JP2725953B2 - Vending machine sold-out detector - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sold-out detecting apparatus for a vending machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Stockers for stocking products 1
Each of the stockers 1, 1,... Is provided with a sold-out detection switch 2 for detecting the sold-out of a product, as shown in FIG. When the controller 3 reads the output of each sold-out detection switch 2 and detects the sold-out state,
The sold-out lamp 4 of the product is turned on. Further, upon detecting the deposit signal N indicating the coin insertion amount, the control device 3 turns on the bend lamp 5 corresponding to the sellable product, and determines whether or not the product selection button 6 corresponding to the sellable product has been operated. Check. When the control device 3 detects the operation of the product selection button 6, it instructs the stocker 1 stocking the selected product to pay out.

[0003] In the stocker 1 which has received a payout instruction from the control device 3, a payout mechanism 7 operates. Specifically, it pays out items by opening the product 8 ₁ lowermost while regulating the second item ₈₂ drop from the bottom.

[0004] The dispensed commodities 8 are conveyed via a conveyor 9 to a removal station 11 facing a commodities take-out port 10. A switch 13 is interposed in the power supply line of the drive motor 12 of the conveyor 9, and the control device 3 turns on the switch 13 to supply power to the drive motor 12 from the power supply 14 to turn the operation on and off.

The arrangement in which a sold-out detection switch 2 is provided for each stocker 1 is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-81285.
No.

[0006]

As described above, in the conventional sold-out detecting apparatus which requires the sold-out detecting switch 2 for each stocker 1, the mounting of the sold-out detecting switch 2 in the assembling process and the sold-out detecting switch 2 are performed.
At present, the wiring process for connecting the control device 3 and the control device 3 is troublesome, and the troublesomeness increases in proportion to the number of products handled.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a sold-out detecting apparatus which can reduce the conventional inconvenience in the manufacturing process of a vending machine.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, in a vending machine having a plurality of commodity stockers, a sold-out detection apparatus detects a current value of a power supply line for applying power to a payout mechanism of each stocker. A current detector is provided,
A control device is provided for detecting a state in which a specified change does not occur in the detected current value of the current detection unit within a specified time from the delivery of the product and storing that the paid-out product is sold out. .

[0010] The sold-out detecting device according to claim 2 is a vending machine which has a plurality of product stockers and conveys products paid out from any one of the product stockers to a specified position by a conveying device. A current detection unit for detecting the current value of the power supply line is provided, and a state in which a specified change does not occur in the detected current value of the current detection unit within a specified time after the delivery of the product is detected and the corresponding product is sold out. And a control device for storing the fact that the condition has been reached.

[0010]

According to the configuration of the first aspect, when the commodity is paid out, a prescribed change occurs in the current value flowing through the power supply line of the payout mechanism of the stocker within a prescribed time if the commodity is not sold out. This current value is detected by the current detection unit, and the control device determines from the change in the detected current value that the product is not sold out because it is a specified change. When the product is sold out, the specified value does not change in the current value flowing through the power supply line of the stocker dispensing mechanism. The controller determines from the change in the detected current value that the product is not sold because it is not a specified change, stores the sold-out state of the product, and performs the sold-out processing.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the drive current value of the transport device is different between the state in which the paid-out product is loaded and the state in which the delivered product is not loaded. When you issue a product,
If the product is not sold out, a specified change occurs in the drive current value of the transport device within a specified time. This current value is detected by the current detection unit, and the control device determines from the change in the detected current value that the product is not sold out because it is a specified change. When the product is sold out, a prescribed change does not occur in the drive current value of the transport device. The controller determines from the change in the detected current value that the product is not sold because it is not a specified change, stores the sold-out state of the product, and performs the sold-out processing.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. It is to be noted that components having the same functions as those in FIG.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show the structure of a vending machine provided with a sold-out detecting device according to a second embodiment. The conveyer 9 as a transport device that receives the goods 8 paid out from each stocker 1, 1,.
A current detection unit 15 that detects a current flowing through the drive motor 12 is connected.

As a specific example of the current detection unit 15, a detection by a drop voltage value of a small resistance value inserted in series with a power supply line, a detection by a current transformer, or a magnetic field generated by a current flowing through the power supply line Can be measured from

The control device 3 monitors the detected current value of the current detecting unit 15 and executes the sold-out management of each of the stockers 1, 1,... As follows. The control device 3 is configured as shown in FIG.

In the control device 3, each stocker 1, 1,
Each of the sold-out lamps 4 is controlled to be turned on based on the contents of the storage area M. In step # 1, the contents of the storage area M are reset so that the products are set in all the stockers 1. At # 2, the presence or absence of the deposit signal N is checked, and when the sales amount is reached, the bend lamp 5 of the sellable product at # 3 is turned on. In # 4, it is checked whether or not one of the commodity selection buttons 6 corresponding to the commodity in the sellable state has been operated. When the operation of the commodity selection button 6 is detected in # 4, the switch 13 is turned on in # 5. Then, the operation is instructed to the conveyor 9 and the payout mechanism 7 of the stocker 1 corresponding to the commodity selection button 6 whose operation has been detected in step # 4 is instructed to pay out the goods.

Thus, the payout mechanism 7 that has received the payout instruction pays out the goods, and the paid out goods are conveyed to the take-out station 11 via the conveyor 9. . At this time, the current value flowing from the power supply 14 to the drive motor 12 changes before and after the product is dropped on the conveyor 9 and loaded. Specifically, the current value increases when the conveyer 9 is loaded with the product 8 than when the conveyor 9 is operated with no load. The control device 3 reads the value of the current flowing through the drive motor 12 via the current detection unit 15.

At step # 6, time measurement is started, and at step # 7, it is checked whether or not the value of the current flowing through the drive motor 12 has changed to a specified level. In # 8, it is checked whether a specified time has elapsed since # 6.

If the stocker 1 of the product selected by the product selection button 6 is not in a sold-out state, the control unit 3 executes # 5, detects a time-up at # 8, and before the specified time elapses. Detects that the product 8 is loaded on the conveyor 9 from the change in the value of the current flowing through the drive motor 12, and returns to # 2 to complete one selling operation.

However, if the stocker 1 of the product selected by the product selection button 6 is out of stock, # 8
, A time-up is detected and # 9 is executed. In # 9, the sold-out state of the stocker 1 is written in the storage area M, and the control device turns on the sold-out lamp based on the contents of the storage area M. Further, the control device 3 resets the bend signal so that the user can select another product different from the sold-out product, and returns to # 3. # 9
When the process returns from step # 3 to step # 3, it is also possible to add the input amount and to purchase a product with a different selling price.

With this configuration, the current detection unit 15 reads the current flowing through the conveyor 9 without providing the sold-out detection switch 2 for each stocker 1, 1,. .. Can be managed.

In the above embodiment, an example was described in which the conveyor 9 was used as a transporting device. However, even when the payout product 8 is lifted to an outlet by an elevator, the payout is performed based on a change in the drive current value of the elevator. The presence or absence of the product 8 can be read.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment. In this embodiment showing a vending machine provided with the sold-out detection device according to the first aspect, the sold-out management is performed by reading the presence or absence of the paid-out product 8 from a change in the current value flowing through the payout mechanism 7. The configuration of the control device 3 is the same as that of FIG. 2 of the above-described embodiment.
One of the switches 17, 18, and 19 is turned on in response to the product selection button 6 whose operation has been detected in step 4, and an instruction to pay out the product is issued. As a result, the payout mechanism 7 that has received the payout instruction pays out the goods, and the paid out goods are transported to the take-out station 11 via the conveyor 9.

At this time, the magnitude of the load acting on the stopper 19 of the dispensing mechanism 7 differs between the stocker 1 where the product remains and the stocker 1 where the product does not remain.
Specifically, a greater load is applied to the stopper 19 of the payout mechanism 7 of the stocker 1 where the product remains, than the stocker 1 where no product remains, and the payout mechanism 7 of the stocker 1 where the product remains remains. During operation, the current value increases compared to when the stocker 1 where no commodities remain is operated.

At step # 6, time counting is started. At step # 7, it is checked whether the value of the current flowing through the payout mechanism 7 has changed to a specified level. In # 8, it is checked whether a specified time has elapsed since # 6.

If the stocker 1 of the commodity selected by the commodity selection button 6 is not in a sold-out state, the control unit 3 executes # 5, detects a time-up at # 8, and before the specified time elapses. Determines from the change in the value of the current flowing through the payout mechanism 7 that the corresponding product remains, and
Returning to step 2, one selling operation is completed.

However, if no merchandise 8 remains in the stocker 1 of the merchandise selected by the merchandise selection button 6, # 8
, A time-up is detected and # 9 is executed. In # 9, the sold-out state of the stocker 1 is written in the storage area M, and the control device turns on the sold-out lamp based on the contents of the storage area M. Further, the control device 3 resets the bend signal so that the user can select another product different from the sold-out product, and returns to # 3. # 9
When the process returns from step # 3 to step # 3, it is also possible to add the input amount and to purchase a product with a different selling price.

[0028] In the above embodiment, the stopper 19 of the dispensing mechanism 7 is in contact directly to the product ₈₁ of the lowermost end, seen in Japanese and Sho 62-81285 Patent Publication No. Sho 59-30190 The following types of product dispensing apparatuses can be similarly implemented.

The product is provided with a product receiving plate whose base end is pivotally supported so that one end can rotate downward with respect to the product storage path, and the one end of the product receiving plate is positioned below the product receiving plate. A product support plate for restricting the downward rotation of the product is provided, and one end is pivotally supported at a position above the product receiving plate and the other end is pushed out to the side of the product group stacked on the product receiving plate, and the product group is pushed out. A product holding plate that abuts against the side of the second product from the bottom to regulate the descent, and a drive shaft that is disposed on the side of the product group and has the product support plate fixed at the lower end thereof; A product holding cam fixed to a position facing the product holding plate and pushing the other end of the product holding plate toward the product;
After rotating the drive shaft to push out the product holding plate toward the product group via the product holding cam and holding the second product from the bottom of the product group with the inner wall of the product storage path, the product is supported. When the plate is rotated, the product support plate and the product receiving plate are disengaged from each other, and the one end of the product receiving plate is rotated downward to pay out the lowermost product of the product group, and the drive shaft is further rotated. When the product is moved, the product support plate is engaged with the product receiving plate, the product receiving plate returns to the initial position, and the product holding plate pushed out to the side of the product by the product holding cam returns to the initial position. In this case, the value of the current flowing to the motor that rotationally drives the drive shaft is detected by the current detection unit 15.

The configuration is such that the waveform of the detected current value of the current detection unit 15 in each of the above-described embodiments is compared with a preset reference waveform to determine whether or not they are similar, and # 7 is executed. An improvement in processing reliability can be expected.

[0031]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a current detecting unit for detecting a current value of a power supply line for applying power to a dispensing mechanism of each stocker, A control device is provided for detecting a state where a specified change does not occur in the detected current value and paying out and storing that the corresponding product has been sold out, so that the payout is executed and the detected current value of the current detecting unit within a specified time. When the specified change does not occur, the control device determines that the corresponding product has been sold out, stores the sold-out state of the corresponding product, and executes the sold-out process, and requires a sold-out detection switch for each stocker. The assembling process can be greatly improved as compared with the sold-out detection device of the above.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vending machine having a plurality of product stockers and transporting the products paid out from any of the product stockers to a specified position by a transport device.
A current detection unit that detects a current value of a power supply line of the transport device, and detects a state in which a specified change does not occur in a detection current value of the current detection unit within a specified time after the delivery of the product, and pays out the product. Since the control device that stores the sold-out state is provided, if the specified current value of the current detection unit does not change within a specified time after performing the payout, the control device determines that the corresponding product has been sold out. Judgment can be performed, and the sold-out state of the corresponding product can be stored and sold-out processing can be performed. As a result, the assembling process can be greatly improved as compared with a conventional sold-out detection device that requires a sold-out detection switch for each stocker.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a vending machine provided with a sold-out detection device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the control device of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a vending machine provided with a sold-out detection device according to another embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a conventional vending machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 stocker 3 control device 7 payout mechanism 9 conveyor [transport device] 15 current detection unit M storage area of control device

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A vending machine having a plurality of commodity stockers, wherein a current detecting unit for detecting a current value of a power supply line for applying power to a payout mechanism of each stocker is provided.
A vending machine provided with a control device that detects a state in which a specified change does not occur in the detected current value of the current detection unit within a specified time from the delivery of the product and stores that the product is sold out is sold out. Detection device. 2. A vending machine having a plurality of product stockers and transporting a product to be delivered from any one of the product stockers to a specified position by a transport device, a current detection for detecting a current value of a power supply line of the transport device. Automatic control device that detects a state in which a specified change does not occur in the detected current value of the current detection unit within a specified time after the delivery of the product and detects that the corresponding product has been sold out. Vending machine sold-out detector.