JPH02108191A - Automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To confirm the kind of articles and the corresponding number of articles to be supplemented or remaining articles accurately and speedily by arranging a storage article display part which displays the kinds of the articles and kind-classified display parts which display the corresponding number of articles to be supplemented or/and the number of remaining articles closely to each other. CONSTITUTION:A display part 6 consists of the kind-classified display parts 6A as many as the kinds of articles S stored in article storage parts 1. The storage article display part 7 which displays the kinds of the articles S stored in the respective article storage parts 1 is provided and the kind-classified display parts 6A are provided nearby the storage article display part 7 corresponding to their displays. Consequently, two kinds of display parts 6A and 7 are only viewed to recognize the kinds of the articles and the corresponding numbers of articles to be supplemented accurately and speedily.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention provides a plurality of product storage sections that separately store a plurality of types of products, and a method for controlling the supply number or remaining amount of each product stored in each of these product storage sections. The present invention relates to a vending machine that is equipped with a detection means for detecting the number of products, and a display section that displays the number of products supplied, the number of products remaining, or both based on the detection result of the detection means.

[Conventional technology]

The above-mentioned vending machine is provided with a detection means that separately detects the number of supplies or the remaining number of multiple types of products, and displays the number of products supplied or the number of products remaining for each product storage section based on the detection results of these detection means. In order to do so, a single display part that displays the product storage part number marked on the product storage part and the corresponding number of products supplied or the number of products remaining, or both shall be provided on the back side of the opening/closing door that constitutes the vending machine. , a display switching operation section for switching the display mode of the display section is installed on the display section in order to display the product storage section number and the corresponding number of products supplied or remaining number of products or both to be displayed on the display section. If you want to check the number of products supplied or the number of products remaining in the desired product storage section by installing it nearby, open the door of the vending machine and then switch the display switching operation section on the back of the door. By doing so, the desired product storage section number and the corresponding number of replenished products, the number of remaining products, or both are displayed on the display section.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in the above-described conventional configuration, although the product storage part number and the corresponding number of products to be supplied or the number of remaining products or both are displayed on the display section, the product is stored in the product storage part corresponding to the displayed product storage number. Unless you check each type of product, it is impossible to determine which type of product is being supplied or remaining, or both. Not only does it take time to check, but there is a risk that the product could be checked incorrectly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to enable accurate and prompt confirmation of the displayed number of products in stock, the number of remaining products, or both.

[Means to solve the problem]

In the vending machine according to the present invention, the display section includes a number of type-specific display sections corresponding to the types of products stored in the product storage section, and the types of products stored in each product storage section. The main feature of the present invention is that a stored product display section is provided for displaying each item separately, and the type-specific display section is provided near the stored product display section in correspondence with these displays. , each type display section is equipped with a function of displaying the price of the product displayed thereon,
By performing a specific operation on the vending machine, the display mode of each type of display section can be changed from a price display mode that displays the product price to a product supply number display mode that displays the product supply quantity or product remaining quantity display mode or product remaining quantity display mode. It is also characterized in that it is provided with a switching means for switching simultaneously.

[For production]

By visually observing the stored product display section, it is possible to immediately recognize which product out of multiple types of products it is. By doing so, it is possible to immediately know the number of resupplied products, the number of remaining products, or the total number of items for the product recognized on the stored product display section.

Furthermore, by equipping each type of display section with the function of displaying the price of the product, it can also be used as a part for displaying prices, and moreover, it is possible to perform specific operations on the vending machine, such as opening and closing the vending machine. By opening the door, the display mode of each type display section can be simultaneously switched from price display mode to product supply quantity display mode or product remaining quantity display mode. It can be done quickly.

〔Effect of the invention〕

Therefore, by arranging the stored product display section that displays the type of product and the type-specific display section that displays the number of products in stock or the number of products remaining, or both of the corresponding product, close to each other, these image display sections can be improved. It is now possible to accurately and quickly confirm the type of product and the corresponding number of products to be replenished or the number of products remaining just by visual inspection, and it has become possible to quickly replenish products without making a mistake in the number of products to be replenished.

In addition, by eliminating the number of parts by using the type-specific display section as a product price display section for displaying the price of the product, it is possible to reduce the cost. Since each mode can be switched at once by a specific operation on the vending machine, it is possible to improve the operability of the display mode switching operation on the type-specific display section.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

Figures 1 and 2 show a vending machine, which has multiple product storage sections (1) for separately storing multiple types of products such as cans and bottles (S) in the left-right and front-back directions. A chute (2) is arranged in parallel and guides the products (S) selectively dispensed from the lower part of the product storage section (1) forward downhill, and the plurality of product storage sections (1) are arranged in parallel. The casing (3A) is provided with a swingable door (3B) that can be opened and closed to close the opening of the casing (3A).

At the lower end of each of the product storage sections (1), the -
) (2) is provided with a rotating body (4) for discharging products (4) for dropping and supplying the products (S) one by one, and this rotating body (4)
A potentiometer-type product dispensing sensor (5) is provided as a detection means for detecting the number of supplies of each product (S) stored in each product storage section (1) by counting the number of times the product is discharged. In addition, the product dispensing sensor (
A display part (6) is provided to display the number of products to be replenished based on the detection result of step 5), and the product (S) is replenished based on the number of products to be replenished displayed on the display part (6). be.

Incidentally, each time the product dispensing sensor (5) detects that the rotating body (4) rotates 90 degrees to discharge one product (S), a counter (
(not shown) performs a counting operation to detect the number of products supplied.

The display section (6) is divided into a number of type-specific display sections (6A) corresponding to the types of products (S) stored in the product storage section (1).
In addition, a stored product display section (7) for separately displaying the types of products (S) stored in each product storage section (1) is provided, and these are provided near the stored product display section (7). The above-mentioned type-specific display section (6A) is provided in correspondence with the above display, and the product type and the corresponding number of products to be supplied can be determined accurately and quickly just by visually checking these two display sections (6A) and (7). So that you can check it out.

The stored product display section (7) is a plurality of product samples provided at the top of the door (3B), and these plurality of product samples (7) are the! It is visible through a transparent plastic front panel (8) that closes the front opening of (3B).

The type-specific display section (6A) uses an LED (light emitting diode) disposed between the product sample (7) and the corresponding product selection button (9) to digitally display the number of products supplied. It is configured. Incidentally, the type-specific display section (6A) may be constituted by an LCD (liquid crystal display).

Each type display section (6A) has a function of displaying the price of the product (S) displayed thereon, and a specific operation on the vending machine, that is, an operation to open the door (3B). By this, each type of display section (6A)
A control device (11) is provided with a switching means (10) for simultaneously switching the display modes of each from a price display mode in which the price of the product (S) is displayed to a product supply number display mode in which the product supply quantity is displayed. , then this control device (11)
I will explain about it.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the contact with the door (3B) is released by the opening operation of the door (3B), ONt is the door that detects that the door (3B) is in the open state. A money detection sensor that detects detection information from the +1 mitsuto switch (12) for opening detection, product selection information from the plurality of product selection buttons (9), information from the product dispensing sensor (5), and inserted money. (15) A drive circuit (13) that operates the display section (6) based on information from the display unit (15).
and a control device (11) that outputs a drive signal to a drive circuit (14) that rotates the rotating body (4) serving as a product delivery means.

Therefore, while the door open detection limit switch (12) detects that the door (3B) is closed, the display section (6) displays the product ( S
) to display the price of the drive circuit (1) of the display section (6).
3), a control signal is output from the control device (11), and when the door open detection limit switch (12) detects that the door (3B) is in the open state, as shown in Fig. 4 (b). In order for the display section (6) to display the number of products supplied, the control device (11) is connected to the drive circuit (13) of the display section (6).
) outputs a control signal. Furthermore, when the product dispensing sensor (5) detects that all the products (S) in the product storage section (1) have been dispensed, it is determined that the products are sold out, and as shown in FIG. In order for the display section (6) to display the sold-out status, the control device (11) outputs a control signal to the drive circuit (13) of the display section (6). Further, the input money detected by the money detection sensor (15) is added by a calculation unit in the control device (11), and the display unit (
6) is switched to a blinking state as shown in FIG. The system is configured to calculate the amount of money received and refund the excess amount.

The number of products (S) counted by the product dispensing sensor (5) is the number of products supplied. In addition, when first replenishing the product (S) to the product storage section (1), the product storage section (1)
) It is necessary to supply the product (S) until it is full.

[Another example]

In the embodiment described above, the display on the type display section (6A) was switched from the product price display mode to the product supply quantity display mode by opening the door (3B).
A card slot (16) may be formed on the front surface of the card slot (16), and the display on the type display section (6A) may be changed by inserting a card into the card slot (16). The display on the type display section (6A) may be changed when a product replenisher carrying a type ID card approaches the product. Further, the type display section (6A) may be used for purposes other than displaying product prices. For example, after pressing the product selection button (9) and paying out a predetermined product (S),
Among the plurality of type display units (6A), those located at one end in the parallel direction are turned on in order for a predetermined period of time (for example, 1 second), and the type display units (6A) arbitrarily determined by a control device, etc. The lighting ends with , and the last illuminated arbitrary type display section (6A) is located at a position corresponding to the upper part of the product selection button (9) when purchasing the product (S). Even if the product (S) is won, it may be configured and implemented so that the product (S) can be selected again.

Further, in the above embodiment, the type display section (6A) is placed on the door (3B).
), but as shown in Figure 6, the door (3B)
It may be provided on the back side. In this case, product sample (7)
The panel (17) that closes the opening formed on the back side of the door (3B) is made of a transparent plastic material so that it can be seen through from the back side. In addition, as shown in Fig. 7, the type display section (6A) of the product replenishment port (1A) of the product storage section (1) provided at the upper front of the casing (3A)
) may be provided. In this case, the stored product display section (7
) will consist of product display tags such as product labels.

In addition, as shown in Fig. 8, the type display section (6A) is placed on the door (
3B), if provided on the back side of the storage product display section (7)
may be composed of a product design.

Further, in the above embodiment, the type display section (6A) is placed on the door (3B).
), but as shown in Figures 6 to 8, the type display section (6A) is installed inside the vending machine where it cannot be seen from the outside. Alternatively, the type display section (6A) may be configured to display only the number of products supplied.

Further, in the above embodiment, the product storage section (1) is configured in a serpentine type, but it may be configured in a conveyor type, and the specific configuration of the product storage section (1) can be freely changed.

Further, in the embodiment described above, the number of products to be supplied is displayed on the display section (6), but the number of products remaining or both the number of products to be supplied and the number of products remaining may be displayed.

Note that although reference numerals are written in the claims section for convenient comparison with the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the structures and methods shown in the accompanying drawings.

[BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS] The drawings show an embodiment of a vending machine according to the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal side view, FIG. 3 is a block diagram, and FIG. Figure (a), (0). (C) and (=) are diagrams showing display states of the display unit. 5 to 8 are perspective views showing another embodiment of the vending machine. (1)...Product storage section, (1A)...
Product supply port, (3B)...Door, (5)...
...detection means, (6) ...display section, (6A).
...Type display section, (7)...Stored product display section, (10)...Switching means, (S)...
···merchandise.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A plurality of product storage units (1) that separately store multiple types of products (S), and replenishment of each product (S) stored in each of these product storage units (1). a detection means (5) for detecting the number or remaining quantity; and a display section (5) for displaying the number of supplied products, the number of remaining products, or both based on the detection result of the detection means (5).
6), the vending machine comprising: the display section (6);
6), the product (S) stored in the product storage section (1)
It is composed of a number of type-specific display sections (6A) corresponding to the types of the products (6A) to be stored in each product storage section (1).
A stored product display section (7) for displaying the types of S) separately is provided, and a type-specific display section (6A) is provided near the stored product display section (7) in correspondence with these displays. vending machine. 2. Each type display section (6A) is equipped with a function of displaying the price of the product (S) displayed thereon, and by a specific operation on the vending machine, each type display section (6A) ), the switching means (10) simultaneously switches the display modes of the items (S) from a price display mode for displaying the price of the product (S) to a product supply quantity display mode or a product remaining quantity display mode for displaying the product supply quantity or the remaining quantity of the product. The vending machine according to claim 1, further comprising a vending machine. 3. The stored product display section (7) has a door (3B) that can be opened and closed freely.
2. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the vending machine is a plurality of types of product samples provided in the vending machine. 4. The stored product display section (7) is connected to each product storage section (1).
2. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the vending machine is a product display tag provided at a product replenishment port (1A).