JP3721689B2 - vending machine - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a vending machine (hereinafter referred to as a vending machine) that provides beverages by blending raw materials at a predetermined ratio.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, in a vending machine that blends a plurality of ingredients at a predetermined ratio and supplies a beverage, such as a cup vending machine that sells blended coffee, the blending ratio data of the ingredients is set as follows.
That is, in the data storage unit in the vending machine, a raw material preparation table indicating the beverage name and beverage brand (hereinafter referred to as beverage name) and the mixing ratio of each raw material, and a button allocation table indicating the allocation of the beverage name and the product selection button Is set in advance. When the vending machine user presses the product selection button, the beverage name corresponding to the button is read from the button allocation table, the raw material preparation ratio corresponding to the beverage name is read from the raw material preparation table, and the beverage is selected according to this data. Prepared and sold.
[0003]
Conventionally, the raw material formulation data has been input from the keyboard for each beverage name while looking at the data written on the paper by the operator. For example, if the beverage is instant coffee, blending data such as 2 g coffee, 6 g sugar, 8 g cream, 140 g hot water are manually input.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The conventional raw material blending method has the following problems.
As described above, since it is necessary to input the raw material blending ratio for each beverage name, the operator must individually input and set the standard and normal beverages. For this reason, the data setting work is troublesome and takes time.
[0005]
In addition, because the work is troublesome, the operator may set the blending ratio determined by the vending machine operator based on experience and the like, not according to the blending ratio recommended by the raw material supplier. For this reason, the tastes of beverages of the same brand differ depending on the vending machine, and there are cases where they cannot be sold with the taste recommended by the raw material provider.
An object of the present invention is to make it possible to set a blending ratio that can easily and reliably maintain a predetermined taste without setting and inputting raw material blending data for each beverage.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The vending machine according to the first aspect of the present invention is a vending machine that provides a plurality of types of beverages by blending raw materials at a predetermined ratio, a product selection button for selecting a beverage, a beverage name input means for setting and inputting a beverage name, and a product selection Beverage name storage means for storing the correspondence between the button and the beverage name, raw material storage means for storing the mixing ratio of the raw material corresponding to the beverage name, and sales means for mixing and selling the beverage according to the mixing ratio stored in the raw material storage means When the beverage name is input from the beverage name input means and the product selection button is pressed at the time of setting, the correspondence between the pressed beverage selection button and the beverage name is stored in the beverage name storage means and sold. Sometimes, when the product selection button is pressed, the beverage name corresponding to the product selection button is read from the beverage name storage means, and the blending ratio of the beverage corresponding to the read beverage name is read from the raw material storage means. Only taken to formulate sold.
[0007]
In this way, each beverage name and the mixing ratio of ingredients are stored in advance in the ingredient storage means, the association between the beverage name and the product selection button is stored at the time of setting, and the beverage name is selected from the product selection button pressed at the time of sale. Thus, since the mixing ratio of the raw materials is read, the predetermined mixing ratio can be easily and reliably set without individually inputting the raw material mixing data for each beverage.
[0008]
A vending machine according to a second aspect of the present invention is the vending machine according to the first aspect, wherein the beverage name input means is a numeric keypad. Thereby, a raw material can be set easily using existing equipment.
A vending machine according to a third aspect of the present invention is the vending machine according to the first aspect, wherein the beverage name input means is composed of a barcode describing the beverage name and a barcode reader for reading the barcode. Thereby, input operation becomes easier and a raw material is set reliably.
[0009]
A vending machine according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the vending machine according to the first aspect, wherein the beverage name input means includes a beverage card with a protrusion for identifying a beverage name and a beverage name discrimination switch for identifying and reading the protrusion shape. Thereby, a raw material is easily set using a flavor card etc.
A vending machine according to a fifth aspect is the vending machine according to the second aspect, wherein the numeric keypad includes a beverage name display and an instruction key, and at the time of setting, the beverage names stored in the raw material storage means are designated in a predetermined order each time the instruction key is pressed. The beverage name displayed on the display and displayed when the product selection button is pressed is made to correspond to the pressed product selection button. This ensures that the ingredients are set without inputting the beverage name from the keyboard.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(1) Inventions 1, 2, and 5 FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of Inventions 1, 2, and 5.
Reference numeral 1 denotes a CPU for controlling the entire vending machine, to which the following devices are connected. That is, the product selection buttons 2a, 2b, 2c for the vending machine user to select a beverage, the money processing device 3 having a function of inputting and discharging money, and the raw material blending ratio data such as the raw material manufacturer recommendation corresponding to the beverage name are stored. ROM4, the correspondence between the product selection button and the beverage name, the RAM 5 for storing various data, the numeric keypad 6 with the display 7 for setting and inputting data such as the beverage name, and the sales for mixing and selling the raw materials Mechanism 8. The sales mechanism 8 includes a raw material box 9 for storing raw materials such as coffee, sugar and cream, a hot water tank 10 for storing hot water, a beverage stirring device 11 for stirring beverages, and a beverage container 12 for beverages.
[0011]
At the time of data setting, the operator switches the numeric keypad 6 to the raw material setting mode, and displays the product selection button number, for example, 2a, on the display 7 by using, for example, the “previous” and “next” keys. Next, a beverage name to be assigned to the product selection button 2a with this number, for example, “instant coffee” is set and inputted from the numeric keypad 6. Here, when the product selection button 2a is pressed, the CPU 1 stores the correspondence between the number of the pressed button and the beverage name (here, 2a and “instant coffee”) in the RAM 5. In this way, beverage names are sequentially assigned to the product selection buttons.
[0012]
At the time of sale, when the user selects a product selection button (for example, button 2a), the CPU 1 reads the beverage name corresponding to the button number from the RAM 5, reads the raw material blending ratio corresponding to the beverage name from the ROM 4, and sells the sales mechanism. 8 prepares and sells beverages according to this data.
By the above operation, even if the operator does not individually input the raw material preparation data for each beverage, it is only necessary to assign the correspondence between the product selection button and the beverage name, and at the time of beverage sales, the preparation for the selected beverage name is performed. The ratio is read from the ROM 4 and the beverage is prepared and sold. Therefore, it is possible to supply the beverage at the recommended mixing ratio of the raw material manufacturer without troublesome setting work.
[0013]
At the time of setting, not only the correspondence between the product selection button and the beverage name is assigned, but also the beverage name blending data corresponding to the product selection button number is read from the ROM 4 and stored in the RAM 5 and blended and sold according to this data. it can. If it does in this way, for example, it can change and mix the mixing ratio of ROM5 partially.
In addition, the beverage names stored in the ROM 4 can be sequentially displayed on the display 7 each time the “Previous” or “Next” key is pressed after the numeric keypad 6 is switched to the ingredient setting mode. In this way, it is not necessary for the operator to input the beverage name from the keyboard every time the beverage name is assigned to the product selection button.
(2) Invention 3 FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of Invention 3.
[0014]
In the above-mentioned inventions 1, 2, and 5, the product name and the product selection button are assigned with the numeric keypad 6, but in this invention 3, the product name is printed with a barcode on which the beverage name is printed.
For this reason, a barcode reader 13 for reading a barcode is provided in the vicinity of the product selection buttons 2a, 2b, and 2c. Furthermore, bar code cards 14a, 14b, and 14c in which beverage names such as beverage A, beverage B, and beverage C are entered are prepared for each beverage name.
[0015]
For example, when the operator wants to make the beverage A correspond to the product selection button 2 a, the card 14 a with barcode for the beverage A is inserted into the barcode reader 13. By this operation, the barcode reader 13 reads the beverage name A written on the barcode-added card 14a and transmits it to the CPU 1. When the operator presses the product selection button 2a, the CPU 1 stores the correspondence between the pressed button number and the beverage name in the RAM 5. This operation is sequentially repeated for each product selection button.
[0016]
By the above operation, the beverage can be supplied at the recommended mixing ratio of the raw material manufacturer without troublesome setting work.
The bar code reader 13 can be provided as a single unit without being installed for each product selection button. The barcode reader 13 can also be a portable barcode reader.
(3) Invention 4 FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of Invention 4.
[0017]
In this invention, the product name and the product selection button are assigned by the beverage cards with protrusions 15a, 15b, and 15c that can identify the beverage name by the shape of the protrusion.
For this reason, beverage name discrimination switches 16a, 16b and 16c for reading the beverage name from the beverage card with protrusions are provided in the vicinity of the product selection button.
For example, when the operator wants to make beverage A correspond to the product selection button 2a, the beverage card 15a with protrusions is inserted into the beverage name discrimination switch 16a. By this operation, the beverage name discriminating switch 16a discriminates the beverage name A of the beverage card with protrusions 15a and transmits it to the CPU 1. When the operator presses the product selection button 2a, the CPU 1 stores the correspondence between the pressed button number and the beverage name in the RAM 5. This operation is sequentially repeated for each product selection button.
[0018]
By the above operation, the beverage can be supplied at the recommended mixing ratio of the raw material manufacturer without troublesome setting work.
In addition, the above-mentioned beverage card with protrusions is provided near each product selection button in order to show a sample product, for example, a comb-like notch is formed on one side of the flavor card, or the card surface is uneven. Thus, the beverage name can be identified.
[0019]
【The invention's effect】
According to this invention, each beverage name and the mixing ratio of ingredients are stored in advance in a raw material storage means such as a ROM, and at the time of setting, the association between the product selection button and the beverage name is set, and at the time of sale, according to the association. Read raw material from ROM. Therefore, the predetermined blending ratio can be set easily and reliably without inputting the raw material blending data of each beverage individually. As a result, it is not necessary for the operator to set the standard or obvious blending ratio of the beverage, so that the labor for data setting can be greatly reduced. In addition, since beverages of the same brand are sold at the same raw material mixing ratio in any vending machine, the brand image of the beverage is not impaired.
[0020]
In addition, if the numeric keypad is used as the beverage name input means, the current organic device can be used, and if a bar code or flavor card is used, the input operation becomes easy. In addition, a beverage name display and an instruction key are provided on the numeric keypad so that each time the instruction key is pressed, the beverage name in the ingredient storage means is displayed and corresponds to the beverage name displayed when the product selection button is pressed. By doing so, it is possible to reliably set the raw material without inputting the beverage name from the keyboard.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the invention 1, 2, and 5. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the invention 3. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the invention 4. Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... CPU, 2a, 2b, 2c ... Merchandise selection button, 3 ... Money processing apparatus, 4 ... ROM, 5 ... RAM, 6 ... Numeric keypad, 7 ... Display, 8 ... Sales mechanism, 9 ... Raw material box, 10 ... Hot water Tank, 11 ... Beverage stirrer, 12 ... Beverage container, 13 ... Bar code reader, 14a, 14b, 14c ... Card with bar code, 15a, 15b, 15c ... Beverage card with protrusion, 16a, 16b, 16c ... For beverage name discrimination switch.

Claims (5)

In a vending machine that mixes raw materials at a predetermined ratio and provides multiple types of beverages,
A product selection button for selecting a beverage;
A beverage name input means for setting and inputting a beverage name;
A beverage name storage means for storing the correspondence between the product selection button and the beverage name;
Ingredient storage means for storing the blending ratio of ingredients corresponding to the beverage name;
And sales means for preparing and selling beverages according to the mixing ratio stored in the raw material storage means,
When the beverage name is input from the beverage name input means at the time of setting and the product selection button is pressed, the correspondence between the pressed beverage selection button and the beverage name is stored in the beverage name storage means, and at the time of sale, the product selection is performed. When the button is pressed, the beverage name corresponding to the product selection button is read from the beverage name storage means, and the blending ratio of the beverage corresponding to the read beverage name is read from the raw material storage means and mixed and sold. vending machine. 2. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the beverage name input means is a numeric keypad. 2. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the beverage name input means includes a bar code indicating the beverage name and a bar code reader for reading the bar code. 2. The automatic vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the beverage name input means includes a beverage card with a protrusion for identifying a beverage name, and a beverage name discrimination switch for identifying and reading the projection shape. Vending machine. 3. The vending machine according to claim 2, wherein the numeric keypad includes a beverage name display and an instruction key, and the beverage names stored in the raw material storage means are displayed in a predetermined order each time the instruction key is pressed during setting. The vending machine is characterized in that the beverage name displayed when the product selection button is pressed is made to correspond to the pressed product selection button.

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