JP5364489B2 - vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is an automatic vending machine wherein when each commodity selection unit and each commodity information display unit are respectively controlled by different control units, it is easy to perform an association process between each commodity selection unit and each commodity information display unit. The automatic vending machine is provided with: a plurality of commodity selection buttons (14) and a plurality of commodity information display units (15) which are provided so as to correspond to each of a plurality of commodity samples; a first control unit (100) which is provided so as to be capable of communicating with each commodity selection button (14) and performs a sales process of a commodity when the commodity is selected using each commodity selection button (14); and a second control unit (200) which is provided so as to be capable of communicating with each commodity information display unit (15) and provided separately from the first control unit (100) and so as to be capable of communicating with the first control unit (100), and which controls each commodity information display unit (15). Upon receiving predetermined control information transmitted from the first control unit (100), the second control unit (200) performs the association process between each commodity selection button (14) and each commodity information display unit (15) on the basis of the control information.

Description

  The present invention relates to a vending machine that sells products such as canned beverages, paper-packed beverages, and boxed confectionery.

  Conventionally, as this type of vending machine, a plurality of product selection units provided to correspond to each of a plurality of products, a plurality of product information display units provided to correspond to each of the products, and each product When a product is selected using a selection unit, a product including a control unit that performs sales processing of the product and displays the price of each product on each product information display unit is known (for example, Patent Documents) 1).

  In such a vending machine, since one control unit controls each of the product selection unit and each product information display unit, there are many between the control unit and each product selection unit and each product information display unit. It is necessary to provide a control port. In this case, since the control unit controls each product selection unit and each product information display unit via each control port, there is a problem that the load on the control unit increases and the operability is poor.

  Therefore, in order to reduce the load on the control unit, the first control unit is provided so as to be able to communicate with each product selection unit, and performs a sales process of the product when a product is selected using each product selection unit. And a second control unit that controls each product information display unit, and that performs communication for control between the control units. . Thereby, since the load concerning the control processing of each product selection part and each product information display part can be disperse | distributed to each control part, the fall of operability can be prevented.

JP 2002-175560 A

  By the way, when each product selection unit and each product information display unit are controlled by different control units, each product selection unit and each product information corresponding to the product sample are used in order to prevent erroneous operation by the user. It is necessary to associate with the display unit. However, since the conventional vending machine is provided with an operation unit such as a switch for the operator to perform the association process, the association process at the time of operation becomes complicated for the operator. There was a problem that the manufacturing cost of the vending machine increased due to the provision.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and the purpose of the present invention is that each product selection unit and each product information display unit are controlled by different control units. An object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine capable of easily performing the association process with the product information display unit.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a plurality of product selection units provided so as to correspond to each of a plurality of product samples, and communication between each product selection unit is provided, and each product selection unit When a product is selected using a first control unit that performs a sales process of the product, a plurality of product information display units provided to correspond to each of the product samples, and each product information display unit, And a second control unit that controls each product information display unit, and is provided separately from the first control unit so as to be able to communicate with either one of the first control unit and the second control unit. The one control unit transmits the control information that can cause the other control unit to execute the association process between each product selection unit and each product information display unit, and the other control unit When the control information is received, each product selection is based on the control information. Carry out parts and the association process with each commodity information display unit.

  As a result, when the other control unit receives control information from one control unit, each product selection unit and each product information display unit are associated with each other based on the control information. It is possible to automatically perform association processing with each product information display unit.

  As described above, according to the present invention, since each product selection unit can be automatically associated with each product information display unit, each product selection unit and each product information display unit have different controls. Even when controlled by the unit, it is possible to easily perform the association processing between each product selection unit and each product information display unit. Therefore, since the operation part for performing the said matching process becomes unnecessary, while being able to improve an operator's convenience, the manufacturing cost of a vending machine can be reduced.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a vending machine showing an embodiment of the present invention. Side sectional view of the vending machine shown in FIG. Front main part enlarged view of the vending machine shown in FIG. Functional block diagram of the vending machine shown in FIG. The figure which shows an example of the data structure of control information Sequence diagram for explaining the operation of the control unit Sequence diagram for explaining the operation of the control unit

  14 ... Multiple product selection buttons, 15 ... Multiple product information display units, 100 ... First control unit, 200 ... Second control unit, C ... Product, S ... Product sample

  1 to 7 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a vending machine, FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the vending machine shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the vending machine shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of control information, and FIGS. 6 and 7 are control units. It is a sequence diagram explaining the operation | movement of.

  First, the structure of the vending machine will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The vending machine main body 1 has a box shape and is provided with a heat insulating chamber 1a having an open front. The heat insulation chamber 1a is divided into a plurality of product storage boxes SR arranged in the width direction of the vending machine body 1 by a heat insulating partition plate (not shown).

  In each product storage SR, a product storage rack 2 composed of a serpentine rack is arranged. Each merchandise storage rack 2 has a merchandise inlet 2a in the upper part on the front side, and stores merchandise C such as canned drinks, bottled drinks, and plastic bottled drinks in a meandering storage path 2b stacked in a horizontal direction. ing. Further, at the lower part of each product storage rack 2, a product carry-out mechanism 2 c for dropping and carrying the stored product C onto the chute plate 3 for one piece is provided. Furthermore, each of the product storage racks 2 arranged for each product storage SR is provided with a sold-out detection sensor (not shown) that detects the presence or absence of the product C in units of storage passages 2b. The merchandise storage rack 2 is not limited to a serpentine rack, but can use other types of racks that can carry out one stored merchandise as in the serpentine rack.

  Further, a chute plate 3 and a duct plate 4 are provided from the bottom to the back of each product storage SR. In the space below and on the rear side of the chute plate 3 and the duct plate 4, an evaporator 5, an electric heater 6, a cooling / heating air circulation blower 7, etc. of the refrigeration equipment are arranged. The back side space is configured as a duct D. Furthermore, a temperature sensor (not shown) for detecting the temperature of the product storage SR is provided in each product storage SR.

  A machine room MR is provided below the bottom plate 1b of the heat insulation room 1a. In the machine room MR, a condenser 8, a compressor 9 and expansion means (not shown) of the refrigeration equipment are provided. The exhaust heat blower 10 and the like are arranged.

  Further, a heat insulating inner door 11 is provided on the front side of the heat insulating chamber 1a so as to cover the front opening of the heat insulating chamber 1a. In order to keep the product storage SR in an airtight state with the inner door 11 closed at the front end of the heat insulating chamber 1a in the upper, lower, left and right directions (the lower front end is the front end of the bottom plate 1b) and the front end of each partition plate. Packing (no symbol) is provided, and each commodity storage SR becomes an independent heat insulation space with the inner door 11 closed. Furthermore, a plurality of window holes 11a corresponding to the chute plate 3 of each product storage SR are formed in the lower part of the inner door 11, and the chute plate 3 is pushed through the window holes 11a by the products C sliding down. A flap door 11b is provided.

  In other words, in this vending machine, each product storage SR constitutes an independent heat insulation space, and the evaporator 5 and the electric heater 6 are provided independently in each product storage SR, which will be described later. Any one of the three modes of cooling, heating, non-cooling, and heating can be arbitrarily selected and implemented for each commodity storage SR by the temperature adjustment setting unit 170 (see FIG. 4).

  The outer door 12 is provided at the front opening of the vending machine main body 1 so as to be freely opened and closed. A transparent plate 12 a made of an acrylic plate or the like is provided on the upper surface of the outer door 12. In addition, an exhibition room 13 for exhibiting a plurality of product samples S is provided behind the transparent plate 12a, and a plurality of product sample placement shelves for placing each product sample S is provided in the exhibition room 13. 13a is arranged in parallel in the vertical direction. Also, below each product sample S, as shown in FIG. 3, a product selection button 14 as a product selection unit and a product information display unit 15 are provided so as to correspond to the product sample S, respectively. . The product information display unit 15 includes a light emitting diode (LED) and a liquid crystal display member (LCD). The price of the product C, the cold / hot state of “HOT” and “COLD”, the number sold, the remaining number, the total sales, the sales period, etc. Sales data and the like can be displayed as product information. In addition, the product information display unit 15 can display information other than the above-described product information, for example, a character display or an emoticon that expresses a human expression.

  Further, on the front surface of the outer door 12, a return lever 16 as a refund instruction unit, a coin insertion slot 17, a bill insertion slot 18, an amount display unit 19 for displaying the amount of inserted coins, a coin return slot 20, A product outlet 21 is provided in the layout shown in FIG. Further, a flap door 22 that can be opened manually is provided at the product outlet 21, and a product receiving plate 23 that receives the product C discharged from the flap door 11 b is provided inside thereof.

  Next, the control system configuration of the vending machine shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The first control unit 100 is configured by a computer including a CPU, RAM, ROM, timer circuit, and the like. The first control unit 100 includes a storage unit 110, an unloading drive unit 120, a coin processing device 130, a banknote processing device 140, a compressor driving unit 150, a heater driving unit 160, a temperature adjustment setting device 170, and each product selection button. 14, the return lever 16, the money amount display unit 19, the modem 180, the communication unit 190, and the second control unit 200 are connected, and the first control unit 100 transmits each control signal to each of the above devices, thereby Each device is controlled. Further, the first control unit 100 includes a sold-out detection unit (not shown) for detecting the presence or absence of the product C in the product storage rack 2 arranged for each product storage SR in units of storage passages 2b, A temperature detection unit (not shown) that detects the temperature of the product storage SR is communicably connected. When a product is selected using the product selection button 14, the first control unit 100 performs a sales process for the product. Since the operation content of the first control unit 100 in this sales process is the same as that of a known vending machine, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The storage unit 110 is a rewritable storage element such as an EEPROM, and stores information under the control of the first control unit 100. The storage unit 110 stores control information described later in advance.

  The carry-out drive unit 120 is for controlling the operation of the product carry-out mechanism 2c provided in each product storage rack 2, specifically, the operation of an actuator such as a solenoid used in the product carry-out mechanism 2c. Based on a control signal from the control unit 100, the predetermined product carry-out mechanism 2c is operated to carry out the desired product carry-out.

  The coin processing device 130 and the banknote processing device 140 are arranged in the outer door 12, and the coin processing device 130 performs authenticity identification, counting, storing and discharging of the coins inserted through the coin insertion slot 16, and Data relating to the amount is sent to the first control unit 100. Moreover, the banknote processing apparatus 140 performs authenticity identification, counting, storing, and discharging of the banknote inserted through the banknote insertion slot 17, and sends data related to the amount of the inserted banknote to the first control unit 100.

  The compressor driving unit 150 is for controlling the operation of the compressor 9 constituting the refrigerator, specifically, the operation of the motor for driving the compressor 9, and the control signal from the first control unit 100 is Based on the desired compressor drive.

  The heater driving unit 160 is for controlling energization to each electric heater 6, and energizes a predetermined electric heater 6 based on a control signal from the first control unit 100.

  The temperature adjustment setting device 170 is for selecting one of the three modes of cooling, heating, non-cooling, and heating described above for each product storage SR. A push button switch or the like is provided, and data relating to the selected mode is sent to the first control unit 100.

  A modem 180 is used for data communication with an external server or the like using a public telephone line 181 or the like, and a communication unit 190 is connected to a portable information terminal such as a remote controller (not shown). This is for data communication using infrared rays or the like.

  The second control unit 200 includes a computer that includes a CPU, RAM, ROM, timer circuit, and the like. The 2nd control part 200 is provided separately from the 1st control part 100, and each merchandise information display part 15 and storage part 210 are connected to the 2nd control part 200 so that communication is possible. Further, the second control unit 200 displays the product information transmitted from the first control unit 100 on the product information display unit 15 corresponding to the product.

  The storage unit 210 is a rewritable storage element such as an EEPROM, and stores information under the control of the second control unit 200. The storage unit 210 stores control information transmitted from the first control unit 100.

  Here, the data structure of the control information will be described with reference to FIG. The control information is information for causing the second control unit 200 to execute an association process between each product selection button 14 and each product information display unit 15, and includes “product selection button No.” and “product selection button”. Presence / absence "," product information display part No. ", and" product selection button arrangement order ". “Product selection button No.” represents the number of product selection buttons 14 that can be controlled by the first control unit 100, and numbers 1 to 48 are assigned in this embodiment. “Product selection button presence / absence” indicates the presence / absence of the product selection button 14 corresponding to “product selection button No.” by bit on / off. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. Ten product selection buttons 14 are arranged on the upper and lower stages of the sample mounting shelf 13a (corresponding to the product selection buttons No. 1 to 10 and 33 to 42), respectively, and eight product selection buttons 13a are arranged on the middle stage of the product sample mounting shelf 13a. Product selection buttons 14 are arranged (corresponding to product selection buttons No. 17 to 20 and 23 to 26). The “product information display unit No.” is an arrangement of the numbers of the product information display units 15 corresponding to the product selection buttons 14 provided on the product sample mounting shelf 13a in a predetermined order. The product information display section 15 provided at the upper left end of the product sample mounting shelf 13a is assigned in ascending order (1 to 28). “Product selection button arrangement order” is information indicating the arrangement order of “product selection button No.”, and in this embodiment, a number is assigned to “ascending order from the upper left end of the product sample placement shelf 13a”. .

  Note that various allocation methods can be used for “product information display unit No.”. For example, the product information display unit 15 is assigned the number of the product information display unit 15 at the lower right end of the product sample mounting shelf 13a. May be assigned in ascending order. It is also possible to sequentially assign the numbers of the product information display unit 15 starting from any one of the upper, middle, and lower stages of the product sample placement shelf 13a. Further, numbers may be assigned in the order in which the product information display unit 15 is connected to the second control unit 200.

  Next, refer to the sequence diagram of FIG. 6 for the operation of the first and second control units 100 and 200 when performing the association process between each product selection button 14 and each product information display unit 15 in the present embodiment. To explain.

  First, when the power is turned on, the first control unit 100 requests the second control unit 200 to transmit device information (step S1). In response to a request from the first control unit 100, the second control unit 200 transmits the device information stored in the ROM or the storage unit 210 to the first control unit 100 (step S2). The device information includes, for example, the number of characters that can be displayed on the product information display unit 15, the type of image, the type of product information, and the like.

  Next, when receiving the device information, the first control unit 100 transmits the control information stored in the storage unit 110 to the second control unit 200 (step S3). On the other hand, when receiving the control information, the second control unit 200 associates each product selection button 14 with each product information display unit 15 based on the control information (step S4).

  This association process will be specifically described. The second control unit 200 specifies each product information display unit 15 to be controlled based on “product selection button presence / absence” of the control information, and displays each product information display. The number of the unit 15 is assigned based on “product information display unit No.” and “product selection button arrangement order”. Further, the second control unit 200 stores the received control information in the storage unit 210. In addition, when the number of each product information display unit 15 is assigned in advance by the second control unit 200, the second control unit 200 determines that the number assigned in advance and the “product information display unit No. . ”May be linked to perform the association process.

  Then, the first control unit 100 transmits product information and an instruction command as predetermined instruction information to the second control unit 200 (step S5). This instruction command includes information indicating the display mode of the product information such as “lighting”, “flashing”, “flashing only price”, and the like. On the other hand, when receiving the product information and the instruction command, the second control unit 200 displays the product information on the product information display unit 15 corresponding to the product in a display mode based on the instruction command (step S6). For example, when the product information “HOT ¥ 120” is received from the first control unit 100 for the product information display unit 15 of “product information display unit No. = 1” to be “lighted”, the product information ( “HOT ¥ 120”) is displayed in the display mode (“lit”) on the product information display unit 15 provided at the upper left end of the product sample mounting shelf 13a.

  As described above, when the second control unit 200 receives the control information from the first control unit 100, an association process between each product selection button 14 and each product information display unit 15 is performed based on the control information. Therefore, it is possible to automatically perform the association process between each product selection button 14 and each product information display unit 15.

  Depending on the function / performance of the product information display unit 15, the product information may not be displayed in the display mode specified by the instruction command. In this case, it is necessary to display the product information in a different display mode by changing the content of the instruction command. The operation when changing the contents of the instruction command will be described below with reference to the sequence diagram of FIG.

  When the first control unit 100 transmits the product information and the instruction command to the second control unit 200 (step S11) as in step S5 of FIG. 6, the second control unit 200 When the display unit 15 cannot display the product information in the display mode instructed by the instruction command, error information as a predetermined signal representing the disabled content is transmitted to the first control unit 100 ( Step S12).

  On the other hand, when receiving the error information, the first control unit 100 changes the content of the instruction command (step S13), and transmits the changed instruction command and the product information to the second control unit 200 (step S13). S14). The change of the content of the instruction command will be described. For example, when the first control unit 100 receives error information indicating that the display mode “price only flashes” cannot be handled, the display mode “price only flashes”. The content of the instruction command is changed by changing the display mode to “lit”. Further, when receiving the changed instruction command and the product information, the second control unit 200 displays the product information on the product information display unit 15 corresponding to the product in a display mode based on the instruction command. (Step S15).

  In this way, the display mode of the product information can be changed according to the function / performance of the product information display unit 15, so that the reliability of the vending machine can be improved and stable operation can be realized.

  As described above, according to the vending machine according to the present embodiment, each product selection button 14 and each product information display unit 15 can be automatically associated with each other. Even when the product information display unit 15 is controlled by the different control units 100 and 200, the process of associating each product selection button 14 with each product information display unit 15 can be easily performed. This eliminates the need for a device for performing the association process, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost of the vending machine.

  In addition, since the control information includes information in which the product information display units 15 corresponding to the product selection buttons 14 are arranged in a predetermined order, the association process of the second control unit 200 can be easily and reliably performed. Can be executed.

  Furthermore, since the second control unit 200 displays at least the price of the product C on the product information display unit 15 corresponding to the product C, it is possible to inform the user of the product price as product information. Can be improved.

  Furthermore, since the second control unit 200 displays at least the cold temperature state of the product C on the product information display unit 15 corresponding to the product C, the second control unit 200 notifies the user of the cold temperature state of the product C as the product information. It is possible to improve convenience.

  Further, the first control unit 100 transmits the product information of the product C corresponding to each product selection button 14 to the second control unit 200, and the second control unit 200 receives the information from the first control unit 100. When the transmitted product information is received, the product information of the product C is displayed on the product information display unit 15 corresponding to the product C, so that the first control unit 100, for example, the remaining number of the product C, etc. The product information appropriately changed according to the sales process can be notified to the user, and the convenience can be further improved.

  Furthermore, when the second control unit 200 receives the instruction command transmitted from the first control unit 100, the product information is displayed on the product information display unit 15 corresponding to the product C in a display mode based on the instruction command. When the first control unit 100 receives error information from the second control unit 200 at a predetermined timing, the first control unit 100 changes the content of the instruction command and transmits it to the second control unit 200. The display mode of the merchandise information can be changed according to the function / performance of the information display unit 15, so that the reliability of the vending machine can be improved and stable operation can be realized.

  In addition, the said embodiment is only a specific example of this invention, and this invention is not limited only to the said embodiment. For example, when the second control unit 200 transmits the control information stored in advance in the storage unit 210 to the first control unit 100, and the first control unit 100 receives the control information, the control information The product selection button 14 and the product information display unit 15 may be configured to be associated with each other. Here, the control information includes information in which each product selection button 14 corresponding to each product information display unit 15 is arranged in a predetermined order. Specifically, the configuration of “product selection button No.”, “product selection button presence / absence”, “product information display unit No.”, and “product selection button arrangement order” in FIG. "Product information display part presence / absence", "Product selection button No.", "Product information display part arrangement order".

  In this case, as in the above embodiment, the association process of the first control unit 100 can be executed easily and reliably.

  In the above embodiment, when the first control unit 100 receives the error information from the second control unit 200 after transmitting the product information and the instruction command, the first control unit 100 changes the content of the instruction command to the second control unit 200. The contents of the instruction command may be changed based on the device information received from the second control unit 200 after the power is turned on.

Claims (7)

A plurality of product selectors provided to correspond to each of a plurality of product samples;
A first control unit that is configured to be able to communicate with each product selection unit, and performs a sales process of the product when a product is selected using each product selection unit;
A plurality of product information display sections provided to correspond to each of the product samples,
It is possible to communicate with each product information display unit, and is provided separately and communicably with the first control unit, and includes a second control unit that controls each product information display unit,
One of the first and second control units has control information that allows the other control unit to execute a process of associating each product selection unit with each product information display unit. To the control section of
The other control unit, upon receiving the control information, performs an association process between each product selection unit and each product information display unit based on the control information. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the control information includes information in which product information display units corresponding to the product selection units are arranged in a predetermined order. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the control information includes information in which product selection units corresponding to the product information display units are arranged in a predetermined order. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the second control unit displays at least the price of the product on a product information display unit corresponding to the product. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the second control unit displays at least a cold / hot state of the product on a product information display unit corresponding to the product. The first control unit transmits product information of a product corresponding to each product selection unit to the second control unit,
The second control unit, when receiving the product information transmitted from the first control unit, displays the product information of the product on a product information display unit corresponding to the product. Vending machine. When the second control unit receives the predetermined instruction information transmitted from the first control unit, the product information is displayed on the product information display unit corresponding to the product in a display mode based on the instruction information.
The first control unit, when receiving a predetermined signal from the second control unit at a predetermined timing, changes the content of the instruction information and transmits it to the second control unit. Vending machine.

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