JPH0512558A - Commodity lifter control device for automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To suppress the reduction of vending chances by improving processing to be executed when a commodity carried out from a commodity rack does not reach a commodity takeout port in an automatic vending machine provided with a commodity lifter. CONSTITUTION:A commodity carried out from the commodity rack 3 is carried to the commodity takeout port 11 by the commodity lifter 12, but if the commodity is not loaded on the lifter 12 or the commodity is not normally carried when the lifter 12 is locked due to the jam of the commodity, the reciprocated operation of the lifter 12 is repeated by the prescribed number of times to try the repairment of the abnormality. When the commodity is normally carried as the result of the repairing trial, the succeeding vending is allowed, so that a vending stop clue to the failure of the lifter 12 can be suppressed as less as possible.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention conveys products such as bottled products and canned products, which are carried out from a product shelf through a product carry-out port at the time of product sale, to a product take-out port located at a position higher than the product carry-out port. The present invention relates to an automatic vending machine equipped with a product lifter, and more particularly to a product lifter control device with improved treatment when an abnormality occurs in the product transportation process.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a canned product or the like, which has been carried out mainly by gravity dropping means, is guided from a product shelf through a product outlet below the product shelf directly to a product outlet through a shooter,
Since the user has to bend over to take out the product, the carried product should be further received by the product lifter (hereinafter abbreviated as lifter) and conveyed to the product take-out port higher than the product take-out port. As a result, an automatic vending machine has been proposed for the convenience of users (Japanese Patent Application No. 2-113592).
No.).

By the way, in a vending machine equipped with such a lifter, the product taken out of the product shelf for some reason does not get on the lifter, or the lifter is locked due to a product jam during transportation, There is a case where the product does not reach the product outlet, but in such a case, it must be displayed as a failure and the subsequent sales operation must be stopped. Therefore, conventionally, when an abnormality occurs in the product transportation, such a treatment is immediately performed.

[0004]

However, such a failure in product transportation not only annoys the user, but also causes a great loss to the vending machine installer because the subsequent sales operation is stopped. Becomes Therefore, even if the above conveyance abnormality occurs, do not immediately treat it as a failure.
It is hoped that the situation will be repaired as much as possible. Therefore, in the present invention, when an abnormality occurs in the product transfer operation by the lifter, the vending machine itself is made to escape from the abnormality, and the chances of the product being unable to be dispensed and the subsequent sales suspension occurring are reduced as much as possible. It is an object of the present invention to provide a product lifter control device for such a vending machine.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, first of all, the present invention is a lifter operation for detecting whether or not a product lifter activated in response to the discharge of a product from a product shelf is operating normally. The detection means, the product conveyance detection means for detecting whether or not the product conveyed by the product lifter has reached the product outlet, and the signals from these detection means, the product has reached the product outlet. If it is not detected, and if an abnormality in the operation of the product lifter is detected, the operation of stopping and reversing the product lifter and then rotating it in the forward direction is repeated a predetermined number of times, and the product is accompanied by the operation. When it is detected that the product has reached the product outlet, the product lifter is stopped to put it in a sales standby state, and even if the operation is finished, the product has reached the product outlet. The product lifter is stopped to be known to those upcoming provided and control means for performing a fault processing.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a lifter operation detecting means for detecting whether or not a product lifter activated in response to the transfer of a product from a product shelf is operating normally, and the product. The product transport detection means for detecting whether or not the product transported by the lifter has reached the product outlet, and the signals from these detection means cause the product to move even if the operation of the product lifter is normal. If it is not detected that the product outlet has been reached,
After stopping the product lifter once and then rotating it forward again again a predetermined number of times, and when it is detected that the product has reached the product outlet, the product lifter is stopped and sold. Put it in a standby state,
Further, if it is not detected that the product reaches the product outlet even after the operation is finished, a control means for stopping the product lifter and performing a failure process is provided.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a lifter operation detecting means for detecting whether or not a product lifter activated in response to the transfer of a product from a product shelf is operating normally, and the product. A product transport detection unit that detects whether or not the product transported by the lifter has reached a product outlet, a product recovery container that recovers the product that has not reached the product removal port, and the product recovery container When an abnormality in the operation of the product lifter is detected by a signal from the recovery detection unit that detects that the product has been collected, and the lifter operation detection unit and the product conveyance detection unit, the product lifter is reversed and the recovery detection is performed. The product lifter is detected when it is detected by the signal from the means that the product has been collected in the product collection container within a predetermined time after the reverse rotation of the product lifter is started. And sales standby state is stopped, and shall be given time has elapsed to provide a control means for performing a fault processing is stopped recovered the items lifter to be detected in the product.

[0008]

[Function] When the lifter locks and stops due to a product jam, the normalization operation (hereinafter referred to as a retry) of reversely reversing the lifter, retracting it, and rotating it normally again is repeated a preset number of times to lock. We will endeavor to cancel it. Also, if the lifter is operating normally but the product is not conveyed to the product outlet, it means that the product is not correctly placed on the product lifter. The above shall be repeated a preset number of times to try to put the product on the lifter. If the product does not reach the product outlet even after the above retry,
For the first time, take action for the failure. In addition, a container is provided to collect the product that is removed by the reverse rotation of the lifter, and if it is detected that the product is collected in this container, the product jam will be repaired and the next sale will be possible. If the recovery of the product is not detected even after a lapse of a certain period of time from the start-up, the failure action is taken.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An embodiment of the present invention in a canned product vending machine will be described below with reference to FIGS. First Embodiment First, FIGS. 1 to 3 show a first embodiment. FIG. 1 is a front view of a main part of an automatic vending machine with an outer door opened. Reference numeral 1 denotes a main body of the automatic vending machine, and reference numeral 2 denotes an outer door that is opened on one side with its left end as a fulcrum. Inside the main body 1, there are 5 rows of serpentine-type product shelves 3 in which product storage passages are arranged in the front and rear, and there are 5 rows on the left and right. In addition, a total of three product carry-out ports 4 are provided on the front surface of the main body, one for each of the two product shelves 3 on the right side. Reference numeral 5 is a product inlet opening at the top of each product storage passage, and 6 is a refrigerator for cooling the inside of the main body.

On the other hand, on the outer door 2, a product selection push button 7,
A coin insertion slot 8, a coin return slot 9, various indicators such as a failure indicator 10, lamps, a product outlet 11, and the like are provided, and a horizontal portion 12A facing directly below the product outlet 4 in the main body 1 and An L-shaped lifter 12 including a vertical portion 12B rising from one end to the product outlet 11 is attached.

The lifter 12 is the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application No. 2-113592.
The structure is also as shown in the Japanese Patent Application, which is provided with a belt conveyor 16 composed of endless belts stretched around upper and lower pulleys 13 and corner guide rollers 14, and is driven by a lifter motor 15. Belt conveyor 1
A large number of protrusions 16a are integrally formed on the conveying surface of the container 6 at equal intervals. The protrusions 16a engage with the product at the time of conveying and serve as lifter operation detecting means provided at the end of the horizontal portion 12A. The running switch 17 is operated. Reference numeral 18 is a transport detection switch as a product transport detection means and is a lifter 1.
It is provided at the product exit end of item 2. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the lifter control device in the vending machine of FIG.
The failure display 10, the lifter 16, the self-propelled switch 17, the transport detection switch 18, and the like, which have already been described, are connected to the control unit 21 including the storage unit 9 and the storage unit 20.

Next, the lifter control operation in the above configuration will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When a product carry-out solenoid (not shown) in the product shelf 3 is driven by the sales command to carry out the product (step S
1), wait 1.0 seconds (step S2), and activate the lifter 12 (step S3). The reason for providing 1.0 second is to wait for the product to transfer to the belt conveyor 16 because the product may be flipped when it falls on the moving belt conveyor 16. If the lifter 12 operates normally,
The delivered goods are carried horizontally on the belt conveyor 16 and then vertically with the help of the protrusions 16a,
Reach product outlet 11. At the same time, the protrusion 16a turns on the self-propelled switch 17 at regular time intervals. Therefore, it is checked whether there is an ON signal for the self-propelled switch 17 (step S4), and if there is an ON signal for the transport detection switch 18 (step S5).

If there is this ON signal, it means that the product has been transferred from the lifter 12 to the product outlet 11, but for safety, the lifter 12 is rotated forward for another 0.3 seconds (step S
6) Then, it is checked that the ON signal of the self-propelled switch 17 has been detected for only one pulse (step S7), and if detected, the lifter 12 is stopped and put into a sales standby state (step S8). The reason why the lifter 12 is stopped by the one-pulse detection is to regulate the stop position to be constant. If no pulse is detected in step S7, the check is continued for 3 seconds (step S9). If no pulse is detected, the lifter 12 is stopped and a failure signal is sent to display a failure indication on the failure indicator 10. At the same time, the selling operation is stopped (step S10).

On the other hand, if the ON signal of the self-propelled switch 17 cannot be detected in step S4, the lifter 12 may be locked and stopped due to a product jam, but it is further checked whether the transport detection switch 18 is ON. (Step S11), and if there is an ON signal, the process proceeds to step S6. O
If there is no N signal, the check of step S4 → step S11 is continued until 3 seconds have passed (step S12). Three
If there is no ON signal of the transport detection switch 18 even after the elapse of seconds, it is determined that the lifter 12 is locked and the lifter 1
Stop 2 for 0.2 seconds, then reverse for 1.0 seconds, then 0.2.
Stop for 2 seconds, rotate forward for 3.0 seconds again (step S1
3), try to put the product on the lifter 12. Then, it is checked whether the conveyance detection switch 18 is turned on (step S14).

If the ON signal of the conveyance detection switch 18 is present, the process proceeds to step S6, but if not, the check is continued for 3 seconds (step S15). If the ON signal is not present, the operations of steps S13 to S15 are repeated up to three times. Repeat (step S16). Then, even at the end, if there is no ON signal of the conveyance detection switch 18, it is considered as a failure and the lifter 12 is stopped and a failure signal is sent.

Although there is an ON signal of the self-propelled switch 17 in step S4, the conveyance detection switch 18 is in step S5.
If there is no ON signal of, the lifter 12 is operating normally, but it is judged that the product is not correctly placed on the lifter 12, so the lifter 12 is stopped for 0.2 seconds, and then 3.
Effort is made to rotate the product forward on the lifter 12 for 0 second (step S18), and then it is checked whether the conveyance detection switch 18 is turned on (step S19). If there is no ON signal, this check continues for 3 seconds (step S2
0), if it is turned on during that time, the process proceeds to step S6, but turned on
If not, the operations of steps S18 to S19 are repeated up to three times (step S21). Then, if the conveyance detection switch 18 is not turned on to the end, the process proceeds to step S10 and a failure occurs.

Second Embodiment Next, FIGS. 4 and 5 show a second embodiment of the present invention. 4A is a front view of the vending machine with the outer door opened, and FIG. 4B is a vertical cross-sectional view, in which parts corresponding to those in FIG. The actual configuration of this vending machine is the same as that of the first embodiment, except that a product collection box 23 is installed below the terminal of the horizontal portion of the lifter 12, and a recovery detection switch 24 is provided on the upper surface thereof. Is different from the first embodiment.

Then, regarding the control operation of the first embodiment,
This will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the product 22 is carried out by the sales command (step S1), the lifter 12 is activated after waiting for one second (steps S2 → S3). After that, it is checked whether or not the conveyance detection switch 18 is turned on within a certain time (step S4), and if it is turned on, it is determined that the conveyance is normal, the lifter 12 is stopped at a fixed position and put into a sales standby state (step S5). On the other hand, in step S4, the product 22
If the conveyance is not detected, the retry as in the first embodiment is repeated a predetermined number of times (step S6), and each time, the conveyance detection switch 18 is checked to be ON within a fixed time (step S7).

At step S7, the conveyance detection switch 18 is turned off.
If NO, the process proceeds to step S5 and waits for sale, but if not ON, the ON state of the self-propelled switch 17 is checked (step S8). If it is not turned on here, it is considered that the lifter 12 is locked due to a product jam, so the lifter 12 is reversed (step S9), and then the product is collected in the product collection box 23 within a certain time after the reverse start. Whether or not the recovery detection switch 24 is turned on is checked (step S10).

When the collection of the goods is detected, the conveyance abnormality is considered to have been repaired, and the process proceeds to step S5. Also,
If recovery is not detected, the lifter 12 is stopped and a failure signal is sent (step S11). On the other hand, if the self-propelled switch 17 is turned on in step S8, it is considered that the conveyance abnormality is caused by another cause other than the product jam, and therefore, the process proceeds to step S11 to take action for the failure.

[0021]

As described above, according to the present invention, when an abnormal conveyance occurs in a vending machine equipped with a lifter, it is not immediately treated as a failure, but the lifter is normally or reversely rotated and undelivered goods are collected. The operation is performed, and as a result, when it is determined that the abnormality has been resolved, the control is performed so that the next sale can be performed, so that the worst situation of the sales suspension can be minimized.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a main part of an automatic vending machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention with an outer door open.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control device of the vending machine of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a control operation of the vending machine of FIG.

FIG. 4A is a front view of a main part of an automatic vending machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention with an outer door open, and FIG. 4B is a vertical sectional view.

5 is a flowchart showing a control operation of the vending machine of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

3 product shelves 4 Commodity exit 11 Product outlet 12 product lifters 17 self-propelled switch 18 Transport detection switch 21 Control unit 23 Product Collection Box 24 Recovery detection switch

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. In a vending machine equipped with a product lifter that receives a product carried out from a product shelf and conveys the product to a product outlet, the product lifter activated in response to the carry-out of the product from the product shelf operates normally. The lifter operation detecting means for detecting whether or not the product conveyed by the product lifter has reached the product take-out port, and the signal from these detecting means When it is not detected that the product has reached the product outlet, and if an abnormality in the operation of the product lifter is detected, the product lifter is once stopped, reversely rotated, and then again rotated forward for a predetermined number of times, When it is detected that the product has reached the product outlet in accordance with this operation, the product lifter is stopped to enter the sales standby state, and the operation is completed. Product lifter control device for an automatic vending machine, wherein the products provided a control means for performing a fault processing said items lifter is stopped to be detected that has reached the product outlet. 2. In a vending machine equipped with a product lifter that receives a product carried out from a product shelf and conveys it to a product take-out port, the product lifter activated in response to the carry-out of the product from the product shelf operates normally. The lifter operation detecting means for detecting whether or not the product conveyed by the product lifter has reached the product take-out port, and the signal from these detecting means If it is not detected that the product has reached the product outlet despite the normal operation of the lifter, the product lifter is stopped once, and then the normal rotation operation is repeated a predetermined number of times. When it is detected that the product reaches the product outlet in association with the operation, the product lifter is stopped to put it in a sales standby state, and the operation is completed. Product lifter control device for an automatic vending machine, wherein the products provided a control means for performing a fault processing said items lifter is stopped to be detected that has reached the product outlet. 3. In a vending machine equipped with a product lifter that receives a product delivered from a product shelf and conveys it to a product outlet, the product lifter activated in response to the delivery of the product from the product shelf operates normally. A lifter operation detecting means for detecting whether or not the product conveyed by the product lifter has reached a product take-out port, and a product not having reached the product take-out port A product collection container that collects the product, a collection detection unit that detects that the product has been collected in the product collection container, and a signal from the lifter operation detection unit and the product conveyance detection unit indicates that the operation of the product lifter is abnormal. When it is detected, the product lifter is reversed, and the product is transferred to the commercial product within a predetermined time after the reverse rotation of the product lifter is activated by a signal from the collection detection means. That it has been collected in the collection container to stop the goods lifter When you are detected as a sales standby state,
A product lifter control device for a vending machine, further comprising: control means for stopping the product lifter and performing a failure process if collection of the product is not detected even after a lapse of a certain time.