JPH01253086A - Article selective display device for automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the number of control signal lines and the circuit constitution of an arithmetic control part from varying even if article selection classifications increase by controlling a couple of selection switches, a sellout display device, and an on-sale display device provided for each selection classification by serial communication control lines. CONSTITUTION:Selective display devices 7a-7n process serial communication control data from a main arithmetic control part 8 selectively with selection classification numbers stored in storage devices 6a-6n by selective arithmetic control parts 5a-5n which connect selection switches 1a-1n, sellout display devices 2a-2n, and on-sale display devices 3a-3n provided for respective selection classifications to the main arithmetic control part 8 by the serial communication control lines. Consequently, serial communication control is enabled and the number of wires need not be varied even when the number of selection classifications increases.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a product selection display device for a vending machine that controls the product selection display device of a vending machine having a plurality of product selection categories through serial communication.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In recent years, vending machines have become larger and the variety of products they sell has increased, and as a result, internal wiring has become more complex.

An example of a conventional product selection display device for a vending machine will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4 is a circuit configuration of a conventional product selection display device for a vending machine, and FIG. 6 is a timing chart showing its operation. In FIG. 4, 1a to 1n are long selection switches for the user to select from a plurality of stored products, 2, / to 2n' are sold-out display LEDs to inform the user of the presence or absence of stored products, and 3a'
~3n' is a sellable display LED for informing the user that the item can be sold with coins input by the user; 4 is a dynamic scanning input for the selection switches 1a~1n; and the sold-out display LED 2a'~ 2n' and the LEDs 3a' to 3n/ for displaying sales availability, and the selection switches 1a to In,
The sold-out display LEDs 2a' to 2n' and the sellable display LEDs 3a' to 3n' are connected to the arithmetic control unit 4 through a diode matrix.

The selection display operation of the product selection display device for a vending machine constructed as described above will be described below with reference to FIG. The arithmetic control unit 4 outputs a dynamic scanning input and a timing signal To-Tn for dynamic display. For example, the number 1 sold-out display LED
In order to light up 2a', when the timing signal To is being output, the signal Do to which the sold-out display LED 2a' is connected is pulled in (set to GND level).
.

When the No. 1 selection switch 1a is pressed, the timing signal TO output from the calculation control section 4 is input to the calculation control section 4 via the selection switch 1a, and the calculation control section 4 selects the No. 1 selection switch. detects that the selection switch has been operated.

In addition, when dynamic display control is normally performed, the timing signal is set at 2 to 3 m SeC due to problems with the brightness and flicker of LEDs used for display.

1/8 duty is used. Therefore, 3+8 control signal lines are required for each selection switch, r and wv for indicating sold out, and LEDs for indicating sales availability.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, with the above configuration, when the number of product types stored in a vending machine increases, as the number of product selection categories increases, the selection switch provided for each selection category, the sold-out display word, and the available for sale The number of control signal lines between the display devices and the arithmetic control unit that controls a plurality of these devices increases, and the wiring on the aircraft becomes complicated. In addition, there is a problem in that the circuit configuration of the arithmetic control section becomes complicated as the number of control signals increases.

In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention controls a pair of selection switches provided for each selection category, a sold-out indicator, and a sellable indicator through a serial communication control line, thereby increasing the number of product selection categories by controlling the υ control signal. To provide a product selection display device for a vending machine in which the number of lines does not change and in addition, the circuit configuration of an arithmetic control section does not change.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the product selection display device for a vending machine of the present invention includes a pair of selection switches provided for each selection category for the user to select from a plurality of stored products. a sold-out indicator for informing the user of the presence or absence of stored items; a sell-able indicator for informing the user that the item can be sold with the coins input by the user; and the pair of selection switches. a selection display device connected to the sold-out indicator and the available-for-sale indicator and comprising a selection calculation control section and a storage section connected to the selection calculation control section; one main calculation control unit for controlling the plurality of selection display devices; and a plurality of selection display devices connected to the main calculation control unit and provided as many as the number of product selection categories of the vending machine. The selection display device composed of the plurality of units and the main calculation control unit are configured to include a setting operation unit used to set the selection classification number, and the main calculation control unit
They are connected by serial communication control lines classified into two modes of reception.

According to the above-described configuration, when the selection section number is set by the operation from the setting operation section, the selection switch operates the selection section number transmitted from the main processing control section through the serial communication control line. The selected selection display device is stored in the storage section 9, and in normal sales operations responds when a call code corresponding to the selection classification number stored in each selection display device by the above operation is transmitted from the main processing control section. .

Embodiment Hereinafter, a product selection display device for a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 shows a block diagram of a product selection display device for a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In Figure 1, 1a to 1n are selection switches provided for each selection category for the user to select from multiple stored products, and 2
a to 2n are sold-out indicators to inform the user of the presence or absence of stored items; 3a to 3n are sellable indicators to inform the user that the items can be sold with the coins input by the user; 5a ~6n are the pair of selection switches 1a~1n,
Selection calculation control units 6a to 6n are connected to the sold out indicators 2a to 2n and the sellable display words 3a to 3n, and 6a to 6n are storage units connected to the selection calculation control units 5a to 5n.

7a to 7n are the pair of selection switches 1a to In.

Sold out indicators 2a to 2n, available for sale indicators 3a to 3n,
This is a selection display device composed of selection calculation control units 6a to 6n and storage units 6a to 6n.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a main calculation control unit for controlling the plurality of selection display devices 7a to 7n provided as many as the number of product selection/categories in the vending machine; 7n and the main calculation control section 8 are connected by a serial communication control line classified into two modes: transmission and reception. Reference numeral 9 denotes a setting operation section connected to the main calculation control section 8 and used to set selection section numbers of the plurality of selection display devices 7a to 7n provided as many as the number of product selection sections of the vending machine.

Regarding the product selection display device for a vending machine configured as described above, the selection display operation will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the selection category number setting operation of the selection display device for a pair of selection display devices and the main calculation control unit, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the selection display operation in the normal sales operation.

Hereinafter, the operation of setting selection classification numbers for serial communication control of the selection display devices 7a to 7n will be explained based on FIG.

When the setting operation section 9 is operated and the main calculation control section 8 enters a state for setting the selection classification number (S topl )
.

The initial value of the selection division number is transmitted from the main calculation control section 8 to the selection calculation control sections 5a to 5n of the selection display devices 7a to 7n via the serial communication control line (5top 2).

In this state, each of the selection calculation control units 6a to 6n enters the selection number setting state! 1l (Stop 3), selection switches 18 to 18 provided in the selection display devices 7a to 7n
Wait until 1n is pressed (Stop 4).

In this state, when the selection switch 1x provided on the selection display device 7x is pressed (Stop 5), selection data indicating that the selection switch was operated is displayed on the selection display device 7! The selection division number transmitted from the main calculation control unit 8 is transmitted from the selection calculation control unit 6x to the main calculation control unit 8 (Stop 6), and the selection classification number transmitted from the main calculation control unit 8 is stored in the storage unit 6! (Stop 7).

The main processing control unit 8, which has received the selection data, transmits a sellable indicator lighting command together with the corresponding selection classification number (S
top 8). The selection display device TI, which stores the selection classification number corresponding to the selection classification number from the main calculation control unit 8 in the storage unit a to 6n, lights up the sales availability display W3X in response to the sales availability indicator lighting command. (Stop 9
).

The main calculation control unit 8 changes the selection division number by 5 steps.
1o) The selection section number setting control of the selection display device provided for each selection section is performed by following the same procedure.

Next, the selection display operation in the normal sales operation will be explained with reference to FIG. 3, taking as an example a pair of selection display devices and a main processing control section.

When the stored product corresponding to the selection classification number A sold-out indicator lighting command is transmitted from the control unit 8 along with the selection classification number I (Stop 11)
. The selection display device 7x, which stores the selection section number corresponding to the selection section number from the main calculation control section 8 in the storage sections 6a to 6n by the selection section number setting operation, receives the sold-out indicator lighting command ( Stop 12) and lights up the sold-out indicator 3x (Stop 13).

On the other hand, the selection display device 7 among the selection display devices 7a to 7n
When the selection switch 1x provided at
p 14), the storage unit 6 is set by the selection section number setting operation.
In response to the state change timing command (Stop16) sent from the main processing control unit together with the selection classification number X corresponding to the selection classification number stored in x, the selection data indicating that the selection switch has been operated is sent to the A reply is sent to the main calculation control unit 8 (Stop 16λ).Also, if the selection switch 1x is not pressed (Stop 1 completed), the main calculation control unit Status change timing command (
In response to Stop 15), data indicating that there is no change in state is returned to the main operation control unit 8 (Stop 18).
).

The main calculation control unit 8 receives a reply to the state change timing command transmitted together with the selection category number I from the selection display device 7x, and learns whether or not the selection switch of the corresponding selection category has been operated (Stop 19).

Hereinafter, the main calculation control section 8 can similarly determine whether or not the selection switches 1a to 1n of the connected selection display devices 7a to 7n are operated by changing the selection division number from 1 to n.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the pair of selection switches 1a to 1b provided for each selection category and the sellable indicators 28 to 2n and the sellable indicators 3a to 3n are connected to the main arithmetic control section 8 through a serial communication control line. The selection calculation control units 6a to 6n connected to the main calculation control unit 8 perform serial communication control by selectively processing the serial communication control data from the main calculation control unit 8 using the selection classification numbers stored in the storage units 4a to 4n. becomes possible.

In addition, in this embodiment, each selection display device itself stores the selection classification number through a setting operation, so that the stored product classification and selection classification can be freely set.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention provides a selection calculation control unit connected to a pair of selection switches provided for each selection category, a sold-out indicator, and a sellable indicator, and a selection calculation control unit connected to the selection calculation control unit. and a serial communication control line classified into two modes, transmission and reception, for controlling a plurality of selection display devices, which are provided as many as the number of product selection categories of the vending machine. a main calculation control unit connected to the main calculation control unit; and a setting operation unit connected to the main calculation control unit and used for setting selection classification numbers of the plurality of selection display devices; When the selection category number is set by , the selection category number transmitted from the main processing control unit via the serial communication control line is stored in the storage section of the selection display device where the selection switch was operated, and normal sales promotion is performed. In this case, series communication control is possible by responding when a call code corresponding to the selection classification number stored in each selection display device is transmitted from the main processing control unit through the above operation. There is no need to change the number of wires even if the number increases.

In addition, each selection display device stores the selection classification number through its own setting operation, and the stored product classification and selection classification can be freely set.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a product selection display device of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a pair of selection display devices and a main calculation control unit regarding the selection category number setting operation. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the selection display device in a normal vending machine, FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of the product selection display device of a conventional vending machine, and FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing its operation. 1a~1n...Selection switch, 2a~2n...
...Sold out indicator, 3a to 3n... Available for sale indicator, 4... Arithmetic control unit, 5a to 5n...
...Selection calculation control unit, 6a-6n...Storage section, 7a-7n...Selection display device, 8...
...Main processing control unit. Name of agent Patent attorney Toshio Nakao and 1 other person No.1 Zuzusu/Su2. 5j---1-111'J calculation sub-figure 2 figure 3

Claims (1)

[Claims] A pair of selection switches are provided for each selection category so that the user can select multiple stored products, a sold-out indicator informs the user of the presence or absence of stored products, and sales are possible using the coins inserted by the user. a selection calculation control unit connected to the pair of selection switches, the sold-out indicator and the sales availability display, and a selection calculation control unit connected to the selection calculation control unit; a selection display device comprising a storage section; a main calculation control section for controlling the plurality of selection display devices provided as many as the number of product selection categories of the vending machine; and a setting operation unit used to set the selection category number of the plurality of selection display devices connected to each other as many as the number of product selection categories of the vending machine, and the selection display device is made up of the plurality of selection display devices. and the main processing control section are connected by a serial communication control line classified into two modes, transmission and reception. When the setting operation section is operated to set a selection section number, first the initial selection section number is When a value is transmitted from the main calculation control unit to each selection calculation control unit and a selection switch provided on the selection display device is pressed, selection data indicating that the selection switch has been operated indicates that a selection operation has been performed. The selection division number is sent from the selection calculation control unit of the selection display device to the main calculation control unit, and the selection classification number transmitted from the main calculation control unit is stored in the storage unit, and the main calculation control unit that receives the selection data selects the selection data. The division number is sequentially numbered, and the selection division number setting control of the selection display device provided for each selection division is performed by following the same procedure.On the other hand, in normal sales operations, the selection division number is stored in each selection display device by the above operation. 1. A product selection display device for a vending machine, characterized in that a product selection display device for a vending machine responds when a call code corresponding to a selected selection classification number is transmitted from a main processing control unit.