JPH03226897A - Automatic vendor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate trouble that one food cannot be sold together with the other food though being relishable still by combining and selling the first food and the second food different in relishable period. CONSTITUTION:Sending mechanisms 21 to 26 have a structure to take out materials stored on respective racks 15 to 20 to a taking-out exit one by one. When a purchaser selects the classification of combined food, a control circuit 27 controls sending mechanisms 21 to 26 to send out the first food and the second food to the taking-out exit so that the classification selected by the purchaser is obtained. Consequently, the first food is used in common and the classification of the second food is changed to sell different kinds of combined food. Since the first food and the second food are combined at the time of selling in this manner, trouble due to unevenness of selling is resolved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a vending machine that automatically dispenses food combinations upon insertion of currency or a card in place of currency. .

[Prior Art] As an example of a vending machine, the sale of a food combination consisting of noodles (first food) and sauce (second food) will be described.

Multiple types of combination foods that combine noodles and sauce, 1
When selling with one vending machine, the following technology can be considered. A combination of noodles and sauce is packed in a box and stored in separate racks for each type. Then, when the purchaser selects an article, the delivery mechanism of the rack in which the selected article is stored is activated to supply the article selected by the purchaser to the take-out port.

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention 1] When looking at the products sold in vending machines by type, there are two kinds of cooperative foods that sell well and those that sell poorly.

On the other hand, noodles and sauces generally have different shelf life.
Noodle chopsticks 1 - The shelf life is short compared to packed sauce.

For this reason, there is a high possibility that the best-before period of the noodles in cooperative food products that are not selling well will be over. I think this is a problem that makes it impossible to sell cooperative foods that are not selling well even if there is enough net life left for the sauce.

An object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine that combines a first food product and a second food product at the time of sale and eliminates problems caused by uneven sales.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the vending machine of the present invention has the following features:
Adopt the following technical measures:

The vending machine includes a first rack for storing a first food group, a plurality of second racks for storing a second food group to be combined with the first food, and a plurality of second racks for each of the first rack and the second rack. provided, the first rack and the second rack
A plurality of delivery mechanisms that send out the first food and the second food stored in the rack to an outlet, and a plurality of delivery mechanisms that control the delivery mechanisms to combine the first food and the second food to take out the It is equipped with a control circuit for controlling the supply.

[Function] In the vending machine of the present invention, when the type of combination food is selected by the purchaser, the control circuit controls the delivery mechanism, and the first food and the second food are combined so that the type selected by the purchaser is selected. The food is sent out to the outlet.

Therefore, different types of combination foods can be sold by standardizing the first food and changing the type of the second food.

[Effects of the Invention] The present invention sells a first food product and a second food product that have a short shelf life, so even if one food product has a shelf life left, it is not sold together with the other food product. You can eliminate the problems that make it impossible.

[Example] Next, a vending machine of the present invention will be described based on an example shown in the drawings.

(Configuration of the embodiment) Figures 1 to 5 show the first embodiment, Figures 3 and 4 show the external appearance of the vending machine, and Figure 5 shows the rack inside the vending machine. shows.

The vending machine 1 of this embodiment sells spaghetti (association food), which consists of noodles (first food) and sauce in a retort pack (second food), and is heated and eaten in a microwave oven. , one vending machine can sell multiple types (e.g. spaghetti with meat sauce, spaghetti with vongola,
We sell spaghetti (menko spaghetti, plum shiso spaghetti, etc.).

The vending machine 1 includes a transparent panel 3 in which a package 2 for displaying the contents is placed, and an operation section 4 operated by the purchaser, in order to display the contents of the product to the purchaser on the front side.
and a product removal D5.

The operation unit 4 has a coin slot 6 and a coin return slot 1.
7, a bill insertion/return slot 8, a money display panel 9, a return lever 10, and product selection switches (first selection switch 1 to fourth selection switch 14).

Inside the vending machine R, there are two first racks (first A rack 15, first B rack 16) that store noodles, and four second racks (second A rack 17, second B rack) that store four types of sauce. Rack] 8, 2nd C rack 19, 2nd D rack 20
) and prepare. Note that each column and each source are each housed in a box.

1st A rack] 5, 1st B rack 16, 2nd A rack]
7, 2nd B rack 18, 2nd C rack 19, 21st) rack 20 is each provided with a delivery mechanism (first delivery machine side 21 to sixth delivery machine) ft426> (second delivery machine side 21 to sixth delivery machine).
(see figure). Each of the delivery machines [21 to 26 is structured to send out items stored in the respective racks 15 to 20 one by one to the outlet 5.

Each of the sending mechanisms 21 to 26 is connected to a control circuit 2 shown in FIG.
An example of this control will be explained using the flowchart of FIG.

First, when the input amount reaches the selling price of the product, it is determined in step S1 whether or not the first selection switch has been turned on. If the result of this judgment is NO,
In step S2, it is determined whether the second selection switch is turned on. If the result of this determination is NO, it is determined in step S3 whether or not the third selection switch has been turned on.

If this judgment result is NO, in step S4,
It is determined whether the fourth selection switch is turned on. If the result of this determination is NO, the process returns to step S1.

If step S1 is YES, in step S5, the third sending machine of the second A rack 17! 23 to send out the sauce (for example, meat sauce) stored in the second A rack 17 to the outlet 5.

Next, in step S6, the first feeder of the first A rack 15 or the first B rack 16! 21 or the second delivery mechanism 22 is operated to send out the noodles stored in the first A rack 15 or the first B rack 16 to the outlet 5, and then the process ends (actually, other instructions (not shown) such as change payment instructions, etc.) are operated. (proceed to step).

If step S2 is YES, in step S7, the fourth sending machine WJ24 of the second B rack 18 is activated,
The sauce (for example, vongole sauce) stored in the second B rack 18 is delivered to the outlet 5. Then step S
Proceed to step 6.

If step S3 is YES, then in step S8, the fifth delivery mechanism 25 of the 20th rack 19 is operated to send out the sauce stored in the 20th rack 19 to the outlet 5. After that, the process advances to step S6.

If step S4 is YES, in step S9, the sixth delivery machine 26 of the second D rack 20 is operated to send out the sauce (for example, plum perilla sauce) stored in the second D rack 20 to the outlet 5.

After that, the process advances to step S6.

The control circuit 27 is provided in conjunction with the money mechanism 28, and controls each of the above-mentioned sending machines [21 to 26] as well as other output devices based on signals from devices that generate each input signal. control. Examples of devices that generate input signals include, in addition to each of the selection switches 11 to 14, a sales price setting switch (not shown) that sets the price of each product, and sources and other equipment stored in each of the racks 15 to 20. There are sensors (not shown) that detect the presence or absence of noodles. Also,
As an example of other output devices, each selection switch 11 to 1
There are a sales availability display (not shown) and an out-of-stock display (not shown) provided integrally with 4. The money mechanism 28 has a coin and banknote sorting function, a money rejection function, a money sensor, and a change dispensing function.

(Operation of the embodiment) Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be briefly explained.

A purchaser inserts money equal to or higher than the selling price of each of the four types of spaghetti from a coin slot 6 or a bill slot 8. Then, a sellable display is displayed on each selection switch.

Next, the purchaser presses a selection switch specifying the desired product (for example, spaghetti with meat sauce). Then,
Only the selected selection switch is illuminated, and the third delivery mechanism 23 is operated by the control device, and the meat sauce in the second A rack 17 is supplied to the outlet 5. After that, the first delivery mechanism 21 or the second delivery mechanism 22 operates,
Noodles from the first A rack 15 or the first B rack 16 are supplied to the outlet 5.

As a result, the meat sauce and noodles are supplied to the outlet 5 in combination.

After that, if there is change, the change is supplied to the coin return lower, and the operation ends.

Similarly, when the selection switch for specifying Vongole spaghetti is pressed when money is inserted and the state is ready for sale, the Vongole sauce from the second B rack 18 is supplied to the outlet 5, and the Vongole sauce from the second B rack 18 is supplied to the first A rack 15. Alternatively, the noodles in the first B rack 1-6 are supplied to the outlet 05.

In addition, if the selection switch for designating mentaiko spaghetti is not pressed, the mentaiko sauce in the second C rack 19 is supplied to the outlet 5, and the noodles in the first A rack 15 or the first B rack 16 are supplied to the outlet 5. Supplied.

Furthermore, when the selection switch for specifying ume-jiso spaghetti is pressed, the ume-shiso sauce in the second D rack 20 is supplied to the outlet 5, and the ume-shiso sauce in the first A rack 15 or the first
Noodles from B rack 16 are supplied to Tori 1'5.

(Effects of the Embodiment) In the vending machine 1 of the present embodiment, even if spaghetti (association food) does not sell well, only the retort-packed sauce (second food) will sell poorly.

Even if the sauce sells poorly, it can be sold for a long time because it has a long shelf life.

On the other hand, noodles with a shorter shelf life than sauce (first food)
is sold regardless of the type of sauce.

For this reason, the probability of noodles exceeding their best-before date is extremely low due to uneven sales.

In other words, the vending machine 1 of this embodiment can reduce the waste of sauce as well as the waste of noodles, compared to the case where noodles and sauce are packaged and sold in a box.

(Modified Example) Although we have shown an example in which noodles are applied to the first food and spaghetti sauce is applied to the second food, it is also possible to apply rice to the first food and curry roux to the second food, etc. You may also sell combination foods.

(Second example) FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment.

This embodiment shows a vending machine 1 that sells two types of combination foods (for example, spaghetti and curry rice).

In this embodiment, noodles are placed in the first A rack 15 and noodles are placed in the first B rack 16.
rice, spaghetti sauce is stored in the second A rack 17 and second B rack 18, and curry roux is stored in the second A rack 17 and second B rack 18.

Each delivery mechanism of each of these racks is controlled by a control circuit 27, and an example of the control of the control circuit 27 will be explained using the flowchart of FIG. 6.

Initially, when the amount invested reaches the selling price of the product,
In step S10, it is determined whether the first selection switch is turned on. If the result of this judgment is NO,
In step S11, it is determined whether the second selection switch is turned on. If the result of this judgment is NO,
In step S12, it is determined whether the third selection switch is turned on.

If the result of this determination is NO, it is determined in step S13 whether or not the fourth selection switch has been turned on.

If the result of this determination is NO, the process returns to step S10.

If step S10 is YES, in step S14, the third delivery machine W523 of the second A rack 17 is operated to send out the sauce 3 (for example, meat sauce) stored in the second A rack 17 to the outlet 5.

Next, in step S15, the first delivery mechanism 21 of the first A rack 15 is operated to deliver the noodles stored in the first A rack 15 to the outlet 5, and then the process ends.

If step S11 is YES, in step 816, the fourth feeder I#24 of the second B rack 18 is operated to feed the sauce (for example, vongole sauce) stored in the second B rack 18 to the outlet 5. . After that, the process advances to step S15.

If step S12 is YES, in step S17, the fifth delivery mechanism 25 of the second C rack 19 is operated, and the curler stored in the second C rack 19 = (for example,
A dry roux) is taken out to outlet 5. Next, in step 818, the second delivery mechanism 22 of the first B rack 16
is operated to take out the rice stored in the first B rack 16 to the outlet 5, and then the process ends.

If step S13 is YES, in step 319, the sixth feeder 7826 of the second D rack 20 is activated, and the curry roux stored in the second D rack 20 (
For example, a sweet roux) is delivered to the outlet 5. after that,
Proceed to step 818.

The vending machine 1 configured as described above sells spaghetti or curry rice depending on the operation of the selection switch.

Note that the control in the first embodiment and the second embodiment is performed by the control circuit 2.
This can be easily done by switching a switch (not shown) provided at 7.

(Modification) Although a vending machine that sells two or more types of food combinations is shown as an example, the present invention may be applied to a vending machine that sells three or more types of food combinations.

” - In the example described above, an example was shown in which four types of food combinations were sold, but it is not limited to the types in this example, and two or more types of food combinations could be sold in one vending machine. It may also be set up so that it can be sold at a machine.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figures 1 to 5 show the first embodiment, in which Figure 1 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the control circuit, Figure 2 is a schematic block diagram of the vending machine, and Figure 3 is the vending machine. FIG. 4 is a side view of the vending machine, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a rack inside the vending machine. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the control circuit showing the second embodiment. In the figure 15...1st A rack 16...1st B rack 17
...2nd A rack 18...2nd B rack 19...
- 2nd C rack 20... 2nd D rack 21... 1st delivery mechanism 22... 2nd delivery mechanism 23... 3rd delivery machine! 24... Fourth sending machine oval 25... Fifth sending mechanism 26... Sixth sending mechanism 27... Control circuit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1) (a) a first rack that stores a first food group; (b) a plurality of second racks that store a second food group that is combined with the first food group; (c) (e ) the delivery mechanism is controlled so that the first food and the second food are
A vending machine equipped with a control circuit that combines food with food and supplies it to an outlet.