JPH0378099A - Controller for automatic beverage vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent erroneous selection by designating it by selection switches to decide whether beverage is hot or cold. CONSTITUTION:A coin 2 is put into a coin mechanism 3 and amount data are sent to a first microcomputer MC4. Then, vend signals V1-3 corresponding to commodities, which can be sold by the accepted amount, are sent to a second MC5. Next, the data processing of a kind designation switch 11 is executed. When designated kind data are different from the kind data of the commodity selected by a commodity selection push button 9, the designated kind of the commodity with the same commodity code is carried out. Simultaneously, sales amount information and a sales start signal are sent from the MC5 to the MC4. Thus, the commodity can be prevented from being erroneously selected.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a control device for a vending machine that can sell both hot and cold beverages.

[Prior Art] A vending machine shown in FIG. 6 is conventionally known as this type of device. In the figure, 1 is the outer frame of the vending machine, 2 is a coin, 3 is a coin mech that receives and receives the coin, 4 is a first microcomputer consisting of a CPU for calculation, a ROM for storing programs, and a RAM for storing data. 5
A second microcomputer consists of a CPU that performs calculations, a ROM that stores programs, and a RAM that stores data; 6 is an amount display that displays the input amount; 7 is a product delivery device; 8 is a coin return switch; 9 is a product selection It's a push button.

In such a configuration, when a coin is inserted into the coin mech 3, amount data is input to the first microcomputer 4. The first microcomputer 4 checks whether the deposited amount is equal to or higher than the selling price of the product, and sends bend signals v1 to V3 corresponding to the products that can be sold with this deposited amount to the second microcomputer. Then, the input amount is displayed on the amount display 6, and a product lamp (not shown) indicating a salable product is turned on.

The second microcomputer 5 detects the depression of the product selection push button 9, drives the product delivery device 7 to transport the product, and transmits a signal indicating the sales amount of the product to the first microcomputer 4, and then sells the product. Send a signal specifying the initial state settings for starting. Then, the first microcomputer 4 temporarily stores the sales amount, calculates the remaining amount, displays it on the amount display 6, and refunds the remaining amount from the coin mech 3.

The coin return switch 8 is used to instruct the end of the selling operation and return the coins during the sale in the continuous selling mode. In response to the instruction from the coin return switch 8, the first microcomputer 4 instructs the coin mech 3 to return the coin 2.

[Problem to be solved by the invention] However, in conventional vending machines that sell both hot and cold products such as canned coffee, the selection buttons are installed side by side on the front panel of the vending machine. In addition, the sample products on the door are the same, so even though I was looking for a cold product, I accidentally pressed the selection button for a hot product of the same type.

On the other hand, there have been cases where a customer wants a hot item but mistakenly selects a cold item of the same type.

An object of the present invention is to provide a control device for a beverage vending machine that can eliminate the above-mentioned problems and prevent products from being purchased by mistake.

[Means for Solving the Problems] As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention provides a vending machine that sells hot drinks or cold drinks based on the operation of a product selection means. an input means, a storage means for storing this product data,
A type specifying means for specifying the type of a hot beverage or a cold beverage before purchasing a product, and comparing and determining the type according to the type specifying means with the type and product name according to the product selecting means, and determining the type based on the type specifying means. and main control means for outputting a signal to carry out a product having the same name as the product name.

[Operation] According to the present invention, it is checked whether the type of hot or cold has been specified, and if the type has been specified, it is determined whether the specified type data and the type data of the product selected by the push button are the same.
If they are different, the specified type of product with the same product code is transported out.

That is, for example, if column 8 is selected with cold designation, the products in column 4 that are cold and have the same product code in FIG. 5 are carried out. If the types are the same in the above judgment, the products in the column selected by pushing the button are carried out.

Next, if there is no abnormality such as a solenoid lock in the product carrying out device, the first microcomputer calculates the remaining amount after the product is sold and displays the remaining amount on the amount display.

[Embodiment] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, and in the figure, the same reference numerals as in FIG. 6 indicate the same members.

Numeral keys 10 are used to input various data, and as shown in FIG. 5, product data for each column (types of hot and cold, product code) can be entered. 11 is a type designation switch for designating the type of hot or cold.

The operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2 will be explained below with reference to the flowcharts in FIGS. 3 and 4. First, in step 1, the type designation data is cleared in a standby state before the coin 2 is inserted into the coin mech 3. Next, in step 2, a check is made to see if a coin has been inserted, and if a coin has been inserted, amount data is transmitted to the first microcomputer 4. Next, in step 3, it is checked whether the product can be sold, and if it is, the bend signals v1 to v3 corresponding to the push buttons P1 to P2 of the product that can be sold at the input price are sent to the second microcomputer 5.
Send to. Next, in step 4, type specification switch 11
Process data. This process is shown in the flowchart of FIG. That is, in step 41 it is checked whether the designated switch is ON, and if it is ON, then step 4 is performed.
In step 2, it is checked whether the cold designation has been made, and if it is cold, then in step 43 it is checked whether the cold designation has been completed, and if it has not been completed, then in step 44, cold designation data is set. Then, in step 45, the hot designation data is cleared, and the process then proceeds to step 5. If the designation has been completed in step 43, the cold designation data is cleared in step 46, and then the process proceeds to step 5.

If it is not cold in step 42, then it is checked in step 47 whether hot has been designated, and if hot has been designated, the hot designation data is cleared in step 48, and the process then proceeds to step 5. If hot designation has not been completed yet, set hot designation data in step 49,
Then, in step 50, the cold designation data is cleared, and the process then proceeds to step 5. When step 4 is completed, the sales ready lamp is then turned on in step 5.

Next, in step 6 it is checked whether the product selection button has been pressed, and if any product selection button is pressed here, then in step 7 it is checked whether the type has been specified, and if it has been specified, then in step 8 If it is determined whether the specified type data and the type data of the product selected by the product selection button are the same or different, then in step 9 a product of the type specified in step 4 and with the same product code is selected. to be carried out. That is, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, if column 8 is selected with cold designation, the products in column 4 will be carried out. At the same time, the second microcomputer 5 transmits sales amount information and a sales start signal to the first microcomputer 4. If the types are the same in step 8, the products in the column selected by pressing the button are carried out in step 10.

Next, in step 11, if the product unloading device 7 is not inspected for any abnormality such as a solenoid lock, then in step 12, the first microcomputer 4
calculates the remaining amount after selling the product and displays the remaining amount on the amount display 6. After the product carrying-out operation is completed, it is checked in step 13 whether the coin return switch 8 is ON, and if it is ON, the process proceeds to step 15. In step 15, the coin MEC 3 is instructed to refund the coin, and the process returns to step 1. If it is not ON in step 13, step 1
Proceed to step 4. In step 14, it is determined whether the sale has ended.

That is, when the first microcomputer 4 detects that the number of coins has reached the limit or the coin balance is less than the minimum set price, it is determined that the sales channel is r, and then in step 1
In step 5, the coin mech 3 is instructed to return the coin, and the process returns to step 1. In step 14, the sales channel r
If not, return to step 4.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, a type designation switch for selecting the type of hot product or cold product is provided, and this type is specified in advance, so that it is possible to prevent erroneous product selection. This eliminates the need for distrust among customers.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a claim correspondence diagram showing the configuration of this invention, Fig. 2 is a control block diagram showing an embodiment of this invention, Fig. 3 is a flowchart showing a program of this invention, and Fig. 4 is a program of Fig. 3. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a part of the system, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the contents of a storage device, and FIG. 6 is a control block diagram showing a conventional device. 1... Outer frame of the vending machine, 3... Coin mech, 4
...First microcomputer, 5...Second microcomputer, 6...Amount display, 7...Product delivery device, 8...Coin return switch, 9...Product selection push button, 10 ...Numeric keypad 11...Type specification switch, 12...Return switch. Figure 1 Figure 4

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1) In a vending machine that sells hot drinks or cold drinks based on the operation of a product selection means, a data input means for inputting product data for each column, a storage means for storing this product data, and a A type specifying means for specifying the type of a beverage or a cold drink, and comparing and determining the type according to the type specifying means and the type and product name according to the product selecting means, and determining whether the type is based on the type specifying means and the product name is the same as the product name. 1. A control device for a beverage vending machine, comprising: main control means for outputting a signal for discharging identical products.