JPH0498391A - Controller for automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To surely register only the designated merchandise as handling merchandise by deciding whether or not this merchandise is registered as the handling merchandise of the corresponding automatic vending machine while utilizing a merchandise code printed on the merchandise to be sold. CONSTITUTION:When a merchandise code printed on the merchandise to be set as the handling merchandise of an automatic vending machine 5 with the help of a bar code reader 1, merchandise code file searching means 8 and 29 decide whether or not the same merchandise code as the one when the bar code reader 1 reads in a file. When the same merchandise code is filed, the register means 8 and 23d register this merchandise as the handling merchandise of the corresponding automatic vending machine 5. Thus, the merchandise code can be registered as the handling merchandise of the automatic vending machine when it is the one for the designated merchandise.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a control device for a vending machine that prohibits the sale of products other than those specified in advance.

(b) Conventional technology In most cases, the vending machine owner outsources the management of the vending machine to a retailer; in this case, the vending machine owner This may be the manufacturer or distributor of the product. By the way, the problem with this type of operation is that the manager sells products other than those specified by the vending machine owner. This goes against the wishes of the owner who wants to expand sales.

For this reason, there has been a desire for vending machines that do not allow the sale of products other than those specified. To achieve this purpose, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-233692 discloses that in a vending machine having a display shelf in which samples of products to be sold are displayed in correspondence with product selection buttons, each sample of products to be sold is provided with a circuit having a constant resistance value. An abnormality detection circuit is constructed by fixing the conductive materials of the structure and connecting each of the circuit constituent materials in series, and also includes determining means for determining whether the total resistance value is within a predetermined value and outputting the result. The configuration of the vending machine is disclosed. This invention focuses on displaying samples of products to be sold in vending machines, and makes it impossible to sell unless a sample of a specified product is displayed.

(c) Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, the configuration of the conventional example has the disadvantage that it can only be applied to vending machines equipped with a configuration for displaying product samples. Another problem is that these product samples are relatively easy to imitate.

Therefore, the present invention reads the product code printed in the form of a bar code on the product to be sold in a vending machine, and if this product code is different from the product code of the designated product, the product is not handled by the vending machine. The present invention provides a control device for a vending machine that prevents registration.

(d) Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the vending machine control device according to the present invention includes a product code file that stores product codes of products that can be sold in the vending machine. , a barcode reader, a product code file search means for searching the product code file based on the product code read by the barcode reader, and a product code file that stores the product code read by the barcode reader. and registering means for registering this product as a product handled by the vending machine when the product code searching means detects that the product code matches the product code of some other product in the vending machine.

(E) Operation When the barcode reader reads the product code printed on the product that you want to set as a product handled by the vending machine, the product code file search means searches the product code file and inserts the barcode in the file. Determine whether the same product code as the one read by the reader is on file. If the same product code is filed, the registration means registers this product as a product handled by the vending machine. As a result, if this product is stored in a vending machine and selected, it can be sold because it has been registered in advance.

(F) Embodiment FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a vending machine showing an embodiment of the present invention. A customer service panel 6 of the vending machine 5 is provided with a coin insertion lower and seven product selection switches 8.

A control box 10 and a coin processing device II 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 device including a CPU and the like is housed in the control box 10. Coin processing device 1 (11 includes a coin selector 11A for sorting coins inserted into a coin input lower, a coin storage section IIB, and a coin dispensing unit for discharging coins stored in this coin storage section to a coin ejection port 17. It consists of a device 11C.Furthermore, on the back of the door 9, a product selection switch 7 code corresponding to each product selection switch 8 and representing the corresponding product selection switch is displayed in the form of a bar code. A product selection switch identification section 29 is provided.
The code is for displaying, for example, the switch number assigned to each product selection switch 8.

FIG. 2 shows a state in which the front door 3 is opened, and the inside of the vending machine 5 is provided with five product storage columns 2, and the lower part of the product storage column 2 is connected to the product takeout port 4. A 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 is, for example, $I for each product storage column 2.
It displays the column number etc. with Q.

In this vending machine 5, in the initial state, the product selection switch 8 and the product storage column 2 do not correspond, and in this state, even if the product selection switch 8 is operated, neither of the product storage columns 2 No products will be sold. Thus, when the correspondence between the product selection switch 8 and the product storage column 2 is set, when the product selection switch 8 is operated, the product can be sold from the corresponding product storage column 2.

Such settings are performed as follows using the product code printed in the form of a bar code on the product to be sold. That is, by using the barcode reader 1 to read the column code displayed in the column identification section 28 corresponding to the desired product storage column 2 and the product code printed on the product to be stored in the product storage column concerned. Make the vending machine recognize the correspondence between the product storage column and the product, and use the barcode reader l to select the product displayed in the product selection switch identification section 29 corresponding to the product selection switch 8 that you want to set in the same way as the product code. By reading the switch code, the vending machine is made to recognize the correspondence between the product selection switch 8 and the product. This means that the vending machine is set to correspond to the product selection switch 8 and product storage column 2 in order to detect the product selection switch 8 and product storage column 2 having the same product code. Now, instead of reading the product selection switch code with the barcode reader 1, by operating the product selection switch 8, the correspondence between the product selection switch 8 and the product can be recognized.

In this way, by inputting the product code printed on the product to be sold, the correspondence between the product selection switch 8 and the product storage column 2 is set, and the product is registered as a handled product. Therefore, in this vending machine 5, when the product code read by the barcode reader 1 is other than the specified product, the correspondence between the product selection switch 8 and the product storage column 2 cannot be set. This configuration makes it impossible to register products other than designated products as handled products.

FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the vending machine 5 in block form. Through the bus 25 and data bus 26, the ROM 22° RAM 23 stores operating programs, and the I10 interface 24.
are connected. And I10 interface 24
includes a barcode reader l, a coin processing device l,
A display device 14, a selection device 15, a vending device 16, and a mode switch 18 are connected.

The coin processing device 11 outputs a signal representing the amount of the coin determined to be appropriate by the coin selector 16 to the CPU 21 through the I10 interface 24. Further, the coin processing device 11 drives the coin dispensing device 18 when a signal indicating coin dispensing is input from the CPU 10 through the f10 interface 24.

The display device 14 includes five column indicators 19 provided corresponding to each product storage column 2 and seven selection switch indicators 2 provided corresponding to each product selection switch 8.
The driving of each indicator including 0 is controlled based on display data input from the CPU 21 through the I10 interface 24. The selection switch indicator 20 is provided on the customer service panel 6, and in the normal sales mode, when the customer inserts money, it functions as a so-called sales ready indicator that lights up to indicate the products that can be purchased with the inserted amount. It is something.

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 sending out the product corresponding to the product storage column 2, and the CPU 21 gives a command to this motor through the I10 interface 24 to indicate the withdrawal of the product.

The mode switch 18 is operated to switch between normal sales mode and setting mode. When the mode switch 14 is operated in the vending mode, the CPU 21 sets the vending machine to the setting mode and drives the barcode reader 1. This allows the barcode reader 1 to read the product code printed on the product 13, the column code displayed in the column identification section 28, and the product selection switch code displayed in the product selection switch identification section 29. I can do it.

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. There is. 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 the column code and product selection switch code of this example, the first two digits are used as an identification code part, and by setting a value other than 49 here, three codes can be distinguished.

The CPU 21 stores the correspondence between the product storage columns 2 and the product selection switches 8 in the RAM 23 based on the reading by the barcode reader 1. Since these do not match, there is one product storage column corresponding to a plurality of product selection switches 8.

Figure 4 shows the storage format of the RAM 23.
The RAM 23 has at least five 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, and a selection switch indicator display buffer. The 5-bit column indicator display buffer contains 5 bits.
Display data indicating lighting or extinguishing of each column indicator 19 as one bit "1" or "0" is stored. In addition, the 7-bit selection switch indicator display buffer contains 7 selection switch indicators 20.
1 bit “1” or “0” to turn on or off
Display data shown in is stored.

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 seven 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 correspondence between the product selection switch 8 and the product storage column 2, and has seven addresses equal to the number of product selection switchers 8.

The storage area 23d is an area for product code files. This product code file 23d stores in advance the product code printed on the specified product sold by this vending machine 5.

In the vending machine 5 having the above configuration, the operation in the setting mode will be explained with reference to FIG.

First, in step S1, the CPU 21 provides a drive signal to the barcode reader 1, so that the barcode reader 1 can read the barcode. and,
When the barcode is input in step S2, the CPU2
1 is the following 53. In each step of S4 and S5, the type of the input barcode is determined.

In step S3, if it is determined that the barcode input in step S2 is a JAN code, the process proceeds to step 521. In step S21, C
PU21 extracts the product code included in this JAN code and stores the same product code in product code file 2.
Search to see if it is stored in 3d. If it is detected in step S22 that the same product code is stored in the product code file, the process advances to step S23. However, if the same product code is not stored in the product code file 23d, the process returns to step Sl. Therefore, the product whose product code is read by the barcode reader 1 is not registered because it is a product other than those predetermined as products handled by the vending machine.

In step S23, it is determined whether the product code included in the JAN code is stored in the storage areas 23b, 23c of the RAM 23. If the product code is stored, the process advances to step S24, 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 from the storage area 23b, and selects display data in the RAM 23 that instructs to drive the selection switch indicator 20 corresponding to the product selection switch 8. It is stored in the switch indicator display buffer and output to the display device 14. Also, C
The PU 21 detects the product storage column 2 storing the product code from the storage area 23c, and displays display data instructing the drive of the column indicator 19 corresponding to this product storage column 2 in the RAM 23 as a column indicator. The data is stored in a buffer and output to the display device 14.

If it is determined in the process of step S23 that the corresponding product code is not stored in the storage areas 23b, 23c, the process proceeds to step 525, 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 518. In this step 318, it is determined whether the product code is stored in the product code buffer, and if it is stored, the process proceeds to step 519. In the Ste Nobu S19, the CPU 21 uses the RAM
In the storage area jd23c of No. 23, this product code is stored in 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 no.

In step S5, if it is determined that the barcode input in step S2 is a product selection switch code, the process proceeds to step S7.

Therefore, the product selection switch 8 can be designated by operating the product selection switch 8 itself, in addition to reading the product selection switch code with the barcode reader 1.

Therefore, if it is determined in step S5 that it is not the product selection switch code, the process proceeds to step S6, where 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 S7.

In step S7, it is determined whether the product code is stored in the product code buffer, and if it is stored, the process proceeds to step S8, but if it is not stored, step S2
Error processing is performed at 0.

In step S8, 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 S9. In this step S9, 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 S10, 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 displays the display device 14.
Output to.

However, if the selection switch indicator 20 corresponding to the instructed product selection switch 8 is not activated, the process goes to step Sll. In this step Sl, 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 S12, 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 designated product storage column 2 is stored. The product code included in the JAN code is stored in the address.

Also, the barcode reader 1 reads the JAN code, and then the barcode reader 1 reads all the product selection switch codes that correspond to the product selection switch 8 that you want to correspond to this product, or you can directly read the product selection switch 8 By operating , the address of the storage area 23b corresponding to the specified 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. and correspondence with the product code can be done together.

In step S13, it is determined whether the setting is completed by operating the mode switch 18 again. and,
If the process has not been completed, the process returns to step S1.

In step 514, the CPU 21 uses the RAM 23
The product selection switch 8 and product storage column 2 storing the same product code are detected from the storage contents of the storage areas 23b and 23c, and the address corresponding to each product selection switch 8 is stored in the storage area 23d of the RAM 23. The corresponding product storage column number is stored. This is F)
The correspondence between the product selection switch and the product storage column is set in the RAM 23.

However, the JAN code (product code) read by barcode reader 1 is
d, the correspondence between the product selection switch 8 and the product storage column 2 cannot be stored in the RAM 23, and this product will not be registered as a product handled by the vending machine 5.

Then, when the setting is completed and the sales mode is entered, CPU2
1 reads the product storage column number from the address in the storage area 23d corresponding to the product selection switch 8 when the product selection switch 8 is operated, and performs sales control based on this data.

(G) Effects of the Invention According to the present invention, the product code printed on the product to be sold is used to register the product as a product handled by the vending machine. You can definitely register it as a handled 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, and Figure 4 shows the RAM memory 7.
FIG. 5, which is a diagram schematically showing the automation, is a flowchart explaining the operation.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a vending machine that sells products whose product codes are printed in barcodes, a product code file that stores product codes of products that can be sold in the vending machine; a barcode reader; a product code file search means for searching the product code file based on the product code read by the barcode reader; and the product code file stores the product code read by the barcode reader. A control device for a vending machine, comprising: a registering means for registering a product as a product handled by the vending machine when the product code searching means detects that the product code matches a certain product code.