JPH05189646A - Commodity stock managing device for automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To solve problems such as (1) the accumulation of miscounting of a charging port, (2) the difficulty of full setting of commodities at the time of replacing commodities and (3) the cause of miscounting due to commodities filled up to a charging port sensor (i.e. more than the full number of commodities) in an automatic vending machine having a convensional charging port sensor for detecting the charge of a commodity and capable of managing commodity stock by finding out the number of remaining commodities (the number of stored commodities) in a rack, the number of commodities to be fed (the filled number of commodities - the number of remaining commodities), etc., from the count value of the sensor and the number of sold commodities. CONSTITUTION:When a sellout switch 6 detects sellout, a sellout stock presetting means 21 presets the number of remaining commodities to '0' and presets the number of commodities to be fed to the full number to solve the problem (1). An automatic full number setting means 22 sets up the number of commodities counted by the sensor 1 as the full number to solve the problem (2). An excess feeding number correcting means 23 excludes a commodity detected by the sensor 1 at the time of vending as an excessively filled commodity from stock counting to solve the problem (3).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to, for example, a vending machine for can products (a can vending machine, or a vending machine is also simply referred to as a vending machine), and the like. The present invention relates to a product inventory management device as a device for counting and managing the full number-the remaining number. In the following figures, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, as a conventional inventory management system in a can vending machine, one product is loaded into a product loading slot at the upper end of a product storage rack provided with a shipping solenoid as a product shipping means at its lower end. A product replenishment detection switch (also called a slot sensor) that can be pushed down once with
If the number of full racks is set in advance using a keyboard, etc., and if the inlet sensor detects ON / OFF, each time the product is loaded, the remaining number is incremented by 1 and the required supply number is decremented by 1. If there is a sale, the remaining number is subtracted and the number of replenishment required is added for the number of items delivered by the item delivery solenoid. Also, if the inlet sensor is left on, it is considered that the product has been stored to the full, and the remaining number is the full number. Further, there is known a system in which a switch called a remaining number preset switch is provided so that when the product is full, the remaining number is set to the full number and the required supply number is set to 0 by this switch.

[0003]

However, the above-mentioned conventional inventory management system has the following problems. When the input product is detected by the insertion port sensor, the number of supplies required and the remaining number may differ from the actual number due to a human hand touching the sensor, a reading error due to the product bouncing, or double counting. When changing the product in the rack (for example, when changing from 250 ml can to 350 ml can), if the full number is not reset for each column, the required supply number and the remaining number will not match. Therefore, it is troublesome to set the full capacity of each column every time the product is replaced. When a few more products are loaded and replenished in front of the mounting position of the loading port sensor on the rack (on the side of the loading port of the product), the several are not counted as the required number of supplies, the remaining number, and the full number. (If the inlet sensor is provided at the inlet end of the product inlet, a counting error is likely to occur by human hands, so the inlet sensor is attached to the back of the inlet to some extent. Items that are stored above the installation position of can not be counted by the input sensor).

[0004]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the product inventory management device according to claim 1 has a means for detecting a product sold-out (a sold-out switch 6 or the like) and a means for detecting a product insertion. (The input port sensor 1 and the like), the remaining number is added and the required supply number is subtracted for each detection of the product input detection means, and the remaining number is subtracted each time the product is delivered (via the delivery solenoid 5 or the like). In the product inventory management device of the vending machine for adding the required supply number, means for initializing the remaining number to 0 and the required supply number to full when the product sold-out detection means detects the sold-out (Off-time stock presetting means 21, etc.)
Shall be provided.

A commodity inventory management apparatus according to a second aspect is the commodity inventory management apparatus according to the first aspect, in which the commodity is sold out after the commodity sold-out detection means detects the sold-out state. It is assumed that a means for setting the remaining number accumulated through the product input detecting means to the full number (full number automatic setting means 22, etc.) is provided.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the product inventory management device according to the first or second aspect, wherein when the product is unloaded, the product insertion detecting means performs the detection. Means for omitting the addition of the remaining number and the subtraction of the required supply number based on
Etc.).

[0007]

[Action]

(1) Regarding the invention relating to claim 1, the sold-out switch 6
When the sold-out is detected, the stock-off-time inventory presetting means 21 for setting the remaining number to 0 and the required supply number to the full number is provided. (2) Regarding the invention relating to claim 2, when the product is replaced, the product in the rack is always emptied (sold out) and the product is put in. Focusing on this point, a full number automatic setting means 22 is provided for accumulating the number of products to be inserted until the first sale after the empty sold switch 6 is detected, and substituting the total number into the full number. (3) With respect to the invention related to claim 3, when the change of the inlet sensor 1 is detected at the timing of unloading the product, the surplus replenishment number correcting means 23 which does not add or subtract the remaining number and the replenishment required number is provided.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main part configuration as an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 02 denotes a product storage rack provided in the vending machine, 03 denotes a product insertion port at the upper end of the rack 02, and 01 denotes a can product. Reference numeral 1 denotes a product replenishment detection switch (insertion port sensor) provided on the slightly back side in the vicinity of the product insertion port 03, and is a switch that is pushed down once when one product 01 is inserted. 5
Is a carry-out solenoid provided as a product carry-out means provided at the lower end of the rack 02, and 6 is a sold-out switch for detecting an empty (commodity sold-out) inside the rack 02.

Here, at the time of replenishment of products, the can products 01 loaded from the loading port 03 roll and drop in the rack 02, are stacked in order, and are stored in the rack 02. Then, at the time of sale, the can products 01 are carried out one by one by the carry-out solenoid 5 to the outside of the rack. The remaining number in this embodiment is the number of canned products 01 remaining in the rack 02 (the number of stocks), and the full number is the number of stocks when the product 01 is charged and replenished up to the detection point of the loading sensor 1, The required supply number is ((full number)-(remaining number)).

Next, 2 is a CPU for controlling the vending machine and processing such as inventory management.
It is considered that the function of U2 is shared, and the stock presetting means at the time of sold-out, the full-number automatic setting means, and the surplus replenishment number correcting means, which are considered as partial functional parts, are the main components of the present invention. Reference numeral 3 is an RO that stores programs corresponding to the processing procedure.
M and 4 are RAMs that store data from an input device such as a keyboard (not shown), that is, various data such as a set amount of money, the number of stocks of canned goods in a rack, and 4a is a backup power source that holds the data stored in the RAM 4, 11 is a coin mech for selecting coins and paying out change, 10 is a product selection switch, 9 is a digital display for displaying the input amount of money, the number of products in stock, etc., 8 is provided corresponding to the product selection switch 10, A selectable lamp that shows selectable products after coins are inserted, and 7 is a display that displays the number of stocks and prints out.
It is a printing device.

The CPU 2 is an inlet sensor 1 when supplying goods.
The number of ON / OFF of is stored in the RAM 4, and substitution, addition, and subtraction are performed for the full number, the remaining number, and the number of replenishment required stored in the RAM 4. When selling products, coin mech 11 accepts money and lights selectable lamp 8, and digital display 9
Display the input amount. If there is an input from the product selection switch 10, the carry-out solenoid 5 is driven to carry out the product. Then, at the timing of this carry-out operation, the remaining number and the required supply number are subtracted and added. The detection signal of the sold-out switch 6 is C
It is taken in by PU2 and used for calculation of the full number, the remaining number, and the number of required supply. The data of the full number, the remaining number, and the required replenishment number are output to the output device such as the display / printing device 7 and the digital display 9.

FIG. 2 is a CP in the invention according to claim 1.
It is a flow chart which shows an example of a concrete operation of U2. Next, FIG. 2 will be described with reference to FIG. The following S
Reference numerals 1 to S7 indicate steps in FIG. That is, when the salable money is put into the coin mech 11 and the product selection switch 10 is selected (S1, branch Y), the CPU 2 carries out the product of the column via the carry-out solenoid 5 (S).
2), each time this is carried out, the remaining number for the column is 1
Is subtracted, and at the same time, the required supply number is incremented by 1 (S3) and the process returns to step S1.

If there is no deposit in step S1 (branch N) and there is a product loading detection of the loading port sensor 1 (S4, branch Y), one is added to the remaining number for the column. , 1 is subtracted from the number of required supply (S5). Then, after this or when there is no change in the inlet sensor in step S4 (branch N), it is checked whether the sold-out switch 6 detects the sold-out (S6). (Branch Y), the remaining number of the column is preset to 0, and the required supply number is preset to the full number (S7), and the process returns to step S1. If it is not sold out at step S6 (branch N), the process directly returns to step S1. The function of the sold-out stock presetting means 21 in the CPU 2 in FIG. 1 corresponds to steps S6 and S7.

FIG. 3 is a CP in the invention according to claim 2.
It is a flow chart which shows an example of a concrete operation of U2. In FIG. 3, steps S4 and S5 in FIG. 2 are replaced with steps S11 to S18, and
After S3, S19 is added. Next, with reference to FIG. 1, a description will be given mainly of a portion different from FIG. 2 of FIG. That is, when there is no deposit (S1, branch N), the sold-out switch 6 is switched from the sold-out detection state to the product-existing state (S1).
1, branch Y), assuming that the supply of goods to the column has started, the supply mode flag of the column is set (S12), and the full number of the column is cleared to 0 (S1).
3) Return to switch S1. After that, the replenishment mode flag is cleared at the time of the first sale of the column (S1).
Up to 9), it is assumed that the product is being replenished, and the inlet sensor 1
(S14, branch Y), the remaining number of the column is incremented by 1 (S15), and the full number of the column is incremented by 1 (S16, branch Y → S17). Then, since the full number is changed in step S17, the required supply number of the column is set to (full number)-(remaining number) (S18), and the process proceeds to step S6.

However, the first sale after that, step S
After the replenishment mode flag of the column is cleared in 19 as described above, the full number is not added in step S17 even if the product insertion detection of the insertion port sensor 1 is performed (S1).
6, branch N), the full number is automatically set at the time of clearing the supply mode flag. At the time of this clearing, the required supply number obtained in step S18 is 0 (that is, the full number = remaining number). After the setting of the full number, the operations of steps S15 and S18 are performed when the product insertion detection of the insertion port sensor 1 (S14, branch Y), but the contents of these two procedures are the same as step S5 of FIG. is there. Here, the function of the full number automatic setting means 22 in the CPU 2 in FIG. 1 is to perform steps S11 to S14, S16, S17 and S19.
Equivalent to.

In FIG. 2, the replenishment mode flag is cleared in the next (first) sale after the replenishment of the goods. The supply mode flag may be cleared when the supply of 1 is continuously turned on and the supply is completed.

Next, FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing an embodiment of a concrete operation of the CPU 2 in the invention according to claim 3. In FIG. 4, step S21 is added to FIG. That is, at the time of selling the product, the inlet sensor 1
If there is a product insertion detection (S2 → S21, branch Y), it is assumed that the product 01 has been replenished to the insertion port 03 side from the insertion port sensor 1 (that is, more than the full number), and this excess replenishment Is excluded from the calculation of the remaining number and the required supply number, and the calculation in step S3 is not performed.
This step S21 of FIG. 4 corresponds to the function of the surplus supply number correction means 23 in the CPU 2 of FIG.

[0018]

According to the invention of claim 1, when the sold-out is detected, the remaining number of the column is preset to 0 and the required supply number is preset to the full number. It is possible to correct miscounts due to reading errors, product bounds, manual input, etc., and return to normal inventory counts.

According to the second aspect of the invention, after the product is sold out, the number of products counted by the slot sensor until the next first sale is regarded as a full number and automatically set. Since it is not necessary to set the full number at the time of replacement, the trouble of setting can be eliminated. In addition, in the conventional arbitrary setting,
It is necessary to know the number of each rack that can be accommodated and set the full number, and even if it is set, when the rack is full of products, it is replenished so that the product can be seen from the rack mouth (insertion port) 03. There were several errors due to the difference in how to replenish the racks with the full product, etc. Therefore, (full number) = (remaining number) +
(The number of replenishments required) did not occur. However, in the present invention, since the full number is counted by the inlet sensor 1, it is possible to grasp the full number (the number of products 01 up to the inlet sensor 1).

According to the third aspect of the invention, since the surplus products replenished to the rack loading sensor 1 and above are excluded from the inventory calculation, the remaining number of surplus products and the replenishment number are added. It is possible to solve the conventional problem that the number obtained by subtraction does not match the real number.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main part configuration as an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a CPU as an embodiment of the invention according to claim 1;
Flowchart showing the operation of

FIG. 3 is a CPU as an embodiment of the invention according to claim 2;
Flowchart showing the operation of

FIG. 4 is a CPU as an embodiment of the invention according to claim 3;
Flowchart showing the operation of

[Explanation of symbols]

 01 canned product 02 rack 03 input port 1 product supply detection switch (input port sensor) 2 CPU 3 ROM 4 RAM 5 carry-out solenoid 6 sold-out switch 7 display / printing device 9 digital display 21 sold-out stock presetting means 22 full number Automatic setting means 23 Surplus supply number correction means

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A means for detecting a product sold-out and a means for detecting a product insertion, adding the remaining number and subtracting the number of replenishment required at each detection of the product insertion detecting means, and each time the product is carried out. In a product inventory management device for a vending machine that subtracts this remaining number and adds the required supply number, the remaining number is set to 0 when the product sold-out detection means detects a sold-out condition.
In addition, a product inventory management device for a vending machine, characterized in that it is provided with means for initializing the required number of supplies to the full. 2. The product inventory management device according to claim 1, wherein after the sold-out of the product sold-out detection means is detected, the products are accumulated through the product-insertion detection means until the product is first carried out. A product inventory management device for a vending machine, comprising means for setting the remaining number to the full number. 3. The product inventory management device according to claim 1, wherein when the product is unloaded when the product loading detection means detects the product, the remaining number is added based on the detection and the necessity. A product inventory management device for a vending machine, characterized in that it comprises means for omitting subtraction of the number of supplies.