JPH02288995A - Coin accumulation quantity controller for automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate trouble that an automatic vending machine without any managing person automatically pays out coins to a change paying-out port by automatically paying out the accumulated coins at a determined time and automatically guiding the paid-out coins to a money collector, which is provided in the internal part of the automatic vending machine, at such a time. CONSTITUTION:At the prescribed time, in a state that the number of the accumulated coins counted by a number of accumulated coins detector 22 is more than an accumulation starting number stored in a storage device 25, a controller 20 drives a coin paying-out device 23 and controls a switching device 24 so that the coins to be exhausted can be guided to a money collecting side. Accordingly, in a coin accumulator 21, the accumulated coins exceeding the accumulation starting number are guided to the money collecting side. The number of accumulated coins detector 22 subtracts the number of the exhausted coins from the number of the accumulated coins. However, when this number of the accumulated coins is made equal with the accumulation starting number, the controller 20 stops driving the coin paying-out device 23. Thus, safety management can be executed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (A) Industrial Application Field The present invention relates to a management device for maintaining the amount of money stored in a vending machine in an optimal state.

(b) Conventional technology As a prior art of such a management device, there is
There is a technique disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 236190. This system is equipped with a means for detecting the amount of coins that enter and exit the coin storage device of the vending machine, operates the coin dispensing device by operating the inventory switch, and calculates the difference between this amount of coins and the preset initial storage amount. It is configured to dispense stored coins.

C) Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the above-mentioned prior art, the inventory switch is operated by the administrator of the vending machine, so if the inventory switch is not operated for a long period of time, the coin storage device will A large amount of coins will be stored, and if someone other than the administrator operates the coin dispensing device by an unauthorized method other than operating the inventory switch, there is a risk that a large amount of coins will be stolen.

Therefore, the present invention automatically dispenses stored coins at a predetermined time, and also automatically guides the coins dispensed at this time to a collection device installed inside the vending machine. To provide a money storage amount management device capable of preventing inconveniences such as a vending machine without a manager automatically dispensing coins to a change payout port.

Incidentally, since the coins stored in the coin storage device are used for dispensing change, if the coin dispensing device is operated in an unauthorized manner, the stored coins will be dispensed and stolen. Since the money collection device is unrelated to the coin dispensing device, there is no risk of it being stolen by such fraud.

(d) Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the money storage amount management device for a vending machine according to the present invention includes a money storage device for storing money put into the vending machine, and a money storage device for storing money put into the vending machine. A money dispensing device that dispenses money stored in the money storage device, a switching device that branches the flow of money dispensed by the money dispensing device and guides it to a money withdrawal side or a money collection side, and the money storage device A stored number detecting device detects the number of stored coins by adding the number of coins input into the money storage device and subtracting the number of coins paid out from the money storage device; a storage device that stores a storage start number; and a storage device that controls the switching device to drive the money dispensing device and guide the dispensed coins to the money collection side at a predetermined time when the stored number is equal to or greater than the storage start number; and a control device that stops driving the currency dispensing device when the number of stored coins reaches a storage start number.

Further, at a predetermined time when the number of stored coins is equal to or greater than the starting number of stored coins, the control device calculates the inserted amount by adding and counting the amount of coins inserted into the vending machine, and calculates the price of the sold product and the amount of change. The switching device is controlled to drive the money dispensing device and guide the money that can be completely dispensed to the receiving side, on the condition that the computed amount of the monetary amount calculation device that subtracts and counts is substantially “0” yen. It has become.

Furthermore, when the control device drives the money dispensing device and controls the switching device so as to guide the dispensed coins to the collecting side, when money is inserted into the vending machine, the control device controls the switching device to drive the coin dispensing device and to direct the dispensed coins to the collecting side when money is inserted into the vending machine. It is designed to stop the drive of the

(e) Effect The present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the functional block diagram of FIG.

When money is inserted into the vending machine, the inserted money is stored in the money storage device 21 and also stored in the storage number detection device 22.
adds this number of input coins to the number of stored coins being counted. When dispensing money from a vending machine, the coins stored in the coin storage device 21 are discharged by the coin dispensing device 23, but since the switching device 24 normally directs the flow of coins to the coin withdrawal side, the coins are not discharged. The collected currency is paid out to the customer's hand. When paying out money, the stored number detecting device 22 subtracts the number of coins paid out from the money storage device 21 from the counted number of stored coins.

At a predetermined time, the control device 20 drives the currency dispensing device 23 if the number of coins counted by the storage device 25 is greater than or equal to the starting number of coins stored in the storage device 25. The switching device 24 is controlled so as to guide the ejected coins to the collection side. As a result, the coins stored in the coin storage device 21 that exceed the storage start number are guided to the money collection side. Then, the stored number of coins detection device 22 subtracts the number of coins that have been ejected from the counted number of stored coins, but when this stored number becomes equal to the storage start number, the control device 20 subtracts the number of coins that have been ejected from the counted number of stored coins. Stops driving.

(F) Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, an apparatus for managing the amount of coins stored in a vending machine will be explained.

At the vending machine, there are two types of acceptance and sorting of coins inserted.

The storage and dispensing of coins are performed by a coin processing device called a coin mech, and FIG. 2 schematically shows the mechanism of the coin mech to which the present invention is applied. The coin mech 1 includes a coin sorting section 2, a coin storage device 4 equipped with a plurality of coin storage vibrators 3 corresponding to coin types, and a coin dispensing device 5 for dispensing coins stored in the coin storage device 4. The coin receiving section 6 of the coin sorting section 2 communicates with a coin slot 8 provided at the front of the vending machine 7, as shown in FIG. The information is introduced into the sorting section 2, and its authenticity is determined. When the inserted coin is determined to be appropriate by the coin sorting section 2, it is guided to a predetermined coin storage vibrator 3 and stored according to its type. However, the coins determined to be inappropriate by the coin sorting section 2 are returned to the coin takeout section 10 disposed at the front of the vending machine 7 through the return passage 9 of the coin mech 1.

The configuration of the coin mech 1 up to this point is almost the same as the conventional one, but the coin mech 1 to which the present invention is applied has a coin dispensing device 5.
It is characterized in that it further includes a switching device 11 below. The switching device 11 guides the coins dispensed from the coin storage device 4 by the coin dispensing device 5 to the coin extraction side or the coin collection side, and in this example, a belt 12 is stretched around a pair of pulleys 11a and llb. It consists of a belt-type conveyor device consisting of: The belt 12 is placed in a position to receive and stop the coins dispensed from the coin dispensing device 5, and by switching the forward and reverse directions of the belt drive motor, the coins dispensed to the belts 1-12 are placed on the coin dispensing side or on the coin dispensing side. It is transported to the collection side. Coins conveyed to the money collection side are guided to the money collection device 13, and coins conveyed to the coin extraction side are guided to the coin extraction section 10. Incidentally, coins that have overflowed from the coin storage vibrator 3 are also introduced into the money collection device 13 through the money collection passage 14.

FIG. 4 shows a coin storage device 4 in such a coin MEC 1.
The circuit configuration for managing the amount of stored coins is shown in blocks, where 31 is the CPU, 32 is the RAM, and 33 is the R
OM and 34 are I10 interfaces, and these are connected by an address bus 35 and a data bus 36. A motor circuit 37 including a motor that drives the belt 12 of the switching device 11 and a discharge drive unit 3 that drives the coin dispensing device 4
B. Coin measuring sensor 15.1 placed in the coin sorting section 2
A coin discrimination device 39 that discriminates the authenticity and type of an inserted coin based on the measurement signal No. 6, and a real timer 40 are connected to the CPU 31 via the I10 interface 34. Each function of the control device 20, storage number detection device 22, and storage device 25 shown in FIG.
2, and the RAM 32 has an area M1 in which information on the number of coins entered in advance for each of the plurality of coin storage units 3 is stored as the starting number of coins to be stored, and a storage area for each coin storage unit 3. An area M is formed in which the number of sheets is stored. In addition, the CPU 31 controls the entire operation of the vending machine, including the management of the amount of stored coins, and therefore I1
0 interface 34 includes a selection switch S and a display 1.
7, and an indicator, furthermore, a product ejecting device, etc. are connected.

The operation will be explained with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 5 showing the control procedure of the CPU 31.

In the first step S1, the CPU 31 performs processing in the vending machine's sales standby state, such as detecting whether a product is sold out or whether there is change or not, and displaying the detected information on the indicator 3 or the display 17.

In the next step S2, the CPU 31 controls the coin discriminating device 3.
The data from 9 is taken in to determine whether a coin has been inserted. Coins inserted into the vending machine are guided to the coin mech 1 and measured by the coin measurement sensor 1°5.16, and the coin discrimination device 39 discriminates the authenticity and type of the inserted coin based on this measurement signal. , the discrimination data is sent to the CPU 31
Output to. Incidentally, the coin discriminating device 39 drives a sorting device (not shown) in order to guide the coins to the return path 9 or a predetermined coin storage vibrator 3 according to the type thereof, depending on the discrimination result. When the CPU 31 is informed by the coin discriminating device 39 that a proper coin has been inserted, the CPU 31 proceeds to step S3.

Step S3 is the control of the sales operation, and the CPU 31 calculates the inserted amount by adding the amount of coins inserted, and selects the corresponding selection switch S for products that can be sold within this inserted amount.
When selected, the product discharging device is driven to control the product sales operation. If the input amount is the price base of the product to be sold, the CPU 31 sends the motor circuit 3 to the motor circuit 3 in step S3b in order to pay out the difference as change from the coin mech 1.
7 and outputs a normal rotation signal P to the discharge drive unit 3.
8 to drive the coin dispensing device 4. At this time, CP
U31 determines the type of coin to be dispensed according to the amount of change, and the coin storage vibrator 3 that takes out coins is connected to the discharge drive unit 38.
Specify. Further, the CPU 31 sends a normal rotation signal P to the motor circuit 37 for 5 degrees, so that the belt 12 moves in the direction of the arrow A (17), whereby the change dispensed by the coin dispensing device 4 passes through the return path 9 and takes out the coins. It was published in Part 10.

In such an operation of step S3, the CPU 31 stores 1 . A process 83a of reading out the stored number of coins, adding the inserted number, and then re-storing the new stored number in the original storage unit, and predetermined setting of the storage area M2 regarding the type of coins dispensed when change is dispensed. The storage of each coin storage vibrator 3 is performed by reading the stored number of coins stored in the storage section of the coin storage section 3, subtracting the number of coins to be paid out, and then re-storing the new stored number of coins in the original storage section S3c. The number of sheets is being detected.

However, since no coins have been inserted into the vending machine, the processing of the CPU 31 proceeds to step S4. In this step S4, it is determined whether the real timer 40 is also outputting a signal indicating that it is the set time, and if it is shown that it is the set time, the process proceeds to the next step S5.

In step 85, the CPU 31 specifies the first coin storage vibrator 3. Therefore, in the next step S6, the CPU 31 reads the storage start number and the storage number corresponding to this coin storage vibrator 3 from the data stored in the storage areas M and M2, respectively, and compares the two. If the number of stored coins is larger than the starting number of stored coins, the number of stored coins is adjusted to the starting number of stored coins.
U31 proceeds to step S7. However, if the number of coins stored is less than the number of coins to start storing, the process returns to step S5, and the coin storage vibrator 3 of the next rank is transferred to the cellar 1.

In the S7-tube S7, the CPU 31 outputs a reverse rotation signal nl to the thousand-to-day circuit 37, and also gives control to the ejection drive section 38 to eject the coins from the coin storage bar 1'-73. λ is 1, which causes the belt 12 to move in the opposite direction of the arrow A.
In order to carry out the transfer operation, the coins discharged from the coin dispensing device 4 are introduced into the cash collecting device 13 through the collecting passage 14.

In the next step S8, the CPU 31 subtracts the ejected number of coins from the stored number of coins for the coin storage vibrator 3 that is stored in a predetermined storage section of the storage area M2 to obtain a new stored number of coins. The data is stored again in the storage unit. Step S
In 9, this new number of stored coins is equal to the starting number of stored coins.1. <
If the number of stored coins is still larger than the starting number of stored coins, the process returns to step S7 and the payout process is repeated.

Then, when the number of stored coins reaches the storage start number (, v, etc. 1. by ejecting coins from the coin storage vibrator 3, the CPU
31 proceeds to step S10.

Step SIO has one for all coin storage vibes 3.
It is determined whether the C processing has been completed (12). If it has not been completed, the process returns to step S5, and the next rank coin storage vibrator 3 is set (2). The above process is repeated.
(Cold vibrator 3 (, when the troublesome process is finished,
For the storage vibrator 3 whose storage number exceeds the preset storage start number: 11-r, the difference is transferred to the payment device 13.
The number of stored coins is now equal to the number of stored coins. However, for the storage vibrator 3 whose stored number is less than the storage start number, the stored number of 1,000 liters is kept unchanged and does not change.

The above-mentioned vending machine is able to periodically guide excess coins from the coin storage vibrator 3 from the 11-inch mech 1 to the money collection device 13 during operation by the action of the CPU 31. Therefore, in order to avoid storing a large amount of coins in Coin Mech 1, Coin Mech 1. It is possible to prevent stored coins from being fraudulently stolen by intentionally causing the system to malfunction.

17. Such a money storage management operation is not preferable when the vending machine is in the vending operation state. The broach in Fig. 6 is that when the vending machine is in the selling operation state, it does not perform the money storage management operation even at a predetermined time, and even when the money storage amount management operation is in progress. , when a customer inserts a coin into a vending machine, the management operation is interrupted and the sales operation is quickly started.
It shows the control procedure of the CPU 31.

This flowchart in Figure 6 is a brochure in Figure 5)
・Steps S2A, S2B, S2C, S9A, S9B
, and only the operation at the added step will be explained.

In step S2A, the CPU 31 determines whether there is an input amount. When a coin is inserted into the vending machine, the CPU 31
calculates the input amount in step S3, and CPU3
1 determines in step S2A that the input amount is "0" yen, and proceeds to step 92B. Then, on the condition that the storage amount management mode flag is not set, the CPU 31 proceeds to the next step S4 and determines whether it is the set time. As a result, the CPU 31 starts controlling the money storage amount management operation when the input amount reaches "0 pa yen" at a predetermined time.

In step S9A, the CPU 31 determines whether a coin has been inserted during the operation of managing the amount of money stored in the coin storage vibrator. When the CPU 31 determines that a coin has been inserted, it sets the storage amount management mode flag in step 89B and proceeds to step S3. As a result, if a coin is inserted while the vending machine is in the process of managing the amount of money stored, the vending machine interrupts the management process and starts selling. Then, when the selling operation by inserting coins is completed and step 32B is reached, the CPU 31 determines whether the storage amount management mode flag is set, and if this flag is set, it is reset at step 82C. Proceed to step S5. Therefore CPU3
1, when the money storage amount management operation is interrupted due to the insertion of coins, the control of the management operation is resumed when the sales operation ends.

(G) Effects of the Invention According to the present invention, in order to periodically guide excess coins to the collection side while the vending machine is in operation, it is possible to avoid leaving a large amount of coins in the coin storage device and to improve safety management. The present invention provides a vending machine that is excellent in terms of aspects.Furthermore, by providing a switching device, when leading the stored coins to the collecting side, the stored coins can be guided directly without going through the coin withdrawal side, and the introduction operation to the collecting side is improved. can also be done safely.

Furthermore, in the present invention, when the vending machine is in the vending operation state, the money storage amount management operation is not performed even at a predetermined time, and even when the money storage amount management operation is in progress, the customer does not use the vending machine If the vending machine is configured so that it can shift to the selling operation when coins are inserted into the vending machine, the selling operation will be prioritized over the money storage management operation, so the money storage amount can be managed without reducing the sales efficiency of the vending machine. be able to.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a functional block diagram of the present invention, and FIGS. 2 to 6 show embodiments. FIG. The figure is a partially cutaway view of the external appearance of the vending machine, Figure 4 is a configuration diagram of the control circuit, and Figure 5 is a brooch explaining the operation of the CPU.
-1., FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining another example of the operation of the CPU. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Switching device, 20... Control device, 21... Money storage device, 23... Money dispensing device, 25... Storage device.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A money storage device for storing money put into a vending machine, a money dispensing device for dispensing money stored in the money storage device, and a money dispensing device for dispensing money from the money dispensing device. a switching device that branches the flow of coins and guides them to the money withdrawal side or the money collection side; a storage device for detecting the number of coins; a storage device for storing information on the number of coins entered in advance as the storage start number of the money storage device; An automatic vending machine comprising: a control device that controls the switching device to drive a dispensing device and guide the coins to be dispensed to a collection side, and stops driving the coin dispensing device when the number of stored coins reaches a storage start number. Machine's money storage management device. 2. When the predetermined time comes when the stored number of coins is equal to or greater than the storage start number, the control device adds and counts the amount of money inserted into the vending machine to calculate the inserted amount, and calculates the price of the product to be sold. The switching device is configured to drive the money dispensing device and direct the dispensed coins to the collection side on the condition that the computed amount of the monetary amount calculating device that subtracts and counts the amount of change and change is substantially “0” yen. The money storage amount management device for a vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the money storage amount management device for a vending machine is controlled. 3. When the control device drives the money dispensing device and controls the switching device so as to guide the dispensed coins to the collecting side, when money is inserted into the vending machine, the control device controls the money dispensing device. 2. The money storage amount management device for a vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the device stops driving.