JP3644793B2 - vending machine - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a vending machine, and more particularly to a vending machine that purchases products displayed in a plurality of product boxes each provided with a door based on the insertion of coins corresponding to the price. It is.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A conventional vending machine of this type includes, for example, a plurality of product boxes each having a door and a push button switch for opening the door corresponding to the product box. The push button switch includes a coin of a predetermined amount. Some display lamps are lit to indicate whether or not they can be sold on the basis of the input.
[0003]
When purchasing goods stored in the product box, if you insert coins corresponding to the sales amount into the coin slot, you will be prohibited from continuing to insert coins and open the door from the input amount. The indicator lamp corresponding to is turned on to indicate that it can be sold. Thereafter, by selectively pressing a desired push button switch from these push button switches, the door of the corresponding product box is opened and the product is taken out.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, with conventional vending machines, when a product is refilled, there is no product in the number of product boxes, and even if a product box that does not contain a product is created, a predetermined amount of coins is inserted into the coin slot. If all the corresponding indicator lamps light up to indicate that they are available for sale, if you accidentally open the door of an empty product box that does not contain any products, Regardless, there was a problem that the product could not be purchased.
[0005]
For this reason, when there is an empty product box, the corresponding push button switch is pressed to light up the sold-out display lamps one by one, but there is a problem that the operation is very complicated.
[0006]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and prevents the saleable lamp of an empty merchandise box that does not contain merchandise from being turned on and prevents the empty merchandise box door from being accidentally opened. The purpose is to provide a vending machine.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Accordingly, in order to achieve the above object, in the vending machine according to the present invention, the openable and closable doors (6) respectively provided in the plurality of product boxes (29) capable of storing the products, and the product box (29) A selection means (9) with a plurality of indicators (9a, 9b) and a selection means (9a, 9b) with a plurality of indicators (9a, 9b), which are installed for each of them, and display the sellable state of the product and the sold out state of the product 9) provided with unlocking means (40) for selecting any of the commodity boxes (29) in a saleable state and opening the corresponding door (6) in a state where it can be opened. ,
The selection means (9) with the display (9a, 9b) is sold out by turning on the power (31) with the door (6) of the empty product box (29) in which no product is accommodated opened in advance. In addition, a control means (33) for controlling the unlocking means (40) to an inoperable state is provided.
[0008]
[Action]
Based on the above configuration, the selection means (9a, 9b) with the indicator (9a, 9b) is turned on by turning on the power (31) in a state where the door (6) of the empty product box (29) in which no product is accommodated is opened in advance. 9) is sold out and the lock release means (40) is controlled to be inoperable.
[0009]
In addition, the code | symbol in the above-mentioned parenthesis is for contrast with drawing, Comprising: The structure of this invention is not limited at all.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a vending machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view showing the inside of the vending machine main body, and FIG. 3 is the same. FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view showing the locking mechanism of the vending machine main body, and FIG. 5 is an operation explanatory view of the vending machine.
[0011]
In FIG. 1, a vending machine 1 includes a vending machine main body 3 supported by a support 2 and a main body door 5 that is rotatably supported at one end of the vending machine main body 3 and can be opened to the front. It consists of and.
[0012]
In the center of the front surface of the main body door 5, a large number of doors 6 that can be opened to the front are arranged in line with a product box 29 described later, and an opening / closing knob 7 is provided above each door 6. Is protruding. Further, an illuminated push button switch (hereinafter referred to as “push button switch”) 9 is provided on one side of the door 6 as selection means with a display function. This push button switch 9 has a sellable lamp (LED) 9a that displays a sale possibility by inserting a predetermined amount of coins, and a sellout display lamp (LED) 9b (see FIG. 3) that displays a sold-out product. When the push button switch 9 is turned on while the display lamp 9a is lit, a solenoid 40 as a lock release means described below is set in a unlocked state via the microcomputer 33.
[0013]
A coin selector 10 as a coin processing machine having a coin insertion slot 10a is disposed at a substantially central portion on one side of the main body door 5, and a sales lamp (LED) 4 and an upper portion of the coin selector 10 are provided. A sales stop lamp 8 is provided. The coin selector 10 can accept two types of coins, 100 yen coins and 500 yen coins.
[0014]
Also, an input amount display unit 14 is provided above the coin input port 10a. The input amount display unit 14 indicates that the main power switch 31 is input by indicating “0” as the display amount. Further, a return lever 11 is provided below the coin insertion slot 10a. The return lever 11 has a surplus effect when the coin selector 10 that accepts coins equal to or less than the sales amount accepts more coins than the sale amount due to failure when the purchase of the product is stopped after the coins are inserted. Used to return or change change. When the return lever 11 is operated for 2 seconds or longer, the sales price is displayed on the input amount display unit 14.
[0015]
Further, a safe 17 is provided below the coin selector 10, and a change device 18 having a coin return port 18 a is provided below the safe 17. Keyholes 13 are formed in the upper and lower portions of the main body door 5.
[0016]
Next, the vending machine main body 3 has a bottom plate 15, a pair of side plates 16, a rear side plate (not shown), and a top plate 19 as shown in FIG. A pair of side plates 20 a and 20 b are erected on the left side of the front side of the vending machine body 3. In addition, a bottom plate 21a is horizontally mounted on the lower ends of the side plates 20a and 20b, and a top plate 21b is horizontally mounted on the upper ends. A plurality of shelf plates 22 are arranged in parallel at the intermediate portion between the side plates 20a and 20b.
[0017]
A pair of side plates 23 a and 23 b are erected on the front right side of the vending machine body 3. A bottom plate 25a is horizontally mounted on the lower ends of the side plates 23a and 23b, and a top plate 25b is horizontally mounted on the upper ends. A plurality of shelves 27 are arranged in parallel at the intermediate portions of the side plates 23a and 23b.
[0018]
As a result, a plurality of product boxes 29 that can store products such as vegetables or eggs are formed, and the doors 6 are provided in the openings of the product boxes 29, respectively. Further, a control box 30 which will be described in detail later is provided on the upper part of the vending machine body 3.
[0019]
On the front face of the control box 30, a main power switch 31 and a money amount setting switch 32 are disposed. Further, inside the control box 30, a microcomputer 33 (see FIG. 3) is provided as control means. 34a and 34b are electric lamps, and 35 is an outlet.
[0020]
The microcomputer 33 is connected to a coin selector 10 that determines whether or not coins other than 100 yen coins and 500 yen coins (hereinafter referred to as “bad coins”) have been inserted.
[0021]
Then, when a coin with a sales amount is inserted into the coin insertion slot 10a, the microcomputer 33 issues a coin acceptance prohibition signal to the coin selector 10 and lights the sale enable lamp 9a to make the product box 29 available for sale. . In addition, the microcomputer 33 performs control for enabling the door 6 of the corresponding product box 29 to be opened by selecting and operating any push button switch 9 from among the plurality of product boxes 29 whose saleable lamps 9a are lit. Do.
[0022]
On the other hand, when a defective coin is inserted from the coin insertion slot 10a, the coin selector 10 issues a coin abnormality signal to the microcomputer 33 and returns the inserted coin as it is. If the coin selector 10 is abnormal and the coin is not accepted, but the coin is not returned to the coin return slot 18a and is accepted, the microcomputer 33 receives an abnormality signal from the coin selector 10. The sales lamp 4 is turned off based on the above, the sales stop lamp 8 is turned on, and the investment amount display unit 14 has a function of alternately displaying the investment amount and the error display.
[0023]
Each door 6 is provided with a locking mechanism as shown in FIG. In this locking mechanism, first, support plates 37 are erected on both the left and right sides of the product box 29 row, and the door 6 of the product box 29 is provided on either the left or right side of the support plate 37 based on a signal from the microcomputer 33. A solenoid (which will be described in detail later) 40 for controlling the opening and closing is provided.
[0024]
Above each solenoid 40, an L-shaped arm 41 is supported so as to be rotatable about a support shaft 41a. A locking piece 41b is formed at one end of the bent side of the L-shaped arm 41, and a semicircular recess 41e is formed at the other end.
[0025]
The lower end of the locking piece 41b and the upper end of the rod 40a of the solenoid 40 are connected via a coil spring 42, and an engagement portion 41d near the recess 41e and a hook pin 43 standing on the support plate 37 are connected. A tension spring 45 is installed between them.
[0026]
The support plate 37 is provided with an arc-shaped long hole 46, and this long hole 46 projects from the rotating end of a guide plate 62 for preventing a product drop provided inside the door 6. The boss 62a is slidably inserted. A limit switch 47 is provided at the upper end of the long hole 46 on the track, and the microcomputer is based on a door full open signal from the limit switch 47 by sliding the boss 62a to the upper end side of the long hole 46. 33 operates to turn off the sellable lamp 9a and turn on the sold-out display lamp 9b. Further, based on the door full open signal from the limit switch 47, the microcomputer 33 issues a signal to the coin selector 10 to cancel the coin acceptance prohibition to the coin insertion slot 10a.
[0027]
The door 6 is locked when the boss 62a is engaged with the recess 41e and the tension spring 45 pulls the other end of the L-shaped arm 41, and the solenoid 40 is energized via the rod 40a. By pulling one end side of the L-shaped arm 41, the unlocked state is established.
[0028]
That is, in order to unlock the door 6, the microcomputer 33 detects that the sales amount has been inserted from the coin insertion slot 10a, and the saleable lamp 9a of the push button switch 9 is turned on. Let Then, the push button switch 9 of any product box 29 in which the sellable lamp 9a is lit is selected and pressed, and the solenoid 40 is excited. Thereby, the one end side of the L-shaped arm 41 can be rotated via the rod 40a of the solenoid 40, and the engagement between the recess 41e of the L-shaped arm 41 and the boss 62a can be released.
[0029]
When the door 6 is opened and the boss 62a operates the limit switch 47, the microcomputer 33 turns off the sellable lamp 9a of the push button switch 9 and turns on the sold-out display lamp 9b. Then, the door 6 is closed, and the door 6 is locked in the locked state by engaging the boss 62a with the recess 41e.
[0030]
Next, operation | movement of the vending machine 1 of this Embodiment is demonstrated based on FIG.
[0031]
The vending machine 1 opens all the doors 6 of the empty product box 29 when there are not enough products in the number of the product boxes 29 and the empty product boxes 29 that do not contain the products are created when refilling the products. (S1). When the main power switch 31 is turned on (S2), the control operation of the microcomputer 33 is started and initialization is performed (S3), and each input status is checked (S4).
[0032]
In this input status check, an abnormality of the coin selector 10 is checked, the amount setting of the amount setting switch 32 is “0”, the push button switch 9 is not pressed, and the product box 29 is not opened. Monitor service routines.
[0033]
Next, the sale possibility lamp 9a and the sold-out display lamp 9b of the push button switch 9 of the product box 29 are sequentially turned on by the microcomputer 33 (S5) to check whether the memory of the microcomputer 33 has been reset. In this case, when the lamps 9a and 9b are not sequentially turned on, the lamps 9a and 9b are turned on sequentially by replacement or the like.
[0034]
Thereafter, the sales amount sold by the amount setting switch 32 is read, and the sold-out display lamp 9b of the empty product box 29 is turned on and the empty product box 29 of which the sold-out display lamp 9b is turned on. It is checked whether the door 6 is closed and locked (S6).
[0035]
That is, by opening the door 6 of the empty product box 29 and turning on the main power switch 31, the limit switch 47 is turned on and the sold-out display lamp 9b is turned on. Further, by closing the door 6 on which the sold-out display lamp 9b is lit, the boss portion 62a engages with the recessed portion 41e to bring the door 6 into a closed lock state. In this case, the microcomputer 33 performs control operations from S3 to S6.
[0036]
The vending machine 1 according to the present embodiment starts the sale of the product after checking according to the flow as described above. When purchasing a product, a coin is inserted from the coin insertion slot 10a. In this case, when it is determined from the count of the coin selector 10 that the coin inserted from the coin insertion slot 10a is a defective coin or that the number of coins exceeding the sales amount has been inserted, such a coin is Return to the coin return 18a.
[0037]
Further, if the input amount is equal to or greater than the sales amount (for example, when the sales amount is 300 yen and a 500-yen coin is inserted), the change amount is set to be paid and the change amount is displayed on the input amount display unit 14. .
[0038]
Then, the push button switch 9 is selected to excite the solenoid 40, and the L-shaped arm 41 is rotated by the rod 40a to release the engagement between the boss portion 62a and the recessed portion 41e. As a result, the door 6 can be opened, the sellable lamp 9a of the push button switch 9 selected by opening the door 6 is turned off, and the sold-out display lamp 9b is turned on.
[0039]
And after taking out goods, the microcomputer 33 outputs the payment confirmation signal to the change device 18 based on the presence or absence of change from the change device 18 by closing the door 6, and returns change to the coin return port 18a based on it. .
[0040]
In the first embodiment described above, the sold-out display lamp 9b is lit on the push button switch 9 of the empty product box 29 using the vending machine 1 capable of accepting 100 yen coins and 500 yen coins. Although explained, this invention can also be used for a vending machine dedicated to 100 yen. In this case, the amount setting switches 32a and 32b are arranged so that different amounts can be set for the product box 29a in the left column and the product box 29b in the right column.
[0041]
【The invention's effect】
As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, the door of the empty product box that does not contain the product is turned on in advance and the selection means with indicator is sold out and displayed. Since the unlocking means is controlled so as to be inoperable, it is not possible to turn on the sellable lamp of the empty product box that does not contain the product, and therefore, the door of the empty product box is not accidentally opened. The effect is obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a vending machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front view showing the inside of the vending machine main body.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the vending machine main body.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view showing the locking mechanism of the vending machine main body.
FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the vending machine same as above.
[Explanation of symbols]
6 Door 9 Selection means (push button switch)
9a Indicator (available lamp)
9b Display (sold out indicator lamp)
29 Product box 31 Main power supply 33 Control means (microcomputer)
40 Lock release means (solenoid)

Claims (1)

Openable and closable doors provided in each of a plurality of product boxes capable of containing products, and a selection with a plurality of indicators installed for each of the product boxes to display the saleable state of the product and the sold-out state of the product In a vending machine comprising means, and a lock release means for selecting and opening any corresponding product box that is in a saleable state from among the selection means with a display device, the corresponding door being openable,
It includes a control means for displaying the selection means with a display in a sold-out state by turning on the power in a state where the door of an empty product box in which no goods are accommodated is opened in advance, and for controlling the lock release means to be inoperable. The
Vending machine characterized by that.

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