JP2000235666A - vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic vending machine to eliminate the need of bringing tools for cleaning of a condenser and to periodically and automatically clean the condenser. SOLUTION: A dust removing means, for example, a brush 6 to sweep the cooling fins 4 of the condenser 3 and to remove clogging between the cooling fins is provided between cooling fins 4. Furthermore, the brush is made to be rotated by driving a motor and on/off of the motor is controlled so as to automatically rotate and stop the brush by linkage with opening/closing of an external door or operation of a merchandise selection key.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a compressor and a condenser for producing a refrigerant to be supplied to a cooling device for chilling goods stored in a main body cabinet or a refrigerant to be supplied to an ice maker for making ice added to a beverage. To a vending machine equipped with an in-flight.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 shows the structure of a conventional example, in which (a) is an outline view of an vending machine with an outer door opened, and (b) is an outline view of a condenser. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 1 denotes a main body cabinet, and 2 denotes an inner door for closing the front of a product storage (not shown) in which the inside of the main body cabinet 1 is heat-insulated to store products in a cold or hot state. Reference numeral 3 denotes a condenser for cooling the refrigerant compressed by the compressor, 4 denotes a cooling fin of the condenser 3, and 5 denotes an outer door for closing a front surface of the main body cabinet 1. In FIG. 4, a product is stored in a product storage in which the inside of the main body cabinet 1 is insulated and partitioned in either a cold state or a hot state. An evaporator (not shown) is installed in the refrigerator to make the inside of the product storage a refrigerator. In the evaporator, the refrigerant compressed by the compressor is cooled by the condenser 3 and expanded by the expansion valve (not shown). The evaporator cools the evaporator with the latent heat of vaporization at that time, and exchanges heat with the air in the refrigerator by a fan attached to the evaporator to cool the refrigerator. The evaporated refrigerant is returned to the compressor.

[0003]

By the way, in the conventional structure, the condenser has a structure having a large number of cooling fins for cooling the compressed refrigerant. If dust adheres between the cooling fins, the cooling capacity is reduced. As a result, there is a problem that the inside of the product storage is not sufficiently cooled and the product is not cooled. For example, a serviceman brings a brush and periodically cleans the product. Therefore, there are the following problems.

[0004] Cleaning the condenser requires bringing a brush. Cleaning the condenser is manual and labor intensive. It takes time and labor for service personnel to periodically clean the condenser.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems. An object of the present invention is to eliminate the need to bring a tool for cleaning a condenser. Another object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine that automatically and automatically performs.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerant for refrigeration of goods stored in a main body cabinet or for use in ice making of ice added to a beverage. In a vending machine equipped with a compressor and a condenser in the machine, between the cooling fins of the condenser,
Dust removing means for sweeping the cooling fins and removing clogging between the cooling fins is provided. The dust removing means is preferably a brush as claimed in claim 2.

With the above configuration, when cleaning the condenser, dust between the cooling fins can be removed by the brush provided between the cooling fins of the condenser. Further, the brush can be rotationally driven by the drive motor as in the invention of the third aspect. Further, the drive motor can be turned on and off in conjunction with a door switch that detects opening and closing of the outer door of the vending machine. Further, as in the invention described in claim 5, the drive motor can be turned on and off in conjunction with a selection switch that is turned on and off by operating a product selection button of the vending machine.

[0008] According to the configuration of claim 3, periodically,
According to the fourth and fifth aspects of the present invention, the drive motor is driven when the outer door is opened at the time of refilling the product or when the customer presses a product selection button. It becomes possible to do.

[0009]

FIG. 1 shows the structure of a main part of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 (a) is a schematic view of a vending machine with an outer door opened, FIG. 1 (b) is a schematic view of a condenser, (C) shows an external view of a brush as dust removing means. In this FIG.
Members having the same reference numerals as those in the conventional example have approximately the same functions, and therefore description thereof will be omitted. In this FIG.
1 is a main body cabinet, 2 is an inner door that closes the front of a product storage (not shown), in which the inside of the main body cabinet 1 is insulated and stores products in either a cold or hot state.
3 is a condenser for cooling the refrigerant compressed by the compressor, 4 is a cooling fin of the condenser 3, 5 is an outer door for closing the front surface of the main body cabinet 1, 6 is a brush as dust removing means, and 6a is a brush 6 The bristle portion, 6b is a shaft for fixing the bristle portion of the bristle portion 6a of the brush 6, and 6c is a hook having both ends of the shaft 6b bent. In FIG. 1, a product is stored at a temperature of either cold or hot in a product storage room in which the inside of a main body cabinet 1 is insulated and the front surface is closed by an inner door 2 having heat insulation. An evaporator (not shown) is installed in the refrigerator to make the inside of the product storage a refrigerator. In the evaporator, a refrigerant compressed by a compressor is cooled by a condenser 3 and an expansion valve (not shown). The evaporator cools the evaporator with the latent heat of vaporization at that time, and exchanges heat with the air in the refrigerator by a fan attached to the evaporator to cool the refrigerator. The evaporated refrigerant is returned to the compressor. Then, a service person regularly patrols the outside door 5
Is opened, the brush hooks 6c provided on both the upper and lower sides of the condenser 3 disposed at the lower portion of the main body cabinet 1 are rotated, and the shaft 6b connected to the hook 6c and the brush hair portion 6a are moved to condense. The space between the cooling fins 4 of the vessel 3 is cleaned.

FIG. 2 shows a configuration of a main part of another embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) is a schematic view in which an outer door of a vending machine is opened, (b) is a schematic view of a condenser, and (c). ) Shows the appearance of the brush. In FIG. 2, members denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the conventional example have approximately the same functions, and therefore, description thereof will be omitted. In FIG. 2, 1 is a main body cabinet, 2
Is an inner door that closes the front of a product storage (not shown) in which the interior of the main body cabinet 1 is insulated and stores products in either a cold state or a cold state, and 3 cools the refrigerant compressed by the compressor. 4 is a cooling fin of the condenser 3, 5 is an outer door for closing the front of the main body cabinet 1, 6 a is a brush 6
6b is a shaft for fixing the bristle of the bristle portion 6a of the brush 6, 7 is a drive motor provided at the end of the shaft 6b to rotate the shaft 6b, and 8 is interlocked with opening and closing of the outer door 5. The door switch is turned on and off.

FIG. 2 is different from FIG. 1 in that the condenser 3 is cleaned by swinging the shaft 6b with a drive motor 7 instead of manually moving the hook 6c, and the drive motor is driven by an outer door. Door switch 8 that turns on and off in conjunction with opening and closing
Is turned on and off automatically.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show the structure of the main part of another embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 3A is a schematic view of a vending machine, FIG. 3B is a schematic view of a condenser, and FIG. The figure is shown. 3 is different from FIG. 2 in that the drive motor 7 is driven in conjunction with a selection switch that is turned on and off by a pressing operation of a product selection button 9 instead of being performed in conjunction with opening and closing of the outer door 5. It is the point which did so.

As described above, by performing the cleaning of the condenser in conjunction with the selection switch for turning on and off by pressing the product selection button 9, the frequency of the cleaning of the condenser is increased and the cooling fins 4 are cleaned. Is kept.

[0014]

According to the present invention, it is not necessary to bring a tool for cleaning the condenser, and the condenser can be easily cleaned. The drive motor is driven in conjunction with the opening and closing of the door or the pressing of the product selection button to clean the condenser, eliminating the need for service patrols for condenser cleaning. There is an effect that the condenser is always kept clean because the condenser is cleaned automatically and periodically.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a main part of an embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) is an outline view in which an outer door of a vending machine is opened,
(B) is an outline view of the condenser, and (c) is an external view of a brush as dust removing means.

FIG. 2 shows a configuration of a main part of another embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) is an outline view in which an outer door of a vending machine is opened,
(B) is a schematic view of the condenser, and (c) is an external view of the brush.

3A and 3B show a configuration of a main part of another embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 3A is a schematic view of a vending machine, FIG. 3B is a schematic view of a condenser, and FIG.

4A and 4B show a configuration of a conventional example, in which FIG. 4A is a schematic view of an vending machine with an outer door opened, and FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 Condenser 4 Cooling Fin 6 Brush 6a Hair 6b Shaft 6c Hook 7 Drive Motor 8 Door Switch 9 Product Selection Button

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A vending machine provided with a compressor and a condenser for producing a refrigerant for use in ice making of ice added to a beverage or refrigeration of goods stored in a main body cabinet, wherein the condenser is provided. A dust removing means for sweeping the cooling fins and removing clogging between the cooling fins between the cooling fins. 2. A vending machine according to claim 1, wherein said dust removing means is a brush arranged between said cooling fins. 3. A vending machine according to claim 1, wherein said dust removing means is driven to rotate by a drive motor. 4. The vending machine according to claim 3, wherein the drive motor is turned on and off in conjunction with a door switch for detecting opening and closing of an outer door of the vending machine. 5. A vending machine according to claim 3, wherein the drive motor is turned on and off in conjunction with a selection switch that is turned on and off by operating a product selection button of the vending machine. .