JPH01293495A - Automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make a connector between a mechanism unit and an automatic vending mechine body unnecessary and to facilitate work for attaching and detaching the mechanism unit by transmitting a signal between the mechanism unit and the automatic vending machine body through light and an electromagnetic wave according to a non-contact style and building in a power source for driving a sensor at the side of the mechanism unit. CONSTITUTION:A transmitting and receiving unit 17 at the side of the automatic vending machine body is arranged opposing to a transmitting unit 15a for the sensor, transmitting units 15a and 17b are composed of light-emitting elements, and receiving units 15b and 17a are composed of light-receiving elements such as phototransistors. In this manner, the signal line of the sensor at the side of the mechanism unit and another signal line at the side of the automatic vending machine body are coupled according to the non-contact style. Thus, the connector becomes unnecessary, and the work for mechanically connecting the separating the signal lines is eliminated when the mechanism unit is attached and detached. Further, since a power source 13 for driving the sensor is built in the mechanism unit, a power source line becomes unnecessary to be connected to the mechanism unit.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a vending machine, and more particularly to signal transmission means between a vending machine main body and a mechanical unit detachably attached to the main body.

[Conventional technology]

Vending machines are equipped with various mechanical units such as product storage shelves, hot water tanks, and beverage ingredient boxes, but these mechanical units are generally installed in vending machines for reasons such as ease of maintenance and inspection and replenishment of contents. It is removably attached to the main body. Furthermore, these mechanical units are usually equipped with various sensors in order to be useful for sales control such as sell-out processing and operational tasks such as sales management. For example, in a beverage vending machine, the beverage ingredient box that stores powdered beverage ingredients is attached to the vending machine so that it can be easily removed to replenish the beverage ingredients, and it also detects when it is time to replenish the beverage ingredients. In order to do this, a sold-out sensor using an ultrasonic element or the like is provided. By the way, in order to transmit the output signal of the sensor from the mechanical unit side to the main body side, or to supply driving power to the sensor from the power source of the main body side, conventionally, the mechanical unit and the main body are connected to each other through signal lines or power lines. are connected using a contact type connector. FIG. 3 shows such a conventional configuration of a beverage vending machine, in which the sold-out sensor 2 in the beverage ingredient box 1 and the signal line 3 and power line 4 on the vending machine main body are connected via a connector 5. connected. In addition, 6 is beverage raw material box 1
It is a powdered beverage raw material stored in

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in conventional configurations using such connectors,
When removing or reinstalling a mechanical unit for replenishing raw materials, maintenance and inspection, etc., connectors must be inserted and removed, which is a problem in that the work is complicated and time-consuming. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine that does not require connecting or disconnecting a connector when attaching or detaching a mechanical unit, and also saves sensor drive power.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a sensor transmitter that transmits an output signal of the sensor to the vending machine body in a vending machine in which a mechanism unit including a sensor is removably attached to the vending machine body. A unit, a sensor driving power source, a switch section that opens and closes between this power source and the sensor, and a switch section receiving unit that outputs an opening/closing signal to this switch section are provided on the mechanical unit side, and also receives the output signal of the sensor. A switch section transmitting unit that transmits a sensor drive signal to the sensor receiving unit and the switch section receiving unit is provided on the vending machine main body side,
Signals are transmitted between the sensor circumferential velocity/receiving units and between the switch section transmitting/receiving units via light or electromagnetic waves, and the sensor is driven intermittently.

[For use]

The signal lines between the sensor on the mechanical unit side and the vending machine main body are connected non-contactly via light or electromagnetic waves, eliminating the need for connectors and eliminating the need for mechanical connections between the signal lines when attaching or detaching the mechanical unit. No more remote work. In addition, since the power supply for driving the sensor is built into the mechanical unit, there is no need to connect the power line to the mechanical unit, and power is intermittently supplied to the sensor from the built-in power supply via the transmission/reception unit for the switch section. By controlling the power supply in this way, the life of the power supply can be extended. Embodiment] FIGS. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the main parts of a beverage vending machine, and FIG.
FIG. 2 is an electrical block diagram of FIG. In FIG. 1, a beverage raw material box 10 as a mechanical unit detachably attached to the vending machine body stores a powdery beverage raw material 11 such as coffee powder, and sells the beverage raw material 11. In order to detect when the beverage is out, a sell-out sensor 12 made of an ultrasonic element is provided inside the beverage ingredient box 10. In order to drive the sold-out sensor 12, a power source 13 such as a lithium battery, and a switch section 14 including a non-contact switching element that opens and closes between the power source 13 and the sold-out sensor 12 are provided. . Furthermore, inside the beverage raw material shaft 10, there is a transmitting/receiving device for transmitting an output signal from a sold-out sensor 12 to the vending machine main body, and for receiving a sensor drive signal from the vending machine main body that turns on a switch 14. A unit 15 is provided. On the other hand, a transmitting/receiving unit 17 is provided on the vending machine main body 16 side so as to face the transmitting/receiving unit 15 described above. This transmitting/receiving unit 16 has a signal line 18
is connected to a vending machine control section (not shown). FIG. 2 shows an electrical block diagram of the above configuration. The transmission/reception unit 15 on the mechanism unit side is a sensor transmission unit 15a connected to the sold-out sensor 12.
and a switch section receiving unit 15b connected to the switch section 14. Further, the transmission/reception unit 17 on the main body side is arranged to face the sensor transmission unit 15a, and includes a sensor reception unit 17a connected to the sensor signal line 18a, and the switch section light (
A switch transmitting unit 1 arranged opposite to the t unit L5b and connected to the switch signal line 18b.
It consists of 7b. The transmitting units 15a and 17b are constructed of light emitting elements such as LEDs, and the receiving units 15b and 17a are constructed of light receiving elements such as phototransistors. In such a configuration, when the vending machine is in operation, the signal line 1 for the switch section is connected from the vending machine control section (not shown).
A sensor drive signal is intermittently applied to the switch unit transmitting unit 17b through the switch unit 8b, and this signal is transmitted to the switch unit receiving unit 15b via light. The switch receiving unit 15b that received the sensor drive signal is
The switch unit 14 is turned on to supply driving power from the power source 13 to the sold-out sensor 12, and the sold-out sensor 12 is driven intermittently. The output signal of the sold-out sensor 12 being driven is given to the sensor transmitting unit 15a, and is received by the sensor receiving unit 17a via light. This signal is sensor signal line 1
It is sent to the control unit through 8a and undergoes necessary processing, such as displaying that it is available for sale if there are beverage raw materials, and displaying that they are sold out if there are no beverage raw materials. When the sold-out display is displayed, it is necessary to replenish the beverage raw materials, but the beverage raw material box 10 also requires services such as periodic cleaning and maintenance and inspection of the raw material delivery mechanism (not shown). In such a case, the beverage ingredient box 10 may be removed from the main body 16.
According to the illustrated configuration, the signal transmission between the beverage ingredient box 10 and the main body is non-contact, and the sensor driving power source 13 is built into the beverage ingredient box 10.
Since there is no need for wiring to supply power from the main body to the beverage ingredient box 10, there is no need to perform electrical connection work such as connecting or disconnecting a connector when attaching or detaching the beverage ingredient box 10. Moreover, since the sold-out sensor is driven intermittently,
Battery consumption as a power source is low. [Effects of the Invention] The present invention performs signal transmission between the mechanical unit and the vending machine main body in a non-contact manner via light or electromagnetic waves, and
Since the sensor drive power supply is built into the mechanism unit,
There is no need for a connector between the mechanical unit and the vending machine main body, making it easier to attach and detach the mechanical unit. Also,
Since the sensor is driven intermittently, the power consumption for driving the sensor is also reduced.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the main parts of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an electrical block diagram of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a conventional example.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1) In a vending machine in which a mechanical unit equipped with a sensor is removably attached to the vending machine main body, a sensor transmitting unit that transmits the output signal of the sensor to the vending machine main body, a sensor driving power source, and this power source A switch part that opens and closes between the sensor and a receiving unit for the switch part that outputs an open/close signal to the switch part is provided on the mechanical unit side, and a receiving unit for the sensor that receives the output signal of the sensor and a receiver for the switch part. A switch section transmitting unit that transmits sensor drive signals to the unit is provided on the vending machine main body side, and signal transmission between the sensor transmitting/receiving units and between the switch section transmitting/receiving units is carried out via light or electromagnetic waves. A vending machine characterized in that the sensor is driven intermittently.