JP2888911B2 - Ticket-vending machine - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a ticket vending machine that sells meal tickets and the like, and more particularly to a ticket vending machine that facilitates selection of dishes.

[Conventional technology]

For example, a meal ticket vending machine is designed so that a user can select a desired meal among purchaseable dishes among a plurality of dishes (menus) and purchase a desired meal ticket.

The variety of dishes that can be provided tends to increase due to the recent diversity of user preferences, and the number of account selection buttons for selecting dishes when purchasing meal tickets also tends to increase.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

On the other hand, the increase in the number of account selection buttons has caused a problem that it is difficult for a user to find an account (cook) desired by the user. In other words, there are a large number of dishes to be selected, and for example, "udon", "great udon",
There are also many similar dishes such as "tempura udon", so there is a problem that it takes time for a user to find a desired dish from those many dishes. for that reason,
At certain times of the day when users are crowded, there will be a queue for ticket ticket purchasers, and it has become necessary to provide multiple ticket ticket vending machines.

In addition, there is also a problem that the user often makes an incorrect selection due to the large number of dishes to be selected and similar dishes.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a ticket vending machine that allows a user to quickly and accurately select a desired dish even when the number of dishes to be selected increases.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a dish selection display unit having a plurality of illuminated pushbutton switches provided on a ticket vending machine for each dish to be selected for displaying and selecting the dish, A type selection unit provided with a plurality of switches for displaying and selecting the type of dish provided for each type of dish, and displaying and selecting the additional element provided for each additional element in the plurality of dishes; An additional element selection unit having a plurality of switches, and when money is inserted, illuminate the illuminated pushbutton switch of the dish that can be selected in the range of the inserted metal,
Further, when a selection operation is performed in the type selection unit or the additional element selection unit, the selection can be made within the range of the input amount, and the type or the addition of the dish selected by the selection operation is performed. A control unit for lighting only the illuminated push button switch of the dish corresponding to the target element.

The operations of the type selection unit and the additional element selection unit are optional.

[Action]

When the user has difficulty in selecting a dish, the user presses a switch for selecting a desired dish type or an additional element of the dish in the dish selection section or the additional element selection section. In response to this operation, the control unit causes the illuminated push button switch of the dish selection display unit to display the dish related to the type of the selected dish or the additional element of the dish within the range of the input amount. Illuminate.

This allows the user to easily select his / her desired dish from among the illuminated pushbutton switches of the dish selection display section, which has a limited display in connection with the selection of the type of dish or the additional element of the dish. can do.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 shows a front view of a ticket vending machine as one embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the front panel is provided with a coin insertion unit 11, a bill insertion unit 12, a money amount display unit 13, a meal ticket carry-out unit 14, a coin return unit 15, a keyword selection unit 16, and a menu selection unit 17. I have.

FIG. 2 shows a keyword selecting section 16 and a menu selecting section 17.
FIG.

The menu selection unit 17 is a unit for selecting a meal ticket to be purchased by the user of the meal ticket vending machine, as in the related art. The menu selection unit 17 includes a plurality of illuminated pushbutton switches in which the names (menus) of dishes provided in the cafeteria and their prices are indicated. However, prices are not shown in FIG. 2 for illustration purposes.

In this embodiment, the keyword selecting section 16 is composed of two blocks 16A and 16B. Each block 16A, 16
B comprises a plurality of illuminated pushbutton switches 161-165, 166-169.

The keyword selection unit 16 selects a keyword that the user wants to select from the menus displayed on the plurality of illuminated pushbutton switches for menu selection of the menu selection unit 17. For example, in the menu related to "udon", the types of the menu are "kake udon", "kitsune udon", ..., as shown in Fig. 2.
There are many "Udon", and the menu display for "Udon" is arranged in various menu displays for "Soba", "Onigiri", etc. It is not easy to find the menu. Therefore, the user selects the illuminated pushbutton switch 163 for “udon” in the first block 16A of the keyword selecting section 16 to cause the judgment control section 26 to be described later to select “udon” of the menu selecting section 17. Only the lamp of the illuminated pushbutton switch for menu selection is turned on, and even if it is available for sale, other unrelated items are turned off so that a desired menu can be easily found.

The push button switches 161 to 165 of the first block 16A have a rear priority selection display circuit configuration, and only the last pressed one of the push button switches 161 to 165 is held. The lamp lights up.

The illuminated pushbutton switches 166 to 169 for keyword selection in the second block 16B are provided for the same purpose as in the first block 16A. However, the first block 16A
However, the second block 16B displays optional elements for the basic dish type, while the basic dish type is displayed. Second block 16B
Is also a rear priority selection display circuit configuration similar to the circuit configuration of the first block 16A.

As described above, both the keyword selection of the first block 16A and the keyword selection of the second block 16B are possible because the degree of freedom of the user's selection is considered. Therefore, it is also possible to provide only one of the keyword selecting sections for one of the blocks. Also, as shown in FIG.
Block 16B need not be clearly separated. However, in the following description, the case where the blocks are divided as shown in FIG. 2 will be described.

FIG. 3 shows a configuration diagram of a ticket vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 3, the food ticket vending machine receives a first keyword selection control block 20, a second keyword selection control unit 22, a menu selection control unit 24, a judgment control unit 26, a money processing unit 28, and a ticket issuing unit 30. Become. However, FIG. 3 does not show the coin insertion unit 11, the bill insertion unit 12, the money amount display unit 13, the meal ticket ejection unit 14, and the coin return unit 15 shown in FIG.

The first keyword selection control unit 20 controls each of the illuminated pushbutton switches 161 to 165 of the first block 16A of the keyword selection unit 16 shown in FIG. The keyword selection control circuit 21 of FIG. However, in this figure, an illuminated push button switch 161 is used.
Only the part of the push button switch out of 165 is illustrated, and the lamp is not shown.

As shown in FIG. 3, the second keyword selection control unit 22 has the same configuration as the first keyword selection control unit 20.

Each menu selection display switch of the menu selection section 17
It is composed of illuminated pushbutton switches, and a plurality of these lamps can be turned on simultaneously. However, the menu selection control unit 24 cooperates with a determination control unit 26 described later,
The lamp of the illuminated push button switch is turned on as described above, and a turn-off process described later is performed.
It is configured to deselect.

The money processing unit 28 performs a money input process and a change return process inserted from the coin insertion unit 11 and the bill insertion unit 12.
The ticket issuing unit 30 issues a meal ticket corresponding to the selected menu. The money processing unit 28 and the ticket issuing unit 30 are the same as conventional ones.

The judgment control unit 26 is constituted by a microcomputer. That is, the determination control unit 26 includes a CPU, a ROM storing a control program operated by the CPU, a RAM for storing data,
First and second keyword selection control units 20, 22, and
It comprises a digital input / output device (DIO) for interfacing digital signals with the menu selection control unit 24, a communication unit for linking with the cash processing unit 28 and the ticket issuing unit 30, a keyboard, a CRT, and the like. However, since these components are the same as the ordinary components, their illustration is omitted.

Hereinafter, the operation of the meal vending machine according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to a flowchart showing the operation of the determination control unit 26 shown in FIG.

The user inserts a coin insertion unit 11 and a bill insertion unit 12 into the vending machine.
When the money is input from the cash processing unit 28, the money processing unit 28 determines the validity and the denomination of the money, calculates the total amount of the input amount, and displays the total amount on the amount display unit 13. Further, the money processing unit 28 transmits the total amount of the money to the determination control unit 26 via the communication device.

By the money processing, the determination control unit 26 turns on the lamps of all the push-button switches of the menu selection unit 17 corresponding to the menu that can be purchased with the amount via the menu selection control unit 24.

In this example, the first block 16A and the second block 16B of the keyword selection section 16 can be independently selected. However, as described above, since each block has a rear priority display circuit configuration, the push button switch
Only one of 161 to 165 can be selected. Such post-priority circuit display processing is performed by the first keyword selection control circuit 21 (FIG. 3) as described above. The same applies to the second block 16B.

This keyword selection is optional, and the user can purchase a meal ticket without this selection operation.

Step S011 (FIG. 4) After the CPU of the judgment control unit 26 receives the total amount of the input money from the money processing unit 28 via the communication device, the first keyword selection control unit 20 and a digital input / output device (not shown) It is determined whether there is a digital input signal associated with a push button operation from any one of the keyword selection push button switches 161 to 166 of the first block 16A via the. If a push button operation has been performed, the process proceeds to step S012. If no push button operation has been performed, the process proceeds to step S015.

Step S012: The CPU of the determination control unit 26 turns on only the lamp of the menu selection push button switch of the menu selection unit 17 corresponding to the keyword selection of the first block 16A within the range of the total amount of money received from the money processing unit 28. A control signal is output to the menu selection control unit 24 so that

For example, the pushbutton switch 16 for "udon"
If there is a switch input of 3, the menu selection pushbutton switches such as "Udon", "Kake Udon", "Tanuki Udon", ..., "Riki Udon" in the menu selection section 17 are turned on. Only the lamp of the menu selection push button switch that can be purchased within the range of the set amount remains lit, and the lamps of the other menus are turned off.

For the above processing, a “keyword / menu relation table” indicating the relation between each keyword selection and the menu selection is stored in advance in the RAM of the determination control unit 26 for each keyword. The CPU refers to this table to determine a menu for keeping the lamp on.

Steps S013 to S014 The CPU of the judgment control unit 26 performs the keyword selection of the second block 16B in the same manner as the processing for the first keyword selection (steps S011 to S012).

As the second keyword selection, for example, there is a keyword selection of "tempura".

In this example, the second keyword selection "Tempura"
And the first keyword selection “udon” are not correlated. That is, based on the selection status of both, the limitation process of turning on only the lamp of only the menu push button switch “tempura udon” of the menu selection unit 17 is not performed.

For example, for the second keyword selection "tempura", the lamp of the push button switch of the menu relating to "soba" etc. is also turned on in addition to the menu relating to "udon".

Therefore, the menu display erased by the selection of the first keyword may be restored again by the selection of the second keyword.

Steps S015 to S016 are the same as the processing of steps S013 to S014. However, in this case, the process related to the first keyword selection is not performed, and the process related to only the second keyword selection is performed.

Step S017 In this case, no keyword is selected. Therefore, the determination control unit 26 turns on the lamp of the push button switch of the selectable menu selection unit 17 via the menu selection control unit 24 within the range of the input amount.

After the above processing operation, when the user presses a desired menu selection push button switch of the menu selection section 17,
When a corresponding meal ticket is issued from the ticket issuing unit 30 and a change is required, the money processing unit 28 performs a change process.

Steps S018 to S019 The CPU of the determination control unit 26 waits until the ticketing end from the ticketing unit 30 is received via the communication device. When the ticketing end signal is received (step S018), the first keyword selection control is performed. The reset signals R20, R22, and R24 are output to the unit 20, the second keyword selection control unit 22, and the menu selection control unit 24 to release the held pushbutton switches and turn off the lit lamps. .

As mentioned above, keyword selection is optional.
The purchase of a meal ticket is performed by the menu selection of the menu selection unit 17, but when the user desires to select a keyword, only a limited menu push button switch lamp related to the keyword selection is turned on within a range of the inserted amount. Therefore, menu selection is facilitated and erroneous selection is eliminated.

When the user adds money, the money processing unit 28 updates the total amount of money in response to the addition.
26 updates the menu display related to the keyword selection according to the input amount at that time until the menu selection unit 17 makes a selection.

Next, a second operation example of the meal ticket vending machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In the second operation example, the keyword selection of the keyword selection unit 16 is divided into a first block 16A and a second block 16B on the panel for the convenience of the user as shown in FIG. However, in terms of the internal circuit, the pushbutton switch 16
1 to 169 are collectively configured as a rear priority display circuit.
Therefore, when the user selects a keyword, one of the pushbutton switches 161 to 169 is provided to the determination control unit 26.
Only one is entered.

The determination control unit 26 displays a menu related to the keyword selection within a purchasable range for the keyword selected at that time. Other processes are the same as in the first example.

 A second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In the second embodiment, when the user inserts money, performs money processing in the money processing unit 28, and transmits the total amount to the judgment control unit 26, the judgment control unit 26 In addition to turning on the lamp, the lamps of the pushbutton switches 161 to 169 of the keyword selection section 16 are flickered to urge the user to select a desired keyword.

If the user selects a keyword, the subsequent processing is performed in accordance with the processing described in the first embodiment.

As a third embodiment of the present invention, the flicker of the keyword selecting section 16 of the second embodiment is turned on, or
Without turning on the flicker, perform audio output such as "Please press the keyword selection button if you wish." Thereby, the service for the user is further improved.

Although the case where the illuminated pushbutton switch is used for menu selection and keyword selection has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and account selection (keyword selection, menu selection) is possible. As long as the device can display an account, various other devices can be applied.

As described above, the ticket vending machine has been exemplified. However, when the present invention is applied to another ticket vending machine having a large number of accounts and it takes time to select the same, it is possible to obtain the same effect as that of the ticket vending machine. What you can do is clear.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, when a dish is selected in a ticket vending machine, a user can arbitrarily select a desired kind of dish and an additional element of the dish as a keyword, thereby enabling a user to select a dish. Of these, only the dishes related to the selected type and additional element are displayed, so that the selection of dishes becomes very easy, and even if the number of dishes increases, the dishes desired by the user can be selected. You will be able to make quick selections without errors.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front panel view of a food ticket vending machine as one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a keyword selecting section and a menu selecting section of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a dining ticket of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a first operation of the judgment control unit of FIG. (Explanation of Signs) 11 Coin insertion unit, 12 Bill insertion unit, 13 Amount display unit, 14 Food ticket export unit, 15 Coin return unit, 16 Keyword selection unit, 17 Menu selection section, 20 first keyword selection control section, 21 first keyword selection control circuit, 22 second keyword selection control section, 24 menu selection control section, 26 determination control Department, 28 …… Money processing department, 30…
… Ticketing department.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A ticket vending machine for a meal ticket having a selection button for each of a plurality of dishes for which a meal ticket is to be issued, comprising an illuminated push-button switch provided for each of the dishes to be selected for displaying and selecting the dish. A plurality of dish selection display sections, a type selection section having a plurality of switches provided for each kind of dish in the plurality of dishes for displaying and selecting the kind of dish, and for each additional element in the plurality of dishes. An additional element selection unit having a plurality of switches provided for displaying and selecting the additional element; and when the money is inserted, the illuminated push of the dish which can be selected within a range of the input amount. When a button switch is turned on, and a selection operation is performed in the type selection unit or the additional element selection unit, selection is possible within the range of the inserted amount. A control unit for turning on only the illuminated push-button switch of the dish corresponding to the type of the dish selected by the selection operation or the additional element.