JPH0222760Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial field of application] The present invention relates to a control device that controls the vending operation of a vending machine, and in particular, the invention relates to a control device that controls the vending operation of a vending machine. The present invention relates to a control device for a vending machine that controls vending operations so as not to cause inconvenience to customers, such as loss of deposited amounts.

[Prior Art] In conventional vending machines, for example, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 51-62799, it is determined whether or not the product has been completely removed within a predetermined time from the start of product delivery. If the removal is completed within the specified time, we will issue change, and if the removal is not completed within the specified time, we will return the amount invested, so that even if the product is defective, we will provide a refund to the customer. There are known methods that do not cause any damage.

[Problems to be solved by the invention] However, in such conventional devices, change is dispensed after confirming completion of product delivery, so change is dispensed during normal sales operations where product delivery failures do not occur. There is an inconvenience that the payout period is delayed.

Therefore, if change is paid out without confirming that the product has been removed, and if a defective product is subsequently detected, an amount equivalent to the selling price of the defective product will be paid in change coins. It is conceivable to return the product, but if the amount equivalent to the sale is simply returned in response to detection of defective delivery of the product, there will be cases where the amount equivalent to the sale cannot be returned in change coins.

For example, suppose that there are only two 50 yen coins and two 10 yen coins reserved for change in the vending machine, and a customer inserts two 100 yen coins and selects a 140 yen product. In this case, depending on the product selection,
60 yen as change (1 50 yen coin, 1 10 yen coin)
is immediately returned to the customer, and the vending machine retains one 50 yen coin, one 10 yen coin, and two inserted 100 yen coins. After this, if the product cannot be removed due to a product jamming during the delivery operation, the vending machine will charge 140 yen (equivalent to the selling price), which is the 200 yen input amount minus the 60 yen returned change.
must be returned. However, the vending machine has only (2, 1, 1) each type of coin (100 yen, 50 yen, 10 yen), and there are three 10 yen coins missing, so the amount to be returned is The problem is that 140 yen cannot be returned to the customer.

In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is an automatic vending machine that, when a defective delivery of a product is detected after change has been dispensed, allows an amount equivalent to the selling price of the defective product to be returned in change coins. The purpose is to provide a control device for machines.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the present invention provides an input amount storage means for calculating and storing the total amount of inputs or the remaining amount after the product is sold, and the input amount storage means. a product delivery control unit that controls the delivery of products that are permitted to be sold at a selling price within the stored amount of money and detects defective delivery of the products; a coin number storage unit that stores the number of coins that can be returned; Based on the start of product delivery by the product delivery control unit, the change is returned within the number of coins stored in the coin number storage means, and after the change is returned, the product delivery control unit detects the delivery failure based on the detection of the product delivery failure. A control device for a vending machine having a refund control unit that returns an amount corresponding to the selling price of a product within the number of coins stored in the number of coins storage means, wherein the selling price is equal to or less than the amount stored in the input amount storage means. A first step of determining whether or not the required change amount can be returned within the number stored in the coin number storage means, and subtracting the number of coins required to return the change amount from the number stored in the coin number storage means. a determining means, a second determining means for determining whether or not an amount corresponding to the selling price can be returned within the number of coins subtracted by the first determining means, the first determining means and the second determining means; The present invention is characterized by comprising a sales permission means for permitting the sale of the product at the sales price only when the judgment results of the judgment means are both returnable judgments.

[Operation] In the present invention, it is necessary to determine whether or not the amount of change can be returned within the number of returnable coins, which is necessary for normal sales control, and change is determined based on the number of returnable coins used for returning change. Subtract the number of coins required for return, determine whether it is possible to return an amount equivalent to the selling price within the number of coins after subtraction, and sell (i.e., carry out) only when it is possible to return both.
I am trying to allow this. Therefore, if the amount equivalent to the selling price cannot be returned in coins for change, the sale will not be permitted, and when the sale is permitted, even if a defective delivery of the product is detected after the change has been paid, the amount equivalent to the selling price will be returned as change. It is possible to return the item in free coins.

[Example] The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the invention, where:
1, 2 and 3 are coin signals according to the denomination,
These signals correspond to 10 yen, 50 yen, and 100 yen coins, respectively. These signals 1 to 3 are generated by switches SW1, SW2, and SW3 that operate by detecting the denomination of an inserted coin that is determined to be a genuine coin by a coin verification unit (not shown).
arises due to

4 is a total counter as an input amount storage means for totaling the amount of input coins, and coin signals 1 to 3
By taking in, the total amount of input money is calculated and stored. Coin number counters 5, 6 and 7 serve as coin number storage means for storing the number of returnable coins according to each denomination. Switches 8 and 9 (hereinafter referred to as empty switches) are turned on when the amount of change stored in a change tube (not shown) falls below a predetermined number. An empty switch 8 is provided in the 10 yen change tube, and on/off information is sent to the 10 yen coin counter 5. empty switch 9
is provided in the 50 yen coin change tube, and on/off information is sent to the 50 yen coin counter 6.

In the 10 yen coin counter 5, as described later,
Count the 10 yen coins inserted using coin signal 1. Furthermore, the number of returnable 10 yen coins is calculated and stored based on the on/off state of the empty switch 8. Similarly, the 50 yen coin counter 6 calculates and stores the number of 50 yen coins that can be returned. On the other hand, the 100 yen coin counter 7 counts the 100 yen coins using the coin signal 3 and sends the counting result.
Stored as the number of returnable 100 yen coins.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a price setting unit that stores set prices of products to be sold. When the customer selects a desired product, a selection signal 11 corresponding to the product is supplied to the price setting section 10. In the price setting section 10, this selection signal 1
Select the set price of the product indicated by 1.
Reference numeral 12 denotes an arithmetic control unit that calculates change, which subtracts the set price of the product selected by the customer supplied from the price setting unit 10 from the total input amount supplied from the total counter 4, and returns the change to the customer. Calculate the amount.

Numerals 13, 14 and 15 are coin counter buffers serving as coin number storage means, which temporarily store the contents of coin number counters 5, 6 and 7, respectively. Reference numeral 16 denotes a sales availability determination unit as a sales availability determination unit, which includes sheet number counter buffers 13 to 15;
The contents of the arithmetic control section 12 and the price setting section 10 are taken in, and it is determined whether or not the product selected by the customer can be sold. That is, in the sales availability determination unit 16,
A first determination is made as to whether or not the amount of change supplied from the arithmetic control unit 12 can be returned based on the number of returnable coins supplied from the number counter buffers 13 to 15.

Next, the saleability determination unit 16 determines the number of coins supplied from the price setting unit 10 based on the remaining number of coins obtained by subtracting the number of coins used for change as described above from the number of returnable coins supplied from the counter buffers 13 to 15. A second determination is made as to whether the amount corresponding to the set price of the product can be returned to the customer. Here, a dash-dotted line block 200 is a sales permission signal generating section that generates a sales permission signal, and is constituted by AND circuits 17 and 19 and storage circuits 18 and 21 such as flip-flops. The sales permission signal generation unit 200 functions as a means for permitting a sales operation,
The AND circuit 1 is activated only when the change amount signal 203 is generated by the arithmetic control unit 12 and when the first affirmative determination signal 201 and the second affirmative determination signal 202 are generated by the sales availability determination unit 16.
A sales permission signal 22 is output and held from 9.

The output signal 201 of the sales availability determining section 16 is supplied to one input terminal of the AND circuit 17. The signal output 203 of the arithmetic control section 12 is supplied to the other input terminal of the AND circuit 17 . Therefore, the AND circuit 17
is opened when the sales availability determination unit 16 makes a positive determination and the calculation result from the calculation control unit 12 is positive, that is, the input amount is greater than the selling price, and the AND circuit 17 takes out the signal output from the calculation control unit 12.
The output of the AND circuit 17 sets a memory circuit 18 such as a flip-flop. Furthermore, the set output of this memory circuit 18 is supplied to one input terminal of an AND circuit 19.

The memory circuit 21 is set by the second affirmative judgment output signal 202 of the saleability judgment section 16, and the set output is supplied to the other input terminal of the AND circuit 19.

In this way, if both of the two determinations made by the sales permission determining section 16 are positive, the AND circuit 19 opens, and a sales permission signal is generated from its output terminal.
2 is output.

Next, 23 is a refund switch, which generates a refund signal 24 which is closed by the customer's refund instruction operation. Reference numeral 25 denotes a sales quantity control unit, to which a sales start signal 26 is supplied. The sales quantity control unit 25 includes 1
A sales limit number of products that can be specified by a customer in one sale is stored in advance, and this sales limit number is compared with the number of times a sales start signal 26 comes in, and if they match, a refund signal 27 is output. Reference numeral 28 denotes a product delivery control unit, which sends a sales start signal 26 according to the product sales operation that is started when the sales permission signal 22 is supplied, and refunds when a product delivery problem that occurs during the sales operation is detected. A signal 29 is output.

30 is an AND circuit, 31 is a refund control unit,
The refund signals 24, 27, and 29 are supplied to the refund control section 31 via the OR circuit 30. Refund control section 3
1 is driven by these refund signals 24, 27, and 29, and returns 10 yen, 50 yen, and 100 yen to the customer based on the contents of the total counter 4, price setting section 10, and coin number counters 5, 6, and 7, respectively. The number of coins is calculated and the refund operation is controlled. Note that when the product sales operation is completed, the arithmetic control unit 1
2, that is, the amount of change, is transferred to the total counter 4 and stored therein.

Next, the operation of the device of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

First, in step T1 shown in FIG.
7, and the counted contents are supplied to sheet number counter buffers 13 to 15, respectively. Now, the customer
3 and 2 100 yen, 50 yen, and 10 yen coins, respectively.
Assume that you have inserted a total of 450 yen consisting of 5 coins.
"450 yen" is counted in total counter 4, and
The number of sheets counters 5, 6, and 7 are respectively "5",
"2" and "3" are counted. Here, the count value "3" is stored as is in the 100 coin/yen counter 7. However, in the 50 yen coin counter 6,
If the empty switch 9 is on and there is no 50 yen change coin in the change tube (not shown), the count value "2" is stored as is. If this empty switch 9 is turned off and there is change in the change tube (not shown), for example, if the level to be turned off is set to 7 50 yen coins, 2 + 7 = 9 50 yen coins will be returned. The possible number of coins is reached, and "9" is stored in the 50 yen coin counter 6. Similarly, at the 10 yen coin counter 5, the empty switch 8
When it is off, the count value "5" is memorized, but when it is on, for example, if the level to be turned off is determined to be 9 10 yen coins, the count value is 5 + 9.
=14 sheets are stored in the sheet number counter 5. In this example, assuming that both the empty switches 8 and 9 are in the on state, that is, there is no change, "5" and "2" are stored in the number counters 5 and 6, respectively. Therefore, counter buffers 13, 14, 15
``5'', ``2'', and ``3'' are stored in ``5'', ``2'', and ``3'', respectively.

Next, in step T2, the calculation control unit 12 calculates the amount of change. That is, if the customer's input amount counted by the total counter 4 and the set price of the product set by the price setting section 10 are K and SP, respectively, the change amount K' is calculated by (K-SP). If the product price SP is 180 yen, the change amount K′ is 270 yen.
It becomes a yen. The change amount K′ information is sold by the sales decision unit 16.
In step T3, the sales availability determining unit 16 determines whether this change amount K' is negative or not. In the case of an affirmative determination, since the input amount K is less than the set price SP of the product, the process jumps to step T11.

In this example, since the input amount is larger than the product set price, a negative determination is made and the process proceeds to steps T4 to T6. Next, count the change amount K′ = 270 yen,
14, 15 are stored in the numbers N (10), N (50), and N (100) of each coin. The determination unit 16 performs this.

That is, in step T4, the value of the change amount K' is set to the same value V as K' in the internal register of the sale permission determination section 16, and the process proceeds to step T5, a sale permission determination routine. FIG. 3 shows the details of this sales availability determination routine, where steps T51 to T53 are a subtraction routine for the number of 100 yen coins to be returned for return of change or an amount equivalent to the selling price, and steps T54 to T56 are also 50 yen coins.
Subtraction routine and procedure for the number of returned yen coins T57
~T59 is also a subtraction routine for the number of returned 10 yen coins.

First, in step T51, it is determined whether the value V stored in the internal register is 100 or more. If it is less than 100, the process proceeds to step T54, and if it is 100 or more, the process proceeds to step T52. In step T52, if the content N (100) of the counter buffer 15 is "0", the process jumps to step T54; otherwise, the process jumps to step T53.
Proceed to. In step T53, "100" is subtracted from V and 1 is subtracted from N(100), and the process returns to step T51 again. In this way, steps T51 to T5
After the number of returned 100 yen coins is subtracted by repeating 0, the number of returned 50 yen coins is subtracted in steps T54 to T56. These steps T54-T56
are the same as steps T51 to T53, respectively.

Next, in steps T57 to T59, the number of returned 10 yen coins is subtracted. Here, in step T57, V
If it is determined that = 0, it is possible to return the change, so the process proceeds to step T60, and the sales permission determination unit 16
The output signal 201 sets the memory circuit 18 to be ready for sale.

On the other hand, in step T59, if the number of returnable 10 yen coins N(10) is determined to be negative, it is impossible to return the change, so the process proceeds to step T61, and the memory circuit 18 is reset to the state that it cannot be sold. maintain the state of

In this example, V=270, N(100)=3, N(50)=2,
Since N(10)=5, it is determined that the change of 270 yen can be returned using two 100 yen coins, one 50 yen coin, and two 10 yen coins, and the memory circuit 18 is set to allow sales. .

After making the first determination as to whether the sale is possible or not based on whether the change can be returned or not as described above, the sales permission determining unit 16 proceeds to step T6 shown in FIG. 2, and if the sale is not possible, jumps to step T11. If it can be sold, proceed to step T7. In steps T7 to T9, the saleability determination unit 16 makes a second determination as to whether or not the set price SP=180 yen of the product can be returned.

For this purpose, in step T7, the value of the set price SP is substituted into the internal register in place of the value V in the internal register, and in steps T8 and T9, the above-mentioned step T
5. In the same manner as T6, it is determined whether or not the price can be refunded when the product is jammed, and if it is possible to return the product, the process proceeds to step T60 and the storage circuit 21 can be sold based on the output signal 202 of the sale permission determination section 16. Set to .

If the item cannot be returned, the process proceeds to step T61, and the reset state of the memory circuit 21, that is, the unsaleable state is maintained. In the satiated example, N(100), N(50), and N(10) are "1" (=3-2), "1" (=2-1), and
"3" (=5-2), and the set price SP = 180 yen.
A second determination is made that the product price can be returned using one 100 yen coin, one 50 yen coin, and three 10 yen coins, and therefore, the storage circuit 21 is set to sellable.

As described above, when it is determined that both the change K′ and the set price SP of the product can be returned,
In step T10, the AND circuit 19 outputs the sales permission signal 22. Step T6 or Step T9
When it is determined that the product cannot be sold, the process proceeds to step T11, where the AND circuit 19 does not output the sales permission signal 22 and displays that the product is not allowed to be sold. In this example,
Since the AND circuit 19 outputs the sales permission signal 22, the product sales operation is started. After the sales operation is completed, the contents of the total counter 4 become 270 yen, which is the set price of the sold product of 180 yen subtracted from the input amount of 450 yen.

Subsequently, when the customer selects a 150 yen item, a decision is made as to whether or not it can be sold in the same manner as described above. In this case, the change K' is 120 (= 270 yen - 150 yen)
where N(100), N(50), and N(10) are "3", "2", and "5", respectively. Therefore, it is determined that the change of 120 yen can be returned with one 100 yen coin and two 10 yen coins (step T5 in FIG. 2). Also, for a product price of 150 yen, N (100), N (50), N (10)
are respectively “2” (=3-1), “2”, and “3” (=5
-2) Therefore, it is determined that the item can be returned with one 100 yen coin and one 50 yen coin. (Step T8 in Figure 2).
Therefore, the sales permission signal 22 is output and the sales operation is started.

Here, if the sales number control unit 25 sets the product sales number limit to "2", then 2
This sales quantity control unit 25 is activated by the sales start signal 26 generated and received at the start of the second sales operation.
operates and supplies a refund signal 27 to the refund control section 31. As a result, the refund control unit 31 receives the change.
K′ = 120 yen, the minimum number of coins is one 100 yen coin,
Performs return control to return to the customer with two 10 yen coins.

Next, after the change has been returned in this way, if a defective product delivery occurs and the product cannot be sold, first, the product delivery control unit 28
detects a malfunction such as defective product delivery and issues a refund signal 29.
is supplied to the refund control section 31. The refund control unit 31 starts refund control when the refund signal 29 is received. The refund amount is 150 yen of the product price.

In consideration of this situation, the device of the present invention determines whether or not it is possible to refund the product price of 150 yen based on the number of coins returned after the change is returned before starting the sales operation (see Steps in Figure 2). T8), the product sales operation is started only when possible. Therefore,
Even if such a situation occurs in which the product is defective, there is no fear that the refund will not be possible due to a lack of coins, unlike in the past, and the predetermined amount can always be refunded. That is, in this example, 150 yen is returned using the minimum number of coins, which is one 100 yen coin and one 50 yen coin.

In the above embodiment, a so-called post-setting method was described in which the customer presses a selection button and then decides whether or not to sell the product.However, in contrast to this, the system compares the input amount with a set price in advance to inform the customer of products that are available for purchase. The present invention can also be applied to the case of a pre-setting method in which notification is provided by a lamp display or the like.

Furthermore, it goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to automatic ticket vending machines installed at stations and the like.

[Effect of the invention] According to the invention as described above, even if a defective delivery of the product is detected after the change has been paid,
Since we have made it possible to return an amount equivalent to the selling price of defective products in change coins, it is possible to quickly pay out change during normal sales operations, and even if products are defective in transfer, customers can No damage will be caused.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of this embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing details of the sales availability determination routine. 1, 2, 3... Coin signal, 4... Total counter, 5, 6, 7... Number of coins counter, 8, 9... Empty switch, 10... Price setting section, 11...
...Selection signal, 12...Arithmetic control section, 13, 14,
15...Batsuhua, 16...Saleability determination department, 1
7, 19, 20...AND circuit, 18, 21...
Memory circuit, 22... Sales permission signal, 24, 27,
29...Refund signal, 25...Sales quantity control unit, 2
6... Sales start signal, 28... Product delivery control unit,
30...Order circuit, 31...Refund control unit, 20
0... Sales permission signal generation circuit.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Utility Model Registration Request] Input amount storage means for calculating and storing the total amount of input money or the remaining amount after the product is sold, and products that are permitted to be sold at a selling price within the amount stored in the input amount storage means. a product delivery control unit that controls delivery and detects defective delivery of the product; a coin number storage unit that stores the number of returnable coins; and a coin number storage unit that stores the number of coins based on the start of product delivery by the product delivery control unit. The change is returned within the number of coins stored in the storage means, and after the change is returned, an amount corresponding to the selling price of the defective product is returned to the coin number storage means based on the defective delivery detection by the product delivery control unit. a refund control unit that returns coins within a stored number of coins, wherein the amount of change required for the selling price for the amount stored in the input amount storage means is the number of coins stored in the number storage means. a first method that determines whether the change can be returned within the change amount and subtracts the number of coins required to return the change amount from the number of coins stored in the coin number storage means;
a determining means; a second determining means for determining whether the amount corresponding to the selling price can be returned within the number of coins subtracted by the first determining means; the first determining means and the second determining means; 1. A control device for a vending machine, comprising: sales permission means for permitting the sale of the product at the sales price only when the judgment results of the judgment means are both returnable judgments.