JP2000099813A - Automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the troublesome of setting or erroneous setting and to prevent merchandise other than the ones planned to be sold by an automatic vending machine from being sold so that an automatic vending machine installer does not base the setting such as a merchandise selection button, a price of the merchandise or a group tabulation upon numbers of a column. SOLUTION: A bar code reader 21 is provided in a merchandise charge passage 14 leading to a column. Since, at the time of charging merchandise 12, the charging of the merchandise is restrained by a roller 25 coming out into the passage 14, the merchandise also rotates by the rotation of the roller 25 and a bar code is read, it is thus possible to detect merchandise information of the merchandise 12 stored in the column. While viewing the merchandise information, the setting such as a merchandise selection button, a price of the merchandise or group tabulation is performed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vending machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In vending machines such as beverage cans, products such as cans are stacked and stored in columns. Usually, there are a plurality of columns, and the same product is placed in one column, and is dropped onto a product tray in order from the bottom at each sale.

[0003] A purchaser purchases a target product by pressing a product selection button, and which product is dropped when the product selection button is pressed is determined by the display content of the product selection button and the content to be dropped. The vending machine installer must make appropriate settings so that the product matches.

[0004] In spite of the fact that the correspondence between the product and the product selection button is important, in the past, this was set by the correspondence between the column number storing the product and the product selection button. There is a problem that a setting error easily occurs.

Furthermore, the number of columns and the number of product selection buttons are often different, and the number of product selection buttons is often larger than the number of columns in order to make the entire vending machine look more gorgeous. Since there are many, there is a problem that the setting of the correspondence is complicated.

[0006] For the same reason, the setting of the price of the product and the setting of the group total have to be performed on the basis of the column number, so that it is complicated and error-prone.

[0007] Further, in order to promote the sale of the company's products, the product manufacturer sometimes lends a vending machine to a product seller (retailer). At that time, a contract is concluded that only the product of the product manufacturer is sold at the vending machine, but this contract is not sometimes followed, and competitor products are sold at the vending machine, and as a result, This may lead to the irrationality that their products cannot be sold.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, the setting of a product selection button, a product price, a group totaling, and the like does not need to be performed by the vending machine installer based on the column number, thereby reducing the complexity of setting. It is an object to reduce erroneous settings. It is another object of the present invention to prevent a vending machine from selling products other than products scheduled for sale.

[0009]

The above object is achieved by the following means.

[0010] A plurality of columns for storing products to be sold, a product insertion passage through which the products pass when the products are loaded into the columns,
A product selection button associated with the column,
The same or different number of product selection buttons as the column, and product release means for releasing the product stored in the column associated with the product selection button when the product selection button is pressed; In order to directly or indirectly detect the product information of the product, product information detection means provided in the product insertion path, display means, control means for controlling the operation of each element of the vending machine, In the vending machine provided with the above, the control unit further stores the column and the column when the product selection button is associated with the column and is detected by the product information detection unit. Vending machine displaying the product information on the display device.

[0011] A plurality of columns for storing products to be sold, a product insertion passage through which the products pass when the products are loaded into the columns,
A product selection button associated with the column,
The same or different number of product selection buttons as the column, and product release means for releasing the product stored in the column associated with the product selection button when the product selection button is pressed; In order to directly or indirectly detect the product information of the product, product information detection means provided in the product insertion path, display means, control means for controlling the operation of each element of the vending machine, In the vending machine provided with the above, the control unit further stores the column and the column when the selling price of the product stored in the column is set, and the product information detecting unit A vending machine for displaying detected product information on the display device.

[0012] A plurality of columns for storing products to be sold, a product insertion passage through which the products pass when the products are loaded into the columns,
A product selection button associated with the column,
The same or different number of product selection buttons as the column, and product release means for releasing the product stored in the column associated with the product selection button when the product selection button is pressed; In order to directly or indirectly detect the product information of the product, product information detection means provided in the product insertion path, display means, control means for controlling the operation of each element of the vending machine, In the vending machine provided with, the control means is further stored in the column and the column when a group of the group of products stored in the column is set,
A vending machine for displaying the product information detected by the product information detecting means on the display device.

[0013] A plurality of columns for storing products to be sold, a product insertion passage through which the products pass when the products are put into the columns,
A product selection button associated with the column,
The same or different number of product selection buttons as the column, and product release means for releasing the product stored in the column associated with the product selection button when the product selection button is pressed; In order to directly or indirectly detect merchandise information of the merchandise, the merchandise information detecting means provided in the merchandise insertion passage, the display means, and the merchandise information passage means are provided on the merchandise insertion passage downstream of the merchandise information detecting means. In the vending machine provided with the input stopping means, and a control means for controlling the operation of each element of the vending machine, the control means further includes product information detected by the product information detecting means, A vending machine characterized in that the vending machine controls the loading control means so as to reject the loading of the product when it is not the planned product information.

[0014]

FIG. 1 is a view showing a front surface of a vending machine according to this embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a view showing a part of a side cross section of the vending machine.

In these figures, reference numeral 1 denotes a vending machine, 2
Is a "door" of a vending machine, and a plurality of product samples 3, a plurality of product selection buttons 4, a coin insertion device 5,
A display device 7 and a product outlet 6 are provided.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a vending machine main body, and the door 2 is provided on the vending machine main body 10 so as to be freely opened and closed. 8
Is a column composed of a serpentine rack provided with a meandering passage and a storage space. Products 12 such as beverage bottles and beverage cans to be sold are stacked and stored in the column 8, and when a sales operation command is issued, a product take-out port (not shown) is provided from below the column by a product dropping device (not shown). 6 is dropped.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a product information detection device described later.
When the product 12 is inserted from the product insertion port 13 and is inserted into and stored in the column 8 through the product insertion passage 14, the barcode attached to the product is read by the product information detecting device 11 in the middle thereof. Product information such as the product name of the product that has been input as a result is detected from the read barcode information.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining the control of this embodiment, and shows only a portion of the vending machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an example of the product information detecting device 11.

Reference numeral 20 denotes a control device, to which input / output devices such as a bar code reader 21, a keyboard 22, a product selection button 4, an input roller motor 23, an input solenoid 24, and a display device 7 are connected. ing.

The bar code reader 21 forms a part of the product information detecting device 11 of the present invention, reads a bar code of the product 12 according to a command from the control device 20, and sends the read information to the control device 20.

The keyboard 21 is normally operated (during sales operation).
Is stored in the door 2 or the vending machine main body 10, and is used by a vending machine installer when setting a product selection button, setting a price, totaling a group, and the like. Then, the input signal is transmitted to the control device 20 via a wired or infrared or other wireless communication means.

The commodity selection button 4 is normally (during sale operation)
Is used by the buyer to specify the product he / she wants to purchase, but the vending machine installer sets the product selection button,
It is also used for setting such as price setting and group totaling.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 24 denotes an inlet solenoid,
25 is a roller. The roller 25 is rotatably supported by a lever member 26, and one end of the lever member 26 is supported by a part of the vending machine main body 10 or a member fixed thereto, and is swingable. The other end is rotatably connected to one end of the rod 27. The other end of the rod 27 is rotatably connected to the output end of the inlet solenoid 24.

With this structure, the roller 25 moves the merchandise introduction passage 14 in accordance with the ingress and egress of the output end of the entrance solenoid 24.
You will come and go inside.

On the other hand, the roller 25 is an input roller motor 2
3, so that it can be driven to rotate directly or via a suitable conduction means.

When the product 12 is loaded from the product loading port 13, the product 12 is rolled down in the inclined product loading passage 14, and is stopped by the rollers 25 that come out of the area of the product loading passage 14.

When the roller 25 is rotated, for example, in the direction of arrow a, the product 12 is rotated on the spot due to the frictional force between the roller 25 and the product 12. Product 12
With the rotation of, when the barcode of the commodity 12 comes to a position facing the barcode reader 21 provided below the barcode, the barcode is read.

When the reading of the bar code reader 21 is completed, the merchandise information of the merchandise 12, for example, maker name, merchandise name, distinction of cold beverage / hot beverage / cold / hot common beverage and the like are checked (stored in the column). If the input product 12 is appropriate for the column 8, the input port solenoid 24
Is driven in the reverse direction by a command from the control device 20, and the roller 25 is retracted from the area of the commodity introduction passage 14, so that the commodity 12 is dropped and stored in the column 8 such as a serpentine rack.

On the other hand, if the result of the above check is inappropriate, "incorrect" is displayed on the display device 7 and the commodity introduction passage 14 is not opened.

As described above, when the commodity 12 is inserted through the commodity insertion slot 13, the barcode of the commodity is read,
Since it is grasped by the control device 20, the product name of each product 12 stored in each column 8 is also grasped in correspondence with the barcode information, and the sale of the illegal product (sale of a product different from the contract) is performed. Also, it is possible to prevent erroneous input of cold beverage / hot beverage / cold / hot common beverage.

When the vending machine is installed, or when the column 8
When changing the product to be stored in the, it is as follows.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining this example.

In this figure, the keyboard 22 is pulled out from the vending machine 1, the commodity selection buttons 4 are blinking, and the display device 7 arranged on the front of the door 2 has a column. A state is shown in which a number and product information, in this example, a product name is displayed.

When the "start / end" button on the keyboard 22 is pressed, the vending machine 1 enters a setting mode.

The "selection button setting" button on the keyboard 22 is used to set the correspondence between each column 8 (ie, the product 12 placed in the column 8) and the product selection button 4.

When the "selection button setting" button is pressed, the display device 7 displays the column number and the product information of the product 12 stored in the column 8, in this example, the product name. At this time, if a product selection button has already been set in the column 8 (that is, the product 12 in the column), the product selection button 4 flashes, and the product selection button 4 is set in the column by flashing. Indicates that

When the blinking product selection button 4 is pressed, neither the blinking nor the lighting is performed, indicating that the setting of the product selection button 4 for the column 8 has been released.

First, when the non-blinking product selection button 4 is pressed, the product selection button 4 starts blinking, and the product selection button 4 which has not been set for the column 8 until now is newly set. Indicates that

As described above, every time the product selection button 4 is pressed, a toggle operation is performed between the set state and the release state. Therefore, an arbitrary number of the product selection buttons 4 corresponding to the column 8 are made to blink. And select "Select button setting" again.
When the button is pressed, the product selection button 4 is made to correspond to the column 8.

When the "selection button setting" button is pressed again, the display on the display device 7 shifts to the next column number and the product information, for example, the product name stored in that column is displayed. , The product selection button 4 can be associated with all the columns 8.

Since the product information, for example, the product name is displayed on the display device 7, and if the product is stored at the back, it is difficult to confirm because the product is blocked by the front column. However, since the setting can be made while looking at the displayed product information, for example, the product name, there is no danger of setting the correspondence between the column 8 and the product selection button 4 by mistake.

The setting of the price setting and the group totaling are performed by a “price setting” button and a “group totaling” button, respectively.

These operations are basically the same as the setting of the upper product selection button, but the up / down change of the price can be performed by pressing the up key (button with an upward triangle mark) or the down key (button Press the button with the downward triangle mark).

When all the settings are completed, when the "start / end" button on the display device 7 is pressed, the vending machine 1 enters a vending operation state.

As described above, since the setting is performed not based on the column number but on the displayed product information, for example, the product name, there is no danger of making an incorrect setting.

[0047]

[Effect of the Invention] When a product is put into a column through a product introduction passage, product information such as a product name of the product is detected. When associating a column with a product selection button, the display means displays a column number and product information such as a product name. Vending machine installers
The column and the product selection button are set while looking at the column number and this product information, for example, the product name. For this reason, there is an effect that the setting of the wrong product selection button is reduced.

[Effect of Claim 2] When a product is loaded into the column through the product loading passage, the product information of the product is detected. When setting the selling price of the product stored in the column, the display means displays a column number and product information such as a product name. The vending machine installer sets the price of the product in the column while viewing the column number and product information such as the product name. For this reason, there is an effect that erroneous setting of the selling price is reduced.

"Effect of Claim 3" When a product is put into the column through the product introduction passage, the product information of the product is detected. When the group of the product group stored in the column is set, the display means displays a column number and product information such as a product name. The vending machine installer sets a group for group totaling while looking at the column number and this product information, for example, the product name. For this reason, there is an effect that erroneous group setting is reduced.

[Effect of Claim 4] When a product is loaded into the column through the product loading passage, the product information of the product is detected. When the merchandise information, for example, the merchandise name is other than the planned merchandise name, the input stopping means stops the input of the merchandise. For this reason, there is an effect that it is possible to prevent sales of products other than scheduled products.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a front surface of a vending machine according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a part of a side cross section of the vending machine in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating control of the present embodiment;
1 shows only a portion of a vending machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an example of a product information detection device 11;

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an example when a vending machine is installed or when a product stored in a column 8 is changed.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vending machine 2 Door 3 Commodity sample 4 Commodity selection button 5 Currency insertion device 6 Commodity take-out port 7 Display device 8 Column 10 Vending machine main unit 11 Commodity information detection device 12 Commodity 13 Commodity entry port 14 Commodity entry passage 20 Control device 21 Bar code reader 22 Keyboard 23 Slot roller motor 24 Slot solenoid 25 Roller 26 Lever member 27 Rod

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of columns for storing products to be sold, a product entry passage through which the products pass when the products are put into the columns, and a product selection button associated with the columns. ,
The same number or different number of product selection buttons as in this column, and when the above-mentioned product selection button is pressed, product release means for releasing the product stored in the column associated with this product selection button, For directly or indirectly detecting the product information of the product to be provided, a product information detecting means provided in the product input passage, a display means, and a control means for controlling the operation of each of the above elements of the vending machine;
In the vending machine provided with the above, the control unit further stores the column and the column when the product selection button is associated with the column and the product selection button is detected by the product information detection unit. Vending machine displaying the product information on the display device. 2. A plurality of columns for storing a product to be sold, a product introduction passage through which the product passes when the product is put into the column, and a product selection button associated with the column. ,
The same number or different number of product selection buttons as in this column, and when the above-mentioned product selection button is pressed, product release means for releasing the product stored in the column associated with this product selection button, For directly or indirectly detecting the product information of the product to be provided, product information detecting means provided in the product insertion passage, display means, and control means for controlling the operation of each of the above elements of the vending machine;
In the vending machine provided with, when the selling price of the product stored in the column is set, the control unit further stores the column and the column, and the product information detecting unit A vending machine for displaying detected product information on the display device. 3. A plurality of columns for storing a product to be sold, a product introduction passage through which the product passes when the product is put into the column, and a product selection button associated with the column. ,
The same number or different number of product selection buttons as in this column, and when the above-mentioned product selection button is pressed, product release means for releasing the product stored in the column associated with this product selection button, For directly or indirectly detecting the product information of the product to be provided, product information detecting means provided in the product insertion passage, display means, and control means for controlling the operation of each of the above elements of the vending machine;
In the vending machine provided with, when the group of the group total of the goods stored in the column is set, the control means further stores the column and the product information stored in the column. A vending machine for displaying product information detected by the means on the display device. 4. A plurality of columns for storing a product to be sold, a product entry passage through which the product passes when the product is put into the column, and a product selection button associated with the column. ,
The same or different number of product selection buttons as the column, and product release means for releasing the product stored in the column associated with the product selection button when the product selection button is pressed; In order to directly or indirectly detect the product information of the product, the product information detecting means provided in the product input passage, the display means, and the product information detecting device provided on the product input passage downstream of the product information detecting means. Control means for controlling the operation of each element of the vending machine,
In the vending machine provided with, the control unit further includes: when the product information detected by the product information detection unit is not the planned product information,
A vending machine characterized by controlling the above-mentioned putting-in restraining means so as to reject the putting-in of the product.