JP2014225051A - Controller of automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a controller of an automatic vending machine capable of detecting a commodity carry-out failure by utilizing an existing constitution of the automatic vending machine.SOLUTION: The automatic vending machine includes: a door open/close detector 23 for detecting open/close of a door; commodity carry-out means 12 that carries out a commodity from a storage column; a commodity counter 25 for counting the number of the commodities carried out from each storage column. In a period from a point when the door open/close detector 23 detects a door-close to a point when the same detects a door-open, the commodity counter 25 counts the number of the commodities carried out every time when the commodity carry-out means 12 carries out a commodity. When the number of the commodities carried out exceeds a predetermined number, the automatic vending machine stops the carry out operation to prevent improper vending of commodities.

Description

  The present invention relates to a control device for a vending machine for carrying out products in a storage column.

  As a conventional control device for this type of vending machine, when a product is unloaded, if the product unloading detection means (product passing detection device) determines that the product has not been unloaded, the corresponding product is displayed as sold out. By doing so, there is a product that can prevent the wrong product from being carried out or can notify the customer of the abnormality (for example, see Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-340369

  However, the above-described conventional configuration requires a device for detecting an abnormality in carrying out the product, and has a problem that the mounting burden and cost of the device are increased.

  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 that can detect and notify an abnormality in carrying out a product by utilizing an existing configuration of a vending machine. And

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, a control device for a vending machine according to the present invention includes a door opening / closing detection means for detecting opening / closing of a door of the vending machine, a product unloading means for unloading a product in a storage column, and storage. Product counting means for counting the number of goods delivered for each column, and the goods delivery means carries out the goods during the period when the door opening / closing detection means detects the door closing and the door opening is detected. Each time the product is counted, the number of products carried out by the product counting means is counted, and when the number of products carried out exceeds a predetermined number, the relevant storage column is brought out of the carrying stop by the product delivery means.

  This makes it possible to count the number of carry-outs of each storage column during the product sales period from door closing to opening, and if the count exceeds the maximum number of products that can be stored in the storage column, It is determined that there is no way to sell up to a certain number of counts, and abnormal sales can be stopped by stopping carrying out the corresponding storage column as abnormal.

  The control device for the vending machine according to the present invention further comprises unloading stop number storage means for storing the number for determining the unloading stop for each storage column, and the corresponding storage column stored in the unloading stop number storage means. When the number is exceeded, the corresponding storage column is stopped from being carried out by the commodity carrying-out means.

  As a result, the maximum number of storage columns suitable for the corresponding storage column can be stored for each storage column. Even in vending machines equipped with a plurality of storage columns of different shapes and sizes, each storage column , Can correctly determine the abnormality.

The control device for the vending machine according to the present invention further comprises a carry-out stop number changing means capable of changing the number stored in the carry-out stop number storage means, and the carry-out stop number changing means stops carrying out for each storage column. It is assumed that the number of lines to be judged can be changed.

  As a result, even if the operator changes the product and the maximum number of storage columns changes, the maximum number of storage columns can be changed to a suitable maximum number, and an abnormality can be correctly determined.

  Further, the control device for the vending machine according to the present invention comprises a sale disapproval display means for displaying a sale disapproval display connected to the product selection button, and the sales disapproval display means corresponding to the storage column that has been unloaded It is intended to indicate that sales are not possible.

  This makes it possible to display an unsaleable display connected to the product selection button corresponding to the storage column that has become abnormal, and to inform the customer that the product cannot be purchased.

  Further, the control device of the vending machine according to the present invention is provided with an abnormality display means for abnormally displaying the state where the carrying out is stopped as an abnormality, and when there is a storage column which is stopped carrying out, the abnormality displaying means displays an abnormality. Is.

  As a result, the operator can be informed that there is an abnormal storage column, and appropriate and prompt treatment can be performed.

  The control device of the vending machine of the present invention determines that it is abnormal when carrying out exceeding the maximum number of products that can be stored in the storage column, performs unsaleable display, abnormal display, stops abnormal sales, The operator can be informed of the abnormality.

The front view which showed the external appearance of the vending machine to which the control apparatus of the vending machine in Embodiment 1 of this invention is applied. Internal structure diagram of vending machine of the embodiment Block diagram of the control device of the vending machine of the embodiment The flowchart which shows operation | movement of the control apparatus of the vending machine of the embodiment

  The first invention is a door opening / closing detecting means for detecting opening / closing of a door of a vending machine, a goods carrying means for carrying out the goods in the storage column, and a product counting means for counting the number of goods carried out for each storage column. Each time the product is unloaded by the product unloading means during the period in which the door opening is detected after the door opening / closing detection means detects the door closing, When the number of unloaded items exceeds a predetermined number, the corresponding unloading column is stopped by the unloading means, and each unloading column is unloaded during the selling period from the door closing to the opening. It becomes possible to count the number, and when the count number exceeds the maximum number of products that can be stored in the storage column, it is judged that it can not be sold up to such count number, and it corresponds as an abnormality By the storage column to carry-out stop, it is possible to stop the abnormal sales.

  In particular, in addition to the first invention, the second invention is provided with unloading stop number storage means for storing the number for determining the unloading stop for each storage column, and the corresponding stored in the unloading stop number storage means. When the number of storage columns is exceeded, the product storage means stops the corresponding storage column, and the maximum storage number suitable for the corresponding storage column can be stored for each storage column. Even in a vending machine equipped with a plurality of storage columns having different shapes and sizes, an abnormality can be correctly determined for each storage column.

  In addition to the first or second invention, the third invention is provided with unloading stop number changing means capable of changing the number stored in the unloading stop number storage means, and is stored in the unloading stop number changing means. Even if the maximum number of storage columns changes when the operator changes the product and the maximum number of storage columns changes, the number can be changed to a suitable maximum number, and the abnormality is correctly determined. it can.

  The fourth invention, in particular, in addition to any one of the first to third inventions, is provided with a non-sale display means for displaying a non-sale display connected to the product selection button, and the storage column is stopped from being carried out. The sale impossible display means corresponding to the item, the sale unavailable display is displayed, the sale unavailable display connected to the product selection button corresponding to the storage column that has become abnormal can be displayed, to the customer You can let them know that you can't buy goods.

  In addition to any one of the first to fourth inventions, the fifth invention is provided with an abnormality display means for abnormally displaying the state where the carry-out is stopped as an abnormality, and when there is a storage column where the carry-out is stopped. An abnormality is displayed by the abnormality display means, the operator can be informed that there is an abnormal storage column, and appropriate and prompt treatment can be performed.

  Embodiments of a control device for a vending machine according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a front view showing the appearance of a vending machine to which the control device for a vending machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is an internal structure diagram of the vending machine according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the control device of the vending machine according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control device of the vending machine according to the embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the vending machine 1 has a main door 2 on the front surface of the main body cabinet. The main door 2 includes a sample can 3, a product selection button 4, a coin insertion slot 5, a change return lever 6, a change return opening 7, a monetary indicator 8, and a takeout opening 9.

  The product selection button 4 informs the purchaser of the state of the product by turning on / off a lamp or the like indicating that the product is available for sale or is sold out or being prepared. 3 are arranged in line with the sample can 3 as the product selection button 4 for 3.

  The amount indicator 8 displays the amount of money input by the consumer or the characters displayed during the sales standby by 7-segment LEDs for displaying characters and the like by turning on and off the seven LEDs.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the vending machine 1 according to the present embodiment has a storage column 11, a product carry-out means 12, an interior partition plate 13, a sub door 14, a chute 15, and a product passage port 16 in the main body cabinet portion. doing.

  The storage column 11 stores a plurality of products that are input when the operator replenishes the products, and each storage column 11 is provided with a solenoid-type product discharge means 12 at the bottom.

  The inside partition plate 13 divides the inside of the main body cabinet into a plurality of compartments on the left and right, and has a chute 15 and a storage column 11 in each compartment.

  The chute 15 slides the merchandise delivered by the merchandise carry-out means 12 to the take-out port 9 provided in the main door 2. In addition, the sub door 14 has a product passage 16 that matches the width of the chute 15.

  And the cooling and heating state set for every inside of the store | warehouse | chamber enclosed by the partition plate 13 and the subdoor 14 are hold | maintained.

  The product sales operation (procedure) of the vending machine 1 is as follows. First, the purchaser confirms the product he / she wants to purchase with the sample can 3, determines the product he / she wants to purchase, and then inserts a coin into the coin slot 5. When a predetermined operation such as selecting a product with the product selection button 4 provided under the sample can 3 is performed, the product selection button 4 is turned on. The product is discharged downward from the corresponding storage column 11 by the product carry-out means 12.

  Then, after the product delivered by the product delivery means 12 slides down the chute 15, it passes through the product passage 16 and is delivered to the takeout port 9, so that the purchaser is paid out to the takeout port 9. The product can be taken out.

  If the product is sold out or cannot be sold for reasons such as expiration date or inadequate temperature, the sold-out and preparation lamp provided on the product selection button 4 is lit to inform the purchaser that the product cannot be purchased. .

  The vending machine 1 stores not only the function of selling products at suitable temperatures by cooling and heating the inside of each warehouse, but also stores the expiration date, number of products input, sales, etc. of the products replenished in the storage column 11. There are many functions to check and set for each column 11, and confirmation and setting are performed by performing a predetermined operation with a remote controller 17 (not shown) provided inside the main door 2.

  Further, the vending machine 1 is provided with a door switch 18 (not shown) in order to detect whether the main door 2 and the sub door 14 are opened or closed.

  In FIG. 3, the storage column-selection button setting means 21 sets which product selection button 4 is set for each storage column 11. The storage column-select button storage means 22 stores the settings made by the storage column-select button setting means 21.

  In general, the remote controller 17 shifts to that function, selects the product selection button 4 while switching the column number display for the displayed storage column 11, and sets the assignment between the storage column 11 and the product selection button 4.

  The door opening / closing detection means 23 detects opening / closing of the door from the state of the door switch 18. The merchandise sales means 24 can be sold with coins, bills, cards, electronic money, etc., and the merchandise selection button 4 that is not the storage column 11 stored in the carry-out stop storage column storage means 31 is selected. The product carrying-out means 12 to be operated is operated to carry out the product.

  The merchandise counting means 25 adds the number of carry-outs stored in the carry-out number storage means 26 corresponding to the storage column 11 carried out by the merchandise selling means 24. The unloading number storage means 26 stores the unloading number for each storage column 11.

  The unloading stop number storage means 27 stores the number of unloading determined as abnormal for each storage column 11. The unloading stop number changing means 28 changes the data stored in the unloading stop number storage means 27 by operating the remote controller 17 or the like.

  The sale impossible display means 29 displays the sale unavailable display of the product selection button 4. The abnormality display means 30 displays an abnormality display when there is the storage column 11 that is stopped from being carried out. The unloading storage column storage means 31 stores the storage column 11 that has been unloaded.

  When the number of unloading stops for each storage column 11 stored in the unloading stop number storage means 27 is changed by the operation of the remote controller 17 or the like, the arithmetic control unit 32 sets the unloading stop number of the corresponding storage column 11. When the door is closed by the door opening / closing detection means 23, the number of carry-outs stored in the carry-out number storage means 26 is cleared and stored. When the merchandise sales means 24 sells the merchandise, the merchandise count means 25 adds the carry-out number of the corresponding storage column 11 stored in the carry-out number storage means 26, and the relevant storage column 11 is carried out. The number is stored in the unloading number storage means 26, and the unloading number storage means 26 and the unloading stop number storage means 27 are compared. The corresponding column is stored in the storage unit 31 and the sale unavailable display unit 29 displays the sale unavailable display of the product selection button 4 corresponding to the storage column 11 stored in the carry-out stop storage column storage unit 31. The display means 30 displays an abnormal display.

  The operation of the vending machine 1 (the vending machine control device) of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described below with reference to FIG.

  The calculation control unit 32 determines whether or not the number of unloading stops has been changed by operating the remote controller 17 or the like (STEP 1). When the number of unloading stops is changed in STEP 1, the number of unloading stops input by the remote controller 17 or the like is stored in the unloading stop number storage means 27 (STEP 2).

  Next, the door opening / closing detection means 23 determines whether or not the door switch 18 is closed (STEP 3). When the door switch 18 is closed in STEP 3, the number of carry-outs of all the storage columns 11 stored in the carry-out number storage means 26 is cleared and stored in the carry-out number storage means 26 (STEP 4).

  The merchandise sales means 24 can be sold with coins, bills, cards, electronic money, etc., and is not the storage column 11 stored in the carry-out stop storage column storage means 31, that is, corresponds to the storage column 11 that can be carried out. It is determined whether or not the product selection button 4 to be selected is selected (STEP 5).

  When the product selection button 4 corresponding to the storage column 11 that can be carried out in STEP 5 is selected, the corresponding product delivery unit 12 is operated to carry out the product, and the corresponding storage column stored in the number-of-exports storage unit 26 is stored. 11 is added by the product count means 25, and the number of carry-outs of the corresponding storage column 11 is stored in the carry-out number storage means 26 (STEP 6).

  The unloading number storage means 26 and the unloading stop number storage means 27 are compared. If the unloading number is less than the unloading stop number, the process returns to STEP1.

  If the number of unloading is not stored in the unloading stop number storage means 27, the maximum number that can be stored in the storage column 11 is compared as the unloading stop number as an initial value (STEP 7).

When there are storage columns 11 in which the number of carry-outs is equal to or greater than the number of carry-out stops in STEP 7, the corresponding columns are stored in the carry-out stop storage column storage means 31 (STEP 8). In the unsaleable display means 29, the unsellable display of the product selection button 4 corresponding to the storage column 11 stored in the carry-out stop storage column storage means 31 is displayed. Note that the sale impossible display here is a display meaning that the product cannot be sold, such as a sold out display or a ready display (STEP 9).

  The abnormality display means 30 displays the abnormality display and returns to STEP1. Here, the abnormality display is to display or transmit a sentence or a number that can be associated with the abnormality on the remote controller 17 or the like (STEP 10).

  As described above, according to the vending machine 1 (the vending machine control device) of the first embodiment, the merchandise unloading means 12 supplies the merchandise during the period in which the door is detected after the door is closed. Each time the product is taken out, the product count means 25 counts the number of items carried out. When the number of carry-outs exceeds a predetermined number, the product carry-out means 12 can stop the corresponding storage column 11 from being unloaded. Sales can be stopped.

  Further, in the present embodiment, when the number of the corresponding storage columns 11 stored in the unloading stop number storage means 27 is exceeded, the corresponding storage column can be stopped at the commodity unloading means 12, For each storage column 11, the maximum number of storages suitable for the corresponding storage column can be stored, and even in the vending machine 1 in which a plurality of storage columns 11 having different shapes and sizes are mounted, In addition, abnormalities can be correctly determined.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the number of carrying out stop number changing means 28 can change the number for determining the carrying out stop for each storage column 11, and even if the operator changes the product and the maximum number of storage columns 11 changes, It can be changed to a suitable maximum number of storage, and an abnormality can be determined correctly.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the sale unavailable display means 29 can display the sale unavailable corresponding to the storage column 11 that has been unloaded, and the product selection button 4 corresponding to the storage column 11 that has become abnormal can be displayed. The connected sale unavailable display can be displayed, and the customer can be informed that the product cannot be purchased.

  Further, in the present embodiment, when there is a storage column 11 that has been unloaded, the abnormality display means 30 can display an abnormality, and the operator can be informed that there is an abnormal storage column 11. It is possible to perform appropriate and prompt treatment.

  As described above, the present invention is not attached with a new device, but with the current configuration, it detects a carry-out abnormality, stops subsequent carry-out, and can inform the customer and the operator of the abnormality, Ideal for beverage vending machines that sell beverage products in bottles and PET bottles.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vending machine 2 Main door 3 Sample can 4 Product selection button 5 Coin insertion slot 6 Change return lever 7 Change return port 8 Amount indicator 9 Outlet 11 Storage column 12 Product delivery means 13 Inner partition plate 14 Sub door 15 Chute 16 Product Passing Port 17 Remote Control 18 Door Switch 21 Column-Selection Button Setting Unit 22 Column-Selection Button Storage Unit 23 Door Open / Close Detection Unit 24 Product Sales Unit 25 Product Count Unit 26 Unloading Number Storage Unit 27 Unloading Stop Number Storage Unit 28 Unloading Stop Number changing means 29 Unsaleable display means 30 Abnormal display means 31 Unloading stop storage column storage means 32 Arithmetic control section

Claims (5)

Door opening / closing detecting means for detecting the opening / closing of the door of the vending machine, product unloading means for unloading the product in the storage column, and product counting means for counting the number of products unloaded for each storage column, Each time a product is unloaded by the commodity unloading means during the period when the door closing is detected after the door is detected by the detecting means, the number of unloaded items is counted by the commodity counting means. When the predetermined number is exceeded, the control unit of the vending machine is characterized in that the corresponding storage column is stopped from being unloaded by the commodity unloading means. When the number of storage columns stored in the unloading stop number storage means exceeds the number of the corresponding storage columns, a storage stop number storage means for storing the number for determining the stoppage of delivery for each storage column is provided. 2. The control device for a vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the storage column is stopped from being carried out. An unloading stop number changing unit capable of changing the number stored in the unloading stop number storing unit is provided, and the number of determining the unloading stop for each storage column can be changed by the unloading stop number changing unit. The control device of the vending machine according to 1 or 2. 2. A non-sale display means for displaying a non-sale display connected to the product selection button, wherein the non-sale display means corresponding to the storage column that has been unloaded is displayed on the non-sale display means. The control apparatus of the vending machine as described in any one of 1-3. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an abnormality display unit that abnormally displays a state where the unloading is stopped, and displaying an abnormality on the abnormality display unit when there is a storage column that is unloaded. Vending machine control device described in 1.

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