JPH05266326A - Product supplement number display device for automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify the display of the supplementing number of products in the same group when the same products are stored in plural columns. CONSTITUTION:A remote controller 4 is operated and a group number table corresponding to respective selection keys 1-1 to 1-N is generated in RAM 5. A supplementing number counter counts up or counts down for respective groups in accordance with the selling of the products. When the selection key 1-1 is depressed without throwing in coins, a number requiring the supplement of the group 1 is displayed in a price display unit 2.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement in a device for displaying the number of replenished products or the number of remaining products required for replenishing products to an automatic vending machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a product supply number display device for an automatic vending machine, for example, there is a technology as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-292792. This is to display the supply number of products corresponding to the select button provided for each column of the products by designating the code number.

[0003]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Larger vending machines,
Due to multi-selection, the percentage of selling the same product with multiple select buttons is increasing. As in the conventional example above, just displaying the number of supplies corresponding to the sold product column, if the same product is stored in multiple columns and operated by operating the select button provided in each column, the product In order to know the total number of supplies of each, press all select buttons for each column that sells the product,
You have to add the number of supplies displayed at that time,
It takes a lot of work.

[0004]

In the device of the present invention, a counter for counting the quantity required for replenishing the same group of products accommodated in a plurality of columns, and a display for displaying the quantity. , A means for requesting the display of the quantity required for replenishing the same group was provided.

[0005]

When the means for requesting the display of the quantity required for replenishing the same group is operated, the number of replenishments requiring addition of merchandise belonging to that group or the current remaining number is displayed.

[0006]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a front view of an automatic vending machine. A select button 1 is composed of a large number of button groups 1-1 to 1-N, for example. An amount display 2 is provided at an appropriate place on the surface, which is also used to display the number of supplies of goods.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example of the control circuit, which includes a select button 1, an amount display 2 and a remote controller 4.
Are connected to the CPU 6 via an interface circuit (I / O) 3. The CPU 6 is connected to the RAM 5 and the ROM 7. The remote controller 4 is a keyboard for setting various data of the vending machine, for example, setting of the selling price and displaying the number of sales, and in the present embodiment, it is also used for group setting for each same product and clearing the number of supplies. It does not always have to be remote controlled, and can be incorporated into an appropriate part of the main body.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a control program, FIG. 4 (a) is a data table stored in the RAM 5 of FIG. 2, and FIG. 3 (b) is a corresponding replenishment number counter.

This embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In this embodiment, the select button of the product is also used as a means for requesting the display of the quantity required for supply.

First, the group numbers of the select buttons 1-1 to 1-N are set by operating the remote controller 4 (S
1). This puts select buttons that sell the same product in the same group number. For example, select button 1-1
And 1-2, the group numbers of the select buttons 1-1 and 1-2 are set to "1" (S2, S3). The group number of the select buttons 1-3 is set to "2", and the group numbers of the select buttons are sequentially set. When there are n groups in total, the last group number is n.

The group numbers set corresponding to these select buttons are stored in the RAM 5 as a group number table as shown in FIG. Next, when each column is fully replenished with items, each group of the replenishment number counter of FIG. 4B corresponding to the group number table of FIG. 4A is cleared (=
0) (S4, S5).

After the coin is inserted (S6) and the select button 1 is pressed to perform the selling operation (S7, S8), the number of replenishments is calculated (S9). That is, the supply number counter of the group corresponding to the sold select button +
1 For example, if the select button 1-2 is sold, since the group number of this select button is set to "1" as described above, the memory (RAM5 of the group 1 of the supply number counter of FIG. 4B) (RAM5 1) is added to (in).

Each time the selling operation is performed,
The replenishment counter of the group corresponding to the sold select button is incremented by one.

Next, when the select button is pressed with no coins inserted (S10), the memory data of the supply number counter of the group corresponding to the pressed select button is displayed for the fixed amount of time on the amount display. 2 is displayed (S11). For example, when either of the select buttons 1-1 or 1-2 is pressed, the group numbers of these buttons are set to "1", so that the contents of the replenishment number counter of group 1 are displayed.

Therefore, when selling the same product,
Select button to sell (1-1 and 1-in the above example)
If you set 2) to the same group number (“1” in the above example), you only have to press one of the select buttons that sells the product once to display the supply number of the product. Good.

In the present embodiment, the displayed data is the number of replenished products, but it may be the number of remaining products in each sales column. However, in this case, the replenishment number clear of FIG. 3 becomes the remaining number set. In other words, the remaining number will be set when the product is replenished. Normally, it is replenished to the full and set to a predetermined remaining number = full accommodation number.

Further, although it is stated that the group setting of each select button is performed by remote control operation, for example, the bar code of the product sample can (for example, placed on the upper part of the select button) is read, and the sample can of the same bar code is placed. The selected buttons may be assigned the same group number. This saves time and eliminates mistakes in input errors.

Further, the request for displaying the number of replenishment is set when the input amount is 0 yen, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may be coded as in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-292792, or displayed separately. Switch may be provided.

Although the number of replenishments is displayed for a fixed time,
It may be displayed only while the select button is pressed.

[0020]

According to the present invention, when the same product is sold in a plurality of columns, the display request button is pressed once from the outside of the machine and the data is displayed by adding all the supply numbers of the products sold in each group. Therefore, the labor of display operation and addition can be largely omitted. In addition, since the number of products that need to be replenished can be known at a glance, preparation for replenishment work, such as which product and how many products are needed, can be facilitated.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a vending machine.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control circuit used in the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a control program.

FIG. 4A is a group number table, and FIG.
Is the content of the supply counter.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Select Button 2 Amount Display 3 Interface Circuit 4 Remote Controller 5 RAM 6 CPU 7 ROM

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A counter for counting the quantity required for replenishing the same group of commodities contained in a plurality of columns, an indicator for displaying the quantity, and a quantity required for replenishing the same group. And a means for requesting the display of the item.