JP2583314B2 - Vending machine failure diagnosis system - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a failure diagnosis system for performing a failure diagnosis when a failure occurs in a vending machine.

[Prior Art] As this kind of conventional failure diagnosis, the one shown in FIG. 2 is known.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a master (main control unit) for issuing a command to each control unit in the vending machine.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a coin-mech slave that discriminates coins and pays out change, and 3 denotes a door slave that controls a commodity selection push button, a sold-out lamp, and an APi (saleable) lamp 4. Reference numeral 5 denotes a product transfer solenoid provided in the product discharge mechanism and a carry-out slave for inputting a sold-out switch 6, and reference numeral 7 denotes a ten-key slave for setting a price, confirming the number of sales, and the like. Reference numeral 8 denotes a line monitor connected to the communication line L when a failure occurs in the vending machine. The line monitor 8 is used to actually perform a sales operation and monitor the communication status at that time with the line monitor 8 to detect an abnormal location. Find out.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In order to search for a faulty part by such a method, a line monitor 8 is brought to the site, and sales are performed while monitoring the state of the communication line with the eyes of a person. It is necessary to analyze the contents and find the fault location, it takes time to detect the fault, and there is a drawback that such a fault diagnosis cannot be performed unless a person who is familiar with the handling of the line monitor 8 is used.

[Means for Solving the Problems] A failure diagnosis system for a vending machine according to the present invention connects a RAM card slave to a serial communication line between each control unit in the vending machine, and performs communication in each control unit in a constant cycle. The memory is stored in the RAM card slave, and when a failure or the like occurs, the RAM card is removed from the RAM card slave, and the communication status stored in the RAM card is read to analyze failure information.

[Operation] Since the RAM card slave connected to the communication line in the vending machine constantly monitors communication between the control units in the vending machine, when a failure occurs, remove the RAM card from the RAM card slave, The communication status stored in the RAM card is read out by a predetermined diagnostic device and analyzed to determine the content of the failure.

[Embodiment] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a failure diagnosis system according to the present invention. Reference numeral 10 denotes a vending machine, and reference numeral 20 denotes a failure diagnosis device installed in a business office or the like that manages the vending machine.

In the vending machine 10, the same parts as those in the conventional example are denoted by the same reference numerals.

9 is a RAM connected to the communication line L of the vending machine 10
This RAM card slave 9 has a removable RAM card 9a inserted therein.

In the failure diagnosis device 20, reference numeral 11 denotes a RAM card reader for reading communication contents stored in the RAM card 9a, and reference numeral 12 denotes a RAM read via the RAM card reader 11.
This is a computer that analyzes the communication content stored in the card 9a to determine the content and location of the failure, and includes a failure diagnosis program that employs AI (artificial intelligence) so that accurate diagnosis can be performed. Reference numeral 13 denotes a printer that prints out the result of the failure diagnosis in the computer 11.

 Next, the operation of the above system will be described.

Communication information between the master 1 and each of the slaves 2 to 7 in accordance with the sales is transmitted via the RAM card slave 9 to the R.
Since the AM card 9a stores more in a certain cycle, when a vending machine fails, the RAM card 9a
Stores communication information indicating a failure. Therefore, if the vending machine has failed, the RAM card slave 9
Remove AM card 9a and take it back to the sales office. RAM card 9
The contents of a are not lost because they are backed up by the built-in battery. The failure diagnosis of this RAM card 9a is
When inserted into the AM card reader 11, the communication information stored in the RAM card 9a is read out. When the communication information is taken into the computer 12, the communication information is analyzed based on the failure diagnosis program, and the content and location of the failure are determined. Is done.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, even a person who does not know the control of serial communication and the like in a vending machine can easily perform the cause of the failure and the location of the failure, and collectively diagnose the failure at a sales office or the like. It is convenient for maintenance because it can be performed without any trouble, and the troubled part and date and time can be centrally managed.

Further, even when a failure has not yet been reached, the situation before the failure can be grasped in advance by monitoring the serial communication status in the vending machine, and the effect of leading to failure prediction can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a failure diagnosis serial of a vending machine according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a system diagram of a conventional vending machine. 1 Master 2 Coin mech 3 Door slave 5 Unload slave 7 Numeric keypad slave 9 RAM card slave 9a ROM card L Communication line 10 … Vending machine, 11… RAM card reader, 12… Computer, 13… Printer, 20… Failure diagnosis device.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A RAM card slave is connected to a serial communication line between each control unit in a vending machine, and communication in each control unit is stored in the RAM card slave in a fixed cycle so that a failure or the like occurs. A failure diagnosis system for a vending machine, comprising: removing a RAM card from the RAM card slave; reading out a communication status stored in the RAM card; and analyzing failure information.