JP6197528B2 - vending machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vending machine that prepares and sells beverages using hot water supplied from a hot water tank.

  For example, a cup-type vending machine that sells coffee beverages includes a hot water tank that heats and stores the water stored inside by a heating means such as a heater, and the hot water stored in the hot water tank is a brewer or cup. A configuration in which a selected beverage is prepared and sold by supplying to a mixing bowl is generally used (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  The hot water tank provided in this type of vending machine is required to have energy saving and continuous hot water sales capability. For example, some of the current general vending machines use a large-capacity hot water tank that can store hot water for about 30 cups with a focus on continuous sales capability. In this configuration, since a large amount of electric power is consumed to keep a large amount of hot water stored, it is difficult to achieve significant energy savings, and high heat insulation of hot water tanks has been promoted, but it is not sufficient. Therefore, in recent years, a configuration using a hot water tank with a small capacity of several cups has been proposed with an emphasis on energy saving, but the amount of hot water in the hot water tank and the hot water temperature are likely to decrease, and continuous sales capacity is improved. There is a limit.

JP 2012-63923 A

  By the way, in a general vending machine, for example, the required time from the previous sale to the current sale requires about 60 seconds, and after actually accepting the deposit operation and the beverage selection operation, the beverage It takes about 50 seconds to complete sales. Therefore, when trying to save energy by reducing the capacity of the hot water tank, or if the hot water in the hot water tank is used up even if it is a large capacity hot water tank, the previous sales to the current sales. For about 10 seconds, the hot water temperature in the hot water tank is in a low temperature state. For this reason, the conventional vending machine displays the sold-out display for about 10 seconds, cancels the receipt operation of the deposit operation and the beverage selection operation, and lost the sales opportunity during this period.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described problems of the prior art, and an object thereof is to provide a vending machine that can avoid loss of sales opportunities as much as possible.

A vending machine according to the present invention includes a hot water tank having a heating means for heating stored hot water, and uses the hot water supplied from the hot water tank to prepare a beverage and sell it in a cup. The hot water temperature in the hot water tank includes control means for controlling to maintain the acceptance state of the depositing operation and the beverage selecting operation in any case where the hot water temperature is higher than the salable temperature and lower than the salable temperature. When the control means receives the depositing operation and the beverage selecting operation, and the hot water temperature in the hot water tank is equal to or higher than the saleable temperature, the control unit prepares the cup and the beverage raw material, and in the cup On the other hand, when the hot water temperature in the hot water tank is less than the saleable temperature, the hot water operation in which the hot water in the hot water tank is supplied and the sales operation to prepare and sell the beverage is started . The hot water supply operation And starts the sales operation have, for the hot water supply operation is characterized by real Hodokosuru after hot water temperature in the hot water tank is a salable temperature or higher by the heating means. Further, the vending machine according to the present invention comprises a hot water tank having a heating means for heating the stored hot water, and uses the hot water supplied from the hot water tank to prepare a beverage and sell it in a cup. A vending machine comprising control means for controlling the receipt operation of the depositing operation and the beverage selection operation in any case where the temperature of the hot water in the hot water tank is not less than the salable temperature and less than the salable temperature. The control means, when accepting a deposit operation and a beverage selection operation, when the hot water temperature in the hot water tank is equal to or higher than a sellable temperature, the preparatory operation for preparing the cup and the beverage ingredients and the When the hot water supply operation of supplying the hot water in the hot water tank into the cup is started and the sales operation of preparing and selling the beverage is started, while the hot water temperature in the hot water tank is less than the salable temperature Said heating Which comprises carrying out the sales operation after hot water temperature in the hot water tank is a salable temperature or higher by the step.

  According to such a configuration, when the hot water temperature in the hot water tank is higher than the salable temperature and lower than the salable temperature, the deposit operation and the beverage selection operation are accepted. It is possible to avoid as much as possible the loss of sales opportunities that occurred during the time when the display was sold out, and it is possible to improve both the convenience of the purchaser and the sales / profit of the business.

The preparation operation is carried out operation of the mosquito-up, the discharge operation of powder material to be used in a beverage, grinding operation of the solid material used in the beverage, and, among the moving operation of the cooking position of the cup, any one or All operations may be included.

  In addition, it is provided with a display device capable of displaying a sold-out state of the beverage, and the control means heats the hot water temperature in the hot water tank to a temperature higher than the salesable temperature when the hot water temperature in the hot water tank is lower than the available temperature. When it is determined that a predetermined time or more is required, at least the sold-out state of the beverage using hot water is displayed on the display device, and at least the reception state of the beverage selection operation for the beverage displaying the sold-out state is displayed. It is good also as a structure to cancel | release. Then, it can avoid giving an excessive waiting time to a purchaser.

  In this case, the display device can appropriately notify the purchaser of the time required until the start of sales if the display can display the waiting time until the start of sales together with the display of the sold-out state. Loss can be minimized.

  The control means, after accepting the deposit operation and the beverage selection operation when the hot water temperature in the hot water tank is lower than the salable temperature, makes the hot water temperature in the hot water tank equal to or higher than the salable temperature within a predetermined time. If it is not possible, it may be determined as abnormal and a refund operation and a return operation may be performed. Thereby, it can avoid giving an excessive waiting time to a purchaser.

  When a depositing operation and a beverage selection operation are accepted, a countdown display device that counts down the waiting time until the beverage is provided is provided, and the control means is configured so that the hot water temperature in the hot water tank is lower than a sellable temperature. When it is determined that it is necessary to extend the waiting time until the beverage is provided after accepting the deposit operation and the beverage selection operation, the purchase is performed by correcting the countdown display of the countdown display device or hiding the countdown display. It is possible to notify the person of the waiting time until the beverage is actually provided, and to prevent the waiting time from being erroneously notified.

  According to the present invention, since the deposit operation and the beverage selection operation are accepted when the hot water temperature in the hot water tank is higher than the salable temperature and lower than the salable temperature, it is conventionally sold out when the hot water temperature in the hot water tank decreases. Loss of sales opportunities that occurred during the displayed time can be avoided as much as possible, and both the convenience of the purchaser and the sales and profits of the business can be improved.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual configuration diagram of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system of the vending machine shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a time chart showing a first control method in the vending machine. FIG. 4 is a time chart showing a second control method in the vending machine.

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

  FIG. 1 is a conceptual configuration diagram of a vending machine 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The vending machine 10 is a cup-type beverage supply device that mixes and sells beverages such as coffee, and may be a beverage dispenser or the like. Here, “sales” includes both paid and free.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the vending machine 10 includes a water tank 12, a hot water tank 14, a coffee bean canister 16, a powder raw material canister 18, a cup mechanism 20, a cup moving mechanism 22, and a product outlet 24. With.

  The water tank 12 is a reservoir that stores water from the water pipe. The water stored in the water tank 12 is supplied to the hot water tank 14 through the water valve 28 by the water pump 26. The hot water tank 14 stores the water supplied from the water tank 12 heated to a desired temperature, for example, 94 to 97 ° C., by a heater (heating means) 52 provided therein. The hot water stored in the hot water tank 14 is maintained at a desired temperature by the heater 52, and at the time of beverage preparation, a fixed amount, for example, 150 ml is taken out via the hot water supply valves 32a and 32b and supplied to the beverage preparation step. The hot water tank 14 is configured to be capable of storing about 500 ml to 10 L of hot water according to the specifications of the vending machine 10, for example.

  In the vending machine 10 according to the present embodiment, regular coffee drinks that extract coffee from roasted coffee beans and instant coffee drinks that use powdered coffee ingredients can be prepared and sold as coffee drinks.

  In the regular coffee beverage sales operation, when a sales signal is received, the cup 34 is unloaded from the cup mechanism 20, and the unloaded cup 34 is moved to a cooking position downstream of the powder raw material canister 18 by the cup moving mechanism 22 as necessary. Moved. The cup 34 moved to the cooking position is charged with powder raw materials such as a fixed amount of cream 18b and sugar 18c from the powder raw material canister 18. On the other hand, coffee beans are fed from the coffee bean canister 16 to the mill 36, and coffee beans ground by the mill 36 are put into a brewer 38 in an appropriate amount. Hot water is supplied to the brewer 38 from the hot water tank 14 via the hot water supply valve 32a, and regular coffee drinks are extracted. The extracted regular coffee drink is poured into the cup 34 that has been moved to the cooking position downstream of the brewer 38 by the cup moving mechanism 22. The cup 34 into which the regular coffee beverage has been poured is transported to the product outlet 24 which is the next cooking position by the cup moving mechanism 22. And the desired regular coffee drink is prepared by stirring and mixing the cup 34 conveyed to the merchandise outlet 24 by the stirring means which is not shown in figure, and this coffee drink is provided to a purchaser.

  On the other hand, in the instant coffee beverage sales operation, when a sales signal is received, the cup 34 is unloaded from the cup mechanism 20, and the unloaded cup 34 is moved to the cooking position downstream of the powder raw material canister 18 by the cup moving mechanism 22. The The cup 34 moved to this cooking position is charged with powdered raw materials such as a fixed amount of coffee 18a, cream 18b and sugar 18c from the powder raw material canister 18. The cup 34 into which the powder raw material has been charged is conveyed by the cup moving mechanism 22 to the product outlet 24 serving as the next cooking position. Hot water is supplied from the hot water tank 14 through the hot water supply valve 32b to the cup 34 transported to the product outlet 24, and a desired instant coffee drink is prepared by stirring and mixing with a stirring means (not shown). A coffee drink is provided to the purchaser.

  As described above, FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration in which the cup 34 into which coffee, cream, sugar or the like is charged is moved to the product outlet 24 by the cup moving mechanism 22 and the beverage is finally cooked by the stirring means. doing. Of course, using a mixing bowl (not shown), coffee, cream, sugar, etc. are stirred and mixed in this mixing bowl to prepare a desired beverage, and this beverage is poured into the cup 34 conveyed to the product outlet 24. It may be a configuration or the like.

  Although not shown in FIG. 1, the vending machine 10 includes a carbonator, an ice making machine, and a syrup for juice drinks for the production and sale of carbonated drinks in addition to the configuration required for the production and sale of coffee drinks. Various configurations such as a stock solution tank storing raw materials can also be provided.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system of the vending machine 10 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the vending machine 10 includes a control device (control means) 40 that comprehensively drives and controls the vending machine 10. The control device 40 includes a sales control unit 40a, a hot water tank control unit 40b, and a storage unit 40c. Connected to the control device 40 are an input device (input means) 42 including a keyboard and numeric keypads, and a display device 44 including a liquid crystal display.

  When the sales control unit 40a receives the money insertion signal from the money insertion slot 46 having the bill insertion slot and the coin insertion slot and also receives the sales signal which is the product selection signal from the beverage selection button 48, the powder raw material canister 18, the coffee bean canister 16, the brewer 38, the hot water supply valves 32a and 32b, the cup mechanism 20, the cup moving mechanism 22 and the like are driven and controlled to control the blending and sales of beverages.

  The hot water tank control unit 40b drives and controls the heater 52 installed in the hot water tank 14 based on the hot water temperature (hot water tank temperature) measured by the temperature sensor 50 installed in the hot water tank 14. The inside is heated and maintained at a desired hot water temperature. Further, the hot water tank control unit 40b controls the water pump 26 and the water valve 28 based on the amount of hot water (the water level of the hot water) measured by the water level sensor 54 installed in the hot water tank 14 to control the inside of the hot water tank 14. Control to maintain a desired amount of hot water is also performed. As shown in FIG. 1, in the present embodiment, a hot water tank 14 having an instantaneous heating structure using a heater 52 is employed, and a block-shaped heat storage body 56 formed of aluminum or the like is immersed in the hot water tank 14. This makes it possible to further increase the boiling rate of the hot water tank 14 by the heat capacity of the heat storage body 56. The heat storage body 56 may not be provided.

  The storage unit 40c is a memory that stores various data such as a control temperature and a control water level in the hot water tank 14, and also stores various control programs (for example, a first or second control method described later) by the control device 40. doing.

  The input device 42 is an input means for inputting various setting changes and setting data. The display device 44 includes a sold-out lamp that displays a sold-out display of a predetermined beverage, a count-down display (count-down display device) that counts down the time required to complete cooking of the beverage, and the like.

  Next, the sales operation in the vending machine 10 configured as described above will be described with reference to the time chart shown in FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a time chart showing a first control method in the vending machine 10. In FIG. 3, “deposit / selection acceptance state” indicates whether or not the deposit operation to the money insertion slot 46 and the beverage selection operation by the beverage selection button 48 are in the acceptance state. The reception state is indicated, and “OFF” indicates a non-reception state. “Sales operation” indicates the blending / sales operation of the regular coffee beverage or instant coffee beverage described above, “ON” indicates that the operation is in progress, and “OFF” indicates that the operation is not in progress. The “hot water supply operation” indicates only the hot water supply operation (hot water supply operation) from the hot water tank 14 in the above sales operation, “ON” indicates that the operation is in progress, and “OFF” indicates that the operation is not performed. Shown inside. “Water supply operation” indicates a water supply operation (water supply operation) from the water tank 12 to the hot water tank 14, “ON” indicates that it is in operation, and “OFF” indicates that it is not in operation. The “hot water tank temperature” indicates the hot water temperature in the hot water tank 14 measured by the temperature sensor 50, “high” indicates a state that is equal to or higher than the beverage sales possible temperature, and “low” indicates the beverage sales. Indicates that the temperature is below the allowable temperature. The sales possible temperature of the beverage is, for example, a temperature stipulated by laws and regulations, which is 85 ° C. or higher for regular coffee beverages, 63 ° C. or higher for instant coffee beverages, and is actually set to 90 ° C. or higher, for example.

  FIG. 3 shows that the previous sales operation is completed in 50 seconds from time t1 to time t4 and the desired beverage is provided to the previous purchaser. Subsequently, the current deposit operation and beverage at time t5 after 10 seconds. The case where the selection operation is received and the current sales operation is completed in 50 seconds from time t5 to time t9 and the desired beverage is provided to the current purchaser is illustrated.

  In other words, it is assumed that the previous sale is accepted at time t1 in a state where the deposit / selection is accepted before time t1 and the hot water tank temperature is equal to or higher than the salable temperature. Then, under the control of the control device 40, the previous selling operation is started from the time t1, and the cup mechanism 20 is carried out by the cup mechanism 20, the cup moving mechanism 22 is moved to the cooking position, and used for beverages. The discharging operation of the powdered beverage from the powder raw material canister 18, the crushing operation of the coffee bean mill 36 used for the beverage, etc. are started as necessary. During the sales operation, the deposit / selection acceptance state becomes the non-acceptance state.

  During this sales operation, the hot water supply valves 32a and 32b are appropriately driven at time t2 when the hot water needs to be used, and the hot water supply operation is performed. When the water level of the hot water tank 14 decreases due to the hot water supply operation being performed, the water pump 26 and the water valve 28 are appropriately driven to supply water into the hot water tank 14, so that the hot water tank temperature is less than the salable temperature. (Time t3). Therefore, at time t3, the hot water tank control unit 40b energizes the heater 52 and starts heating the hot water in the hot water tank 14. By this heating, the hot water tank temperature becomes equal to or higher than the salable temperature at time t6. Although depending on the specifications of the heater 52 and the hot water tank 14, for example, the boiling time between time t3 and time t6 requires about 30 to 50 seconds.

  When the previous sales operation is completed (time t4), the blended beverage is provided to the purchaser from the merchandise outlet 24, and from this time t4, the deposit / selection acceptance state for the current sale is entered. In the conventional general vending machine, the time from the time t4 to the time t6 when the hot water tank temperature recovers to or higher than the saleable temperature (about 15 seconds in FIG. 3), the deposit / selection acceptance state is set to the non-acceptance state. The display was sold out, and sales opportunities were lost during this period. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the payment / selection reception state is set to the reception state during this period, and loss of sales opportunities can be avoided.

  That is, if the current purchase is received from the current purchaser at time t5, which is 10 seconds after time t4, the hot water tank temperature is less than the saleable temperature at time t5 at the time of reception. Therefore, the control device 40 starts the current sales operation from time t5, carries out the operation of unloading the cup 34, the operation of moving the cup 34 to the cooking position, the operation of discharging the powdered beverage from the powder raw material canister 18, and the coffee bean mill. A sales operation that does not use hot water, such as a crushing operation at 36, is started in advance.

  When the hot water tank temperature recovers to a temperature higher than the salesable temperature at time t6 during the operation preceding the hot water supply operation (preceding operation), the hot water supply valves 32a and 32b are used at time t7 when the hot water needs to be used. Is appropriately driven to perform the hot water supply operation. Thereafter, as in the previous sale described above, when the water level in the hot water tank 14 decreases, the water pump 26 and the water valve 28 are appropriately driven to supply water into the hot water tank 14 (time t8). The hot water tank temperature is below the salable temperature. Therefore, at time t8, the hot water tank control unit 40b energizes the heater 52 and starts heating the hot water in the hot water tank 14.

  When the current sales operation is completed (time t9), the blended beverage is provided to the purchaser from the product outlet 24, and from this time t9, it becomes a deposit / selection acceptance state for the next sale.

  Next, another form of sales operation in the vending machine 10 will be described with reference to a time chart shown in FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a time chart showing a second control method in the vending machine 10. In the above-described first control method shown in FIG. 3, when the current sale is accepted (time t5 in FIG. 3), the sales operation is started without waiting for the recovery of the hot water tank temperature (time t6 in FIG. 3). (Time t5 in FIG. 3). On the other hand, in the second control method, the current deposit / selection acceptance state is set to the acceptance state immediately after the completion of the previous sale (time t4 in FIG. 4). It is assumed that the recovery is performed (time t6a in FIG. 4).

  That is, as shown in FIG. 4, when the previous sales operation is completed (time t4), the prepared beverage is provided to the purchaser from the product outlet 24, and from this time t4, the deposit / The selection is accepted. If the current purchase is received from the current purchaser at time t5, which is 10 seconds after time t4, the hot water tank temperature is less than the saleable temperature at time t5 at the time of reception.

  Therefore, the control device 40 waits for the hot water tank temperature to recover to a temperature that can be sold or more, and when the hot water tank temperature recovers at time t6, the control device 40 starts this sales operation immediately after time t6a, Time t7 when the carry-out operation, the movement operation of the cup 34 to the cooking position, the discharge operation of the powdered beverage from the powder raw material canister 18, the crushing operation in the coffee bean mill 36, etc., and the use of hot water are necessary Then, the hot water supply valves 32a and 32b are appropriately driven to perform the hot water supply operation.

  When the current sales operation is completed (time t9), the blended beverage is provided to the purchaser from the product outlet 24, and from this time t9, it becomes a deposit / selection acceptance state for the next sale.

  As described above, in the vending machine 10 according to the present embodiment, the control device 40 allows the hot water temperature in the hot water tank 14 (hot water tank temperature) to be higher than the sales possible temperature and lower than the sales possible temperature. Control is performed so as to maintain the accepting state of the depositing operation and the beverage selection operation (before time t1 in FIGS. 3 and 4 and times t4 and t9 in FIGS. 3 and 4). When the controller 40 accepts the depositing operation and the beverage selecting operation, the controller 40 starts the selling operation when the hot water temperature in the hot water tank 14 is equal to or higher than the salable temperature (time in FIGS. 3 and 4). t1) When the hot water temperature in the hot water tank 14 is lower than the salable temperature, after the hot water temperature in the hot water tank 14 becomes higher than the salable temperature by the heater 52, the hot water supply operation from the hot water tank 14 is performed. (Time t7 in FIGS. 3 and 4).

  As described above, the vending machine 10 accepts the depositing operation and the beverage selection operation without displaying the sold-out display on the display device 44 regardless of the state of the hot water temperature in the hot water tank 14 at normal times. It is possible to avoid as much as possible the loss of sales opportunities that occurred during the time that was sold out when the hot water temperature in the tank 14 decreased. Both the convenience of the purchaser and the sales / profit of the operator Can be improved. Particularly, in recent years, the hot water tank 14 has been reduced in capacity to save energy, and instantaneous heating is also performed by the heater 52 and the heat storage body 56, so that the recovery of the hot water temperature in the hot water tank 14 is several seconds to several tens. It is possible in seconds. Therefore, the loss of sales opportunities can be reduced as much as possible by accepting the deposit operation and the beverage selection operation for several seconds to several tens of seconds required for recovery of the hot water temperature. In addition, the purchaser usually sets a beverage selection time to consider which beverage to buy after the previous purchaser receives the beverage, a money preparation time to prepare or throw in money, and a beverage selection button 48. The selection operation time to press, the condition setting time to select the increase / decrease of the strength of the coffee drink and the cream / sugar, etc. are consumed. Therefore, there is a time that can be effectively used before the vending machine 10 actually starts the sales operation (for example, between time t4 and time t5 in FIGS. 3 and 4). Accordingly, since the boiling of water by the heater 52 is continued during this time, even if the deposit operation and the beverage selection operation are accepted when the hot water temperature in the hot water tank 14 is low, the purchaser actually receives the beverage. The waiting time is almost never getting worse.

  In this case, in the first control method shown in FIG. 3, when the depositing operation and the beverage selecting operation are received (time t5 in FIG. 3), the controller 40 causes the hot water temperature in the hot water tank 14 to be less than the salesable temperature. In this case, the sales operation is started (time t5 in FIG. 3), and the hot water supply operation is performed after the hot water temperature in the hot water tank 14 becomes equal to or higher than the saleable temperature (time t6, t7 in FIG. 3). . In particular, since the preceding operation without using hot water is performed before the hot water supply operation is started, even when sales are accepted in a state where the hot water temperature in the hot water tank 14 is lower than the sales possible temperature. , The waiting time between the purchaser selecting the beverage and actually receiving it is not increased.

  On the other hand, in the second control method shown in FIG. 4, when the control device 40 receives the depositing operation and the beverage selecting operation (time t5 in FIG. 4), the hot water temperature in the hot water tank 14 is less than the salable temperature. In some cases, the selling operation is started (time t6a in FIG. 4) after the heater 52 causes the hot water temperature in the hot water tank 14 to be equal to or higher than the salable temperature (time t6 in FIG. 4). In this case, since the selling operation is performed after the recovery of the hot water temperature, there is a possibility that the selling time may be longer than that of the first control method. Since the kettle can be advanced during time or the like, the waiting time from when the purchaser selects a beverage to when it is actually received hardly increases. Moreover, in this second control method, although the deposit operation and the beverage selection operation are accepted, the sales operation is started after waiting for the recovery of the hot water temperature in the hot water tank 14, so that the control program becomes relatively simple. For this reason, there is an advantage that it can be easily applied to a conventional vending machine already installed in the market only by a simple program rewriting process.

  In the first and second control methods by the vending machine 10 described above, the control device 40 causes the hot water temperature in the hot water tank 14 to be lower than the salable temperature, and the hot water temperature in the hot water tank 14 to be higher than the salable temperature. When it is determined that it takes a predetermined time or more to heat, the display device 44 displays at least the sold-out state of the beverage using hot water, and accepts the beverage selection operation for the beverage displaying at least the sold-out state You may make it cancel a state. In other words, the vending machine 10 constantly monitors the hot water temperature in the hot water tank 14 by the temperature sensor 50, and depending on the hot water temperature state, even if the beverage selection button 48 is pressed at that moment, the hot water temperature in the hot water tank 14 is maintained. The controller 40 may determine that it takes a predetermined time (for example, 10 seconds) or more to recover the hot water temperature. In this case, since it is considered that the provision of the actual beverage may be greatly delayed, it is possible to avoid selling the display device 44 with a sold-out display and giving the purchaser an excessive waiting time. Good. For example, whether or not the hot water temperature is required for a predetermined time or longer is determined by previously storing experimental data (temperature rise curve) obtained by measuring a time change of the hot water temperature rise by the heater 52 in the hot water tank 14 in the storage unit 40c. It is done by comparing the current hot water temperature with this experimental data.

  At this time, the display device 44 may display a waiting time until the sales start together with the display of the sold out state. As a result, the purchaser can be appropriately notified of the time required to start sales, so that the loss of sales opportunities can be minimized. Note that the standby time until the start of sales is the expected time required to heat the hot water temperature in the hot water tank 14 to a temperature higher than the sales possible temperature, or the time from the start of the preceding operation to the start of the hot water supply operation (for example, The time obtained by subtracting (between times t5 and t6 in FIG. 3) from the predicted time may be used.

  In the first and second control methods by the vending machine 10 described above, the control device 40 receives the deposit operation and the beverage selection operation when the hot water temperature in the hot water tank 14 is lower than the salable temperature, When the hot water temperature in the tank 14 cannot be increased to a temperature that can be sold within a predetermined time, for example, when a failure of the heater 52 or a large error in the measurement of the hot water temperature recovery time of the control program occurs. Therefore, it may be determined that there is an abnormality, and a return operation such as a refund operation and disposal of the cup 34 may be performed. Thereby, it can avoid giving an excessive waiting time to a purchaser.

  In the first and second control methods by the vending machine 10 described above, when a deposit operation and a beverage selection operation are accepted, the display device 44 counts down the waiting time until the beverage is provided, and the control device 40 When the hot water temperature in the hot water tank 14 is lower than the salable temperature, the display device 44 counts down when it is determined that it is necessary to extend the waiting time until the beverage is provided after accepting the deposit operation and the beverage selection operation. The display may be corrected or not displayed. Thereby, it is possible to notify the purchaser of the waiting time until the beverage is actually provided, and to prevent erroneous notification of the waiting time.

  It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that the present invention can be freely changed without departing from the gist of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Vending machine 12 Water tank 14 Hot water tank 16 Coffee bean canister 18 Powder raw material canister 20 Cup mechanism 22 Cup movement mechanism 24 Product outlet 26 Water pump 28 Water valve 32a, 32b Hot water supply valve 34 Cup 36 Mil 38 Brewer 40 Control device 40a Sales control unit 40b Hot water tank control unit 40c Storage unit 42 Input device 44 Display device 46 Money slot 48 Beverage selection button 50 Temperature sensor 52 Heater 54 Water level sensor 56 Heat storage body

Claims (7)

A vending machine comprising a hot water tank having heating means for heating the stored hot water, and using the hot water supplied from the hot water tank to prepare a beverage and put it in a cup for sale.
In any case where the hot water temperature in the hot water tank is not less than the salable temperature and less than the salable temperature, a control means is provided for controlling to maintain the acceptance state of the deposit operation and the beverage selection operation,
When the control means receives a depositing operation and a beverage selecting operation, and the hot water temperature in the hot water tank is equal to or higher than a sellable temperature, the control unit prepares the cup and the beverage ingredients and the cup When the hot water supply operation of supplying the hot water in the hot water tank is started, the sales operation of preparing and selling the beverage is started, while the hot water temperature in the hot water tank is less than the salable temperature automatic wherein with starting the sale operations except hot water supply operation, for said hot water supply operation, wherein the real Hodokosuru after hot water temperature in the hot water tank is a salable temperature or higher by the heating means Vending machine. A vending machine comprising a hot water tank having heating means for heating the stored hot water, and using the hot water supplied from the hot water tank to prepare a beverage and put it in a cup for sale.
In any case where the hot water temperature in the hot water tank is not less than the salable temperature and less than the salable temperature, a control means is provided for controlling to maintain the acceptance state of the deposit operation and the beverage selection operation,
When the control means receives a depositing operation and a beverage selecting operation, and the hot water temperature in the hot water tank is equal to or higher than a sellable temperature, the control unit prepares the cup and the beverage ingredients and the cup When the hot water supply operation of supplying the hot water in the hot water tank is started, the sales operation of preparing and selling the beverage is started, while the hot water temperature in the hot water tank is less than the salable temperature The vending machine performs the selling operation after the hot water temperature in the hot water tank becomes equal to or higher than a saleable temperature by the heating means. In the vending machine according to claim 1 or 2 ,
The preparation operation is carried out operation of the mosquito-up, the discharge operation of powder material to be used in a beverage, grinding operation of the solid material used in the beverage, and, among the moving operation of the cooking position of the cup, any one or Vending machine characterized by including all operations. The vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
It has a display device that can display the sold-out status of beverages,
When the control means determines that the hot water temperature in the hot water tank is lower than the salable temperature and it takes more than a predetermined time to heat the hot water temperature in the hot water tank to the salable temperature or higher, at least A vending machine that displays a sold-out state of a beverage using hot water on the display device and cancels a reception state of a beverage selection operation for at least the beverage displaying the sold-out state. The vending machine according to claim 4 ,
The vending machine characterized in that the display device can display a waiting time until the start of sales together with the display of the sold-out state. In the vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
The control means, after accepting the deposit operation and the beverage selection operation when the hot water temperature in the hot water tank is lower than the salable temperature, makes the hot water temperature in the hot water tank equal to or higher than the salable temperature within a predetermined time. A vending machine that performs a refund operation and a return operation by judging that it is abnormal if it cannot be performed. In the vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
When a deposit operation and a beverage selection operation are accepted, a countdown display device that counts down the waiting time until the beverage is provided is provided.
When the control means determines that it is necessary to extend the waiting time until the beverage is provided after accepting the deposit operation and the beverage selection operation when the hot water temperature in the hot water tank is lower than the salable temperature, A vending machine which corrects the countdown display of the countdown display device or hides the countdown display.

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