JP2975694B2 - Vending machine control device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vending machine control device capable of selling products having different storage temperatures in parallel.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There are two types of merchandise sold by vending machines, which are preferably sold by cooling and preserving, and those which are preferably sold by heating and preserving. As a vending machine capable of selling such products in parallel by one unit, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-61780 discloses a vending machine having a hot product storage room and a cold product storage room. A configuration is disclosed in which the products are divided and stored and sold.

[0003]

In such a hot-and-cold vending machine, an incorrect setting may be made when setting the kind of a product to be sold from a product storage column.
For example, if a product of a carbonated beverage, which is preferably stored in a cold storage and sold, is mistakenly set in the hot product storage room, there is a problem that the product replenished according to this setting becomes completely unsuitable for drinking.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a vending machine control device which can prevent an error in setting of a product to be sold from a product storage column by using a product code printed as a bar code on the product. Things.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a vending machine control apparatus according to the present invention divides the inside of a refrigerator into a plurality of compartments and maintains the compartments at different temperature zones. In a vending machine including a product storage column that stores a product and performs a delivery operation of the product at the time of sale, input means for inputting a product code of a product to be sold in each product storage column, and storing the product code and the product. First memory means for storing a table of storage temperature information indicating an appropriate temperature;
Second memory means for storing temperature state information indicating a temperature state set in each storage; and first and second memory means when a product code of a product to be sold in a product storage column is set. A determination unit configured to determine whether it is appropriate to store the product in a temperature state in a refrigerator to which the product storage column belongs based on information stored in the unit.

[0006]

When the commodity code of the commodity to be sold in each commodity storage column is inputted by the input means, the judging means reads the storage temperature information corresponding to the commodity code from the first memory means. The determining means reads the temperature state information from the second memory means according to the inside of the refrigerator to which the product storage column belongs, and determines the correspondence between the product and the product storage column based on the stored temperature information and the temperature state information. Determine if it is appropriate.

[0007]

1 is an overall perspective view of a vending machine showing an embodiment of the present invention. The customer service panel 6 of the vending machine 5
A coin slot 7 and a plurality of product selection switches 8 are provided. A control box 10 and a coin processing device 11 are mounted inside the vending machine 5 with the door 9 opened. The bar code reader 1 is connected to the control box 10, and the control box 10 includes a CP.
A control unit constituted by U or the like is housed. The coin processing device 11 includes a coin selector 11A for selecting coins inserted into the coin insertion slot 7, a coin storage portion 11B, and a coin dispensing device for paying out coins stored in the coin storage portion to a coin outlet 17. 11C.

FIG. 2 shows a state where the front door 3 of the vending machine 5 is opened. This vending machine 5 has a left warehouse 5
A and the right warehouse 5B are divided into a hot product storage room and a cold product storage room. Each product storage room has a total of four product storage columns 2 by arranging two product storage columns 2 and also providing two product storage columns 2 in the front-rear direction. A chute 12 communicating with the product outlet 4 is provided below the product storage column 2. A commodity insertion port 2A is opened at the upper part of the commodity storage column 2, and the commodities to be stored are filled inside through the commodity insertion port 2A. In addition, a column identification unit 28 that displays a column code representing a corresponding column with a bar code is provided near the product insertion port 2A of each product storage column 2. The column code indicates, for example, a column number or the like assigned to each product storage column 2.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the vending machine 5. The control device of the vending machine stored in the control box 10 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 21 for executing a control operation by a program. Including this CPU 10
Via an address bus 25 and a data bus 26, a ROM 22, a RAM 23,
/ O interface 24 is connected. And I
/ O interface 24 includes a barcode reader 1
, Coin processing device 11, alarm device 14, selection device 1
5 and the sales device 16 are connected.

The I / O interface 24 includes:
A mode switch 18 that is operated to switch the vending machine between a normal vending mode and a setting mode is connected. When the mode switch 18 is operated in the vending mode, the CPU 21 sets the vending machine to a setting mode. The bar code reader 1 is driven. Thereby, the barcode reader 1 can read the product code printed on the product 13 and the barcode displayed on the column identification unit 28. Then, the CPU 21 reads the product storage column 2 based on the reading of the barcode reader 1.
RAM2 stores the correspondence between the product selection switch 8 and the product code
3 is stored.

[0011] The product code is J for the POS system.
A bar code symbol for a common code defined by the IS standard, so-called JAN code,
2-digit country code in order from the top (49 for Japan)
, A 5-digit product maker code, a 5-digit product item code (hereinafter referred to as a product code for convenience), and 1
Digit check digits are arranged. Thus J
Since the first two-digit code of the AN code is determined to be 49, it is determined whether the code is a JAN code by checking the first two digits. Therefore, the first two digits of the column code in this example are used as an identification code portion, and a numerical value other than 49 is set here so that the column code can be distinguished from the JAN code.

FIG. 4 shows a storage format of the RAM 23. The RAM 23 has at least five storage areas.

The storage area 23a is a first memory means for storing a table of a preset JAN code and storage temperature information indicating a temperature suitable for storing the product, and is sold by the vending machine 5. Product codes and storage temperature information for all products that can be stored are stored. The storage temperature information is, for example, “1” for a product that can be sold by cooling or heating, “2” for a product sold after cooling, and “3” for a product sold after heating.
It is represented by

The storage area 23b is a second memory means for storing temperature status information indicating the temperature status set in each of the compartments 5A and 5B. In this example, the temperature state is distinguished by hot or cold, and the storage area 23b stores "1" for the interior 5A to indicate that it is a hot product storage room, and stores "0" for the interior 5B. This indicates that it is a cold storage room. Furthermore,
This storage area 23b has a storage unit for storing the column number of the product storage column included in each of the insides 5A and 5B.

The storage area 23c is a memory means for storing a correspondence between each product storage column 2 and a product code of a product stored in the product storage column 2, and stores eight addresses equal to the number of the product storage columns 2. Have.

The storage area 23d stores each product selection switch 8.
This area stores the correspondence between the product selection switch 8 and the product code of the product to be sold by operating the product selection switch 8, and has eight addresses equal to the number of the product selection switches 8.

The storage area 23e is a buffer storage section,
It has a product code buffer and a column code buffer for storing the product code and column number read by the barcode reader 1.

The vending machine 5 having the above-mentioned configuration is set in a setting mode by switching the mode switch 18 after the installation or when changing a product to be sold, and corresponds to the product to be sold in each product storage column 2 and this column. The product selection switch 8 is set. The setting is such that the barcode of the column identification unit 28 corresponding to the product storage column 2 and the JAN code of the product stored in this column are read by the barcode reader 1, and the product selection switch 8 corresponding to this column is set. At this time, when a product is set in an inappropriate product storage column 2 having a different storage temperature, the alarm device 14 issues an alarm.

The operation in the setting mode will be described below with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. First, in step S1, the CPU 21 supplies a drive signal to the barcode reader 1, whereby the barcode reader 1 can read a barcode. When the barcode is input in step S2, the CPU 21 proceeds to step S3.
In each step of S4, the type of the input barcode is determined.

If it is determined in step S3 that the bar code input in step S2 is a JAN code, the process proceeds to step S5. In step S5, the CPU 21 takes out the product code included in the JAN code and stores it in the storage area 23 of the RAM 23.
e in the product code buffer. Then, in the next step S6, the CPU 21 determines whether or not the column number is stored in the column code buffer of the storage area 23e, and if not, returns to the process of step S2.

If it is determined in step S4 that the bar code input in step S2 is a column code, the process proceeds to step S7. In step S7, the column number indicated by the column code is stored in the column code buffer of the storage area 23e. Then, in the next step S8, the CPU 21 stores in the storage area 23e.
It is determined whether or not the product code is stored in the product code buffer. If not, the process returns to step S2.

The bar code reader 1 uses JA.
When both the N code and the column code are read, the process proceeds from step S6 or S8 to step S9. In this step S9, the CPU 21 determines the RA based on the column number stored in the column code buffer.
From the storage area 23b of M23, the inside of the warehouse to which the product storage column 2 belongs is determined. Then, the process proceeds to steps S10 and S11 according to the inside of the left compartment 5A or the inside of the right compartment 5B, from the data stored in the storage area 23b as to whether this compartment is a hot storage compartment or a cold storage compartment. to decide.

If it is determined in step S10 or S11 that the room is a hot storage room, step S12
It becomes the processing of. In this step S12, the CPU
Reference numeral 21 reads storage temperature information about the product from the storage area 23a of the RAM 23 based on the product code stored in the product code buffer, and determines whether or not the product is a hot product. If the product is a hot product, the process proceeds to step S16. If the product is not a hot product, the process proceeds to step S13. In this step S13, the CPU 21 gives a drive signal to the alarm device 14, whereby the alarm device 14 warns of a product setting error by sound. Therefore, the setter will notice a mistake in setting the product storage column 2 of the hot storage room for selling cold products. After the alarm, the CPU 21
The product code buffer and the column code buffer 23 are both cleared, and the process returns to step S2.

On the other hand, step S10 or step S1
If it is determined in step 1 that the room is a cold storage room, the process proceeds to step S14. In this step S14,
The CPU 21 reads the storage temperature information about the product from the storage area 23a of the RAM 23 based on the product code stored in the product code buffer, and determines whether the product is a cold product. If the product is a cold product, the process proceeds to step S16. If the product is not a cold product, the process proceeds to step S15. This step S
At 15, the CPU 21 gives a drive signal to the alarm device 14, whereby the alarm device 14 warns of a product setting error by sound. In this case, you will notice a mistake trying to set the product storage column 2 in the cold storage room for hot product sales. Then, as in the case of the above-described cold product mistake, after the warning, both the product code buffer and the column code buffer of the RAM 23 are cleared, and the process returns to step S2.

When the setting of the product in the product storage column 2 is appropriate, the process in step S16 is performed. In this step S16, the CPU 21 determines the column code stored in the column code buffer in the storage area 23c of the RAM 23. The product code stored in the product code buffer is stored at the address corresponding to the product storage column 2 indicated by.

In the next step S17, the product selection switch 8 is operated. When any one of the product selection switches 8 is operated, the selection device 15 outputs a signal indicating this to the CPU 21 through the I / O interface 24. Thus, the CPU 21 proceeds to the next step S18
Then, the product code stored in the product code buffer is stored at the address corresponding to the product selection switch 8 in the storage area 23d of the RAM 23.

In step S19, it is determined whether or not the setting has been completed by operating the mode switch 18 again. If the setting has been completed, the vending machine 5 enters the vending mode. If the processing has not been completed, both the product code buffer and the column code buffer in the RAM 23 are cleared, and the process returns to step S1.

As described above, when the bar code reader 1 reads the product code and the column code, it is first determined whether or not the correspondence between the product and the product storage column 2 is appropriate. In the storage area 23c, the correspondence between each product storage column 2 and the product to be sold therefrom is set. Then, by operating the desired product selection switch 8, the correspondence between the product selection switch 8 and the product to be sold by the operation is set in the storage area 23 d of the RAM 23.

When the setting operation is completed and the vending machine 5 enters the vending mode, the vending machine 5 sets the predetermined vending amount to the coin processing device 1.
When it is put into 1, the selling operation can be performed. In this case, when the operation of the product selection switch 8 is indicated by the selection device 15, the CPU 21 detects the product code corresponding to the selected product selection switch 8 from the storage area 23d of the RAM 23, and subsequently detects the product code based on the product code. RAM 23
Is retrieved from the storage area 23c for the product storage column 2 storing the product. The vending device 16 includes a drive motor for sending out the product corresponding to each of the product storage columns 2. The CPU 21 controls the drive of the drive motor for sending out the product corresponding to the searched product storage column 2. Is output to the vending device 16 through the I / O interface 24, whereby the product selected by the customer is sold.

[0030]

According to the present invention, when setting a product to be sold in the product storage column, it is possible to reliably prevent an error in setting a product having a different storage temperature.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a state where a front door of a vending machine is opened.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the vending machine.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing a storage format of a RAM.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation in a setting mode of the vending machine.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the vending machine in the setting mode following FIG. 5;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Barcode reader 2 Commodity storage column 5A Inside left compartment 5B Inside right compartment 21 CPU 23a First memory means 23b Second memory means

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Keita Shinozaki 2-18 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-2-29095 (JP, A) JP-A-2-190109 (JP, A) JP-A-2-273890 (JP, A) JP-A-62-147085 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G07F 9/10 102

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A vending machine including a product storage column for dividing a compartment into a plurality of compartments and maintaining the compartments in different temperature zones, storing commodities in each compartment, and performing a product sending operation at the time of sale. An input unit for inputting a product code of a product to be sold in a product storage column; a first memory unit storing a table of the product code and a storage temperature information indicating a temperature suitable for storing the product; The second memory means stores temperature state information indicating a set temperature state, and the first memory means and the second memory means store when a product code of a product to be sold in a product storage column is input. A determination device for determining whether it is appropriate to store the product in a temperature state in the refrigerator to which the product storage column belongs based on the information stored in the vending machine.