JP2591652B2 - vending machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a vending machine.

[Related Art] A vending machine has a plurality of columns for accommodating commodities, a vending switch for selecting commodities to be purchased, a detecting means for detecting the commodities in the columns, and displaying the detected commodities. Indicators are provided in one-to-one correspondence with the columns.

A vending machine capable of so-called parallel setting of columns has recently been used.

In this type of vending machine, arbitrary plural columns of all columns can be set in parallel with each other. The set parallel relationship is stored in the memory. The same product is stored in a plurality of columns set in parallel. The vending machine in which the column parallel setting has been performed performs the following operation based on the stored parallel relationship. In other words, even if out-of-stock is detected in the column corresponding to the operated sales switch, the product remains if any of the other columns set in parallel with this column remains. Unload goods from the column. On the other hand, unless all the detecting means corresponding to the plurality of columns set in parallel with each other detect the running out of the product, the running out of the product is not displayed on the display corresponding to these columns. That is, the out-of-sell products in the columns set in parallel are displayed collectively.

For example, when three columns of numbers 1, 5, and 9 are set in parallel, the following operation is performed. That is, for example, if a product runs out in the column of No. 1 and a product remains in any of the columns of Nos. 5 and 9, the running out display is displayed on any of the displays corresponding to these three columns. Do not do. When the sales switch provided corresponding to the column of the number 1 is operated, the merchandise is carried out from the column of the number 5 or 9. Therefore, it is possible to provide the product desired by the purchaser without causing the purchaser to feel that the product in the column of No. 1 has run out. For example, if no other column is set in parallel with the column of the number 2, the product is unloaded from this column only when the sales switch corresponding to the column of the number 2 is operated, and the corresponding column is set. When the running out of goods is detected by the detecting means, the running out of goods is unconditionally displayed on the corresponding display.

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] There is a vending machine in which the inside of a column cannot be seen. In particular, when a plurality of columns are provided before and after, the inside of the rear column cannot be seen.

However, in the conventional vending machine, the out-of-stock display of a plurality of columns set in parallel to each other is a collective display in which the out-of-stock display is not displayed unless all the detecting means corresponding to these columns detect the out-of-stock. However, even if there was an opportunity to replenish the product, it was not possible to know which column should be refilled with the product.

To solve this problem, it is conceivable to cancel the parallel setting of columns at the time of replenishment of products, thereby performing individual product out display similar to the case of the conventional column without parallel setting, In this case, the pre-set parallel relation of the columns is lost, and it is necessary to reset the parallel relation of the columns in order to resume product sales.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points,
A plurality of columns for accommodating commodities are provided, and a detecting means for detecting a lack of commodities in the column and a display for displaying the detected commodities are provided in one-to-one correspondence with the columns, and a plurality of columns of all columns are provided. For vending machines that can be set in parallel,
An object of the present invention is to make it possible to confirm whether or not a product has run out for each column when refilling a product, without releasing the parallel relationship between the columns once set.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention employs the following configuration whose block diagram is shown in FIG.

That is, in the vending machine according to the present invention, the plurality of columns 2 are selected from n columns and set in parallel with each other. The detecting means 4 for detecting the out-of-commodity of the column 2 and the display 6 for displaying the detected out-of-commodity are provided in a one-to-one correspondence with the column 2. However, the detection signal 8 output from each of the out-of-product detection means 4 is supplied to the display 6 via the display switching means 10. The display switching means 10 switches between the batch display mode and the sequential display mode for execution. In the batch display mode, the display 6 does not indicate that the product has run out, unless all the detecting means 4 corresponding to the plurality of columns 2 set in parallel with each other detect the running out of the product. In the sequential display mode,
If any of the detecting means 4 detects that the product has run out, the product 6 is unconditionally displayed on the display 6 corresponding to the column 2 in which the run-out has been detected.

However, the AND circuit and the switch circuit shown in the block showing the display switching means 10 in FIG. 1 merely show the logical connection between the display switching means 10, the product outage detecting means 4 and the display 6, The present invention is not limited to the circuit configuration shown in the block showing the display switching means 10.

[Operation] In the vending machine according to the present invention, if the operation of the display switching means 10 is switched to the batch display mode, the detection means 4 detects that all the columns 2 set in parallel have run out of goods.
Is displayed on the display 6 only when the detection is made. Therefore, in this mode, as before, as long as all the columns 2 set in parallel do not run out of goods,
The product purchaser does not feel the product in column 2 running out.

On the other hand, if the operation of the display switching means 10 is sequentially switched to the display mode, the presence / absence of a product shortage is displayed for each of the plurality of columns 2 set in parallel. Therefore, at the time of product replenishment, it is possible to confirm whether or not the product has run out for each of these columns 2.

Embodiment FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Inside the vending machine is a column row for storing goods
20 are provided. This column row 20 includes n columns 22 numbered 1 to n, respectively. Each column 22 is provided with a product unloading mechanism (not shown) and a microswitch for detecting the running out of the product in the corresponding column as the detection means 4.
24 are arranged. However, the micro switch 24 is turned on when it detects that the product has run out.

Reference numeral 30 denotes a row of sales switches arranged below the product display shelf on the outer surface of the door. The sales switch array 30 includes n sales switches 32 numbered 1 to n so as to correspond to the columns 22 on a one-to-one basis. Each sales switch 32 is provided with a light emitting diode, that is, an LED 34, as the indicator 6 for indicating that the product has run out.

Reference numeral 40 denotes an operation box arranged on the back surface of the vending machine door. The operation box 40 has a liquid crystal display 42, a numeric keypad 44, a parallel setting key 46, and a mechanism setting key 48. It also has a price setting key and other keys. LCD 42
Are provided for the purpose of echo backing various settings and displaying messages to the operator. The parallel setting key 46 is used together with the numeric keypad 44 to input the parallel relationship of the column 22. The function setting key 48 is provided for the purpose of causing the vending machine to execute a special function by combining with any one of the ten keys 44. The numeric keypad 44 is used not only for the above purpose but also for inputting a product price together with a price setting key.

The microcomputer 50 is a one-chip having, for example, an input / output port (I / O), a central processing unit (CPU), and a memory therein, and includes the microswitches 24, the sales switches 32, and the numeric keys 44 of the operation box 40, Parallel setting key
46, each contact opening / closing signal such as a function setting key 48 and a price setting key is input to the CPU through I / O. Also, C through I / O
The product output mechanism of each column 22, each LED 34, and the liquid crystal display 42 of the operation box 40 are driven by the signal output from the PU. The memory not only stores a program for the operation of the CPU, but also stores the parallel relationship of the columns 22 input by operating the parallel setting key 46 and the ten keys 44. For example, when the three columns of numbers 1, 5, and 9 are set in parallel as described above, these three numbers are stored in association with each other. The storage contents of the specific address M in the memory are changed when the function setting key 48 and, for example, 9 keys of the ten keys 44 are continuously pressed (function setting 9). That is, the content of M is rewritten to 1 by pressing the function setting 9 for the first time, and the content of M is rewritten to 0 by pressing the function setting 9 for the second time. Hereinafter, 1 and 0 are alternately written in the content of M each time the function setting 9 is pressed. However, a dedicated key may be provided to change the storage content of the address M in a toggle manner.

Next, the operation of the vending machine having the above configuration will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. 3 showing the operation of the microcomputer 50.

In step 1, the address M changed in the function setting 9
Is checked to see if the memory content of is 1. The content of M is 0
If it is, the batch display mode from step 2 is executed, and if the content of M is 1, the sequential display mode from step 5 is executed.

In step 2, the contact switching state of the microswitch 24 in the column 22 of number 1 is checked. If the micro switch 24 is ON because the product in the column 22 of number 1 is out of stock, the process proceeds to step 3 to continue the processing in the batch display mode. If the micro switch is OFF, step 7 Then, the LED 34 of the sales switch 32 of the number 1 is turned off.

In step 3, it is checked whether or not the column 22 of number 1 has a parallel setting by referring to the parallel relationship of the columns stored in the memory. If there is no parallel setting for the column 22 of the number 1, the process proceeds to step 6, where the sales switch 32 of the number 1 is set.
LED 34 is turned on to indicate that the product in column 1 has run out. If there is a column set in parallel to the column 22 of the number 1, the process proceeds to step 4 to check whether the micro switches of all the other columns set in parallel to the column 1 are ON. Only when all the micro switches of these columns are ON because all the columns set in parallel to each other have run out of goods, proceed to step 6 to turn on the LED 34 of the sales switch 32 of number 1. . Conversely, even if the product runs out of column 1, if the micro switch of this column is turned off because the product remains in one of the other columns set in parallel with column 1, Go to step 7, LED3 of sales switch 32 of number 1
Turn off 4 The processing in the batch display mode for the column with the number 1 is as described above.

Next, the sequential display mode from step 5 onward when the memory content of the address M is 1 will be described.

In step 5, the contact opening / closing state of the micro switch 24 for the column 22 of number 1 is checked. Column 22 of number 1
If the micro switch 24 is ON because the product is out of stock, the process unconditionally proceeds to step 6 to turn on the LED 34 of the sales switch 32 of number 1. If it is found in step 5 that the micro switch 24 is off,
Proceeding to step 7, the LED 34 of the number 1 sales switch 32 is turned off. That is, in the sequential display mode, the LED 34 of the sales switch 32 of No. 1 blinks in accordance with the presence or absence of the product out of only the column 22 of No. 1 irrespective of the presence or absence of the parallel setting. The processing in the sequential display mode for the column of number 1 is as described above.

After the above-described processing for the column 22 with the number 1 is completed, the same processing is performed on the column with the number 2 and below.

By the above processing, for example, when three columns of numbers 1, 5, and 9 are set in parallel, if the memory content of the address M is 0, the display of the out-of-stock item is the same as the conventional one. On the other hand, if the memory content of the address M is changed to 1 by operating the function setting 9 when replenishing the product, the sales switch is switched according to the presence or absence of the product in each column 22.
It becomes the sequential display mode in which the 32 LEDs 34 are individually turned on.

The out-of-goods detection means 4 is not limited to the microswitch 24, but may be another type of detection means. The LED 34 of the sales switch 32 may display the failure status of the product in the column 22, that is, the failure status. The indicator 6 that indicates that the product is out of stock
The display is not limited to D34 and may be another type of display.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, the vending machine according to the present invention is provided with the display switching means for switching between the batch display mode and the sequential display mode. If not, not only does the product buyer feel that the product in the column is out of stock unless all the columns set in parallel are out of product, but if you switch to the sequential display mode when refilling the product, the parallel setting is made It is possible to confirm whether or not the product has run out for each of the plurality of columns.

Therefore, even when the inside of the column is not visible, the product can be smoothly replenished. In addition, since only the column out of product display mode is switched without canceling the parallel setting of the columns, the parallel relationship of the set columns is not lost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the microcomputer shown in the preceding figure. Explanation of reference numerals 2 ... column 4, 4 ... out-of-goods detection means 6 ... display, 8 ... detection signal 10 ... display switching means

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of columns for accommodating commodities, a detecting means for detecting the commodities in the columns and a display for displaying the detected commodities are provided in one-to-one correspondence with the columns.
In a vending machine in which multiple columns can be set in parallel among all columns, unless all the detection means corresponding to multiple columns set in parallel with each other detect that the product is out of stock, the display units corresponding to these columns are out of stock. Is displayed in a batch display mode in which no product is displayed, and even if a plurality of columns are set in parallel with each other, if each of the detection means corresponding to these columns detects that the product is out of stock, the product is displayed on the display corresponding to the column in which the product run out is detected. A vending machine having a display switching means for switching between a successive display mode for displaying cut-outs.