JPH04178794A - Controller for automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To manage sales information and to properly read this information by reading out sales information, which a sales management means of commodities manages, based on the commodity code read by a bar code reader. CONSTITUTION:A CPU 21 in a vendor 5 is provided with functions of the sales management means which manages storage of sales information of sold commodities to a RAM 23 based on commodity codes of these commodities, a data setting means which sets various data in relation to these commodities based on the commodity codes read by a bar code reader 1, and a read means which reads out sales information stored in the RAM 23 with respect to these commodities based on the commodity codes read by the bar code reader. The commodity code of a commodity whose sales information should be confirmed is read by the bar code reader 1 to read and output this sales information. Thus, the vendor superior in operability and manageability is obtained.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (b) Industrial application fields The present invention relates to a control device for a vending machine.

(b) Conventional technology Vending machines do not manage various data necessary for sales operations, such as setting product prices, or managing sales information such as sales and remaining quantities of sold products. It is necessary to read out this sales information appropriately for each product.

Traditionally, this was accomplished through key human efforts.
For this reason, a plurality of keys had to be operated in a predetermined order, resulting in complicated manual processing.

To address this issue, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 189093/1983 provides a bar sheet in which operational commands to be manually applied to the vending machine and setting information necessary to achieve the vending operation are printed in barcodes. The code is shown being scanned with a barcode reader and entered into the vending machine. This type of barcode input method does not require complicated key operation procedures, so anyone can easily input information into the vending machine.

(c) Problems to be solved by the invention However, in vending machines, in order to set various necessary data, manage sales information, or read sales information appropriately, it is necessary to directly set each product for each product. Instead of actually doing it, I was following the product storage column that stores the product.

This is true regardless of whether the input method is manual key input or barcode input. Therefore, in the past, if the wrong product storage column was specified, problems such as data being set for a different product or sales information being mismanaged occurred.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to set various data necessary for a vending machine or manage sales information by using a product code printed on a product as a barcode.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a control device for a vending machine that reads out sales information as appropriate.

(d) Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the vending machine control device of the present invention provides a vending machine that sells products with four product codes printed in barcodes. A sales management means that manages sales information of sold products based on the product code of the product, a barcode reader that reads the product code, and various information related to the product based on the product code read by the barcode reader. data setting means for setting data, and reading means for reading sales information managed by the sales management means for the product based on the product code read by the barcode reader.

(e) When setting the action data, the product code of the product for which the data is to be set is read by the vending machine using a barcode reader, and then the setting data is entered manually.

Thereby, the vending machine stores setting data according to the product code.

When a product is sold, the sales management means classifies and manages sales information regarding the product based on the product code of the product.

The product code of this sales information is read by a barcode reader, and the reading means reads out the sales information managed by the sales management means for the product based on the product code.

(F) Embodiment FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a vending machine showing an embodiment of the present invention. The customer service panel 6 of the vending machine 5 includes a coin insertion lower, a plurality of product selection switches 8, and an indicator 20.
is provided. A control box 10 and a coin processing device 11 are installed inside the vending machine 5 when the door 9 is opened. A barcode reader 1 is connected to the control box 10, and a control unit including a CPU and the like is housed in the control box 10. Also, next to the control box 10 is a printer unit 31 for printing out sales summary data.
is installed. The coin processing device 11 includes a coin input lower, a coin processing bag fill, a coin selector 11A for sorting coins input into the coin input lower, a coin storage section 11B, and a coin storage section 11B, and a coin storage section 11B that divides the coins stored in the coin storage section into coin number ratios. It consists of a coin dispensing device 11C for dispensing coins into the mouth 17.

In addition, on the back of the door 9, there is a product selection switch identification section 29 that corresponds to each product selection switch 8 and has a product selection switch code representing the corresponding product selection switch displayed in a barcode. It is set up. This product selection switch code represents, for example, a switch number assigned to each product selection switch 8.

FIG. 2 shows a state in which the front door 3 is open, and the interior of the vending machine 5 is provided with five rows of product storage columns 2, and the lower part of the product storage column 2 is connected to the product takeout port 4. A connecting chute 12 is arranged.

A product inlet 2A is opened at the top of the product storage column 2, and the products to be stored are filled into the interior through the product inlet 2A. Further, each of the product storage columns 2 is provided with a column identification section 28 that displays a column code representing the corresponding column in the form of a barcode.

This column code represents, for example, a column number assigned to each product storage column 2.

FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the vending machine 5 in block form. The control unit stored in the control box 10 is a central processing unit (CPU) that executes control operations according to programs.
21, and a ROM 22° RAM 23. I10 interface 24
are connected. And engineering/○ interface 24
includes a barcode reader 1 and a coin processing device 11.
A display device 14, a selection device 15, a vending device 16, a mode switch 18 for specifying a manual barcode mode, and a printer unit 31 are connected.

When a coin is inserted into the coin input lower, the coin processing device 11 determines whether the coin is appropriate using the coin selector 11A,
If the coin is appropriate, a signal representing the amount of the coin is output to the CPU 21 through the I10 interface 24. Further, the coin processing device 11 drives the coin processing device 11C when a signal representing coin dispensing is inputted from the CPU10 through the I10 interface 24.

The display device 14 includes five column indicators 19 provided corresponding to each product storage column 2 and five selection switch indicators 2 provided corresponding to each product selection switch 8.
The drive of each indicator is controlled based on display data input from the CPU 21 through the I10 interface 24. When a customer inserts money, the indicator functions as a so-called sellable indicator that lights up to indicate products that can be purchased with the amount of money inserted.

The selection device 15 includes a plurality of product selection switches 8, and a signal indicating that the product selection switch 8 has been operated is input from the selection device 15 to the CPU 21 through the I10 interface 24.

The vending device 16 includes a drive motor for the product speed ratio corresponding to the product storage column 2, and the CPU 21 gives a command representing delivery of the product to this motor through the I10 interface 24.

The moat switch 18 is operated to instruct the vending machine that it is in a barcode input mode.

The CPU 21 drives the barcode reader 1 when the mode switch 18 is operated. As a result, the barcode reader 1 can read the product code printed on the product 13, the column code displayed on the column identification section 28,
The product selection switch code displayed on the product selection switch identification section 29 and the barcode printed on the sheet 30 can be read.

On the sheet 30, commands to be given to the vending machine when setting various data related to the product are printed in the form of bar codes.In this example, commands to be given to the vending machine when setting various data related to the product are printed. Various data include the selling price of the product and the initial value that is added to a counter that counts the number of replenishments or remaining quantities of the product each time the product is sold. There are sales price barcodes representing a plurality of types of sales price data that can be used, and an initial value setting code B1 for instructing the setting of the initial value of the number of products to be supplied or the number remaining.

Furthermore, along with these barcodes, a sales tally code B2 is printed on the sheet 30, which instructs the vending machine to tally sales.

The product code is a common code barcode symbol specified by the JIS standard for POS systems, so-called J
This is called an AN code, and from the beginning it is 2.
A digit country code (49 represents Japan), a 5-digit product manufacturer code, a 5-digit product item code (hereinafter referred to as the product code for convenience), and a 1-digit check digit are arranged. ing. In this way, since the first two digits of the JAN code are determined to be 49, it is determined whether it is a JAN code by checking the first two digits. Therefore, in this example, the column code, product selection switch code, and barcode printed on sheet 30 have the first two digits as the identification code section, and by setting a number other than 49 there, these barcodes can be used. It is now possible to distinguish between

The printer unit 31 prints out the sales total data output by the CPU 21 in response to the operation of the total switch 32.

Figure 4 shows the storage format of the RAM 23.
The RAM 23 has at least six storage areas.

The storage area 23a is a buffer storage section, and includes a product code buffer for storing the product code read by the barcode reader 1, a column indicator display buffer, a selection switch indicator display buffer, an input amount buffer, and the like. Display data indicating whether the five column indicators 19 are turned on or off with one bit of 1'' or 0'' is stored in the 5-focus column indicator display buffer. Further, the 5-bit selection switch indicator display buffer stores display data indicating whether the five selection switch indicators 20 are turned on or off as 1'' or 0'' of 1 bit.

The storage area 23b is an area for storing the correspondence between each product selection switch 8 and the product code of the product sold by operating the product selection switch 8, and has five addresses equal to the number of product selection switches 8.

The storage area 23c is an area for storing the correspondence between each product storage column 2 and the product code of the product stored in this product storage column 2, and has five addresses equal to the number of product storage columns 2.

The storage area 23d is an area for storing the product code and the selling price of the product corresponding to this code, and this vending machine 5 has 5 product storage columns and can sell up to 5 types of products. Therefore, it has 5 addresses. In this example, by reading the barcode printed on the sheet 30 with the barcode reader 1, the selling price can be stored in the storage area 23d.

The storage area 23e is an area for storing total sales data such as cumulative sales amount and cumulative sales number for each product code.
Depending on the setting of the product code, a sales summary data storage unit is provided according to the set number.

The storage area 23f is a counter area for counting the number of supplies and the remaining number of products for each product code corresponding to the type of product sold by this vending machine. The number of supplies is incremented by 1 each time a product is sold, but the remaining quantity is subtracted by 1, contrary to the number of supplies.By checking the number of supplies, the person replenishing the product can determine how many units of that product are sold. By checking the remaining quantity, you can see how many units of the product can be sold later.

Also, if you replenish the product according to this supply number or remaining quantity,
When the product storage column of the vending machine becomes full, it is necessary to set the supply number to O and the remaining number to the full number. Therefore, the ROM 22 is programmed with full storage number data for each product for each product storage column 2.

The operation of the vending machine 5 having the above configuration will be explained separately in the barcode input mode and the vending mode.

(Barcode manual mode) By operating the mode switch 18, the CPU 21
The bar code input mode processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 and FIG. 5B is performed.

■Setting of sales price, etc. First, in step S1, the CPU 21 gives a drive signal to the barcode reader 1, and thereby.

Barcode reader 1 can read barcodes. Then, when the barcode is input in step S2, the CPU 21 performs the next step S3. S4, S5. S6. S
In each step of 24, the type of barcode entered manually is determined.

In step $3, if it is determined that the barcode input in step S2 is a JAN code, the process proceeds to step S15.
The PU 21 extracts the product code included in this JAN code and determines whether the same product code is stored in the storage areas 23b and 23C of the RAM 23. If the product code is stored, the process advances to step S16, and the column indicator 19 and selection switch indicator 20 corresponding to this product code are driven.

That is, the CPU 21 detects the product selection switch 8 storing the product code in question from the storage area 23b, and transfers display data instructing to drive the selection switch indicator 20 corresponding to this product selection switch 8 to the selection switch indicator of the RAM 23. It is stored in the display buffer and applied to the display device 14. In addition, the CPU 21
From c, the product storage column 2 that stores the product code is detected, and display data instructing to drive the column indicator 19 corresponding to this product storage column 2 is sent to RA.
It is stored in the column indicator display buffer of M23 and output to the display device 14.

If it is determined in the process of step S15 that the corresponding product code is not stored in the storage areas 23b, 23c, the process proceeds to step S17, and this product code is stored in the product code buffer.

If it is determined in step S4 that the barcode input in step S2 is a column code, the process proceeds to step S18. In this step S18, it is determined whether the product code is stored in the product code buffer, and if it is, the process proceeds to step S19.
In step S19, the CPU 21 uses the RAM 23
In the storage area 23c, this product code is stored at the address corresponding to the product storage column 2 indicated by the column code. On the other hand, if the product code is not stored in the product code buffer, error processing is performed in step S20 and the process returns to step S1.

In step S5, if it is determined that the barcode input in step S2 is a sales price code, the process proceeds to step S21.
It is determined whether the product code is stored in the product code buffer, and if it is stored, the process proceeds to step S22.
If it is not stored, error processing is performed in step S23.

In step S22, the CPU 21 RAs the product code stored in the product code buffer and the barcode representing the selling price read by the barcode reader 1.
Store in the storage area 23 (i) of M23. In this way, read the barcode printed on the product 18 for which you want to set the selling price with the barcode reader 1, and then select the selling price to be set from the sheet 30. By selecting the barcode displaying the barcode and reading it with the barcode reader 1, the correspondence between the product and the selling price is stored in the RAM 23.

In step S6, if it is determined that the barcode input in step S2 is a product selection switch code, the process proceeds to step S8.

Therefore, the product selection switch 8 can be designated by directly operating the product selection switch 8, in addition to reading the product selection switch code with the barcode reader 1. Therefore, if it is determined in step S6 that it is not a product selection switch code, the process goes to step S7,
Here, it is determined whether the product selection switch 8 has been operated.

If the product selection switch 8 is operated, the process advances to step S8.

In step S8, it is determined whether the product code is stored in the product code buffer. If it is stored, the process proceeds to step S9, but if it is not stored, step S2
Error processing is performed at 0.

In step S9, the CPU 21 determines whether the selection switch indicator 20 corresponding to this product selection switch 8 is being driven from the display data stored in the selection switch indicator display buffer. Then, when the corresponding selection switch indicator 20 is activated,
The process advances to step S10. In this step SIO, the contents stored in the address corresponding to this product selection switch 8 in the storage area 23b of the RAM 23 are cleared. In the next step Sll, the CPU 21
stores display data for turning off the selection switch indicator 20 corresponding to this product selection switch 8 in the selection switch indicator display buffer and applies pressure to the display device 14.

However, if the selection switch indicator 20 corresponding to the instructed product selection switch 8 is not activated, the process goes to step S12. In step S12, the CPU 21 stores the product code stored in the product code buffer at the address corresponding to the product selection switch 8 in the storage area 23b of the RAM 23. Then, in the next step S13, the CPU 21 stores display data for lighting up the selection switch indicator 20 corresponding to the product selection switch 8 in the selection switch indicator display buffer and outputs it to the display device 14.

In this way, by having the barcode reader 1 read the JAN code and then reading all the column codes that correspond to the product column that stores this product, the storage area 23c corresponding to the specified product storage column 2 is stored. The product code included in the JA and N codes is stored in the address.

Also, have the barcode reader 1 read the JAN code, and then have the barcode reader 1 read all product selection switch codes that correspond to the product selection switch 8 that you want to correspond to this product, or directly use the product selection switch 8. By operating, the address of the storage area 23b corresponding to the designated product selection switch 8 is set to J.
The product code included in the AN code is stored. At this time, if you read the JAN code with the barcode reader 1 and then specify the product selection switch 8 and the product storage column 2 in succession, you can see the correspondence between the product selection switch and the product code and the product storage column. Correspondence with product code can be done at the same time. Furthermore, if the barcode from the sheet 30 is also read at this time, correspondence between the product code and the selling price can be done at the same time.

■ Setting the remaining quantity and the number of supplies to the initial values If you want to set the remaining quantity and the number of supplies to the initial values after replenishing the product, use the barcode reader 1 to read the initial value setting code B1 printed on the sheet 30. let

Therefore, in step S24, if it is determined that the barcode input in step S2 is an initial value setting code, the process proceeds to step S25. This step S2
When barcode reader 1 reads the barcode at step 5,
In the next step S26, it is determined whether this barcode is a JAN code. In the case of a JAN code, the process goes to step S27, where the CPU 21 compares the product code included in this JAN code, and calculates the remaining quantity and replenishment stored in the storage area 23f in relation to this product code. Cents the number by a predetermined initial value. At this time, the CPU
21 sets the number of supplies to 0, but if there is a remaining quantity, the corresponding product storage column 2 is searched from the storage area 23c based on the input product code, and this product storage column 2 is programmed in the ROM 22. Cent the full storage number data. Then, the process of the CPU 21 returns to step S25 and waits for the barcode reader 1 to read the barcode next.

Then, when the presetting of the remaining number and the number of supplies is completed, the bar code B3 indicating the end printed on the sheet 30 is scanned by the bar code reader 1 to manually input this operation command to the vending machine. Therefore, if it is determined in step S28 that the end barcode has been read, the process returns to step S1. Scan the printed sales total code B2.

Therefore, in step S30, if it is determined that the barcode input in step S2 is a sales total code, the process proceeds to step S31.

When the barcode reader 1 reads the barcode in step S31, it is determined in the next step S32 whether this barcode is a JAN code. And JAN
If it is a code, the process goes to step S33, and the CPU2
1 extracts the product code included in this JAN code, reads out the sales summary data stored in the storage area 23e in relation to this product code, stores it in the print buffer of the RAM 23, and outputs it to the printer unit 31. . This drives the printer unit 31 to print out the sales summary table.

Then, when the sales totaling is finished, the barcode B3 indicating the end printed on the sheet 30 is scanned by the barcode reader 16. Therefore, when it is determined in step S34 that the barcode indicating the end has been read, , the process returns to step S1.

When the operation in the above barcode input mode is completed, by operating the mode switch 18 again, the CP
U21 stops driving the barcode reader 1 and performs the sales mode process shown in the flowchart of FIG.

(Sales Mode) In step 5100, the CPU 21 determines whether a signal indicating the amount of coins inserted is being sent from the coin processing device 11, and if so, the CPU 21 proceeds to the next step S +0.
This amount is added to the input amount stored in the input amount buffer in Step 1. In the next step, Step 5I02, it is determined whether the product selection switch 8 has been operated and a product has been selected. If it is being operated, step 5
In this step 5103, the product code corresponding to the selected product selection switch 8 is detected from the storage area 23b of the RAM 23 and stored in the product code buffer.In the next step 5104, the product code is detected. Based on the product code stored in the code buffer, the sales price of the product is searched from the storage area 23d of the RAM 23, and this sales price is compared with the input amount stored in the input amount buffer. Determine whether it can be sold.

If the selected product is available for sale, the process goes to step 5105, in which the product storage column 2 that stores the product is searched from the storage area 23c of the RAM 23 based on the product code stored in the product code buffer. In the 0th step 5I06, sales control processing is performed, and the CPU 21
gives a drive signal to the drive motor for product pressure feeding corresponding to the searched product storage column 2 to control the product pressure feeding operation, calculates change, and operates the coin processing device 1 as necessary.
Controls the change dispensing operation of step 1.

Upon completion of the sales operation, the CPU 21 returns to step 5107.
This will be the process. In this step S107, 1 is added to the counter for the number of supplies corresponding to this product code in the storage area 23f, and 1 is subtracted from the counter for counting the remaining number.

In the next step 8108, the product code stored in the product code buffer is stored in the storage area 23 of the RAM 23.
Determine whether it is stored in e. If a product code is stored, that is, if an address for storing total sales data for this product code is set in the storage area 23e, the process of step 5109 is performed. In step S109, the CPU 21 adds the sales data of the sales operation to the sales summary data stored in the sales summary data storage unit corresponding to this product code, and then returns to the process of step S100.

However, if the product code stored in the product code buffer is not stored in the storage area 23e of the RAM 23, the process goes to step S110.

This product code and sales data are stored in the storage area 23e, and the process returns to step 5100. As a result, C.P.
U21 sets the sales summary data storage section corresponding to this product code in the storage area 23e, and at the same time stores the first sales summary data in the storage section.

As described above, the CPU 21 in this vending machine 5 has a sales management means that manages the sales information of the sold products to be stored in the storage area 23e based on the product code of the product, and a sales management means that manages the sales information of the sold products to be stored in the storage area 23e based on the product code read by the barcode reader 1. It has the functions of a data setting means for setting various data related to the product, and a reading means for reading sales information stored in the storage area 23e for the product based on the product code read by the barcode reader 1. ing.

Therefore, when setting data, the CPU 21 causes the barcode reader 1 to read the product code of the product for which data is to be set, thereby storing the setting data corresponding to the product in the RAM 23. *When a product is sold, the sales data is stored according to the product code, and the remaining quantity and supply quantity are counted. Sales information such as sales data, remaining quantity, supply quantity, etc. can be read and output by reading the product code of the product whose sales information you want to check using the barcode reader 1.

(g) Effects of the Invention According to the present invention, it is possible to set various data related to products in a vending machine, to manage product sales information, and to read and compare this sales information.

A vending machine with excellent operability and manageability is provided because all the vending machines are controlled based on the product code printed on the product.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 shows the front door open, Figure 3 shows the electrical configuration in blocks, Figure 4 schematically shows the RAM storage format, Figures 5A and 5B. The figure is a flowchart explaining the operation of the barcode person mode.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart explaining the operation in sales mode. 1...Barcode reader, 21.CPU, 23...
・RAM.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In a vending machine that sells products whose product codes are printed as barcodes, a sales management means for managing sales information of the sold products based on the product code of the products; a barcode reader for reading a code; a data setting means for setting various data related to the product based on the product code read by the barcode reader; and a data setting means for setting various data related to the product based on the product code read by the barcode reader; A control device for a vending machine, comprising: reading means for reading sales information managed by the sales management means regarding products.