JP4720690B2 - vending machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vending machine that acquires a product conveyed by a product conveyance unit with a bucket and conveys it to a product take-out port for sale.

  Conventionally, a plurality of product shelves provided in the vertical direction in the product storage, a plurality of product transport units for transporting a product row placed on the product shelf to the top product side, and the product transport There is a vending machine provided with a bucket for acquiring the top product conveyed by the unit. In this vending machine, when a product is selected by a user, the bucket is moved from a predetermined standby position to a product line containing the corresponding product, stopped, and the product delivered by the product transport unit is stored in the bucket. The bucket that has acquired the product is moved to the product outlet.

  In the vending machine, since the versatility is provided so that the number and attachment positions of each product transport unit can be changed, each product transport unit is not provided with a sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the product. Therefore, in this type of vending machine, a non-contact type sensor is mounted at a predetermined position of the bucket in order to detect the sale of the product, and after the bucket acquires the first product, this non-contact sensor is the next sale product. The bucket is moved in the Y direction (upper) until it reaches a position opposite to the position, and then stopped, and the presence or absence of a product is detected based on the detection result of the non-contact sensor at this stop position (Patent Document) 1). According to this vending machine, since the operation of detecting the presence or absence of the next sale product is executed using the operation of the bucket acquiring the first product, there is no need to set an independent operation for detecting the sale of the product. It becomes possible to efficiently detect the sold out of the product.

JP 2005-227901 A

  By the way, in the vending machine of patent document 1, the reflection sensor is applied as a non-contact sensor, and when the next sale product exists, the light from the non-contact sensor is reflected on the surface of the next sale product. When the non-contact sensor detects the reflected light, it is determined that the next sale product exists in the product transport unit. In the case of the automatic vending machine of Patent Document 1, since only one point of the next sale product is projected and the presence or absence of the product is determined from the reflection intensity of the light from the one point, the reflection intensity depends on the reflection place of the next sale product. It can be different. Accordingly, for example, when the next sale product is shifted and disposed, the reflection intensity decreases, and as a result, there is a possibility that the product cannot be detected even though the next sale product exists. Of course, if the size of the non-contact sensor is increased or a plurality of non-contact sensors are installed, it is possible to reliably detect the presence or absence of the product, but in this case, the installation cost of the non-contact sensor increases. There is a problem.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and in a vending machine that sells a product conveyed by a product conveyance unit with a bucket and conveyed to a product outlet, without incurring costs. An object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine capable of reliably detecting a sold-out product.

  A vending machine according to claim 1 of the present invention includes a product shelf having a storage area for storing a plurality of products, and a product transport unit for transporting a product row stored in the storage area of the product shelf to the top product side. , A bucket that moves on a surface along the top product side of the product transport unit, and a detection unit facing the product shelf in order to acquire and pay out the top product of the product line transported by the product transport unit And a non-contact sensor that detects an article positioned on an extension of the detection unit in a non-contact manner, and the bucket crosses the receiving area after the bucket acquires the leading product. And a control unit that moves the contact sensor and detects the presence / absence of a product based on the detection result of the non-contact sensor during this period.

  The vending machine according to claim 2 of the present invention is the vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the control means detects the presence / absence of a commodity only by a signal detected when the non-contact sensor crosses the storage area. It is characterized by.

  According to the vending machine of the present invention, the non-contact sensor is arranged in the bucket that acquires the product stored in the storage area of the product shelf, and after the bucket acquires the top product, the non-contact sensor is not crossed across the storage area. Since the contact sensor is moved and the presence / absence of the product is detected based on the detection result of the non-contact sensor during this period, for example, even when the next sale product is arranged out of the product line, The product can be reliably detected, and the detection accuracy can be improved without incurring costs.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a vending machine according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[Vending machine configuration]
As illustrated in the front view of FIG. 1, the vending machine according to the present embodiment includes, for example, cans, bottles, plastic bottles, beverages enclosed in paper packs, dairy products and confectionery contained in containers such as cups. The product 40 having various shapes and sizes can be sold. The external configuration of the vending machine according to the present embodiment mainly includes a housing 10 and a door-type front panel 13 (front door) provided on the front surface of the housing 10 so as to be openable and closable. Further, since the vending machine according to the present embodiment is a so-called see-through type, the front panel 13 has a transparent plate incorporated therein, and the customer sells the product 40 and the product 40 stored in the vending machine. The operation and the like can be seen through from the outside. Further, on the portion other than the transparent plate of the front panel 13, the operation panel 14 operated by the customer when selecting the product 40 to be purchased, the money receiving device 16 for receiving banknotes and coins, and the customer taking out the product 40. A product dispensing unit 17, a change dispensing unit 18 for returning the change, a locking device 19, and the like.

  The product storage chamber inside the vending machine is formed of a plurality of storage shelves 50 extending vertically (Y direction). In each storage shelf 50, a product case 30 (product shelf) is stored so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction (Z direction) of the vending machine. A partition plate 65 that partitions the space in the product case 30 in the left-right direction (X direction) is provided inside the product case 30, and the partition plate 65 is used to store a plurality of spaces that are spaces for storing the product 40. A product rack 39 is formed. The product 40 is accommodated in a product rack 39 in a state of being vertically aligned in the front-rear direction. Further, in the space between the front panel 13 and the front end of the storage shelf 50, a bucket 90 is provided for moving in this space in the X and Y directions and for transporting the product 40 to the position of the product delivery unit 17. Yes.

[Product transport unit]
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the configuration of the above-described product case 30 and its peripheral portion as viewed from the front side obliquely upward. The product case 30 mainly includes a bottom plate 31 having a substantially rectangular shape, a back plate 32 having a predetermined height formed at the rear end portion of the bottom plate 31, and a predetermined plate formed at both ends of the bottom plate 31. And a side plate 33 having a height. The partition plate 65 described above has a substantially rectangular shape, and has substantially the same length as the depth length of the product case 30 in the front-rear direction (Z direction). In addition, the partition plate 65 is formed with an L-shaped key portion 66 at a predetermined position at the lower end, and a protruding plate portion 67 is formed at the rear end. Furthermore, the partition plate 65 inserts the key portion 66 into the slit 35 provided on the bottom plate 31 of the product case 30, and the projecting plate portion 67 on the slit 34 formed on the back plate 32 of the product case 30. The product case 30 is attached by being inserted. With such a configuration, the partition plate 65 can be easily attached to an arbitrary position of the product case 30.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a conveyor unit 41 (product transport unit) for moving the product 40 in the front-rear direction (Z direction) is attached to the bottom of the product rack 39. The conveyor unit 41 includes an endless belt 43 that is driven in the front-rear direction, and a conveyor base 45 that supports the belt 43. The belt 43 is for placing the product 40 and transporting it forward (in the Z direction). A belt-like woven fabric of synthetic fibers is connected in a ring shape, and along its both ends, for example, a backrest described later Sprocket holes 44 for fixing the plate 60 to a predetermined position of the belt 43 are provided at regular intervals. The belt 43 is stretched around a driving pulley 54 and a driven pulley 55 provided on the front end side and the rear end side of the conveyor base 45, respectively. Further, an L-shaped key portion 42 is provided at the lower portion of the conveyor base 45, and the conveyor unit 41 is attached to the bottom plate 31 of the product case 30 by fitting the key portion 42 into the slit 35 of the product case 30. It can be installed. That is, the conveyor unit 41 can be mounted at an arbitrary position of the product case 30 according to the size of the product 40, the type of the product 40, and the like. From the above, in the present embodiment, a plurality of conveyor units 41 can be attached to the product case 30 at regular intervals or at different intervals.

  Further, a belt gear 53 that receives power for driving the belt 43 from the bucket 90 side is fixed to the drive pulley 54 provided at the front end of the conveyor unit 41 coaxially therewith. The belt gear 53 is engaged with a gear mechanism 99 (drive transmission mechanism) (FIGS. 5 and 6) provided in the bucket 90, and transmits power for moving the belt 43 from the bucket 90. A movable stopper 70 for stopping the product 40 (leading product) at the front end of the column at the front end position of the conveyor unit 41 is provided at the front end of the conveyor unit 41 via a delivery member 71 described later. ing. FIG. 2 illustrates a state in which the movable stopper 70 is positioned on the upper side (Y side) to restrict the movement of the product 40. The backrest plate 60 is mounted on the conveyor base 45 in an upright state, and the product 40 is fed forward (Z side) by the pushing force from the backrest plate 60. The backrest plate 60 has a protrusion (not shown) at the bottom, and is attached to the conveyor base 45 by inserting the protrusion into the sprocket hole 44 of the belt 43. Further, the backrest plate 60 moves in the forward direction as the belt 43 is driven while contacting the product 40 placed at the end of the product row. Thereby, the goods 40 are reliably delivered to the front side of the vending machine.

  Furthermore, the side plates 51a and 51b erected in the Y direction from both sides of the storage shelf 50 hold the product case 30 slidably. That is, the product case 30 is pulled out in the + Z direction and stored in the −Z direction. One side plate 51a has a protruding piece 51c protruding in the -X direction. The projecting piece 51 c is for detecting the vertical position of the product case 30 stored in the storage shelf 50. The vertical movement mechanism 81 extending in the X direction moves in the Y direction when the driving force of the electric motor 915 is transmitted. Thereby, the bucket 90 mounted on the guide rail 81a of the vertical movement mechanism 81 can freely move in the X direction and the Y direction.

  Further, the vertical movement mechanism 81 includes a position detection sensor 81b (non-contact sensor) that detects the presence or absence of the protruding piece 51c of the product shelf 50 in a non-contact manner in the process of moving in the Y direction. The position detection sensor 81b includes a light emitting element 81c that emits an optical signal (for example, infrared light) and a light receiving element 81d that receives the optical signal, and the protrusion 51c emits light in the process of moving in the Y direction. It is fixed at a position interposed in the signal path between the element 81c and the light receiving element 81d. That is, when the light receiving element 81d cannot receive the optical signal from the light emitting element 81c, the projecting piece 51c is interposed in the signal path between the light emitting element 81c and the light receiving element 81d so as to block the signal path. It is possible to detect the vertical position of the product case 30 stored in the shelf 50 (see FIG. 3A). On the other hand, when the light receiving element 81d can receive the optical signal from the light emitting element 81c, the protruding piece 51c is not interposed in the signal path between the light emitting element 81c and the light receiving element 81d (see FIG. 3-2).

  As illustrated in the front view of FIG. 4, the delivery member 71 described above has a concave shape so as to cover the drive pulley 54 and is fixed to the front end portion of the conveyor unit 41. A front surface of the delivery member 71 is formed with a support surface 72a for supporting the movable stopper 70, and a reflection surface 72h (unit identification member) described later on the lower side (−Y side) of the support surface 72a. The reflecting surface 72h has a substantially square shape, the vertical side P serves as a base point for defining the detection position in the X direction of the conveyor unit 41 and the stop position in the X direction of the bucket 90, and the horizontal side H is detected in the Y direction of the conveyor unit 41. This is a base point that defines the position and the stop position of the bucket 90 in the Y direction.

[bucket]
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the bucket 90 as viewed from the product acquisition port side. The bucket 90 includes a storage portion 91 that forms a space in which the product 40 pushed in the front direction (+ Z direction) by the belt 43 from the conveyor unit 41 is stored. Further, the bucket 90 includes a lever mechanism 95 for retracting the movable stopper 70 to the lower side of the conveyor unit 41. The lever mechanism 95 has a lever member 93 made of a substantially square plate shown on the lower side (−Y side) of the accommodating portion 91 in FIG. 5, and the lever member 93 is connected to the lever member shaft portion 93a. It is moved to the right side (-X side) in the figure while rotating around. The bucket 90 includes a gear mechanism 99 that meshes with the belt gear 53 of the conveyor unit 41 when the bucket 90 is positioned at the front end of the conveyor unit 41, and an appropriate mechanism for driving the gear mechanism 99. And an electric motor (not shown). Further, the bucket 90 is a bucket belt drive mechanism for driving the bucket belt 92 (mounting surface) when the commodity 40 accommodated in the accommodating portion 91 is dispensed to the commodity dispensing portion 17 (see FIG. 1). (Not shown). Further, the bucket 90 includes a position detection sensor 902 (non-contact sensor) at the lower center portion of the bucket belt 92, and projects light on the reflecting surface 72 h of the delivery member 71 of the conveyor unit 41. The reflected light from 72h is received.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the gear mechanism 99 of the present embodiment protrudes from the lower side (−Y side) of the product acquisition port of the bucket 90 and meshes with the belt gear 53 of the conveyor unit 41 to convey the product 40. Later, the bucket 90 is retracted to the lower side. By such an operation of the gear mechanism 99, a force in the transport direction (Z direction) does not act between the gear mechanism 99 and the belt gear 53. FIG. 6 is a side view showing the arrangement of the bucket 90 and the conveyor unit 41 when the bucket 90 faces the conveyor unit 41.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the position detection sensor 902 of this embodiment includes a light emitting element 902a and a light receiving element 902b that receives reflected light from the light emitting element 902a. The light emitting element 902a and the light receiving element 902b are juxtaposed at different Y direction positions at the same X direction position. Thereby, when the infrared light (IL in FIG. 6) projected from the light emitting element 902a is reflected by the reflecting surface 72h of the delivery member 71, and the reflected infrared light is received by the light receiving element 902b. In addition, the position detection sensor 902 outputs a detection signal. Here, in order for the position detection sensor 902 to selectively detect only the reflecting surface 72h, the pair of the light emitting element 902a and the light receiving element 902b is disposed so as to be in parallel with the reflecting surface 72h. For example, the position where the infrared light from the issuing element 902a is not received by the light receiving element 902b (see FIG. 6) is the stop position of the bucket 90 in the Y direction.

  On the other hand, as described above, in the space between the front panel 13 of the vending machine and the front end of the storage shelf 50, the bucket 90 moves in the XY direction, that is, over the entire front side of the plurality of conveyor units 41. (See FIG. 1). That is, in the case 10 of the vending machine, a horizontal movement mechanism that will be described later that moves the bucket 90 in the width direction (X direction) of the vending machine, and a later-described movement that moves this bucket 90 up and down (Y direction). A vertical movement mechanism 81 is provided, and the bucket 90 is supported by these mechanisms.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7-1, a light emitting element 93 a and a light receiving element 93 b are provided on both side plates on the −Z direction side of the bucket 90. The light receiving element 93b is provided at a position for receiving a light emission optical path from the light emitting element 93a, and is used to determine whether or not the product 40 has passed.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the bucket 90 is movable in the X direction by rolling four rotatable rollers 950 provided on the bucket 90 on the guide rail 81a. Here, FIG. 7-2 is an enlarged view of the lower part of the bucket 90 shown in FIG. Further, as shown in FIG. 7B, the bucket 90 is provided with an electric motor 910 on the lower side (−Y side) of the bucket belt 92. The rotational driving force of the electric motor 910 is transmitted from the gear 912 to the gear 918a by a pinion mechanism portion that is also provided below the bucket belt 92 and meshes with each other. Here, the pinion 918b shown in FIG. 8 is fixed coaxially to the gear 918a shown in FIG. 7-2 and rotates together. Therefore, the rotational driving force of the electric motor 910 is transmitted to the pinion 918b. As shown in FIG. 8, the pinion 918b meshes with a rack 810 laid on the guide rail 81a. Thus, in the present embodiment, when the electric motor 910 rotates a predetermined number of times, the pinion 918b also rotates a predetermined number of times by the transmission of the driving force described above, and the bucket 90 is rotated a predetermined distance in the X direction with respect to the guide rail 81a. It is supposed to move.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7B, the bucket 90 is provided with a pulse encoder 920 (pulse generator) facing the gear 914. This pulse encoder 920 includes a rotor 920a having a radial engorda slit 920b, and an encoder photodetector 920c that generates a pulse signal each time light passing through the encoder slit 920b is detected. It is composed of Note that the pulse signal is output by the pulse encoder 920 with a number corresponding to the amount of rotation of the electric motor 910 of the present embodiment, but is not limited thereto. For example, if the electric motor 910 shown in FIG. 7-2 is a stepping motor, the stepping motor has a function of outputting a pulse signal with a number corresponding to its rotation amount. Therefore, in this case, it is not necessary to provide the pulse encoder 920 in particular. Due to the configuration of the horizontal movement mechanism described above, the bucket 90 can move on the guide rail 81a in the X direction by a distance corresponding to the number of pulse signals. On the other hand, the vertical movement mechanism 81 is also moved by a predetermined distance in the Y direction by the rotation operation of the electric motor 915 (see FIG. 1), as in the horizontal movement mechanism. The vertical movement mechanism 81 includes an appropriate pulse encoder 990 (pulse generator, 9).

[Stop position calculation means]
FIG. 9 is a block diagram for explaining an example of a control means for detecting the position of the conveyor unit 41 in the present embodiment. The control unit 200 shown in FIG. 9 receives a detection signal indicating the presence or absence of the reflecting surface 72h from the position detection sensor 902, and further receives a pulse signal corresponding to the position in the X direction of the bucket 90 from the pulse encoder 920. Thus, the operation of the bucket 90 in the X direction is controlled. Further, the control unit 200 receives a detection signal indicating the presence or absence of the protruding piece 51c from the position detection sensor 81b, and further receives a pulse signal corresponding to the position in the Y direction of the bucket 90 from the pulse encoder 990, thereby The operation of the bucket 90 in the Y direction is controlled.

  The control unit 200 according to the present embodiment performs detection control for detecting the position of the conveyor unit 41 in the product case 30 by moving the bucket 90, and also sells the product 40 in the product acquisition port of the bucket 90. Is moved to the opening of the conveyor unit 41 and sales control for controlling the sales mechanism 202 is performed.

  The RAM 204 stores the number of pulse signals corresponding to the position of the conveyor unit 41 during the above-described detection control, and the ROM 206 stores an appropriate program for operating the control unit 200.

  The ROM 206 is configured by a non-volatile storage element such as a mask ROM that burns and fixes data in the manufacturing process, and an EPROM and EEPROM that can repeatedly write / read data by erasing the data with ultraviolet rays. The RAM 204 is composed of a volatile element such as SRAM. In the present embodiment, data in the RAM 204 is held by a backup power source.

  When the position of the conveyor unit 41 in the product case 20 is changed, for example, when the vending machine is shipped or the product is changed, the remote controller 210, for example, allows the operator to send data on the changed position to the control unit. The terminal for inputting to 200 is made. The remote controller 210 includes a detection button 212 for inputting a request signal for requesting the above-described detection control to the control unit 200.

[Product transport unit position detection]
An operation in which the control unit of the vending machine having the above-described configuration moves the bucket 90 to detect the position of the conveyor unit 41 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 10 is a plan view for explaining the relationship between the product case 30 and the bucket 90 of the vending machine according to the present embodiment. For example, eight rows of conveyor units 411 to 418 are arranged in parallel in the X direction in the product case 30 shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the product case 30 is partitioned by the partition plate 65 so that the conveyor units 411 to 418 have a certain width in the X direction. However, the mounting positions of the conveyor units 411 to 418 with respect to the product case 30 are not limited to this, and can be mounted together with the partition plate 65 at different positions in the X direction.

  The position in the X direction of the bucket 90 on the guide rail 81a is represented by the number of pulse signals from the pulse encoder 920 that increases from the right end (BR) in FIG. Here, for example, when the bucket 90 depresses a right limit switch 81e provided on the guide rail 81a, the movement of the bucket 90 in the X direction is stopped at the right end (BR).

  Similarly, for example, when the bucket 90 depresses a left limit switch 81f provided on the guide rail 81a, the movement of the bucket 90 in the X direction is stopped at the left end (BL). When the bucket 90 moves in the X direction within the range of BR to BL, the position detection sensor 902 controls the detection signal when the light receiving element 902b senses light with a light receiving intensity equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold. To the unit 200 (see FIG. 9).

  In the example shown by “BC” in FIG. 10, the bucket 90 is in a position where the product acquisition port of the bucket 90 faces the opening of the conveyor unit 414. At this time, the position detection sensor 902 outputs a detection signal to the control unit 200 when the light receiving element 902b receives the reflected light from the reflecting surface 72h of the delivery member 71 of the conveyor unit 414. The control unit 200 that has received this detection signal causes the RAM 204 to store the number of pulse signals corresponding to the number of rotations of the electric motor 910 from the pulse encoder 920.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a detection signal from the position detection sensor 902 and a pulse signal from the pulse encoder 920 when the bucket 90 moves from the initial position at the right end to the −X direction from the conveyor unit 418 to the conveyor unit 411. is there. Note that the value of the pulse signal of the pulse encoder 920 is reset each time at the initial position of the right end when the bucket 90 moves from the right end to the left end.

  According to FIG. 11, for example, the detection signal C4 changes from a low level to a high level at the 900th pulse, and from a high level to a low level at the 942th pulse. In other words, when the position detection sensor 902 moves to the position of the vertical side P on the right side of FIG. 4 of the reflector 72h and receives reflected light, the detection signal C4 changes from low level to high level, while the position detection sensor 902 When the reflector 72h further moves to the position of the vertical side P on the left side of FIG. 4 and the reflected light cannot be received at a predetermined threshold value or more, the detection signal C4 changes from the high level to the low level.

  In the present embodiment, the position of the position detection sensor 902 in the X direction when the gear mechanism 99 of the bucket 90 accurately meshes with the belt gear 53 of the conveyor unit 41 in the X direction is the vertical side P on the right side of FIG. It is assumed that the left side is 9 pulses from the left. Based on an appropriate program stored in the ROM 206, for example, the control unit 200 is configured such that the “900 pulses” are mounted on the conveyor unit 414 “fourth” from the left end of the product case 30 in FIG. In association with being, it is stored in the RAM 204 in association with, for example, “(4,900)”.

  In FIG. 12, data (detection position) related to the position of the conveyor unit 41 is acquired for all the product cases 30 for eight stages in a predetermined test mode in advance. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a moving path of the bucket 90 in the detection operation of the conveyor unit 41 by the vending machine according to the present embodiment.

  For example, it is assumed that the front panel 13 is opened by an operator and the detection button 212 of the remote controller 210 provided on the back side of the front panel 13 is pressed, for example. The vertical movement, horizontal movement, and diagonal movement of the bucket 90 at the standby position are performed by moving the vertical movement mechanism 81 in the Y direction by the electric motor 915 (see FIG. 1) and the electric motor 910 (see FIG. 7-2). This is realized by the movement of the bucket 90 in the X direction. More specifically, when an operator or the like changes the position of the conveyor unit 41 in the X direction with respect to the product case 30 according to the size of the product when the product is replaced, the changed conveyor unit Unless the data regarding the mounting positions of 41 in the X direction and the Y direction are stored again in the RAM 204, the bucket 90 cannot face the conveyor unit 41 after the mounting position is changed at an appropriate position where goods can be acquired. In such a case, the operator moves the vertical movement mechanism 81 in the Y direction and the bucket 90 in the X direction by operating the remote controller 210, and all the conveyor units 41 attached to the product case 30 for eight stages. The absolute position information in the X direction and the Y direction is detected and stored in the RAM 204.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of data relating to the position at which the conveyor unit 41 is specified by the position in the X direction and the position in the Y direction. This data is acquired by the control unit 200 as information regarding the detected position detected in advance, and stored in the RAM 204. As an example, the detection data specifying the conveyor unit 414 is “14” because the conveyor unit 414 is positioned fourth from the left end of the first-stage product case 30 in FIG. . On the other hand, the number of pulse signals from the pulse encoder 920 corresponding to the position in the X direction is, for example, “900” described above.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 13, in the present embodiment, the number of pulse signals from the pulse encoder 990 corresponding to the position in the Y direction is “1810”. This “1810” is the number of pulse signals of the pulse encoder 990 corresponding to the position where the signal path of the position detection sensor 81b in the vertical movement mechanism 81 is blocked by the protruding piece 51c protruding from the uppermost storage shelf 50. . In the present embodiment, the position of the position detection sensor 902 in the Y direction when the gear mechanism 99 of the bucket 90 accurately meshes with the belt gear 53 of the conveyor unit 41 in the Y direction is the horizontal side on the lower side of FIG. It is assumed that the position is H. From the above, the position data of the bucket 90 that identifies the conveyor unit 414 is “(14, 900, 1810)”. As described above, after the position of each conveyor unit 41 is detected in advance, the bucket 90 is moved to the designated conveyor unit 41 based on the position data shown in FIG.

[Next product detection operation]
Next, referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 6, FIG. 7, FIG. 9, FIG. 14 to FIG. 16, an operation for detecting whether or not there is a next sale product following the first product placed on the conveyor unit 41 Will be described. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a movement trajectory when acquiring the top product of the product rack in which the bucket 90 is designated. In FIG. 14, the front panel 13 is omitted for easy understanding. FIG. 15 shows the movement trajectory of the bucket 90 (position detection sensor 902) and the product detection effective range in the operation for detecting the presence / absence of the next sale product, and the vicinity of the conveyor unit to be detected is directed to the −Z direction. FIG. FIG. 15 schematically shows a state immediately after the bucket 90 has acquired the first product 40 in the storage unit 91. Further, positions A, B, and C shown in FIG. 15 indicate positions of the position detection sensor 902 mounted on the bucket 90. FIG. 16 schematically shows a state in which the position detection sensor 902 has detected the next sale product across the product storage area, and the vicinity of the conveyor unit to be detected is viewed in the −Z direction. It is a figure.

  First, it is assumed that a product placed on any one conveyor unit 41 is designated on the operation panel 14. For example, it is assumed that the conveyor unit 443 in the product case 30 in the fourth stage from the top is designated. The control unit 200 receives an output corresponding to the conveyor unit 443 from the operation panel 14 and outputs a control signal based on the position data of the conveyor unit 443 detected in advance to make the bucket 90 face the conveyor unit 443. . The electric motor 910 in the X direction and the electric motor 915 in the Y direction are driven according to this control signal, whereby the bucket 90 moves simultaneously in the −X direction and the + Y direction from the standby position P1 to the position P2 facing the conveyor unit 443. To do. When the bucket 90 stops at the position P2 facing the conveyor unit 443, the movable stopper 70 rotates clockwise around the shaft 70a to allow the leading product to be transferred from the conveyor unit 443 to the bucket 90. The gear mechanism 99 meshes with the belt gear 53 of the conveyor unit 443 to transmit a driving force for moving the leading product 40 in the + Z direction, and the upper surfaces of the belt 43 and the bucket belt 92 move in the + Z direction. Thus, the top product 40 is taken into the accommodating portion 91 of the bucket 90. At this time, the control unit 200 detects that the optical path between the light emitting element 93a and the light receiving element 93b that intersects the path through which the leading product 40 is delivered from the conveyor unit 443 to the bucket 90 is interrupted. It is determined that the top product 40 has been taken into 90 storage units 91.

  After the bucket 90 receives the leading product 40, the gear mechanism 99 of the bucket 90 is separated from the belt gear 53 and accommodated in the lower portion of the bucket belt 92, and the coupling between the bucket 90 and the conveyor unit 443 is released. Furthermore, the movable stopper 70 receives an elastic force and rotates counterclockwise to stop.

  Thereafter, as described below, the position detection sensor 902 is moved to detect the presence or absence of the next sale product 40. From the state shown in FIG. 15, the electric motor 910 in the X direction and the electric motor 915 in the Y direction are driven by a control signal from the control unit 200. At this time, the position detection sensor 902 is in an operating state. As shown in FIG. 15, first, the bucket 90 is moved by the A1 pulse in the + X direction from the position facing the conveyor unit 443 based on the position data in the RAM 204. Thereby, the position detection sensor 902 moves from the position A to the position B (step S1). Next, the bucket 90 is moved by the B1 pulse in the + Y direction. Thereby, the position detection sensor 902 moves from the position B to the position C (step S2). This position C is above the front end portion of the movable stopper 70 of the conveyor unit 443 (+ Y direction).

  Next, the bucket 90 is moved in the −X direction by C1 pulses. Thereby, the position detection sensor 902 crosses the accommodation area of the product 40, that is, the next sale product 40 (step S3). As shown in FIG. 15, in this embodiment, a product detection effective range is set in the movement path of the position detection sensor 902. This product detection effective range is set to be equal to or smaller than the X-direction length of the storage area in the product rack 39 and is stored in the RAM 204 in advance. In the present embodiment, the position detection sensor 902 is operated from the time when the bucket 90 starts the sales operation. However, the control unit 200 detects a signal detected while the position detection sensor 902 passes through the effective product detection range. Only by means of detecting the presence or absence of goods. Note that the distances A1, B1, and C1 pulses that the position detection sensor 902 moves between the positions A to C are appropriately determined from the X-direction length and the product dimensions of the storage area of the product rack 39, and are stored in the RAM 204 in advance. Has been.

  FIG. 16 shows a state where the position detection sensor 902 crosses the product storage area, that is, the next sale product 40. As shown in FIG. 16, when the next sale product 40 exists in the accommodation area, the infrared light from the light emitting element 902a of the position detection sensor 902 is + Z of the next sale product 40 while the position detection sensor 902 crosses the accommodation unit. The light is reflected on the surface in the direction, becomes reflected light, is received by the light receiving element 902 b, and this detection output is supplied to the control unit 200. A threshold value is set in advance for the level of reflected light received by the light receiving element 902b. If the threshold value is exceeded even once while the position detection sensor 902 crosses the accommodating portion, the control unit 200 causes the conveyor unit 443 to It is determined that the sales product 40 exists, and is not determined to be sold out.

  On the other hand, when the product acquired by the bucket 90 is the last sale product and there is no next sale product, the infrared light from the light emitting element 902a of the position detection sensor 902 has no reflecting surface of the next sale product 40. The light-receiving element 902b does not receive the reflected light. Therefore, the threshold value is not exceeded while the position detection sensor 902 crosses the storage unit, and the control unit 200 determines that the next sale product 40 does not exist. The threshold value set in the position detection sensor 902 is appropriately set according to the distance in the Z direction between the position detection sensor 902 and the next sale product 40 when the position detection sensor 902 crosses the accommodation area.

  When the control unit 200 determines that the next sale product does not exist in the conveyor unit 443, the control unit 200 stores the determination result indicating that the conveyor unit 443 is in a state of sold out in the RAM 204, and designates the conveyor unit 443. The operation of the panel 14 is invalidated. The control unit 200 can also display the sold-out items of the conveyor unit 443 on the display panel 15 based on the determination result indicating the sold-out items of the conveyor unit 443 stored in the RAM 204. In this case, the customer can quickly and surely grasp the conveyor unit 443 that is sold out by looking at the contents of the display panel 15, and the operation panel 14 assigns a number or symbol corresponding to the conveyor unit 443 that is sold out. Even if the input has been made, the combination with the fact that the bucket 90 does not move can immediately shift to an operation for purchasing another product that has not been sold out.

  Thereafter, the control unit 200 outputs a control signal for moving the bucket 90 from the position P2 ′ to the position where the commodity dispensing unit 17 is provided. The electric motors 910 and 915 are driven according to the control signal, and the bucket 90 Moves in the + X direction and the −Y direction at the same time, moves from the position P2 ′ to the position P3, and pays out the top product 40 to the product delivery unit 17.

  After the leading product 40 is paid out by the bucket 90, the control unit 200 outputs a control signal for moving the bucket 90 from the position P3 to the standby position P1, and the electric motors 910 and 915 are driven in accordance with this control signal. Moves from the position P3 to the standby position P1 and stops.

  Next, the product presence / absence detection operation at the time of product replenishment will be described. After the operator opens the front panel 13 and replenishes the products 40 in the storage areas of the product racks 39 of the product case 30, the presence / absence of all products can be detected by operating the position detection sensor 902. FIG. 17 shows the movement trajectory of the position detection sensor 902 at the time of product replenishment, and the product 40 and the conveyor unit 41 accommodated in the product rack 39 are omitted. For example, after the product replenishment operation is completed and the front panel 13 is closed, the position detection sensor 902 is operated by the remote controller 210, and the bucket 90 is moved so that the position detection sensor 902 crosses the product 40 placed on the storage shelf 50. Move. As shown in FIG. 17, by starting this operation from the lowermost storage shelf 50 to the uppermost storage shelf 50, the presence / absence of products in all the product racks 39 in the eight-stage product shelf 50 is detected. . The control unit 200 acquires the product presence / absence information after the product replenishment from the position detection sensor 902, erases all the product presence / absence information before the replenishment, and then stores the new product presence / absence information in the RAM 204.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the non-contact sensor is arranged in the bucket that acquires the product stored in the storage area of the product shelf, and after the bucket acquires the top product, the non-contact sensor The non-contact sensor is moved so as to cross the accommodation area, and the presence or absence of the product is detected based on the detection result of the non-contact sensor during this period. More specifically, if the reflected light from the next sale product exceeds the threshold even once while the non-contact sensor 902 crosses the accommodation area, it is determined that there is a next sale product. Even in the case where the sales commodity is shifted from the commodity row, the commodity can be reliably detected, and the detection accuracy can be improved without incurring costs.

  In addition, a product detection effective range is set in the movement path of the non-contact sensor, and the presence or absence of the product is determined only by a signal detected while the non-contact sensor moves within the product detection effective range. Thereby, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection such as detection of members such as a product rack and a conveyor unit in addition to the product, and the detection accuracy can be further improved.

  In addition, by simply adding steps S1, S2, and S3 to the moving process of the bucket that moves when selling the product, it is possible to determine whether the product has been sold out by efficiently using the movement trajectory of the bucket, and the conveyor unit. The cost of the vending machine can be further reduced by using the non-contact sensor for detecting the position of the vending machine as a sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the next sale product.

  In addition, after the product is replenished, the control unit automatically acquires the presence / absence information of the product by moving the bucket so that the non-contact sensor crosses the product on each product shelf and detecting the presence / absence of all the products after the replenishment. Therefore, it is not necessary for the worker to input which product is replenished at the time of product replenishment. In addition, even when an operator forgets to replenish a product in a product rack at the time of product replenishment, the non-contact sensor detects that there is no product in that product rack, and this detection result Can be transmitted to the control unit as new product information.

  In the above embodiment, the reflection sensor is applied as the non-contact sensor. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a capacitance sensor, a magnetic sensor, or the like can be used.

It is a figure which shows the external appearance structure of the vending machine of embodiment of this invention. It is the disassembled perspective view which looked at the product case of this Embodiment from front diagonally upward. It is a figure which shows the position detection sensor of the Y direction of this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the different state of the position detection sensor of the Y direction of this Embodiment. It is a front view of the delivery member of this Embodiment. It is the perspective view which looked at the bucket of this embodiment from the goods acquisition mouth side. It is a side view of the bucket and conveyor unit of this Embodiment. It is a perspective view of the bucket and guide rail of this Embodiment. It is a perspective view which expands and shows a part. It is another perspective view of the bucket and guide rail of this Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the control mechanism of this Embodiment. It is a top view for demonstrating the relationship between the conveyor unit of this Embodiment, and a bucket. It is a figure which shows the detection signal from the position detection sensor at the time of the bucket movement of this Embodiment, and the pulse signal from a pulse encoder. It is a figure which shows an example of the movement path | route of the bucket at the time of the position detection of the conveyor unit of this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the data regarding the position of the conveyor unit of this Embodiment. In this Embodiment, it is a figure which shows the movement locus | trajectory at the time of a bucket acquiring and paying out the goods of arbitrary conveyor units. It is a figure which shows the movement locus | trajectory of a position detection sensor and the product detection effective range in the presence detection operation | movement of the next sale goods of this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows schematically the state in which the position detection sensor crossed the accommodation area of goods in the presence detection operation of the next sale goods of this Embodiment. In this Embodiment, it is a figure which shows an example of the movement path | route of the position detection sensor after goods replenishment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Vending machine 40 Goods 41 Goods conveyance unit 50 Goods shelf 90 Bucket 200 Control means 902 Non-contact sensor

Claims (2)

A product shelf having a storage area for storing a plurality of products;
A product transport unit for transporting the product row stored in the storage area of the product shelf to the top product side;
A bucket that moves on a surface along the top product side of the product transport unit to acquire and pay out the top product of the product line transported by the product transport unit;
A non-contact sensor that is arranged on the bucket in a manner to make the detection unit face the product shelf, and detects an article positioned on an extension of the detection unit in a non-contact manner;
After the bucket acquires the leading product, the non-contact sensor is moved so as to cross the accommodation area, and the control means detects the presence or absence of the product based on the detection result of the non-contact sensor during this period;
Vending machine characterized by comprising The control means includes
The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the presence or absence of a product is detected only by a signal detected when the non-contact sensor crosses the accommodation area.

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