JP3854491B2 - vending machine - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a vending machine that provides and sells beverages in cups.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a vending machine, a cup-type beverage vending machine that sells drinks by providing a cup with a cup is known, for example, as described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-99554. ing.
[0003]
In such a vending machine, a sales port for taking out a cup containing a beverage is provided on the front surface of the machine body. In addition, a cup holding part for holding the cup in the machine body, and the cup holding part in the machine body in the front-rear direction and the left and right direction Conveying means for moving in the direction, cup supply means for supplying cups, a plurality of raw material supply means for storing beverage raw materials for each type and delivering a predetermined amount of raw materials corresponding to one beverage supply, hot water and cold water The hot water supply means to supply is accommodated.
[0004]
In general, the cup holding unit stands by at the position of the cup station inside the sales outlet located at the time of completion of the previous sales operation, and when the user inserts money and selects a beverage, The cup holder moves from the cup station position to the cup supply position to receive the cup supplied from the cup supply means, and then the cup holder moves to the raw material supply position corresponding to the selected beverage. The raw material supplied from the supply means is received in the cup, and then the cup holder moves to the cup station via the hot water supply position, or moves to the cup station if the hot water supply position is at the cup station, Hot water or cold water supplied from the hot water supply means is received in the cup, and the ingredients and hot water or cold water are mixed and stirred in the cup to prepare a drink. And to release the enter of the cup from the sales outlet.
[0005]
However, if the standby position of the cup holder is the cup station position, at the start of the sales operation, the cup holder first moves from the cup station position to the cup supply position, and then the cup supply means discharges the cup. Since the cup is received by the cup holder, it takes time until the cup is received by the cup holder, and there is a problem that it takes one sale time.
[0006]
Therefore, if the cup holding unit is moved from the cup station position to the cup supply position in advance after one sales operation and waited, the cup holding unit can receive the cup immediately at the start of the next sales operation, One sales time can be shortened.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when the standby position of the cup holder is the cup supply position, the inside of the sales outlet where the cup holder is not located is open. There is a sales door that can be opened or closed manually or automatically outside the sales port, but if the sales door is opened by mischief, the inside of the vending machine can be seen through the inside of the sales port. For example, there is a possibility that the cup is pulled out from the cup supply means by putting a hand into the sales outlet.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine that can shorten the sales time for one time and prevent mischief through a sales outlet.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The vending machine according to claim 1 is a machine body having a sales opening opened and closed by a sales door, a cup supply means provided in the machine body for supplying a cup, provided in the machine body, and provided in the cup body. A beverage providing means for providing a beverage, and a cup holding portion that is provided in the body and holds the cup, and moves the cup holding portion to a cup supply position for receiving the cup from the cup supply means. Conveyance that moves in response to a beverage providing operation for receiving a beverage from the beverage providing means into the cup so that the cup provided with the beverage can be taken out from the sales port when the cup holding part is located inside the sales port. And the conveying means to move the cup holder to the cup supply position after one sale operation, and if there is a next sale command within a predetermined time after the sale operation, Receive cup flop holding unit moves to the next sales operation, in which and a control means for moving the cup holder inside the sales outlet if a predetermined time has passed without no vending command.
[0010]
In this configuration, the cup holder is moved to the cup supply position after one sales operation, and if there is a next sales command within a predetermined time after the sales operation, the cup is received by the cup holder and the next sale Since the operation shifts to one operation, the time for one sale is shortened, and if the predetermined time elapses without any sales instruction, the cup holder is moved to the inside of the sales outlet, so that mischief through the sales outlet is prevented.
[0011]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the vending machine according to the first aspect of the present invention, the vending machine according to the first aspect includes a detecting means for detecting an external action accompanied by the opening of the sales opening door. When the detection means detects an external action in a state where it is not positioned inside, the cup holding portion is moved to the inside of the sales outlet.
[0012]
In this configuration, when the detection means detects an external action involving opening of the sales opening door in a state where the cup holding section is not positioned inside the sales opening, the cup holding portion is moved to the inside of the sales opening. Therefore, mischief through sales outlets is prevented .
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0014]
FIG. 1 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the vending machine, FIG. 2 is a block diagram constituting the vending machine, FIG. 3 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of the vending machine, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of a state in which the cup holder of the vending machine is located at the cup supply position, FIG. 6 is a schematic front view of the vending machine, and FIG. FIG. 8 is a schematic side view of the vending machine, and FIG. 8 is a front view of the vending machine.
[0015]
4 to 8, the vending machine is a cup-type beverage vending machine that provides and sells beverages in the cup C, and has a body 11. The body 11 includes a main body 12 having an open front surface and a body 12. A door body 13 for opening and closing the front surface of the main body 12 is provided.
[0016]
The door 13 has a sales port 16 formed substantially in the center, and a cup station 17 is disposed inside the sales port 16. A sales port door 18 that can close the sales port 16 is attached to the sales port 16 so as to be freely opened and closed. The sales port door 18 is automatically opened and closed by a sales port door opening / closing means (shown in FIG. 2). In the closed state, it is locked and unlocked by locking means (not shown).
[0017]
In the upper area of the door body 13, a plurality of beverage type display sections 19 for displaying the types of beverages to be sold are arranged, and a selection button 20 is arranged for each of these beverage type display sections 19. In addition, in each beverage type display section 19, depending on the type of beverage, there are multiple types to select a detailed type such as coffee black, with sugar, with cream, with sugar cream, with or without ice, and cup size. The selection button 20 is provided.
[0018]
On the right side of the door body 13, a coin insertion slot 21, a bill insertion slot 22, a coin return slot 23, a return lever 24, and the like are arranged, and behind these are identification and counting of banknotes and coins and return and change dispensing A money handling device (not shown) is provided.
[0019]
In the body 11, a cup holding means 27 for holding the cup C is disposed behind the cup station 17 by a conveying means 28.
[0020]
The cup holding means 27 has a main body portion 29 and a cup holding portion 30 that holds the cup C disposed on the side surface of the main body portion 29. The cup holding unit 30 includes a cup mounting table 30a for mounting the cup C, and a pair of cup holders 30b for holding the cup C sandwiched from both sides above the cup mounting table 30a. The cup mounting table 30a can be moved up and down by a lifting mechanism (not shown) disposed in the main body 29, the highest position is a cooking position for cooking beverages, and the middle position is a cup with a pair of cup holders 30b. A cup receiving position for receiving and holding C is used, and a lowered position is a cup taking-out position where the cup C can be taken out by moving it below the pair of cup holders 30b. The pair of cup holders are opened and closed by a cup holder driving mechanism (not shown) disposed in the main body 29, and the cup C is held between both sides in the closed state, and the cup C is taken out in the opened state. It is possible.
[0021]
The cup holding means 27 has a rotating means 31 and is mounted on the conveying means 28 via the rotating means 31. The rotation means 31 rotates the entire cup holding means 27 in a substantially horizontal plane around a rotation center point 32 that is the approximate center of the main body 29, and the cup holding section 30 is the first that faces forward. The cup holder 30 can be rotated between the rotation position and the second rotation position at which the cup holding portion 30 is rotated 90 ° to the right from the first rotation position.
[0022]
The conveying means 28 has a guide rail 33 disposed in the front-rear direction of the machine body 11, and a cup holding means 27 is mounted on a slider 34 that slides along the guide rail 33 via a rotating means 31. Yes. The slider 34 is reciprocated along the guide rail 33 by a driving mechanism (not shown). The transport means 28 includes a rotating means 31 that rotates the cup holding part 30 to move the cup holding part 30 to each position where it is necessary.
[0023]
And the movement locus | trajectory of the center of the cup holding | maintenance part 30 when the cup holding | maintenance part 30 of the cup holding | maintenance means 27 moves to the front-back direction in the 1st rotation position which faced the front is made into the 1st virtual line 35, and cup holding | maintenance is carried out. The movement trajectory of the center of the cup holding portion 30 when the portion 30 is moved in the front-rear direction at the second rotation position rotated 90 ° rightward is configured as the second imaginary line 36. 35 and the second virtual line 36 are parallel to each other. Further, a range in which the cup holder 30 can move between the first virtual line 35 and the second virtual line 36 is configured as a cup holder moving area 37.
[0024]
A cup supply means 40 for supplying the cup C on the second imaginary line 36 is disposed near the cup station 17. In this cup supply means 40, for example, two types of cups C of different sizes are accommodated, and one cup C of each size is provided from the two dispensing mechanisms 41 arranged on the second virtual line 36. The cup C of each size is dispensed downward and supplied to each cup supply position on the second imaginary line 36.
[0025]
A plurality of ingredient supply means 44 for supplying beverage ingredients on the first virtual line 35 are arranged in the front-rear direction, and a plurality of similar ingredient supply means 44 on the second virtual line 36 are cup supply means. Arranged in the front-rear direction side by side behind 40. Each of these raw material supply means 44 stores, for each type, powdery raw materials of beverages such as instant coffee, green tea, tea, cocoa, sugar and milk. A raw material container 45 for storing raw materials, and this raw material container 45 A feed mechanism section 46 that feeds the raw material from the bottom, a drive section 47 that drives the feed mechanism section 46, and a raw material chute 48 that receives the raw material fed by the feed mechanism section 46 and guides it downward. Further, at the tip of the raw material chute 48 of each raw material supply means 44, the raw material sent from each raw material supply means 44 is received and stored, and the reserved raw materials are stored on the first virtual line 35 and the second virtual line 36, respectively. A raw material holding means 49 for collectively discharging the raw material is provided at the raw material supply position.
[0026]
Then, the cup holding part 30 of the cup holding means 27 is moved to each cup supply position and each raw material supply position, and the cup C supplied at the cup supply position is received by the cup holding part 30, and supplied at the raw material supply position. The raw material to be received is received in a holding cup C.
[0027]
In the airframe 11, although not shown, a hot water supply means for supplying hot water, a cold water supply means for supplying cold water, an ice supply means for supplying ice, to the cup C conveyed to the cup station 17, And the stirring means etc. which mix the drink by stirring the contents in the cup C are arrange | positioned.
[0028]
In addition, a drain pan 51 for collecting spilled raw material and water, drain water generated in the machine body, and the like is disposed in the lower area of each raw material supply means 44, the lower area of the cup holder 30, and the lower area of the cup station 17. A drainage container 52 that collects drain water collected in the drain pan 51 is disposed below the drain pan 51.
[0029]
FIG. 2 also shows a control means 55 for controlling the cup type vending machine. The control means 55 includes a cup detection unit 56, a sales outlet door detection unit 57, a conveyance unit 28, a cup supply unit 40, and a beverage supply. Means 58, sales door opening / closing means 59, and alarm means 60 are connected.
[0030]
The cup detection unit 56 is configured by an optical sensor that is provided in the cup station 17 and detects whether or not the cup C is present in the cup holding unit 30 that has moved into the cup station 17. The sales outlet door detection unit 57 includes a micro switch that detects a state in which the sales outlet door 18 is closed. The cup detection unit 56 and the sales door detection unit 57 are also used as detection means 61 for detecting an external action such as opening the sales door 18 or inserting a hand into the sales port 16 by mischief.
[0031]
The beverage providing means 58 includes a raw material supply means 44, hot water supply means, cold water supply means, ice supply means, agitation means, and the like, and provides a beverage in the cup C held by the cup holding portion 30. Further, the sales outlet door opening / closing means 59 automatically opens and closes the sales outlet door 18 by a driving force such as a motor. The alarm means 60 has an alarm generator that generates an alarm by an alarm sound or voice.
[0032]
Then, the control means 55 moves the cup holder 30 to the cup supply position after one sale operation, and receives the cup C to the cup holder 30 if there is a next sale command within a predetermined time after the sale operation. To the next sales operation, the function of moving the cup holder 30 to the inside of the sales outlet 16 if a predetermined time has passed without a sales command, the function of the timer 62 for measuring the predetermined time after the sales operation, The function of moving the cup holder 30 to the inside of the sales outlet 16 and the function of generating an alarm by the alarm means 60 when the detection means 61 detects an external action while the cup holder 30 is not located inside the sales outlet 16 have. The predetermined time can be arbitrarily set according to the sales frequency.
[0033]
Next, the operation of the vending machine of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 1 and the timing chart of FIG.
[0034]
At the time of sales standby (step 1), if the elapsed time from the previous sales operation is within a predetermined time (steps 2 and 3), the cup holding unit 30 is pre-positioned at the cup supply position of the cup supply means 40. Yes. That is, the cup holding part 30 is rotated 90 ° to the right and is positioned on the second imaginary line 36 and positioned at the cup receiving position of the cup supply means 40. At this time, the cup mounting table 30a of the cup holding unit 30 is raised to the cup holding position in order to receive and hold the cup C.
[0035]
Then, when the user inserts money and the selection button 20 is pressed and a sales command is input (timing t1), the beverage is provided immediately from the state where the cup holder 30 is located at the cup supply position. The operation is started (steps 4 and 5).
[0036]
First, one cup C is discharged from the cup supply means 40 to the cup supply position, the cup C is received by the cup holder 30, and the pair of cup holders 30b are closed to hold the cup C. At the same time, the raw material supply means 44 corresponding to the selected beverage type starts to send out the raw materials and holds them in the raw material holding means 49.
[0037]
When the cup C is received by the cup holding unit 30 (timing t2), the cup holding unit 27 is moved by the conveying unit 28 and the rotating unit 31 so that the cup holding unit 30 is located at the selected type of raw material supply position. .
[0038]
At this time, when the raw material is supplied from the raw material supply means 44 having the raw material supply position on the second imaginary line 36, the cup holding means 27 is moved backward by the conveying means 28, that is, the cup holding portion 30 is moved to the first position. 2 Move backward along the imaginary line 36, stop at the corresponding raw material supply position (timing t3), and feed the raw material already sent from the raw material supply means 44 and held in the raw material holding means 49 into the cup C. Accept. On the other hand, when the raw material is supplied from the raw material supply means 44 having the raw material supply position on the first imaginary line 35, the cup holding portion 30 of the cup holding means 27 is directed leftward by the rotating means 31. While rotating 90 degrees, the cup holding unit 30 is further moved by the conveying means 28 toward the corresponding raw material supply position. That is, the cup holding part 30 moves on the first virtual line 35 and stops at the corresponding raw material supply position, and the raw material already sent from the raw material supply means 44 and stored in the raw material holding means 49 is stored in the cup C. Accept.
[0039]
For example, in the case of accepting raw materials delivered from a plurality of raw material supply means 44, such as in the case of beverages formulated with coffee, sugar and milk, the raw materials are already supplied to each corresponding raw material supply position. The raw material delivered from the means 44 and stored in the raw material holding means 49 is received in the cup C.
[0040]
When all the necessary raw materials are received in the cup C (timing t4), the cup holding means 27 is moved forward by the conveying means 28, and the cup holding portion 30 and the cup C enter the cup station 17.
[0041]
At this time, when the cup holding unit 30 is positioned on the first imaginary line 35, the cup holding unit 27 is moved forward by the conveying unit 28, and the cup holding unit 30 moves forward along the first imaginary line 35. To enter Cup Station 17. On the other hand, when the cup holder 30 is positioned on the second imaginary line 36, the cup holder 30 is rotated 90 ° to the left so that the cup holder 30 is directed forward by the rotating means 31, and further by the conveying means 28. The cup holding means 27 moves forward, whereby the cup holding portion 30 moves on the first virtual line 35 and enters the cup station 17.
[0042]
In the cup station 17 (timing t5), the cup mounting table 30a of the cup holder 30 is raised to the cooking position, and hot water is supplied from the hot water supply means, cold water from the cold water supply means, and ice supply means according to the beverage type. Ice is supplied into the cup C, and the contents in the cup C are stirred and mixed by moving up and down and rotating the impeller of the stirring means to prepare a beverage in the cup C.
[0043]
When the preparation of the beverage in the cup C is completed, the pair of cup holders 30b of the cup holding unit 30 are opened, the cup mounting table 30a is lowered to the lowermost cup take-out position, and the sales opening door 18 is automatically opened ( Step 6, timing t6).
[0044]
When the cup detector 56 detects that the cup C containing the beverage in the cup station 17 has been taken out through the sales port 16 (step 7), the sales port door 18 is automatically closed and locked (step 8, At timing t7), the cup mounting table 30a of the cup holder 30 is raised to the cup receiving position, and the cup holder 30 is moved to the cup supply position of the cup supply means 40 (step 9). Start (step 10) and wait for input of the next sales command (timing t8).
[0045]
At the time of this sales standby, if there is a next sales command within a predetermined time after the previous sales operation based on the time measured by the timer 62, the operation proceeds to the next sales operation as described above.
[0046]
Further, at the time of this sales standby, for example, in a time zone where the sales frequency is low, based on the time measured by the timer 62, if the elapsed time since the previous sales operation has passed for a predetermined time or more, the cup holder 30 is connected to the sales outlet 16. Move to the inside cup station 17 (step 11). In a state where the cup holding part 30 has moved to the inside of the sales opening 16, the inside of the sales opening 16 is blocked by the cup holding part 30, and the inside of the machine body 11 cannot be removed. Therefore, even if the sales outlet door 18 is opened by mischief, mischief such as removal of the cup C stored in the machine body 11 through the sales outlet 16 can be prevented.
[0047]
If there is a sales command in a state where the cup holder 30 has moved to the inside of the sales outlet 16, the cup holder 30 moves to the cup supply position (step 12), and the beverage providing operation described above is started.
[0048]
In this way, after one sales operation, the cup holder 30 is moved to the cup supply position, and if there is a next sales command within a predetermined time after the sales operation, the cup C is received by the cup holder 30 and the next sale command is received. Since it moves to the sales operation, it is possible to shorten the sales time for one time, and if the predetermined time passes without a sales command, the cup holding part 30 is moved to the inside of the sales port 16, so that mischief through the sales port 16 can be avoided. Can be prevented.
[0049]
Also, when the cup holder 30 is not positioned inside the sales outlet 16, such as when the cup holder 30 is waiting at the cup supply position, the sales outlet door 18 is opened by mischief or a hand is placed in the sales outlet 16. When the detecting means 61 detects an external action such as insertion, the cup holding part 30 is moved to the inside of the sales outlet 16, so that mischief through the sales outlet 16 can be prevented. Furthermore, when the detection means 61 detects an external action such as opening the sales outlet door 18 or inserting a hand into the sales outlet 16 due to mischief, the alarm means 60 issues an alarm, so mischief through the sales outlet 16 Can be prevented. The movement of the cup holding part 30 to the inside of the sales opening 16 and the generation of an alarm by the alarm means 60 can provide a deterrent effect even if only one of them is used, and a further deterrent effect can be obtained by using both. Is obtained.
[0050]
Further, as the detection means 61, a cup detection unit 56 for detecting the cup C on the cup holding unit 30 located inside the sales port 16 can be used, and the sales port door detection unit for detecting the closed state of the sales port door 18 57 can also be used for simplification .
[0051]
【The invention's effect】
According to the vending machine according to claim 1, the cup holding part is moved to the cup supply position after one selling operation, and if there is a next sales instruction within a predetermined time after the selling operation, the cup holding part is moved to the cup holding part. Since it moves to the next sales operation, the sales time of one time can be shortened, and the cup holder is moved to the inside of the sales outlet when a predetermined time has passed without a sales instruction, so Prevent mischief.
[0052]
According to the vending machine according to claim 2, in addition to the effect of the vending machine according to claim 1, the cup holding portion is not located inside the sales opening, and the outside with the opening of the sales opening door When the detecting means detects the action, the cup holder is moved to the inside of the sales outlet, so that mischief through the sales outlet can be prevented .
[Brief description of the drawings]
1 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the vending machine showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram constituting the vending machine.
FIG. 3 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of the vending machine.
FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view showing a state in which the cup holder of the vending machine is located inside the sales outlet.
FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view showing a state in which the cup holder of the vending machine is located at a cup supply position.
FIG. 6 is a schematic front view of the vending machine.
FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of the same vending machine.
FIG. 8 is a front view of the same vending machine .
[Explanation of symbols]
11 Airframe
16 Sales unit
18 Sales door
28 Transport means
30 Cup holder
40 cup supply means
55 control hand stage
58 drinks provide hand stage
61 detects hand stage C cup

Claims (2)

An aircraft having a sales opening that is opened and closed by a sales opening door;
A cup supply means provided in the body and for supplying a cup;
A beverage providing means provided in the body and providing a beverage in the cup;
Provided in the machine body, having a cup holding portion for holding the cup, moving the cup holding portion to a cup supply position for receiving the cup from the cup supply means, and providing the beverage from the beverage supply means into the cup A transporting means for allowing the cup provided with the beverage to be taken out from the sales outlet when the cup holding part is located inside the sales outlet,
This transport means is controlled to move the cup holder to the cup supply position after one sale operation, and if there is a next sale command within a predetermined time after the sale operation, the cup is received by the cup holder. A vending machine comprising: a control means for moving the cup holding part to the inside of the sales outlet when a predetermined time elapses without a sales command. Equipped with detection means to detect external effects with the opening of the sales door,
The automatic control device according to claim 1, wherein the control means moves the cup holding portion to the inside of the sales opening when the detection means detects an external action in a state where the cup holding portion is not located inside the sales opening. Vending machine.

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