JPH0810106B2 - Central control device for showcase - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a control device for centrally controlling a plurality of showcases.

[Prior Art] A store such as a supermarket is equipped with a plurality of showcases, and each showcase has a temperature controller incorporated therein and a defrost thermostat that detects the end of defrosting by the temperature inside the warehouse. It is individually controlled by the control device. Such an installation method has the following problems.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Since each showcase has a built-in control device, various setting operations can be performed only at the installation location, and the set contents cannot be viewed collectively. However, it takes a lot of time and effort to change the setting depending on the season or the weather.

As a control device for a showcase, it is necessary to have a setting device for each showcase, resulting in high cost.

For example, even if a device that can be shared by each showcase, such as an outside air temperature detector, is required individually, the cost increases accordingly.

Since there are various kinds of showcase control methods, it is necessary to develop and design the control device for each type, which increases the development and design costs. If it is attempted to generalize the control device in order to avoid this, the number of extra parts will increase and the cost will also increase.

When it is desired to check the operating conditions such as the inside temperature of each showcase, it is necessary to look around all the showcases, which makes management difficult.

The present invention has been made to eliminate such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive control device that facilitates management of a plurality of showcases.

[Means for Solving the Problems] A centralized control device for a showcase according to the present invention is a centralized control device including a plurality of showcases and a management device that collectively manages the showcases via signal lines. The management device converts an input device for inputting a set temperature, a defrost start time, a defrost pattern, and the like into each showcase, and converts each data input by the input device into a predetermined transmission data to determine a predetermined transmission data. Each showcase includes a temperature sensor that detects the temperature inside the store, and a main control circuit that outputs at the timing of 1) and a transmission interface that transmits the transmission signal output from the main control circuit to the signal line. And a comparison circuit for comparing the set temperature transmitted through the signal line with the internal temperature detected by the sensor, the comparison result of the comparison circuit, and the defrosting A control device that controls the load device of the showcase based on the data such as the start time and the defrost pattern is provided, and if a signal is not transmitted from the management device even after a certain period of time, It is characterized in that a preset defrost operation is performed.

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

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

On the other hand, when no control signal is transmitted from the management device even after the lapse of a predetermined time, the defrost operation preset for each showcase is performed.

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

50 is a management device installed in a management room, and 10 is
It is a control device for each showcase and is connected to the two-wire signal line A from the central control device 50 by the multi-drop method, and is also supplied with 24V power from the central control device 50 via the power line B. .

As an overview of the system, the central control unit 50 sets the target temperature for each showcase, defrost start time, defrost return temperature, on / off of the fluorescent lamp in the warehouse, and on / off of the display for special sale. Are set, and these set values are transmitted to the control device 10 of each showcase through the signal line A. Each control device 10 controls the showcase by comparing the transmitted set temperature with the temperature detected by itself, and also transmits the detected temperature and the operating condition as data to the central control device 50. The centralized management device 50 displays the operating condition of the showcase and issues an alarm if necessary according to the content of the data transmitted from each control device 10.

In addition, remote monitoring is also possible by adding a predetermined device separately and communicating with a host computer of a higher level via a communication line.

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

Reference numeral 51 is a main control circuit for centrally controlling this system. 52 is an outside air temperature sensor that detects the outside air temperature, and 53
Is an analog circuit that converts the detection signal of the outside air temperature sensor 52 into a signal representing the temperature. Reference numeral 54 is a digital input interface for inputting data necessary for determination when detecting an abnormality of the refrigerator or cutting high pressure. Reference numeral 55 is a setting input device for inputting setting data for each showcase, and as the setting data, for example, as shown in Tables 1 and 2, showcase types indicating which products are displayed. And set temperature to turn on / off the valve. A monitor 56 displays various kinds of set input data and the like. 57 and 58 are transmission interfaces for communicating with the respective control devices 10 via the signal line A. Reference numerals 59 and 60 are a transmission interface and an NCu modem which are provided as necessary for communicating with an external host computer or the like via a telephone line. Reference numeral 61 is a power supply of the management device 50, and supplies 24V to each control device 10 through the power supply line B.

Next, the control operation of the management device 50 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

After the power is turned on, first, in step S1, various data shown in Table 1 are input. When the data is input, the setting data is taken into the main control circuit 51 together with the outside air temperature by the outside air temperature sensor 52 in step S2. Step
In S3, the set temperature is automatically corrected according to the outside air temperature. As an example, if the outside air temperature is 15 ° C or less, the set temperature is +
It is corrected by 4 ° C, and if the outside air temperature is 15 ° C to 26 ° C, the set temperature is corrected by + 2 ° C, and if the outside air temperature is 26 ° C or more, the set temperature is not corrected. In step S4,
A text of data to be transmitted to each control device 10 is created, the data is transmitted to each control device 10 in step S5, and the data from each control device 10 is received as described later. In step S6, it is determined whether or not the received data is abnormal, and if there is abnormal data, step
The alarm is issued to the monitor 56 in S7. If the above-mentioned abnormality is resolved when this flow is executed next time, the alarm is stopped in step S8.

FIG. 4 shows a control block diagram of each of the control devices 10. Reference numeral 11 is a control circuit composed of a 4-bit microcomputer, and has a timer T and an A / D converter built therein. Reference numeral 12 is an address setting device for setting a unique address to the microcomputer. Reference numeral 13 is a converter for converting 24V of the power supply line B into 5V as a control power supply of the control circuit 11. 14
Is a transmission interface for connecting the control circuit 11 and the signal line A. Reference numerals 15 and 16 are sensors for detecting the temperature inside the chamber and the temperature of blown cold air, and 17 is a sensor.
It is an analog circuit that converts 15, 16 detection signals into a predetermined temperature signal. Reference numeral 18 is a relay drive circuit that drives various relays X ₁ to Xn, and 19 is a digital temperature indicator provided as necessary.

Next, the control operation of the control device 10 will be described with reference to FIG.

When the control device 10 is powered on, the timer T is started in step S11, and the management device 50 is previously operated in step S12.
It is judged whether or not communication is established, and if there is no communication, step
In S13, it is determined whether the timer T has timed up for a predetermined time (3 minutes in this embodiment).

Before the timer T times out for 3 minutes, if the management device 50 is contacted by the flow of the timer interruption described later, the steps S12 through S13 through S12 are performed.
Proceeding to 15, the received data is taken into the control circuit 11. Whether or not there is a defrost command for the data received in step S16 is determined, and if there is a defrost command, the defrost operation is performed in step S17, but if not, the process proceeds to step S18 and is currently in defrost operation. If so, the operation is stopped. In step S19,
Each controller 10 measured by the timer interrupt flow
It is determined whether the temperature inside the refrigerator is not higher than the set temperature from the management device 50, and when the temperature inside the refrigerator is higher than the set temperature, the valve is opened and the cooling operation is performed in step S20. Step when the temperature is below the set temperature
Proceed to S21, at which time the valve will be closed if it is open. After that, the process returns to step S11.

During the 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 S13, the address set in the control circuit 11 is read out and prepared for communication from the management device 50. Next, in step S32, if the temperature inside the refrigerator is detected, it is dynamically displayed on the digital temperature indicator 19. In step S33, it is determined whether or not this flow execution is the 40 × Nth time, that is, the 40th, 80th, 120th, etc., and if not, the flow proceeds to step S34, and the flow execution is the 40 × N + 1th time, that is, 41st. , 81, 121 ... It is determined whether or not it is the first time, and if not, that is, 0 to 39, 42 to 7
9 ... At the time of the ninth time, the process proceeds to step S38.

On the other hand, at the 40 × N time, that is, at every 80 mS, step S3
Proceeding to step 5, the temperature signals detected by the sensors 15 and 16 are digitally converted by the A / D converter. Then, when the next flow is executed, the process proceeds from steps S33, S34 to steps S36, S37, and A / D
The 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, communication with the management device 50 is performed in step S40, and in step S41 various loads of the control device 10 Various control data indicating the situation are transmitted to the management device, and if there is an abnormality in the transmitted data, a display for notifying the abnormality is displayed on the monitor 56. After that, it returns to the original flow.

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

Now, in the flow chart of FIG. 5 described above, if there is no communication with the management device 50 even after 3 minutes, the process proceeds from step S13 to step S14, and the default operation is performed as shown in the time chart of FIG. It This default operation is a control operation independently performed based on a preset control operation on each control device 10 side even if communication with the management device becomes impossible, and if communication with the management device 50 is resumed, It is designed to restore normal operation based on a command from the management device 50. FIG. 8 shows the details of the default operation time chart.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, each showcase is controlled based on the data set by the management device, so that a plurality of showcases can be controlled and each showcase can be controlled. The operating condition of the case can be easily managed, and a common device for each showcase is not required, so the system cost can be reduced. On the other hand, even if a failure occurs on the management device side, each showcase can be operated independently, so that it is possible to prevent all showcases from becoming inoperable.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration of a centralized control device for a showcase according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a control block diagram showing one embodiment of a management device, and FIG. 3 is control of the management device shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the operation of each control device.
FIG. 7 is a control block diagram showing an embodiment, FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are flow charts showing the control operation of the control device of FIG.
FIG. 8 is a time chart showing the control operation in each control device, and FIG. 8 is a time chart showing the details of the default operation in FIG. 10 ... Control device, 11 ... Control circuit, 12 ... Address setting device, 13 ... Converter, 14 ... Transmission interface, 1
5, 16 …… Sensor, 17 …… Analog circuit, 18 …… Relay drive circuit, 19 …… Digital temperature indicator, 50 …… Management device,
51 …… Main control circuit, 52 …… Outside temperature sensor, 53 …… Analog circuit, 54 …… Digital input interface, 55 …… Setting input device, 56 …… Monitor, 57,58,59 …… Transmission interface, 60 ...... NCu modem, 61 ...... power supply, T ...... timer.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP 60-2864 (JP, A) JP 58-12975 (JP, A) JP 60-165483 (JP, A) JP 58- 158475 (JP, A) JP 58-213173 (JP, A) Actually developed 57-132181 (JP, U)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A centralized control device comprising a plurality of showcases and a management device for collectively managing the showcases via a signal line, wherein the management device sets a temperature setting for each showcase, An input device for inputting a defrost start time, a defrost pattern, etc., a main control circuit for converting each data input by the input device into predetermined transmission data and outputting at a predetermined timing, and a main control circuit. A transmission interface for transmitting the output transmission signal to the signal line is provided. On the other hand, each showcase has a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature in the refrigerator, a set temperature transmitted through the signal line, and the sensor. Based on the comparison circuit for comparing the inside temperature detected by the above, the comparison result of the comparison circuit, and the data such as the defrost start time and the defrost pattern, -A control device for controlling the load device of the case is provided, and when a signal is not transmitted from the management device even after a certain period of time, each showcase is caused to perform a preset defrost operation. Centralized control device for showcases.