PURPOSE: To make opening/closing timing of a valve proper and hereby reduce a load applied on a motor compressor by closing a corresponding valve in order from a cool ing unit where temperature therein is lowered to prescribed off temperature or lower, and closing a valve corresponding to the cooling unit at the time refrigerant pressure becomes a prescribed valve or lower.

CONSTITUTION: When a power supply for an automatic vending machine is turned on, it is judged whether or not present in-unit temperature exceeds on temperature, and provided there is any unit, even one, temperature in which exceeds the on temperature, valves B (B1 to B3) for the units are opened and simultaneously a motor compressor 2 is turned on. Then, when the in-unit temperature is lowered, only the valve B, temperature in which is off temperature or lower is closed, and the motor compressor 2 is interrupted at the time temperatures of insides of all units become the off temperature or lower. At this time, there is kept opened the valve B for the unit temperature in which lastly becomes the off temperature or lower, and when refrigerant pressure detected by a pressure sensor Sp is lowered to predetermined pressure or lower owing to interruption of cooling operation, a remaining open valve B is closed.