JP2002245540A - Cup type automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cup type automatic vending machine that can shorten selling time. SOLUTION: When the kinds of cups stored in a plurality of dispensers are the same setting (102) and cup prior takeoff is set (104), the charge is received (throwing-in of a coin or insertion of a bill), and a cup holding device is moved into a cup supply position (108, 110), and it is controlled to supply the cup from a cup feeder 30 (112). With this control, the selling operation time of the cup type automatic vending machine can be shortened in comparison with the case of controlling to supply the cup after pressing a goods selecting button in a conventional cup-type automatic vending machine.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cup-type vending machine, and more particularly to a cup-type vending machine for supplying coffee, tea, juice, etc. to a cup for sale.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a vending machine of this kind, coffee, tea, powdered raw material to dissolve the loaded with tanks and powder raw material tank was loaded with water or hot water for cooking beverages such as juice The lower part of these tanks is used as a stage for cooking various beverages, and the cup is moved to each stage, and the powdered raw materials, water, hot water, etc. are supplied to the cup, so that coffee, tea, Cup-type vending machines for cooking beverages such as juice have been proposed.

In such a cup type vending machine,
As described above, the moving mechanism for moving the cup to each stage is configured so that the cup moves on each stage along a preset route according to the type of beverage to be sold.

The general operation of a cup-type vending machine is as follows. When a coin or bill is dropped at a predetermined position and a button for selecting a beverage is pressed, the cup is supplied to a cup holding device for holding the cup. You. Then, the moving device for moving the cup holding device moves the material to a position for supplying the material, supplies the material, moves to a position for supplying hot water or the like, supplies hot water or the like, and moves to a stirring device for stirring the beverage. Then, the beverage is sold in a cup by moving the cup holding device to the product take-out port.

[0005]

However, in the conventional cup-type vending machine, the beverage is sold in the cup as described above, so that a sales time for cooking the beverage is generated, and even a little sales are required. Although it is desirable to reduce the time, there is a problem in that it is difficult to reduce the selling time without cutting down the functions due to the mechanical limitations of the cup-type vending machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has as its object to provide a cup-type vending machine capable of shortening the sales time.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is directed to a cup-type vending machine that cooks a beverage by moving a cup at a plurality of predetermined positions. Moving means for moving the cup to the plurality of positions, cup supplying means for supplying the cup to the moving means, and detecting means for detecting that the price of the beverage has been inputted before the instruction to cook the beverage When,
Control means for performing control for supplying a cup from the cup supply means to the moving means based on a detection output when the detection means detects the input.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the cup for supplying the beverage is supplied to the moving means by the cup supplying means, and the cup is supplied to a plurality of positions for cooking the beverage (for example, coffee ingredients are supplied to the cup). Position, a position where hot water is discharged into the cup, etc.) by the moving means. Thus, the beverage can be cooked and the beverage can be sold in cups to the user.

[0009] The detection means detects that the value of the beverage has been input before the instruction to cook the beverage, that is, before the operation of the selection button for selecting the beverage is performed. For example, the detection means detects, as inputs of the beverage price, coin insertion or bill insertion corresponding to the beverage fee, a prepaid card corresponding to the beverage fee, coins and cards corresponding to the beverage fee, and the like.

The control means controls the supply of the cup from the cup supply means to the moving means based on the detection output when the input is detected by the detection means. For example, when the initial position of the moving unit is not the position where the cup is supplied, the cup supplying unit and the moving unit are controlled so that the cup is supplied to the moving unit. That is, the moving means is moved to a position where the cup is supplied from the cup supplying means so that the cup is supplied from the cup supplying means, and the cup is supplied to the moving means by the cup supplying means.

Conventionally, the operation up to the supply of the cup is as follows:
It was performed after the user operated a selection button or the like for selecting a product to be purchased. In this manner, since the operation up to the supply of the cup is performed simultaneously with the input of the price of the beverage,
It is possible to effectively use the time until a beverage preparation instruction (for example, the user operates a selection button or the like for selecting a product), and it is possible to shorten the sales time.

[0012] According to a second aspect of the present invention, in a cup-type vending machine for cooking a beverage by moving a cup to a plurality of predetermined positions, a moving means for moving the cup to the plurality of positions, A cup supply unit that stores a plurality of types of cups and supplies any one of the plurality of types of cups to the moving unit, a setting unit that sets a type of the cup to be stored in the cup supply unit, Before the instruction of cooking of the beverage, the detecting means for detecting that the price of the beverage has been input, and when a single cup is set by the setting means, when the detecting means detects the input And control means for performing control for supplying the cup from the cup supply means to the moving means based on the detection output of the control means.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the cup for supplying the beverage is supplied to the moving means by the cup supplying means, and is supplied to a plurality of positions for cooking the beverage (for example, supplying the coffee raw material to the cup). Position, a position where hot water is discharged into the cup, etc.) by the moving means. Thus, the beverage can be cooked and the beverage can be sold in cups to the user. Further, a plurality of types of cups can be stored in the cup supply means, and any one of the plurality of types of cups can be provided to the moving means. For example, beverages can be sold in different cups based on an indication that the beverage to be sold is a hot beverage or a cold beverage.

The detection means detects that the price of the beverage has been input before the instruction to cook the beverage, that is, before the operation of the selection button for selecting the beverage is performed. For example, the detection means detects, as inputs of the beverage price, coin insertion or bill insertion corresponding to the beverage fee, a prepaid card corresponding to the beverage fee, coins or cards corresponding to the beverage fee, and the like.

In the setting means, the type of the cup to be stored in the cup supply means is set. For example, it is possible to set whether the cup supplied from the cup supply means is a plurality of types of cups or a single cup.

In the control means, when a single cup is set by the setting means, the cup is supplied from the cup supply means to the moving means based on the detection output from which the input is detected by the detection means. Is performed. For example, when the initial position of the moving unit is not the position where the cup is supplied, the cup supplying unit and the moving unit are controlled so that the cup is supplied to the moving unit. That is, the moving means is moved to a position where the cup is supplied from the cup supplying means so that the cup is supplied from the cup supplying means, and the cup is supplied to the moving means by the cup supplying means.

Accordingly, in a cup-type vending machine capable of selling beverages with a plurality of types of cups, the operation up to the supply of the cups is performed simultaneously with the input of the price of the beverage, as in the first aspect of the invention. Therefore, it is possible to effectively use the time until an instruction to cook the beverage (for example, the user operates a selection button or the like for selecting a product), thereby shortening the sales time.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the invention, the control means is supplied to the moving means when the instruction to cook the beverage is not given for a predetermined time. It is characterized by further controlling the discarded cup.

According to the invention of claim 3, according to claim 1,
Alternatively, in the invention according to claim 2, the control means instructs to prepare a beverage (for example, an instruction to select a beverage to be purchased by a user operating a selection button for selecting a product).
Is not performed for a predetermined time, the control is further performed so as to discard the cup supplied to the moving means. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the cup from being informed for a long time and dust to enter the cup. At this time, the control means may further control to supply the cup to the moving means again, or may control to return the fee. By doing so, it becomes possible to sell the beverage again.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cup-type vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, a cup-type vending machine 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention has a product picking-up surface that can be covered with a door 12 on a customer service surface, similarly to a conventionally known cup-type vending machine. The exit 14 is provided with a coin insertion slot 16, a bill insertion slot 18, a product selection button 20, and the like.
By inserting coins or bills into the coin insertion slot 16 or the bill insertion slot 18 and operating the product selection button 20, it is possible to freely select a desired beverage such as coffee, tea, juice, or sugar or ice. also the addition of which is configured to easily select.

The door 12 is opened and closed using the left-hand ends of the cup-type vending machine 10 as pivots, and is unlocked and opened when performing an operation test at the time of installation or replenishment of beverage ingredients, and normally sells. Sometimes it is locked and closed. Door 12
The is panel 22 comprising a transparent resin plate is provided to display a sample of sales beverage, so that it can be confirmed via the panel. Coin slot 1
6 is a part where the user inserts a coin (coin),
The inserted coin is supplied to a coin mechanism inside the cup-type vending machine 10. The bill insertion slot 18 is a part into which a user inserts a bill, and the inserted bill is supplied to the bill inside the cup-type vending machine 10. Further, a display unit 24 is also provided, and can display the inserted coin amount, the inserted bill amount, and the like. Further, a return lever 26 is provided, and by operating the return lever 26, it is possible to return the inserted coins and inserted bills from the return port 28 before purchasing the beverage.

The commodity selection button 20 includes a lamp for selling and a lamp for selling out, and is provided on the door 12 corresponding to a sample of the beverage. When the user inserts a coin or inserts a bill into which at least one beverage can be purchased, the lamp corresponding to the raw material of the beverage loaded in the cup-type vending machine 10 is turned on. When the raw material or the cup of the beverage loaded in the cup-type vending machine 10 becomes empty, the sold-out lamp is lit at all times corresponding to or all of the beverage. When the merchandise selection button 20 in which the sellable lamp is lit is pressed, the beverage corresponding to this beverage is poured into the cup and guided to the commodity outlet 14.

As shown in FIG. 2, inside the cup-type vending machine 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, there are provided a cup supply device 30, a raw material supply device 32, and a diluent supply device 3.
4. A stirring device 36, a cup holding device 38, and a moving device 40 for moving the cup holding device 38 in the horizontal direction are provided. The cup supply device 30 corresponds to a cup supply unit of the present invention, and the moving device 40 corresponds to a moving unit of the present invention.

The cup supply device 30 includes a plurality of dispensers 30a, 30 for accommodating a large number of cups C made of paper or the like.
b, 30c, each dispenser 30a,
It is configured to feed out one by one based on an instruction of a control device described later from a supply port provided on the bottom surface of 30b, 30c. In the present embodiment, cups of different sizes are stored in the dispensers 30a, 30b, and 30c, respectively, and cups of each size are supplied according to a predetermined instruction. The setting for supplying a single cup can be performed by the control device. FIG. 2 shows an example in which cups of different sizes are stored.

The raw material supply device 32 includes a plurality of tanks 32 for storing powdered cream, coffee, sugar and the like.
a to 32g, and shooters 33a to 33g provided below the raw material outlets of the tanks 32a to 32g and guided to the cup C moved below the tanks 32a to 32g.
And is composed of A well-known auger mechanism for delivering the raw material is provided inside each tank, and by driving the auger mechanism for a certain period of time, the tanks 32a to 32a are driven.
A predetermined amount of a desired raw material is sent out from within 32 g.

The diluent supply device 34 comprises a tank 34a for storing hot water heated to a predetermined temperature, a valve 34b, and a nozzle 34c. Hot water is discharged from the tip of the nozzle 34c.

A stirring motor 36a constituting the stirring device 36
Is for rotating the impeller 36b, and is connected to a belt 36d inside the box through an arm member 36c (see FIG. 3). The belt 36d is wound between a driving pulley 36e disposed on the upper side of the box and a driven pulley 36f disposed on the lower side, and is driven vertically by a motor 36g connected to the driving pulley 36e. It is configured to be rotatable.

The motor 36g connected to the driving pulley 36e is a motor capable of rotating forward and backward. The amount of rotation is determined by an instruction from the control device, for example, the number of pulses transmitted by the control device, and the rotation direction is also controlled. Determined by the signal from the device. Also, the operation / stop of the stirring motor 36a is freely controlled by the control device by a signal transmitted from the control device.

The cup holding device 38 has holding arms L and R for holding the cup C, and the holding arms L and R hold the cup C under the curl. A roller unit 38a is provided on the lower surface of the cup holding device 38, and is configured to be able to move smoothly on a plane when a force is applied in the horizontal direction.

The holding arms L and R can change the opposing distance, and the opposing distance can be reduced when holding the cup C and expanded when releasing the cup C according to an instruction from the control device. I can do it.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the moving device 40
A vertical moving means 40a and a horizontal moving means 40b are provided so that the cup holding device 38 can be moved in the vertical and horizontal directions. As shown in FIG. 4, the vertical moving means 40a mounts the cup holding device 38 at a predetermined position of a belt 40a4 wound around a driven pulley 40a1 and a driving pulley 40a3 to which a rotational force is applied by rotation of a motor 40a2. The cup holding device 38 can be connected with the rotation of the belt 40a4.
To the roller unit 38a.
Is rotated, the cup holding device 38 is
The upper surface of a5 is configured to move smoothly. In the control method of the motor 40a2, similarly to the motor 36g, the amount of rotation is determined by an instruction from the control device, for example, the number of pulses transmitted by the control device, and the rotation direction is also determined by a signal from the control device. That is, the motor 4
By controlling the rotation direction and the rotation amount of 0a2,
The position of the cup holding device 38 with respect to the vertical moving means 40a is controlled via the driving pulley 40a3 and the belt 40a2.

As shown in FIG. 4, the lateral moving means 40b comprises one guide rail 40b1 and a driving member 40b2 installed in parallel with the guide rail 40b1, and the driving member 40b2 is connected to the driven pulley 40b3. Motor 40b4
A belt 40b6 wound around a driving pulley 40b5 to which rotational force is applied from the belt 40b5.
The box 40 of the vertical moving means 40a is located at a predetermined position of b6.
The position is adjusted such that the roller unit 40a6 travels on the upper surface of the guide rail 40b1 and the roller unit 40a7 travels on the upper surface of the box of the drive member 40b2.

The guide rail 40b1 and the driving member 4
The box 0b2 is configured as the box of the cup-type vending machine 10.

The motor 40b4 is also connected to the motor 36
g, 40a2, the rotation amount is an instruction from the control device,
For example, it is determined by the number of pulses transmitted by the control device,
The direction of rotation is also determined by a signal from the control device. That is, by controlling the rotation direction and the rotation amount of the motor 40b4, the drive pulley 40b5 and the belt 40b6
And the horizontal moving means 40a of the vertical moving means 40a
The position with respect to b is controlled.

That is, by controlling the vertical moving means 40a and the horizontal moving means 40b of the moving device 40 by the control device, the horizontal position of the cup C held by the cup holding device 38 can be freely controlled. It has become.

The moving device 40 is provided with a sensor 41, and the sensor 41 causes the cup holding device 3 to move.
An origin position serving as the reference position 8 is detected, and the movement control of the moving device 40 is performed based on the origin position.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram for explaining the basic operation of the cup-type vending machine 10. As shown in FIG. Control device 42
Is for controlling the control of the cup-type vending machine 10, and includes a CPU 44, a ROM 46, a RAM 48, and peripheral circuits (timers, I / O ports, etc.). More specifically, the ROM 46 is a program in which a program for integrally controlling a plurality of slave control units described later is stored in advance.
M48 is for writing or reading the result of calculation by the CPU 44 and various data from a plurality of slave control units, and is connected via a bus 50, respectively. Note that the control device 42 corresponds to control means of the present invention.

In terms of hardware, the ROM 46 is a mask ROM, an EPROM, or an EEPROM (flash ROM).
OM (including OM). CPU44
A program counter for designating an execution address of the ROM, an instruction decoder for decoding contents read from the ROM, an arithmetic logic unit for performing a logical operation,
A built-in accumulator for temporarily storing operation data is provided. The RAM 48 is a volatile memory such as an SRAM,
The stored contents are held by the backup power supply.

Further, the bus 50 is provided with a display device 52 and an input device 54 for confirming the operation of the above-described moving device 40 and the like at the time of shipping inspection and operation check of the cup-type vending machine 10 and the like. The display device 52 is connected to the display device 52 in accordance with an instruction input to the input device 54 under the control of the CPU 44, and various controls of the cup-type vending machine 10 are performed. Also, the input device 5
Reference numeral 4 corresponds to the setting means of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 6, the control device 42 has a configuration in which the above-mentioned display device 52 and input device 54 are arranged. The input device 54 has command keys for executing various commands. (For example, a selection key 54a, a beverage key 54b, a timer key 54c, an operation key 54d, etc.), an arrow key 54f for moving a cursor or the like displayed on the display device 52, a numeric keypad 54g for inputting a number or the like. It is composed of a setting key 54e for determining execution of various commands and the like. The display device 52
In this embodiment, a liquid crystal display device is used.

In the present embodiment, the control device 42 enables various settings in the cup-type vending machine 10 by operating the input device 54. The various settings include, for example, a fee setting for a drink to be sold, Mixing ratio of raw materials,
The type (size) of the cup stored in the cup supply device 30 described above, the cup pre-removal performed when a single cup is stored in the cup supply device 30 (details will be described later), and the cup pre-removal are set. It is possible to set a cup discarding setting for discarding a cup after a predetermined time when it is set, and to set (details will be described later). The setting contents are
The data is written to the RAM 48 of the control device 42.

As shown in FIG. 5, a coin processing control unit 56, a bill processing control unit 58, a customer service control unit 60, and a sales control unit 62 are connected to the control unit 42 as a plurality of sub control units. Specifically, the same CP as that of the control device 42 is used.
U, ROM, and RAM to internal organs. The coin mechanism 64 includes a change-out sensor for detecting change-out, and the coin slot 1
The coins received from the coin 6 are returned, and change is returned from the return port 28 if necessary. Coin processing control unit 56
Controls the coin mechanism 64, discriminates the denomination of the inserted coin, true / false, etc., calculates the number of denominations, stores surplus coins in the safe,
The change is paid out. Biribari 66
As with the coin mechanism 64, the coin mechanism 64 is provided with a fishing-card out-of-fishing sensor for detecting the fishing-card expiration, and is returned from the bill insertion slot 18. The bill processing control unit 58 controls the bi-bari 66,
It is used to determine the denomination and true / false of the inserted bill, calculate the number of denominations, pay out bills, and the like. The coin processing control unit 56 and the bill processing control unit 58 execute processing operations each time coin insertion and bill insertion are performed. In addition, the coin processing control unit 56 and the bill processing control unit 58 correspond to the detecting unit of the present invention.

The customer service section 68 includes a display section 24, a plurality of product selection buttons 20 provided for a plurality of types of beverage samples, a lamp indicating that the product is on sale, discontinued, or has run out of change.
It is provided with. The customer service control unit 60 controls the customer service unit 68. In other words, the customer service control unit 60 turns on a lamp indicating that the product is on sale, discontinues sales, or runs out of change, or turns on a sellable lamp or a sold-out lamp for each drink sold, according to the customer service instruction regarding beverage sales from the control device 42. Further, it detects which of the plurality of product selection buttons 20 has been pressed, and transmits a detection signal at this time to the control device 42. The sales control unit 62, in accordance with the sales instruction from the control device 42 in response to the detection signal from the customer service control unit 60, to cook the desired beverage of the user, the vertical moving means 40a in the above-described moving device 40 and While controlling the lateral moving means 40b, the cup supply device 30,
Raw material supply device 32, diluent supply device 34, stirring device 3
6, and controls the cup holding device 38.

Various programs for selling beverages include:
The cup-type vending machine 10 is stored in the ROM 46 of the control device 42 described above, and is controlled according to the program. Further, the ROM 46 stores a movement pattern according to the drink to be sold in the cup by the moving device 40 when selling various beverages, and operation patterns of the various devices on the movement pattern.

The cup holding device 3 by the moving device 40 in the cup type vending machine 10 according to the present embodiment.
The movement position of each of the beverages 8 is determined in advance by a stage that moves for each beverage to be sold.
Is defined. As shown in FIG. 7, a plurality of stages are defined. Specifically, the origin position G is set to the stage coordinates (0, 0), and X
The axis and the Y axis are as shown in FIG. 8, respectively. The X axis indicates the moving direction distance by the horizontal moving means 40b, and the Y axis indicates the moving direction distance by the vertical moving means 40a. Each stage has an origin position G, a topping receiving position TP, a sugar receiving position S, and a cream receiving position C.
R, whip receiving position WH, coffee receiving position CO, mix 3 (for example, cocoa, etc.) receiving position M2, Miss 2 (for example, tea, etc.) receiving position M
3. Cold cooking position A1, hot cooking position A2, PI
X1 discharge position P1, mix 4 (for example, tea) receiving position M4, PIX1 pre-discharge position RP1, MIX4
Pre-receiving position RM4, mix 5 (eg, juice) receiving position M5, MIX5 pre-receiving position RM
5, PXT discharge position P2, PXT2 pre-discharge position RP2,
Cup 1 receiving position C1, Cup 2 receiving position C
2, the receiving position C3 of the cup 3, the passing position D1 before the cup discarding position, the D2 before the cup discarding position, the D3 after the cup discarding position,
Passing position D4 after cup discard position, E before selling cup position
1. The sales port cup position E2.

The moving pattern according to the drink to be sold in the cup by the moving device 40 when selling the above-mentioned various drinks is, for example, cold syrup, hot syrup, hot instant coffee (containing sugar and cream), hot instant coffee. (With sugar), hot instant coffee (with cream), hot instant coffee (with black), cold instant coffee (with sugar and cream), cold instant coffee (with sugar), cold instant coffee (with cream), cold instant coffee ( Black), hot mix, cold mix and other beverage types have different movement patterns. For example, a movement pattern of hot instant coffee (containing sugar and cream) is shown in FIG. 7 as an example. That is, the movement pattern when cooking hot instant coffee moves from the origin position G to the cup receiving position C1 (), followed by the coffee receiving position CO (), the cream receiving position CR (), and the sugar receiving position S (). , The hot cooking position A2 (), and then return to the sales port cup position E1 (), sales port cup position E2 (), sales port cup position E1 (), and then move to the origin position G (). .

Next, the operation of the cup-type vending machine 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Note that the flowchart shown in FIG. 9 shows the flow of processing performed by the control device 42.

At step 100, it is determined whether or not a fee has been received. That is, money is inserted by a user from a coin insertion slot or a bill insertion slot, the coin processing control unit 56 or the bill processing control unit 58 controls the coin mechanism 64 or the bill validator 66, and the denomination, true or false of the inserted coin or inserted bill. Such as discrimination,
Calculation of the number of denominations is performed, and the customer service unit 68 is controlled by the customer service control unit 60, and it is determined whether or not the sellable lamp and the sold-out lamp for each drink sold are turned on. If the determination is negative, the process waits until the determination is affirmative. If the determination is positive, the process proceeds to step 102.

In step 102, the dispenser 30
It is determined whether the cups stored in a and 30b have the same setting. This determination is made by reading the contents stored in the RAM 48 and determining whether or not the cup setting has been made the same by the input device 54. The setting of the cup type is set (stored in the RAM 48) by operating the input device 54 in advance.

If the determination in step 102 is affirmative, the routine proceeds to step 104, where it is determined whether or not the setting is for the cup preliminary removal. This determination is also made by reading the contents stored in the RAM 48 and determining whether or not the input device 54 is set in advance so that the cup is removed, as in step 102. If the determination in step 104 is affirmative, step 1
08. Note that the cup advance removal setting is set (stored in the RAM 48) by operating the input device 54 in advance, similarly to the setting of the cup type.

On the other hand, steps 102 and 104
Is negative, the routine proceeds to step 106, where the normal operation is performed.

Here, a normal selling operation will be described. In a normal selling operation, it is detected whether or not the product selection button 20 is pressed by the user, and when the product selection button 20 is pressed, a detection signal is transmitted to the control device 42, and the detection signal is transmitted to the controller 42. The responded sales instruction is output from control device 42 to sales control unit 62. Then, the sales control unit 62
Then, in order to cook the desired beverage of the user, the vertical moving means 40a and the horizontal moving means 40b in the moving device 40 are used.
, And controls the cup supply device 30, the raw material supply device 32, the diluent supply device 34, the stirring device 36, and the cup holding device 38. The control of the plurality of devices is controlled according to a program for selling beverages stored in the ROM 46. That is, when the user presses the product selection button and selects a purchased product, a sales command is output from the control device 42,
The moving device 40 is driven to move the cup holding device 38 below the cup supply device 30.

When the cup holding device 38 reaches the position immediately below the delivery position of the cup C, the cup C corresponding to the selected beverage is set.
Are selectively sent out and held by the holding arms L and R of the cup holding device 38.

The cup holding device 38 holding the cup C
Is moved below the required shooter by the moving device 40. For example, if the selected product is coffee containing sugar, first, the cup C is positioned immediately below the shooter 33c and stopped, and a required amount of coffee is supplied from the material feed port of the tank 32c. Next, the cup C is positioned just below the shooter 33f and stopped, and a required amount of sugar is similarly supplied from the tank 32f. Next, the cup C is positioned just below the impeller 36b and the nozzle 34c and stopped, and the impeller 36b is lowered into the cup C, the valve 34b is opened, and a required amount of hot water is injected from the tip of the nozzle 34c. Rotate the wheel 36b to completely dissolve the coffee and sugar. The impeller 36b is pulled up from the cup C after rotating for a predetermined time. When the lifting of the impeller 36b is completed, the cup holding device 38 holding the cup C containing the prepared beverage is moved to the position of the product outlet 14 by the moving device 40. Then, when the user takes out the cup C from the product outlet 14, the sales are completed.

On the other hand, when the determination in the above steps 102 and 104 is affirmed and the process proceeds to step 108, an instruction to move the cup holding device 38 to the origin position is output to the sales control unit 62, and the sales control unit 62 moves Vertical moving means 40a and horizontal moving means 4 of the device 40
0b is controlled, and the cup holding device 38 is moved to the origin position.

Subsequently, in step 110, an instruction is given to move the cup holding device 38 to the cup supply position.
That is, the sales control section 62 controls the vertical moving means 40 a and the horizontal moving means 40 b of the moving device 40, and moves the cup holding device 38 to a position immediately below the cup supply device 30.

In step 112, a cup supply is instructed, and the cup C is supplied from the cup supply device 30 to the cup holding device 38. At this time, the dispenser 30
Since the same cup is stored in each of the dispensers 30a and 30b, the cup may be supplied from any of the dispensers 30a and 30b.

As described above, the dispensers 30a and 30b
If the types of cups stored in the container are the same and the cup advance removal setting is made, the cup holding device is moved to the cup supply position along with the receipt of the charge (coin insertion or bill insertion), Is controlled to be supplied from the cup supply device 30, which is different from a conventional cup-type vending machine in which control for supplying a cup after the product selection button 20 is pressed is performed.
The selling operation time of the cup-type vending machine 10 can be shortened.

In step 114, it is determined whether or not there is a cup discard setting. The determination is made by reading the contents stored in the RAM 48 and determining whether or not the input device 54 has set the cup discarding. Note that the cup discarding setting refers to a setting for discarding the cup supplied to the cup holding device 38 when a predetermined time has elapsed. The cup discarding setting is set by operating the input device 54 in advance (stored in the RAM 48). ).

If the determination at step 114 is affirmative, the routine proceeds to step 116, where it is determined whether or not a set time set in advance by the input device 54 has elapsed. If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step 118, where it is determined whether the return lever 26 has been operated. Step 1
If the determination at step 18 is negative, step 116 is repeated.
Then, it is determined whether the set time has elapsed.

If the determination at step 116 or the determination at step 118 is affirmative, step 120
Then, the charge return instruction is output to the coin processing control unit 56 and the bill processing control unit 58, and the charge is returned to the return port.

Then, in step 122, an instruction to discard the cup is issued. That is, the sales control unit 62 controls the vertical moving means 40a and the horizontal moving means 40b of the moving device 40, and moves the cup holding device 38 to the cup disposal position (the position between D1 and D2 shown in FIG. 7). Then, the cup is discarded, and a series of processing is completed.

After coins and bills are inserted into the cup-type vending machine 10 and the cup is supplied to the cup holding device 38,
If the cup is left for a long time, there is a concern that trash and the like may be mixed. However, in the cup-type vending machine 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, when the cup disposal setting is performed, the set time elapses or When the operation of the return lever 26 is performed, the cup is discarded, so that dust and the like can be prevented from being mixed into the beverage.

On the other hand, if the determination at step 114 is negative, the routine goes to step 124, where the return lever 26
It is determined whether or not has been operated. If the determination is denied, the process proceeds to step 126, where a charge return instruction is output to the coin processing control unit 56 or the bill processing control unit 58, the charge is returned to the return slot, and a series of processing is terminated. You.

If the determination in step 124 is negative, the process proceeds to step 128, where it is determined whether or not the product selection button 20 has been turned on. That is, it is determined whether or not the desired product selection button 20 has been pressed by the user. If the determination is negative, step 124 is repeated.
To determine whether the return lever 26 has been operated.

If the determination in step 128 is affirmative, that is, if the desired product selection button 20 is pressed by the user, the detection signal is sent to the control unit 4.
2 and the sales support responding to the detection signal is output from the controller 42 to the sales controller 62. Then, the sales control unit 62 controls the vertical moving means 40a and the horizontal moving means 40b in the moving device 40 in order to cook the desired beverage of the user, and also controls the cup supplying device 30, the raw material supplying device 32, The diluent supply device 34, the stirring device 36, and the cup holding device 38 are controlled, the desired product is cooked into the cup, and the cup is moved to the product outlet 14, whereby the selling operation is performed. , A series of processing ends.

In the above embodiment, the cup is supplied to the cup holding device 38 by coin insertion or bill insertion. However, the cup is supplied to the cup holding device 38 at the end of sales. Even if it does in this way, it is possible to shorten a selling operation, and it may be set to any by the input device 54.

In the above embodiment, when the cup discard setting is made, coin insertion or bill insertion is performed, and the commodity selection button 20 is not pressed for a predetermined time, the cup is discarded and the inserted coin or coin is discarded. Although the inserted bill is returned, the moving device 40 and the cup supply device 30 may be controlled to supply the cup again.

In the above embodiment, the beverage is purchased with coins or bills. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a prepaid card corresponding to a beverage fee, and a coin corresponding to a beverage fee may be used. It is good also as composition which purchases or supplies a drink with a card or the like.

[0071]

As described above, according to the present invention, when it is detected that the fee has been received by the fee receiving detecting means for detecting that the fee for purchasing the beverage has been received, the cup supplying means detects the fee. Since the control for supplying the cup to the moving means is performed, the time until the user operates the selection button or the like for selecting the product can be effectively used, and the selling time can be shortened. There is.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an overview of a cup-type vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an internal mechanism of the cup-type vending machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a stirring device.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a moving device.

5 is a block diagram for explaining the basic operation of the cup type automatic vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a control device in which an input device and a display device are arranged.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a movement position of the cup holding device and a movement pattern according to a beverage.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a coordinate position of a movement position of the cup holding device.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing performed by a control device in the cup-type vending machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 cup-type vending machine 30 cup supply device 30a, 30b, 30c dispenser 40 moving device 40a vertical moving device 40b horizontal moving device 42 control device 44 CPU 46 ROM 48 RAM 54 input device 56 coin processing control section 58 bill processing control Department 62 Sales Control Department

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A cup-type vending machine for cooking a beverage by moving a cup at a plurality of predetermined positions, a moving means for moving the cup to the plurality of positions, and supplying the cup to the moving means. A cup supply unit, a detection unit that detects that an input of a price for the beverage has been made before the instruction to cook the beverage, and a detection output when the detection unit detects the input. Control means for performing control for supplying a cup from the cup supply means to the moving means, comprising: a cup-type vending machine. 2. A cup-type vending machine for cooking a beverage by moving a cup to a plurality of predetermined positions, a moving means for moving the cup to the plurality of positions, and accommodating a plurality of types of cups. And a cup supply unit for supplying any one of the plurality of types of cups to the moving unit; a setting unit for setting a type of the cup to be stored in the cup supply unit; , Detecting means for detecting that the input of the price of the beverage has been made, and when a single cup is set by the setting means,
Control means for performing control for supplying a cup from the cup supply means to the moving means based on a detection output when the detection means detects the input, a cup-type automatic vending machine comprising: Machine. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit further controls to discard the cup supplied to the moving unit when the instruction to cook the beverage is not given for a predetermined time. Item 3. A cup-type vending machine according to item 2.