JP2001256538A - Automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic vending machine which smoothly vends commodities in parallel by plural customer parts 13 and 14 by sharing one currency acceptance part 24 between respective customer parts 13 and 14. SOLUTION: Left and right customer parts 13 and 14 each of which has a commodity exhibition part 21, a commodity selection part 22, and a commodity taking-out hole 23 are provided. A currency acceptance part 24 common to left and right customer parts 13 and 14 and a guide display part 26 to guide customer parts 13 and 14 capable of vending are provided between left and right customer parts 13 and 14. Since only one currency acceptance part 24 is required, the constitution is simplified and the cost is reduced, and maintenance or the like is facilitated. Customer parts 13 and 14 capable of vending are guided to by the guide display part 26 to smoothly vend commodities in parallel by guided customer parts 13 and 14.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vending machine which can be sold in parallel.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, in a vending machine which provides and sells a beverage in a cup, generally, a product display section, A customer service unit having a set of a product selection unit, a coin slot, a coin return slot, and a product exit is provided.

[0003] A purchaser inserts a coin into a coin insertion slot, selects a beverage in a product selection section, and dispenses and provides a beverage in a cup with a beverage dispensing and dispensing apparatus. If there is change, change is taken out from the coin return slot.

[0004] In such a vending machine for drinks in cups, it takes time to prepare and supply the drinks in cups by the beverage dispensing and providing device.
The time required for each selling operation is longer than, for example, the case of selling canned beverages, and the number of cupped beverages that can be sold in a given time is limited.

[0005] Therefore, in an installation place where there are many purchasers, a plurality of vending machines must be installed so that the quantity that can be sold in a certain time can be increased.

[0006] Therefore, two sets of customer service sections each having a product display section, a product selection section, a coin insertion slot, a coin return port, and a product take-out port are distributed and installed on an airframe provided with one beverage preparation providing device. By parallel sales in the customer service department, the time required for beverage provision by the beverage preparation service device will not change, but the operations by the purchaser such as coin insertion, product selection, product removal and change removal can be performed in parallel, and beverage preparation provision It is possible to continuously provide the preparation of beverages in cups with the device,
There are vending machines that can be sold in parallel so that the quantity that can be sold at a certain time can be increased.

[0007]

However, in a vending machine which can be sold in parallel, a customer service section having all of a merchandise display section, a merchandise selection section, a coin slot, a coin return slot, and a merchandise outlet is provided. The configuration is complicated because two expensive coin processing devices for processing coins inserted into the coin slot and paying out change and returned coins to the coin return slot are provided. However, there is a problem that the cost increases and the maintenance becomes complicated.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has an automatic vending machine in which a single money receiving unit is used in common for a plurality of customer service units, and each customer service unit can smoothly sell in parallel. The purpose is to provide a machine.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vending machine comprising: a plurality of customer service units each having a product display unit, a product selection unit, and a product outlet; and a currency receiving unit common to the plurality of customer service units. And a guide display unit for guiding a customer service unit that can be sold.

[0010] A single currency receiving unit is used in common for a plurality of customer service units each having a merchandise display unit, a merchandise selection unit, and a merchandise outlet, thereby simplifying the configuration and reducing costs. At the same time, maintenance and the like become easy, and furthermore, by guiding the salable customer service section by the guidance display section, parallel sales can be smoothly performed by the guided customer service section.

A vending machine according to a second aspect of the present invention is the vending machine according to the first aspect, further comprising an airframe having a customer service surface, wherein the customer service part is disposed on the left side of the customer service surface so as to be separated from the left and right sides. It has a customer service part and a right customer service part, and the money reception part and the guidance display part are arranged between the left and right customer service parts on the customer service surface.

[0012] The left customer service unit and the right customer service unit are arranged on the customer service surface of the machine, and the money receiving unit and the guide display unit are arranged between the left and right customer service units. After the money is inserted into the central money reception unit, it can be divided into left and right customer service units and can be smoothly sold in parallel.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the vending machine according to the second aspect of the present invention, wherein each of the left and right customer service outlets has an outlet door which is opened and closed around a center of the customer service surface as a fulcrum. It is equipped.

[0014] Then, in each product outlet of the left and right customer service department,
Each outlet has doors that can be opened and closed with the center side of the customer service surface as a fulcrum. Buyers can easily move to the left side, avoiding the exit door that opens to the right of the product exit, and buyers who take out products from the right side of the product exit can avoid the exit door that opens to the left of the product exit and move to the right. It is easy to approach, the buyer is naturally divided into left and right, and there is a central money receiving part, so that the next buyer can operate smoothly.

A vending machine according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the vending machine according to the second or third aspect, further comprising opening / closing drive means for opening and closing each of the outlet doors. At least one is later than the right exit door.

[0016] When taking out a product from the left product outlet with the right hand, even if the back of the right hand is opposed to the outlet door and psychological anxiety arises, the closing speed and closing timing of the left outlet door. By making at least one of them slower than the right exit door, psychological anxiety can be alleviated.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vending machine according to any one of the second to fourth aspects, wherein the vending machine processes money received by the money receiving unit and can pay out coins. The left and right return ports that are arranged on the customer service side of the coin and that can accept coins paid out from the money handling means, and the coins paid out from the money handling means, And a distribution means for distributing to the operated return port on the customer service side.

Then, the coins paid out from the money handling means are sorted by the sorting means to a return port on the customer service part side of the left and right customer service parts operated by the product selection part,
The coins paid out to the operated customer service department return port can be easily taken out and can be prevented from being mixed with coins of other purchasers at the time of parallel sales.

[0019]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 show an embodiment. In FIG. 1, the vending machine is a cup-type beverage vending machine for providing and selling cup-containing beverages, and has a machine body 11. A cup-containing beverage preparation providing device for preparing a cup-containing beverage is provided therein.

A service surface 12 is formed on the front surface of the machine body 11, and a left service unit 13 and a right service unit 14 are disposed on the service surface 12 so as to be separated from each other. A common operation unit 15 is provided at the center between the units 13 and 14.

On the upper side of each of the left and right customer service units 13 and 14, a plurality of product display units for displaying the products to be sold, that is, the types of beverages.
21, and a plurality of product selection buttons 22 as a plurality of product selection units for selecting and operating a beverage type corresponding to each product display unit 21 are provided, and in the middle, a cup provided by the cup-containing beverage preparation providing device is provided. Product exit for taking out beverages
23 are provided respectively. A sellable lamp and a sold-out lamp (not shown) are incorporated in each product selection button 22, and an outlet door (not shown) is provided in each product outlet 23 so that it can be automatically or manually opened and closed.

The central common operation unit 15 has a coin slot 24 as a money receiving unit, and a coin return port for returning change.
25, and a return lever and a return button (not shown) are provided. Above the coin slot 24, a guidance display unit 26 for guiding the customer service units 13, 14 available for sale is provided. The guidance display unit 26 includes a display using a light emitting diode, a character display of a dot matrix type, a liquid crystal display, and the like. As shown in FIG.
Guides 3 and 14 are indicated by an arrow 27 or a guide 28 such as "Please insert money".

On the inner surface side of the central common operation section 15, a coin mech 29 as coin processing means for receiving and processing coins inserted into the coin insertion slot 24 and paying out change to the coin return slot 25 is provided. Have been.

Next, the selling operation of the vending machine will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, the sales status of the left and right customer service units 13 and 14 is checked, and for example, a beverage with a cup received on one of the left and right customer service units 13 and 14 is being dispensed and provided, and the other is filled with the next cup. If both the left and right customer service parts 13 and 14 are on sale (steps 1 and 2), such as when receiving a beverage,
The guidance display unit 26 does not display the arrow 27 or the guide 28, but keeps it in a non-display state, or displays that it is on sale.

If neither the left and right customer service units 13 and 14 are on sale (steps 1 and 3), a left and right arrow is displayed on the guidance display unit 26.
27 is displayed, and a guide 28 "Please insert money" is displayed (steps 4 and 5).

When coins are inserted into the coin insertion slot 24 by the purchaser (step 6), each of the left and right customer service units 13, 14 for beverage types whose input amounts identified by the coin mech 29 are equal to or higher than the selling price is determined. The sellable lamp incorporated in the product selection button 22 is turned on.

The purchaser selects one of the commodity selection buttons 22 illuminated by the sellable lamp in the left and right customer service units 13 and 14.
When one is selected (Step 7), the sellable lamp of the selected product selection button 22 is flashed (Step 8), and the cup of the beverage type selected by the cup-containing beverage dispensing and providing device in the body 11 is placed. The operation of preparing the beverage is started. At the same time, if the input amount is larger than the selling price and change is required (step 9), the change is paid out from the coin mech 29 to the coin return slot 25 (step 10), and the process returns to step 1 to wait for the next sales reception. . When the change is paid out to the coin return slot 25, the change is taken out by the purchaser.

The cup-filled beverage, which has been dispensed by the cup-containing beverage dispensing and providing device in the machine body 11, is provided with the left and right customer service units 13,
For example, the customer service section on the right side where the product selection button 22 is operated out of 14
It is provided to the product outlet 23 on the 14 side.

The purchaser takes out the cup beverage provided in the product outlet 23 on the right customer service section 14 side,
A series of sales operation (purchase operation) is completed.

The customer service section 13 on the left side is not on sale,
If the customer service unit 14 on the right side is selling, the guide display unit 26 displays the arrow 27 on the left side and the guide 28 "Please insert money" (steps 11 and 12).

When the coin is inserted into the coin slot 24 by the purchaser (step 13), it is confirmed whether or not the sale at the customer service section 14 on the right side has been completed (step 14). And proceeds to the selling operation described above.

For a beverage type whose input amount is greater than the selling price identified by the coin mech 29, a sellable lamp incorporated in each product selection button 22 of the customer service section 13 on the left is turned on.
At this time, the sellable lamp incorporated in each of the product selection buttons 22 of the left and right customer service units 13 and 14 may be turned on, but in any case, the product selection button 22 of the right customer service unit 14 is selected and operated. Is not accepted (steps 15 and 16).

When the purchaser selects and operates one of the product selection buttons 22 illuminated by the sellable lamp in the customer service section 13 on the left side, the sellable lamp of the selected product select button 22 blinks ( Step 17), the dispensing operation of the beverage in the cup of the beverage type selected by the beverage dispensing and providing apparatus in the body 11 is started. At the same time, if the input amount is larger than the selling price and change is required (Step 1
8), the change is paid out from the coin mech 29 to the coin return slot 25 (step 19), and the process returns to step 1 and waits for the next sales reception. When the change is paid out to the coin return slot 25, the change is taken out by the purchaser.

The cup-filled beverage, which has been completely mixed by the cup-filled beverage dispensing and providing device in the machine body 11, is provided to the product outlet 23 of the customer service section 13 on the left side.

By removing the cup beverage provided by the purchaser to the product outlet 23 on the left customer service section 13 side,
A series of sales operation (purchase operation) by the customer service section 13 on the left side is completed.

If the customer service section 13 on the left is on sale, but the customer service section 14 on the right is not on sale, the guidance display section
At 26, an arrow 27 on the right side is displayed, and a guide 28 of "Please insert money" is displayed (steps 20, 21).

When the purchaser inserts a coin into the coin insertion slot 24 (step 22), it is confirmed whether or not the sales at the customer service section 13 on the left side have been completed (step 23). And proceeds to the selling operation described above.

For a drink type whose input amount is greater than the selling price identified by the coin mech 29, a sellable lamp incorporated in each product selection button 22 of the customer service section 14 on the right side is turned on.
At this time, the sellable lamp incorporated in each product selection button 22 of the left and right customer service units 13 and 14 may be turned on, but in any case, the product selection button 22 of the left customer service unit 13 is selected and operated. Is not accepted (steps 24 and 25).

When the purchaser selects and operates one of the product selection buttons 22 illuminated by the sellable lamp in the customer service section 14 on the right side, the sellable lamp of the selected product select button 22 blinks ( Step 26), the dispensing operation of the cup-type beverage of the beverage type selected by the cup-containing beverage dispensing providing device in the machine body 11 is started. At the same time, if the input amount is larger than the sales price and change is required (Step 2
7), the change is paid out from the coin mech 29 to the coin return slot 25 (step 28), and the process returns to step 1 and waits for the next sales reception. When the change is paid out to the coin return slot 25, the change is taken out by the purchaser.

The cup-filled beverage that has been mixed by the cup-filled beverage dispensing and providing device in the machine body 11 is provided to the product outlet 23 of the customer service section 14 on the right side.

The purchaser takes out the cup beverage provided to the product outlet 23 on the right customer service section 14 side,
A series of sales operation (purchase operation) by the customer service section 14 on the right side is completed.

As described above, the product display section 21 and the product selection button 22
And the left and right customer service sections 13 each having a product outlet 23,
In contrast to 14, a common operation unit 15 having a coin insertion slot 24, a coin return slot 25, and a guide display unit 26 is shared, so that only one coin mech 29 is required, which simplifies the configuration and reduces cost. As well as easy maintenance.
In addition, since the customer service units 13 and 14 that can be sold are guided by the guidance display unit 26, parallel sales can be smoothly performed by the service units 13 and 14 that have been guided.

The left service section 13 and the right service section 14 are disposed on the service surface 12 of the machine body 11, and the common operation section 15 is disposed between the left and right service sections 13, 14. After the coin is inserted into the central common operation unit 15 by the purchaser, the purchaser can be divided into the left and right customer service units 13 and 14 and smoothly sold in parallel.

Next, FIGS. 4 to 7 show another embodiment. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, each outlet door 31 that opens and closes each product outlet 23 of the left and right customer service units 13 and 14.
Are rotatably supported by a hinge (not shown) on the center side of the customer service surface 12, so that the left outlet door 31
Is designed to open and move to the right front side of the product outlet 23, and the right outlet door 31 is opened and moved to the left front side of the product outlet 23.

With this configuration, the outlet door
When taking out a drink in a cup from each of the left and right product outlets 23 in which the product 31 is opened, a purchaser who takes out a drink in a cup from the left product outlet 23 has an outlet door 31 opened to the right front side of the product outlet 23. It is easy to move to the left side and avoid taking out the beverage in a cup from the product outlet 23 on the right side, and the purchaser avoids the outlet door 31 opened on the left front side of the product outlet 23 and is easy to lean to the right side, and the buyer naturally It is divided into right and left, and there is a central common operation section 15 so that the next purchaser can operate it smoothly.

As shown in FIG. 6, left and right opening / closing drive means 32 are provided for each of the left and right outlet doors 31, and each of the left and right outlet doors 31 is automatically individually driven by the driving of these opening / closing drive means 32. It is configured to open and close. The opening timing of each outlet door 31 is after the beverage in a cup is provided in the product outlet 23, and the closing timing is detected by a sensor (not shown) that the beverage in the cup has been removed. A predetermined time has passed since.

These left and right opening / closing driving means 32 open and close the outlet door 31 by using the driving force of a motor (not shown). The closing speed or the closing timing of the left outlet door 31 or both of them. Is made slower than the right outlet door 31. The closing speed can be reduced by using a motor that rotates at a low speed or by controlling the current value of the motor.

Generally, there is more psychological anxiety when an object hits the back of the palm than the palm of the hand. When taking out a drink with a cup from the left product outlet 23 with the right hand, the back of the right hand faces the outlet door 31. As a result, the exit door 31 that is closed after the cup-containing beverage is taken out does not hit the back of the right hand, but may cause psychological anxiety. Therefore, psychological uneasiness can be alleviated by making the closing speed or the closing timing of the left outlet door 31 or the closing timing slower than that of the right outlet door 31.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, a coin return port as a left and right return port for receiving change paid out from the coin mech 29 is provided on the left and right customer service sections 13 and 14 side.
34, 35 are arranged side by side, and the change paid out from the coin mech 29 is returned by the sorting means 36 to the coins on the customer service part 13, 14 side of the customer service part 13, 14 of the left and right customer service part 13, 14 in which the product selection button 22 is operated. Mouth 34, 35
To be distributed to The symbol C in FIG. 7 is a coin.

The sorting means 36 has a chute 37 for receiving the change paid out from the coin mech 29. Below the chute 37, left and right chute portions 38, 39 for guiding the left and right coin return ports 34, 35 are provided. A switching damper 40 is disposed at the intersection of the left and right chute portions 38 and 39, and the switching damper 40 is switched by a solenoid (not shown) or the like.

When a change is paid out from the coin mech 29 when the purchaser operates the commodity selection button 22, the switching operation of the switching damper 40 of the distribution means 36 causes the left and right customer service sections to be dispensed.
Since the change is distributed to the coin return ports 34 and 35 of the customer service units 13 and 14 where the product selection button 22 has been operated, the coin return ports 34 and 35 close to the purchaser who has operated the product selection button 22 are provided. The change can be paid out, the change can be easily taken out by the purchaser, and it can be prevented from being mixed with the change of another purchaser at the time of parallel sales.

It should be noted that two return levers may be provided on the left and right sides so that any one of them can be returned. In addition, only one return lever is used to indicate to which of the left and right coin return ports 34 and 35 coins are returned. May be displayed.

The fact that parallel sales are possible is indicated by voice guidance by voice generation means in addition to the display by the guidance display unit 26, so that guidance can be provided more clearly.

The money accepting section is not limited to coins, and may be configured to accept bills. Therefore, the money handling means includes a coin mech and a bill handling section.

Also, three or more customer service units may be provided for one common operation unit, and the same operation and effect can be obtained.

[0058]

According to the vending machine according to the first aspect of the present invention, a single currency receiving unit is commonly used for a plurality of customer service units each having a product display unit, a product selection unit, and a product outlet. The structure can be simplified, cost can be reduced, and maintenance can be facilitated. Further, since the salable customer service section is guided by the guidance display section, parallel sales can be smoothly performed by the guided customer service section.

According to the vending machine of the second aspect, in addition to the effect of the vending machine of the first aspect, a left-side service section and a right-side service section are arranged on the service surface of the machine. Since the money receiving unit and the guidance display unit are disposed between the left and right customer service units, the buyer can separate the left and right customer service units after the money is input into the central money receiving unit and can smoothly sell the products in parallel.

According to the vending machine according to the third aspect, in addition to the effect of the vending machine according to the second aspect, each of the left and right customer service outlets can be opened and closed with the center side of the customer service surface as a fulcrum. When taking out products from each of the left and right product outlets where the outlet doors are open, the purchaser who takes out the product from the left product outlet can open the product to the right of the product outlet. It is easy to get to the left side, avoiding the exit door,
Buyers who take out products from the product outlet on the right side are easy to lean to the right side, avoiding the outlet door opened on the left side of the product outlet,
The buyer is naturally divided into right and left, and there is a central money receiving part, so that the next buyer can operate smoothly.

According to the vending machine of the fourth aspect, in addition to the effect of the vending machine of the second or third aspect, when taking out a product with the right hand from the left product take-out port, the back of the right hand is taken out by the back of the right hand. Even if psychological uneasiness is caused by facing the door, psychological uneasiness can be alleviated by making at least one of the closing speed and the closing timing of the left outlet door slower than that of the right outlet door.

According to the vending machine according to the fifth aspect, in addition to the effect of the vending machine according to any one of the second to fourth aspects, the coins paid out from the money handling means can be distributed to the right and left by the sorting means. In the customer service department, the coins paid to the operated customer service department return port are easily distributed to the operated customer service department return port operated by the product selection section, and other coins can be easily removed during parallel sales. Can be prevented from being mixed with other coins.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a vending machine showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a display example of a guidance display unit of the vending machine.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a vending operation of the vending machine.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a vending machine showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a part of the vending machine in which left and right outlet doors are simultaneously opened.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an operation of taking out a product from a product outlet on the left side of the vending machine.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a coin payout operation of the vending machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Aircraft 12 Customer Service 13, 14 Customer Service 21 Product Display 22 Product Selection Button as Product Selection 23 Product Outlet 24 Coin Slot as Money Receiving Unit 26 Information Display 29 Coin Mech as Money Processing Means 31 Exit door 32 Opening / closing drive means 34, 35 Coin return port as return port 36 Sorting means

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hiroshi Yoshimoto 11th Hiiragiyama, Obu-machi, Obu-shi, Aichi Pref. (72) Inventor Shigeo Shimizu 11th Hiiragiyama, Obu-cho, Obu-shi, Aichi 72) Inventor Yuji Mitsunaga 11th Hiiragiyama, Obu-cho, Obu City, Aichi Prefecture F-term in Apex Co., Ltd. (reference) 3E044 AA01 BA01 CA02 DB02 DB05 EA01 EB01 FA01 FA12 FB03 FB17

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of customer service units each having a product display unit, a product selection unit, and a product outlet, a currency receiving unit common to the plurality of customer service units, and a guide display unit for guiding a salable customer service unit. A vending machine comprising: 2. An aircraft having a service surface, wherein the service unit has a left service unit and a right service unit which are disposed on the left and right sides of the service surface, a money receiving unit and a guidance display unit. 2. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the vending machine is disposed between the left and right customer service units on the customer service surface. 3. The vending machine according to claim 2, wherein each of the left and right customer service outlets has an outlet door that is opened and closed with a fulcrum at the center of the customer service surface. 4. An opening / closing drive means for opening / closing each outlet door, wherein at least one of a closing speed and a closing timing of the left outlet door is made slower than that of the right outlet door. 3. The vending machine according to 3. 5. A money processing means for processing the money received by the money receiving part and dispensing coins, and disposed on the left and right customer service sides to receive coins dispensed from the money processing means. Left and right return ports, and sorting means for distributing the coins paid out from the money handling means to the return ports on the customer service part side of the left and right customer service parts operated by the product selection unit. 5. The vending machine according to claim 2, wherein the vending machine is a vending machine.