JP2007241704A - Controller of vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a controller for selling articles with coins or pseudo coins regarding a vending machine for selling the plurality of articles of different prices. <P>SOLUTION: The controller is provided with a value setting means 3 for setting a monetary value to the pseudo coin and a monetary value computing means 4 for computing the monetary value of a received pseudo coin on the basis of contents set in the value setting means 3. A computation control part 5a computes the monetary value for the received pseudo coin, compares it with the selling price of the article, and determines that the article can be sold when the computed monetary value is equal to or more than the sales price. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a control device for a vending machine that sells products using coins or pseudo coins.

The control device of a conventional vending machine counts the number of pseudo coins inserted by a discriminator with a counting function such as coins, and outputs a discrimination signal when a predetermined number of coins are inserted. There has been disclosed a device that can use an amusement game machine or the like (for example, see Patent Document 1). In addition, there is a vending machine disclosed in which a prepaid card processing device and a vending machine can sell goods and exchange money value data with a prepaid card having money value data (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
JP-A-6-36119 JP-A-8-83373

  However, in the conventional configuration, the discriminator with counting function such as coins outputs the discriminating signal when a predetermined number of coins are inserted. In vending machines selling a plurality of products with different prices, There is a problem that a product that can be sold cannot be specified with only one identification signal. In addition, the prepaid card processing device and the vending machine are designed to sell or cash on the basis of the price value data that the prepaid card has, and cannot be applied to pseudo coins that do not have price value data. It had the problem that.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a control device for a vending machine capable of selling commodities with coins or pseudo coins.

  In order to solve the conventional problem, the control device of the vending machine according to the present invention calculates a monetary value for a pseudo coin that is input based on a preset monetary value for each pseudo coin, Compared with the selling price, it is determined whether or not the selling is possible.

  As a result, even if it is a pseudo coin that does not have a monetary value, the monetary value of the inserted pseudo coin is calculated and compared with the selling price of the product to determine whether it can be sold or not. A vending machine that sells can also sell products.

  In addition, the control device of the vending machine of the present invention adds the amount value of the pseudo coin and the amount value of the coin when compared with the selling price of the product when the pseudo coin and the coin are set to be used simultaneously. It is determined whether it can be sold.

  As a result, the product can be sold by combining the pseudo coin and the coin.

  Further, the control device of the vending machine according to the present invention displays the value of the inserted pseudo coin or coin on the value display means.

  As a result, the product purchaser can easily confirm the value of the inserted pseudo coins and can purchase the product.

  In addition, the control device of the vending machine of the present invention stores and displays the number of pseudo coins used and the value of the amount of money used for the sale of products sold by pseudo coins.

  As a result, the administrator of the vending machine can confirm the contents sold with the pseudo coins with the number of the pseudo coins used and the value of the money, and can easily perform the settlement of the product.

  In addition, the control device of the vending machine according to the present invention is configured to set a time zone in which the vending machine can be sold with pseudo coins.

  As a result, it is possible to prevent sale with pseudo coins at night or in a time zone when there is no manager of the vending machine, and to prevent mischief such as purchasing merchandise without using regular pseudo coins.

  The control device of the vending machine according to the present invention calculates the monetary value of the inserted pseudo coin even if it is a pseudo coin that does not have a monetary value, and determines whether it can be sold or not by comparing it with the selling price of the product. A vending machine that sells a plurality of products with different prices can also sell products.

  Moreover, since the money value of the pseudo coin and the money value of the coin are added and compared with the selling price of the product to determine whether the product can be sold, the product can be sold by combining the pseudo coin and the coin.

  In addition, since the inserted pseudo coins and the monetary value of the coins are displayed, the merchandise purchaser can easily confirm the monetary value of the inserted pseudo coins and can purchase the merchandise.

  In addition, since the number of pseudo coins used and the value of the amount of money used for the sale of products sold with pseudo coins are stored and displayed, the administrator of the vending machine can use the contents sold with pseudo coins. It is possible to check the number of pseudo coins and the value of the coins, and to easily settle the product.

  Moreover, since it was made impossible to sell with pseudo coins at night or when there is no manager of the vending machine, it is possible to prevent mischief such as purchasing goods without using regular pseudo coins.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the vending machine accepts and identifies coins and pseudo coins, price storage means for storing the selling price of goods, and the value for setting the monetary value for the pseudo coins. Setting means, and monetary value calculating means for calculating the monetary value of the pseudo coin received based on the contents set by the value setting means, and when the pseudo coin is received, the monetary value calculating means Even if it is a pseudo coin that does not have a monetary value, it is calculated by comparing the calculated value with the selling price of the product and determining that the monetary value is more than the selling price. Since the monetary value of the pseudo coin is calculated and compared with the selling price of the product to determine whether or not the product can be sold, the vending machine that sells a plurality of products with different prices can sell the product with the pseudo coin.

  The invention according to claim 2 is set in the invention according to claim 1, further comprising simultaneous use setting means capable of selecting whether the pseudo coin and the coin can be used at the same time, wherein the pseudo coin and the coin can be used simultaneously. If the price value is equal to the price value of the coin, the result of the addition is compared with the sales price of the product, and if the price value is equal to or greater than the sales price, it is determined that the product can be sold. Since it is determined whether the sale is possible by comparing the monetary value with the selling price of the product, the product can be sold by combining the pseudo coin and the coin.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising money value display means for displaying the value of money received, calculating the money value of received coins and pseudo coins, and said money amount By displaying on the value display means, the value of the inserted pseudo coin or coin is displayed, so that the product purchaser can easily confirm the value of the inserted pseudo coin and purchase the product. .

  The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the sales contents storage means for storing the number of the pseudo coins used for the contents sold with the pseudo coins and the value of the money. And a sales content display means for displaying the sales content, storing the number of pseudo coins used and the value of the amount of money sold in the pseudo coin, and displaying the sales price on the sales content display means. Since the number of pseudo coins used and the value of the amount of money sold are displayed and stored, the administrator of the vending machine can easily settle the products sold with the pseudo coins. be able to.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a time zone setting means that can set a time zone that can be sold with pseudo coins, and a timer that manages the current date Means for enabling the sale with pseudo coins only when the current time is the time zone set by the time zone setting means, so that the pseudo coins can be used at night or in a time zone where there is no vending machine administrator. Since it is not possible to sell products on the market, it is possible to prevent mischief such as purchasing goods without using genuine pseudo coins.

  Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a control device for a vending machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control device of the vending machine according to the embodiment.

  In FIG. 1, coin identifying means 1 for receiving and identifying coins and pseudo coins, price storage means 2 for storing the selling price of goods, value setting means 3 for setting monetary value for pseudo coins, value setting means 3 is connected to money value calculation means 4 for calculating the money value of the received pseudo coin based on the contents set in 3, coin identification means 1, price storage means 2, value setting means 3, and money value calculation means 4. The calculation control unit 5a, when accepting the pseudo coin, calculates the monetary value of the pseudo coin by the monetary value calculation means 4, compares the calculated result with the selling price of the product, When the value is equal to or higher than the selling price, it is determined that the product can be sold.

  The operation of the vending machine control apparatus configured as described above will be described below.

  The calculation control unit 5a determines whether or not a pseudo coin has been accepted (STEP 1), and if accepted, calculates the monetary value of the pseudo coin by the monetary value calculation means 4 (STEP 2) and stores it in the price storage means 2 Compared with the selling price of the existing product (STEP 3), if the value is equal to or higher than the selling price, it is determined that the product can be sold (STEP 4).

  As described above, according to the control device of the vending machine of the present embodiment, when a pseudo coin is received, the amount value of the pseudo coin is calculated by the amount value calculation means 4, and the calculated result and the sales price of the product are calculated. By comparing and determining that the value can be sold when the value is equal to or higher than the sales price, the value of the inserted pseudo coin is calculated even if it is a pseudo coin that does not have the value. Therefore, it is possible to sell a product even with a vending machine that sells a plurality of products with different prices using pseudo coins.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the control device for the vending machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control device of the vending machine according to the embodiment. In addition, the thing of the same structure as Embodiment 1 attaches | subjects the same code | symbol, and abbreviate | omits the detailed description.

  In FIG. 3, a simultaneous use setting unit 6 that can select whether a pseudo coin and a coin can be used at the same time is provided, and the arithmetic control unit 5b is configured to display the monetary value of the pseudo coin when the pseudo coin and the coin can be used simultaneously. The monetary value of coins is added, the result of addition is compared with the selling price of the product, and if the monetary value is greater than or equal to the selling price, it is determined that the sale is possible.

  The operation of the vending machine control apparatus configured as described above will be described below.

  The calculation control unit 5b determines the setting contents in the simultaneous use setting means 6 (STEP 11), and if it is set that the pseudo coin and the coin can be used simultaneously, determines whether the pseudo coin or the coin is accepted (STEP 12). If accepted, the amount value of the pseudo coin calculated by the amount value calculation means 4 and the amount value of the coin are added (STEP 13) and compared with the sales price of the product stored in the price storage means 2 ( (STEP 14), if the value is equal to or higher than the selling price, it is determined that the sale is possible (STEP 15).

  As described above, according to the control device of the vending machine of the present embodiment, when it is set that the pseudo coin and the coin can be used at the same time, the value of the pseudo coin and the value of the coin are added, and the addition result And the sale price of the product is compared, and it is determined that the product can be sold when the monetary value is equal to or higher than the sale price, the product can be sold by combining the pseudo coin and the coin.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of the control device for the vending machine according to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control device of the vending machine according to the embodiment. In addition, the thing of the same structure as Embodiment 2 attaches | subjects the same code | symbol, and abbreviate | omits the detailed description.

  In FIG. 5, a money value display means 7 for displaying the money value received is provided, and the calculation control unit 5 c calculates the money value of the accepted coin and the pseudo coin and displays it on the money value display means 7.

  The operation of the vending machine control apparatus configured as described above will be described below.

  The calculation control unit 5c is set so that pseudo coins and coins can be used at the same time, accepts pseudo coins or coins, and adds the monetary value of the coins and the monetary value of the coins calculated by the monetary value calculation means 4 (STEP 11). To 13), when it is set that the pseudo coin and the coin cannot be used at the same time, the pseudo coin is accepted, and the amount value of the pseudo coin is calculated by the amount value calculation means 4 (STEPs 1-2). The amount value received is displayed on the value display means 7 (STEP 21).

  As described above, according to the control device of the vending machine of the present embodiment, the money value of the received coin and the pseudo coin is calculated and displayed on the money value display means 7, so Since coins and the value of coins are displayed, the product purchaser can easily confirm the value of the inserted pseudo coins and purchase the product.

(Embodiment 4)
FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram of the control device for the vending machine according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control device of the vending machine of the embodiment. In addition, the thing of the same structure as Embodiment 3 attaches | subjects the same code | symbol, and abbreviate | omits the detailed description.

  In FIG. 7, it comprises a sales content storage means 8 for storing the number of pseudo coins used for the content sold with pseudo coins and the value of the money, and a sales content display means 9 for displaying the sales content. The contents sold with the pseudo coins are stored in the sales contents display means 9 while storing the number of the pseudo coins used and the value of the money.

  The operation of the vending machine control apparatus configured as described above will be described below.

  The arithmetic control unit 5d determines whether or not it is sold with pseudo coins (STEP 31), and if sold with pseudo coins, stores the number of used pseudo coins and the value of the money in the sales content storage means 8 (STEP 32). When the manager of the vending machine confirms the sold contents, the sales contents display means 9 displays the number of the pseudo coins used for the contents sold with the pseudo coins and the value of the money (STEP 33).

  As described above, according to the control device of the vending machine of the present embodiment, the contents sold in pseudo coins are stored in the sales contents display means 9 while storing the number of pseudo coins used and the value of the money. By doing so, the contents sold by the pseudo coins can be confirmed by the number of the pseudo coins used and the value of the money, so the administrator of the vending machine can carry out the settlement of the products sold by the pseudo coins. It can be done easily.

(Embodiment 5)
FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram of the control device for the vending machine according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control device of the vending machine of the embodiment. In addition, the thing of the same structure as Embodiment 4 attaches | subjects the same code | symbol, and abbreviate | omits the detailed description.

  In FIG. 9, a time zone setting unit 10 that can set a time zone that can be sold with pseudo coins and a timer unit 11 that manages the current date and time are provided, and the arithmetic control unit 5 e uses the time zone setting unit 10 as the current time. Only when it is the set time zone, it is possible to sell with a pseudo coin.

  The operation of the vending machine control apparatus configured as described above will be described below.

  The calculation control unit 5e determines whether or not the current time is a time zone that can be sold with pseudo coins set by the time zone setting means 10 (STEP 41). If the pseudo coins are accepted in the time zone that can be sold, the money value calculation means. In step 4, the monetary value of the pseudo coin is calculated to determine whether the product can be sold (STEPs 1 to 3). On the other hand, if it is not time for sale, even if a pseudo coin is accepted, the price value calculation of the pseudo coin is not performed and the sale with the pseudo coin is disabled (STEP 42).

  As described above, according to the control device of the vending machine of the present embodiment, by allowing the sale with the pseudo coin only when the current time is the time zone set by the time zone setting means 10, Since it was made impossible to sell with pseudo coins at night or when there is no administrator of the vending machine, it is possible to prevent mischief such as purchasing goods without using regular pseudo coins.

  In addition, by not accepting the pseudo coins in the coin identifying means 1 for the operation in the present embodiment when it is not in a sellable time zone, it is possible to easily inform the product purchaser that the pseudo coins cannot be used. The effect that it can be obtained.

  As described above, the control device of the vending machine according to the present invention can sell a plurality of products having different prices even if it is a pseudo coin having no monetary value, and is not limited to a product vending machine. It can also be applied to devices that provide software and software.

Functional block diagram of the control device of the vending machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention The flowchart which shows operation | movement of the control apparatus of the vending machine by the embodiment Functional block diagram of the control device of the vending machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention The flowchart which shows operation | movement of the control apparatus of the vending machine by the embodiment Functional block diagram of the control device of the vending machine according to the third embodiment of the present invention The flowchart which shows operation | movement of the control apparatus of the vending machine by the embodiment Functional block diagram of the control device of the vending machine according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention The flowchart which shows operation | movement of the control apparatus of the vending machine by the embodiment Functional block diagram of the control device of the vending machine according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention The flowchart which shows operation | movement of the control apparatus of the vending machine by the embodiment

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Coin identification means 2 Price storage means 3 Value setting means 4 Amount value calculation means 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e Calculation control part 6 Simultaneous use setting means 7 Amount value display means 8 Sales content storage means 9 Sales content display means 10 Time zone setting means 11 Timer means

Claims (5)

  The vending machine includes coin identifying means for receiving and identifying coins and pseudo coins, price storage means for storing the selling price of goods, value setting means for setting a monetary value for the pseudo coins, and the value setting means. Amount value calculating means for calculating the amount value of the pseudo coin received based on the set content, and when the pseudo coin is received, the amount value of the pseudo coin is calculated by the amount value calculation means, A vending machine control device that compares the result with the sale price of the product and determines that the sale is possible when the value is equal to or greater than the sale price.   With simultaneous use setting means that can select whether the pseudo coins and coins can be used at the same time, and when the pseudo coins and the coins are set to be used simultaneously, add the monetary value of the pseudo coins and the monetary value of the coins, 2. The control device for a vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the result of addition is compared with the selling price of the product, and it is determined that the sale is possible when the value of the money is equal to or higher than the selling price.   The automatic value according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: a monetary value display means for displaying a deposited monetary value, wherein the monetary value of the received coin and the pseudo coin is calculated and displayed on the monetary value display means. Vending machine control device.   A sales content storage means for storing the number of pseudo coins used for the contents sold with the pseudo coins and the value of the price, and a sales content display means for displaying the sales contents, and the contents sold with the pseudo coins were used. 4. The control device for a vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the number of pseudo coins and the value of the money are stored and displayed on the sales content display means.   A time zone setting means that can set a time zone that can be sold with pseudo coins, and a timer means that manages the current date and time, and only when the current time is the time zone set by the time zone setting means The vending machine control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the vending machine can be sold on the market.

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