JP2000285282A - Automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To set operation in the case of out or shortage of change mainly for a user by providing a main controller to control the entire automatic vending machine, a coin recognition device, a change returning device, a display to display out or shortage of the change and a needlessness of change selector to select the needlessness of change. SOLUTION: An out of change display 5 is actuated when the change stored in the coin recognition devices 2 to 4 runs out, a lamp to display a kind of coin which becomes out of change is turned on and out of the change is displayed by the controller 1. When plural kinds of coins are mixed, inserted and an article selection key is depressed to unnecessitate the change by the user, the selected article is ejected and selling operation is completed by the main controller 1. When the article is desired to be purchased though the change is not required by the user, the selected article is ejected and the selling operation is completed by inserting the coins, operating a change selector 6, turning the lamp of needlessness of the change of a change selecting and display device 7 on and depressing the article key next by the main controller 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vending machine provided with a main controller for controlling the entire vending machine, a currency identification device, and a change return device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional vending machine provided with a main control device for controlling the entire vending machine, a currency discriminating device, and a change return device, no change is required when the change is insufficient or the change is insufficient. Unless the coins were mixed and coins were inserted, the merchandise could not be purchased.

[0003]

The conventional vending machine does not require change, but cannot respond to the request of the user who wants to purchase the product, and the operation when the change or shortage of change is set to be user-oriented. There was a problem that was not. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a vending machine in which the operation in the case of change or shortage of change is user-oriented.

[0004]

According to the present invention, there is provided a main control device for controlling an entire vending machine, a currency discriminating device, a change return device, and a change or shortage of change. And a change unnecessary selection device for selecting whether change is unnecessary. In the vending machine according to the present invention, the user of the vending machine, which recognizes out of change or shortage of change by the display of the display device, does not need change but wants to purchase a product. A desired product can be purchased. Therefore, in the vending machine according to the present invention, the operation in the case of change or shortage of change is set to be user-oriented.

In the present invention, a main control device for controlling the entire vending machine, a currency discriminating device, a change return device, a display device for displaying change or shortage of change, and return of change in a possible range. And a possible range change return selecting device for selecting a vending machine.
If the customer can choose to return the change within the possible range, the user of the vending machine can purchase the desired product while minimizing the economic disadvantage when strongly wishing to purchase the product. Can be.

In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the vending machine includes a currency discriminating device for a plurality of kinds of currencies. Even in a vending machine that includes a currency discriminating device for a plurality of currencies and is capable of purchasing goods in a plurality of currencies, it is desirable to set the operation in case of change or shortage of change in a user-oriented manner.

[0007] In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the vending machine includes a currency discriminating device for a plurality of kinds of currencies and a change currency selecting device for selecting a change currency. In a vending machine capable of purchasing goods in a plurality of currencies, if the change currency can be selected, the operation in the case of change or shortage of change is further user-oriented.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG.
As shown in the figure, a main controller 1 for controlling the entire vending machine includes a currency discriminating apparatus 2 for yen, a currency discriminating apparatus 3 for dollars, a currency discriminating apparatus 4 for original goods, and a change display device 5 When,
A change selection device 6, a change selection display device 7, a change return device 8, and a device 9 such as a merchandise unloading device and a cooling and heating device are connected. As shown in FIG.
There is a lamp that displays the type of out-of-change currency, a lamp that displays the type of out-of-change dollar currency, and a lamp that displays the type of out-of-change currency. Are arranged. As shown in FIG. 2, the change selection display device 7 is provided with a lamp for displaying a vending machine user's options for running out of change. No change required, full return of change in yen, dollar, or original,
Seven options are provided for returning the change in a possible range in any of yen, dollar, and original.

The operation of the vending machine according to the embodiment will be described. When the change stored in the money discriminating devices 2 to 4 runs out, the control device 1 activates the change-out display device 5 to turn on a lamp that displays the type of the money that has run out of change. indicate. When the user of the vending machine mixes and inserts a plurality of types of money so that change is not required and presses a product selection button (not shown), the main control device 1 operates the device 9 such as a product unloading device. Then, the selected product is carried out, and the selling operation ends.

[0010] In the case where the user cannot mix and insert coins so that the type of coins possessed is small and no change is required, and the user does not need change or wants to purchase goods, the user inserts the coins. Then, the change selection device 6 is operated to turn on the change-free lamp of the change selection display device 7, and then a product selection button (not shown) is pressed. Main controller 1
The device 9 such as a product carrying device is operated to carry out the selected product, and the selling operation ends.

Since the user may use another currency different from the currency to be inserted, if the user wishes to return the entire amount of change, the user inserts money and operates the change selection device 6 to change and display the change selection display device. 7, the lamp for returning the full change in another desired currency is turned on, and then a commodity selection button (not shown) is pressed. For example, there is a case where the change is out in a yen, but the entire change can be returned in cents or yuan. Main controller 1
Will be able to return the full change in the selected currency,
The device 9 such as a product unloading device is operated to carry out the selected product, and the change return device 8 is operated to return the change in full in the selected currency, ending the selling operation. If full change in the selected currency is not possible, the item will not be sold. If the user wishes to return the entire change in another currency, the user operates the change selection device 6 again, and then presses a product selection button (not shown).

[0012] The user, when recognizing that the change has been run out, wants to return the change within the possible range immediately, or wishes to return the entire change in another currency different from the input currency. If it is not possible to return the change in full, the change selection device 6 is operated to turn on the change return lamp of the change selection display device 7 within a possible range in a desired currency, and then select a product (not shown). I press the button. The main control device 1 operates the device 9 such as a product unloading device to unload the selected product, returns the change in the selected currency and within a possible range, and ends the selling operation.

As can be seen from the above description, in the vending machine according to the present embodiment, it is possible to select whether or not change is required. The user can select the unnecessary change and purchase a desired product. Therefore, in the vending machine according to the present embodiment, the operation when the change is out is set to be user-oriented. In the vending machine according to the present embodiment, it is possible to select the change return within the possible range, so that the user of the vending machine can minimize the economic disadvantage when strongly wishing to purchase the product. While suppressing
A desired product can be purchased. In the vending machine according to the present embodiment, even when a commodity is purchased in any of a plurality of currencies, an option in the case of out of change is prepared, and the operation in the case of out of change is user-oriented. In the vending machine according to the present embodiment, since the currency of change can be selected, the user receives the entire change in a currency that can be fully refunded, or in the currency in which the return amount is the largest in the possible range. You can receive change. Therefore, in the vending machine according to the present embodiment, the operation when the change is out is further user-oriented.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the change has been exhausted has been described. However, even if the change is insufficient, it is possible to purchase the product with the same configuration as described above. In vending machines that sell multiple types of products with different prices,
Although the change has not been run out, there may be a case where the change is insufficient for a specific product. In such a case, the vending machine may be configured as follows in order to make it possible to obtain a product with a change shortage without mixing coins and inserting money so that change is not required. When the user of the vending machine inserts money and presses a product selection button, the main controller calculates the change amount from the inserted amount and the product price, and takes into account the number of changes in the money identification device, and changes the change amount. It is determined whether or not the money is insufficient. If the change is insufficient, the type of the insufficient money is displayed on the change shortage display device. Recognized that products could not be purchased due to shortage of change, but users who have few coins and can not mix coins and throw money so that change is unnecessary, if you want to obtain products, select change By operating the device, one of the following is selected: change is unnecessary, change is completely returned in another currency, and change is returned in a possible range. The main controller is
If the user can respond to the selection, the product is sold according to the selection. According to the above configuration, there is provided a vending machine in which operation in the case of change shortage is set to be user-oriented.

[0015]

As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a vending machine in which the operation in case of change or shortage of change is set to be user-oriented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a screen of a change-out display and a change selection display of the vending machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main control device 2, 3, 4 Currency discriminating device 5 Change display device 6 Change selection device 7 Change selection display device 8 Change return device 9 Commodity unloading device, cooling and heating device, etc.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A main control device for controlling the entire vending machine, a currency discriminating device, a change return device, a display device for displaying change or shortage of change, and a change unnecessary selecting device for selecting whether change is unnecessary. A vending machine comprising: 2. A main control device for controlling the entire vending machine, a currency discriminating device, a change return device, a display device for displaying change or shortage of change, and selecting return within a possible range of change. A vending machine comprising a possible range change return selecting device. 3. The vending machine according to claim 1, further comprising a currency identification device for a plurality of kinds of currencies. 4. The vending machine according to claim 3, further comprising a change currency selecting device for selecting a change currency.