JP2000322636A - Automatic vending machine controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To set addresses to respective terminal control parts without using a control line for address setting notice and further to detect which terminal control part is exchanged when the terminal control part is replaced after an automatic vending machine is installed. SOLUTION: Concerning respective button control parts 4-1 to 6-3, a peculiar number is written in a non-volatile memory and concerning a main control part 1, a column address corresponding table for writing the peculiar numbers of the button control parts 4-3, 5-3 and 6-3 at the end of respective columns by pressing the final buttons of respective columns are held in a non-volatile memory. The main control part sets the addresses to the respective terminal control parts while designating the column of terminal control parts on the basis of the column address corresponding table. When the power source of the automatic vending machine is turned on, the replacing conditions of respective button control parts are detected by receiving the respective peculiar numbers from the button control parts while designating the column on the basis of the column address corresponding table.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic vending machine comprising a terminal control section for controlling each section of a vending machine, and a main control section for integrally controlling the terminal control sections while communicating with them. The present invention relates to a vending machine control device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional general vending machine control device, the inside of a vending machine is divided into parts such as a display mechanism, a vending mechanism, and a coin processing mechanism, and these are controlled by a terminal control unit for each part. In this case, the terminal control section is controlled by the main control section.

FIG. 5 is a control block diagram of a first conventional example. The coin processing control unit 8 controls a coin processing mechanism,
The sales control unit 9 controls a sales mechanism such as a product unloading mechanism. The display controller 18 controls the display of the price indicator 12, detects the switch of the product selection button 15, and controls the blinking of the sellable / sold-out lamp attached to the product selection button. Device 19 and main controller 1
The data is transferred between and.

In such a vending machine control device, when the number of commodities to be sold by one vending machine increases, for example, the display control unit 18 switches to a product selection button 15, a sellable lamp, a sold-out lamp, or the like. The number of harnesses to be connected becomes several hundreds, so that the wiring work is troublesome and the cost increases.

Therefore, the display mechanism is unitized by a product selection switch, a sellable lamp, and a sold-out lamp for each product, and a terminal control unit is provided for each of these units. A vending machine control device has been proposed in which the number of harnesses is reduced by performing control while performing serial communication. In such a vending machine control device, the number of terminal control units is several tens. Next, such a conventional example will be described.

FIG. 6 is a control block diagram of a second conventional example. Each of the terminal control units 21-1, 21-2,... Includes a product selection switch, a sellable lamp, a sold-out lamp, and the like as units, each of which is configured as one terminal control unit. Each terminal control unit 21-1, 21-2, ...
Performs control while communicating with the main controller 1 through a signal line 22 through a serial signal. At this time, the communication is performed using the addresses set in the terminal control units 21-1, 21-2,.... In order to set the address in each terminal control unit 21-1, 21-2,..., The address setting mode notification line 23 is transmitted from the main control unit 1 to each terminal control unit 21-1, 21-2,. .., 21-N are connected in series. Then, an address setting notification line 24 is connected to the main control unit 1 from the last terminal control unit 21-N connected in series.

[0007] The address is set by pressing an address setting switch (not shown) in the main control unit 1. When the address setting switch is pressed, the main control unit 1 sends an address setting mode notification line 23
An address storage mode signal is output to the first terminal control unit 21-1, and only the first terminal control unit 21-1 is set to the address storage mode. In this state, the main controller 1 outputs a predetermined address number via the signal line 22. The address number is 1 in the address storage mode.
Only the terminal control unit 21-1 receives and stores it.
After storing the address number, the first terminal control unit 21-1 returns a response signal to the main control unit 1 via the signal line 22.

On the other hand, the first terminal control unit 21-1 outputs an address storage mode signal to the second terminal control unit 21-2 via the address setting mode notification line 23, and outputs the second terminal control signal. Only the section 21-2 is set to the address storage mode. In this state, the main control unit 1 controls the signal line 2
Then, a number obtained by adding +1 to the previous address number via 2 is output. The address number is received and stored only by the second terminal control unit 21-2 in the address storage mode. After storing the address number, the second terminal control unit 21-2 returns a response signal to the main control unit 1 via the signal line 22.

In the same manner, different addresses are sequentially set in the terminal control units 21-1, 21-2,... Then, when the last terminal control unit 21-N stores the address number, the address setting operation is completed by notifying the main control unit 1 via the address setting notification line 24 of the completion of the address setting.

In this way, as shown in FIG.
There is no need to connect hundreds of harnesses from the display control unit 18 to the product selection button 15, the sellable lamp, the sold-out lamp, and the like, and the number of harnesses can be greatly reduced. 21-1, 21-2, ...
.., 21-N can be automatically set.

As a conventional document relating to such a vending machine control device, there is, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H4-211890 (G07F 5/22).

[0012]

However, in the above-mentioned second conventional example, the main control unit 1 controls all the terminal control units 21-1, 21-2,..., 21-N in the address setting mode. The problem is that it is necessary to connect in series with the notification line 23 and to connect the address setting notification line 24 from the last terminal control unit 21-N to the main control unit 1, which requires wiring space and connection work. There was a point. Further, even if the terminal control unit is replaced after the vending machine is installed due to a failure, a change in specification, or the like, the main control unit 1 cannot detect that, and there is a problem in maintenance management.

The present invention solves such a problem. Even if there is no control line for notifying the completion of address setting from the last terminal control unit 21-N to the main control unit 1, the address can be controlled. The purpose is to enable setting. It is still another object of the present invention to detect which terminal control unit has been replaced when the terminal control unit has been replaced after the vending machine is installed.

[0014]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vending machine control apparatus comprising: a plurality of terminal control units for controlling respective units of a vending machine; A main control unit that controls them while performing communication between them; a signal line for performing communication between the main control unit and the plurality of terminal control units; and A control line for controlling the operation of the unit, wherein the terminal control unit is divided into a plurality of columns of one or more terminal control units, the signal line, the main control unit and the terminal control And common parts,
The control line is a vending machine control device in which terminal control units of each column are connected in series from the main control unit, and the main control unit and the terminal control unit each include a nonvolatile memory, and a terminal control unit. In the nonvolatile memory of the unit, a unique number different for each terminal control unit is written in advance,
The non-volatile memory of the main control unit holds a column address correspondence table in which the unique number of the terminal control unit at the end of each column is written in correspondence with each of the columns. When setting an address in the terminal control unit, specify the column of the terminal control unit based on the column address correspondence table, in the specified column, set the address from the terminal control unit at the end of the column The terminal control unit, which has completed the address setting, sequentially sets the address while enabling the immediately preceding terminal control unit via the control line. In this way, a large number of terminal control units can be associated with logical numbers without setting addresses in each terminal control unit without providing a control line for address setting notification, and the terminal control units can be distinguished. Becomes possible.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the vending machine control device, each of the terminal control units constituting a row of the plurality of terminal control units is a button control unit for controlling a product selection button, Each row of the button control unit corresponds to each row of a plurality of product selection buttons provided in a row in each row on the front of the vending machine, and the column address correspondence table stores the last end of each row. By pressing the product selection button, the unique number is fetched from a button control unit for controlling the product selection button and set. This facilitates the setting of the column address correspondence table of the vending machine control device having the button control section columns.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vending machine control device, wherein the terminal control units forming a row composed of the plurality of terminal control units are each a sales control unit for controlling a product unloading mechanism, Each row of the sales control unit corresponds to each row of the product storage column, and the column address correspondence table stores the product in the last column of each product storage column by putting the product into the last column. It is characterized in that the unique number is taken in from a sales control unit for controlling a mechanism and set. This facilitates the setting of the column address correspondence table of the vending machine control device having the sales control section column.

Further, in the vending machine control device according to the present invention, when the power of the vending machine is turned on, the main control unit may include:
The column of the terminal control unit is designated based on the column address correspondence table, and in the designated column, the unique number is transmitted from the terminal control unit at the end of the column to the main control unit. The terminated terminal control unit instructs the transmission of a unique number to the immediately preceding terminal control unit sequentially via the control line, and the main control unit, based on each unique number received from each terminal control unit, It is characterized in that the replacement status of the terminal control unit is detected. In this way, if the terminal control unit is replaced after the vending machine is installed, it is possible to detect which terminal control unit has been replaced.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a control block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention. Conventionally, functions such as an input device, a price indicator, and a product selection button related to the input device, the price display, and the product selection button, which have been controlled by the display control unit, are separated from the display control unit. 3 and button control units 4-1 to 6-3.

FIG. 2 is an external view of a vending machine. In FIG. 2, 10 is a coin slot, 11 is a bill slot, 12 is a money amount display, 13 is a return lever, 14 is a return slot, 15 is a product selection button, 16 is a product sample, 17
Is a product outlet.

Each of the button controllers 4-1 to 6-3 is responsible for controlling a plurality of product selection buttons, a sellable lamp, and a sold-out lamp. For example, in the case of a vending machine in which the product selection buttons 15 are arranged in three rows as shown in FIG. 2, the button control unit 4-1 includes a button group 15 in the bottom row.
The control of the three commodity selection buttons 15-1 and the available lamps and sold-out lamps attached thereto is shared.
Similarly, the button control unit 4-2 is responsible for controlling the three product selection buttons 15 of the button group 15-2, and the available lamps and sold-out lamps attached thereto. Similarly, the button control units 4-3 to 6-3 share the control of the commodity selection buttons 15 in each row and the available lamps and sold-out lamps attached thereto. Each of the button control units 4-1 to 6-3 has a function of storing the number of the product selection buttons, the sellable lamps, and the sold-out lamps, which are assigned to them, or a function of detecting the numbers. I have it.

Each terminal control unit forms a plurality of columns by one or a plurality of terminal control units. Button control units 4-1 to 4-3, 5-1 to 5-3, and 6-1 forming a row
6-3 operate with the same program. And
The main control unit 1 and each terminal control unit are commonly connected by a signal line 7, and the main control unit 1 performs control while designating a specific terminal control unit and performing communication.

Therefore, when starting to use the vending machine, it is necessary that the main control unit 1 can individually designate each terminal control unit. At that time, in the vending machine control device of the present invention, the conventional vending machine shown in FIG.
This is performed without using a control line for notifying the completion of address setting such as the address setting notification line 24.

For a terminal control unit such as the input control unit 2 and the money amount display control unit 3 in which there is only one each in one vending machine, a predetermined address may be written in advance. However, the button control units 4-1 and 4
If there are many terminal control units of the same type, such as -2, ..., and it is necessary to set an address while corresponding to the mounting position, a predetermined address must be written in advance to mount the terminal. At this time, it is necessary to select and mount a device in which an address corresponding to the mounting position is written, which is too time-consuming.

Therefore, in the vending machine control device of the present invention, a nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory is provided in the button control units 4-1, 4-2,... Is written together with a unique number determined uniquely. The method of assigning the unique number may be any method as long as it is different for each board. For example, the unique number may be written while increasing the number from 0 to +1 in the manufacturing order, or may be written. Hour time data (year, month, day, hour, minute, second)
May be written as “990405134612”.

The board on which the unique number has been written in this way is incorporated into a vending machine, and after the vending machine is turned on, a plurality of product selection buttons are arranged on the front of the vending machine. By pressing the commodity selection button at the last end of each row, the unique number is fetched from the button control section for controlling the final button, and a column address correspondence table as shown in FIG. 3 is set. The column address correspondence table is stored in a nonvolatile memory inside the main control unit 1. Then, the unique number held in the column address correspondence table is used as a column address for specifying a column of the button control unit, and an address is set to each terminal control unit using the control line 8. Next, a procedure for setting an address to each terminal control unit will be described.

The main controller 1 sets the level of the control line 8 to H (high), and confirms a response to each terminal controller. At that time, the first unique number is read from the column address correspondence table, and the button control unit 4-3 having the unique number is made to respond.

On the other hand, the button control section 4-3 notifies the main control section 1 of its own unique number through the signal line 7. The main control unit 1 that has received it writes the unique number in the first stage, third terminal column of the terminal number correspondence table as shown in FIG. Note that the terminal number correspondence table is held in the nonvolatile memory. At the same time as the notification of the unique number, the button control section 4-3 switches the control line 8 connected to the immediately preceding button control section 4-2 to the L (low) level, and 4-2 is enabled. Note that, of course, the other terminal control units do not respond at all, and the control line 8 remains at L.

The main controller 1 confirms the response again. On the other hand, only the button control unit 4-2 which can be responded at that time notifies the main control unit 1 of its own unique number through the signal line 7. The main control unit 1 that has received it writes the unique number in the first stage, second terminal column of the terminal number correspondence table. Further, at the same time as the notification of the unique number, the button control unit 4-2 switches the control line 8 connected to the immediately preceding button control unit 4-1 to the L level, and switches the button control unit 4-1. Operable.

Similarly, the unique number of the button control section 4-1 is written in the terminal number correspondence table, and the main control section 1
Confirms that the setting of the address of the column is completed when the control line 8 is set to L by the button control unit 4-1. Therefore, there is no need for a line for notifying the main control unit 1 from the terminal control unit at the end of the column.

Next, from the column address correspondence table,
The third unique number is read, the button control unit 5-3 having the unique number is made to respond, and the unique numbers of all the terminal control units are similarly written in the terminal number correspondence table. In this way, when the writing of the unique numbers of all the terminal control units to the terminal number correspondence table is completed, the setting of the address to each terminal control unit is completed.

Thereafter, after the vending machine is installed and enters commercial operation, the main control unit 1 performs control while associating logical button numbers with respective product selection buttons based on the terminal number correspondence table. Do. That is, button number 1 is
The first button of the unique number button control unit 4-1 in the first column of the terminal number correspondence table is recognized as the first button, and the button number 2 is also recognized as the second button. Also,
The button number 5 is recognized as the second button of the button control unit 4-2 of the unique number in the second column of the terminal number correspondence table.

After the vending machine is installed, the main control unit 1 is used to check whether the terminal control unit has been replaced.
Each time the power is turned on, in the same manner as at the time of the address setting, a notification of the unique number is sequentially received from each terminal control unit, and it is compared with the contents of the terminal number correspondence table set at the time of manufacturing. . As a result, if the numbers are different, it is recognized that the terminal control unit has been replaced, and the new unique number is replaced with the corresponding number in the terminal number correspondence table.

In the above-described embodiment, the control is performed while associating the logical button numbers with the respective product selection buttons based on the terminal number correspondence table. A logical address may be directly set in each button control unit, and control may be performed using the logical address. Next, how to set an address to each button control unit in that case will be described.

After turning on the power of the vending machine, the main control unit 1 sets the level of the control line 8 to H (high), and confirms a response to each terminal control unit. At that time, the first unique number is read from the column address correspondence table, and the button control unit 4-3 having the unique number is made to respond.

On the other hand, the button control section 4-3 transmits the signal number 7 to the main control section 1 through the signal line 7 to the main control section 1 to confirm that the address is 1
Tell At the same time, the control line 8 connected to the immediately preceding button control unit 4-2 is set to L (low).
By switching to the level, the button control unit 4-2 becomes operable. Note that, of course, the other terminal control units do not respond at all, and the control line 8 remains at L.

The main controller 1 checks the response again. On the other hand, only the button control unit 4-2 which is in a state in which a response can be made at that time responds. Then, the main control unit 1 adds the number of buttons NB3 of the button control unit 4-3 to the address "1" of the button control unit 4-3 for the button control unit 4-2 to which the response has been made. The number (1 + NB3) is notified. On the other hand, the button control unit 4-2
Holds the notified number as its own address, informs the number of buttons NB2 it has, and further controls the control line 8 connected to the immediately preceding button control unit 4-1. By switching to the L level, the button control section 4-1 becomes operable.

Similarly, when the address is set in the button control section 4-1, and the control line 8 is set to L, the main control section 1 confirms that the address setting of the column is completed.

Next, from the column address correspondence table,
The second unique number is read, and the button control section 5-3 having the unique number is made to respond. Thereafter, the address setting of all the terminal control sections is performed in the same manner. In this way, when the address setting of all the terminal control units is completed, the normal operation is started.

In addition to the button control units being independent terminal control units as in the above embodiment, the sales control unit is also an independent terminal control unit for each product storage column. By performing the control while performing serial communication between the sales control unit and the main control unit, the number of harnesses in the sales control unit can be reduced. In such a case, a unique number is also written in advance in each sales control unit, and after mounting, the unique number and the logical number (column number) are determined by the column address correspondence table and the terminal number correspondence table. Will take action. Further, the column address correspondence table is set by taking in the commodity into the last column of each commodity storage column row, and taking in the unique number from the sales control unit which controls the commodity delivery mechanism of the last column.

[0040]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, it has the following effects. That is, the vending machine control device according to claim 1 writes a unique number different for each terminal control unit in advance in the nonvolatile memory of the terminal control unit, and stores each terminal control unit in the nonvolatile memory of the main control unit. The main control unit holds a column address correspondence table in which a unique number of a terminal control unit at the end of each column is written in association with a column, and the main control unit sets the column address correspondence table when setting an address in each terminal control unit. , A terminal control unit column is designated based on the specified address, and the address of the terminal control unit is sequentially set for each designated column. As a result, many terminal control units can be associated with logical numbers and address control units can be distinguished without setting addresses in each terminal control unit without providing a control line for address setting notification. become.

In the vending machine control device according to the second aspect, in the vending machine control device having the button control unit row, the product selection button is pushed by pressing a product selection button at the last end of each stage. The column address correspondence table is set by fetching the unique number from the button control unit to be controlled, so that the setting of the column address correspondence table of the vending machine control device having the button control unit row is facilitated.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vending machine control apparatus having a vending control unit row, wherein a product is put into the last column of each product storage column row, whereby the last column is filled. The column address correspondence table is set by fetching the unique number from the sales control unit that controls the product unloading mechanism, so that the column address correspondence table of the vending machine control device having the sales control unit column can be easily set. become.

Further, in the vending machine control device according to the fourth aspect, when the power of the vending machine is turned on, the column of the terminal control unit is designated based on the column address correspondence table, and the designated columns are sequentially designated. The unique number is transmitted to the terminal control unit, and the main control unit detects the replacement status of the terminal control unit based on each unique number received from each terminal control unit. As a result, when the terminal control unit is replaced after the vending machine is installed, which terminal control unit has been replaced can be detected.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a control block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view of a vending machine.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a column address correspondence table.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a terminal number correspondence table.

FIG. 5 is a control block diagram of a first conventional example.

FIG. 6 is a control block diagram of a second conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 7 ... Signal line 8 ... Control line 10 ... Coin slot 11 ... Bill slot 12 ... Amount display 13 ... Return lever 14 ... Return slot 15 ... Product selection button 16 ... Product sample 17 ... Product exit

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of terminal control units for controlling respective parts of a vending machine, a main control unit for controlling the terminal control units while controlling them while communicating with each other; A signal line for performing communication with a plurality of terminal control units, the main control unit has a control line for controlling the operation of the terminal control unit, the terminal control unit, one or Divided into a plurality of columns comprising a plurality of terminal control units, the signal line connects the main control unit and the terminal control unit in common, and the control line is a terminal control unit of each column from the main control unit. Vending machine control device connected in series with each other, wherein the main control unit and the terminal control unit have a nonvolatile memory, and the nonvolatile memory of the terminal control unit has a unique Number is written In the nonvolatile memory of the main control unit, a column address correspondence table in which the unique number of the terminal control unit at the end of each column is written corresponding to each column is held, and the main control unit includes: When setting an address in each of the terminal control units, a column of the terminal control unit is specified based on the column address correspondence table, and in the specified column, an address is set from a terminal control unit at the end of the column. Vending machine control wherein the address setting is completed and the address setting is performed while sequentially setting the immediately preceding terminal control unit via the control line so that the address can be set. apparatus. 2. A terminal control unit that forms a row composed of a plurality of terminal control units is a button control unit that controls a product selection button, and each row of the button control unit is an automatic vending machine. The row address correspondence table corresponds to each row of the product selection buttons provided in a plurality of rows in each row on the front of the machine, and the row address correspondence table is displayed by pressing a product selection button at the last end of each row. The vending machine control device according to claim 1, wherein the unique number is set by taking in the unique number from a button control unit that controls the vending machine. 3. A terminal control unit constituting a row composed of a plurality of terminal control units is a sales control unit for controlling a product unloading mechanism, and each row of the sales control unit is a product storage unit. Corresponding to each column of the column, the column address correspondence table fetches the unique number from the sales control unit that controls the product unloading mechanism of the last column by putting a product in the last column of each product storage column row. 2. The vending machine control device according to claim 1, wherein the setting is made by: 4. When the vending machine is powered on, the main control unit specifies a column of the terminal control unit based on the column address correspondence table, and in the specified column, a terminal at the end of the column. The control unit transmits the unique number to the main control unit, and the terminal control unit that has finished transmitting the unique number sequentially instructs the immediately preceding terminal control unit to transmit the unique number via the control line. The vending machine control according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the control unit detects the replacement status of the terminal control unit based on each unique number received from each terminal control unit. apparatus.