JPH02150988A - Automatic vending machine with change dispensing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To increase the sales operation frequency in a prescribed time by constituting a control part so as to instruct the change dispensing device to start the change dispensation before the detection of the dispensation completion of a selected commodity by means of a commodity dispensing device, and shortening a necessary time for a single sales operation. CONSTITUTION:As soon as a control part 3 starts a motor operation by [a-2] conducting a motor, in order to start the change dispensation by [b-2] coin dispensation, the commodity dispensation and change dispensation simultaneously are proceeded. Further, the necessary time for the commodity dispensation is set at T1, the necessary time for dispensing the change is set at T2, and if it is T1>T2, when the commodity dispensation completion is detected at [a-3], the change dispensation completion is detected at [b-3] the change completion, and in such a case, the necessary time for a single sales operation can be shortened by T2. Further, when the selected commodity is defective, since it can be automatically returned, a single sales operation can be promptly completed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vending machine that has a change dispensing device and has the function of dispensing the difference between the input amount and the price of a selected product as change.

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 3, this type of vending machine is configured such that a control unit 3 manages instructions to start dispensing selected products by a product dispensing device 1 and dispensing change by a change dispensing device 2. ing. The control unit 3 is configured to instruct the change dispensing device 2 to start dispensing change after detecting that the product dispensing device 1 has completed dispensing the selected product. 4 is a coin verification unit that counts the deposited money.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a dispensing completion detection section that detects that the product dispensing device 1 has returned to the initial position.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention In such a conventional configuration, when the product dispensing device 1 operates a motor to dispense the products, the product dispensing device 1 operates the product selection switch 6 after the user operates the product selection switch 6. A time T1 of several seconds is required until the product is actually delivered to the product outlet. In this case, if the time required for dispensing change by the change dispensing device 2 is T2, the time (T 1 + T2) is required from the user operating the product selection switch 6 to completing one sales operation. It is.

An object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine that can shorten the time required for one vending operation when dispensing change.

Means for Solving the Problems A vending machine with a change dispensing device according to claim 1, in which a control unit manages an instruction to start dispensing selected products by the product dispensing device and dispensing change by the change dispensing device; Instructs the change dispensing device to start dispensing change prior to detecting completion of dispensing of the selected product by the product dispensing device, and upon detecting a defective dispensing of the selected product, additionally refunds the selling price of the selected product that was defective. The vending machine with a change dispensing device according to claim 2 is configured to instruct the change dispensing device to instruct the change dispensing device to start dispensing the selected product and to instruct the change dispensing device to start dispensing the selected product. It is managed by the control unit, and also instructs the first control unit to start dispensing change to the change dispensing device prior to detecting completion of dispensing of the selected product by the product dispensing device, and when a defective dispensing of the selected product is detected, another sales column is issued. is characterized in that it is configured to set the item to a sellable state.

According to this configuration, the change dispensing by the change dispensing device is started before the dispensing of the selected product by the product dispensing device is completed, and the dispensing operation of the selected product by the product dispensing device and the change dispensing operation of the change dispensing device are At least some of them are executed overlapping in time.

Furthermore, in the configuration of claim 1, when a defective payout of the selected product is detected, the control section causes the change dispensing device to automatically additionally refund the selling price of the selected product at the time of detection of the defective payout.

In the configuration of claim 2, when a defective delivery of the selected product is detected, the control section automatically sets another sales column to the sellable state.

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be explained based on FIGS. 1 and 2. Components having the same functions as those in FIG. 3 showing the conventional example will be described with the same reference numerals.

FIG. 1 shows a vending machine according to claim 1.

Here, the control section 3 is configured as follows. Control part 3
compares the input amount counted by the coin verification unit 4 with the sales price of each sales column, and executes the sellability determination for each sales column in (a-1). )
Then, it is detected which of the sales columns that are determined to be "sellable" by the above sales determination, the product selection switch 6 corresponding to which one has been operated, and when one of the sales columns is detected, the other one is detected. Resets the “sellable” judgment for the sales column.

Next, the control unit 3 instructs the product dispensing device 1 to dispense the selected product through (a2) to (a-4), and
By (b-1) to (b-3), the change dispensing device 2 is commanded to dispense change.

In (a-2), the control unit 3 instructs the product dispensing device 1 to energize the product dispensing motor of the selected column, and in [a-3], the presence or absence of the initial position return signal 7 from the dispensing completion detection unit 4 is checked. do. When the control unit 3 detects the initial position return signal 7, the motor that was energized in (a-2) is switched to (a).
-4) to turn off and complete one operation of the motor.

In addition, in the state where the initial position return signal 7 is not detected in Ca-3), in (a5), check whether the elapsed time after starting [a-2] for the first time is within the specified time. However, if it is within the specified time, repeat it a-2)
Execute.

In (b-1), the presence or absence of change is checked by comparing the input amount counted by the coin checking unit 4 with the selling price in the selected column, and in this (b-1), it is determined that there is "change". Then, in (b-21), the change dispensing device 2 is commanded to pay out one coin. In [b-3], (each time b-23 is executed, the amount of change refunded is accumulated by incrementing it, and the input amount = Check the sales price + change refund amount, and repeat (b-2) until a match is detected in (b-3).

If it is detected in (a-5) above that the specified time has been exceeded, it is determined that the selected product has been disbursed incorrectly, and the column is set to the sold-out state, and as will be explained next ( a-6] and (a-7). In (a-6), check whether the change has already been paid out in [b-3], wait for the change to be paid out, and then execute ( In a-7), the change dispensing device 2 is instructed to add and dispense change equal to the sales price of the sales column corresponding to the product selection switch 6 whose operation was detected in [:a-1:].

One sales operation consists of one of the states in which "no change" has been detected in [b-1] and the state in which the end of change dispensing has been detected in (b-3), +(a4] and (a-). The control unit 3 indicates that one of (a-7) is being executed.
The process ends when it is detected in step 8) and waits until the next sales start.

In this way, since the motor starts operating at [a=2] and the change dispensing starts at the same time at (b-2), the dispensing of products and the dispensing of change proceed simultaneously, and the time required for dispensing the products is reduced. is Tl, and the time required to pay out change is T2.
If Tl>T2, then by the time the completion of payout is detected in (a-3), the completion of payout of change has already been detected in (b-3), and in this case, the completion of payout of change has already been detected in (b-3). The required time can be reduced by T2. Furthermore, in the case of a defective dispensing of the selected product, the process automatically moves to a refund operation, so it is similar to the case where the user makes a judgment himself and then operates the refund lever etc. in the case of a defective dispensing of the selected product. There is no wasted time, and one sales operation can be quickly completed even if the selected product is defective in dispensing.

FIG. 2 shows a vending machine according to claim 2.

Here, the control section 3 is configured as follows. The control unit 3 in FIG. 1 is configured to instruct the change dispensing device to additionally refund the selling price of the selected product for which the dispensing was defective in (a-7) when the control unit 3 detects the end of dispensing change in Cab). , Here, when the end of payout of change is detected in (a-E3), in (a-8), another sales column with the same selling price as the selected item for which the payout was defective is marked as “'Available for sale”. It is configured to reset to Ca-11 and return to Ca-11. In this case, there is no need for the user to re-insert the additionally refunded coins as in the above-mentioned example, and as a result, even if the selected product is incorrectly paid out, it can be quickly resolved. You can end the sales operation.

In each of the above embodiments, the dispensing of goods and change was started at the same time, but this is configured so that (b-2) is executed before the completion of dispensing of goods is detected in (a-4). Also, - the time required for sales operations can be shortened.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, in the case of a defective delivery of the selected product, another sales column of the same price is reset to "Available for Sale".
The same thing happens even if you reset another sales column for the same amount or more to "Available for sale".

Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the structure described in each claim, the control section can be
Since the change dispensing device is configured to instruct the change dispensing device to start dispensing change prior to detecting completion of dispensing of the selected product by the product dispensing device, the change dispensing operation is executed in parallel with the dispensing operation of the selected product, and the - selling operation is performed. This can reduce the time it takes for users to concentrate, such as break times when users can concentrate.
The number of sales operations within a limited fixed period of time can be increased compared to the conventional method.

Further, in the structure of claim 1, when a defective dispensing of the selected product is detected, the control section instructs the change dispensing device to automatically refund the selling price of the selected product for which the dispensing defect has occurred.
The time required for one sales operation can be reduced compared to when refunding is done manually.

In the structure of claim 2, when a defective payout of the selected product is detected, the control section automatically resets another sales column, so there is no need to re-insert the refunded coins.
The time required for one sales operation can be further shortened compared to the above configuration.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a vending machine with a change dispensing device according to claim 1, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a vending machine with a change dispensing device according to claim 2, and FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a vending machine with a change dispensing device according to claim 2. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a vending machine with a change dispensing device. 1... Product dispensing device, 2... Change dispensing device, 3...
- Control unit, 5... Payout completion detection unit, 6... Product selection switch.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. The control section manages the instruction to start dispensing the selected product by the product dispensing device and the dispensing of change by the change dispensing device, and the control section detects the completion of dispensing of the selected product by the product dispensing device. The change dispensing device is configured to instruct the change dispensing device to start dispensing change prior to the change dispensing process, and when a defective dispensing of the selected product is detected, instructing the change dispensing device to additionally refund the selling price of the selected product that has become defective. vending machine. 2. The control section manages the instruction to start dispensing the selected product by the product dispensing device and the dispensing of change by the change dispensing device, and the control section controls the change dispensing device before detecting the completion of dispensing of the selected product by the product dispensing device. This vending machine with a change dispensing device is configured to instruct the operator to start dispensing change, and to set another sales column to a sellable state when a defective dispensing of a selected product is detected.