JP2001297358A - Controller for automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and a device for controlling automatic vending machine with which the spend of much labor or time can be prevented and the increase of production costs is suppressed to a minimum. SOLUTION: Concerning an automatic vending machine whose the control part is divided into plural control units 2 and mutually connected by a communication line 1, the same control program as a control program stored in each of control units 2 is separately summarized and stored in a storage part 3A of a specified control unit 2A. When introducing an advanced control program to a prescribed control unit 2A, the control program stored in the storage part 3A of the specified control unit 2A is modified into advanced control program. This advanced control program is transmitted from the specified control unit 2A to the control unit 2 being a change target. In the control unit 2 of the change target, the advanced control program is acquired and modified.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a vending machine control device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional vending machine, for example, one control unit is centrally disposed at a location behind a front door, and the like.
The board provided with the control unit and a plurality of components of the vending machine (such as a customer service unit, a product storage unit, and a temperature control unit for cooling and heating, etc.) are connected by a number of wiring harnesses.
However, according to this configuration, since the front door and the vending machine main body are connected by a large number of wiring harnesses, it is easy to receive noise, and the space of the wiring location becomes large. Is divided into a plurality of control units, and these control units are connected via a communication line. According to this, the number of communication lines (wiring harnesses) connecting the control units can be reduced, so that it is difficult to receive noise and the space at the wiring location can be reduced.

In a vending machine, a vending operation,
Various operations such as a product dispensing operation and a temperature control operation such as cooling and heating are performed while being controlled, respectively, and these control operations are often improved. When the control program (including the control data) is improved in this way, it is necessary to change the control program for the corresponding control unit.

Conventional methods for changing the control program of the control unit include the following two methods. 1
As a second method, an EPROM containing a newly improved control program (referred to as an improved control program) is used.
This has been done by replacing the EPROM with the old control program provided on the control board. As a second method, a PC card connector is mounted on each control board (control unit), and a PC card in which an improved control program is stored in advance is connected to the connector.
This has been done by downloading the improved control program from the PC card to the storage unit of the control unit.

[0005]

However, in the case of replacing the EPROM as a conventional method of exchanging the control program, the operation of removing the control board and the subsequent operation are as follows.
It is necessary to replace the EPROM while paying attention not to bend the legs (connection terminals) of the EPROM, which requires much labor and time. In addition, when the EPROM's leg is broken, not only is the EPROM unusable, but also the EPROM containing the new control program must be procured and replaced again. Inefficient work is repeatedly performed.

When downloading a new control program from a PC card to the storage unit of the control unit,
Each control unit requires a connector for connecting to a PC card, which leads to an increase in the manufacturing cost of the vending machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a control device for a vending machine which can prevent a lot of trouble and time and can minimize an increase in manufacturing cost. Aim.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control device for a vending machine, wherein a control unit of the vending machine is divided into a plurality of control units and a communication line is provided between the control units. In the vending machine connected by, in the storage unit of the specific control unit, an area for separately collecting and storing the same control program as the control program stored in each control unit is provided, and Means for allowing the control unit to change the control program stored in the storage unit to the improved control program; and means for transmitting the improved control program from the specific control unit to the control unit to be changed. Is provided, and each control unit is caused to acquire the improved control program via the communication line, and the control program is changed to the improved control program. Characterized in that a stage.

According to this configuration, by introducing the improved control program into the storage unit of the specific control unit, the improved control program is transmitted from the specific control unit to the control unit to be changed, and The control unit can acquire and improve the improved control program.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the vending machine control device according to the first aspect, when the control program stored in the storage unit of the specific control unit is changed to the improved control program, A determination unit is provided for determining whether a change in the control program is necessary in the control unit to be changed, automatically or based on a human selection operation, and the determination unit needs to change to the improved control program. Means for transmitting an improved control program from a specific control unit to a control unit to be changed only when the determination is made.

According to this configuration, when the control program stored in the storage unit of the specific control unit is changed to the improved control program, the control unit to be changed needs to be changed to the improved control program. The improved control program is transmitted to the control unit to be changed only when it is determined that the control program is changed, and when it is determined that the change to the improved control program is not necessary, an unnecessary transmission operation to the control unit is performed. Absent.

The invention described in claim 3 is the first or second invention.
In the vending machine control device described in the above, in the storage unit of the specific control unit, an area for storing the model of the connected control unit is provided, and the control program stored in the storage unit of the specific control unit is When the control unit is changed to the improved control program, a model of the control unit corresponding to the improved control program is determined, and a determination unit for determining whether the corresponding control unit to be changed is connected is provided. Only when it is determined that the control unit is connected, means for enabling transmission to the control unit to be changed is provided.

According to this configuration, when the control program stored in the storage unit of the specific control unit is changed to the improved control program, the control unit of the target model corresponding to the improved control program is connected. Is transmitted only to the control unit to be changed, and unnecessary transmission operation is not performed when the control unit to be changed is not connected.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the control device for a vending machine according to any one of the first to third aspects, the plurality of divided control units are mutually connected in a communication bus form or the like via a communication line. The control unit is set and connected as one main control unit and the other control unit as a slave, and the specific control unit is a main control unit.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the control device for a vending machine according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, a control program can be uploaded from another control unit to a specific control unit. Features.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in a vending machine in which a control unit of a vending machine is divided into a plurality of control units and connected to each other via a communication line, the improved control program is downloaded to the communication line. The download unit is configured to be connectable, and the download unit is provided with a determination unit that determines whether the change of the improved control program is necessary in the control unit to be changed, automatically or based on a human selection operation. Only when it is determined by the determining means that a change to the improved control program is necessary, a means for transmitting the control unit to be changed from the download unit is provided, and each control unit is provided with the improved control program via a communication line. Means to change the control program to an improved control program And wherein the digit.

According to this configuration, only when it is determined that the control unit connected to the download unit needs to be changed to the improved control program, the control unit is transmitted from the download unit to the control unit to be changed. When it is determined that the change to the control program is not necessary, unnecessary transmission operation to the control unit is not performed.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in a vending machine in which a control unit of a vending machine is divided into a plurality of control units and connected to each other via a communication line, the improved control program is downloaded to the communication line. The download unit is configured to be connectable, and an area for storing the model of the connected control unit is provided in the storage unit of the download unit or the storage unit of the control unit, and the improved control stored in the download unit or the control unit is provided. When determining the model of the control unit corresponding to the program and providing determination means for determining whether the control unit of the model to be changed is connected, and determining that the control unit to be changed is connected Only, a means to enable transmission to the control unit to be changed is provided. The unit, by acquiring an improved control program via a communication line, characterized in that a means for changing a control program to improve the control program.

According to this configuration, the download unit can transmit to the control unit to be changed only when it is determined that the control unit of the model to be changed corresponding to the improved control program is connected to the communication line. ,
When the control unit to be changed is not connected, an unnecessary transmission operation is not performed.

[0020]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a vending machine control device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, in this vending machine, a plurality of control units 2 are connected via a communication line 1 in the form of a communication bus, and one of the control units 2 (for example, the back of the front door). Control unit) 2A
Is set as a main, and the other control unit 2B is set and connected as a slave. Each control unit 2 (2A, 2
B) is provided with storage units 3 (3A, 3B), respectively. In particular, the storage unit 3A provided in the main control unit 2A stores the data in the storage unit 3B of each control unit 2. The same control program as the control program is stored collectively. In addition, the storage unit 3A of the main control unit 2A stores model information of each control unit 2 (for example, a program identification number or a control unit 2A).
May be model information of a component to be controlled according to the above.). The PC card connector 5 to which the PC card 4 can be attached is mounted only on the main control unit 2A.

The main control unit 2A has a judgment means 7
Is provided. This determination means 7 is used when the control program stored in the storage unit 3A of the main control unit 2A is changed to a new improved control program (simply,
When the storage information capacity in the storage unit 3A changes, the type of the control unit 2 corresponding to the improved control program is determined, and the corresponding control unit 2 to be changed is located in the vending machine. Determine whether or not it is connected. Further, it is determined whether or not a change to the improved control program is necessary in the control unit 2 to be changed. Here, the judging operation of the judging means 7 may be performed by the judging means 7 itself. Alternatively, the judging means 7 may be performed based on a selecting operation of a staff member.

Reference numeral 6 denotes an input unit having a plurality of keys provided inside the vending machine. In the above configuration,
When the improved control program is developed, the improved control program is input to the PC card 4, and the PC card 4
To the PC card connector 5. Then, for example, in this state, a predetermined key operation is performed from the input unit 6, and the improved control program is stored in the main control unit 2.
A is stored in the storage unit 3A.

Thereafter, for example, at the time of a reset operation such as turning on or off the power supply, or at the time of periodically confirming the update of a control program, as shown in step S1 in FIG. The operation of confirming the program identification numbers of the various control programs stored in the unit 3A and the check code of the control program is automatically performed, and it is detected whether a new improved control program is stored in the storage unit 3A. (It may simply detect that the storage information capacity in the storage unit 3A has changed).

If it is detected that there is a new improved control program, the process proceeds to step S2, where the judging means 7 controls the control unit 2 corresponding to the improved control program.
Is determined, and it is determined whether the corresponding control unit 2 to be changed is in the vending machine and connected. Here, only when there is a corresponding control unit 2 to be changed, the process proceeds to step S3, and whether or not the change of the improved control program is necessary in the control unit 2 to be changed is automatically or based on a human selection operation. Is determined. If it is determined that the change of the improved control program is necessary in the control unit 2 to be changed, the process proceeds to step S4, where the improved control program is transmitted from the main control unit 2A to the control unit 2 to be changed. Is done. The control unit 2 to be changed acquires the improved control program via the communication line 1 and upgrades the updated control program to the improved control program. In addition,
The control program also includes control data, and it is also possible to transmit and acquire only the control data.

Thus, by simply attaching the PC card 4 to the PC card connector 5 of the main control unit 2A, the improved control program is transmitted to the appropriate type of control unit 2 only when necessary. Therefore, the conventional EPROM replacement work is not required, and the labor and time are minimized, and the work efficiency is improved. Also, P
Since the C card connector 5 is preferably provided only in the main control unit 2A, an increase in the manufacturing cost of the vending machine does not occur. Further, there is no possibility that the improved control program is input to an inappropriate control unit 2 and a malfunction of the control unit 2 is caused.

On the other hand, the corresponding control unit 2 to be changed
If there is no change, or if the change of the improved control program is not necessary in the control unit 2 to be changed, the main control unit 2A does not transmit the improved control program to the control unit 2 to be changed. Therefore, unnecessary transmission operation is not performed, thereby preventing the communication line 1 from being occupied for transmitting a large amount of data.

Further, in the above embodiment, the main control unit 2A is connected to the slave control unit 2B.
Although the control program has been described as being transmitted (downloaded) to the main control unit 2A, the present invention is not limited to this, and the control program stored in the storage unit 3B of the slave control unit 2B is transmitted (uploaded) to the main control unit 2A. Is also good. With this configuration, for example, when a control board on which the latest control program is mounted is replaced, the control program can be stored in the main control unit 2A or output to the outside via the PC card 4. Becomes possible.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the specific unit in which the control programs are collectively stored and the determination unit 7 is provided is the main control unit 2A has been described. Instead, the specific unit is provided in the slave control unit 2B,
It is also possible to provide a plurality of control units 2 as specific units.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a vending machine control device according to another embodiment of the present invention. Components having the same functions as those in the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. I do.

As shown in FIG. 3, in this vending machine, a download unit 8 can be connected to the communication line 1. The download unit 8 can output various programs and data such as an improved control program to each control unit 2 via the communication line 1. The storage unit 3A of the main control unit 2A stores only control programs necessary for the control unit 2A. Also, when the improved control program is input from a predetermined device, the download unit 8 also inputs information on the model of the control unit 2 corresponding to the improved control program.

When the download unit 8 is connected to the communication line 1, for example, the download unit 8
A request is made for the model of the control unit 2 and the identification number of the control program held therein, and such information is obtained from each control unit 2. Further, the download unit 8 is provided with a judging means 9. When the download unit 8 is connected to the communication line 1, the determination unit 9 is connected to the information of the control unit 2 of the model to be changed, which corresponds to the improved control program, and is connected via the communication line 1. The control unit 2 compares the model information of the control unit 2 and determines whether or not the control unit 2 to be changed is connected, automatically or based on a human selection operation. Also, whether or not the change to the improved control program is necessary in the control unit 2 to be changed is determined automatically or based on a human selection operation.

In the above configuration, when an improved control program is developed, the improved control program is input to the download unit 8, and the download unit 8
To the communication line 1. Then, for example, by turning on a switch means provided in the download unit 8, the download unit 8 first obtains the model information of the connected control unit 2 and its storage unit as shown in step S11 in FIG. 3 is obtained automatically or based on a human selection operation. Next, proceed to step S12,
The determination unit 9 determines that the control unit 2 to be changed
Is determined automatically or based on a human selection operation. Here, only when there is a corresponding control unit 2 to be changed, the process proceeds to step S13, and it is determined whether the change of the improved control program is necessary in the control unit 2 to be changed. And
If the change of the improved control program is necessary in the control unit 2 to be changed, the process proceeds to step S14, and the improved control program is transmitted from the download unit 8 to the control unit 2 to be changed. The control unit 2 to be changed acquires the improved control program via the communication line 1 and upgrades the updated control program to the improved control program.
It should be noted that the control program also includes control data, and it is also possible to transmit only the control data and acquire it.

Thus, simply by connecting the download unit 8 to the communication line 1, the improved control program is transmitted to the appropriate type of control unit 2 only when necessary. Therefore, the conventional EPROM
This eliminates the need for replacement work, and minimizes labor and time, resulting in good work efficiency. Further, since the PC card connector 5 and the like are not required, an increase in the manufacturing cost of the vending machine does not occur. Further, it is possible to prevent a problem that the improved control program is input to an inappropriate control unit 2 to cause the control unit 2 to malfunction.

On the other hand, the corresponding control unit 2 to be changed
If there is no change, or if the change of the improved control program is not necessary in the control unit 2 to be changed, the download unit 8 does not transmit the improved control program to the control unit 2 to be changed. Therefore, unnecessary transmission operation is not performed, thereby preventing the communication line 1 from being occupied.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the determination operation and the communication output operation are performed when the download unit 8 is connected to the communication line 1 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. May be performed at the time of a reset operation such as turning on or off the power supply, or at the time of periodically confirming the update of the control program. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the case where the control program is transmitted (downloaded) from the download unit 8 to the control unit 2 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the control program is stored in the storage unit 3 of the control unit 2. The control program may be transmitted (uploaded) to the download unit 8 (or an upload unit provided separately). With this configuration, for example, the download unit 8 can be connected to a vending machine on which the latest control program is loaded, and the latest control program can be input to the download unit 8.

In the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which the model of the connected control unit is obtained or various determination operations are performed by the download unit 8, but the present invention is not limited to this. Such an operation may be performed by the main control unit 2A or the slave control unit 2B.
The download operation may be performed by instructing the output of the download unit 8 from.

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention, the conventional EPROM replacement work is not required, labor and time are minimized, and work efficiency is improved. Further, since a PC card connector or the like can be eliminated or minimized, the manufacturing cost of the vending machine does not increase. Further, it is possible to prevent a problem that the improved control program is input to an inappropriate control unit and causes a malfunction of the control unit. Since unnecessary transmission operation is not performed, it is possible to prevent the transmission data from unnecessarily increasing and occupying the communication line.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a control operation in the control device.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control device for a vending machine according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a control operation in the control device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 communication line 2 control unit 2A main control unit 2B slave control unit 3, 3A, 3B storage unit 4 PC card 5 PC card connector 6 input unit 7, 9 determination means 8 download unit

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. In a vending machine in which a control unit of a vending machine is divided into a plurality of control units and connected to each other by a communication line, a storage unit of a specific control unit stores the control unit in each control unit. An area is provided to separately collect and store the same control program as the control program,
Means for allowing the specific control unit to change the control program stored in the storage unit to the improved control program, and transmitting the improved control program from the specific control unit to the control unit to be changed A control device for a vending machine, comprising means for causing each control unit to acquire an improved control program via a communication line, and changing the control program to the improved control program. 2. When a control program stored in a storage unit of a specific control unit is changed to an improved control program, it is automatically determined whether or not the change of the improved control program is necessary in the control unit to be changed. Determining means for determining based on the selection operation of the person or,
2. A vending machine according to claim 1, further comprising means for transmitting the improved control program from the specific control unit to the control unit to be changed only when it is determined that the change to the improved control program is necessary by the determining means. Control device. 3. An area for storing a model of a connected control unit is provided in a storage unit of a specific control unit,
When the control program stored in the storage unit of the specific control unit is changed to the improved control program, the type of the control unit corresponding to the improved control program is determined, and the corresponding control unit to be changed is connected. 3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: determining means for determining whether or not the control unit to be changed is transmitted, only when it is determined that the control unit to be changed is connected. Vending machine control device. 4. A plurality of divided control units are connected to each other via a communication line, and one of the control units is set as a main unit and the other control unit is set as a slave, and is connected. The control device for a vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is a main control unit. 5. The vending machine control device according to claim 1, wherein a control program can be uploaded from another control unit to a specific control unit. 6. In a vending machine in which a control unit of a vending machine is divided into a plurality of control units and connected to each other by a communication line, a download unit for downloading an improved control program to the communication line can be connected. The download unit is provided with a judgment means for automatically judging whether or not the change of the improved control program is necessary in the control unit to be changed, or based on a human selection operation; Only when it is determined that a change to the control program is necessary, a means for causing the control unit to be changed to be transmitted from the download unit is provided, and each control unit is caused to acquire the improved control program via the communication line, and the control is performed. Control of vending machines with means to change programs to improved control programs apparatus. 7. In a vending machine in which a control unit of a vending machine is divided into a plurality of control units and connected to each other by a communication line, a download unit for downloading an improved control program to the communication line can be connected. The storage unit of the download unit or the storage unit of the control unit is provided with an area for storing the model of the connected control unit, and the control unit corresponding to the improved control program stored in the download unit or the control unit is provided. A determination means is provided for determining whether the control unit of the model to be changed is connected and determining whether or not the control unit of the model to be changed is connected. A means for enabling transmission to the control units is provided, and each control unit is provided with a communication line. A control device for a vending machine, comprising: means for acquiring an improved control program via a PC and changing the control program to the improved control program.