JPH01292596A - Automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To ensure the sale of commodities of a prescribed maker only by preparing an identifying information memory part, a stopper which starts and stops the feed of commodities, and a means which stores the information medium whose identifying information is read. CONSTITUTION:When the commodities are put into a commodity carry-in/carry- out part 6, an information reading means 2 reads the identifying information obtained from a distribution case or a package storing the commodities. This read information is collated with the identifying information stored in a memory part 4 for medium information, etc., via a microprocessor 1. Then the mode of a stopper means consisting of a stop lever 16, etc., is released by the control means of a solenoid 17 only when the coincidence is obtained from said collation. Thus the sale of a commodity 14 is permitted. A magnetic card is put into a card store case 2l containing a lock with the drive of a feed roll 2e after the card is read. Thus the reuse of the card is impossible. As a result, the sale of commodities of other makers is impossible through an automatic vending machine. Then the sales of a due maker is secured in accordance with the number of sold commodities.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a vending machine that sells products to eat and drink.

(Prior art) Vending machines generally sell products using cash (coins or banknotes), but in recent years, so-called card-based vending machines have come into practical use that allow sales and payments to be made using cards such as magnetic cards. has been made into

In general, vending machines for canned beer, canned juice, etc. often use a serpentine column (product storage/unloading section) from the viewpoint of product storage efficiency. Leads to the outlet. Therefore, when the door of the vending machine is opened and products are inserted from the top of the serpentine column, the products fall in a meandering manner and are stored in order from the bottom. In addition, serventine columns are usually installed in multiple rows, each containing 8 products of the same type.
It is now possible to store.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) Incidentally, in a vending machine, advertisements of manufacturers of contents handled by the vending machine are displayed by printing or an illuminated board on the casing thereof. By displaying this signboard, the manufacturer is actively trying to sell the products of the manufacturer displayed on the signboard using the vending machine. However, at retail stores that actually fill vending machines with products and operate, maintain and manage them, they may fill and sell similar products from other manufacturers, and sales of products made by the product manufacturer that designed the vending machine may be lower. Growth is sluggish, and when products are purchased, there are certain points of concern, such as the products getting caught in the product storage/unloading section.

Similar problems also exist in pot coffee service machines (so-called coffee servers) and tea dispensers, which are used in workplaces during breaks and do not have cash identifiers.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a vending machine that can sell only products from the relevant manufacturer.

(Means for Solving the Problem) According to the present invention, an information reading means such as a card league that reads identification information of an information medium such as a card on which identification information is written in advance, and an electrical connection to the information reading means. a storage unit in which identification information is stored in advance; a stopper means provided in the product storage/unloading unit for stopping the feeding of the product; and a control means for driving and controlling the lever means. , an information medium storage means for storing the information medium on which the identification information has been read, and is attached in one-to-one correspondence to the distribution case or packaging box (packaging body) containing the product.
Identification information such as a manufacturer code indicating the quantity and manufacturer of the product is read from the information medium, and the arithmetic processing unit reads the read identifier and the identification information such as the manufacturer code stored in advance in the storage unit. and when they match, the stopper means is released by the control means, and the product filled from the package into the product storage/unloading section can be sold. You can get a vending machine.

(Function) In the present invention, identification information of an information medium such as a card read by an information reading means such as a card league is collated with identification information such as a manufacturer code stored in advance in the storage unit, and if the identification information matches. When the stopper means is released by the control means, the product filled from the package into the product storage/unloading part can be sold. If different, sales will be discontinued.

(Example) The present invention will be described below based on examples.

First, referring to FIG. 1, a microprocessor 1 as an arithmetic processing unit includes an information reading means 2 such as a card league capable of reading identification information of an information medium such as a card on which identification information is written in advance; Selection button and on sale display,
An operation front panel 3 equipped with a display board for displaying sales discontinuation and sold-out display; storage section 4 for storing media information such as card information such as manufacturer code for indicating product quantity and manufacturer;
, a money validator 7 serving as a money receiving section provided near the information reading means 2 is electrically connected to the microprocessor 1, and the microprocessor 1 is further connected to a product storing/exporting section 6 via a product discharging drive section 5. ing.

When using the above-mentioned vending machine, first, the staff member displays the sold-out products or the products that are in small quantities in the product storage and delivery section 6.
Fill it. At this time, the distribution case or package containing the product is affixed in one-to-one correspondence, or an attached information medium such as a magnetic card is picked up, and the identification information of the card is read by the information reading means 2. Let it read. The microprocessor 1 checks this read identification information with the identification information stored in the storage section 4, and if they match, the product is allowed to be sold.

Next, the staff member opens the distribution case or package containing the products, fills a predetermined number of products into the corresponding product storage/unloading section 6, and makes the vending machine ready to start selling. In this way, the preparation for selling the vending machine is completed, and the vending machine enters the sales standby state.

At this time, immediately after the identification information of the information medium such as the card is read, the card is punched (swiped) or the magnetic record on the magnetic card is erased, and the lock is locked. The key is stored in a provided card storage box, and the key is stored and managed by a specific person such as a product salesman.

Next, referring to FIG. 2, in the vending operation, insert money into the money validator 7 from the money insertion slot (not shown) of the vending machine, press the selection button, and start.
At step S2, the microprocessor 1 determines whether the value of the sellable counter in the microprocessor 1 is zero, and if it is zero, the process moves to step S2, and the sale of the product in the product storage/unloading section 6 is prohibited. On the other hand, if it is not zero, the value of the sellable counter is a value corresponding to the number of sellable products inserted inside the product storage/unloading section 6, so the state is set to be sellable in step S3, and the process proceeds to step S4. , here it is determined whether there was any sales or not. If there are sales, in step S5, the number of products sold is subtracted from the number of sales possible counters (if one item is sold, the number 1 is subtracted), and the process moves to step S6. On the other hand, if there are no sales in step S4, the process immediately advances to step S6. In step S6, it is determined whether or not the information medium has been inserted into the information reading means 6. If it has been inserted, the process advances to step S7, and if it has not been inserted, the process returns to step S1 and a sales standby state is entered.

In step S7, data on the information medium such as a card is compared, and if the result of the comparison shows a discrepancy, the process proceeds to step S8, and if there is no match, the process returns to step S1.

In step S8, the value of the sellable counter is incremented by the number of products filled in the product storage/unloading section, and then the process proceeds to step S9, where the information medium is loaded into the data storage box, and the process returns to step S81.

If the product in the specific product storage/export section of the vending machine continues to be sold, the value of the sellable counter becomes zero and the process proceeds to step S1.
Alternatively, the state will be in step S2 and the product will be sold out. As mentioned above, the sold-out product storage/unloading unit is placed in the sales standby state again in steps S6→S7→S8→S9→S.
1 is performed.

Here, the information reading means 2 will be explained in detail with reference to FIG.

When a magnetic card is inserted into the card insertion slot 2a, the first
The magnetic card is detected by the microswitch 2b, and this detection signal is sent to the microprocessor 1. Upon receiving this detection signal, the microprocessor 1 sends a motor drive signal to the motor drive circuit 2C. As a result, the motor 2d is driven, the feed roller 2e is rotated, and the belt 2f is driven. When the magnetic card on the belt 2f reaches a position corresponding to the magnetic heads 2g and 211, the identification information on the magnetic card is read by the reading magnetic head 2g and provided to the microprocessor 1 from the write/read circuit 21. Thereafter, in response to a command from the microprocessor 1, the write/read circuit 21 erases the identification information using the erase head 2h. Further, when the magnetic card corresponds to the punching unit 2j, that is, when the magnetic card is detected by the second microswitch 2k, a detection signal is sent from the second microswitch 2k to the microprocessor 1. When the microprocessor 1 receives this detection signal, it drives the punching unit 2j to punch a magnetic card. In other words, magnetic cards cannot be used.

A card storage box 2. This magnetic card is locked by rotation of the feed roller 2e. I! When the third microswitch 2m is stored in the magnetic card, the pressure on the third microswitch 2m by the magnetic card is released.

That is, after receiving the detection signal from the third microswitch 2m, when the transmission of this detection signal is cut off, the microprocessor 1 sends a motor stop signal to the motor drive port B2c to stop the motor 2d. do.

The card storage case 2j includes a presser plate 2n and a spring member 2o whose one end is connected to the presser plate and the other end is connected to the bottom surface of the case 21, and the card 2p is equipped with the presser plate 2n and the spring member 2o. It is pressed upward by the spring member 2Q.

Therefore, a key is required when taking out the magnetic card 2p from the card storage case 2p.

Referring to FIG. 4, the vending machine 10 includes an outer case 10a and a heat insulating door 10b. A product storage/unloading section 11 is formed in the outer box body 10a.
The lower end of the chute 12 is connected to the product outlet 13 via the chute 12. A carry-out controller 15 is provided at the lower end of the product storage and carry-out section 11 for carrying out the goods 14 from the commodity storage and carry-out section 11 to the product take-out port 13 . A stop lever 16 extending into the product storage section 11 is provided near the entrance 11a of the product storage/unloading section 11 (slightly below the entrance), and a solenoid 17 is connected to the stop lever 16.

Referring also to FIG.
1b is formed, and the stop lever 16 is rotatably attached to the outer case by a support shaft 16a.

One end of the stop lever 16 is inserted into the product storage/unloading section 11 through the notch 11b, and the stop lever 16
The coil spring 18 connected to the other end protrudes into the product storage/unloading section 11 so as to block the product 14.

That is, the stop lever 16 is connected to the other end or the coil spring 18.
Since it is being pulled, a rotational force is applied in the direction shown by the dashed arrow in the figure. A drive shaft 17a of a solenoid 17 is connected to the stop lever 16 between the support shaft 16a and the connection point of the coil spring.

Further, behind the stop lever 16, a light emitting diode 19a and a light receiving transistor 19b are housed in the product storage/unloading section 11.
9a and the light receiving transistor 19b are opposed to each other. The light emitting diode 19a and the light receiving transistor 19b are connected to the micro 10 setzer 1.

As described above, an information medium is inserted into the information reading means 6, and identification information is read from the information medium. This identification information is checked in the microprocessor 1 with the identification information read out from the storage section 4, and if they match, the microprocessor 1 sends a drive signal to the solenoid 17. As a result, the drive shaft 17a of the solenoid 17 is driven in the direction shown by the dashed line in FIG. 5, and the stop lever 16 is rotated in the direction shown by the solid arrow. Thereafter, a predetermined number of products C-j are filled from the entrance 11a of the product storage/unloading section 11. After filling is finished, press the reset button (not shown)
By pressing , a drive release signal is sent from the microprocessor 1 to the solenoid 17, whereby the drive shaft 17a of the solenoid 17 returns to its original position, and the stop lever 16 is inserted into the product storage/unloading section 11. When filling products, the passage of the product is detected by the light emitting diode 19a and the light-receiving transistor 19b, and from this, the microprocessor 1 knows whether a predetermined amount (the number of products in the identification information) has been filled. Add internal counter. Further, when selling products, the microprocessor 1 controls the carry-out controller 15, and the products are dropped into the product outlet 13.

Note that in the above embodiment, the microprocessor 1
Although the explanation has been made assuming that the microprocessor 1 and the storage section 4 are built into the vending machine main body, the card reader and the money acceptance section may be provided near the vending machine main body, and the microprocessor 1 and the storage section 4 can be connected to the communication line. It may also be installed at a location away from the vending machine main body via the vending machine. Furthermore, the microprocessor 1 may have a separate configuration in which the money validator 7, the product storage/export section 6, etc. are separated. In any case, even if the elements shown in Figure 1 are physically separated, or even if the number and combination of each element changes, the function of the card-using vending machine will not change. The invention can be applied (for example, a common arithmetic processing section and a storage section may be provided to a plurality of vending machine bodies each having a card reader and a money acceptance section).

Further, in the above-described embodiment, a magnetic card was used as an example of the card, but cards with other storage methods may also be used.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, according to the vending machine of the present invention, the identification information of the card attached to the distribution case or package is read, and the identification data of the card is destroyed after reading. Therefore, it is not possible to reuse the power/dead, and it is not possible to sell products from other manufacturers in the vending machine, which has the effect that the manufacturer's sales are secured according to the number of sales.

Remaining days below

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining an embodiment of a vending machine according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the vending machine according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is an example of an information reading means. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a vending machine according to the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a part of FIG. 4 in detail. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Microprocessor, 2...Information reading means, 3...Operation display panel, 4...Storage unit for media information, etc., 5...Product carrying out drive unit, 6...Product storage and carrying out Department. 100-no/h 7 low 77 0b boo 74/″1 piece→±7,

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Information reading means for reading identification information of an information medium on which identification information is written, an arithmetic processing section connected to the information reading means, a storage section in which the identification information is stored in advance, and a product storage/unloading section is provided with a stopper means for stopping the feeding of the product, a control means for driving and controlling the stopper means, and an information medium storage means for storing the information medium on which the identification information has been read, and the arithmetic processing The unit compares the identification information read from the information medium disposed corresponding to the package containing the product with the identification information stored in advance in the storage unit, and if they match,
A vending machine characterized in that the stopper means is released by the control means so that the product filled from the package into the product storage/unloading section can be sold.