JPH03226898A - Article taking-out device for vendor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the burden of a user by enabling the user to take out a commodity or the like from a proper height regardless of his height. CONSTITUTION:Commodity taking-out exits 12 to 14 in three high, middle, and low stages are provided in the main body front. When the light emitted forward from a light emitting element is reflected by the user and is received by a light receiving element, optical sensors 4 and 5 are turned on to detect the existence of the user at their height. The height of the user is detected simultaneously with throwing of coins to select the taking-out exit at the proper height, and a commodity is carried to this taking-out exit when being discharged. Thus, the user can take out the commodity or the like from the taking- out exit at the height suitable for him, and e burden of the user is reduced and the service to the user is improved.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a device for allowing a user to take out products or coins released from a vending machine.

[Conventional technology]

In conventional vending machines, an outlet for taking out sold products and returned coins (hereinafter referred to as "products, etc.") is provided at only one location at an appropriate height.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

As a result, users are forced to take out products, etc. from the outlet at the same height, regardless of their height, and are forced to take an awkward posture. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an article retrieval device for a vending machine that reduces the burden on the user by allowing users of any height to retrieve items from an appropriate height. It is.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a product or coin outlet provided at multiple heights, a detection means for detecting the user's height when coins are inserted, and a a storage means for storing the height of the outlet according to the height based on a signal from the person; a conveying means for receiving the ejected product or coin and conveying it to the ejector; Control means may be provided to detect and drive the conveyance means to convey the product or coin to the outlet at a height stored in the storage means.

[For use]

Multiple outlet ports for products, etc. are provided at different heights, and the user's height is detected at the same time as coins are inserted, and the outlet at an appropriate height is selected. Transport to the exit. This allows the user to take out the product etc. from the outlet at a height suitable for the user.

【Example】

FIG. 1 is a system block diagram showing an embodiment of the product takeout device, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining its operation. First, in Fig. 1, 1 indicates the displayed products displayed on the front of the main body of the vending machine, 2 indicates the product selection pushbuttons arranged at the bottom thereof, 3 indicates the coin slot provided below them, and 4 For example, reflective type No. consisting of a light emitting element and a light receiving element,
] Optical sensor 5 is a similar No. 2 optical sensor placed at a lower position than optical sensor 4. Further, 6 is a heald conveyor that receives the products discharged from the product storage/export structure a (not shown) and conveys them horizontally toward the left side of the figure, 7 is a conveyor motor that drives this, and 8 is an actuator 6a attached to the heald. A self-propelled switch for the belt conveyor 6 operated by 9, an elevator that receives the products conveyed by the belt conveyor 6 and conveys them vertically to one side in the figure, 10 an elevator motor that drives this, and 11 a belt conveyor 6. a product confirmation switch for detecting that a product has fallen from the elevator 9 onto the elevator 9;
2 to 14 are on the front of the main unit. 1. The upper, middle, and lower take-out ports for the products are set at three levels: middle and lower. 15-17 are the elevators 8 that have reached the take-out ports 12 to 14. Upper, middle, and lower position switches 18 detect that the elevator 9 is in the lowest position. Furthermore, 19 is a microcomputer CPU that controls the entire vending machine, 20 is a ROM containing a control program, 21 is a RAM that stores various data, and 22 is a motor driver that drives the motors 7 and 1o. . No. 1 and No. 2 optical sensors 4 and 5 turn on when the light projected forward from the light emitting element is reflected by the user and received by the light receiving element, and the user is present at that height. Detect that. Therefore, depending on the case where No. 1 optical sensor 4 is ON, No. 2 optical sensor 5 is ON, and no optical sensor 45 is ON, the height of the user is determined as tall, short, or shorter, respectively. I can judge. Now, the operation of the above configuration will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, check whether or not a coin has been inserted from the coin slot 3 (step S1), and if it has been inserted, read the signals from the optical sensors 4 and 5 (step S2), and if no, 1 optical sensor 4.
is ON (YES in step S3), move Hl to RAM2.
1 (step S4). Also, if No. 1 optical sensor 4 is OFF and No. 2 optical sensor 5 is ON (YES of No-+35 of step S3), LO is similarly stored (step S6). Furthermore, if both optical sensors 4 and 5 are ONI, then (
(NO in step S5), nothing is stored. Next, it is checked whether the product selection push button 2 has been pressed (step S7), and if it has been pressed, it is assumed that the product has been delivered onto the belt conveyor 6, and the conveyor motor 7 is turned on (
Step S8). Then, it is checked whether the self-propelled switch 8 is turned on (step S9), and if it is turned on, it is assumed that the horizontal conveyance by the heald conveyor 6 has been completed, and the conveyor motor 7 is turned off (step 510). Therefore, please check that the product confirmation switch 11 is ON in step 5ll.
), if it turns on, it is determined that the product has fallen onto the elevator 9, and the elevator motor 10 is turned on (step 5).
12). Here, check if the memory of RA and M21 is HI (Step 513), if HT, check if the upper position switch 15 is ON (Step 514), and if it is 0-N, it is assumed that the elevator 9 has reached the lowering exit 12 and the elevator is turned off. Turn off the motor 10 (step 318
). By turning off the product confirmation switch 11, a check is made to see if the product has been taken out (step 519), and when the product has been taken out, the elevator motor 10 is turned on again to lower the elevator 9 (step S2.0). Then, check whether the fixed position switch 18 is turned on in step 5.
21) Once turned on, the elevator motor 10 is turned off (step 522) and returns to the standby state. On the other hand, if the memory in the RAM 21 is LO instead of Hl (No in step S13), YES in S15), it is checked in step 316 whether the middle position switch 16 is ON; ), it is checked in step S17 whether the lower position switch 17 is ON, and if it is ON, it is assumed that the elevator 9 has reached the middle claw outlet 13 or the lower outlet 14, and the process similarly proceeds to steps 318 and thereafter. The above is an embodiment of the product retrieval device, and FIG. 3 shows a system block diagram of the embodiment of the coin retrieval device. Note that parts that are substantially the same as or correspond to those in the above embodiment are given the same reference numerals. In this case, the change or returned coins released from the coin counting and sorting mechanism (coin mech) 23 that accepts coins from the coin input slot 3 are conveyed horizontally by the belt conveyor 6, and further conveyed vertically by the elevator 9, and then used. The coins are taken out from upper, middle, and lower coin exits 12 to 14 depending on the person's height. The configuration and operation for this purpose are substantially the same as those of the product takeout device, so further explanation will be omitted. According to the configuration described above, products and coins can be taken out from the outlet selected from three height levels depending on the user's height, so it is possible for tall people, short people, young people, or physically disabled people to take out products and coins. People will be able to use vending machines easily.

【Effect of the invention】

According to this invention, the burden when taking out products and coins is reduced, serviceability to users is improved, and
The effect of sales promotion occurs.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system block diagram of a first embodiment of this invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart explaining its operation, and FIG. 3 is a system block diagram of a second embodiment of this invention. 4.5... Optical sensor, 6... Belt conveyor, 9.
...Elevator, 12-14...Exit, 19...
CPU. 20...ROM, 21...RAM, 22...driver.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1) A product or coin ejection port provided at multiple heights, a detection means for detecting the user's height when coins are inserted, and an ejection port that detects the user's height based on a signal from the detection means. a storage means for storing the height of the ejecting port; a conveying means for receiving the ejected product or coin and transporting it to the ejecting port; An article take-out device for a vending machine, comprising a control means for transporting a commodity or a coin to the take-out port at a height stored in the storage means.