JP3005259B2 - Vending machine column setting device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a column setting device for setting a correspondence between a product storage column and a product to be sold in a vending machine.

(B) Conventional technology In a vending machine, when a product desired to be purchased is selected by operating a product selection switch, a product sending device operates to pay out the product from a column storing the product. I have. For this reason, conventionally, vending machines have generally been set in correspondence with a product selection switch and a product storage column, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-90796.

(C) Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, with the configuration of the conventional example, the correspondence between the product selection switch and the product storage column may be erroneous. In such a case, the product corresponding to the product desired by the customer is purchased. There is a problem that another product is paid out when the selection switch is operated.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an apparatus for storing a product code printed in a barcode on a product to be sold in the product storage column in a memory in association with the product storage column, thereby enabling an error in setting. There is no vending machine to offer.

(D) Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, a vending machine column setting device according to the present invention is a vending machine that sells products whose product codes are printed as bar codes. A code reader, column specifying means for outputting a signal for specifying each product storage column, product selection switch specifying means for outputting a signal for specifying each product selection switch, and a bar code reader including a product code in a setting mode. When the specific code is read, the product storage column specified by the column specifying means and the product code included in the specific code read by the barcode reader are stored in association with each other, and the product selection switch specifying means is stored in the product selection switch specifying means. Included in the specified code selected by the bar code reader and the product selection switch specified by A memory for storing the product code in association with the product code.

(E) Function The bar code reader reads the product code printed on the product stored in the product storage column. By specifying the product storage column by the column specifying means, the product storage column and the product code are stored in the memory in association with each other.

(F) Embodiment FIG. 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 is provided with a coin slot 7 and a plurality of product selection switches 8.
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 a control unit including a CPU and the like is housed in the control box 10. The coin processing device 11
Coin selector for sorting coins inserted into coin slot 7
11A, coin storage unit 11B and a coin dispensing device for dispensing coins stored in the coin storage unit to the coin outlet 17
Consists of 11C. A product selection switch identification unit 29 corresponding to each product selection switch 8 and displaying a corresponding product selection switch code as a bar code is provided on the back surface of the door 9. Provided. The product selection switch code indicates, for example, a switch number assigned to each product selection switch 8.

FIG. 2 shows a state in which the front door 3 is opened, and five rows of product storage columns 2 are provided in the vending machine 5,
A chute 12 communicating with the product outlet 4 is arranged below the product storage column 2. At the upper part of the product storage column 2, a product input port 2A is opened, and the product to be stored is filled inside through the product input port 2A. Further, each of the product storage columns 2 has a column identification unit 28 that displays a column code representing a corresponding column by a bar code.
Is provided. 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 unit stored in the control box 10 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 21 for executing a control operation by a program.
And an address bus 25 and a data bus 26
Through the ROM22, RAM23,
I / O interface 24 is connected. The I / O interface 24 includes a barcode reader 1, a coin processing device 11, a display device 14, a selection device 15, and a vending device.
16 and a mode switch 18 are connected.

The coin processing device 11 outputs a signal representing the amount of the coin determined to be appropriate by the coin selector 16 to the CPU 21 through the I / O interface 24. The coin processing device 11 has a CPU
When a signal indicating coin dispensing is input from 10 through the I / O interface 24, the coin dispensing device 18 is driven.

The display device 14 includes five column indicators 19 provided corresponding to each product storage column 2 and each product selection switch 8.
, And the driving of each of the indicators is controlled based on display data input from the CPU 21 through the I / O interface 24. The selection switch indicator 20 is provided on the customer service panel 6, and in a normal sales mode, functions as a so-called sales enable indicator that lights up a product that can be purchased with the inserted amount when the customer inserts money. Things.

The selection device 15 includes a plurality of product multiple switches 8, and a signal indicating that the product selection switch 8 has been operated is input from the selection device 15 to the CPU 21 through the I / O interface 24.

The selling device 16 includes a drive motor for sending out the product corresponding to the product storage column 2, and the CPU 21 has an I / O interface
A command indicating the delivery of goods is given to this motor through 24.

The mode switch 18 is operated to switch between a normal sales mode and a setting mode. When the mode switch 14 is operated in the vending mode, the CPU 21 drives the barcode reader 1 with the vending machine in the setting mode. Thereby, the barcode reader 1 reads the product code printed on the product 13, the column code displayed on the column identification unit 28, and the product selection switch code displayed on the product selection switch identification unit 29. Can be.

The product code is a bar code symbol for the common code defined by the JIS standard for POS systems, so-called JAN code, and is a two-digit country code from the top (49 for Japan). A five-digit product maker code, a five-digit product item code (hereinafter referred to as a product code for convenience), and a one-digit check digit are arranged. As described above, the JAN code is determined to have the first two-digit code of 49.
By checking the digits, it is determined whether the code is a JAN code. Therefore, the column code and the product selection switch code of this example have the first two digits as the identification code part, and
By setting a numerical value other than, the three codes can be distinguished.

The CPU 21 determines the correspondence between the product storage column 2 and the product selection switch 8 based on the reading of the barcode reader 1 by RA.
In the vending machine 5, since the number of the product storage columns 2 does not match the number of the product selection switches 8, only one product storage column corresponding to the plurality of product selection switches 8 is provided. Will exist.

FIG. 4 shows the storage format of the RAM 23.
23 has at least four types of storage areas.

The storage area 23a is a buffer storage unit, and includes a product code buffer for storing a product code read by the barcode reader 1, a column indicator display buffer, a selection switch indicator display buffer, an input amount buffer, and the like. The 5-bit column indicator display buffer stores display data indicating whether the five column indicators 19 are turned on or off by 1-bit "1" or "0". The 7-bit selection switch indicator display buffer stores display data indicating whether the seven selection switch indicators 20 are turned on or off by 1-bit “1” or “0”.

The storage area 23b is an area for storing a correspondence between each product selection switch 8 and a product code of a product to be sold by operating the product selection switch 8, and has seven addresses equal to the number of the product selection switches 8.

The storage area 23c is an area 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 has five addresses equal to the number of the product storage columns 2.

The storage area 23d is an area for storing a product code and a selling price of a product corresponding to the code. Since the vending machine 5 has five product storage columns and can sell up to five types of products. Has five addresses. In this example, the barcode printed on the sheet 30 is read by the barcode reader 1 so that the storage area is read.
23d can store the selling price.

The storage area 23e is an area for storing, for each product code, the number of the product storage column 2 in which the last selling operation was performed,
An address corresponding to the set number is provided by setting the product code. This storage area 23e is effective in rotation sales described later.

The operation of the vending machine 5 having the above configuration in the setting mode will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 5A.

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. Then, when the barcode is input in step S2, the CPU 21 proceeds to the next S
In each of steps S3, S4, S5, and S6, the type of the input barcode is determined.

In step S3, if it is determined that the barcode input in step S2 is a JAN code, step S15
Proceed to processing. In step S15, the CPU 21
The product code included in the N code is extracted, and it is determined whether the same product code is stored in the storage areas 23b and 23c of the RAM 23. If it is stored, the process proceeds to step S16, and the column indicator 19 and the selection switch indicator 20 corresponding to the product code are driven. That is, the CPU 21 detects the product selection switch 8 storing the product code from the storage area 23b, and selects the selection switch indicator corresponding to the product selection switch 8.
The display data instructing the drive of 20 is stored in the selection switch indicator display buffer of the RAM 23 and output to the display device 14. Further, the CPU 21 detects the product storage column 2 storing the product code from the storage area 23c, and displays display data for instructing driving of the column indicator 19 corresponding to the product storage column 2 in the column of the RAM 23. The data is stored in the indicator display buffer and output to the display device 14.

If it is determined in step S15 that the corresponding product code is not stored in the storage areas 23b and 23c, the process proceeds to step S17, where the product code is stored in the product code buffer.

If it is determined in step S4 that the barcode input in step S2 is a column code,
Proceed to step S18. In this step S18, it is determined whether or not the product code is stored in the product code buffer,
If stored, the process proceeds to step S19. Step S19
In the CPU 21, the storage area 23c of the RAM 23
This product code is stored in the address corresponding to the product storage column 2 indicated by the column code. On the other hand, if the product code is not stored in the product code buffer, error processing is performed in step S20, and the process returns to step S1.

If it is determined in step S5 that the barcode input in step S2 is a sales price code, the process proceeds to step S21. In step S21, it is determined whether or not a product code is stored in the product code buffer. If the product code is stored, the process proceeds to step S22. If not, an error process is performed in step S23.

In step S22, the CPU 21 stores the product code stored in the product code buffer and the barcode indicating the selling price read by the barcode reader 1 in the storage area 23d of the RAM 23. In this way, the barcode printed on the product 18 for which the selling price is to be set is read by the barcode reader 1, and then the barcode indicating the selling price to be set is selected from the sheet 30 and the barcode is selected. By reading with the reader 1, the correspondence between the product and the selling price is stored in the RAM 23.

If it is determined in step S6 that the barcode input in step S2 is a product selection switch code, the process proceeds to step S8.

Thus, the product selection switch 8 can be specified by directly operating the product selection switch 8 in addition to reading the product selection switch code with the barcode reader 1. Therefore, if it is determined in step S6 that the code is not a product selection switch code, the process proceeds to step S7, where it is determined whether the product selection switch 8 has been operated. If the product selection switch 8 has been operated, the process proceeds to step S8.

In step S8, it is determined whether or not the product code is stored in the product code buffer. If the product code is stored, the process proceeds to step S9, but if not, an error process is performed in step S20.

In step S9, the CPU 21 determines from the display data stored in the selection switch indicator display buffer whether the selection switch indicator 20 corresponding to the product selection switch 8 is being driven. Then, when the corresponding selection switch indicator 20 is being driven, the step
Proceed to step S10. In this step S10, the RAM 23
In the storage area 23b, the contents stored at the address corresponding to the product selection switch 8 are cleared. In the next step S11, the CPU 21 stores display data for turning off the selection switch indicator 20 corresponding to the product selection switch 8 in a selection switch indicator display buffer and outputs it to the display device 14.

However, if the selection switch indicator 20 corresponding to the indicated product selection switch 8 has not been driven, the process proceeds to step S12. In this step S12,
The CPU 21 stores the product code stored in the product code buffer at the address corresponding to the product selection switch 8 in the storage area 23b of the RAM 23. Then, in the next step S13, the CPU 21 stores display data for turning on the selection switch indicator 20 corresponding to the product selection switch 8 in a selection switch indicator display buffer and outputs the display data to the display device 14.

In this manner, the bar code reader 1 reads the JAN code, and then reads all the column codes corresponding to the product column storing the product, thereby reading the storage area 23c corresponding to the specified product storage column 2. The product code included in the JAN code is stored in the address. Further, the JAN code is read by the bar code reader 1, and then the bar code reader 1 reads all the product selection switch codes corresponding to the product selection switch 8 corresponding to this product, or the product selection switch 8 directly. Is operated, the product code included in the JAN code is stored in the address of the storage area 23b corresponding to the specified product selection switch 8. At this time, the JAN code is read by the barcode reader 1, and subsequently, the designation of the product selection switch 8 and the designation of the product storage column 2 are performed continuously. And the product code can be handled together. At this time, if the bar code is read from the sheet 30, the correspondence between the product code and the selling price can be performed at the same time.

Then, in step S14, the mode switch 18
It is determined whether or not the setting has been completed by the above operation again. If the setting has been completed, the vending machine 5 enters the vending mode. However, if the processing has not been completed, the process returns to step S1.

Next, the operation of the vending machine 5 in the vending mode will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 5B.

In step S100, the CPU 21
, It is determined whether a signal indicating the amount of the inserted coin has been sent, and if it has been sent, this amount is added to the amount stored in the inserted amount buffer in the next step S101. In the next step S102, it is determined whether or not the product selection switch 8 has been operated to select a product. If the product selection switch 8 has been operated, the process proceeds to step S103. In step S103, the product code corresponding to the selected product selection switch 8 is detected from the storage area 23b of the RAM 23 and stored in the product code buffer. Next, step S1
In 04, the sales price of the product is searched from the storage area 23d of the RAM 23 based on the product code stored in the product code buffer, and the sales price is compared with the input amount stored in the input amount buffer. It is determined whether the selected product is available for sale.

If the selected product is available for sale, the process proceeds to step S105. Based on the product code stored in the product code buffer, the product storage column 2 storing the product is searched from the storage area 23c of the RAM 23. . When the same product is stored in a plurality of product storage columns 2, so-called rotation sales control is performed. That is, CPU 21
Searches the storage area 23e of the RAM 23 for the product storage column 2 that previously performed the selling operation with respect to the product code, and according to a certain order, performs the next selling operation.
To determine.

Then, in the next step S106, sales control processing is performed,
A drive signal is supplied to a product delivery drive motor corresponding to the retrieved product storage column 2 to control the product delivery operation, change is calculated, and the coin processing device 11 is operated as necessary.
Is controlled.

(G) Effects of the Invention According to the present invention, since the correspondence between the product storage column and the product to be sold from this column is set via the product code printed on this product, the setting is easy. Not only is it certain.

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 in which a front door is opened, FIG. 3 is a view showing an electric configuration in blocks, FIG. 4 is a view schematically showing a storage format of a RAM, FIGS. 5A and 5B. The figure is a flowchart for explaining the operation. 1 ... Barcode reader, 2 ... Product storage column, 8
…… Product selection switch, 21 …… CPU, 22 …… RAM.

Continuation of the front page (72) Keita Shinozaki 2-18-18 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model 60-135980 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G07F 9/00

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A vending machine which sells products whose product codes are printed as bar codes, a bar code reader, a column specifying means for outputting a signal for specifying each product storage column, and each product selection switch. A product selection switch specifying means for outputting a signal for specifying the product code, and a product storage column specified by the column specifying means and the bar code when a specific code including a product code is read by the bar code reader in the setting mode. The product code included in the specific code read by the reader is stored in association with the product selection switch specified by the product selection switch specifying means and the product code included in the specific code read by the barcode reader. A column setting device for a vending machine, comprising a memory for storing related data.