JPH11173758A - Operation controller for grain dryer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To continue an operation by limiting an operating function even in case of generating a fault on a screen display at the time of operating under the guidance of a functional content of a multifunctional switch on the screen. SOLUTION: Multifunctional switches 33a, 33b, 33c, 33d are arranged under an LCD screen 32, and guidances 36a, 36b, 36c, 36d for identifying functional contents of the switches 33a, 33b, 33c, 33d to be switched are displayed by a screen at a lowermost row. The switches 33a, 33b, 33c, 33d select a function for designating the guidances 36a, 36b, 36c, 36d by turning ON the object switch. At the time of detecting a fault of the LCD screen 32, the functions of the switches 33a, 33b, 33c, 33d are fixed, and the operation is continued.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an operation control device for a grain dryer that performs an operation using a screen such as an LCD (liquid crystal display) as an input medium.

[0002]

FIG. 1 shows an example of a driving operation screen for setting drying conditions of a grain dryer. The driving operation screen D displays an item A for setting the drying conditions on the left side of the screen, and the setting content B of each item on the right side. The function guidance C1, C2,
C3, C4 are displayed, and each function guidance C1, C2, C
3, the multi-function switches D1, D2, D3 corresponding to C4,
D4 is arranged at the bottom of the screen.

[0003] Setting of drying conditions is performed by selecting an item to be set from item A and calling an input screen of each item. That is, when the item change switch D1 at the bottom of the screen is pressed, the cursor of the item A moves in order, and when the cursor changes to the target item A, pressing the setting change switch D2 shifts to the input screen of the item. Multi-function switch D1, D
The functions of D2, D3 and D4 are different for each input screen, and the display contents of each function guidance C1, C2, C3 and C4 are switched accordingly.

[0004] The operation screen of the grain dryer is switched by switching the display contents of the function guidances C1, C2, C3, and C4 on the respective input screens as described above, so that each one of the multifunction switches D1, D2, D3, D4. Can be used in any way.

However, as described above, the multifunctional switch D
If an error occurs on the screen display when performing a driving operation while guiding the function contents of 1, D2, D3, and D4 on the screen, driving may be disabled.

In view of the above, the present invention is to provide a multi-function switch capable of continuing operation with limited operation functions even when an abnormality occurs on the screen display when performing a driving operation while guiding the function contents of the multi-function switch on the screen. It was made for the purpose.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is configured as follows.

That is, in a grain dryer in which a plurality of multi-function switches are arranged near the screen and the function of each multi-function switch is guided to the screen to perform a driving operation, the screen cannot be displayed to detect the non-display of the screen. Detecting means, and a multi-function switch function fixing means for fixing the function of the multi-function switch, and when the display failure of the screen is detected, the function of the operation switch is returned to the initial value function and the operation is continued. An operation control device characterized in that:

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 shows a configuration diagram of a grain dryer embodying the present invention. 1 is a storage bin, and a plurality of storage bins are installed. A porous air-permeable floor plate 2 is provided at the bottom of each storage bin 1 and communicates under the floor of each bin to form a common air supply chamber 3. The upper surface of each bin 1 is covered with a common ceiling to form an exhaust chamber 4. The exhaust chamber 4 is connected to an exhaust port 8 via an exhaust fan 7 by an exhaust duct 6. A moisture dust collecting device 17 is connected to the exhaust duct 6 to remove dust in the exhaust by a shower and discharge the dust to the outside from the exhaust port 8. P is a shower pump. A grain feeding conveyor (not shown) is provided on the ceiling of the storage bin 1, and the received grain R is put into the storage bin 1.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a humidity adjustment chamber, which is connected to the air supply chamber 3 through an air supply duct 9 and a blower 10. In the humidity control room 5,
An outside air inlet 11 and a dry air supply port 12 are provided. The outside air intake 11 is provided with an air volume adjustment damper 13 a, and its opening and closing angle is changed by driving a motor to adjust the air volume of the outside air taken into the humidity adjustment chamber 5. The dry air supply port 12 is provided with an air intake port 14 and a dehumidifier 15. 15a is the dehumidifier 1
Reference numeral 5 denotes a capacitor, and reference numeral 15b denotes a regulator. The operation of the dehumidifier 15 is controlled in three stages: full power operation (100%), half power operation (50%), and save power operation (20%). The air supply duct 9 is connected to the humidity control room 5,
A rectifier 16 and a blower 10 are provided in the air supply duct 9, and the air whose humidity has been adjusted in the humidity adjustment chamber 5 is sent out to the air supply chamber 3. Further, the return duct 18 branches off from the middle of the exhaust duct 6.
Is provided, and the end of the return duct 18 is connected to the humidity control chamber 5. An air flow adjusting damper 13b is provided at the end of the return duct 18. A temperature sensor 19a and a humidity sensor 20a are provided in the outside air inlet 11, and a temperature sensor 19b and a humidity sensor 20b are provided in the dry air supply port 12. Further, a temperature sensor 19c and a humidity sensor 20c are provided on the discharge side of the blower 10, and a temperature sensor 19d and a humidity sensor 20d are arranged at the end of the return duct 18. A control operation panel 22 controls the operation of the dehumidifier 15, the blower 10, the exhaust fan 7, and the air volume adjustment dampers 13a and 13b.

The water content of the grain, which is measured by the moisture meter in advance at the time of receiving the cargo, is input to the control operation panel directly or manually, and is stored in a built-in memory. Put the receiving grain into the designated storage bin 1 and dry air supply port 1
The dehumidifier 15 is driven from 2 to dehumidify the outside air taken in from the air intake port 14 to change it into low-humidity dry air, which is sent to the humidity control room 5. Next, the air volume adjustment damper 13a of the outside air intake 11 is opened, and the air volume of the inflowing outside air is adjusted and sent to the humidity adjustment chamber 5. In the humidity control room 5, the outside air flowing from the outside air intake port 11 and the dry air flowing from the dry air supply port 12 are mixed, and the blower 10 sucks the mixed air in the humidity control room 5 through the rectifier 16, The air is sent to the air supply chamber 3 of the storage bin 1 through the air supply duct 9.
The mixed air sent to the air supply chamber 3 passes through the grain R from the floor plate 2 of each storage bin, absorbs its moisture, and passes through the exhaust duct 6 from the exhaust chamber 4 above the storage bin 1 as high-humidity exhaust. The air is discharged from the exhaust port 8 to the outside by the exhaust fan 7. A part of the exhaust gas enters the return duct 18 branched from the exhaust duct 6 and returns to the humidity adjustment chamber 5 through the air volume adjustment damper 13b.
The outside air flowing from 1 and the dry air flowing from the dry air supply port 12 are mixed and sent to the air supply chamber 3 of the storage bin 1.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the controller of the grain dryer. The control operation panel 22 of the controller includes an input processing circuit 23, a comparison operation circuit 24, a memory 28, and an output circuit 2.
6, a power circuit 27 and a receiving information input circuit 29. The input processing circuit 23 performs input processing of signals from the temperature sensors 19a, 19b, 19c, 19d and humidity sensors 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d arranged at predetermined positions, and takes the data into the comparison operation circuit 24. The memory 28 stores information such as the moisture content of the grain at the time of receipt from the receipt information input circuit 29, and also stores control conditions corresponding to the moisture content. The comparison arithmetic circuit 24 calculates the temperature and humidity of the dry air to be sent to the air supply chamber 3 of the storage bin 1 from the target moisture content and control conditions stored in the memory 28, and calculates the temperature and humidity data of the input processing circuit 23. And outputs a control signal to the output circuit 26. The output circuit 26 outputs the air volume adjustment dampers 13a, 13b, 13c and 13 according to the signal.
In addition to driving d, the power circuit 27 is driven, and the operation of the blower 10, the dehumidifier 15, and the exhaust fan 7 is controlled by the power circuit 27.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a driving operation screen of the controller. The operation panel 31 has multi-function switches 33a, 33b, 33c and 33d arranged below the LCD screen 32, and an emergency stop switch 34 and a manual input setting switch 35 on the right side thereof.

The LCD screen 32 displays the operation status of the grain dryer, drying conditions, an abnormal alarm, etc., and switches to the bottom line by the multi-function switches 33a, 33b, 33
Guidance 36a, 3d for identifying the function contents of c, 33d
6b, 36c and 36d are displayed.

The multi-function switches 33a, 33b, 33c,
33d selects the function indicated by the guidance 36a, 36b, 36c, 36d by turning on the target switch.

The emergency stop switch 34 is a single-function switch that performs only an emergency stop independently of the multi-function switches 33a, 33b, 33c, and 33d.

The manual input setting switch 35 is connected to the LC
When the D screen 32 fails, the multi-function switches 33a, 33b,
A switch for setting whether to continue the operation while fixing the functions of 33c and 33d to a single function.

The operation control panel 31 is configured as described above. When the operation control device detects an abnormality of the LCD screen 32, the operation control device changes the functions of the multi-function switches 33a, 33b, 33c and 33d to the initial values at the time of shipment from the factory or The operator fixes the initial value and continues the operation. The processing of the operation control device will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The operation control device sends display data to the LCD screen 32 (step 101), determines whether or not the sending result is normal (step 102). If the sending result is normal, the process proceeds to step 108; Flashes to notify the abnormality (step 103), and then the manual input setting switch 3
5 is read (step 104), and it is determined whether the manual input setting switch 35 is on (step 10).
5). If the manual input setting switch 35 is not on, the process proceeds to step 108, and if it is on, the functions of the multi-function switches 33a, 33b, 33c, and 33d are fixed to four functions of sticking, drying, discharging and stopping (step 106). ),
The drying condition is returned to the initial value at the time of factory shipment or the initial value set by the operator (step 107), and the process proceeds to the next processing (step 108).

Next, in connection with the present invention, when the multi-function switch is fixed to a single function when the LCD screen fails, the operation control of the grain dryer is performed through the communication unit to display the operation status and set the drying conditions. The device will be described. As shown in FIG. 6, the operation control device of the grain dryer connects the communication unit 38 to the controller 37 to display the operation status when the LCD screen fails and to set the drying conditions.

The processing of the controller 37 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Controller 37
Reads the manual input setting switch 35 (step 201) and determines whether the manual input setting switch 35 is on (step 202). If the manual input setting switch 35 is not on, the process proceeds to step 207. If the manual input setting switch 35 is on, the multi-function switches 33a, 33b, 3
Each of the functions 3c and 33d is fixed to four functions of sticking, drying, discharging and stopping (step 203), and the operation information data is transmitted to the communication unit 38 (step 204). Next, operating conditions are set by the operation unit 38a of the communication unit 38,
The controller 37 receives the drying condition data confirmed on the display unit 38b (step 205), and sets the drying condition to the value received from the communication unit 38 (step 206).
The process moves to the next process (step 207).

A conventional operation control device of a grain dryer is LC
If there was an abnormality on the D screen, operation was disabled,
The operation control device of the grain dryer can check the operation status and set / change the drying conditions via the communication unit even when the LCD screen has an abnormality.

Next, in connection with the present invention, an auxiliary power supply device for switching the power supply of the controller to a solar cell when the grain dryer is not used will be described. FIG. 8 shows a block diagram of this auxiliary power supply device. This auxiliary power supply is a commercial power supply 3
A DC power supply 40 obtained by converting the DC power of the DC power supply 9 and a solar cell 41 are connected via a power supply switching device 42 to supply a current to a controller 37. The power supply switching device 42 detects that the power supply of the DC power supply 40 has been cut off, and switches the power supply of the controller 37 from the DC power supply 40 to the solar cell 41.

Although the grain dryer has a short service life per year and is mostly kept in storage, a controller that uses a lot of electronic components may fail if left for a long time due to condensation or the like. This auxiliary power supply automatically supplies current to the controller of the grain dryer even during the off-season storage period, so circuit parts generate heat and prevent condensation.
Failures due to long standing can be prevented.

Next, in connection with the present invention, a description will be given of a controller of a grain dryer which is distributed to a main controller for performing a basic operation and a sub-controller for performing an applied operation. FIG. 9 shows a configuration diagram of a controller of the grain dryer. In this controller, a sub-controller 44 is connected to a main controller 43. The main controller 43 includes an operation monitor 45, an operation controller 46, and an operation condition setting unit 47. The sub-controller 44 includes an operation monitor And a screen operation unit 48 composed of a touch panel type LCD that also serves as an operation condition setting unit.

If the sub-controller 44 is configured to be detachable, the interface unit can be extended and used as an indoor monitor. If a memory card is mounted on the sub-controller 44, it can be used as a terminal for operation management.

The processing procedure of the main controller 43 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The main controller 43 reads the signal with the sub-controller 44 (step 301), and
It is determined whether or not it is attached (step 302). If it is attached with the sub-controller 44, a data request signal is sent to the sub-controller 44 (step 303). Next, the setting data signal of the sub controller 44 is read (step 30).
4) The operating conditions set by the sub-controller 44 are determined and set (step 305).
An operation data signal is sent to (step 306),
The process moves to the next process (step 307).

It is better to distinguish a controller for a grain dryer from a controller that performs a simple drying operation and a controller that performs a complicated drying operation. Otherwise, many design man-hours and test man-hours are required when adding or changing functions. Take it. For this reason, the controller shown in FIG. 10 of this grain dryer performs operations such as filling, drying, discharging, and stopping necessary for the operation of the grain dryer on the main controller 43 side, and performs reservation operation and manual temperature setting. Such special operations are performed via data communication from the sub-controller 44. Further, even if the sub-controller 44 breaks down, basically, it can be operated only by the main controller 43.

[0029]

As described above, the operation control device for a grain dryer according to the present invention has the above-described configuration, and when the display failure of the screen is detected, the function of the operation switch is fixed to the function of the initial value. To continue driving. Therefore, the conventional operation control device of the grain dryer is inoperable when the monitor screen has an abnormality, but according to the present invention, if the control circuit including the control microcomputer is normal, the emergency measures are taken. Since the operation is continued only with the basic functions, most of the operations can be performed within the range of the basic functions, and there is no need to hinder the operation of most of the operations.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an example of a driving operation screen for setting drying conditions of a grain dryer.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a grain dryer embodying the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a controller of a grain dryer embodying the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an operation operation screen of a controller of a grain dryer embodying the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a process of the operation control device.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of an operation control device of the grain dryer via a communication unit.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an operation control device of the grain dryer via a communication unit.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an auxiliary power supply device for switching a power supply of a controller to a solar cell.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of controllers distributed to main and sub.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a controller distributed to main and sub.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Storage bin 2 Floor plate 3 Air supply room 4 Exhaust room 5 Humidity adjustment room 6 Exhaust duct 7 Exhaust fan 8 Exhaust port 9 Air supply duct 10 Blower 11 Outside air intake 12 Dry air supply port 13 Air volume adjustment damper 14 Air intake 15 Dehumidification Machine 15a Capacitor 15b Regulator 16 Rectifier 17 Moisture dust collector 18 Return duct 19 Temperature sensor 20 Humidity sensor 21 Secondary air port 22 Control operation panel 23 Input processing circuit 24 Comparison operation circuit 25 Equilibrium moisture operation circuit 26 Output circuit 27 Power circuit 28 memory 29 receipt information input circuit 30 burner 31 operation panel 32 LCD screen 33 multi-function switch 34 emergency stop switch 35 manual input setting switch 36 guidance 37 controller 38 communication unit 38a operation section 38b display section 39 commercial power supply 40 DC Source 41 solar cells 42 power switching device 43 main controller 44 sub-controller 45 operating the monitor unit 46 driving operation unit 47 operating condition setting unit 48 screen operation unit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A grain dryer that arranges a plurality of multi-function switches near a screen and guides the function of each multi-function switch to the screen to perform a driving operation. Detecting means; and a multi-function switch function fixing means for fixing the function of the multi-function switch, and when the display failure of the screen is detected, the function of the operation switch is returned to the function of the initial value and the operation is continued. An operation control device, comprising: