JPS6132471Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] This invention relates to an operation control circuit for a cold product vending machine that is designed to prevent products from freezing, especially for cold regions.

As is well known, the cold beverage vending machine uses a refrigerator to refrigerate the products stored in the refrigerator, and circulates and ventilates the cold air cooled by heat exchange with the refrigerator in the product storage compartment. It has a built-in electric fan, which is powered by the power supply. On the other hand, in recent years, as an energy-saving measure, a power-saving method has been widely adopted in which the refrigerator and refrigerator fan are turned off during times when the surrounding outside temperature is low and there are few customers, such as at night.

First, an overview of the cold product vending machine will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, 1 is the main body cabinet, 2 is the front door, and 3 is a product shelf installed in the product storage 4. A large number of products are stored in the product shelf 4, and one item is taken out based on a sales instruction. The product is delivered to the product outlet 6 via the computer 5. By the way, a refrigerator 7 is installed inside the aircraft to refrigerate the products inside the refrigerator. As is well known, this refrigerator 7 includes an electric compressor 71, a condenser 72, an evaporator 73 installed in the product storage, and an electric compressor 7.
1, an electric fan 74 for condensing products 72, and an electric fan 75 for circulating cold air inside the refrigerator.
It is driven by fan motor FM ₁ and fan motor FM ₂ , which are explained in detail in the figure.

Next, the conventional operation control circuit based on the above power saving method is shown in Figures 1 and 2. In each figure, U and V are power supply lines connected to the power supply, and between these power supply lines U and V, Electric compressor motor CM that makes up the refrigerator, electric fan motor for the condenser
FM ₁ , refrigerator electric fan motor FM ₂ , etc. are connected. Note that Th is a thermostat for regulating the temperature inside the refrigerator. For such a circuit, a control contact TM ₁ of a power saving timer TM as a 24-hour timer connected between the power supply U and the power supply line is inserted into one power supply line. By turning off the control contact TM ₁ in the belt, electricity is cut off to the refrigerator and the fan in the refrigerator, thereby saving power within a range that does not affect the selling temperature of the product. In this case, Figure 1 shows the internal fan FM ₂
Figure 2 shows a circuit with a specification in which the thermostat Th is operated continuously regardless of the operation of the thermostat Th, and _FIG .

Vending machines operated by such operation control circuits do not have any problems when operated in normal environmental conditions such as inside a store or in an urban area, but the ambient outside temperature drops extremely, especially at night in winter. When installed and used outdoors in cold regions or mountainous recreational areas, the atmosphere inside the refrigerator may drop below the freezing point of the beverage due to the extremely low outside temperature even though the refrigerator has stopped. As a result, the product beverage stored in the refrigerator may freeze naturally. When a beverage freezes in this way, customers not only cannot drink the product until it thaws even if they purchase it, but the product container, such as an aluminum can, becomes deformed due to the expansion that occurs when the beverage freezes, which can cause damage to the product. As a result, products may become stuck in the middle of the shelf, making it impossible to sell them.

As a preventive measure, conventionally, a heater to prevent products from freezing was installed as an option in the refrigerator, and the heater was energized during times when the ambient temperature dropped significantly, such as during winter nights in cold regions, and used as a heat source. Measures are being taken to prevent natural freezing of products in the warehouse. However, special additional installation of heaters and heater energization control circuit components
This results in an economic disadvantage in that the product price increases accordingly.

This idea was developed in consideration of the above points, and its purpose was to focus on the existing electric fan inside the refrigerator, and by utilizing this electric fan inside the refrigerator, additionally installed a heater to prevent products from freezing. To provide an operation control circuit that can prevent products from freezing naturally during nighttime hours in cold regions without having to do so.

This invention will be explained in detail below based on illustrated embodiments.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show embodiments of this invention corresponding to the circuits of FIGS. 1 and 2 previously described, respectively.

In each example, the refrigerator electric fan motor FM ₂
adds the circuit configurations shown in Figures 1 and 2, and also connects the power supply line U to a point P closer to the power supply side than the power saving timer control contact TM ₁ via the antifreeze switch SW ₂ and the timer control contact TM ₁ . directly interconnected without any Antifreeze switch SW ₂
The circuit is turned on during the winter when the ambient temperature drops significantly in cold regions, and remains open during other seasons when the ambient temperature does not drop as much.

In the above circuit, if the antifreeze switch SW ₂ is off, the refrigerator electric fan motor FM ₂ and the refrigerator are activated by the power saving timer, as in Figures 1 and 2.
Operation is controlled by TM, and electricity is cut off at night to save energy. On the other hand, if the switch SW ₂ is turned on during the winter when there is a risk of products freezing, the electric fan motor FM ₂ in the refrigerator will operate continuously day and night, regardless of the operation of the power saving timer TM. In addition, in Fig. 4, at this time, the electric fan motor FM ₂
to prevent it from synchronizing with the operation of thermostat Th.
It is assumed that selection switch SW ₁ has been switched to the continuous operation side. In other words, even during times such as nighttime when power to the refrigerator is cut off by the power-saving timer TM, the electric fan inside the refrigerator continues to operate and its motor is turned off.
Due to the heat lost due to energizing FM ₂ , the fan motor acts as a heat source and provides heat to the inside of the refrigerator, preventing the temperature inside the refrigerator from dropping significantly. In addition, regular vending machines are equipped with several electric fans with a power consumption of about 10 to 30 W, and the amount of heat lost by the motors associated with the operation of these electric fans is considerable, and it is difficult to operate in cold regions. The results of actual machine operation tests have confirmed that the product is sufficiently effective in preventing natural freezing of products.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a changeover switch having a b contact (not shown) in addition to the a contact shown in the figure is used as the antifreeze switch _SW2 , and one b contact is used as the power saving timer control contact _TM1. It may also be inserted into a connection line that connects the internal electric fan motor FM ₂ and the point Q of the power supply line U via. Also, in Figure 4, the antifreeze switch
SW ₂ can also be commonly connected to both the a contact side and the b contact side of the selection switch SW ₁ . Furthermore, the anti-freeze switch SW ₂ can be implemented as one that turns on and off the circuit by replacing connectors or pins.

As mentioned above, in addition to the conventional circuit configuration, this idea was developed to freeze products that are put into the refrigerator at a time when the ambient temperature has dropped significantly and there is a risk that the products stored in the refrigerator will freeze naturally. The electric fan inside the refrigerator is connected to the power supply line through the prevention switch without going through the power-saving timer control contact, and while the power-saving timer normally performs power-saving operation, a special heater to prevent products from freezing is added as an optional component. By effectively utilizing the existing electric fan inside the refrigerator as a heat source and adding a small switch to it, products can be naturally frozen when the vending machine is installed and operated in a cold region. can be prevented.
In addition, compared to the case where anti-freeze is installed, the number of additional parts is reduced, which is economically advantageous.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figures 1 and 2 show different conventional operation control circuits, and Figures 3 and 4 show different conventional operation control circuits.
2 is an operation control circuit diagram of an embodiment of the invention corresponding to FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the configuration of a cold product vending machine. U, V...Power supply line, CM...Electric compressor motor of refrigerator, FM ₂ ...Interior electric fan motor,
TM...Power saving timer, SW ₂ ...Anti-freeze switch.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A power-saving timer control contact is inserted into the common power supply line for the refrigerator for cooling the product storage compartment and the electric fan for internal circulation ventilation, and the power-saving timer energizes the refrigerator and the electric fan for internal circulation. In the operation control circuit of a cold beverage vending machine configured to control the cold beverage vending machine, in addition to the circuit, a freeze prevention switch that is turned on when the ambient outside temperature is low is used to connect the power supply line and the electric fan inside the refrigerator. An operation control circuit for a cold beverage vending machine characterized in that the circuit is interconnected without using a power saving timer control contact.