JPH0546854A - Automatic vending machine with maintenance support function - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the burden of a routeman by inputting the maintenance operation procedure of an automatic vending machine from an external part to store it, permitting the automatic vending machine to execute an operation following the maintenance operation procedure with a key operation and to execute guide display. CONSTITUTION:A data input device 6 is fitted to a controller 5 through a connection coupler 9 and an I/O port 3. The controller 5 reads the operation procedure stored in the data input device 6 through the I/O port 3 and stores it in a storage device 4. Furthermore, an operation procedure storage switch 7 and an operation procedure execution switch 8 are connected to the I/O port 3. The controller 5 reads the state of the operation procedure storage switch 7 and the operation procedure execution switch 8 through the I/O port 3. The operation procedure of maintenance which the routeman and the operator execute is inputted and stored in the automatic vending machine, and the automatic vending machine is caused to execute the same operation as that when the operation following the stored operation procedure is executed and it is caused to execute guide display.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

[Field of Industrial Application] This invention supports (supports) maintenance work (setting data change, sales totalization, vending machine cleaning, raw material replenishment, etc.) performed by a rootman or operator of a vending machine (also abbreviated as vending machine). Vending machine equipped with.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, support for vending machine maintenance has been provided by an instruction manual describing a method of operating the vending machine during maintenance.

[0003]

However, the operation of the vending machine during maintenance is complicated, and the operation differs depending on the vending machine, which imposes a great load on the route man and the operator. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a vending machine with a maintenance support function that can remove the above-mentioned load that a conventional device has given to a route man or an operator.

[0004]

In order to solve the above problems, the vending machine according to claim 1 has a key operation procedure (such as the operation key 2) during maintenance (in the storage device 4 or the like).
It is provided with a maintenance support unit that performs the same operation as if the key operation was performed according to the stored procedure.

According to a second aspect of the vending machine of the present invention, in the vending machine according to the first aspect, the key operation procedure is a data input device (6 or the like) that stores this procedure in advance (connecting coupler 9, etc.). Connected to the control circuit of the vending machine, and stored in the vending machine based on the operation of means (operation procedure memory switch 7 or the like) for inputting an operation procedure memory command to the vending machine. And then again

In the automatic vending machine according to claim 3, in the automatic vending machine according to claim 1 or 2, the same operation as the key operation is performed causes the automatic vending machine to execute an operation procedure execution command. Is executed on the basis of the operation of the means for inputting (. Operation procedure execution switch 8 or the like).

[0007]

[Operation] The operation procedure of the maintenance performed by the route man or the operator is input to and stored in the vending machine, and the vending machine is caused to perform the same operation as if the operation was performed according to the stored operating procedure, or the guide is displayed. To facilitate maintenance operations.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram showing a configuration of a main part as an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the data display 1 and the operation keys 2 are connected to the control unit 5 via the I / O port 3.
The control device 5 displays data input based on the key operation by an operator, a rootman, or the like on the data display 2, and stores the setting data for the vending machine as the input data in the storage device 4. Remember, test, wash, etc.

The data input device 6 is also connected to the couplers 9 and I.
Is attached to the control device 5 via the / O port 3, and the control device 5 executes the operation procedure stored in the data input device 6
It is read through the / O port 3 and stored in the storage device 4.
Further, the operation procedure storage switch 7 and the operation procedure execution switch 8 are also connected to the I / O port 3, and the control device 5 reads the states of the operation procedure storage switch 7 and the operation procedure execution switch 8 via the I / O port 3. ..

2 and 3 are flow charts showing the operation procedure of the controller 5 of FIG. Next, FIGS. 2 and 3 will be described with reference to FIG. The symbols S1 to S18 are the steps in FIGS. 2 and 3. Further, the symbols of ~ are the numbers of the connection parts of this operation procedure. That is, the control device 5 determines that the data input device 6 is connected to the connection coupler 9 by the route man or the operator (S1, branch Y), and further determines that the operation procedure storage switch 7 is pressed (S2, S2). Branch Y), the operation procedure stored in the data input device 6 is read by a predetermined procedure (eg, RSC232C, etc.) through the I / O port 3 and stored in the storage device 4 (S3). Then, the pointer of the operation procedure is set to the initial value (S4).

Next, every time the rootman or the operator presses the operation procedure execution switch 8, the control device 5 discriminates this (S5, branch Y), and the pointer indicates the operation procedure stored in the storage device 4. The operation procedure is sequentially read (S6), and the type of the operation procedure (whether or not it is a guide display instruction in this case) is determined (S7). If the determined operation procedure type is a guide display instruction (branch Y), the contents of the guide display are further retrieved from the storage device 4 and displayed on the data display 1 (S8). Then, the process proceeds to step S15. On the other hand, if the type of operation procedure is a key operation instruction (S7, branch N → S9, branch Y), the contents of the operation key are further read from the storage device 4, and the same processing as when the corresponding key of the operation key 2 is pressed is performed. Perform (S10). Then, the process proceeds to step S15. If the type of operation procedure is waiting for key input (S9, branch N → S11, branch Y),
It waits until the operation key 2 that matches the contents of the operation procedure is pressed (S12 → S13), and when it is pressed, the process according to the key is executed (S14), and the process proceeds to step S15. Step S
In step 15, the pointer of the operating procedure is advanced, and the operations after step S5 are repeated until the execution of the operating procedure is completed (S16, branch N), and when the execution of the operating procedure is completed in this way (S16, branch Y). ) Then, returning to the normal operation, every time the operation key 2 is pressed (S17, branch Y), a process according to the pressed key operation is performed (S18).

In the above embodiment, the operation procedure memory switch 7
And the operation procedure execution switch 8 to the I / O of the vending machine control circuit.
Although the switch is added to the O port, the switches 7 and 8 may be added to the data input device 6 instead.

[0013]

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION The route man and the operator must read the instruction manual carefully in order to maintain the vending machine. Also, the operation is complicated and requires a lot of time to read and remember. In addition, the operations vary greatly depending on the vending machine. According to this invention, the maintenance operation procedure of the vending machine is input and stored from the outside, and the vending machine performs the operation according to the maintenance operation procedure by a simple key operation, or the operation is clarified by the guide display. It is not necessary for the operator or operator to read the instruction manual carefully, and the burden on it can be reduced.

[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 flowchart for explaining the operation of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Data Display 2 Operation Key 4 Storage Device 5 Control Device 6 Data Input Device 7 Operation Procedure Memory Switch 8 Operation Procedure Execution Switch 9 Connection Coupler

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A maintenance support function comprising a maintenance support means for storing a key operation procedure at the time of maintenance and performing the same operation as if the key operation was performed according to the stored procedure. Vending machine with. 2. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the key operation procedure is performed by connecting a data input device storing the procedure in advance to a control circuit of the vending machine, A vending machine with a maintenance support function, which is stored in the vending machine based on an operation of a means for inputting an operation procedure storing command. 3. The vending machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the same operation as the key operation is performed is an operation of means for inputting an operation procedure execution command to the vending machine. A vending machine with a maintenance support function, which is performed based on the above.