JPH051878A - Defrosting timing determining method and defrosting controller for low temperature chamber - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a defrosting controller suitable for determining the next starting timing of defrosting from the door opening and/or closing condition of an user and the operating rate of a compressor, which are considered together with the transition of time. CONSTITUTION:A defrosting controller is provided with a counting means 45, counting the number of opening and/or closing of a door, a memory means 46, storing the counting values at every unit times continuously, an operating means 47, operating the opening and/or closing pattern in a given period from the contents of memory, and a determining means 49, determining def-rosting timings based on the operating time of the compressor and the opening and closing pattern of the door.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for determining a defrosting start time of a defrosting means and a defrosting control apparatus therefor based on the open / closed state of a door provided in a low temperature refrigerator such as a home refrigerator or a commercial refrigerator. It is about.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Since the amount of frost adhering to a cooler correlates to some extent with the operation time of a compressor, conventionally, when the operation time of the compressor is integrated and the integration time reaches a certain time, defrosting is performed. Was trying to start. However, in a refrigerator, since the humid air flows into the refrigerator by opening the door and the amount of frost on the cooler greatly depends on the opening and closing of the door, for example, it is shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. 59-38506. As described above, the first means for causing the defrosting device to start defrosting when the number of times of opening and closing of the door reaches the number of times of opening and closing of defrosting, and the last time when the detection signal is output from the defrosting completion detecting element A defrost control device has been proposed which includes a second means for calculating the number of times the defrost start door is opened and closed next time based on the number of times the defrost start door is opened and closed and the amount measured by the defrost amount measuring means.

[0003]

According to the defrosting control device described in the above publication, defrosting is started when the number of times of opening the door reaches a predetermined number (that is, the number of times of opening and closing the defrosting door). It was done like this. However, regardless of the length of time the door is open, only the number of times the door is opened and closed is taken into consideration, and the temporal transition of the opening / closing operation of the door is not taken into consideration. That is, the frequency of operating the door and the time transition are different depending on the person using the refrigerator, such as the time when preparing meals, the time when the purchased items are stored in the refrigerator, and the time when the refrigerator is cooled and stored without opening the door. Even though they are all treated as the same,
It was not possible to determine the defrost start time that suits the user's usage, such as the daily activity patterns of the refrigerator users and the number of doors. Moreover, it does not take into consideration the operating rate of the compressor, which is highly related to the operating rate of the refrigerator. Therefore, there is a high possibility that the door will be opened during defrosting, the temperature inside the refrigerator will rise significantly due to the inflow of outside air, the cooling time will be long after the cooling operation returns, and the defrosting end temperature will be detected before defrosting is completed. As a result, there is a problem that defrosting is completed and cooling capacity is lowered during cooling operation. In addition, there is a fear that the number of times of defrosting will increase, resulting in unnecessary power consumption.

Further, since the number of times of opening and closing the door is not stored according to the time transition, it is not possible to determine the frequency of opening and closing the door in the course of time, and it is necessary to learn how to use each household and learn the contents of learning. It was not possible to determine the appropriate defrost start time.

A first object of the present invention is to provide a defrosting timing determining method in which the defrosting operation of the defrosting means is started by selecting a time when the door is opened and closed less frequently, taking into consideration the temporal transition. It is in.

A second object is to present a defrosting timing determining method for determining the next defrosting starting timing from the door opening / closing pattern of the person who uses the low temperature cabinet and the operation rate of the compressor, taking the time transition into consideration. It is in.

A third object is to provide a defrost control device suitable for performing defrosting based on the above defrosting timing determining method.

[0008]

In order to achieve the first object, the number of times of opening and closing a door for opening and closing an article entrance / exit of a low-temperature storage is continuously stored every unit time, and based on the stored contents, a fixed period is stored. In this paper, we present a method of determining the defrosting timing by deciding the pattern of the door opening / closing frequency in the interior, and selecting the timing of the door opening / closing frequency based on this pattern to operate the defrosting means for defrosting the cooler. is there.

In order to achieve the second object, the method for determining the defrosting time of the present invention stores the number of times of opening and closing the door for opening and closing the article entrance and exit of the low temperature warehouse continuously for every unit time, and based on the stored contents. The door opening / closing pattern is predicted, and the time to operate the defrosting means next time is determined based on the predicted pattern and the operation rate of the compressor.

Further, in order to achieve the third object, the defrosting control apparatus for a low temperature warehouse according to the present invention comprises an integrating means for integrating the operating time of the compressor, and a counting means for counting the number of detection times of the detecting means in a unit time. A storage means for continuously storing the count value of the counting means for each unit time; a calculation means for calculating the opening / closing pattern of the door within a fixed period based on the contents stored in the storage means; The defrosting start timing determining means determines the timing of operating the defrosting means next time based on the integrated value and the calculated value of the computing means, and the control means operates the defrosting means at the timing determined by the determining means. It is a thing.

[0011]

When the defrosting means is operated at a time when the door opening / closing frequency is low as described in claim 1, the defrosting means is less susceptible to the outside air inflow due to the opening of the door and the inside temperature The rise can be suppressed.

According to the second aspect, by predicting the opening / closing pattern of the door based on the stored number of times of opening / closing of the door per unit time, the opening / closing state of the user is grasped, and the operating time of the compressor is the limit time. If the door opening / closing frequency decreases before reaching the next time, the next defrosting start time can be set to match the usage conditions for low temperature warehouses that are used under various conditions such as ambient conditions and load. The defrosting start time can be determined, and defrosting can be performed while suppressing the internal temperature rise.

According to the third aspect, the next defrosting operation timing determined by the defrosting start timing determining means is determined according to the operating time of the compressor and the opening / closing pattern of the door. The defrosting timing can be determined together, and the temperature rise due to defrosting can be suppressed as much as possible. At this time, it is more effective if defrosting is performed at a time when the door is not opened / closed frequently.

[0014]

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

Reference numeral 1 is a refrigerator as a low temperature storage. The refrigerator 1 includes a heat insulating box 5 configured by filling a heat insulating material 4 between an outer box 2 and an inner box 3, and door bodies 6 and 7 that openably and closably close a front opening of the heat insulating box 5. , 8, 9, 10, 11 and a partition member 14 for partitioning the interior of the refrigerator into a freezing compartment 12 and a refrigerating compartment 13.
And partition plates 17 and 18 for further partitioning the interior of the refrigerating compartment 13 into a first refrigerating compartment 13B, an ice greenhouse 15 and a vegetable compartment 16.
And the freezing room 12 to the second freezing room on the left and the first freezing room on the right.
A heat-insulating partition wall (not shown) for partitioning into a freezing compartment, and an ice making compartment 1 defined in the freezing compartment 12 (particularly the second freezing compartment)
9, a quick-freezing chamber 20, a water supply chamber 21 defined in the first refrigerating chamber 13B, a plate fin type main cooler 22 and a blower 23 installed at the back of the freezing chamber 12, and the refrigerating chamber Damper device 24 for adjusting the flow rate of cold air to 13
It consists of and.

Further, cold air outlets 25, 27, 2 are provided on the rear surfaces of the ice making chamber 19, the first refrigerating chamber 13B and the quick-freezing chamber 20.
8 is formed. Further, the door body 6 is the left side portion of the freezing compartment 12, that is, the article entrance / exit of the second freezing compartment, and the door body 7 is the freezing compartment 1
2, the doors 8 and 9 close the article inlet / outlet of the first refrigerating compartment 13B, respectively, and the outer end of each door body 6, 7, 8, 9 is pivotally supported. It is a double door type door and has a door switch as a door opening / closing detecting means 42 for detecting opening / closing of each door body. Door body 10
Is a drawer type door for closing the ice greenhouse 15 and the door 11 for closing the vegetable compartment 16. K is a cold air return passage formed inside the partition member 14 for returning the air in the first refrigerating chamber 13B to the main cooler 22.

The second freezing compartment is formed with an ice making compartment 19 in the upper part and a quick freezing compartment 20 in the lower part, respectively, and cool air from a blower 23 is provided behind the rear plate of the second freezing compartment.
A cold air supply passage D leading to the quick freeze chamber is formed. Incidentally, 3
Reference numeral 0 denotes an electric heater as defrosting means for removing frost attached to the main cooler 22, as described later.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block circuit diagram of a defrosting control device S for a refrigerator, and 40 is a microcomputer which is the base of the control device. 41 is a compressor, 42 is a door body 6,
A door switch (hereinafter referred to as a door switch) serving as a door opening / closing detection unit provided corresponding to each door body so as to detect opening / closing of 7, 8, and 9. The door switch 42 is turned on when the door is opened (outputs an ON signal) and turned off when the door is closed.

Reference numeral 43 is a temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature. The freezing room temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the freezing room 12, the refrigerating room temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the first refrigerating room 13B, and the temperature of the ice greenhouse 15 are detected. Each sensor is collectively referred to as a temperature detecting means including a defrosting end temperature sensor that detects the defrosting end temperature of the ice greenhouse temperature sensor and the main cooler 22 and outputs a defrosting end signal.

The microcomputer 40 outputs a signal every unit time (for example, 1 hour) after the power is turned on or after the defrosting is finished, and the first time limiter (hereinafter referred to as timer 1) 44.
And a counting means 45 for counting each time an ON signal from the door opening / closing detecting means 42 is received and outputting a count value at the time when the signal from the timer 1 is received, and a count value from the counting means 45 for the above unit time ( In this example, the storage means 46 stores continuously every 1 hour, the calculation means 47 calculates the opening / closing pattern of the door within a fixed period (for example, 24 hours) based on the contents stored in the storage means 46, and the compressor. Based on the door opening / closing pattern calculated by the calculation unit 47 and the accumulated time of the timer 2, the second defrosting unit 30 is set as the next defrosting unit 30. Defrosting start time determining means 49 for determining the time to operate (more specifically, the time to start the defrosting operation), and this determining means 4
Third timing means (hereinafter, timer 3) that outputs a signal for starting defrost (that is, a defrost start signal) at the time determined by 9
50). Reference numeral 51 is a control unit that receives the defrosting start signal from the timer 3 and operates the defrosting unit 30.

The storage means 46 stores the count value (data) from the counting means 45 for at least two days or more as a unit time (that is, 1).
It is stored for each time), and in this embodiment, 1
It is assumed that the data can be stored for 6 days. Further, the storage means 46 is provided with a plurality of storage areas (24 × 16 = 384 storage areas in this embodiment) so that the data can be partitioned and stored every hour. The count value is stored. In each storage area, partition numbers are specified in the form of a matrix, and the numerical value (count value here) to be stored corresponding to this matrix is expressed as (X, Y).

However, X in this matrix is 1 from the day
This shows the date up to 5 days ago, and in the present embodiment, X is made to correspond to a natural number from 0 to 15. Further, Y in the matrix indicates the time from 0 o'clock to 24 o'clock, and in the present embodiment, Y is 0 to 23.
Up to a natural number. Then, the numerical value corresponding to this matrix is expressed with parentheses, and this numerical value represents the stored value in the area. For example, when the stored value in the area (0, 7) is (10), it means that the number of times of opening and closing the door was 10 times during one hour from 7:00 to 8:00 on the day, and (5 , 16) has a stored value of (4), it means that the number of times of opening and closing of the door was four times during one hour from 16:00 to 17:00 four days ago.

At the time when the data for one day is stored, the storage means 46 rewrites and stores the data for one day as the data for 16 days, and the computing means 47 performs the computation based on the stored contents. The door opening / closing (frequency) pattern is calculated and stored. In the case of the first day, the data itself for one day becomes a pattern. Further, when the data on the second day is stored, the average of the numerical values at the same time is taken and stored as a door opening / closing pattern. In this case, the average value becomes the pattern. Further, the data is sequentially additionally stored, and calculation is performed every time a new day's worth of data is collected, and the opening / closing pattern of the door is determined and stored. It should be noted that the data updating work is performed every day, but the updating work takes a method of deleting the oldest data and taking in new data (so-called first-in first-out method).

However, since the data for the first day is rewritten to the data for 16 days, the data of the first day is actually pushed out.
If the data has been collected for more than 16 days, that is, after the 17th day.
Further, here, the opening / closing pattern of the door is determined by simply taking the arithmetic mean. Note that instead of updating data by the first-in first-out method, the coefficient for the data becomes smaller as the data gets older, and the coefficient becomes larger as newer data, so that the data is weighted and then updated (so-called weighting method). The data may be updated by), and then the arithmetic mean may be calculated to determine the open / close pattern. Moreover, the data updating method is not limited to the above method.

When the accumulated time of the timer 2 reaches a predetermined time (for example, 6.5 hours), the defrosting start timing determining means 49 first determines the operating rate of the compressor, and then the operating rate remains as it is. It is obtained by averaging the period of time until the accumulated time reaches a limit time (for example, 10 hours) longer than the predetermined time on the assumption that The next defrosting start time is determined by collating the calculated value (that is, the time characteristic in which the data is summarized for one day in consideration of the temporal transition) with a so-called door opening / closing pattern. More specifically, assuming that the calculated value is the pattern of the door opening / closing frequency for one day thereafter, the time when the door opening / closing frequency is expected to be low is selected to determine the next defrosting start time. For example, the door opening / closing pattern as shown in FIG. 4 is determined, and the operation rate of the compressor is 5
If the defrosting end time was 3 o'clock last time when it was determined that the operating rate was 50%, the predetermined time passed from 13 o'clock to 13 o'clock, that is, 16 o'clock. The operating time is 50% and the limit time elapses from 3 o'clock to 20 hours, that is, 23:00, and the time when the number of times of opening and closing of the door is the minimum between 16:00 and 23:00, that is, 22:00 is selected. The next defrost start time is decided to be 22:00. In addition, since this decision is made at 16:00, it is 16 o'clock at 22:00.
Since it is 5 hours after the time, the determining means 49 sets the timer 3 to the time obtained here, that is, 5 hours, and outputs the defrosting start signal after 5 hours.

The operation of the defrost control device will be described below with reference to the flow charts of FIGS. 5 and 6.

First, when the power is turned on, all the storage areas are cleared in step S ₁ (specifically, the time (hereinafter referred to as HR) indicating the time from the start of data collection is set to 0, and all the storage areas are set. Value is cleared, X and Y are set to 0, and the timer 2 is reset according to the setting of the flag 1 indicating that one day has not passed since the start of data collection). And step S ₂
Then, the timer 1 is set as a unit time to, for example, 60 minutes, the subtraction is started in step S ₃ , and it is determined in step S ₄ whether 60 minutes have elapsed. If 60 minutes have passed, step S
Proceeds to _8, the door at step S ₅ If after 60 minutes has changed from the closed state to the open state (whether i.e. door switch is turned from OFF to ON) is determined, change If there is, the operation of adding 1 to the count value in the storage area (X, Y) is performed in step S ₆ , and the process proceeds to step M ₁ . Even if there is no change in step S ₅ , the process proceeds to step M ₁ .

On the other hand, in step S ₈ , the HR addition operation, that is, the number obtained by adding 1 to HR is set in HR, and step S 8
_{In step 9} , the timer 1 is set again to 60 minutes, and in step S _10, it is determined whether or not the flag 1 is present. If the flag 1 is present, in step S ₁₁ , the data at the time Y on the first day is set to the time Y for 16 days. Then, the process proceeds to step S ₁₂ and if there is no flag 1, the process directly proceeds to step S ₁₂ . In step S ₁₂ , it is determined whether or not a certain period (for example, one day) has passed (that is, whether or not HR is 23). If one day has not elapsed in step S ₁₂ , the number obtained by adding 1 to Y is set to Y in step S ₁₃ (that is, the storage area is shifted to the next adjacent area) and the process returns to step S ₃ . Hereinafter, by repeating the operations of steps S ₃ to S ₆ and S ₈ to S ₁₃ until the day in step S ₁₂ is judged to have elapsed, to collect work data for one day.

Step S₁₂If one day has passed,
Up S₁₄Flag 1 indicating that one day has not passed
Reset, step S₁₅To set Y to 0,
S ₁₆~ S₁₈So, while storing the collected data for one day
Delete data 15 days ago. That is, step S
₁₆Then, 16 days from the current day to 15 days before at time Y
Work to rewrite the minute data, in detail for time Y
14 days ago data (1
Move 4, Y) to the data storage area (15, Y) 15 days ago
The data storage area of 14 days ago.
Then, the data of 12 days ago is stored in the data storage area of 13 days ago,
...... Data from 2 days ago is stored in the data storage area 3 days ago by 1
The data of the day before is stored in the data storage area of the day before 2 days.
Data to the data storage area one day ago
Do. Step S₁₇Then, determine whether Y is 23 or not.
Turn off, if Y is not 23, step S₁₈Then Y + 1 to Y
Set and step S₁₆Return to. That is, step S₁₆
~ S₁₈Routine work up to 23 times and 24th
Step S₁₆Data 15 days before when the work of
Will be in the form of being pushed out for 16 days from the day
The data rewriting work of is completed. Moreover, step S₁₇
Since Y = 23 at step S₁₉To Y to 0
Set, step S₂₀Set HR to 0 and step M₁
Move to.

On the other hand, step M₁Then the compressor is operating
If it is operating, step M₂so
Step M of integrating timer 2₃Move to
Step M if not in progress₃Move to. Step M₃so
Is the accumulated time a predetermined time, for example 6.5 hours?
If 6.5 hours have passed, step M is judged.
_FourSet flag 2 which indicates that 6.5 hours have passed
Step M_FiveMove to. Step M₃6.5 hours
If not, step M₁₁Move to.

In step M ₅ , it is judged whether or not there is a flag 1 indicating that one day has not passed since the start of data collection. If the flag 1 is present, the accumulated time of the timer 2 is determined in step M _6. It is determined whether or not an initial value (e.g., 8 hours) longer than the predetermined time has been reached, and if 8 hours have been reached, the process proceeds to step M ₁₄ , and if 8 hours has not passed, step S ₃ Return to. Here, from the beginning of collecting the data of the number of times of opening and closing of the door, until one day has passed, the cooler is defrosted periodically, that is, every time the integrated time of the compressor reaches the initial value. .

Step M_FiveIf there is no flag 1 in
Up M₇The opening and closing (frequency) pattern of the door in one day
The pattern is calculated, the pattern is stored in the calculating means 47, and the
Up M ₈Calculate the operating rate of the compressor with step M₉At the beginning
It remains at that operating rate until a limit time longer than the value is reached
Matches with the above pattern, assuming that the operation continues at
Except when it coincides with the time when the number of times of opening and closing the door decreases.
Determined as the frost start time and the time required until this start time
Index, step M_TenThis time is calculated in Thailand
Set to Ma 3 and step S₃Return to.

[0033] In step M _11, it is determined whether the flag 2 is present, performs a subtraction operation of the timer 3 in step M ₁₂ if there is a flag 2, whether the timer 3 has counted up in Step M ₁₃ If the counting is completed, the defrosting start signal is output in step M ₁₄ to start the defrosting operation of the defrosting means 30, the timer 2 is reset in step M ₁₅ , and the flag is set in step M ₁₆ . Reset 2 and return to step S ₃ . Even if the counting is not completed in step M ₁₃ , the process returns to step S ₃ .

The defrosting of the defrosting means 30 may be completed based on the defrosting completion signal from the temperature detecting means. However, the time when the defrosting completion signal is output is stored and the next defrosting operation is performed. It is preferably used for determining the frost start time.

As described above, the number of times of opening / closing the doors 6, 7, 8, 9 for opening / closing the article entrance / exit is continuously stored every hour, and the door opening / closing frequency is determined within a certain period (24 hours in this example). Since the pattern is indexed and defrosting is performed when the number of times of opening and closing decreases in the indexed pattern, the defrosting operation can be performed while suppressing the inflow of outside air due to the opening and closing of the door. The temperature rise can be suppressed. Moreover, it is possible to learn the situation of opening and closing the door in the home where the refrigerator is used, and it is possible to determine the defrosting start time according to the usage of each home. Furthermore, it is possible to predict the pattern of the subsequent door opening / closing frequency from the learning content, and if the defrosting start time is determined based on this predicted pattern and the actual operation rate of the compressor, not only the door opening / closing It is possible to provide a refrigerator that can perform defrosting that is versatile, because the defrosting time can be determined in consideration of the usage status of each home and changes in the external environment.

On the other hand, the door switch for detecting the opening and closing of the door and the accumulating means for accumulating the operating time of the compressor are installed in a normal refrigerator, and the counting means, the storing means, the calculating means and the determining means are of a microcomputer. Since it can be incorporated into the function, it is possible to determine the defrosting start time according to the usage of the refrigerator user without adding a large part, and it is possible to provide a smart refrigerator that has a learning function and is easy to use.

[0037]

As described above, according to the defrosting timing determining method of the first aspect, it is possible to learn the usage frequency of the cold storage of the user who installs the cold storage, especially the frequency of opening and closing the door. Since the usage status can be grasped and the defrosting is started by selecting a time period with a low opening / closing frequency, that is, a time period with a small inflow of outside air, it is possible to suppress the rise in the low-temperature inside temperature due to the defrosting as much as possible.

Further, according to the method of claim 2, the defrosting timing is determined in consideration of the operating rate of the compressor in addition to the opening / closing pattern predicted based on the stored number of times. It is possible to select a time when the external load is stable and the frequency of opening and closing of the door is small and the external load is small, and it is possible to suppress the temperature fluctuation in the refrigerator due to defrosting.

Further, according to the apparatus of claim 3, it is possible to learn the door opening / closing pattern of the low temperature warehouse user, and determine the time to start the next defrosting based on the content of this learning and the actual operation rate. Therefore, the defrosting start timing corresponding to the change of the surrounding environment can be determined, and the defrosting operation in which the temperature fluctuation in the low temperature chamber is suppressed can be performed. Moreover, the defrosting start time can be determined according to the user's usage, and it is possible to provide a versatile and convenient low-temperature warehouse for defrosting.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram showing a schematic configuration of a defrost control device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the refrigerator.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the refrigerator shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of defrosting start timing determination by taking an example of a door opening / closing pattern and an operating rate of 50% in one day.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a storage operation of the number of times of opening and closing a door.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation for determining a defrosting time.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 refrigerator 30 Defrosting means 41 compressor 42 Door open / close detection means 45 counting means 46 storage means 47 computing means 49 Defrosting start time determining means 51 control means S defrost control device

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A low-temperature warehouse equipped with a blower for circulating air cooled by a cooler in the cabinet, and defrosting means for defrosting the cooler. The number of times is continuously stored for each unit time, the pattern of the door opening / closing frequency within a certain period is calculated based on the stored content, and the time when the door opening / closing frequency is low is selected based on this pattern to operate the defrosting means. A method for determining the defrosting time of a low temperature warehouse, which is characterized in that 2. In a low temperature warehouse that cools the inside by circulating air cooled by a cooler, the number of times of opening and closing a door for opening and closing an article entrance of the low temperature warehouse is continuously stored every unit time. Then, the door opening / closing pattern is predicted based on the stored contents, and the time to operate the next defrosting means is determined based on the predicted pattern and the operation rate of the compressor. Method for determining the defrosting time. 3. A low temperature storage comprising defrosting means for defrosting a cooler, and detection means for detecting opening / closing of a door for opening / closing an article entrance / exit; Counting means for counting the number of times of detection by the detecting means in unit time, storage means for continuously storing the count value of the counting means for each unit time, and doors within a certain period based on the contents stored in the storage means The calculating means for calculating the opening / closing pattern, the defrosting start timing determining means for determining the time to operate the defrosting means next time based on the integrated value of the integrating means and the calculated value of the calculating means, and the determining means A defrosting control device for a low-temperature warehouse, comprising: a control unit that operates a defrosting unit at a time.