JPH0991512A - Operation controller for automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent temperature in a commodity storage chamber from rising abnormally owing to an increase of frosting on a cooler while improving power- saving effect. SOLUTION: In the operation stop period (defrosting period of evaporator), a control circuit 18 constituted including a CPU holds air blowing fans 6b, 7b, and 8c in an operation stop state while the evaporator temperature detected by a left-chamber evaporator sensor 6c and a right-chamber evaporator sensor 8d is <=0 deg.C, but when the temperature in the commodity storage chamber detected by a left-chamber cold sensor 6d and a right-chamber cold sensor 8e rises above previously set upper-limit temperature, the air blow fans 6b, 7b, and 8c are forced to start operating irrelevantly to the temperature detected by the left-chamber evaporator sensor 6c and right-chamber evaporator sensor 8d.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vending machine provided with a product storage room cooled by a cooler and a fan device,
In particular, the present invention relates to an operation control device for a vending machine that is configured to perform defrosting during a period in which the cooler is stopped.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an automatic vending machine for selling cold beverages, for example, a cooler operated by a refrigerating cycle compressor to cool a product storage chamber, and this cooler are generally used. A fan device for supplying the heat-exchanged air into the product storage chamber is provided, and the cooler and the fan device are feedback-controlled based on the temperature in the product storage chamber to thereby control the temperature in the product storage chamber. It is kept within a predetermined range.

In this case, the defrosting operation of the cooler is performed by natural defrosting during the operation stop period (during the operation stop period of the compressor). Further, during the operation stop period of the cooler, the fan device is kept in the operation stop state while the temperature of the cooler is 0 ° C. or lower, and the fan device of the fan device is kept when the temperature of the cooler exceeds 0 ° C. A configuration for starting the operation has been performed so that the temperature fluctuation in the product storage chamber can be suppressed and the power consumption can be saved. Further, when the temperature of the cooler becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined operation restart temperature (for example, about 6 ° C.), the operation of the compressor is started on the assumption that the temperature in the product storage room is equal to or higher than the predetermined ON temperature. Is being done.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned structure, there is a possibility that problems may occur as described below when a large amount of frost is formed on the cooler due to overload operation and the like. It was That is, as shown in FIG. 8, when the amount of frost on the cooler is in a normal state, the cooler is raised at each timing T0 when the temperature of the cooler rises to the operation restart temperature (6 ° C. in this example). The operation of is started, and the temperature inside the product storage chamber starts to drop.

However, if the amount of frost on the cooler becomes abnormally large, the time ΔT required for the frost to melt and the temperature of the cooler to rise to 0 ° C. or higher after the operation ends is prolonged. During this period, the fan device remains in the stopped state, and the time ΔT tends to be extended. Further, in such a state, the operation of the cooler remains stopped, and as a result, there arises a problem that the temperature of the product storage chamber and hence the temperature of the sold product rises carelessly. .

In order to solve the above problems,
Defrosting of the cooler may be promoted by starting the operation of the fan device at a time before the temperature of the cooler exceeds 0 ° C. In this structure, the operation of the cooler is restarted. Since the timing is unnecessarily advanced, the operation stop period of the compressor is shortened, and the original purpose of achieving the power saving effect is hindered.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to improve the power-saving effect in the case where the temperature inside the product storage chamber abnormally rises due to increased frost formation in the cooler. It is, however, to provide an operation control device for a vending machine that can prevent it.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a cooler and a fan device for supplying air, which has been heat-exchanged with the cooler, into the product storage chamber, wherein the product storage chamber is provided. By controlling the operating states of the cooler and the fan device based on the output of the storage room temperature sensor that detects the air temperature and the output of the cooler temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the cooler, While maintaining the temperature in a predetermined range, in a vending machine configured to be defrosted during a period in which the cooler is not operating,
During the operation stop period of the cooler, the fan device is held in the operation stop state in a state where the temperature detected by the cooler temperature sensor is equal to or lower than a preset threshold temperature, and the detected temperature is as described above. In addition to having a control means for starting the operation of the fan device when the threshold value is exceeded,
When the temperature detected by the temperature sensor for the storage chamber rises above a preset upper limit temperature during the operation stop period of the cooler, the control means controls the fan device regardless of the temperature detected by the cooler temperature sensor. The configuration is such that the operation is forcibly started.

According to this structure, the operating conditions of the cooler and the fan device are controlled based on the outputs of the storage room temperature sensor and the cooler temperature sensor, so that the temperature inside the product storage room is predetermined. The temperature is maintained in the range, and the defrosting of the cooler is performed during the operation stop period of the cooler associated with such control. In the cooler operation stop period, that is, in the defrosting operation period, the fan device is stopped while the temperature detected by the cooler temperature sensor (cooler temperature) is below the preset threshold temperature. Retained,
The operation of the fan device is started in a state where the detected temperature exceeds the threshold value, whereby the consumption of extra power is suppressed.

When the frost formation on the cooler is abnormally increased, the time required for the temperature of the cooler to rise to the threshold temperature tends to be prolonged during the operation stoppage of the cooler. Therefore, the restart of the operation of the cooler and the fan device may be delayed, and the temperature in the product storage chamber may rise abnormally. In this case, when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor for the storage chamber rises above the preset upper limit temperature, the fan device is forcibly started regardless of the temperature detected by the cooler temperature sensor. Then, the defrosting of the cooler is promoted in accordance with such forced operation of the fan device, so that the temperature of the cooler rises early and the operation of the cooler is restarted accordingly. Accordingly, the abnormal rise in the temperature of the product storage room is suppressed. In this case, since the control for raising the temperature of the cooler as described above is performed only when the frost formation on the cooler abnormally increases, the power saving effect decreases with such control. The situation can be suppressed as much as possible (Claim 1).

Further, after the outside air temperature sensor for detecting the outside air temperature is provided, the upper limit temperature when the control means is forced to start the fan device is higher as the temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor is higher. The configuration may be changed and set so that

According to this structure, the upper limit temperature for forcibly starting the operation of the fan device becomes high in a situation where the temperature in the product storage chamber rises early as the outside air temperature rises. The time required to restart the operation of the fan device becomes constant regardless of the state of the outside temperature (claim 2).

A first product storage chamber which is operated in a cold mode by a cooler and a fan device and a second product storage chamber which is selectively operated in either a cold mode or a hot mode are provided adjacent to each other. In some cases,
The control means changes and sets the upper limit temperature when the fan device is forcibly started during the operation stop period of the cooler for the first product storage chamber according to the operation mode of the second product storage chamber. It may be configured.

According to this structure, when the operation mode of the second product storage chamber causes the temperature of the first product storage chamber to rise, the upper limit temperature for forcibly starting the operation of the fan device is changed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the time required until the operation of the fan device is restarted from fluctuating according to the operation mode of the second product storage chamber (claim 3).

Further, an outside air temperature sensor for detecting the outside air temperature is provided, and the first commodity storage chamber is operated in the cold mode by the cooler and the fan device, and selectively operated in either the cold mode or the hot mode. And a second product storage chamber adjacent to each other, the control means forcibly starts the operation of the fan device during the operation stop period of the cooler for the first product storage chamber. The upper limit temperature may be changed and set in consideration of both the temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor and the operation mode of the second product storage chamber (claim 4).

Further, a cooler and a fan device for supplying the air heat-exchanged with the cooler into the product storage chamber are provided, and based on the output of the storage chamber temperature sensor for detecting the air temperature in the product storage chamber. By controlling the operating states of the cooler and the fan device to keep the temperature in the product storage chamber within a predetermined range, and defrost the vending machine while the cooler is not operating. In, a cooler temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the cooler,
During the operation stop period of the cooler, the fan device is held in the operation stop state in a state where the temperature detected by the cooler temperature sensor is equal to or lower than a preset threshold temperature, and the detected temperature is as described above. And a control means for starting the operation of the fan device in a state of exceeding the threshold value, and the control means detects each by the storage room temperature sensor and the cooler temperature sensor during the operation stop period of the cooler. When the temperature difference expands beyond a preset limit temperature range, the fan device may be forcibly started regardless of the temperature detected by the cooler temperature sensor.

According to this structure, when the difference between the temperatures detected by the storage room temperature sensor and the cooler temperature sensor rises above a preset limit temperature range, the fan device detects the temperature detected by the cooler temperature sensor. Since the operation will be forcibly started regardless of this, the defrosting of the cooler will be accelerated in accordance with such forced operation of the fan device, and the temperature of the cooler will rise early. As a result, the abnormal increase in the temperature inside the product storage chamber can be suppressed in accordance with the restart of the operation of the cooler (claim 5).

In this case, when an outside air temperature sensor for detecting the outside air temperature is provided, the limit temperature range for forcibly starting the operation of the fan device by the control means is high when the temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor is high. The configuration may be such that it is changed and set so as to become larger (claim 6).

Further, the first product storage chamber operated in the cold mode by the cooler and the fan device, and the second product chamber selectively operated in either the cold mode or the hot mode.
In the case where the product storage chamber and the product storage chamber are provided adjacent to each other, the control means sets a limit temperature range for forcibly starting the fan device during the operation stop period of the cooler for the first product storage chamber. Alternatively, it may be configured to be changed and set according to the operation mode of the second product storage chamber (claim 7).

Furthermore, an outside air temperature sensor for detecting the outside air temperature is provided, and the first commodity storage room is operated in the cold mode by the cooler and the fan device, and is selectively operated in either the cold mode or the hot mode. And a second product storage chamber adjacent to each other, the control means forcibly starts the operation of the fan device during the operation stop period of the cooler for the first product storage chamber. The limit temperature range may be changed and set in consideration of both the temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor and the operation mode of the second product storage chamber (claim 8).

[0021]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 schematically shows the schematic structure of the vending machine. In FIG. 2, in the vending machine body 1, in addition to the left chamber 2 as the first product storage chamber, the middle chamber 3 and the right chamber 4 as the second product storage chambers.
And a machine room 5 located below the respective rooms 2 to 4. In this case, the left chamber 2 is set only for the cold mode, and the middle chamber 3 and the right chamber 4 are selectively set for either the cold mode or the hot mode.

Operating units 6, 7 and 8 are provided in the bottom of the left chamber 2, the middle chamber 3 and the right chamber 4, respectively. In this case, the operation unit 6 for the left ventricle 2 is dedicated to the cooling operation, and the evaporator 6a (corresponding to the cooler in the present invention) and the air heat-exchanged with the evaporator 6a are supplied into the left ventricle 2. Is provided with a blower fan 6b (corresponding to a fan device in the present invention) for this purpose, and a left chamber evaporator sensor 6c (corresponding to a cooler temperature sensor in the present invention) is provided in the evaporator 6a. . Further, the operation unit 6 is provided with a left chamber cold sensor 6d (corresponding to a storage chamber temperature sensor in the present invention) for detecting the air temperature in the left chamber 2.

The operation unit 7 for the inner chamber 3 is dedicated to the heating operation, and is provided with a heater 7a and a blower fan 7b for supplying the air heat-exchanged with the heater 7a into the inner chamber 3. Has become. In addition, the operation unit 7 includes a hot room sensor 7 for detecting the temperature of the air in the room 3.
c is provided.

The operation unit 8 for the right chamber 4 is for both cooling operation and heating operation, and has an evaporator 8a (corresponding to a cooler in the present invention), a heater 8b, and heat exchange with the evaporator 8a or the heater 8b. The evaporator 8 has a configuration including a blower fan 8c (corresponding to a fan device in the present invention) for supplying air into the right chamber 4.
A right chamber evaporation sensor 8d (corresponding to the cooler temperature sensor in the present invention) is provided in a. Further, the operation unit 8 is provided with a right chamber cold sensor 8e (corresponding to a storage chamber temperature sensor in the present invention) for detecting the air temperature in the right chamber 4 and a right chamber hot sensor 8f.

In the machine room 5, a compressor 9 which constitutes a refrigeration cycle together with the evaporators 6a and 8a,
A condenser 10, a left solenoid valve 11 and a right solenoid valve 12 are provided, and a condenser fan 13 for cooling the condenser 10, an electrical equipment box 14, etc. are provided.

In this case, the left solenoid valve 11 and the right solenoid valve 12
Means that either one of them is selectively opened in the operation state of the refrigeration cycle, and when the left solenoid valve 11 is opened, the refrigerant is supplied only to the evaporator 6a for the left chamber 2 and the right solenoid valve 12 is opened. In a state in which is opened, the refrigerant is supplied to both the evaporators 6a and 8a for the left chamber 2 and the right chamber 4.

Therefore, when the right chamber 4 is set to the cold mode, the right solenoid valve 12 is opened during the operation of the refrigeration cycle, and when the right chamber 4 is set to the hot mode, The left solenoid valve 11 is opened during operation.

Although not specifically shown, the partition wall between the left chamber 2 and the middle chamber 3 is formed with a vent hole which can be opened and closed by a shutter, so that the middle chamber 3 is set to the cold mode. In addition, the inside of the middle chamber 3 is cooled by the evaporator 6a for the left chamber 2 by opening the vent hole. Further, when the inner chamber 3 is set to the hot mode, the ventilation port is closed, and the heater 7a of the operation unit 7 is used as a heating source in this state.

The opening / closing operation of the shutter is performed by a cold / hot switching lever which can be reciprocally operated between a cold mode position and a hot mode position, and is operated in conjunction with the operation of the cold / hot switching lever. A room cooling / heating changeover switch (denoted by reference numeral 15 in FIG. 1) is provided, and the inside room 3 is set to either a cold mode or a hot mode according to the on / off state of the inside room cooling / temperature changing switch 15. It is configured to detect whether it is hot.

The electrical equipment box 14 is for accommodating a circuit device for controlling the operation of the refrigerating cycle, controlling the operation of a bend solenoid (not shown), and the like. A right room cold / hot temperature changeover switch 16 for changing over the operation mode is provided. Further, the vending machine body 1 is provided with an outside air temperature sensor 17 at a place where it is unlikely to be affected by the internal temperature.

FIG. 1 shows an outline of a part related to the temperature control of the left chamber 2, the middle chamber 3 and the right chamber 4 in the electrical configuration of the vending machine by a combination of functional blocks. In FIG. 1, the control circuit 18 including a CPU (corresponding to the control means in the present invention) includes the left ventricle evaporation sensor 6c, the right ventricle evaporation sensor 8d, the left ventricle cold sensor 6d, and the right ventricle cold sensor 8e. The signals from the middle room hot sensor 7c, the right room hot sensor 8f, the middle room cold temperature changeover switch 15, the right room cold temperature changeover switch 16 and the outside air temperature sensor 17 are input.

Further, the control circuit 18 controls the blower fans 6b, 7b, 8c, the heaters 7a, 8b, the compressor 9, the left solenoid valve 11, the right solenoid valve 12, the condenser fan 1.
The operation of No. 3 is controlled through the relay switches 19 to 27 provided correspondingly.

In the following, of the control contents of the control circuit 18, the portion related to the gist of the present invention will be described. Here, the control content in a state where both the middle chamber 3 and the right chamber 4 are set to the cold mode (the left chamber 2 is fixed to the cold mode) will be described.
The modes set for the middle chamber 3 and the right chamber 4 are recognized by the control circuit 18 based on signals from the middle chamber cooling / heating changeover switch 15 and the right chamber cooling / heating changeover switch 16.

(1) With the operation of the compressor 9 and the like,
When both the left ventricle cold sensor 6d and the right ventricle cold sensor 8e have fallen below the set off temperature Doff,
The operation of the compressor 9, the blower fans 6b, 7b and 8c is stopped, and the evaporator 6a accompanying this is stopped,
During the operation stop period of 8a, the deflector evaporators 6a, 8
Defrosting of a is performed.

(2) Such evaporators 6a and 8a
During the operation stop period, that is, in the defrosting period, when the temperature detected by the left ventricular evaporation sensor 6c and the right ventricular evaporation sensor 8d is a preset threshold temperature, for example, 0 ° C. or less, the blower fans 6b, 7b, 8c is kept in a stopped state, but the temperature detected by the left ventricular evaporation sensor 6c is 0 ° C.
If it exceeds the limit, the blower fan 6 for the left chamber 2 and the middle chamber 3
b and 7b are started, and the right ventricle eva sensor 8
When the temperature detected by d exceeds 0 ° C., the operation of the blower fan 8c for the right chamber 4 is started.

(3) When the compressor 9 is not in operation, the temperatures detected by the left ventricular evaporation sensor 6c and the right ventricular evaporation sensor 8d are both predetermined restart temperatures (for example, 6 ° C.).
When it becomes the above, one of the temperatures detected by the left ventricle cold sensor 6d and the right ventricle cold sensor 8e is equal to or higher than the set ON temperature Don, and the start failure prevention timer is set from the time when the compressor 9 was stopped last time. The operation of the compressor 9 is started on the assumption that the predetermined time (for example, 5 minutes) has passed.

(4) At the start of operation of the compressor 9, the left ventricle cold sensor 6d and the right ventricle cold sensor 8
When both of the temperatures detected by e are equal to or higher than the set ON temperature Don, the right solenoid valve 12 is opened (the left solenoid valve 11 is closed), so that the evaporators 6a and 8a for the left chamber 2 and the right chamber 4 are separated. The control is performed so that the refrigerant is supplied to both of them, and the operation of the blower fans 6b, 7b, and 8c is started.

(5) When only the temperature detected by the left ventricle cold sensor 6d is equal to or higher than the set ON temperature Don at the start of the operation of the compressor 9, the left solenoid valve 11 is opened (the right solenoid valve 12 is closed). As a result, the refrigerant is controlled to be supplied only to the evaporator 6a of the left chamber 2, and the blower fans 6b and 7b are started to operate.

(6) When only the temperature detected by the right chamber cold sensor 8e is equal to or higher than the set ON temperature Don at the time of starting the operation of the compressor 9, the right solenoid valve 12 is opened (the left solenoid valve 11 is closed). As a result, the refrigerant is controlled to be supplied to both the evaporators 6a and 8a for the left chamber 2 and the right chamber 4, and the operation of only the blower fan 8c is started.

(7) When the compressor 9 is not in operation, the left ventricle cold sensor 6d and the right ventricle cold sensor 8
When at least one of the temperatures detected by e rises above the preset upper limit temperature Dmax, the blower fans 6b, 7b, and 8c are forced to operate regardless of the temperatures detected by the left ventricular sensor 6c and the right ventricular sensor 8d. To start. In other words, even when the temperature detected by the left ventricular evaporation sensor 6c and the right ventricular evaporation sensor 8d is 0 ° C. or less, the control as described in (2) above is canceled and the blower fans 6b, 7b and 8c are started to operate. Let

(8) In this case, the upper limit temperature D when the blower fans 6b, 7b and 8c are forcibly started.
For example, as shown in FIG. 3, max is configured to be changed and set to be higher as the temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor 17 is higher. Note that such change setting of the upper limit temperature Dmax can be performed based on, for example, a table storing the relationship between the temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor 17 and the upper limit temperature Dmax as shown in FIG. It can also be performed based on the upper limit temperature Dmax obtained by applying the temperature detected by the sensor 17 to a predetermined arithmetic expression.

As a result of the control as described above in (1) to (8), the following actions and effects are obtained. still,
For reference in the following description, FIG. 4 shows examples of changes in the temperature in the left ventricle 2 (the temperature detected by the left ventricle cold sensor 6d) and the temperature of the evaporator 6a (the temperature detected by the left ventricle evaporator sensor 6c).

That is, the operating states of the evaporators 6a and 8a and the blower fans 6b, 7b and 8c are determined by the left ventricle cold sensor 6d, the right ventricle cold sensor 8e and the left ventricle evaporator sensor 6.
c, the left chamber 2, the middle chamber 3, and the right chamber 4, which are product storage chambers, in response to being controlled based on the output of the right chamber evaporation sensor 8d.
The temperature inside is kept within a predetermined range. The operation of the evaporator 6a (or 8a) is started at each timing T0 when the temperature of the evaporator 6a (or 8a) rises to the operation restart temperature (6 ° C. in this example).

In this case, the evaporators 6a and 8a are defrosted during the period in which the evaporators 6a and 8a are stopped, but during the defrosting operation period,
The blower fans 6b, 7b, 8c are kept in the stopped state when the temperature detected by the left ventricle evaporation sensor 6c and the right ventricle evaporation sensor 8d (that is, the temperature of the evaporators 6a, 8a) is 0 ° C. or lower. Therefore, as a result of the existence of the operation stop period of each blower fan 6b, 7b, 8c as described above,
Since the temperature rise of the evaporators 6a and 8a is suppressed, the operation start timings of the evaporators 6a and 8a are not unnecessarily advanced, and the operation stop period of the compressor 9 is not shortened. For this reason, it becomes possible to suppress the consumption of extra power, and a power saving effect can be obtained.

When the amount of frost on the evaporators 6a and 8a is abnormally increased due to an excessive load, as shown in FIG. 4, after the start of the defrosting period, the evaporators Since the time ΔT required for the temperature of 6a, 8a to rise to 0 ° C, which is the operation start temperature of each blower fan 6b, 7b, 8c, tends to be prolonged, the evaporators 6a, 8a, blower fans 6b, 7b There is a risk that the temperature of the left chamber 2, the middle chamber 3, or the right chamber 4 will rise abnormally after the restart of the operation of the fuel cells 8 and 8c is delayed.

In this case, when at least one of the temperatures detected by the left ventricle cold sensor 6d and the right ventricle cold sensor 8e rises above a preset upper limit temperature Dmax (10 ° C. in this example), the blower fans 6b, 7b and 8c
However, the operation is forcibly started irrespective of the temperatures detected by the left ventricle evaporation sensor 6c and the right ventricle evaporation sensor 8d.
Then, since the defrosting of the evaporators 6a, 8a is promoted in accordance with the forced operation of the blower fans 6b, 7b, 8c, the evaporators 6a, 8a are defrosted.
Temperature rises at an early stage, and according to the restart of the operation of the evaporators 6a and 8a associated with such temperature rise,
An abnormal rise in the temperature in the left chamber 2, the middle chamber 3, or the right chamber 4 is suppressed.

Incidentally, as described above, the evaporators 6a, 8a
Since the control to raise the temperature of the above is performed only when the frost formation abnormally increases, it is possible to suppress the situation where the power saving effect is reduced due to such control as much as possible. .

The upper limit temperature Dmax at which the blower fans 6b, 7b and 8c are forcibly started is changed and set to be higher as the temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor 17 is higher. Therefore, when the temperature in the left chamber 2, the middle chamber 3, and the right chamber 4 rises early as the outside air temperature rises, the blower fan 6
The time required to restart the operation of b, 7b, and 8c becomes constant regardless of the state of the outside air temperature, and it is possible to reliably obtain the effect of suppressing the abnormal temperature rise and the power saving effect described above.

On the other hand, the control contents when only the right chamber 4 is set to the hot mode, the control contents when only the middle chamber 3 is set to the hot mode, both the middle chamber 3 and the right chamber 4 are hot. The control contents in the state set to the mode are not related to the gist of the present invention, so the description thereof will be omitted.
Even in each of the above-mentioned setting states, the temperature control of the left ventricle 2 operated in the cold mode is performed in the same manner as described above.

In the above embodiment, the setting of the upper limit temperature Dmax is changed based on the temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor 17. However, instead of this, the upper limit temperature Dmax is set according to the operation mode of the middle chamber 3. A configuration in which the settings are changed is also good.

Specifically, when the temperature of the inner chamber 3 and the left chamber 2 is controlled when the inner chamber 3 is in the cold mode, the upper limit temperature Dmax is, for example, 5 ° C to 1 ° C.
When the proper temperature dmax1 within the range of 0 ° C. is set and the middle chamber 3 is in the hot mode, the temperature of the left chamber 2 is controlled (when the right chamber 4 is in the hot mode), or the left chamber 2 and the right chamber. Four
In performing the temperature control (when the right chamber 4 is in the cold mode), the upper limit temperature Dmax is, for example, 10 ° C to
An appropriate temperature dmax2 (> dmax1) within the range of 20 ° C. may be set.

According to such a configuration, when the operation mode of the inner chamber 3 causes the temperature in the left chamber 2 or the right chamber 4 set to the cold mode to rise, that is, the inner chamber 3 is hot. When the mode is set, the upper limit temperature Dmax is changed to be higher than the normal time, so that the time required to restart the operation of the blower fans 6b, 7b and 8c depends on the operation mode of the middle chamber 3. It is possible to prevent such a situation that the temperature fluctuates in advance, and it is effective in surely obtaining the effect of suppressing the abnormal temperature rise and the power saving effect described above.

Further, the upper limit temperature Dmax is determined by the outside air temperature sensor 1
It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which both the temperature detected by 7 and the operation mode of the inner chamber 3 are changed and set. In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, for example, the upper limit temperature Dmax becomes higher as the temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor 17 becomes higher, and in the state where the inner chamber 3 is in the hot mode, the degree of change of the upper limit temperature Dmax. May be configured to be larger than the state in which the inner chamber 3 is in the hot mode.

According to this structure, the blower fans 6b, 7b
It is possible to prevent a situation in which the time required for restarting the operation of 8 and 8c fluctuates depending on the outside temperature or the operation mode of the inner chamber 3.

Further, in the above embodiment, the evaporator 6
When at least one of the temperatures detected by the left ventricle cold sensor 6d and the right ventricle cold sensor 8e rises above the preset upper limit temperature Dmax during the operation stop period of a and 8a, the blower fans 6b, 7b and 8c are operated. Although the configuration is such that the operation is forcibly started, the evaporators 6a, 8
At least one of the difference between the temperatures detected by the left ventricle cold sensor 6d and the left ventricle evaporation sensor 6c and the difference between the temperatures detected by the right ventricle cold sensor 8e and the right ventricle evaporation sensor 8d is preset in the operation stop period of a. The left ventricular evaporation sensor 6c
Alternatively, the blower fans 6b, 7b, and 8c may be forcibly started regardless of the temperature detected by the right-chamber evaporative sensor 8d.

In this case, the limit temperature width Δmax may be changed based on the temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor 17 as in the above embodiment. Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, the limit temperature width Δmax is set to the outside air temperature sensor 1
The configuration may be such that the higher the temperature detected by 7, the larger the temperature detected.

Further, the limit temperature width Δmax may be set and changed in the same manner as described above according to the operation mode of the inner chamber 3. Specifically, when the temperature of the inner chamber 3 and the left chamber 2 is controlled when the inner chamber 3 is in the cold mode, the limit temperature width ΔDmax is, for example, 5
While setting an appropriate temperature δmax1 within the range of deg to 10 deg and controlling the temperature of the left chamber 2 (when the right chamber 4 is in the hot mode) while the middle chamber 3 is in the hot mode, In performing the temperature control of the right chamber 4 (when the right chamber 4 is in the cold mode), the limit temperature width Δmax is set to an appropriate temperature δmax2 (> δmax1) within the range of 10 deg to 20 deg. good.

Further, the limit temperature width Δmax can be changed and set as described above in consideration of both the temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor 17 and the operation mode of the inner chamber 3. Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the limit temperature width Δmax increases as the temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor 17 increases, and the inner chamber 3 is in the hot mode. The degree of change in the limit temperature width Δmax may be set to be larger than that in the state where the inner chamber 3 is in the hot mode.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, but the following modifications or expansions are possible. The outside air temperature sensor 17 may be provided as necessary. When the outside air temperature sensor is omitted, the upper limit temperature Dmax for forcibly starting the operation of the blower fans 6b, 7b and 8c.
May be set to an appropriate temperature within the range of 5 ° C to 10 ° C. In the defrosting period of the evaporators 6a and 8a, the threshold temperature for keeping the blower fans 6b, 7b and 8c in the operation stopped state is 0 ° C., but it may be set to a temperature other than this. The present invention is applied to a three-room type vending machine including the left chamber 2, the middle chamber 3, and the right chamber 4, but the invention is not limited to this.

[0060]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the cooler and the fan device for supplying the air heat-exchanged with the cooler into the product storage chamber are provided, and the operation of the cooler is stopped. In a vending machine configured to perform defrosting during the period, when the temperature in the storage room rises above the limit during the period in which the cooler is not operating, the fan device is forced to operate regardless of the temperature of the cooler. Since it is configured to start the operation, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the temperature inside the product storage room abnormally rises due to increased frosting of the cooler while preventing the occurrence of power consumption while improving the power saving effect. is there.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an electrical configuration of essential parts in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing the structure of a vending machine body.

FIG. 3 is a characteristic diagram for explaining control contents by a control circuit.

FIG. 4 is a temperature characteristic diagram for explaining the operation.

FIG. 5 is a characteristic diagram for explaining control contents by a control circuit in a modified example of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3 for explaining another modification.

FIG. 7 is a view for explaining still another modification.
Equivalent figure

FIG. 8 is a view corresponding to FIG. 4 for explaining a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

In the drawings, 1 is a vending machine body, 2 is a left room (first product storage room), 3 is a middle room (second product storage room), 4 is a right room, 6,
7 and 8 are operating units, 6a and 8a are evaporators (coolers), 6b, 7b and 8c are blower fans (fan devices), 6c is a left ventricle evaporator sensor 6c (cooler temperature sensor), and 6d is a left ventricle cold sensor ( Storage chamber temperature sensor), 8d is a right chamber evaporation sensor (cooler temperature sensor), 8d
Reference numeral e is a right-chamber cold sensor (storage room temperature sensor), 9 is a compressor, 17 is an outside air temperature sensor, and 18 is a control circuit (control means).

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A cooler and a fan device for supplying air, which has been heat-exchanged with the cooler, into a product storage chamber,
By controlling the operating states of the cooler and the fan device based on the output of the storage room temperature sensor that detects the air temperature in the product storage room and the output of the cooler temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the cooler. In a vending machine configured to hold the temperature in the product storage chamber within a predetermined range and perform defrosting during a period in which the cooler is stopped, the cooler temperature is set during a period in which the cooler is stopped. The fan device is held in an operation stop state in a state where the temperature detected by the sensor is equal to or lower than a preset threshold temperature, and the fan device is started to operate in a state where the detected temperature exceeds the threshold value. A control means is provided, and the control means increases the temperature detected by the temperature sensor for the storage chamber to a temperature equal to or higher than a preset upper limit temperature during an operation stop period of the cooler. When the, the cooler operation control device for an automatic vending machine characterized in that it is configured to the detected temperature and independently of the fan device according to the temperature sensor forcibly operation starts. 2. An outside air temperature sensor for detecting the outside air temperature is provided, and the control means sets the upper limit temperature when the fan device is forcibly started to be higher as the temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor is higher. The operation control device for a vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the operation control device is configured to be changed and set. 3. A state in which a first product storage chamber that is operated in a cold mode by a cooler and a fan device and a second product storage chamber that is selectively operated in either a cold mode or a hot mode are adjacent to each other. The control means changes the upper limit temperature when the fan device is forcibly started during the operation stop period of the cooler for the first product storage chamber according to the operation mode of the second product storage chamber. The operation control device for a vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the operation control device is configured to be set. 4. An outdoor air temperature sensor for detecting an outdoor air temperature, and a first product storage chamber operated in a cold mode by a cooler and a fan device, and selectively operated in either a cold mode or a hot mode. And a second product storage chamber adjacent to each other, the control means sets the upper limit temperature when the fan device is forcibly started during the operation stop period of the cooler for the first product storage chamber. It is configured to change and set in consideration of both the temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor and the operation mode of the second product storage chamber.
Operation control device for the described vending machine. 5. A cooler and a fan device for supplying the air, which has been heat-exchanged with the cooler, into the product storage chamber,
The temperature inside the product storage chamber is kept within a predetermined range by controlling the operating states of the cooler and the fan device based on the output of the storage chamber temperature sensor that detects the air temperature inside the product storage chamber, and the cooler In a vending machine configured to perform defrosting during the operation stop period, a cooler temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the cooler, and a cooler temperature sensor during the operation stop period of the cooler. Control for holding the fan device in the operation stop state in a state where the detected temperature by the device is below a preset threshold temperature and starting the operation of the fan device when the detected temperature exceeds the threshold value. Means for controlling the temperature difference between the storage chamber temperature sensor and the cooler temperature sensor during a period in which the cooler is not operating. And when expanded to the limit above temperature range, the cooler operation control device for an automatic vending machine, characterized in that it is configured to the detected temperature and independently of the fan device according to the temperature sensor forcibly operation starts. 6. An outside air temperature sensor for detecting an outside air temperature, wherein the control means makes the limit temperature range when the fan device is forcibly started to be larger as the temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor is higher. 6. The operation control device for a vending machine according to claim 5, wherein the operation control device is configured to be changed to. 7. A state in which a first product storage chamber operated in a cold mode by a cooler and a fan device and a second product storage chamber selectively operated in either a cold mode or a hot mode are adjacent to each other. According to the operation mode of the second product storage chamber, the control means sets the limit temperature width when the fan device is forcibly started during the operation stop period of the cooler for the first product storage chamber. The operation control device for a vending machine according to claim 5, wherein the operation control device is configured to be changed and set. 8. An outdoor air temperature sensor for detecting an outdoor air temperature, and a first product storage chamber operated in a cold mode by a cooler and a fan device, and selectively operated in either a cold mode or a hot mode. A second product storage chamber adjacent to each other, and the control means sets a limit temperature range for forcibly starting the operation of the fan device during the operation stop period of the cooler for the first product storage chamber, The operation control device for a vending machine according to claim 5, wherein the operation control device is configured to change and set in consideration of both the temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor and the operation mode of the second product storage chamber.