JPH0130189B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to a control device for a vending machine that controls internal temperature. [Prior Art] Conventionally, in order to maintain the internal temperature of a vending machine at a temperature suitable for selling products, a temperature sensor is installed inside the vending machine, and a cooling or heating device is turned on and off based on a detection signal from the sensor. Devices that cool or heat the inside of the refrigerator are known. Therefore, the products in the vending machine are always kept cool at a temperature suitable for sale. [Problem to be solved by the invention] In such a conventional system, a cooling or heating device is constantly operated according to the output of the temperature sensor, even during hours such as nighttime when sales are not carried out for a long time. However, since the products were kept cold at a temperature suitable for sale, they had the disadvantage of wasting electricity. This invention was made in order to solve the various problems mentioned above, and provides a control device for a vending machine that manages the internal temperature according to the installation situation and reduces power consumption. The purpose is to provide. [Means for Solving the Problem] According to the present invention, this object is achieved by a control device configured as shown in FIG. In other words, in a vending machine control device that maintains the product within an appropriate temperature range by controlling the cooler or heater on and off according to the output of a temperature sensor that detects the internal temperature, the vending machine starts operating. A time setting means 4 for setting the time and operation stop time, a loading switch 6 to be operated when placing a product in a vending machine, etc., and a plurality of time setting means for forcibly turning on and off the cooler or heater. A power-saving mode switch 2 is set to enable switching to the power-saving mode switch 2, and cooling is performed while the output of the temperature sensor is an on-command to the cooler or heater according to the on/off time set by the power-saving mode switch 2. On/off control means 101 controls on/off of the vending machine or the heater, and when the vending machine is operated immediately after installation, when the power is restored after a power outage, and when the loading switch 6 is operated, it is connected to the setting of the power saving mode switch 2. an on control means 102 that turns on the cooler or the heater continuously for a predetermined period of time; and a stop means 103 that stops the operation of the cooler or the heater outside the operating time set by the time setting means 4; This is achieved by having the following. [Function] In the above configuration, signals generated when the vending machine starts operating immediately after installation, when the power is restored after a power outage, and when the loading switch is operated are applied to the ON control means, and the ON control means The cooler or heater is turned on continuously for hours.
Thereafter, the on/off control means forcibly controls on/off the electric power supplied to the cooler or heater at the time set by the signal from the power saving mode switch, and at the same time controls the power supplied to the cooler or heater by the time set by the signal from the time setting means. Outside the specified time period, the cooler or heater will stop operating. As mentioned above, after the vending machine is installed, the cooler or heater is forcibly driven to cool or heat the product, so the product can always be set at a predetermined temperature, and the time setting means Cooling or heating is forcibly stopped outside the set time range, saving unnecessary power consumption. In the following explanation, the vending machine body is equipped with a temperature sensor, and the normal temperature control of the cooler or heater is also performed on the vending machine side. Control that turns on and off at predetermined time intervals using signals from the control device is called forced on/off mode. [Embodiment] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a control panel used in a vending machine to which the present invention is applied, where 1 is the control panel itself, and 2 is for setting the time to forcibly turn on and off the cooler and heater of the vending machine. A power saving mode switch can be used to switch between stages 1 to 5. For example, in each stage, the cooler or heater is operated for the times shown in Table 1.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described in detail above, the present invention provides a control device for a vending machine that performs temperature control, and continuously operates the cooling or heating system after a new installation, after a power outage has been restored, or when a new product is placed in the device. Even in devices such as vending machines installed in places with relatively unstable power supplies, products are quickly cooled or heated to a predetermined temperature suitable for sale, and then temperature sensors Control, timer mode control, and forced on/off control stop the entire vending machine during periods of low usage, such as at night, and a temperature sensor allows it to stop the entire vending machine when the cooler or heater is in operation. The forced on/off control turns the cooler or heater on and off for even more detailed operation control, making it possible to effectively save electricity.The timer function also allows you to reduce usage levels, such as at night. Since the cooler is stopped during low-temperature hours, the power saving effect can be further increased.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing the external appearance of a control panel used in an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a block circuit diagram showing an embodiment of the invention, Fig. 3 is a diagram corresponding to the claims, and Figs. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of each mode in FIG. 2. 1... Control panel body, 2... Power saving mode switch, 3... Current time setting switch, 4, 4a to 4f... Time setting switch (time setting means),
6...Loading switch, 8...Display lamp, 10...CPU (on/off control means 101, on control means 102, stopping means 103), 15...
Forced on/off mode command switch, 20...Relay (for heater), 21...Relay (for compressor motor), 22...Relay (for fluorescent lamp).

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A control device for a vending machine that maintains products within an appropriate temperature range by controlling a cooler or a heater on and off according to the output of a temperature sensor that detects the internal temperature, A time setting means 4 for setting the operation start time and operation stop time of the vending machine, a loading switch 6 that is operated when a product is set in the vending machine, etc., and a loading switch 6 that forcibly turns on and off the cooling machine or heater. a power-saving mode switch 2 that can set the time to switch in multiple stages; and an output of the temperature sensor to issue an on-command to the cooler or heater according to the on/off time set by the power-saving mode switch 2. On/off control means 101 controls the cooler or heater on and off while the vending machine is in operation, when the power is restored after a power outage, and when the loading switch 6 is operated, the power saving mode switch is activated. On control means 102 that turns on the cooler or heater continuously for a predetermined period of time regardless of the settings in step 2, and stops the operation of the cooler or heater outside of the operating time set by the time setting means 4. A control device for a vending machine, comprising: stop means 103 for stopping the operation.