JP2003044914A - Inspecting method for automatic vending machine, recording medium with recorded program thereof, and controller of automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inspecting method for an automatic vending machine which requires no mass-storage device for the controller and makes it easy to change inspection contents, and to provide a recording medium where its program is recorded, and a controller of the automatic vending machine. SOLUTION: The inspection program 31 for the automatic vending machine is stored on a removable memory card 30; when the automatic vending machine is inspected, the memory card 30 is loaded in a memory card interface 14 of the controller 10 and the processing of a CPU 11 is shifted to the inspection program 31 recorded on the memory card 30.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to inspection of vending machines before and after shipment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, the operation inspection of a vending machine before shipment is roughly classified into an operation inspection of the control device itself and an operation inspection of the entire vending machine accompanying the operation of the control device. These operation inspections are performed by preliminarily storing an inspection program in a storage device provided in the control device and executing the inspection program. And
In the operation inspection of the control device itself, the operation is confirmed by connecting a dedicated inspection device to the control device, executing the inspection program, and confirming the inspection result displayed on the inspection device. On the other hand, in the operation inspection of the entire vending machine, the inspection program is executed to confirm the operation of each device such as the display lamp and the compressor.

[0003]

However, the conventional inspection method has a problem that the inspection cannot be performed in the first place when the inspection program is destroyed.
There is also a problem that a large-capacity storage device is required because it is necessary to secure a storage area for the inspection program in the storage device of the control device. Furthermore, since the inspection program is stored in the storage device in advance, it is difficult to deal with changes in the inspection content.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to automatically change inspection contents without requiring a large-capacity storage device for a control device. An object of the present invention is to provide a method for inspecting a vending machine, a recording medium having the program recorded therein, and a controller for an automatic vending machine.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a method for inspecting a vending machine equipped with a control device to which a removable recording medium can be connected.
It is proposed to connect a recording medium on which an inspection program is recorded to a control device, and the control device executes the inspection program recorded on the recording medium to inspect the vending machine. .

According to the present invention, since the inspection program is recorded on the recording medium detachable from the control device, the recording medium is mounted on the control device, and the control device executes the inspection program. The vending machine can be reliably inspected. Therefore, the storage area of the storage device of the control device can be effectively used, and the inspection contents can be changed without making any changes to the vending machine. Especially, the latter advantage is effective in the inspection after the vending machine is put on the market.

As an example of a preferred aspect of the present invention, the inspection program drives and controls a controlled device connected to the control device to perform a predetermined inspection operation, and confirms the operation of the controlled device. By doing so, the output inspection of the control device is performed. Thereby, the connection between the control device and each controlled device and the state of each controlled device can be confirmed.

As another example of the preferred embodiment, a predetermined inspection input is performed using an input device connected to the control device, and the inspection program confirms an input signal from the input device. The input inspection of the control device may be performed by. As a result, the state of the control device itself, the connection state between the control device and the input device, and the state of each input device can be confirmed.

Further, as another example of a preferred embodiment, an output device is connected to a connection terminal for a controlled device or an input device provided in the control device, and the inspection program causes the output device to perform a predetermined inspection. For example, it is possible to perform an output inspection of the control device by controlling the drive so as to output the output and confirming the output content of the output device. Thereby, the state of the control device itself can be confirmed.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION An inspection method for an automatic vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a control system of the vending machine, and FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a main body inspection of the vending machine.

As shown in FIG. 1, the controller 10 of the vending machine includes a compressor 21, a blower (not shown), a lamp 22 attached to a product selection button 24, and a 7-segment LED.
A controlled device such as a display unit 23 including the above, and input devices such as a product selection button 24, a coin identification device (not shown), and a temperature sensor (not shown) are connected. These devices are connected to the control device 1 via a connection terminal (connector) 25.
Connect to 0. The control device 10 operates the vending machine by inputting and outputting various signals with these devices. The memory card 30 can be attached to and detached from the control device 10. The control device 10 can execute various programs stored in the memory card 30.

The control device 10 includes a CPU 11, a ROM 12 in which a control program 18 for normal operation is stored,
RAM 13, memory card interface 14, I
The I / O port 15 and the bus 16 for connecting them are provided. The I / O port 15 is connected to a controller 19 for an administrator arranged inside the front door of the vending machine. The controller 19 is provided with an inspection button (not shown) for instructing the start of inspection. The I / O port 15 is connected to a connection terminal 17 that fits with the connection terminal 25. The memory card interface 14 is configured so that the memory card 30 can be inserted and removed. When the memory card 30 is attached to the memory card interface 14, the storage area of the memory card 30 from the CPU 11 constitutes a part of the memory space.

The memory card 30 comprises a non-volatile recording medium or a backed up volatile recording medium and is portable. In this embodiment, a flash ROM is used as the recording medium. An inspection program 31 for inspecting the vending machine is stored in the memory card 30. The inspection program 31 mainly includes a main body inspection program that inspects the vending machine main body and a board inspection program that mainly inspects the control device 10 itself, such as an operation inspection of electronic components on a mounting board of the control device 10. There is. The inspection operation by each program will be described later.

This vending machine is operated by the control program 18 stored in the ROM 12 at normal times such as when selling products or when performing management work by the administrator using the controller 19. Since the normal operation of the control program 18 is the same as the conventional one, its explanation is omitted here.

When performing the inspection by the above-described board inspection program among the inspections of the vending machine, as shown in FIG. 2, the connection terminal 25 to which various devices such as the compressor 21 are connected is connected to the control device 10. The display device 40 is removed from the connection terminal 17, and the display device 40 is connected to the connection terminal 17 via the connection terminal 41. The display device 40 is for confirming the operation at the time of inspecting the board, and is composed of, for example, a plurality of LEDs.

Next, the operation of the vending machine according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. Figure 3
Is a flowchart for explaining the process of shifting the operation from the normal control to the inspection, FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation by the main body inspection program, and FIG.

The controller 10 turns on the ROM 12 when the power is turned on.
When the operation by the control program 18 stored in the memory card is started, as shown in FIG. 3, it is first checked whether or not the memory card 30 is attached to the memory card interface 14 (step S1). When the memory card 30 is not attached, the normal control operation is started (step S2). Description of this normal control operation is omitted. When the pressing of the inspection button of the controller 19 is detected during this normal control operation (step S3), it is checked whether the memory card 30 is attached to the memory card interface 14 (step S4). When the memory card 30 is attached, the processing of the CPU 11 is shifted to the main body inspection program of the inspection programs 31 recorded in the memory card 30 (step S5).

On the other hand, if the memory card 30 is attached when the power is turned on, it is checked whether the display device 40 is connected to the connection terminal 17 (step S6). When the display device 40 is connected, the memory card 3
The processing of the CPU 11 is shifted to the board inspection program among the inspection programs 31 recorded in 0 (step S7).

Next, the inspection by the main body inspection program will be described with reference to FIG. First, it is confirmed whether the data stored in the ROM 12 and the RAM 13 provided in the control device 10 are normal (step S11). Next, when the inspector presses the product selection button 24,
The operation of the product selection button 24 and the lamp 22 is confirmed by turning on the lamp 22 attached to the button 24 (step S12). Then, the inspection result is displayed on the display unit 23 (step S13).

Next, the inspection by the board inspection program will be described with reference to FIG. First, the operation of various electronic components mounted on the control device 10 is checked (step S21), and if an error is found, the location of the error is displayed on the display device 40 (step S2).
2). On the other hand, if the operation check of the electronic component is passed, then the output of the I / O port 15 is confirmed (step S2).
3). This output confirmation method is performed by displaying predetermined contents on the display device 40 connected to the I / O port 15 and allowing the inspector to confirm the validity of the contents. Therefore, when the I / O port 15 has a defect, the defect is displayed on the display device 40 as it is (step S22). Then, when the check of the I / O port 15 is passed, a display indicating that it is normal is output to the display device 40 (step S24).

As described above, according to the inspection method for the vending machine according to the present embodiment, the inspection program 31 is recorded in the memory card 30.
It is possible to reliably inspect the vending machine by mounting the on the controller 10 and executing the inspection program 31. Specifically, the main body inspection program of the inspection program 31 can check the memory data of the ROM 12 and the RAM 13 and inspect the product selection button 24 and the lamp 22. The board inspection program of the inspection program 31 can inspect various electronic components mounted on the controller 10 and inspect output signals from the I / O port 15.

As described above, according to this inspection method, the storage areas of the ROM 12 and the RAM 13 of the control device 10 can be effectively used. Further, the inspection contents can be changed by changing the inspection program 31 recorded in the memory card 30 without making any changes to the vending machine. Especially, the latter advantage is effective in the inspection after the vending machine is put on the market.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this. The scope of the invention is indicated by the claims, and all the modifications are included in the invention.

For example, in the above embodiment, the electrically rewritable flash ROM is used as the recording medium for recording the inspection program, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it may be another electrically rewritable recording medium or an electrically non-rewritable recording medium.
Further, for example, a magnetic recording medium such as a flexible disk or an IC card may be used. In addition, another recording medium may be used as long as it can record the inspection program. Furthermore, the connection between the recording medium and the control device may be wired or wireless.

Further, in the above embodiment, the board inspection program shown in FIG. 5 is executed after confirming the insertion of the memory card as shown in FIG. 3, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, switching means such as jumper pins are provided in advance on the board to be inspected, and when the board is inspected, the board inspection program shown in FIG. 5 is immediately executed by switching the jumper pins and then turning on the power. You may

Further, in the above embodiment, the display device 40 is connected to the control device 10 when the board inspection is carried out, and the quality of the control board is judged by the display contents of the display device 40. Display device 40 if
Instead of this, other devices may be connected. For example, a device that outputs an inspection result by a sound such as a buzzer sound may be connected, or a device that uses both sound output and display output may be connected.

[0027]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
Since the inspection program is recorded on a recording medium which can be attached to and detached from the control device, this recording medium is attached to the control device,
Since the control device executes the inspection program, it is possible to reliably inspect the vending machine. Therefore, the storage area of the storage device of the control device can be effectively used, and the inspection contents can be changed without making any changes to the vending machine. Especially, the latter advantage is effective in the inspection after the vending machine is put on the market.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 Block diagram of a control system of a vending machine

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a main body inspection of a vending machine.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a process of shifting an operation from normal control to inspection.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the main body inspection program.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation by a board inspection program.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Control device, 11 ... CPU, 12 ... ROM, 13 ...
RAM, 14 ... Memory card interface, 15 ... I
/ O port, 16 ... Bus, 17 ... Connection terminal, 18 ... Control program, 19 ... Controller, 21 ... Compressor, 22
… Lamp, 23… Display, 24… Product selection button, 30
... memory card, 31 ... inspection program, 40 ... display device

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A method for inspecting a vending machine equipped with a control device to which a removable recording medium can be connected, comprising connecting a recording medium on which an inspection program is recorded to the control device. A method for inspecting a vending machine, which comprises inspecting the vending machine by executing an inspection program recorded on a recording medium. 2. The output inspection of the control device is performed by the drive control of the controlled device connected to the control device by the inspection program so as to perform a predetermined inspection operation, and by confirming the operation of the controlled device. The method for inspecting a vending machine according to claim 1, wherein: 3. An input inspection of the control device is performed by performing a predetermined inspection input using an input device connected to the control device, and the inspection program confirms an input signal from the input device. The method for inspecting a vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the inspection method is for a vending machine. 4. An output device is connected to a connection terminal for a controlled device or an input device provided in a control device, and the inspection program is drive-controlled to perform a predetermined inspection output to the output device. The output inspection of the control device is performed by confirming the output contents of the output device.
4. The method for inspecting a vending machine according to any one of 3 to 3. 5. A recording medium in which an inspection program for a vending machine is recorded and which is attachable to and detachable from a control device of the vending machine, wherein the inspection program is a controlled device connected to a control device of the vending machine. A recording medium recording an inspection program for a vending machine, characterized in that the control device is caused to function as a means for driving and controlling the device so as to perform a predetermined inspection operation. 6. A recording medium in which an inspection program for a vending machine is recorded and which is attachable to and detachable from a control device of the vending machine, wherein the inspection program is an input device connected to the control device of the vending machine. A recording medium in which an inspection program for a vending machine is recorded, which causes a control device to function as a means for inspecting an input device by checking an input signal from the device. 7. A recording medium in which an inspection program for a vending machine is recorded and which can be attached to and detached from a control device of the vending machine, wherein the inspection program is predetermined in an output device connected to an output terminal of the control device. A recording medium storing an inspection program for a vending machine, characterized in that a control device is caused to function as a drive control means for performing the inspection output. 8. A connecting means for connecting a removable recording medium, and a means for transferring arithmetic processing to the inspection program when a recording medium recording an inspection program for a vending machine is connected to the connecting means. A vending machine provided with a control device having: