JPH08293058A - Energy saving cooler for vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To obtain the energy saving effect by keeping the commodity temperature within a prescribed value and reducing the operation rate of a motor compressor(MC). CONSTITUTION: When temperatures in plural (three, in this example) boxes for commodity cooling and preservation fall to an off point Toff in the vending machine where temperatures in boxes are detected by sensors 3A to 3C to cool the boxes, all solenoid valves and an MC 5 are turned off at a time t3, and temperatures in boxes rise. When the temperature in the box of the sensor 3A which is, for example, 3 deg.C higher than the minimum temperature in the box indicated by the sensor 3A at a time t3a is detected during this temperature rise, a fan 2B in the box whose temperature is indicated by the sensor 3B is turned off to reduce the rising speed of the intra-box temperature, and this fan 2B is turned on when the temperature in this box coincides with the minimum temperature in the box at a time 13b. When temperatures in three boxes exceed an on point Ton at a time t4, the MC 5 and respective solenoid valves are turned on.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention includes a common refrigerator for cooling a plurality of refrigerators, and an automatic vending machine (abbreviated as a vending machine) for storing products for sale in the refrigerators. The present invention relates to an energy-saving cooling device for a vending machine that cools the inside of the refrigerator while minimizing the operating rate of the machine (that is, the ratio of the operating time of the refrigerator during the operating time of the vending machine).

In the following drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the essential parts of a vending machine of this type. In the figure, 01 (01A to 01C) is the inside of the refrigerator for storing the products, and 1 (1A to 1C) is the inside of the refrigerator 01
An evaporator 5 as a heat exchanger for cooling the inside of the refrigerator provided in A to 01C is a motor compressor (also abbreviated as MC) as a refrigerator for circulating and supplying a refrigerant to each evaporator 1A to 1C, 4 ( 4A-4C) are MC
5 is an electromagnetic valve for opening and closing the supply path of the refrigerant sent from each of the evaporators 1A to 1C.

Next, 2 (2A to 2C) is 01A in each compartment, respectively.
To 01C, the inside fans for agitating the inside air to make the inside temperature uniform, 3 (3A to 3C) detect the temperature (inside temperature) of each inside 01A to 01C, respectively. The inside temperature sensor 6 is for detecting the temperature of each inside 01A-01C via the inside temperature sensors 3A-3C, and each inside 01A-
The control unit controls ON / OFF of the MC 5 and the solenoid valves 4A to 4C so as to keep the temperature of 01C within a predetermined temperature range.

FIG. 5 is a time chart showing an example of conventional cooling control of the control unit 6 when the operation rate of the MC 5 is reduced to save energy (abbreviated as energy saving). Next, FIG. 5 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 5, all internal fans 2A to 2C are always kept in the ON state. Here, in FIG. 5 (a), before the time t1, all the electromagnetic valves 4A to 4C and MC5 for the respective compartments are in the ON state, and the compartment temperatures indicated by the compartment temperature sensors 3A to 3C are lowered. There is. When the sensor 3A of the interior 01A at time t1 detects a predetermined off point Toff, the solenoid valve 4A of the interior 01A is turned off, and the internal temperature of the interior 01A starts to rise.

[0006] Thereafter, at the time points t2 and t3, the inside of the warehouse is 0
The sensors 3B and 3C of 1B and 01C detect the off point Toff, the corresponding solenoid valves 4B and 4C are turned off, and the inside 01
The in-compartment temperature of B and 01C also starts to rise. And time t3
Then, MC5 is turned off by turning off all the solenoid valves 4A to 4C. Next, at a time point t4, the inside temperature detected by all the inside temperature sensors 3A to 3C is a predetermined on-point T.
Solenoid valves 4A to 4C of 01A to 01C in the entire warehouse when on is exceeded
And, MC5 is turned on, and the temperature inside each of the compartments starts to drop all at once.

Further, in FIG. 5B, the operation up to time t3 is the same as in FIG. 5A, but the sensor 3A of the interior 01A in which the internal temperature rises fastest at time t4 'is predetermined. When the upper limit value Tmax of
The solenoid valves 4A to 4C of C and MC5 are turned on, and the internal temperatures of the respective compartments all simultaneously start decreasing.

[0008]

However, in the case where there is a large difference in the size and the like in the compartments and the temperature rise when the MC5 is off is non-uniform, the cooling control method of FIG. There is a problem that it takes time until the temperature exceeds the on-point Ton, and the product temperature may exceed the upper limit value Tmax in the inside of the chamber where the temperature inside the store rises the fastest.

In the method of FIG. 5 (b), when the temperature inside one of the chambers rises very quickly, even when the temperature inside the other chamber is still sufficiently low, the temperature inside the chamber reaches the upper limit value Tmax, and MC5 Is turned on, which is a very wasteful control from the viewpoint of energy saving. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an energy-saving cooling device for a vending machine that can solve these problems.

[0010]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the cooling means (evaporator 1, solenoid valve 4 etc.) for cooling the inside (01) of storing goods and the inside temperature are kept. An in-compartment temperature sensor (3) for detecting and an in-compartment fan (2) for agitating the air in the compartment are provided, and the cooling means is turned on / off in a state where the in-compartment fan is on,
In an automatic vending machine that cools and holds the internal cold storage temperature detected by the internal cold storage temperature sensor within a predetermined temperature range, the energy-saving cooling device according to claim 1 has predetermined conditions when the cooling means is off. Means for turning off the in-compartment fan, and delaying an increase in the in-compartment temperature detected via the in-compartment temperature sensor (MC
An off-time fan off / on means 61) is provided.

The energy-saving cooling device according to claim 2 is
A means for turning off / on the internal fan under a predetermined condition when the cooling means is turned off, and controlling the rising speed of the internal temperature detected by the internal temperature sensor to the delay side (MC off-time storage The internal fan off / on means 61) is provided. Next, the energy-saving cooling device according to claim 3 has an inside temperature sensor (3A to 3C) for detecting the inside temperature of each of a plurality of insides (01A to 01C) that store products, and the inside of the store. An evaporator (1A to 1C) for cooling the inside, an internal fan (2A to 2C) for agitating the air in the internal compartment, an on-off valve (a solenoid valve) for opening and closing a flow path of the refrigerant to the evaporator. 4A to 4C), and is provided with a common refrigerant circulating means (motor compressor 5) in the plurality of compartments for circulating and supplying the refrigerant to each evaporator via each of the on-off valves described above. Each of the on-off valves is turned on / off in the state of turning on, and the temperature in each of the compartments detected via the compartment temperature sensor is cooled to a predetermined temperature range (off point Toff to upper limit value Tmax). Hold it in place during this In an automatic vending machine that is turned off when all of the on-off valves are turned off and then turned on when any of the on-off valves is turned on, when the refrigerant circulation means is turned off, the inside temperature sensors are intervened. When the inside temperature detected by a predetermined first temperature difference (for example, 3 ° C.) or more is detected with respect to the lowest inside temperature, the inside of the detected inside temperature is detected. Fan-off means for turning off the internal fan in the room (such as fan-in / off means 61 when the MC is off)
Shall be provided.

The energy-saving cooling device of claim 4 is
The energy-saving cooling device according to claim 3, wherein the temperature difference between the internal cold storage temperature in which the internal fan is turned off by the fan-off means and the minimum internal cold storage temperature is smaller than the first temperature difference. When the temperature difference becomes equal to or lower than the second temperature difference (for example, 0), the means for turning on the internal fan (such as the internal fan off / on means 61 when the MC is off) is provided.

The energy-saving cooling device according to claim 5 is
The energy-saving cooling device according to claim 3 or 4,
When the refrigerant circulation means is off, and when the internal temperature detected by one or more internal temperature sensors exceeds a predetermined temperature (on point Ton) within the temperature range, all the open / close valves are turned on all at once. Means (control unit 6) are provided.

[0014]

[Function] When the MC is turned off, the fan in the cold storage whose temperature rises quickly is stopped to stop the agitation of the air in the cold storage, thereby suppressing the rate of rise of the cold storage temperature and increasing the temperature inside the cold storage. Keep a small difference from the temperature inside the room where the temperature inside the room is slowly rising. That is, all the inside temperatures are increased with a small variation so as to extend the MC off period as much as possible, so that none of the inside temperatures exceed the upper limit value.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the essential parts of one embodiment of the present invention, and this figure corresponds to FIG. In FIG. 3, an internal fan off / on means 61 for MC off is provided in the control section 6 as a main functional section related to the present invention, so that the internal fans 2A to 2C can be turned off / on by this means 61. Is configured.

FIG. 1 is a time chart for explaining the cooling control operation of the control unit 6 (the MC off-time fan off / on means 61 of FIG. 3), which corresponds to FIG. In addition,
In FIG. 1, the sensors 3A and 3C of the interiors 01A and 01C show a slow rate of temperature increase in the interior indicated by the sensors 3B of the interior 01B while the MC 5 is off. Indicates that the speed is particularly high.

Further, FIG. 2 also shows (means 6 of the control unit 6).
In the flowchart showing the operation of 1), S1 to S8 are the step numbers. Next, FIG. 2 will be described with reference to FIG. The operation from time t1 to t3 in FIG. 1 is the same as that in the case of FIG. That is, step S1 in FIG.
Then, the control unit 6 turns off all of the MC5 and solenoid valves 4A to 4C at the time point t3 when the temperature inside the chamber indicated by each of the sensors 3A to 3C falls sufficiently. The control unit 6 periodically detects the temperature inside each of the compartments via the sensors 3A to 3C (S2), and the difference between the lowest temperature among the three compartment temperatures is a specified value or more, for example, 3 degrees C or more. If there is, the fan in the refrigerator is stopped to suppress the rise in temperature in the refrigerator (S3, S4). That is, in the example of FIG. 1, time t3
In a, the temperature indicated by the sensor 3B of the inside 01B is higher than the temperature indicated by the sensor 3A of the lowest inside 01A by 3 ° C., so that the internal fan 2B is turned off.

Next, for the inside of the compartment where the inside fan has been turned off, when the inside temperature of the compartment is equal to or lower than the other lowest interior temperature, the inside fan is turned on again (S5, S6). That is, in the example of FIG. 1, the in-compartment fan 2B is turned on because the in-compartment temperature indicated by the sensor 3B of the in-compartment 01B at the time point t3b coincides with the in-compartment temperature indicated by the sensor 3A of the in-compartment 01A.

Next, the sensors 3 of all the insides 01A to 01C
Time t when the internal temperature indicated by A to 3C becomes equal to or higher than the on-point Ton
At 4, the MC 5 and the solenoid valves 4A to 4C are turned on to start cooling (S7, S8). In this example, the fan 2A in the inside 01A and the fan 2C in the inside 01C are kept on.

[0020]

According to the present invention, when there is a variation in the degree of increase in the temperature inside each chamber when the MC is off, the fan in the chamber that has a rapid temperature rise is turned off / on to raise the temperature inside the chamber. By changing the speed to the suppression side and minimizing the variation in the internal temperature, the product temperature is kept within the specified value and the MC
The operating rate of can be reduced. Further, since the fans in the refrigerator are finely turned on / off, the fan operating rate is lower than in the case where the fans are normally turned on, and the effect of energy saving is further obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a time chart for explaining an operation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Fig. 2] Similarly flowchart

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a main part of a vending machine corresponding to FIG.

FIG. 4 is a conventional configuration diagram corresponding to FIG.

5 is a conventional time chart corresponding to FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 01 (01A-01C) Inside 1 (1A to 1C) Evaporator 2 (2A to 2C) Inside fan 3 (3A to 3C) Inside temperature sensor 4 (4A to 4C) Electromagnetic valve (valve) 5 Motor compressor (MC) ) 6 Control unit 61 Fan off / on means in MC when MC is off

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A cooling means for cooling the inside of a storage for storing products, an internal temperature sensor for detecting a temperature inside the storage, and an internal fan for stirring air inside the storage. , Turning on the cooling means with the internal fan on
In an automatic vending machine that is turned off and cools and holds the inside temperature detected by the inside temperature sensor within a predetermined temperature range, when the cooling means is off, the inside fan is turned off under a predetermined condition. An energy-saving cooling device for a vending machine, further comprising means for delaying an increase in the internal temperature detected by the internal temperature sensor. 2. A cooling means for cooling the inside of the storage for storing goods, an internal temperature sensor for detecting the temperature inside the storage, and an internal fan for stirring the air inside the storage. , Turning on the cooling means with the internal fan on
In an automatic vending machine that is turned off and cools and holds the inside temperature detected by the inside temperature sensor within a predetermined temperature range, when the cooling means is off, the inside fan is turned off under a predetermined condition. An energy-saving cooling device for a vending machine, comprising means for turning on / off and controlling an increasing rate of the internal temperature detected by the internal temperature sensor to a delay side. 3. An in-compartment temperature sensor for detecting the in-compartment temperature, an evaporator for cooling the in-compartment, and agitating the air in the in-compartment for each of a plurality of in-compartment stores for storing goods. In-house fan, having an on-off valve for opening and closing the flow path of the refrigerant to the evaporator, and a common refrigerant in the plurality of compartments for circulating and supplying the refrigerant to each evaporator via each of the on-off valves A circulation unit is provided, and each of the on-off valves is turned on / off in a state where each of the internal fans is turned on, and the temperature in each internal compartment detected by the internal temperature sensor is brought into a predetermined temperature range. In a vending machine that cools and holds, during this period, the refrigerant circulation means is turned off when all of the on-off valves are turned off, and then turned on when any of the on-off valves is turned on. When the means is turned off, each of the inside temperature sensors When a temperature higher than the predetermined first temperature difference with respect to the lowest internal temperature among the internal temperatures detected via the internal temperature is detected, the internal temperature of the internal temperature detected is higher. An energy-saving cooling device for a vending machine, comprising a fan-off means for turning off an inner fan. 4. The energy-saving cooling device according to claim 3, wherein the temperature difference between the internal cold storage temperature in which the internal fan is turned off by the fan-off means and the minimum internal cold storage temperature is the first internal temperature. An energy-saving cooling device for a vending machine, comprising means for turning on the internal fan when a predetermined second temperature difference smaller than the temperature difference is reached. 5. The energy-saving cooling device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein when the refrigerant circulating means is off, the inside temperature detected by one or a plurality of inside temperature sensors is a predetermined temperature within the temperature range. An energy-saving cooling device for a vending machine, which is provided with means for turning on all the open / close valves at once when the temperature exceeds the limit.