JP2008041031A - Article selection device for vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To ensure waterproofness, dust-proofness, durability and burglar-proofness simply and inexpensively even in an outdoor environment. <P>SOLUTION: An article selection device for a vending machine for selecting vended articles includes a display space 30 defined on a vending machine as a set of a plurality of unit display areas A30, contactless proximity switches 40 arranged in the plurality of unit display areas A30 with each detection part 41 facing outward, a cover panel 50 disposed on the vending machine to cover the detection part 41 of each proximity switch 40 and cover the entire display space 30, and article display sheets 60 removably disposed on the cover panel 50 to display vended articles. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a product selection device that is operated when a user selects a product in a vending machine.

  For example, in a vending machine that sells canned beverages and beverages in plastic bottles as products, a product display room is provided in front of the main body cabinet, and product samples are arranged in the product display room. A push button switch is provided for each product sample. The opening of the commodity display room is covered with a transparent cover panel, and only the push button of the push button switch is exposed to the outside through the opening provided in the cover panel.

  In this type of vending machine, when a pushbutton switch is turned on by a user, a product selection signal corresponding to the pushbutton switch is output, and other sales conditions such as payment are satisfied. As a result, the product corresponding to the selection signal is paid out to the user (for example, see Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent No. 3634040

  By the way, the outdoors may be selected as the installation location of the vending machine, and in this case, it is sufficiently expected that the cover panel is exposed to wind and rain and dust. For this reason, in the product selection apparatus as described above, it is necessary to ensure waterproofness and dustproofness, such as interposing a packing between the cover panel and the push button, and the number of parts is increased. In addition, as the number of parts increases, manufacturing operations become complicated and manufacturing costs increase. In particular, in a vending machine that handles a large number of products, the number of packings handled increases according to the number of products, and the above-described problem becomes more prominent. Furthermore, when considering the durability and anti-theft property of the vending machine, a cover panel having a large number of openings is disadvantageous in strength and is not necessarily preferable.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a product selection device that can easily and inexpensively ensure waterproofness, dustproofness, durability, and antitheft even when a vending machine is installed outdoors. Is to provide.

  In order to achieve the above object, a product selection device for a vending machine according to claim 1 of the present invention is a product selection device for a vending machine that selects a product for sale, and is an aggregate of a plurality of unit display areas. A display space provided in the vending machine, a non-contact type proximity switch disposed in the plurality of unit display areas with each detection unit facing outward, and a detection unit of each proximity switch; and A cover panel disposed in the vending machine in an aspect covering the entire display space, and a commodity display sheet that is detachably disposed on the cover panel and displays a commodity for sale.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the product selection device for a vending machine according to the first aspect, wherein the unit display area has a rectangular shape, and the display space has a plurality of unit display areas vertically and horizontally. It is characterized by having an arranged rectangular shape.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the product selection device for a vending machine according to the first aspect, wherein the product display sheet visually recognizes whether or not adjacent unit display areas are connected and set. It is arranged on the cover panel in an aspect.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the commodity selection device for a vending machine according to the third aspect, wherein the commodity display sheet disposed in the plurality of unit display areas connected to each other is any one unit display. The detection unit of the proximity switch arranged in the region is made visible to the outside, and the detection unit of the proximity switch arranged in another unit display region is covered.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the product selection device for a vending machine according to the fourth aspect described above, wherein the unit display area has a rectangular shape, and a proximity switch is disposed at a lower corner of each unit display area. And the display space is configured in a rectangular shape in which a plurality of unit display areas are arranged vertically and horizontally, and a product display sheet disposed in the plurality of unit display areas that are set in a connected manner is below the plurality of unit display areas. The detection part of the proximity switch arrange | positioned in one corner part is made to visually recognize outside.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the product selection device for a vending machine according to the first aspect, wherein the proximity switch is based on a change in capacitance when an object comes close to the detection unit. It is characterized by outputting a selection signal.

  According to the present invention, since it is possible to select a product via the proximity switch detection unit without providing an opening in the cover panel, a separate part is prepared even when the vending machine is installed outdoors. Therefore, waterproof, dustproof, durable, and antitheft can be easily and inexpensively secured.

  Exemplary embodiments of a product selection device for a vending machine according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an external front view of a vending machine to which a product selection device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system thereof. The vending machine illustrated here sells as a product a beverage in a container such as a canned beverage or a beverage in a plastic bottle accommodated in the product storage rack 20 of the main body cabinet 10. In the present embodiment, a vending machine is provided in which a plurality of product storage racks 20 are provided inside the main body cabinet 10 and the bend mech 20a of these product storage racks 20 is driven so that products can be paid out individually. is doing.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a coin insertion slot 12, a bill insertion slot 13, an integrated indicator 14, a coin return slot 15, and a commodity outlet 16 are provided on the outer door 11 that constitutes the front surface of the main body cabinet 10.

  The coin slot 12 is an opening through which a user inserts coins. The coins inserted through the coin insertion slot 12 are identified by the coin processor 21 and then stored in a coin recovery box (not shown). The bill insertion slot 13 is an opening for a user to insert a bill. The banknote inserted through the banknote insertion slot 13 is identified in the banknote processing machine 22 by its denomination. Moreover, this banknote insertion port 13 functions also as a banknote return port for returning the banknote which could not be identified in the banknote processing machine 22. FIG. The integrated display 14 is a display device for displaying various types of information to the user, such as the amount of money input, whether the product is being sold, whether there is change, etc. It is. The coin return port 15 is an opening for returning to the user coins that could not be identified by the coin processor 21 or coins that were paid out from the coin processor 21 as change. The product outlet 16 is an opening for the user to receive the product paid out from the product storage rack 20. As is clear from FIG. 1, in the present embodiment, a coin insertion slot 12, a bill insertion slot 13, and an integrated display 14 are provided at a position that is substantially in the center in the height direction on the front surface of the outer door 11. The coin return port 15 and the product outlet 16 are laid out at the front lower portion of the outer door 11.

  On the other hand, a display space 30 is formed in the upper half of the front surface of the outer door 11. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the display space 30 is a concave portion configured such that the opening 30 a has a rectangular shape, and includes a plurality of proximity switches 40 inside thereof, and a cover panel is provided in the opening 30 a. 50.

  The proximity switch 40 is a capacitance type that detects non-contact based on a change in capacitance when an object approaches the individual detection unit 41, and the detection unit 41 is moved outward. One in each of the plurality of unit display areas A30 set in advance in the display space 30 in a state where the object is close to the display space 30, that is, in the state where an object close to the display space 30 of the vending machine can be detected. The unit display area A30 is the smallest unit that can be handled as one display area, and is set by equally dividing the display space 30 into a plurality of parts. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, by dividing into 4 equal parts in the vertical direction and 10 equal parts in the horizontal direction, a total of 40 unit display areas A30 having a vertically long rectangular shape are formed in the horizontally long display space 30. For each unit display area A30, the proximity switch 40 is arranged so as to be at the lower right corner of the unit display area A30.

  The cover panel 50 is a rectangular flat plate member formed of a relatively transparent synthetic resin such as an acrylic resin, and closes to and covers the detection unit 41 of each proximity switch 40 as shown in FIG. And it is made to hold | maintain at the outer door 11 in the aspect over the whole surface of the display space 30. FIG. The thickness of the cover panel 50 is set to a dimension that can be reliably detected when a finger is brought close to the detection unit 41 of the proximity switch 40 from the outside.

  In the display space 30, a product display sheet 60 is disposed on the inner surface of the cover panel 50 on the side facing the proximity switch 40. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the product display sheet 60 has a rectangular shape with a size corresponding to the unit display area A30 of the display space 30, and includes a cover panel 50 and a detection unit 41 of the proximity switch 40. It is a thin plate-like member configured to have a thickness that can be disposed between them. A window hole 61 is provided in a portion of the product display sheet 60 corresponding to the detection unit 41 of the proximity switch 40, while the appearance of the product is drawn on the outer surface of the portion excluding the window hole 61. The product display sheets 60 are prepared as many as the number of unit display areas A30 in the display space 30, and the individual window holes 61 are opposed to the detection unit 41 of the proximity switch 40, and the appearance of the product is externally displayed through the cover panel 50. It is detachably attached to the entire surface of the cover panel 50 in such a manner that it can be visually recognized. As a material of the product display sheet 60, it is preferable to apply a material having light permeability capable of transmitting the light of the fluorescent lamp disposed in the display space 30 described above.

  In the vending machine configured as described above, the appearance of the product drawn on the product display sheet 60 is vertically and horizontally on the cover panel 50 of the display space 30 provided in the upper half of the front surface of the outer door 11 as shown in FIG. Will be displayed in an aligned state. The detection part 41 of the proximity switch 40 disposed in the corresponding unit display area A30 is exposed to the outside through the cover panel 50 in the window hole 61 of each product display sheet 60.

  From this state, for example, after inserting coins, as shown in FIG. 3, if a finger touches a portion corresponding to the window hole 61 of the product display sheet 60 on which the desired product is displayed on the outer surface of the cover panel 50, This can be detected by the proximity switch 40 via the detection unit 41, and the detection signal is given as a selection signal to the main control unit 100 (see FIG. 2).

  The main control unit 100 to which the selection signal is given specifies the product storage rack 20 that stores the selected product based on the display area-product storage rack correspondence information 102 stored in the memory 101 in advance. On condition that the sales condition is satisfied, the bend mec 20a of the product storage rack 20 is driven to pay out the product. As a result, the product paid out from the product storage rack 20 is carried out to the product outlet 16 and is delivered to the user.

  The display area-product storage rack correspondence information 102 stored in the memory 101 is obtained by associating a plurality of unit display areas A30 and a plurality of product storage racks 20 in advance, for example, a setting input terminal of a vending machine. 70 can be set. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, identification information may be given in advance to each of the unit display area A30 and the product storage rack 20 and stored in the memory 101 in a state in which the identification information is associated with each other. In the display area-product storage rack correspondence information 102 shown in FIG. 6, the identification number of the unit display area A30 and the identification number of the product storage rack 20 are associated with each other on a one-to-one basis. Therefore, in the example shown in FIG. 6, when a proximity switch (hereinafter referred to as “01 proximity switch 40”) arranged in the unit display area A30 with identification number 01 detects a finger, a commodity storage rack (hereinafter referred to as “01 proximity switch 40”). On the condition that “01 product storage rack 20” is specified and the other sales conditions are satisfied, the bend mec 20a of the 01 product storage rack 20 is driven to deliver the product. Similarly, if the 02 proximity switch 40 detects a finger, the bend mec 20a of the 02 product storage rack 20 is driven and the product is paid out.

  Thus, according to the vending machine, since it is possible to select a product through the proximity switch 40 without providing an opening in the cover panel 50, even when the vending machine is installed outdoors, packing or the like is possible. Without preparing these parts separately, it is possible to prevent a situation in which wind and rain and dust enter the inside. In addition, since there is no opening in the cover panel 50, the cover panel 50 is advantageous in terms of durability and anti-theft performance.

  By the way, in the vending machine described above, since there is no opening in the cover panel 50, it is also possible to sell products in the form shown below. FIG. 7 is an external front view showing another usage form of the vending machine described above, and FIGS. 8 and 9 are concepts showing the relationship between the product display sheet 60 and the unit display area A30 applied to the vending machine. FIG. 10 and FIG. 10 are cross-sectional plan views of the relevant part.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, in the vending machine according to this usage mode, as the product display sheet 60, the product display sheet applied in the vending machine of FIG. 1 (hereinafter referred to as “reference display sheet”). In addition to “60”, a plurality of types having a size n times (where n is an integer of 1 or more) with respect to the unit display area A30 are prepared. More specifically, in the example shown in FIG. 8, a product display sheet (hereinafter referred to as “double display sheet 260”) having a double size that can cover two unit display areas A30 adjacent to the left and right. ) Is applied. As shown in FIG. 10, the window hole 261 for visually recognizing the detection unit 41 of the proximity switch 40 is provided only for the unit display area A30 located on the right side when viewed from the front, and the unit display located on the left side when viewed from the front. It is not provided in area A30. As shown in FIG. 8, on the outer surface that is almost double the size of the reference display sheet 60, the appearance and image of the product are drawn in a size larger than that of the reference display sheet 60 in the portion excluding the window holes 261. . In the example shown in FIG. 9, a product display sheet (hereinafter referred to as “four times display sheet 460”) having a size four times that can cover four unit display areas A30 that are vertically and horizontally adjacent to each other is applied. is doing. The window hole 461 for visually recognizing the detection unit 41 of the proximity switch 40 is provided only for the unit display area A30 located on the lower right side when viewed from the front, and provided for the other three unit display areas A30. Not. On the outer surface of the reference display sheet 60 that is approximately four times larger, the appearance and image of the product are drawn in a size larger than that of the double display sheet 260 in a portion excluding the window hole 461. In the same manner, n-fold display sheets such as 6-fold display sheets and 8-fold display sheets are prepared.

  As the display area-product storage rack correspondence information 102 stored in the memory 101 in the vending machine according to this usage mode, as shown in FIG. 11, the proximity switch 40 in which the detection unit 41 is exposed to the outside through the window hole 61. The product storage rack 20 is associated only with the unit display area A30 in which the items are arranged. In this case, two commodity storage racks 20 are associated with the unit display area A30 to which the double display sheet 260 is attached. Similarly, four product storage racks 20 are associated with the unit display area A30 to which the 4 × display sheet 460 is attached, and n product storage racks 20 are associated with the n × display sheet. As described above, the display area-product storage rack correspondence information 102 can be appropriately changed through the setting input terminal 70 of the vending machine, and the latest updated information is stored in the memory 101. It will be.

  In the vending machine according to the use form as described above, as shown in FIG. 7, product display sheets 60 and 460 of different sizes are provided on the cover panel 50 of the display space 30 provided in the upper half of the front surface of the outer door 11. , 1260 (12 × display sheet), products of different sizes are displayed in an arbitrarily arranged state. In this case, the plurality of unit display areas A30 to which the product display sheets 460 and 1260 more than twice are attached are connected to each other and appear outside, and the window holes 461 and 1261 are integrated into one. Therefore, it is visually recognized as one large display area.

  The detection unit 41 of the proximity switch 40 disposed in the corresponding unit display area A30 is exposed to the outside through the cover panel 50 in the window holes 61, 461, 1261 of the product display sheets 60, 460, 1260. This is the same as the vending machine shown in FIG. Therefore, when the proximity finger 40 detects a finger approaching the detection unit 41 exposed to the outside, the product in the associated product storage rack 20 is paid out, and the product is sent to the user via the product takeout port 16. Be able to sell.

  Here, according to the vending machine shown in FIG. 7, the exclusive area of the display space 30 increases as the size of the product display sheets 60, 460, 1260 increases, and the product display sheets 60, 460, 1260 increase. As the size of the product increases, the size of the displayed product can also be set larger, so that the visibility to the user is improved, and as a result, differentiation from other products can be achieved. That is, according to the usage mode shown in FIG. 7, it is possible to freely lay out the product selection device of the vending machine, for example, the recognition degree of newly introduced products can be increased early and reliably, etc. It becomes possible to embody the sales form according to the intention of the seller. In this case, it is only necessary to change the size of the product display sheets 60, 460, and 1260, and the arrangement position of the proximity switch 40 that accompanies the signal line laying work may be left as it is. Easy. Furthermore, regarding the appearance of the vending machine itself, it can have a greater impact on the user compared to the conventional product sample that is displayed in a horizontal row, improving the overall sales of the product. It is also possible to expect.

  In addition, the utilization form shown in FIG. 7 mentioned above shows an example, and various changes are possible according to the magnitude | size of the merchandise display sheet to apply, and its mounting | wearing aspect. In this case, for example, as shown in FIGS. 12 (a) to 12 (c), the connection mode of the unit display area A30 arranged in the upper center portion of the display space 30 is simply changed from 6 → 4 → 1. That is, the appearance image can be greatly changed by simply changing the product display sheet to be mounted from the 6 × display sheet 660 to the 4 × display sheet 460 to the reference display sheet 60.

  In the above-described embodiment, the product selection device of a vending machine that sells beverages in containers such as canned beverages and beverages in plastic bottles as an example is illustrated, but a vending machine that sells other products Of course it is also possible to apply. In this case, the layout of the display space 30, the coin insertion slot 12, the bill insertion slot 13, the integrated display 14, the coin return slot 15, and the commodity outlet 16 is not necessarily limited to that of the embodiment.

  In the above-described embodiment, the non-contact type proximity switch 40 is exemplified to detect a change in capacitance. However, if the non-contact type is used, the change in capacitance is not necessarily detected. It is not limited to what you do.

  Furthermore, although embodiment mentioned above has illustrated the goods selection apparatus with which the rectangular unit display area A30 was set with respect to the rectangular display space 30, the shape of the display space 30 or the unit display area A30 is illustrated. Does not necessarily have to be rectangular and does not have to match.

1 is an external front view of a vending machine to which a product selection device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. It is a block diagram which shows the control system of the vending machine shown in FIG. It is a cross-sectional side view which expands and shows the display space part of the vending machine shown in FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows notionally the display space of the vending machine shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows notionally the structure of the goods selection apparatus applied to the vending machine shown in FIG. 3 is a table showing an example of display area-product storage rack correspondence information stored in a memory shown in FIG. 2. It is an external appearance front view which shows the other usage form of the vending machine shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows notionally the structure of the goods selection apparatus applied to the vending machine shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows notionally the structure of the goods selection apparatus applied to the vending machine shown in FIG. It is a cross-sectional top view which expands and shows the display space part of the vending machine shown in FIG. 3 is a table showing an example of display area-product storage rack correspondence information stored in a memory shown in FIG. 2. It is a conceptual diagram for demonstrating the further another usage form of the vending machine shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Main body cabinet 11 Outer door 30 Display space A30 Unit display area 40 Proximity switch 41 Detection part 50 Cover panel 60 Product display sheet 61 Window hole 70 Setting input terminal 100 Main control part 101 Memory 102 Display area-product storage rack correspondence information 260 2 Double display sheet 460 4 display sheet 660 6 display sheet 1260 Product display sheet 461, 1261 Window hole

Claims (6)

A vending machine product selection device for selecting sales products,
A display space provided in the vending machine as an aggregate of a plurality of unit display areas;
A non-contact proximity switch disposed in a state in which the respective detection units face outward in the plurality of unit display areas;
A cover panel that covers the detection part of each proximity switch and is arranged in the vending machine in a manner that covers the entire display space;
A product selection device for a vending machine comprising: a product display sheet that is detachably disposed on the cover panel and displays a product for sale.   The vending machine product selection according to claim 1, wherein the unit display area has a rectangular shape, and the display space has a rectangular shape in which a plurality of unit display areas are arranged vertically and horizontally. apparatus.   2. The product selection device for a vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the product display sheet is disposed on the cover panel in such a manner as to visually recognize whether adjacent unit display areas are connected or not. .   Product display sheets arranged in a plurality of unit display areas that are set to be connected allow the detection unit of the proximity switch arranged in any one unit display area to be visually recognized externally, while proximity switches arranged in other unit display areas The product selection device for a vending machine according to claim 3, wherein the product selection unit covers the detection unit. The unit display area has a rectangular shape, and a proximity switch is arranged at a lower corner of each unit display area,
And the display space is configured in a rectangular shape in which a plurality of unit display areas are arranged vertically and horizontally,
Further, the product display sheet disposed in the plurality of unit display areas that are set to be connected allows the detection unit of the proximity switch disposed at a lower corner in the plurality of unit display areas to be visually recognized to the outside. The product selection device for a vending machine according to claim 4.   2. The product selection device for a vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the proximity switch outputs a selection signal based on a change in capacitance when an object approaches the detection unit. .

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