JP2012164179A - Controller of automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a controller of an automatic vending machine that securely manages vending of articles having quality maintaining periods such as freshness dates by facilitating setting operation for the freshness dates and the like, during replenishment with the articles.SOLUTION: A controller 30 of an automatic vending machine includes a setting means 35 of setting an article replenishment number and a freshness date of articles in an article column 5 provided in a main body 1, and a sellout detection means 32 of detecting an article sellout state of the article column 5, and manages the freshness date of the articles stored in the article column 5. When the article column 5 is additionally replenished with articles in a state in which articles remain in the article column 5, the replenishment number of the added articles is set to automatically set the freshness date of the added articles, and the setting of the freshness date of the remaining articles is not changed, but held, so that the freshness dates are managed to be high in priority in order from the old setting.

Description

  The present invention relates to a control device for a vending machine, and more particularly to a control device for a vending machine capable of controlling the sale of a product by setting a shelf life of the stored product.

  As a conventional control device for such a vending machine, a control device for a vending machine as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-61238 (patent document 1) previously filed by the present applicant and published. It has been known. The control device for a vending machine described in Patent Document 1 is a control device for a vending machine that individually manages the quality retention period of the products accommodated in the main body, and is the number of product replenishments in the target column. When the quality retention date is entered for one product, the same quality retention date as the quality retention date is entered for the number of products excluding one from the number of products replenished. And setting input means for setting.

  Then, according to the control device of this vending machine, when the product replenishment number of the target column is input and the quality retention date is input for one product, the setting input means displays the product replenishment number. Since the quality retention date, which is the same as the quality retention date, is input and set for the number of products excluding one from the product, each of the products replenished by the route operator or the like through the setting input means as in the past. Product replenishment work while simplifying product replenishment work, because it is only necessary to enter the quality retention date for one of multiple products to be replenished in a given column without entering one quality retention expiry date This has the effect that the time required for the process can be shortened.

JP 2010-61238 A

By the way, in the control device of this conventional vending machine, every time the product is replenished, the number of product replenishment and the one quality retention date must be set by a setting remote controller or the like. There may be a case where the product replenishment work cannot be performed unless the worker is employed. In addition, if these settings are forgotten, there is a risk of selling products that have passed the quality retention period.

  In order to address such problems, the present invention simplifies the setting operation at the time of product replenishment so that even an operator unfamiliar with the setting operation can easily perform the operation and maintain quality such as the expiration date. It is an object of the present invention to provide a control device for a vending machine that can reliably manage sales of products with a time limit.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that a setting means for setting the number of products to be replenished in a product column and the expiration date provided in the main body, and a sold-out state for detecting a product sold-out state of the product column. A vending machine control device for managing a shelf life of a product stored in the product column, and adding the product to the product column and supplying the product while the product remains in the product column When you do this, the expiration date of the added product is automatically set by setting the replenishment number of the added product, and the expiration date of the remaining product is retained in the previous setting, and the order of priority from the oldest setting The expiration date is managed so as to be higher.

 According to this, when a product is replenished to the product column, it is accommodated in the product column by adding and replenishing the product without setting the product remaining in the product column and setting the number of supplies. The expiry date of all products can be set.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a setting means for setting a shelf life of a product stored in a product column provided in the main body, a sold-out detection means for detecting a product sold-out state of the product column, Door opening / closing detection means for detecting opening and closing of the main body door for opening and closing the opening of the main body, and in the control device of the vending machine for managing the expiration date of the goods accommodated in the product column, the product sold out state of the product column Is detected by the sold-out detecting means, and after the opening of the main body door is detected by the door open / close detecting means and the commodity is stored in the commodity column and the commodity sold-out state is resolved, the main body door is removed. When the door opening / closing detection means is detected, the shelf life of the product storage column is automatically set to a specified value.
According to this, when the main body door is opened and the commodity is stored in the commodity column in a state where the commodity is sold out (that is, the commodity column is sold out after the opening of the main body door is detected). When) The expiration date of the stored product can be automatically set.

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when a product is replenished to the product column, the product is replenished without removing the product remaining in the product column, and the number of replenishment is set. Since the expiration date of all the products accommodated in the product column can be set, it is not necessary to replace the product remaining in the product column, and it is possible to prevent a setting mistake or forgetting to set the expiration date. That is, it is possible to provide a control device for a vending machine that facilitates the replenishment operation of the product and can reliably manage the expiration date of the stored product.
According to the invention according to claim 2, when the main body door is opened and the commodity is accommodated in the commodity column in which the commodity is sold out (that is, the commodity column is sold out when the opening of the main body door is detected). Since the expiration date of the accommodated product can be automatically set (when it is resolved later), forgetting to set the expiration date of the product accommodated in the product column or setting mistakes can be prevented. That is, it is possible to provide a control device for a vending machine that can easily manage the expiration date of the stored product.

It is a front view which shows a vending machine provided with the control apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the state which opened the front door in a vending machine provided with the control apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the control structure of a vending machine provided with the control apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process which performs the input setting of the merchandise management number according to merchandise column, and a shelf life period in a vending machine provided with the control apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. In a vending machine provided with the control apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention, it is a figure which shows the example of the "management table" by which a merchandise management number and a shelf life period are matched and memorize | stored. It is a flowchart which shows a process when a best-before date function operates in a vending machine provided with the control apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows a process when goods are sold in a vending machine provided with the control apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows a process in a vending machine provided with the control apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention, when a goods column is replenished to the goods column in which a accommodated goods remain. It is a flowchart which shows the process in the case of accommodating goods in the goods column in which goods are sold out in a vending machine provided with the control apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, a control device for a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a front view showing a vending machine provided with a control device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows a state where a front door is opened in the vending machine provided with a control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vending machine includes a main body 1 having an open front surface and a front door (main body door) 2 that covers the opening on the front surface of the main body 1 so as to be freely opened and closed. The main body 1 is provided with a storage 3 that is open at the front and surrounded by a heat insulating member. In the storage 3, a product column 5 that stores products in a line in the front and rear is arranged in the left and right rows. The configured product storage unit 4 is provided in a step shape in the vertical direction. A spiral member 6 is arranged in the product column 5 so as to be rotationally driven based on a sales command and to send the product forward. In addition, the product column 5 is provided with a sold-out detection means 32 (see FIG. 3) for detecting the sold-out state of the stored product. Further, between the front door 2 and the front surface of the product storage unit 4, there is provided a product transport device 10 that receives the product sent from the product column 5 and transports it to the product outlet 8 described later. The operations of the commodity column 5 and the commodity transport apparatus 10 are controlled by a main control unit 31 (see FIG. 3) described later.

  The front door 2 is visually inspected from the outside for the sales operation in which the product stored in the product column 5 and the product purchased by the customer when the product is sold are sent from the product column 5 and conveyed to the product outlet 8 by the product conveying device 10. In order to be able to observe, the transparent plate 7 is disposed in a region corresponding to them. In addition, an operation unit is formed on the side of the transparent plate 7, and a numeric keypad 17 for designating a product for sale by a combination of numeric keys, a bill insertion port 18a of a bill processing device, a coin insertion port 18b of a coin processing device, change, etc. Are provided with a money return lever 19, a display 20 for displaying sales information such as the change of money and the amount of money to be inserted, a coin return port 21 for returning change coins, a key portion 22 for locking the front door 2, and the like. Yes. In addition, an opening 13 for taking out the commodity conveyed to the commodity outlet 8 by the commodity conveyor 10 and an outlet door 15 for opening and closing the opening 13 are provided at the lower part of the front door 2. In addition, the front door 2 detects the state which opens and closes opening of the front surface of the main body 1 by door opening / closing detection means 33 (see FIG. 3) described later.

In addition, a cooling device 40 (see FIG. 3) (not shown) is provided at the lower part of the main body 1, thereby cooling the inside of the storage 3 to a predetermined temperature.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of a vending machine including the control device according to the embodiment of the present invention. The control device 30 includes a main control unit 31 that controls the entire vending machine. The main control unit 31 includes a memory 31a that stores a program and the like necessary for controlling the vending machine, and a product column 5. It has a data memory 31b for storing various setting data such as the number of product management (number of products replenished) and the expiration date (expiration date), and a clock unit 31c that keeps time.

  Further, the main control unit 31 controls a remote controller (setting means) 35 for inputting various set values such as the number of products managed for each product column 5 and the expiration date, the product column 5 and the product transport device 10. A product unloading control unit 36 for controlling the unloading of the product, a door opening / closing detection means 33 for detecting the open / closed state of the front door 2, a money processing unit 37 for controlling the banknote processing device and the coin processing device, and a numeric keypad for designating a product for sale. A button 17, a display device 20 for displaying various sales information, a cooling control unit 38 for controlling the cooling device 40 and cooling three parts in the storage room to a predetermined level are connected. The remote control 35 is provided with an expiration date switch 35a, an expiration date function operation lamp 35b, a warning lamp 35c, and an operation key 35d having a setting input, an input end, or a display scroll function.

  Next, the operation of the vending machine including the control device according to the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a process for performing the input setting of the number of product management (replenishment number) for each product column 5 and the expiration date (expiration date) in the vending machine provided with the control device of the present invention. First, the front door 2 covering the front surface of the main body 1 is opened (step S11, Y), and the product is stored in each product column 5 (step S12). Then, the operation key 35d of the remote controller 35 is operated to set the expiration period setting mode, and for example, "5" days are input as the expiration period (step S13). (In this case, a different expiration date period may be input for each product column 5.) Subsequently, the operation key 35d is operated to set the product management number setting mode for each product column 5, and the product column 5 for each product column 5 is set. The number of items accommodated is input as the number of items managed (step S14). Then, the product management number input for each product column 5 is associated with the expiration date and stored in the memory 31b as management data as in the management table shown in FIG. 5 (step S15). If the product column 5 is sold out before the front door 2 is opened (step S16, Y), the input number of product management and the expiration date are the initial setting values of each product column 5. Is stored in the memory 31b (step S17).

  Then, the expiration date switch 35a of the remote controller 35 is operated to start the operation of the expiration date function. Note that when the expiration date function is started, the expiration date function operation lamp 35b is turned on. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing when the expiration date function operates in a vending machine including the control device of the present invention. As shown in the figure, when the date is changed, that is, when the time becomes 0: 0: 0 at an interval of 1 second (step S21, Y), the expiration date period is subtracted (step S22). ). As a result of this subtraction, the product stored in the product column whose expiration date is “0” has passed the set expiration date (step S23, Y). A process for expiring the expiration date such as a sale stoppage due to the sold out display is performed (step S24).

 Here, in the vending machine provided with the control device of the present invention, processing when a product is sold will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing processing when a product is sold in a vending machine including the control device of the present invention. As shown in the figure, when a product stored in the product column 5 is sold (step S31, Y), the product with the highest priority (smallest priority number) in the management table stored as shown in FIG. The management number data is subtracted (step S32). If the product management number becomes “0” as a result of the subtraction (step S33), the management data is updated by shifting the table data together with the expiry date period data in descending order of priority. Step S34, Y). In this way, setting data for the number of product management items is changed every time a product is sold.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing processing when a commodity is replenished in the commodity column 5 in which the accommodated commodity remains in the vending machine including the control device of the present invention. As shown in the figure, first, the front door 2 on the front surface of the main body 1 is opened (step S41, Y), and the product is supplied to the product column 5 (step S42, Y). Then, the remote control 35 is operated to set the product management number setting mode for each product column 5, and the product supply number of the product column 5 supplied with the product is input as the product management number (step S43). Then, for the product column 5 in which products are replenished, the input number of product replenishment and the expiration date period stored as the initial set value are associated with each other, and the priority order from the oldest setting to the management table shown in FIG. The management data is added so as to be higher and stored in the memory 30b (step S44). In addition, when the setting of the expiration date period of the replenished product is newly required, the operation key 35d of the remote controller 35 is operated to set the expiration date period setting mode, and the expiration date period corresponding to the replenished product is input. May be.

 FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a process in the case where the product is stored in the product column 5 in which the product is sold out in the vending machine provided with the control device of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the front door 2 on the front surface of the main body 1 is first opened (step S51, Y), and the product is stored in the sold-out product column 5 (step S52). And when the accommodation operation | movement of goods is complete | finished, the front door 2 is closed (step 53, Y). Then, it is determined whether or not the commodity column 5 before the front door 2 is released is sold out (step S54, Y), and the sold-out state is released after the front door 2 is closed (step S55). When the sold-out state of the product column 5 is released after the opening / closing operation, it is determined that the product is stored in the product column 5, and the product management number stored as the initial setting value is associated with the expiration date period. Then, it is stored in the management table as shown in FIG. 5 (step S56). Thus, the vending machine provided with the control device of the present invention operates.

 As described above, according to the control device of the vending machine according to the present invention, when a product is replenished to the product column 5, the product is added and replenished without removing the product remaining in the product column 5. By setting the number, it is possible to set the expiration date of all the products accommodated in the product column 5, so there is no need to replace the products remaining in the product column 5, and the setting expiration date or setting of the expiration date is not necessary. Forgetting can be prevented. That is, it is possible to provide a control device for a vending machine that facilitates the replenishment operation of the product and can reliably manage the expiration date of the stored product.

 In addition, when the product column 5 in the sold-out state of the product opens the front door 2 and stores the product, the expiration date of the stored product can be automatically set, so that it is stored in the product column 5. It is possible to prevent forgetting to set the expiration date of a product and setting mistakes. That is, it is possible to provide a control device for a vending machine that can easily manage the expiration date of the stored product.

 Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the control device of the vending machine shown in the present embodiment, and application changes are possible within the scope of the gist. For example, the configuration of the commodity column 5, the remote controller 35, or the main control unit 31 is appropriately set according to the mode and configuration of the control device of the vending machine that implements the present invention.

1 Body 2 Front door (Main body door)
5 Commodity column 10 Commodity transport device 20 Display device 30 Control device 31 Main control unit 31a Memory 31b Data memory 31c Clock unit 32 Sold out detection means 33 Door open / close detection means 35 Remote control (setting means)
35a Expiration date switch 35b Operation lamp 35d Operation key 36 Product delivery control unit

Claims (2)

A setting means for setting a product replenishment number and a shelf life of a product column provided in the main body, and a sold-out detection means for detecting a product sold-out state of the product column, and a product column stored in the product column. In the control device of the vending machine that manages the expiration date, in the state where the product remains in the product column, when adding and replenishing the product to the product column, by setting the number of replenishment of the added product The expiration date of the added product is automatically set, the expiration date of the remaining product is retained in the previous setting, and the expiration date is managed so that the priority is higher from the oldest setting. Vending machine control device. Setting means for setting a shelf life of a product stored in a product column provided in the main body, sold-out detection means for detecting a product sold-out state of the product column, and opening / closing of a main body door for opening / closing the opening of the main body A door open / close detection means for detecting the product, and in a control device for a vending machine that manages the expiration date of the product stored in the product column, the sold-out detection means detects the product sold-out state of the product column. When the door is opened, the door opening / closing detecting means detects the opening of the body door, and after the commodity is stored in the commodity column and the commodity sold out state is resolved, the door opening / closing detecting means detects the opening of the main body door. When the expiration date of the product storage column is automatically set to a predetermined value, the vending machine control device.