Method of controlling cooling in a vending machine and device therefor

摘要

Merchandise temperature sensors 16 for detecting merchandise temperatures simultaneously with in-housing temperature sensors 17 for detecting the in-housing air temperature of a merchandise housing are provided in the merchandise housing of a vending machine. Further, the cooling mechanism is controlled by means of the merchandise temperature sensor 16 during the peak shift or peak cut, whereas the cooling mechanism is controlled by means of in-housing temperature sensor 17 during normal operation. Thus the merchandise temperature is directly detected during the peak shift or peak cut where the temperature sharply varies so as to increase merchandise temperature control accuracy. Even when the installation of the merchandise temperature sensors is limited to some columns in view of cost reduction, the cooling mechanism is made controllable by collectively detecting the merchandise temperature in the whole column by means of the in-housing temperature sensors 17 during the normal operation.