JP4306437B2 - vending machine - Google Patents

Description

   The present invention relates to a vending machine.

When changing the price of a vending machine, change the price from the old price (current price) to the new price (changed price) by operating the remote control that is detachably attached to the back of the customer service door. You need to enter a date and time. In this case, the control unit that controls the customer service operation, sales operation, etc. of the vending machine manages the information on the new price and the change date and time from the remote control. It will be changed from the old price to the new price at the time of the day.
JP-A-10-162208

In general, when changing the price of a vending machine's products for sale, the routeman visits multiple vending machines installed in the jurisdiction as appropriate, and opens and closes the door for customer service and inputs the remote control. Yes. Therefore, when reconfirming the information of the new price and the change date before the change date, the following problem occurs.

  In other words, each time we reconfirm the information on the new price and the date and time of change at each vending machine, we open the customer service door, open the customer service door, enter the remote control confirmation, close the customer service door, and lock the customer service door. Since it is necessary to perform complicated operations, it takes a lot of labor and time and is inefficient.

In addition, if the store owner manages the storefront or the vending machine door locks installed in the store, the rootman rechecks the information on the new price and change date and time for each vending machine. Because there is a need to borrow a key from the store owner, there is a risk of inconvenience from the store owner. Provide vending machines.

  The main invention for solving the above problems is a plurality of product selection buttons, a plurality of product storage rooms, the plurality of product selection buttons, the plurality of product storage rooms, and the products stored in the plurality of product storage rooms. A storage unit that stores information related to the current price of the product and the changed price of the product in association with each other, and when any of the plurality of product selection buttons is operated, the storage unit is referred to. Based on the information on the current price and the changed price of the product from the control unit that reads out information on the current price and the changed price of the product stored in the product storage room corresponding to the product selection button And a display unit for switching and displaying the current price and the changed price of the product.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to efficiently reconfirm the information on the new price of the products sold by the vending machine and the date and time of change from the old price to the new price.

  At least the following matters will become apparent from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings.

=== An example of the case configuration of a vending machine ===
An example of the housing configuration of the vending machine according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which the customer service door of the vending machine is closed. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state in which the customer service door of the vending machine is opened. Note that the vending machine described in this embodiment sells tobacco products, for example.

  The customer service door 102 has a support shaft at the front right end of the vending machine 100 and opens and closes. That is, the customer service door 102 is unlocked and opened when setting the selling price of tobacco products using the remote controller 126, replenishing the tobacco products into the product storage room 124 (product column), performing maintenance, etc. Close and lock when performing. The panel 104 is, for example, a transparent resin plate, and is used for confirming samples 106 of a plurality of types of tobacco products displayed inside. That is, the user of the vending machine 100 can determine the cigarette product he / she wishes to purchase by checking the sample 106 through the panel 104. In addition, as the panel 104, you may apply the resin board which printed the photograph, design, etc. of the tobacco product. The coin insertion slot 108 is a place where coins are inserted, and the inserted coins are supplied to a coin identification device (not shown) disposed inside the vending machine 100. The banknote insertion slot 110 is a place where a banknote is inserted, and the inserted banknote is supplied to a banknote identification device (not shown) disposed inside the vending machine 100. The display unit 112 displays an inserted coin amount, an inserted bill amount, a change amount, and the like when normally selling tobacco products. The display unit 112 can be configured using a display element such as an LED, an LCD, or an organic EL. The product selection button 114 has a built-in sale lamp (not shown), a sold-out lamp (not shown), etc., and is provided at the lower front portion of the panel 104 corresponding to a plurality of samples 106 of tobacco products. is there. When the user inserts coins or inserts banknotes that allow the user to purchase at least one (or one set) of tobacco products, the sale-ready lamp is placed in the product storage chamber 124 having the tobacco products inside the vending machine 100. The corresponding product selection button 114 is lit. Further, the sold-out lamp is provided for the product selection button 114 corresponding to an empty product storage chamber 124 regardless of whether a coin is inserted or a bill is inserted when the product storage chamber 124 becomes empty inside the vending machine 100. Lights up. When one of the product selection buttons 114 with the sale ready lamp lit is pressed, the tobacco product corresponding to the product selection button 114 is carried out from the product storage chamber 124 to the product outlet 116. The return lever 118 (operation unit) is for returning the inserted coin from the return port 120 or returning the change coin obtained by subtracting the purchase amount of the tobacco product from the amount of the inserted coin (or inserted bill). The cylinder lock 122 unlocks or locks the customer service door 102. It is assumed that tobacco products are stacked in the vertical direction in the product storage chamber 124.

=== Vending machine control configuration ===
The control configuration of the vending machine according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of a vending machine according to the present invention.

  The ROM 202 stores in advance program data, table data, and the like for controlling the operation (customer service operation, sales operation, etc.) of the vending machine 100. Note that the ROM 202 is a non-volatile memory such as a mask ROM that burns and fixes data in the manufacturing process, an EPROM that erases data by ultraviolet light and stores it newly, and an EEPROM (including flash ROM) that electrically erases data and stores it newly. Shall be applied. The control unit 204 controls the operation of the vending machine 100 by executing appropriate arithmetic processing according to the result of decoding the program data read from the ROM 202. The control unit 204 is configured using a microprocessor having an address register for designating the address of the ROM 202, an instruction decoder for decoding program data, an arithmetic logic unit for executing arithmetic processing, an accumulator for temporarily storing arithmetic data, and the like. It is possible. The RAM 206 temporarily stores work data and the like that are calculated by the control unit 202. Note that a volatile memory that requires a backup power source such as an SRAM is applied as the RAM 206. However, a nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM can be applied as the RAM 206. The timer 208 measures the time for displaying the symbol of the product storage chamber 124 corresponding to the product selection button 114, the current price of the tobacco product, the changed price, the date and time when the current price is changed to the changed price, etc. on the display unit 112. is there. The counter 210 counts the number of times the symbol of the product storage chamber 124 corresponding to the product selection button 114, the current price of the tobacco product, the changed price, and the like are displayed on the display unit 112. The input / output interface 212 mediates data transmission / reception between the coin insertion slot 108, the bill insertion slot 110, the display unit 112, the product selection button 114, the return lever 118, the remote control 126 and the control unit 204. In particular, when the input / output interface 212 is interposed, the control unit 204 determines the coin amount from the coin insertion slot 108, determines the bill amount from the bill insertion slot 110, and outputs display information to the display unit 112. The push button of the product selection button 114 is identified, the operation of the return lever 118 is determined, and the input operation information from the remote controller 126 is determined.

=== Table data relating to product storage room, product selection button, current price, change price, price change date and time ===
An example of table data applied to the vending machine according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of table data applied to the vending machine according to the present invention. The table data is information that associates the number of the product selection button 114, the current price, the changed price, and the date and time of change from the current price to the changed price (change year, date of change, and change time) based on the number of the product storage chamber 124. It is. In particular, the change date and time is information common to all the product storage rooms 124. In the vending machine 100 according to the present embodiment, the RAM 206 stores table data. However, if the ROM 202 is a rewritable nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM, the ROM 202 can also store table data.

When storing the table data in the RAM 206, it is necessary for a rootman or the like to execute an input operation regarding the table data using the remote controller 126. The control unit 204 receives the input operation information from the remote controller 126, thereby specifying the table data address in the RAM 206, and further supplies the table data based on the input operation of the remote controller 126 to the RAM 206. Thus, RAM 206 stores the table data in Fig. When the current price of the tobacco product stored in the product storage room 124 is not changed, the change price column in the table data is, for example, 0 yen (a constant value).

=== Control operation of vending machine ===
The control operation of the vending machine according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the control operation of the vending machine according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the display operation of the vending machine according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another example of the display operation of the vending machine according to the present invention. The main body that executes the flowchart of FIG. 3 is the control unit 204.

  First, the vending machine 100 is in a standby state in which tobacco products can be sold according to the coin amount from the coin insertion slot 108 or the bill amount from the bill insertion slot 110. Note that the RAM 206 stores the table data of FIG. 2 (S300).

  The control unit 204 determines whether or not a coin having a value capable of selling a tobacco product has been inserted into the coin insertion slot 108, and whether or not a banknote having a value capable of selling a tobacco product has been inserted into the bill insertion slot 110. (S302). The control unit 204 determines that a coin having a value capable of selling a tobacco product is inserted into the coin insertion slot 108, or a bill having a value capable of selling a tobacco product is inserted into the bill insertion slot 110. (S302: YES), the sale enable lamp of the product selection button 114 corresponding to the product storage chamber 124 in which the cigarette products that can be sold are stored is turned on. The control unit 204 determines the pressed product selection button 114 and outputs a signal for carrying out the tobacco product in the product storage chamber 124 corresponding to the product selection button 114 to the product outlet 116. Thereby, the tobacco product at the lowest position stored in the product storage chamber 124 is carried out to the product outlet 116 (S304). Thereafter, Step S300 is executed again.

  The control unit 204 determines that a coin having a value capable of selling a tobacco product is not inserted into the coin insertion slot 108, or a bill having a value capable of selling a tobacco product is inserted into the bill insertion slot 110. If it is determined that there is no product (S302: NO), it is determined whether or not the product selection button 114 is pressed (S306). When determining that the product selection button 114 has been pressed (S306: YES), the control unit 204 identifies the pressed product selection button 114 (S308), and a table in the RAM 206 corresponding to the pressed product selection button 114. The data is referred to (S310). Then, the control unit 204 reads out information on the product storage room 124 corresponding to the pressed product selection button 114, the current price and the changed price of the tobacco product from the RAM 206 and supplies the information to the display unit 112 (S312). Thereby, the display unit 112 displays the number of the product storage chamber 124 corresponding to the pressed product selection button 114 (for example, C3) and the current price of the tobacco product for a certain time counted by the timer 208 or a certain number of times counted by the counter 210. The change price (for example, 270 yen) is switched and displayed (for example, 250 yen) (see FIG. 4). Note that the display order on the display unit 112 is not limited to FIG. 4 but can be changed as appropriate. In addition, the display types in the display unit 112 are not limited to the three types shown in FIG. Furthermore, when all the changed price fields in the table data are 0 yen, the control unit 204 prohibits display on the display unit 112 (S314). Thereafter, Step S300 is executed again.

  When determining that the product selection button 114 has not been pressed (S306: NO), the control unit 204 determines whether or not the return lever 118 has been continuously operated for a certain period of time. Note that the timer 208 starts measuring a certain time simultaneously with the start of the operation of the return lever 108 (S316). When determining that the return lever 118 has been operated for a certain period of time (S316: YES), the control unit 204 refers to the table data in the RAM 206 (S318). Then, the control unit 204 reads the change year, change date, and information at the time of change indicating the change date and time from the current price to the changed price from the RAM 206 and supplies the information to the display unit 112 (S320). Thereby, the display unit 12 switches and displays the year of change (for example, 2003), the date of change (for example, December 10), and the time of change (for example, 1:00) (see FIG. 5). The display unit 112 can also repeatedly display the change year, the change month date, and the change time. Further, the display types on the display unit 112 are not limited to the three types shown in FIG. Furthermore, when all the changed price fields in the table data are 0 yen, the control unit 204 prohibits the display of the display unit 112 (S322). Thereafter, Step S300 is executed again.

  If the control unit 204 determines that the return lever 118 has not been operated for a certain period of time (S316: NO), it executes Step S302 again. That is, when there is no customer service operation, the control unit 204 repeatedly executes the determinations in steps S302, S306, and S316.

  As described above, when reconfirming after setting the current price, changed price, and change date and time from the current price to the changed price, the product selection button 114 and the return lever 118 may be operated. As a result, it can be reconfirmed efficiently and the store owner is not inconvenienced.

=== Other Embodiments ===
The above-described embodiments of the present invention are intended to facilitate understanding of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention. The present invention can be changed and improved without departing from the gist thereof, and equivalents thereof are also included in the present invention.

<< Vending machine >>
Even if the vending machine sells not only tobacco products but also products such as beverages, ice creams, confectionery, magazines, etc., the effect of the present invention will be exhibited. However, when the vending machine sells tobacco products, the price of tobacco products is revised all over the country, so the effect of the present invention is remarkable.

<< Operation section >>
The operation unit may selectively press not only the return lever 118 but also a plurality of product selection buttons 114. Thereby, mischief of the return lever 118 can be prevented.

<< Display section >>
In addition to the display unit 112 that displays the amount of inserted coins, the amount of bills to be inserted, the amount of change, etc., a dedicated display unit may be provided. Thereby, it becomes possible to display the information of the product storage room, the current price, the changed price, and the date and time of change from the current price to the changed price in a plurality of variations.

It is a block diagram which shows the control structure of the vending machine concerning this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the table data applied to the vending machine concerning this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the control action of the vending machine concerning this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the display operation of the vending machine concerning this invention. It is a figure which shows the other example of the display operation of the vending machine concerning this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the state which obstruct | occluded the customer service door of a vending machine. It is a perspective view which shows the state which opened the customer service door of the vending machine.

Explanation of symbols

100 Vending Machine 112 Display Unit 114 Product Selection Button 118 Return Lever 124 Product Storage Room 126 Remote Control 202 ROM
204 Control unit 206 RAM
208 Timer 210 Counter 212 I / O interface

Claims (8)

Information on a plurality of product selection buttons, a plurality of product storage rooms, the plurality of product selection buttons, the plurality of product storage rooms, a current price of a product stored in the plurality of product storage rooms, and a change price of the product Vending machine having a storage unit that stores
When any one of the plurality of product selection buttons is operated, information on the current price and the changed price of the product stored in the product storage room corresponding to the product selection button is read by referring to the storage unit. A control unit;
Based on the information on the current price and changed price of the product from the control unit, a display unit that switches and displays the current price and changed price of the product;
Vending machine characterized by comprising   The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the display unit switches and displays the current price and the changed price of the product for a certain time or a certain number of times. The control unit reads information on the product storage room corresponding to the product selection button, the current price and the change price of the product stored in the product storage room,
The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the display unit switches and displays a symbol of the product storage room, a current price and a changed price of the product.   The vending machine according to claim 3, wherein the display unit switches and displays a symbol of the product storage room, a current price and a changed price of the product for a certain time or a certain number of times. The storage unit stores, as a constant value, a change price of a product corresponding to the plurality of product storage rooms when not changing a current price of the product stored in the plurality of product storage rooms,
The automatic control according to claim 1, wherein the control unit prohibits switching display of the display unit when a change price of all the products stored in the storage unit is a constant value. Vending machine. Said storage unit, said plurality of product selection buttons, said plurality of product storage chamber, the current price of a product contained in said plurality of product storage chamber, the relative change value of the product, a price change from the current price of the product Store the information of the change time to
Wherein, when the operation unit is disposed in the front door is operated, by referring to the storage unit, to read out the current information change timing from price to change the price of the product,
The display unit, on the basis of the current change timing of the information from the price to change the price of goods from the control unit, see the changes time to change price from the current price of the commodity
Vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the this. The vending machine according to claim 6 , wherein the display unit switches and displays a year, a date, and a time as a change time from the current price of the product to the changed price. 8. The vending machine according to claim 6, wherein a change time from the current price of the product to the changed price is common to the plurality of product storage rooms. 9.

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