JP4463125B2 - Vending machine change confirmation device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vending machine, and more particularly, to a change content confirmation apparatus that can confirm various changes in a vending machine.

  Generally, since vending machines sell a plurality of types of products, various setting items such as storage locations (so-called storage columns) of the products, selection pushbuttons of the products, and prices of each product are set in advance. Must be set. Also, accurate time data and the like are set in order to manage sales status and the like. In order to make such a setting or change the setting, as disclosed in Patent Document 1 or the like, for example, as shown in FIG. 11, a setting input device 51 for performing various settings is provided. It is provided on the back surface of the outer door 52 and the like.

  This type of setting input device 51 includes, for example, a remote control shape having an input unit 53 composed of a plurality of keys and a display unit 54 such as a liquid crystal screen (as disclosed in Patent Document 1 and the like). The part 54 may be composed of separate parts.).

  When changing various settings, for example, the current date and time, the operator or service person of the vending machine opens the outer door 52 and looks at the setting input device 51 so that the date and time change mode is set. In the state in which the designated input unit 53 is operated and input and the date / time change mode is displayed, for example, time data, month / day data, year data, etc. are changed by pressing the input unit 53. ing.

  In addition, when the operator or service person of the vending machine changes the correspondence relationship between the storage column of the predetermined product and the selection button, the correspondence relationship is set while opening the outer door 52 and looking at the setting input device 51. The designated input unit 53 is operated and input so that the display mode is displayed, and, for example, the storage column identification number input unit 53 is pressed in the state in which the setting mode is displayed, The number of the current selection button corresponding to the storage column is displayed on the display unit 54, and the input cursor 53 is moved to the number display position of the selection button to move the input cursor, and then changed. The selection button number is entered and changed.

In this way, when changing various setting contents, the above input operation is repeated for each setting number of each change item, and after the change operation is completed, the change contents are correct. The same operation is performed again to check whether or not.
JP 2002-117444 A

  However, according to the vending machine having the above-mentioned conventional configuration, a large amount of operations are required to confirm the change contents of various setting items of the vending machine, which takes a lot of time and effort, and the work efficiency is poor. It was. In addition, when confirming the contents of the change, there is a possibility that the setting is changed to an incorrect content by an erroneous operation.

  In addition, after the change operation is finished and the outer door 52 is closed, it is worried that it is not clear whether all the changes to be made have been made, and the outer door 52 is opened again to confirm the change contents. there were.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to easily confirm the changed setting contents without much time and effort, and it is possible to perform automatic setting without making an incorrect setting at the time of confirmation. It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for confirming changes in vending machines.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the change confirmation device for a vending machine according to the present invention comprises an outer door opening / closing detection means for detecting opening / closing of an outer door, a storage means for storing setting contents of the vending machine, and an outer door. Control contents for comparing the setting contents before opening and the setting contents when the outer door is closed and displaying the changed contents on a display unit provided on the outer door are provided.

  With this configuration, when a vending machine administrator or a staff member opens the outer door and changes the setting content of the vending machine, the changed content is displayed on the display unit provided on the outer door. . As a result, the administrator or the staff of the vending machine can confirm the contents of the change satisfactorily without performing the time-consuming input operation as before. Further, as in the past, it is also possible to prevent erroneous operation and change of settings to incorrect contents when confirming the changed contents.

In the present invention, the display unit is an input amount display unit provided on the outer door, so that it is not necessary to provide a display unit for displaying the changed contents.
In addition, the control unit of the present invention starts displaying the changed contents after a predetermined time after the outer door is closed, so that when the outer door is closed, there is no instruction operation by the administrator or the staff. In addition, the display of the changed content is started after a predetermined time.

  Further, the present invention is provided with a display start instruction operation means such as a change return lever for instructing the start of the change content display operation, whereby when the administrator or a staff member operates the display start instruction operation means, the change is displayed. The content display starts.

  According to the change content confirmation device of the vending machine of the present invention, the control unit compares the setting content before the outer door is opened with the setting content when the outer door is closed, and the changed content is By displaying on the display unit provided on the outer door, the administrator and staff of the vending machine can check the changes well without having to re-execute the conventional time-consuming input operation. Is very good. Further, as in the past, it is also possible to prevent erroneous operation and change of settings to incorrect contents when confirming the change contents, so that reliability is improved.

  In addition, by starting the display of the changed content after a predetermined time after the outer door is closed, when the outer door is closed, the display of the changed content is displayed after a predetermined time without any instruction or operation by the administrator or staff. Began and improve convenience.

  In addition, a display start instruction operation means such as a change return lever is provided by instructing the start of a change content display operation by a display start instruction operation means such as a change return lever. The manager and the staff can freely select when to start.

Hereinafter, a change content confirmation device for a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same function as the conventional vending machine.
As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of product samples 12 are displayed on a sample shelf 13 on the outer door 2 attached to the vending machine main body 1 so as to be freely opened and closed. Correspondingly, a selection push button 10 for selecting a product is also provided in parallel. Further, although not shown, the product sample 11 is illuminated by a predetermined time zone set in a day by a lighting device such as a fluorescent lamp built in the sample shelf 12. Further, the outer door 2 has an input amount display unit 9 for displaying the amount of coins and the like inserted by the user, a return lever 11 for returning change and input money, a product outlet 14 from which products are paid out, and the like. Is provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, in this vending machine, a control unit 3 that controls each part of the vending machine is provided on the back surface of the outer door 2 that is attached to the vending machine body 1 so as to be freely opened and closed. In addition to a remote control-shaped setting input device 4 for performing various settings of the machine, an outer door opening / closing detection sensor 5 for detecting opening / closing of the outer door 2 is provided. As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 3 is connected to a storage unit 6 for storing various data including the setting contents of the vending machine. In this embodiment, the setting input device 4 is provided with an input unit 7 composed of a plurality of input keys and a monitor lamp 8 that can be turned on and off, but a display unit such as a liquid crystal screen is provided. When the input is performed using the input unit 7 of the setting input device 4, the setting input device 4 is pulled out to the front side and input while looking at the input amount display unit 9 provided on the outer door 2. It is configured as follows. In other words, in this embodiment, the input amount display unit 9 is also used as a display unit for setting input, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the vending machine main body 1 is provided with a plurality of product storage passages (hereinafter referred to as storage columns) 15 in which products are stored, and a payout is provided at the lower end of each storage column 15. A device 16 is provided, and when there is an instruction for paying out from the control unit 3, the paying device 16 is driven, and the product at the lower end of the storage column 15 is paid out, and this product is disposed below the paying device 16. The chute 17 is guided to pay out the merchandise outlet 14. In addition, the selection push button 10 and the storage column 15 from which the product is paid out when the selection push button 10 is pressed are set in advance so as to correspond to each other. In addition, a plurality of storage columns 15 storing the same type of products are set in association with a predetermined (one or more) selection pushbuttons 10, and the plurality of storage columns 15 are paid out in order. In addition, it is possible to set alternate sales to prevent the storage number from being biased, and this alternate sales can be set for a plurality of groups.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the input unit 7 is used for column setting to be pressed when setting the selection push button 10 and the storage column 15 in order to make it possible to satisfactorily set such various setting items. Input unit 7g, price setting input unit 7h to be pressed when setting the sales price, input unit 7e for alternating sales to be pressed to set the alternate sales, and various settings for other settings. Input unit 7a for setting mode selection (to select mode or to cancel selection mode) for changing to one mode, an input unit to increase or decrease various numbers and values 7b, 7d, various inputs such as a write input unit 7c for setting and storing the set value in the storage unit 6, and an end notification input unit 7f for notifying the control unit 3 that the setting operation has been completed. Part 7 is provided.

  In particular, the control unit 3 of the vending machine stores each setting content of the vending machine in the storage unit 6 when the outer door 2 was closed last time, as shown in step S6 in the flowchart of FIG. It is temporarily stored in a separate storage area other than the setting content storage unit. Further, the control unit 3 thereafter sets each setting content of the vending machine when the outer door 2 is opened (step S1) and closed again (step S2) by an operator or service person of the vending machine. Is compared with the previous setting contents stored in the separate storage area (step S3), and if there is a changed content, the process proceeds from step S4 to step S5, and the changed content is displayed in the input amount display section. 8 (step S6).

  For example, when a vending machine operator or a service person changes the reference time setting (current time, current month, current year) in the vending machine, and changes the alternate sales setting The operator and service person perform the following operations. In this embodiment, the setting operation of the alternate sales of the vending machine can be set by using the selection push button 10. In this embodiment, the input amount display unit 8 is provided with four digits of an 8-segment LED type.

  First, as shown in FIG. 2, the outer door 2 is opened, the setting input device 4 is taken to the position in front of the outer door 2 where the input amount display unit 8 can be seen, and each input unit 7 of the setting input device 4 is used. input.

  Here, in this vending machine, as a high-level classification item that roughly divides various setting items of the vending machine, the relationship between the storage column and the selection pushbutton, the selection pushbutton and the sale price of the product, Related to the relationship, sales volume, sales amount, test sales, failure self-diagnosis function, etc. For example, the setting item type number related to time is “3” "Is assigned and set. In addition, as the classification number of the subcategory further subdividing the setting item contents in the classification number “3”, for example, the subclass setting item for setting the power saving time zone of the lighting device (for example, fluorescent lamp) of the vending machine Assign and set the type number to “01”, set the subordinate setting item type number to set the current time as the reference for the entire vending machine and assign it to the “02” number, and set the reference for the entire vending machine The setting item type number of the lower classification that sets the current month and date is assigned to “03” and set, and the setting item type number of the lower classification that sets the current year as the reference for the entire vending machine is set to “04”. Assigned to the number.

  Therefore, when changing the setting of the standard time (current time, current month, current year) in the vending machine in order to cope with this, first the setting for setting the setting items of the vending machine The input unit 7a for selecting an item (mode) is pressed to wait for input of a setting item type number. At this time, as shown in FIG. 7B, “1-01” is displayed on the input amount display section 9, and only the leftmost display digit blinks. Next, the input unit 7b for number increase is pressed twice to set the upper class setting item type number to “3” (in this case, as shown in FIG. 7C, the input amount display unit 8 displays “ 3-01 "), the input unit 7c for writing is pressed. As a result, it is determined that the setting item type number of the upper class is “3”, that is, the setting item related to time is changed, and this information is output and written to the storage unit 6, as shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the two display digits on the right side in the input money amount display section 9 blink, and the apparatus enters the item number input waiting state of the classification number of the lower classification. Correspondingly, when setting the current time as a reference for the entire vending machine, the number-increasing input unit 7b is pressed once, and as shown in FIG. A certain “3-02” is displayed, and the input unit 7c for writing is further pressed. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7F, the currently set “hour” and “minute” data are displayed, and the left two display digits in the input amount display portion 9 corresponding to “hour” are displayed. Blinks, and the input of the “hour” data is awaited. Further, as shown in FIG. 7 (g), the current time is input using the number up input unit 7b and the number down input unit 7d. Then, the data is changed to match the data corresponding to the “hour”, and the writing input unit 7c is pushed. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7 (h), the two display digits on the right side of the input amount display unit 9 corresponding to the currently set “minute” blink, and the state of waiting for the input of “minute” data is established. Therefore, by using the number up input unit 7b and the number down input unit 7d, as shown in FIG. 7 (i), the data is changed to match the data corresponding to “minute” of the current time, Further, the input unit 7c for writing is pushed. In this way, the current time, for example, “1525” (15:25) is input and stored, thereby completing the setting change of the current time as a reference in the vending machine.

  Thereafter, in the same manner, the current month / day setting as a reference in the vending machine is changed. That is, in the state of waiting for the input of the setting item type number, using the input unit 7b for number up, the input unit 7d for number down, and the input unit 7c for writing, “3”, which is the setting item type number related to the time, and “03” number, which is the setting item type number for setting the current month and date as the reference for the entire vending machine as the setting item type number of the lower classification Set to. Then, the same operation as in the case of the “date and time” data is performed, and the current current date data is changed to “0312” (March 12), for example, and stored in the storage unit 6.

  Further, in the same way, the setting of the current year, which is a standard in the vending machine, is changed. That is, by performing the same operation, the setting item type number for the upper classification is set to “3”, and the setting item type number for the lower classification is set as the reference year for the entire vending machine. After setting the type number “04”, the same operation as in the case of the “date and time” data is performed to change the current year data, for example, the set year to “2005” (2005). The data is stored in the storage unit 6.

In this way, each setting change of the current time, the current date, and the current year, which is a reference in the vending machine, is completed.
Next, for example, a description will be given of a case where alternation setting change is performed on a plurality of selection pushbuttons 10 associated with the storage column 15 in which the same type of product is stored. Here, in this vending machine, setting of alternate sales can be changed by pressing the input unit 7e for alternate sales, and a plurality of groups for performing alternate sales are selected using the pushbutton 10. It can be specified while.

  When the input unit 7e for the alternate sales mode is pressed, the state of waiting for the alternate sales setting change is entered, and the group number set for the alternate sales is displayed. That is, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the group number “1” (“Gr 1”) is displayed, only the group number “1” (the rightmost display digit) blinks, and the group number It is shown that the number can be changed.

  For example, when the group number is “1”, since the group number is not changed, the input unit 7c for writing is pushed as it is (if the group number is changed, the input unit 7b for increasing the number is used). Or the input unit 7c for number down is appropriately pressed and changed, and then the input unit 7c for writing is pressed). As a result, as shown in FIG. 8C, “Gr 1” is displayed on the input amount display portion 8, and at the same time, the sales lamp of the selection pushbutton 10 set to the alternate sales of the group number 1 is displayed. As necessary, the necessary selection pushbutton 10 is pressed again so that only the sales lamp of the selection pushbutton 10 to be set as the alternate sale of the group number 1 is turned on, and only the selection pushbutton 10 to be set is selected. In the state, the input unit 7c for writing is pushed. Thereby, the setting of the alternate sales of the group number 1 is completed. Thereafter, the same operation is performed, for example, the setting of the alternate sales of the group number 2 and the group number 10 is changed, and the setting input operation 7f is pressed to end the setting change operation. When all the setting change operations are completed, the input unit 7f for ending is pressed to end the setting change.

  After making various changes to the vending machine in this way, when trying to check whether the change is correct, according to the vending machine having the conventional configuration, the same operation must be performed again. In other words, a very large number of operations are required, which takes a lot of time and effort, and has a disadvantage of poor work efficiency. In addition, when confirming the change contents, there is a possibility that the setting is changed to an incorrect content by an erroneous operation.

  However, according to the present invention, such an operation need not be performed. That is, in the vending machine of the present invention, when the outer door 2 is closed by an operator or a service person of the vending machine and the closing of the outer door 2 is detected by the outer door open / close detection sensor 5, the control unit 3 Each setting content of the current vending machine is compared with each previous setting content stored in the separate storage area, and if there is a changed content, the changed content is displayed in the input amount display unit 8. Display.

  For example, when the setting contents of the vending machine are changed as described above, as shown in FIG. 9, first, “3-05” is displayed on the input amount display unit 8, and the setting item of the upper classification The classification number (referred to as “mode” in FIG. 9 and below) is “3”, and the item number of the classification number of the lower classification (hereinafter simply referred to as “item” in FIG. 9 and below) is “05”. That is, it indicates that the setting item for the current time (current hour and minute) serving as a reference has been changed. Next, it is displayed that the set time has been changed to “1525” (15:25). Thereafter, “...” Is displayed, indicating that the display item has been switched. Subsequently, “3-06” is displayed, the mode is “03”, the item is “6”, that is, the setting date of the current current date is changed, and then the setting date Is changed to “0312” (March 12). Furthermore, “...” is displayed, indicating that the display item has been switched, then “3-07” is displayed, indicating that the year setting item has been changed, and then the setting is changed. It is displayed that the date has been changed to “2005” (2005). Such display contents are sequentially displayed, for example, every predetermined time (for example, 1 second).

  As a result, the operator or serviceman of the vending machine can simply close the outer door 2 and change the set time, which is the standard for the vending machine, to 15:25 without taking any trouble. It can be visually confirmed in order that the setting item for the month and day has been changed to March 12, and the setting item for the reference year has been changed to 2005.

  After this, the input amount display unit 8 of the vending machine continues to display “...” And is notified of item switching, and then displays “Gr 1” as shown in FIG. This indicates that the setting for the alternate sales group number 1 has been changed, and thereafter, only the sales lamp of the selection push button 10 set to the alternate sales group number 1 is lit. Following this, “...” Is displayed and then “Gr 2” is displayed, indicating that the setting for the group number 2 of the alternate sales has been changed. The sales lamp of the selection push button 10 set to is turned on. Following this, after “...” is displayed, “Gr10” is displayed, indicating that the setting related to the group number 10 of the alternate sales has been changed, and then the alternate sales group number 10 The sales lamp of the selection push button 10 set to is turned on. When all the modified setting items have been displayed, “----” is displayed, indicating that the display of the setting change contents has been completed.

  As a result, the operator or serviceman of the vending machine can confirm the selection push button 10 that has been changed to the group number 1 of the vending machine's alternate sales without taking time, and subsequently, It is possible to confirm the alternate sales selection push button 10 of the group number 2 and the group number 10 of the alternate sales whose settings have been changed.

  Here, the display timing of the changed data on the input amount display unit 8 of the vending machine is displayed after a predetermined time (for example, 3 seconds) after the outer door 2 is closed. 2 may be displayed when the change return lever 11 (an example of the display start instruction operation means) provided on the outer door 2 is operated within a predetermined time (for example, within 30 seconds). When displaying after a predetermined time (for example, after 3 seconds), there is an advantage that the operation of the change return lever 11 or the like is not necessary, so that labor can be saved. On the other hand, when the change return lever 11 is used, there is an advantage that the administrator and the staff can freely select the timing at which the display of the changed content is started.

  The display end timing is displayed for a predetermined time, for example, 5 minutes after the outer door 2 is closed, or until the next sale operation is performed, or when the change return lever 11 is operated again. The display may be terminated.

  As described above, according to the vending machine of the present invention, the administrator or the staff who has changed the settings can confirm the changed contents well without performing the conventional time-consuming input operation again. The efficiency is very good. Moreover, since it is not necessary to perform the operation of the input unit 7 as in the past in order to confirm the correction content, it is also possible to prevent erroneous operation and change the setting to incorrect content when confirming the change content, Reliability is also improved.

  Further, in the above configuration, since the change contents are displayed on the input amount display section 9 provided on the outer door 2, it is not necessary to provide a separate display section for displaying the change contents. There is an advantage that an increase in cost can be prevented. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a separate display unit may be provided.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case of changing the reference time (hour / minute), month / day, year setting or changing the setting of alternate sales has been described. However, the same applies to the case of changing the setting of other items. It is. In the above embodiment, the case where the input amount display unit 9 as the display unit is of the 8-segment LED type is described, and in this case, the case where the item number is displayed is described, but this is not limited thereto. For example, if a liquid crystal display that can display kanji, etc. is used, the item name (for example, “change base time”, “change base date”, “change base year”, “alternate sales” ") May be directly displayed. In this case, the item name is displayed directly, which further improves convenience.

  Moreover, although the case where the outer door 2 was provided with the outer door opening / closing detection sensor 5 was described in the said embodiment, you may attach this outer door opening / closing detection sensor 5 to the vending machine main body 1 side. Moreover, in the said embodiment, when the outer door 2 was closed, each setting content of the vending machine was temporarily stored in a separate storage area other than the setting content storage unit in the storage unit 6. However, instead of this, it may be stored immediately after the outer door 2 is opened.

1 is an overall perspective view of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view of the state which opened the outer door of the vending machine. It is a block diagram which shows the principal part of the same vending machine. It is a front view of the setting input device of the vending machine. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the vending machine. It is a flowchart which shows the change content confirmation method of the vending machine. It is a figure which shows the input procedure at the time of the reference time (hour / minute) change of the same vending machine, and the display content of an input amount display part, respectively. It is a figure which shows the display contents, such as an input procedure at the time of the alternating sale setting change of the same vending machine, and an investment amount display part, respectively. It is a figure which shows the change content display state at the time of the change of the reference time (hour / minute) etc. of the vending machine. It is a figure which shows the change content display state in the case of the alternate sale setting change of the same vending machine. It is a perspective view of the state which opened the outer door of the conventional vending machine.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vending machine main body 2 Outer door 3 Control part 4 Setting input device 5 Outer door opening / closing detection sensor 6 Storage part 7 Input part 8 Monitor lamp 9 Input amount display part 10 Selection push button 11 Change change lever

Claims (5)

  Comparing the opening and closing detection means for detecting the opening and closing of the outer door, the storage means for storing the setting contents of the vending machine, the setting contents before the opening of the outer door and the setting contents when the outer door is closed And the change content confirmation apparatus of the vending machine provided with the control means to display the changed content on the display part provided in the outer door.   2. The change confirmation device for a vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the display unit is an input amount display unit provided on the outer door.   The change content confirmation apparatus for a vending machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control unit starts displaying the change content after a predetermined time after the outer door is closed.   The change content confirmation apparatus for a vending machine according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising display start instruction operation means for instructing start of a change content display operation.   5. The change confirmation device for a vending machine according to claim 4, wherein the display start instruction operation means is a change return lever.

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