JP2517082Y2 - vending machine - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial field of application] The present invention relates to an automatic vending machine that can automatically purchase a product when coins are inserted to specify the product.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, as such an automatic vending machine, there is known an automatic vending machine which is installed in a washroom or the like in a station and sells sanitary items such as tissues and toothbrushes.

In this type of vending machine, when the purchaser inserts money into the coin slot and presses the push button to specify the product according to the amount, the internal product delivery mechanism operates and the specified product is It will be sold automatically by dropping it to the product outlet.

[Problems to be solved by the device]

As described above, in the conventional vending machine, the internal detection circuit detects that the purchaser has pressed or touched the push button for designating the product, and the product unloading mechanism operates according to the detection signal. ing.

However, for reasons such as hygiene, some buyers do not want to operate the push button touched by others, so for example, there are cases where purchase is avoided with vending machines installed in toilets. .

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a non-contact type vending machine that allows a purchaser or the like to purchase automatically without contacting the vending machine. To aim.

[Means for solving the problem]

In order to achieve such an object, the present invention provides a currency identifying means for identifying inserted coins, an input means for indicating a purchase intention by designating a desired product for purchase, the input means and the above-mentioned means. A vending machine having at least a carry-out mechanism for carrying out the desired product to be purchased to a product outlet based on an output from the currency identification means.

In contrast to such a vending machine, the present invention is a reflection type sensor that emits light, sound or electromagnetic wave and detects the reflected light, reflected sound or reflected wave to detect the intention of purchase, or light emission. A transmission type sensor that detects the intention of purchase by detecting that the transmission path is cut off by an object that crosses between the oscillation source of the element or sound generating element and the receiving element such as the light receiving element or the sound receiving element,
Alternatively, a non-contact type sensor composed of an electric field detection type sensor that detects an intention to purchase by detecting that an object approaches a predetermined distance and causes a change in electric field is applied to the input means, and the purchaser Is configured to indicate an intention of purchase by bringing an object close to the input means.

[Action]

According to the present invention having such a configuration, since it is possible to instruct the vending machine to purchase without touching a conventional push button or the like, it is possible to provide a hygienic vending machine. You can

〔Example〕

 Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, the external structure will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. In FIG. 1, a coin slot 2 is provided on a front panel surface 1.
And display parts 3a to 3d for displaying the names of products and pictures attached thereto, and non-contact type sensors 4a to 4d are provided below the respective display parts 3a to 3d. Further, a return sensor 4e used when returning the input money is provided.

Furthermore, a dish-shaped receiving port 5 that opens to the panel surface 1 side is provided at the lower part of the panel surface 1, and as shown in FIG. 2, from a carry-out mechanism (not shown) provided inside the apparatus main body. The product is dropped onto the receiving port 5, and the purchaser inserts his / her hand through the opening of the receiving port 5 to take out the product.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the shape of the vending machine body when viewed from above is a substantially triangular shape, and the rear surface portion 6 with respect to the panel surface 1 is composed of two side surfaces that are substantially perpendicular to each other, and the rear surface portion 6 is installed. By installing the vending machine main body with the wall surface at the corner of the place as the back, it is possible to save space.

 Next, the internal control mechanism will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 4, the control unit 7 is composed of a microcomputer system, and the currency detection unit 8 detects the type and amount of money inserted from the money insertion port 2 and receives the detection signal thereof. The carry-out mechanism 9 is controlled to carry out the products designated by the contact type sensors 4a to 4d to the receiving port 5, and the coins instructed by the non-contact type sensor 4e are returned to the receiving port 5. The money detection part 8 is controlled so that it does.

Further, the configuration of the non-contact type sensors 4a to 4e and the detection mechanism shown in FIG. 1 will be described. First, each non-contact type sensor emits light of a predetermined color from the panel surface 1 in a direction of a predetermined angle θ. emitting diode Tr _a to Tr _e, and each light emitting diode Tr
_It consists of photodiodes PD _{a to} PD _e corresponding to _{a to} Tr _e . And, for example, as shown, a light emitting diode
When an object such as a finger is brought close to the predetermined distance L from Tr _a , the reflected light enters the light receiving diode PD _a , and the other light emitting diodes Tr _{b to} Tr _e and the light receiving diodes PD _{b to} PD are arranged. Each pair of _e is set to have the same positional relationship.

Furthermore, each of the light emitting diode Tr _a to Tr _e drive circuit 10 _a to 10 _e
Is emitted by the drive current supplied from the control unit 7 and the control signal S ₁ output from the control unit 7 is decoded by the decoder 11 to selectively actuate the appropriate drive circuits 10 _a to 10 _e. The corresponding light emitting diode is made to emit light.

Also, the output of each photodiode PD _{a to} PD _e is a waveform shaping circuit.
The signal is supplied to the encoder 12 via 11 _{a to} 11 _e , is converted into a signal S ₂ indicating which light receiving diode receives the reflected light, and supplies the signal S ₂ to the control unit 7.

Next, a schematic structure of the carry-out mechanism 9 will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14 are trays for storing products, and the angle members 13x, 13y and 14x, 1 having a U-shaped cross section, respectively.
4y face each other, the gap 13z between these angle members,
It is designed to store multiple products in a 14z stack.

Further, in the lower part of each tray 13, 14, recessed portions 15, 16 of a size that allows only one product to pass, are formed.
Further, these recessed portions 15 and 16 are formed at positions facing the receiving port 5.

Further, below the trays 13 and 14, there is provided a moving plate 17 that moves forward and backward along the arrangement direction A of the trays 13 and 14 by a driving force of a drive motor (not shown). A first electromagnetic solenoid 19 having a drive shaft 18 that moves forward and backward in parallel with the standing direction B of the trays 13 and 14, and a drive shaft that moves forward and backward in parallel with a direction C substantially orthogonal to the direction A. A second electromagnetic solenoid 21 having 20 is fixed. The drive shaft 18 is loosely fitted in a hole formed on one side of the moving plate 17.

A lever member 22 facing the tip of the drive shaft 18 is supported by being fitted into a tip portion 23 of the drive shaft 20. That is, on one side of the lever member 22, a relative movement of the drive shaft 20 and the lever member 22 with respect to the direction A is restricted, but with respect to the standing direction B, a long hole that allows relative movement within a predetermined stroke range. 24 is provided, and the distal end portion 23 is loosely fitted in the long hole 24 so as not to come out of each other by the forward / backward movement of the drive shaft 20.

A protrusion 25 is formed on the other end of the lever member 22.

When carrying out a product (shown by the one-dot chain line in the figure), first, according to a control signal from the control section 7, first, the moving plate 17 is placed so that the lever member 22 is located under the tray storing the desired product. Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the drive shaft 18 of the first electromagnetic solenoid 19 is paid out and the lever member 22 is pushed up, so that the projection 25 enters the back of the product at the lowermost position. The second electromagnetic solenoid
By unwinding the drive shaft 20 of 21, the product is pushed out to the outlet 5 by the protrusion 25. As shown in FIG. 5, the bottoms of the trays 13 and 14 have a gap 15x, in which the protrusion 25 can move.
Since 16x is provided, the above pushing operation is possible.

When this unloading is completed, the unloading mechanism is returned to the state before the unloading operation by performing the reverse operation.

Although the case where two trays are provided has been described for the sake of description, it can be applied to many kinds of products by arranging an appropriate number of trays in parallel.

Next, the operation of the vending machine having such a structure will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In this embodiment, when the sale of the product is completed, the power is automatically cut off to reduce the power consumption.

First, when the purchaser inserts a coin from the coin slot 2,
The mechanical switch provided in the currency detector 8 is turned on by the weight, and the power is turned on to start the operation (step 100).

Next, the currency detecting unit 8 determines the type and amount of money (step 110), and in the next step 120, the light emitting diodes Tra _{a to} Tr _d , which are the light emitting diodes of which the price is less than the amount of money, are returned. The light emitting diode of the sensor 4e is caused to emit light.

Next, in steps 130 and 140, the purchaser waits for product designation. That is, when the purchaser closes the front surface of the light emitting diode corresponding to the desired product with a finger or the like, the reflected light is incident on the light receiving diode corresponding to the light emitting diode, and the control unit 7 receives the reflected light and If it is confirmed that the signal S ₂ indicates a product, the process proceeds to step 160. However, if the front surface of the return sensor 4e is closed, the control unit 7
Senses, the deposited coins are conveyed and returned to the exit 5, and in step 170, the power is automatically cut off.

On the other hand, in step 160, the control unit 7 instructs the unloading mechanism 9 to unload a predetermined product, and the series of operations of the unloading mechanism 9 causes the specified product to be carried out to the exit 5.

Then, when this carry-out operation is completed, the power supply is automatically cut off in step 170 to stop the sale.

Thus, according to this embodiment, the light generated from the light source is blocked by a finger or hand, and the reflected light is detected to sell the product, so that the purchaser does not have to touch the vending machine. Goods are available and hygienic.

Although this embodiment has described the vending machine that sells a plurality of types of products, the vending machine that sells a single type of product can be installed in the outlet 5 as shown in FIG. A light emitting source 26 and a light receiving source 27 are installed opposite to each other at one end, and when a purchaser inserts a hand into the outlet 5 to cut off the optical path after inserting money, a control unit including a microcomputer system. When this is detected, the carry-out mechanism similar to that shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 (in this case, only one tray is provided or all trays store the same type of products) is activated. Alternatively, the product may be dropped on the palm of the purchaser.

Further, as in these examples, not only is the product carried out by detecting the reflection or transmission of light,
For example, a reflection-type or transmission-type combination of a sound-generating element and a sound-receiving element, or an electric field detection type sensor that senses approach of an object by a change in electric field may be applied.

[Effect of device]

As described above, according to the present invention, since it is possible to instruct the vending machine to purchase without touching a conventional push button or the like, it is possible to provide a hygienic vending machine. You can

[Brief description of drawings]

1 is an external plan view of the embodiment, FIG. 2 is an external side view of the embodiment, FIG. 3 is an external top view of the embodiment, FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an internal mechanism of the embodiment, and FIG. 7 to 7 are schematic configuration explanatory views showing the configuration of the carry-out mechanism, FIG. 8 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the embodiment, and FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of another embodiment. Symbols in the figure: 1; Panel surface 2; Coin slot 3a to 3d; Display section 4a to 4e; Non-contact sensor 5; Exit 6; Back section 7; Control section 8; Currency detection section 9; Delivery mechanism _10a to 10 _e; driving circuit 11; the decoder 11 _a to 11 _e; waveform shaping circuit 12; an encoder 13, 14; tray 13x, 13y, 14x, 14y; angle members 15 and 16; concave portions 15x, 16x; gap 17; Moving plate 18,20; Drive shaft 19,21; Electromagnetic solenoid 22; Lever member 23; Tip part 24; Slot 25; Protrusion

Claims (2)

(57) [Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A currency identifying means for identifying inserted coins, an input means for indicating a purchase intention by designating a desired product for purchase, and an output based on the input means and the currency identifying means. In the vending machine having at least a carry-out mechanism for carrying out the desired product to be purchased to a product take-out port, the input means emits light, sound or electromagnetic waves to detect reflected light, reflected sound or reflected waves. Detecting that a transmission line is blocked by an object that crosses between a reflection type sensor that detects the intention to purchase or an oscillation source of a light emitting element or a sounding element and a receiving element such as a light receiving element or a sound receiving element. A non-contact type sensor that consists of a transmission type sensor that detects the purchase intent by the above, or an electric field detection type sensor that detects the purchase intention by detecting that an object has approached a predetermined distance and changes in the electric field. Consists of sensors An automatic vending machine, characterized in that a purchaser indicates the will of purchase by bringing an object close to the input means. 2. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the input sensor is installed at one end of the product outlet.