion circuit 23 and an output circuit 24 within each of food storing devices 10-1 to 10-4. The receiver device 10 is comprised of an input circuit 31, a receiving controller 32 and an alarm device 33. It monitors each of the food storing devices 10-1 to 10-4 in response to the input signal and detects an abnormal state of each of the devices 10-1 to 10-4.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention is applicable to refrigerators, freezers, etc.
The present invention relates to a food storage device suitable for remotely monitoring a storage device that stores food at a constant temperature, and a monitoring system for a food storage device that remotely monitors the device.

0002

[Prior Art] Conventionally, in food storage devices such as refrigerators and freezers, each temperature has shown an abnormal value based on the set internal temperature and the detected internal temperature.
If the difference between the two temperatures shows a large value, an abnormality is determined in the food storage device, and the result is notified to the user through a lamp installed in the food storage device itself. things are well known.

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, with the above-mentioned conventional device, if there are many food storage devices in a store, it is necessary to check each device for abnormalities. Investigating the abnormality may take time, or the abnormality may be overlooked. Furthermore, since the above-mentioned abnormality may occur at night, in order to deal with the abnormality at night, it is necessary to assign personnel to inspect each food storage device at night as well. If the above-mentioned abnormality is overlooked, there is a problem in that the stored food deteriorates in quality. The present invention has been made to address the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to simplify the monitoring of food storage equipment and
It is an object of the present invention to provide a food storage device and a monitoring system for the same, which prevent any abnormalities in the device from being overlooked.

0004

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the structural features of the invention as set forth in claim 1 include: a storage for storing foods, etc.; a cooling device for cooling the storage; A temperature condition setting means for setting a temperature condition of the storage, a temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the storage, and a control signal based on the set temperature condition and the detected temperature is output to the cooling device. and a control means for controlling the operation of the cooling device, the food storage device maintaining the storage at a temperature according to the set temperature condition, the signal representing at least the set temperature condition and the detected temperature. The reason is that an output means for outputting the information to the outside is provided.

[0005]Furthermore, a structural feature of the invention according to claim 2 is that the output means of the invention according to claim 1 outputs the signal in addition to the signal representing the set temperature condition and the detected temperature. The object of the present invention is that the control signal outputted from the control means is outputted to the outside.

[0006]Furthermore, the structural feature of the invention according to claim 3 is that a plurality of food storage devices of the invention according to claim 1 are provided, and each output means of the plurality of food storage devices is connected to a receiving device. The receiving device receives signals from each output means of the plurality of food storage devices and monitors the plurality of food storage devices based on the same signal.

[0007] Furthermore, the structural feature of the invention according to claim 4 is that a plurality of food storage devices of the invention according to claim 2 are provided, and each output means of the plurality of food storage devices is connected to a receiving device. The receiving device receives signals from each output means of the plurality of food storage devices and monitors the plurality of food storage devices based on the same signal.

[0008] Furthermore, a structural feature of the invention according to claim 5 is that the receiving device of the invention according to claim 3 or 4 is constituted by a microcomputer device, and the microcomputer device is backed up by a battery. It's what I did.

[0009] Furthermore, the structural feature of the invention according to claim 6 is that a plurality of receiving devices according to the invention according to claim 3 or 4 are provided, each of the receiving devices is connected to a management computer device, and the same receiving device is connected to a management computer device. A management computer device manages each of the receiving devices.

[0010]Furthermore, the structural feature of the invention according to claim 7 is that the receiving device of the invention according to claim 6 is constituted by a microcomputer device, and control from the management computer device is provided in the microcomputer device. The reason is that it is possible to input programs.

[0011]Furthermore, a structural feature of the invention according to claim 8 is that the receiving device of the invention according to claim 3 or 4 is provided with a transmitting/receiving means that enables transmission and reception with the outside through a telephone line, and a plurality of Each signal received from the food storage device can be transmitted to the outside through a telephone line by the transmitting/receiving means.

[0012] Further, the structural feature of the invention according to claim 9 is that the receiving device of the invention according to claim 8 is constituted by a microcomputer device, and the transmitting/receiving means transmits data from outside through a telephone line into the microcomputer device. The reason is that it is now possible to input control programs into the computer.

[0013]Furthermore, the structural feature of the invention according to claim 10 is that a storage for storing foods, etc., a cooler installed in the storage to cool the storage, and a cooler separated from the storage. a refrigerant circulation device installed in the storage area to circulately supply refrigerant to the cooler; a temperature condition setting device installed in the storage area to set the temperature conditions of the storage area; and a temperature condition setting device installed in the storage area to detect the temperature of the storage area. and a control means that is provided near the storage and outputs a control signal based on the set temperature condition and the detected temperature to control the operation of the refrigerant circulation device, and the storage A plurality of food storage devices are provided to maintain the temperature according to the set temperature conditions, and each food storage device is provided with a signal representing the set temperature condition, a signal representing the detected temperature, and an output from the control means. output means for outputting the control signals to the outside are provided, and each output means is connected to a receiving device, and the receiving device receives and receives the signals from the respective output means of the plurality of food storage devices. A plurality of food storage devices are monitored based on the signal, and the input control signal is output to the refrigerant circulation device of each food storage device to control the operation of the refrigerant circulation device.

[0014]

[Operations and Effects of the Invention] In the invention according to claim 1 configured as described above, the storage is made up of a storage, a temperature condition setting means, a temperature detection means, a control means, and a cooling device, and the storage is controlled according to the set temperature conditions. The food storage device that maintains the temperature at a certain temperature is provided with an output means for outputting to the outside a signal representing the temperature condition set by the temperature condition setting means and the temperature of the storage chamber detected by the temperature detection means. By simply connecting a signal line to the output means, the signals representing the temperature conditions and detected temperatures can be used even at a location away from the food storage device. Therefore, according to the present invention, a monitoring device that monitors the operating state of the food storage device based on the temperature conditions and the detected temperature can be easily installed at a location apart from the food storage device. Monitoring the operating status of the equipment becomes easier. In particular, when many food storage devices are used, the operating status of all the food storage devices can be monitored simultaneously from a single location that is remote from each food storage device. Through this monitoring, it is possible to quickly detect the occurrence of an abnormality in the food storage device, and it is also possible to appropriately deal with the abnormality, so that the food in the storage cabinet is prevented from deteriorating in quality.

Furthermore, in the invention according to claim 2 configured as described above, the output means of the invention according to claim 1 also outputs the control signal outputted from the control means to the cooling device to the outside. Therefore, the operating state of the food storage device can be more accurately grasped by the external monitoring device. As a result, according to the present invention, it is possible to take more accurate measures against abnormalities in the food storage device than in the invention according to claim 1.

Further, in the invention according to claim 3 configured as described above, a signal representing the temperature conditions set by each temperature condition setting means of the plurality of food storage apparatuses and the temperature detected by each temperature detection means is provided. are respectively input to the receiving device via the output means of each food storage device, and the receiving device monitors the operating state of each food storage device. Therefore, according to the present invention, if one supervisor inspects only the monitoring results by the receiving device, each operating state of a plurality of food storage devices can be monitored. Even if an abnormality occurs, the abnormality can be dealt with accurately. As a result, it is possible to prevent changes in the quality of foods stored in the storage compartments of a plurality of food storage devices.

Furthermore, in the invention according to claim 4 configured as described above, in addition to the temperature conditions and detected temperature of the invention according to claim 3, the cooling device is controlled from the control means of the food storage device. Since the control signal for this is also input to the receiving device via the output means of each food storage device, the receiving device can more accurately grasp the operating state of the food storage device. As a result, according to the present invention, compared to the invention according to claim 3, each food storage device can be monitored more accurately, and abnormalities in each food storage device can be dealt with more accurately. Become.

Furthermore, in the invention according to claim 5 configured as described above, the receiving device according to the invention according to claim 3 or 4 is configured with a microcomputer device, and the computer device is backed up by a battery. Therefore, even if a power outage occurs at the location where the receiving device is installed, the receiving device can monitor the operating status of each food storage device. As a result, according to the present invention, in addition to the effects of the invention according to claim 3 or 4, the food storage device Accurate treatment for abnormalities becomes possible.

Furthermore, in the invention according to claim 6 configured as described above, since the management computer device manages the plurality of receiving devices according to claim 3 or 4, one person can watch over the management computer device. It is possible to monitor the operating status of a large number of food storage devices and the status of a plurality of receiving devices using only one device. As a result, according to the present invention, in addition to the effects of the invention according to claim 3 or 4, the operating states of a large number of food storage devices can be efficiently monitored.

Furthermore, in the invention according to claim 7 configured as described above, the receiving device according to the invention according to claim 6 is configured by a microcomputer device, and a control program is stored in the microcomputer device from a management computer device. Even if the type of food storage device connected to the receiving device changes, the operation of the receiving device can be easily changed according to the type of connected food storage device based on commands from the management computer device. can do. As a result, according to this invention, in addition to the effect of the invention according to claim 6, it becomes possible to use a common receiving device regardless of the type of food storage device, and even when the type of food storage device changes. There is no need to replace parts or make adjustments for each receiving device.

[0021] Furthermore, in the invention according to claim 8 configured as described above, the receiving device according to the invention according to claim 3 or 4 is provided with a transmitting/receiving means that enables transmission to the outside through a telephone line. It becomes possible to monitor the operating status of each food storage device connected to the receiving device based on signals input through a telephone line at a location remote from the receiving device. As a result, according to the present invention, in addition to the effects of the invention according to claim 3 or 4, a large number of food storage devices can be managed at once, and the food storage devices can be efficiently monitored. becomes.

Further, in the invention according to claim 9 configured as described above, the receiving device according to the invention according to claim 8 is constituted by a microcomputer device, and the transmitting/receiving means transmits data from outside through a telephone line into the microcomputer device. Even if the type of food storage device connected to the receiving device changes, the type of food storage device connected to the receiving device can be changed by an external command using the telephone line. The operating mode of the receiving device can be easily changed accordingly. As a result, according to this invention, in addition to the effect of the invention according to claim 8,
The receiving device can be shared regardless of the type of food storage device, and even if the type of food storage device changes, there is no need to replace parts or make adjustments for each receiving device.

[0023] Furthermore, claim 10 is constructed as described above.
In the invention according to , a signal representing the temperature conditions set by each temperature condition setting means of the plurality of food storage devices and the temperature detected by each temperature detection means, and a control signal from a control circuit that controls the refrigerant circulation device. are respectively input to the input means of the receiving device via the output means of each food storage device. Then, the receiving device monitors the operating status of each food storage device based on the input signal, and outputs the input control signal to a refrigerant circulation device installed separately from the storage to operate the device. The refrigerant circulation device circulates and supplies refrigerant to the cooler. Therefore, according to the present invention, each operating state of a plurality of food storage devices can be monitored by one supervisor checking only the monitoring results obtained by the receiving device. In addition to the effect, since the refrigerant circulation device is provided separately from the storage, the temperature in the vicinity of the storage does not rise due to heat generation by the refrigerant circulation device, and the cooling efficiency of the cooler is improved. At the same time, the refrigerant circulation device can be placed outside the room, eliminating the problem of noise caused by the refrigerant circulation device. Further, in this case, since the refrigerant circulation device isolated from the storage is controlled using the control signal inputted from the control means for determining the operating state of each food storage device, the refrigerant circulation device isolated from the storage is controlled. There is no need to take out the control signal from the control circuit, and the above-mentioned improvement in thermal efficiency and noise countermeasure can be easily achieved.

[0024]

【Example】

a. First Embodiment Below, the first embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a monitoring system for food storage devices such as refrigerators and freezers according to the same embodiment. This monitoring system includes one receiving device 10 and one receiving device 1.
The food storage device 10-1 is equipped with four food storage devices 10-1 to 10-4 such as refrigerators or freezers connected to the storage device 10-0. In this case, the food storage devices 10-1 to 4 are each integrally formed and placed in the same room of a supermarket or the like or in a nearby room, and the receiving device 10 is placed in a management room of the supermarket or the like. There is.

[0025] The food storage devices 10-1 to 10-4 are connected to a cooler (evaporator) 12 provided in the storage 11 and to the cooler 12, similar to existing food storage devices such as refrigerators and freezers. A refrigerant circulation device 13 is provided. Refrigerant circulation device 1
3 is a cooler 12 consisting of an electric compressor, a condenser, and a throttle.
When the compressor is in operation, refrigerant is supplied to the cooler 12 through the condenser and throttle, and the refrigerant from the cooler 12 is fed back into the compressor. The refrigerant circulation device 13 also includes a hot gas valve that supplies hot gas from the electric compressor to the cooler 12 by bypassing the condenser and throttle, and supplies hot gas to the cooler 12 when the valve is turned on. to remove frost attached to the cooler 12.

In order to control this refrigerant circulation device 13,
The food storage devices 10-1 to 10-4 include an internal temperature setting device 14 as a temperature condition setting means provided on the operation panel, and a storage 1.
1, a cooler temperature sensor 16 attached to the cooler 12, a cooling controller 17 composed of a microcomputer device, and a refrigerant circulation device 13.
A group of relay circuits 18 are provided to control the electric compressor and hot gas valve inside the tank. When the user sets the temperature inside the refrigerator using the temperature setting device 14, a signal representing the set temperature is input to the cooling controller 17. The cooling controller 17 compares this set temperature with the temperature detected by the internal temperature sensor 15, and controls the start and stop of operation of the electric compressor in the refrigerant circulation device 13 via the relay circuit group 18 based on this comparison. The refrigerant circulation device 13 controls the supply of refrigerant to the cooler 12 based on the control, thereby maintaining the internal temperature of the storage 11 at the set temperature. In addition, as a method of setting the temperature inside the storage
You can specify the average temperature or only the upper limit temperature,
There is a method of specifying the upper limit temperature and lower limit temperature, but
In the case of this embodiment, either method may be used. and,
In each of these cases, the average temperature inside the storage 11 is controlled to be maintained at the set temperature, and the internal temperature of the storage 11 is maintained below the upper limit temperature, or the temperature of the storage 11 is maintained at the upper limit temperature. temperature is maintained between the temperature and the lower temperature limit.

[0027] In addition, in parallel with the control of the storage 11,
The cooling controller 17 controls defrosting of the cooler 12 and monitors the operating states of the cooler 12 and the refrigerant circulation device 13 . In the defrosting control, the cooling controller 17 controls the hot gas valve in the refrigerant circulation device 13 to be in a conductive state via the relay circuit group 18 at predetermined time intervals, and supplies hot gas from the electric compressor to the cooler 12. The frost adhering to the cooler 12 is removed. Thereafter, when the temperature detected by the cooler temperature sensor 16 reaches a predetermined temperature, the cooling controller 17 stops the conduction of the hot gas valve. In addition, in monitoring the refrigerant circulation device 13, the cooling controller 17 monitors the temperature set by the internal temperature setting device 14, the temperature detected by the internal temperature sensor 15, and the temperature detected by the cooler temperature sensor 16. The operating state of the cooler 12 and the refrigerant circulation device 13 is monitored based on the above, and when an abnormality of the cooler 12 and the refrigerant circulation device 13 is detected, an abnormality signal is output to the alarm device 19. The alarm device 19 includes a buzzer, a display, etc., and audibly and visually notifies the outside of the abnormality.

The food storage devices 10-1 to 10-4 that operate in this manner to maintain the temperature of the storage 15 at the set temperature include an A/D converter 21, a data forming circuit 22, and a parallel-serial conversion circuit 23. and an external interface consisting of an output circuit 24, respectively. The A/D converter 21 is connected to the refrigerator temperature setting device 14 , the refrigerator temperature sensor 15 , and the cooler temperature sensor 16 .
Analog signals representing each temperature are converted into digital signals and output to the data forming circuit 22. The data forming circuit 22 is connected to the A/D converter 21 and the cooling controller 17, and temporarily stores each digital signal from the A/D converter 21 and the control signal from the cooling controller 17. A set of data is formed by adding a start code SC, identification data ID, and end code EC, which will be described later, to data corresponding to each input signal, and outputs the data to the parallel-serial conversion circuit 23. The parallel-to-serial conversion circuit 23 performs parallel-to-serial conversion on the set of data, and the output circuit 24 outputs the set of data in serial format to the receiving device 10.

In this case, the format of the set of data converted into the serial format is as shown in FIG. The start code SC represents the starting position of the set of data. The identification data ID represents the model name, type, etc. of the food storage devices 10-1 to 10-4, and an identification number that identifies the same food storage device. The set temperature data represents the temperature set by the internal temperature setting device 14. The detected temperature data represents each temperature detected by the internal temperature sensor 15 and the cooler temperature sensor 16. The control signal data is data corresponding to the control signal output from the cooling controller 17. The end code EC represents the end position of the set of data.

The receiving device 10 is composed of a microcomputer device, and includes an input circuit 31 and a receiving controller 3.
2 and an alarm device 33. Moreover, the receiving device 10
is backed up by a battery 34 connected to the reception controller 32, and is operable even during a power outage. The input circuit 31 is connected to the reception controller 32
4 from the food storage devices 10-1 to 10-4.
Each set of serial data is inputted, and the same serial data is converted into parallel data and supplied to the reception controller 32. The reception controller 32 constitutes a microcomputer body with a built-in program memory 32a, etc., and each food storage device 10-1 is controlled by executing a program stored in the memory 32a.
~4, each food storage device 10-1~4 is monitored.
Detect abnormalities. The alarm device 33 is connected to each food storage device 10.
- Equipped with a common buzzer for each of the food storage devices 10-1 to 10-4 and a common buzzer for each food storage device 10-1 to 10-4, and is controlled by the receiving controller 32 to visually and audibly warn abnormalities in each of the food storage devices 10-1 to 4. It is something.

In the receiving device 10 configured as described above, the receiving controller 32 performs the following operations under program control.
A set of data sandwiched between a start code SC and an end code EC is input from each food storage device 10-1 to 10-4 via the input circuit 31. Then, based on these data, an abnormality in each of the food storage apparatuses 10-1 to 4 is detected according to the following conditions (■ to ■), and the alarm device 33 detects the abnormality in the food storage apparatus 10-1 in which the abnormality has occurred. Inform the supervisor of 1 to 4. (2) When the set temperature data and the detected temperature data represent impossible values for the food storage device represented by the identification data ID, it is determined that the food storage device is abnormal. (2) When the control signal data indicates the occurrence of a control signal in an impossible state in the food storage device represented by the identification data ID, it is determined that the food storage device is abnormal. ■If the set temperature data, detected temperature data, and control signal data are compared with each other, and the comparison result indicates a state that is impossible for the food storage device represented by the identification data ID, the food storage device is abnormal. It is determined that there is.

As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the reception controller 32 controls each food storage device 10-1 to 10-4.
It constantly monitors the operating status of each food storage device 10-.
If an abnormality occurs in any of the food storage devices 10-1 to 10-4, the alarm device 33 notifies the food storage device 10-1 to 4 where the abnormality has occurred, so only one supervisor observes the state of the alarm device 33. Thus, the operating status of each of the plurality of food storage devices 10-1 to 10-4 can be monitored. Therefore, even if an abnormality occurs in any of the food storage devices 10-1 to 4, the abnormality can be dealt with accurately, and the food stored in the storage cabinets 11 of the plurality of food storage devices 10-1 to Changes in food quality can be prevented. Furthermore, since the receiving device 10 that operates as described above is backed up by the battery 34, even if a power outage occurs at the location where the receiving device 10 is installed, the receiving device 10 will continue to operate the food storage devices 10-1 to 10-4. It becomes possible to monitor the status.

b. Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a monitoring system for a food storage apparatus according to the second embodiment. This monitoring system is applied to larger supermarkets, department stores, etc. than the case of the first embodiment, and a plurality of receiving devices 1 constituted by microcomputer devices are installed in the store.
It is equipped with 0A, 10B,...10N. Receiving device 10A
The refrigerators 10A-1, 2 and freezers 10A-3, 4 are connected to the receiver 10B, and the refrigerator 10B-
1, 2, 3 and a freezer 10B-4 are connected. In this case, the refrigerators 10A-1, 2, 10B-1, 2, 3 and the freezers 10A-3, 4, 10B-4 are configured in the same manner as in the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. There is. In addition to the refrigerator 10N-1, the receiving device 10N also includes:
Ice machine 10N-2, vending machine 10N-3 and tea dispenser 1
0N-4 is also connected, and the receiving device 10N is connected to each machine 10.
In response to the signals from N-2 to N-4, the operating status of each machine 10N-2 to N-4 is also monitored.

[0034] Each receiving device 10A, 10B,...10N is
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, it includes an input circuit 41, a receiving controller 42, an alarm device 43, and a battery 44 configured in the same manner as in the first embodiment. In addition to operating, it also includes a data recombination circuit 45, a parallel-serial conversion circuit 46, and an output circuit 47 controlled by the reception controller 42, and further outputs the data input from each refrigerator, freezer, etc. to the outside. The data recombination circuit 45 includes the input circuit 41
The four sets of data from the refrigerator or freezer converted into parallel data (see Figure 2) are recombined into one set of data (by arranging the data other than the start code SC and end code EC of each set in a row, and Both codes SC and EC
are added to the beginning and end of the data) and output to the parallel-to-serial conversion circuit 46. The parallel-serial conversion circuit 46 converts the input data into serial data and outputs it to the output circuit 47. This parallel-serial converted data is as shown in FIG.

The output circuit 47 of each receiving device 10A, 10B, . . . 10N is connected to the management computer device 100 via a signal line L1,
6 is supplied to the management computer device 100 via the signal line L1. The management computer device 100 is configured almost similarly to the receiving devices 10A, 10B, ... 10N, and operates in the same manner.
The scale of receiver 0 is larger than receivers 10A, 10B, . Further, the management computer device 100 connects the receiving device 10A to the receiving device 10A via the signal line L2.
, 10B, . . . 10N, and a control signal from the management computer device 100 is supplied to each reception controller 42 via the signal line L2. As a result, when the management computer device 100 specifies one of the receiving devices 10A, 10B, ... 10N, the output circuit 47 outputs the information from the refrigerator, freezer, etc. to the management computer device 100 by the action of the receiving controller 42 in the specified receiving device. Since this signal is input, the computer device 100 can monitor many refrigerators, freezers, etc. In this case, if an abnormality occurs in each refrigerator, freezer, etc., the receiving device 10 of the first embodiment
Using a method similar to A, 10B, ... 10N, the management computer device 100 displays abnormalities in each refrigerator, freezer, etc. on a display device or the like. Therefore, in this case, a large number of food storage devices such as refrigerators and freezers can be monitored at one location.

Further, in this second embodiment, the reception controller 42 of each reception device 10A, 10B,...10N
The program memory 42a of is composed of RAM,
From the management computer device 100 to the program memory 42
The control program can be stored in a. In this case, the management computer device 100 controls each receiving device 1.
The same computer device 100 from 0A, 10B,...10N
The model name, type, etc. of the refrigerator, freezer, etc. connected to each receiving device 10A, 10B, ... 10N is recognized by the identification data ID in the data supplied to the receiver, and control suitable for the refrigerator, freezer, etc. is performed. The program is stored in the program memory 42a via the signal line L2. Therefore, even if the model name or type of the refrigerator, freezer, etc. connected to each receiving device 10A, 10B, ... 10N changes, each receiving device 10A, 10N
The function of the receiving controller 42 in each receiving device 10A, 10B,...10N can be easily changed according to the model name and type of the connected refrigerator, freezer, etc.
The receiving device 10 can be installed without replacing parts etc.
A, 10B,...10N can be used in common.

Furthermore, each receiving device 10A, 10B,...1
0N is equipped with a modem 48. This modem 48 allows each receiving device 10A, 10B, . Note that this management computer device has the same functions as the management computer device 100 described above, but its scale is larger. In this case, the modem 48 is connected to the parallel-to-serial conversion circuit 46 and the reception controller 42,
As in the case of the management computer device 100, the management computer device in the management center 200 inputs data representing signals from refrigerators, freezers, etc. connected to each receiving device 10A, 10B, ... 10N (see FIG. 5). do,
The operating status of refrigerators, freezers, etc. will be monitored based on the input data. Further, the management computer device in the management center 200 communicates with each receiving device 10 via the modem 48.
It is also possible to store the control program in the program memory 42a of the receiving controller 42 in A, 10B, . . . 10N. Therefore, the management center 200 replaces the management computer device 100 with each receiving device 10A.
, 10B, . . . 10N, and the refrigerators, freezers, etc. connected to each receiving device 10A, 10B, . . . 10N can be monitored and managed even from a remote location.

Furthermore, in this second embodiment, the management computer device 100 is also connected to the management computer device in the management center 200 via the telephone line L4, and the management center 200 is The management computer device 100 can also be monitored and managed.

c. Third Embodiment Next, the third embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a monitoring system for a food storage device according to the same embodiment. In this embodiment, the receiving device 10A has, in addition to the configuration of the second embodiment,
A control signal output circuit 51 is provided. This control signal output circuit 51 is connected to the refrigerator 10A-1, 2 at the input circuit 41.
Only the control signal data is extracted from the data input from the refrigerators 10A-1, 2 and the freezers 10A-3 and 10A-4, and the control signal data corresponding to the same data is extracted from the data input from the refrigerators 10A-1 and 10A-3 and
4) is outputted to the relay circuit group 52 to control the refrigerant circulation device 53. In this case, the relay circuit group 52 and the refrigerant circulation device 53 are configured similarly to the relay circuit group 18 and the refrigerant circulation device 13 of the first and second embodiments, but the relay circuit group 52
The refrigerant circulation device 53 is installed outside the room where the refrigerators 10A-1, 2 and the freezers 10A-3, 4 are installed, and the refrigerant circulation device 53 and the cooler 12 in the storage 11 are connected to pipes P1, P2. connected via. In this case, refrigerators 10A-1, 2 and freezers 10A-3, 4
The relay circuit group 18 and refrigerant circulation device 13 inside are not particularly necessary.

[0040] Also in the third embodiment configured as described above, the refrigerators 10A-1, 2 and the freezers 10A-3, 4 are monitored by the receiving device 10A. In addition, the refrigerant circulation device 5
3 is provided separately from the storage 11, so that the temperature near the storage 11 does not rise due to the heat generated by the refrigerant circulation device 53, the cooling efficiency of the cooler 12 is improved, and the temperature of the storage 11 is improved. Noise problems will also be eliminated. Furthermore, in this case, the cooling controller 1 is used to monitor the refrigerators 10A-1, 2 and the freezers 10A-3, 4.
Since the control signal input from 7 to the receiving device 10A is used, there is no need to take out the control signal, and it is possible to easily improve the thermal efficiency and take measures against noise.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a monitoring system for a food storage device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a format diagram of data transmitted from the food storage device of FIG. 1 to a receiving device.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a monitoring system for a food storage device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a detailed block diagram of the receiving device and food storage device of FIG. 3. FIG.

FIG. 5 is a format diagram of data transmitted from the receiving device of FIGS. 3 and 4 to a management computer device.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a monitoring system for a food storage device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10, 10A to 10N...Receiving device, 10-1 to 4... Food storage device, 10A-1, 2, 10B-1 to 3, 10N-
1... Refrigerator, 10A-2, 3, 10B-4... Freezer, 1
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Storage, 12...Cooler, 13,53...Refrigerant circulation device, 14...Interior temperature setting device, 15...Interior temperature sensor, 16
...Cooler temperature sensor, 17...Cooling controller, 18,
52... Relay circuit group, 19... Alarm device, 22... Data formation circuit, 23... Parallel-serial conversion circuit, 24... Output circuit, 31, 41... Input circuit, 32, 42... Reception controller, 32a, 42a... Program memory, 33,4
3...Alarm device, 34, 44...Battery, 45...Data recombination circuit, 46...Parallel-serial conversion circuit, 47...Output circuit, 48...Modem, 51...Control signal output circuit, L1
, L2... signal line, L3, L4... telephone line, 100... management computer device, 200... management center.

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A storage for storing foods, etc., a cooling device for cooling the storage, temperature condition setting means for setting temperature conditions for the storage, and temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the storage. and a control means for outputting a control signal based on the set temperature condition and the detected temperature to the cooling device to control the operation of the cooling device, and controlling the storage under the set temperature condition. What is claimed is: 1. A food storage device that maintains a temperature according to a temperature condition according to the temperature condition, the food storage device comprising an output means for outputting to the outside a signal representing at least the set temperature condition and the detected temperature. 2. The output means according to claim 1 outputs to the outside a control signal output from the control means in addition to the signal representing the set temperature condition and the detected temperature. A food storage device characterized by: 3. A storage for storing foods, etc., a cooling device for cooling the storage, temperature condition setting means for setting temperature conditions for the storage, and temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the storage. and a control means for outputting a control signal based on the set temperature condition and the detected temperature to the cooling device to control the operation of the cooling device, and controlling the storage under the set temperature condition. A plurality of food storage devices are provided to maintain the temperature according to the temperature conditions, and each of the food storage devices is provided with output means for outputting at least a signal representing the set temperature condition and the detected temperature to the outside, and Connect each output means to the receiving device,
A monitoring system for a food storage device, characterized in that the receiving device inputs a signal from each output means of the plurality of food storage devices and monitors the plurality of food storage devices based on the same signal. . 4. Each output means of the plurality of food storage apparatuses according to claim 3 outputs a control signal output from the control means in addition to the signal representing the set temperature condition and the detected temperature. A monitoring system for a food storage device, characterized in that the signals are output to the receiving device, and the receiving device also receives the control signal. 5. A monitoring system for a food storage device, wherein the receiving device according to claim 3 or 4 is constituted by a microcomputer device, and the microcomputer device is backed up by a battery. 6. A plurality of receiving devices according to claim 3 or 4 are provided, each of the receiving devices is connected to a management computer device, and the management computer device manages each of the receiving devices. Features a monitoring system for food storage equipment. 7. A monitoring system for a food storage device, wherein the receiving device according to claim 6 is constituted by a microcomputer device, and a control program can be input into the microcomputer device from the management computer device. 8. The receiving device according to claim 3 or 4 is provided with a transmitting/receiving means that enables transmission and reception with the outside through a telephone line, and the transmitting/receiving means transmits each signal received from the plurality of food storage devices to the telephone. A monitoring system for food storage equipment characterized by being able to transmit data to the outside through a line. 9. The receiving device according to claim 8 is configured by a microcomputer device, and the transmitting/receiving means allows a control program to be input into the microcomputer device from the outside through a telephone line. Monitoring system for food storage equipment. 10. A storage for storing foods, etc., a cooler provided in the storage to cool the storage, and a refrigerant provided separately from the storage and circulating a refrigerant to the cooler. a circulation device, a temperature condition setting means provided in the vicinity of the storage to set the temperature conditions of the storage, a temperature detection means provided in the storage to detect the temperature of the storage; a control means provided nearby that outputs a control signal based on the set temperature condition and the detected temperature to control the operation of the refrigerant circulation device;
A plurality of food storage devices are provided to maintain the storage at a temperature according to the set temperature conditions, and each food storage device is provided with a signal representing the set temperature condition, a signal representing the detected temperature, and a signal representing the detected temperature. Output means for outputting the control signal outputted from the control means to the outside are provided, and each of the output means is connected to a receiving device, and the receiving device receives the control signal from each of the output means of the plurality of food storage devices. Each signal is input to monitor a plurality of food storage devices based on the same signal, and the input control signal is output to the refrigerant circulation device of each food storage device to control the operation of the refrigerant circulation device. A monitoring system for food storage equipment characterized by: