JP5499787B2 - vending machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vending machine that uses a solar cell to provide power for lighting.

  In recent years, vending machines have consumed a great deal of power to illuminate the display in order to improve brightness and cleanness in order to improve the image of products. In addition, vending machines themselves are becoming larger and more selective year by year, and the power used by vending machines increases. However, on the other hand, energy saving is screamed due to environmental problems and the like, and an energy saving vending machine that uses less power is required.

  In order to satisfy the above-described requirements, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, a vending machine is charged with a solar cell that converts light into electric power, and a storage battery that charges the electric power generated by the solar cell. There is a vending machine that saves energy by covering a part of the electric power used in the lighting device of the vending machine by the electric power charged in the storage battery.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-312198

  However, the conventional vending machine has a problem that the power of the storage battery is used up quickly when the power consumption of the lighting device is large.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and without immediately reducing the amount of charge of the storage battery or preventing the lighting means lit by the storage battery from immediately disappearing, without reducing the energy saving effect. An object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine capable of enhancing the effect of attracting customers.

In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, the vending machine of the present invention includes a solar panel that generates power by receiving sunlight, a storage battery that charges the power generated by the solar panel, and a charge that detects a charge amount of the storage battery. Amount detection means, illumination means for illuminating sample products in the product display section of the vending machine, illumination mode selection means for selecting the lighting control method of the illumination means, and the amount of charge when selecting the power supply method to the illumination means A power supply mode selection unit for lighting that sets whether to prioritize the lighting control state of the lighting unit selected by the lighting mode selection unit or to prioritize the state of charge of the storage battery detected by the detection unit, and power supply to the lighting unit the original and a power supply switching means for switching whether to set battery to the commercial power supply, a charge amount detecting means and the illumination mode selection means and lighting power supply mode selection means Based at power supply switching means is to switch the power supply to the illumination means in any of the commercial power supply or battery.

In the above configuration, based on the charge amount detection means, the illumination mode selection means, and the illumination power supply mode selection means , the supply power switching means switches the power supply source to the illumination means to a commercial power source or a storage battery. In addition, it is possible to prevent the storage battery from being depleted or the lighting means lit by the storage battery from immediately disappearing.

The vending machine of the present invention includes a solar panel that receives sunlight to generate power, a storage battery that charges the power generated by the solar panel, a charge amount detection means that detects a charge amount of the storage battery, and a vending machine product. Illumination means for illuminating sample products in the exhibition section, illumination mode selection means for selecting a lighting control method for the illumination means, and charge amount of the storage battery detected by the charge amount detection means when selecting a power supply method for the illumination means. A power supply mode selection unit for lighting that sets whether to prioritize the lighting control state of the lighting unit selected by the lighting mode selection unit and the power supply source to the lighting unit is a commercial power source or a storage battery and a power supply switching means for switching whether, based on the charge amount detecting means and the illumination mode selection means and lighting power supply mode selection means, in the supply power switching means, By switching the power supply source to the light source to either a commercial power source or a storage battery, it is possible to save energy by preventing the storage battery from being depleted immediately or the lighting means lit by the storage battery from immediately disappearing. The effect of attracting customers can be enhanced without reducing the effect.

The front view of the vending machine which shows embodiment of this invention Functional block diagram of the control device of the vending machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention The flowchart which shows operation | movement of the control apparatus of the vending machine of the embodiment

The invention according to claim 1 is a solar panel that receives sunlight to generate electric power, a storage battery that charges electric power generated by the solar panel, a charge amount detection means that detects a charge amount of the storage battery, and vending Illuminating means for illuminating sample products in the product display section of the machine, lighting mode selecting means for selecting a lighting control method for the lighting means, and detection by the charge amount detecting means when selecting a method for supplying power to the illuminating means A power supply mode selection unit for lighting that sets whether to prioritize the state of charge amount of the storage battery or to prioritize the lighting control state of the lighting unit selected by the lighting mode selection unit; and power supply to the lighting unit and a power supply switching means for switching whether to the storage battery or the original to a commercial power source, the lighting conductive and the charge amount detecting means and the illumination mode selection means Based on the supply mode selection means, in the supply power switching means, which switches the power supply to the illumination means in any of the commercial power supply or battery, or lost charge amount of the battery quickly, battery By preventing the illuminating means that is lit in immediately disappearing, the effect of attracting customers can be enhanced without reducing the energy saving effect.

The invention according to claim 2 is the setting condition of the illumination mode selection means in the invention according to claim 1, wherein the lighting power supply mode selection means prioritizes the state of charge of the storage battery. Regardless, if the charge amount detection means determines that the charge amount is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, the power of the storage battery is supplied to the illumination means, and if the charge amount is less than the predetermined value, the power from the commercial power source is illuminated. It is possible to prevent the lighting means from being cut off due to the battery being charged out. Further, if the determination value of the charge amount in the charge amount detection means is individually provided according to the setting condition of the illumination mode selection means, for example, when the illumination means is fully lit, the determination value is increased. When the lamp is not full, if the judgment value is lowered, the chance of using the storage battery is increased, and the energy saving effect can be further enhanced.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, when the lighting power supply mode selection means prioritizes the lighting control state of the lighting means, the charge amount of the storage battery is irrelevant. In addition, the power from the commercial power source is supplied to the lighting means when the lighting is all on, and the power of the storage battery is supplied to the lighting means when the lighting is not full. When the amount of power consumed by the lighting means is small, the life of the storage battery can be extended by using the storage battery.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention, a human body detection unit is provided that has a detection area around a sales corresponding surface of the vending machine main body, and the illumination unit is provided with the human body detection unit. When the power of the storage battery is supplied, when it is determined that there is no person in the human body detection means, the lighting means is turned off, and it is possible to prevent wasteful consumption of the storage battery when there is no person, The energy saving effect can be further enhanced.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the sale selection LED is provided in the product selection means of the vending machine, and the illumination mode selection means When the means is set for illumination control, when the charge amount detection means determines that the charge amount of the storage battery is low, the illumination means is turned off and the saleable determination LED is turned on. Thus, the illumination control is performed, and the energy saving effect can be enhanced without impairing the effect of attracting customers.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a front view of a vending machine showing Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the control device for the vending machine according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment.

  1 and 2, the solar panel 1 is held in a state where it is positioned on the top surface of the vending machine main body 2, and receives sunlight to generate power. In order to increase the power generation efficiency, it is desirable to arrange the solar panel 1 (front side of the vending machine 2) facing south. A merchandise display section 4 for displaying the merchandise sold is arranged at the upper part of the vending machine 2, and illumination means 5 for individually illuminating each sample product is arranged on the back of the merchandise display section 4.

  The illumination means 5 is, for example, a light emitting diode (LED) or the like that can emit a single color or a plurality of colors. The illumination means 5 of the same color is arranged or the illumination means 5 of different colors is emitted. Are arranged alternately, or lighting means 5 capable of emitting a plurality of colors are arranged, such as continuous lighting, blinking, sequential lighting, random lighting for lighting in random order, light emission color sequentially changing lighting, light emission color random lighting, etc. Lighting control (illumination control) can be performed.

  The sample product arranged in the product display unit 4 is translucent to illumination light from the back side, the upper side, or the lower side.

  Product selection means 6 is arranged below each sample product in the product display section 4. Below the product display section 4, an advertisement panel room 7 for displaying product image advertisements, a money insertion slot 8, a change return slot 9, a price display means 10, and a product takeout slot 11 are provided.

  The electric power generated by the solar panel 1 is charged in the storage battery 3. The amount of power charged in the storage battery 3 can be detected by the charge amount detection means 12.

  The lighting mode selection unit 13 can select a lighting control method for the lighting unit 5 such as whether the lighting unit 5 is continuously lit (all lights), sequentially lit, or randomly lit. The illumination DC power supply 14 converts the commercial power supply into a direct current and supplies power to the illumination means 5.

  When the lighting power supply mode selection means 15 selects whether to supply the power of 14 from the DC power supply for illumination or the power charged in the storage battery 3 as the power supply method to the illumination means 5, Whether to give priority to the status of the storage battery 3 or to give priority to the lighting control state of the illumination means 5 is set.

  The supply power switching means 16 supplies power from the storage battery 3 or the DC power supply for illumination 14 to the illumination means 5. The control device 17a is connected to the illumination means 5, the product selection means 6, the amount display means 10, the charge amount detection means 12, the illumination mode selection means 13, the illumination power supply mode selection means 15, and the supply power switching means 16. .

The operation of the control device of the vending machine configured as described above will be described below with reference to FIG.

  The lighting mode selection means 13 sets in advance whether the lighting control method of the lighting means 5 is to be continuously turned on (all lamps), sequentially turned on, or randomly turned on. In addition, the lighting power supply mode selection means 15 sets whether to prioritize the charging state of the storage battery 3 or the lighting control state of the lighting means 5 to select the power supply method to the lighting means 5. Keep it.

  In the standby state, the control device 17a determines whether to turn on the illumination means 5 (STEP 1). In STEP 1, if the surroundings are bright in the daytime or if the lighting means 5 is turned off due to the timer function, the lighting means 5 is turned off (STEP 2). If the lighting unit 5 is turned on in STEP 1, the process proceeds to STEP 3 to determine whether the setting of the lighting power supply mode selection unit 15 prioritizes the charging state of the storage battery 3 or whether the lighting unit 5 is in the lighting control state. Determine if it is prioritized. When the lighting power supply mode selection means 15 gives priority to the charging status of the storage battery 3, the process proceeds to STEP 4 where the charge amount of the storage battery 3 charged with the power generated by the solar panel 1 is determined as the charge amount detection means 12. Judgment. When the charge amount detection means 12 determines that the charge amount of the storage battery 3 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the supply power switching means 16 is controlled to supply the power of the storage battery 3 to the illumination means 5 and turn on the illumination means. . In STEP 4, when the charge amount detection means 12 determines that the charge amount of the storage battery 3 is less than a predetermined value, the power supply switching means 16 is controlled, and the power of the DC power supply for illumination 14 obtained by converting the commercial power supply to DC is obtained. Supplied to the illumination means 5 and the illumination means is turned on.

  If the setting of the lighting power supply mode selection means 15 gives priority to the lighting control status of the lighting means 5 in STEP 3, the process proceeds to STEP 7 and the lighting mode selection means 13 determines which lighting control method for the lighting means 5 is selected. Judge whether it is set like this. When the lighting control method of the illumination means 5 is set to the all-lamp (continuous lighting) mode, the process proceeds to STEP 8 where the power supply switching means 16 is controlled and the power of the DC power supply for illumination 14 obtained by converting the commercial power supply to DC is supplied. Then, the illumination means 5 is supplied to turn on the illumination means. In STEP7, when the lighting mode selection means 13 sets the lighting control method of the lighting means 5 to a mode other than the all-lamp mode, the process proceeds to STEP9, the supply power switching means 16 is controlled, and the power of the storage battery 3 is changed. Supplied to the illumination means 5 and the illumination means is turned on.

  Next, the operation when the human body detection means 18 is arranged on the front surface of the vending machine will be described. The human body detection means 18 is composed of, for example, an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a photoelectric switch, an optical sensor, and the like, and detects a human body entering the detection area with the front of the sales corresponding surface of the vending machine 2 as a detection area. To do.

  In FIG. 3, when the power of the storage battery 3 is supplied to the illumination means 5 (STEP 5 or STEP 9), when the human body detection means 18 determines that there is no person around the vending machine 2, the illumination means 5 is turned off.

As described above, according to the control device of the vending machine of the present embodiment, the solar panel 1 that generates power by receiving sunlight, the storage battery 3 that charges the power generated by the solar panel 1, and the charging of the storage battery 3 Charge amount detection means 12 for detecting the amount, illumination means 5 for illuminating a sample product in the product display section 4 of the vending machine 2, and an illumination power supply mode selection means 15 capable of selecting a power supply method to the illumination means 5. The lighting mode selection means 13 that can select the lighting control method of the lighting means 5, and the supply power switching means 16 that switches whether the power supply source to the lighting means 5 is the DC power supply 14 for illumination or the storage battery 3. Based on the charge amount detection means 12, the illumination power supply mode selection means 15, and the illumination mode selection means 13, the supply power switching means 16 stores the power supply source to the illumination means 5 from the illumination DC power supply 14. By switching to one of the ponds 3, the amount of charge of the storage battery 3 is immediately lost, or the lighting means 5 lit by the storage battery 3 is prevented from immediately disappearing, without reducing the energy saving effect, The effect of attracting customers can be enhanced.

  In addition, when the power of the storage battery 3 is supplied to the illumination means 5 and the human body detection means 18 determines that there is no person, the illumination means 5 is turned off so that the storage battery 3 is wasted when it is unmanned. Consumption can be prevented and the energy saving effect can be further enhanced.

  In this embodiment, the determination by the lighting mode selection means is classified according to whether all the lights are used or not. However, it is classified according to other lighting control conditions such as the number of lighting means to be lit, intermittent control time intervals, and the like. May be.

  Further, the determination value of the charge amount of the storage battery 3 determined by the charge amount detection means 12 is not a constant value, and the determination value may be changed for each power consumption amount of the illumination means or for each lighting control method.

  As described above, the vending machine according to the present invention uses the electric power generated by the solar panel for the lighting means via the storage battery, and switches the power supply source to the lighting means to the commercial power source or the storage battery. Thus, the effect of attracting customers can be enhanced without degrading the energy saving effect, and therefore, it can be applied to any vending equipment that uses the electric power generated by the solar panel as the illumination means via the storage battery.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Solar panel 3 Storage battery 5 Illumination means 6 Goods selection means 12 Charge amount detection means 13 Illumination mode selection means 15 Illumination power supply mode selection means 16 Supply power switching means 17a Control device 18 Human body detection means

Claims (5)

A solar panel that generates power by receiving sunlight, a storage battery that charges the power generated by the solar panel, a charge amount detection means that detects the amount of charge of the storage battery, and a sample product in the product display section of the vending machine Illuminating illumination means, illumination mode selection means capable of selecting a lighting control method of the illumination means, and the state of charge amount of the storage battery detected by the charge amount detection means when selecting a power supply method to the illumination means. A power supply mode selection unit for lighting that sets whether priority is given to the lighting control state of the lighting unit selected by the lighting mode selection unit, and whether the power supply source to the lighting unit is a commercial power source or the storage battery It includes whether the power supply switching means for switching to, and said charge amount detecting means and the illumination mode selection means and the lighting power supply mode selection means The vending machine, characterized in that switching in the power supply switching means, the power supply to the illumination means in any of the commercial power supply or battery. When giving priority to the state of charge of the storage battery in the lighting power supply mode selection means, the charge amount detection means determines that the charge amount is equal to or greater than a predetermined value regardless of the setting conditions of the illumination mode selection means. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the power of the storage battery is supplied to the lighting means, and if the amount of charge is less than a predetermined value, the power from the commercial power source is supplied to the lighting means. In the lighting power supply mode selection means, when priority is given to the lighting control state of the lighting means, the power from the commercial power source is supplied to the lighting means regardless of the amount of charge of the storage battery. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein when not all lights are supplied, the power of the storage battery is supplied to the lighting means. When human body detection means having a detection area around the sales corresponding surface of the vending machine main body is provided and the power of the storage battery is supplied to the illumination means, the human body detection means determines that there is no person The vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the lighting means is turned off. When the product selection means of the vending machine is provided with a saleable discrimination LED, and the illumination mode selection means is set to control the illumination means, the charge amount detection means charges the storage battery. The vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein when it is determined that the amount is small, the illumination unit is turned off and illumination control is performed by the saleable determination LED. Machine.

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