JPH0573767A - Sales controller for automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate such inconvenience in the conventional vending machine where commodities are cooled or heated and are preserved and sold, that even commodities on the way of cooling or heating after replenishment are sold. CONSTITUTION:After commodity replenishment is detected by a stock detector (sellout detecting switch) 06, a sellout indicator 00 is lit to invalidate a commodity select button 01 until the temperature of replenished commodities measured through a temperature detector 08 reaches a prescribed temperature or the time which is elapsed after commodity replenishment and is measured through a time measuring means 07 reaches a prescribed time. Or a cooling/heating indicator 02 is lit to validate the commodity select button 01 without setting the sellout state.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vending machine (also abbreviated as a vending machine) sales control device for cooling or heating beverage products such as cans and bottles for storage, and particularly cooling to a proper temperature. Alternatively, the present invention relates to a vending machine sales control device having a function of reliably selling heated products. In the following figures, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A vending machine of this type starts cooling or heating of the replenished product after the product is sold out and the product storage of the vending machine is replenished. At this time, the products replenished in the vending machine often have the same temperature as the temperature of the outside air. Then, the conventional vending machine sells the replenished product as it is, even if the replenished product is being cooled or heated.

[0003]

However, as described above, it is obviously not preferable to sell a beverage product that is insufficiently cooled or heated. Therefore, even if the product sold-out display lamp is turned on by not selling such a product that is being cooled or heated, whether the product is really in the vending machine or not is the product sold at the selling temperature. There is also a problem that it is not possible to distinguish whether it has not reached. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine sales control device capable of solving such a problem.

[0004]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a vending machine according to claim 1 is an automatic vending machine which cools or heats stored goods and stores them for sale.
Product selection means (such as a product selection button 01) for selecting a product to be purchased, sold-out detection means (such as an inventory detection device 06) for detecting the sold-out of the product, and sold-out display means (the sold-out display device 00) for displaying the sold-out of the product. In a vending machine equipped with (1), etc., a temperature measuring means (such as a temperature detecting device 08) for measuring the temperature of a stored product, and a point of time when the sold-out detecting means detects a switch from the sold-out state to the stored state of the product. From the above, until the temperature of the stored product measured through the temperature measuring means reaches a predetermined temperature, the sold-out display means displays the sold-out product and the product selection means selects the product. And means for invalidating (such as temperature determination means 04, supplemented product cooling / heating determination means 05, sold-out determination means 03, etc.)

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a sales control device is an automatic vending machine which cools or heats a stored product and stores it for sale, and a product selection means (product selection button 01 or the like) for selecting a product to be purchased. ), Sold-out detection means for detecting the sold-out of the product (stock detection device 06, etc.), and sold-out display means for displaying the sold-out of the product (sold-out display device 0)
0, etc.), the product sold through the sold-out display means during a period from the time when the sold-out detection means detects the switching of the product from the sold-out state to the stored state until a predetermined time elapses. Means for displaying the sold-out of the product and invalidating the product selecting means for selecting the product (time measuring means 07, time determining means 04, supplemented product cooling / heating determining means 05, sold-out determining means 03)
Etc.),

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a sales control device is an automatic vending machine which cools or heats a stored product and stores it for sale, and a product selection means (product selection button 01 or the like) for selecting a product to be purchased. ), In a vending machine equipped with a sold-out detection means (such as an inventory detection device 06) for detecting the sold-out of the product, a cooling / heating-in-progress display means for displaying that the stored product is in the middle of cooling or heating. (Display device 02 for cooling / heating) and temperature measuring means (temperature detecting device 08 etc.) for measuring the temperature of the stored product,
Select the product for a period from the time when the sold-out detection means detects the switching of the product from the sold-out state to the stored state until the temperature of the stored product measured through the temperature measuring means reaches a predetermined temperature. Means for displaying the cooling / heating during display means while keeping the product selection means valid (temperature determination means 04, supplemented product cooling / heating determination means 05, sold-out determination means 03, etc.) ,Also

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a sales control device is an automatic vending machine that cools or heats a stored product and stores it for sale, and a product selection means (product selection button 01 or the like) for selecting a product to be purchased. ), In a vending machine equipped with a sold-out detection means (such as an inventory detection device 06) for detecting the sold-out of the product, a cooling / heating-in-progress display means for displaying that the stored product is in the middle of cooling or heating. (A cooling / heating display device 02, etc.) and the product selected by the product during the period from the time when the sold-out detection means detects the switching of the product from the sold-out state to the stored state until a predetermined time elapses. Means for displaying the cooling / heating display means with the selection means enabled (time measuring means 07, time determination means 04, supplemented product cooling / heating determination means 05, sold-out judgment) It shall be provided with means such as 03) and.

[0008]

(1) Regarding the invention relating to claim 1, when the stock detecting device 06 detects that there is no stock, the stock is sold out. After the stock is sold out, when the stock detection device 06 detects that there is stock, the product is in a replenishment status. In this product replenishment state, when the temperature detection device 08 detects the temperature of the product to be sold, the temperature determination means 04 determines whether the temperature of the product is the proper temperature for sale, and if it is not the suitable temperature, the supplemented product cooling / heating determination means. A sold-out signal is issued to the sold-out determination means 03 via 05. When the sold-out determination means 03 receives the sold-out signal, it puts the product in a sold-out state, and displays on the sold-out display device 00 of the product that it is sold out.

(2) Regarding the invention relating to claim 2, when the product replenishment state is reached, the time measuring means 07 starts measuring the time, and when the time judging means 04 judges that a predetermined time has elapsed, the replenished product is cooled / heated. The judging means 05 eliminates the sold-out signal sent to the sold-out judging means 03, assuming that the replenished product is sufficiently cooled or heated. Therefore, the sold-out determination means 03 makes the replenished product available for sale, and the sold-out display device 00 stops displaying the sold-out item.

(3) Regarding the invention relating to claim 3, in the above (1), during the cooling or heating of the replenishment product,
Instead of the product being sold out, the display of the cooling / heating display device 02 is turned on while the product selection button 01 is kept valid.

(4) Regarding the invention relating to claim 4, in the above (2), during the cooling or heating of the replenishment product,
Instead of the product being sold out, the display of the cooling / heating display device 02 is turned on while the product selection button 01 is kept valid.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a vending machine as an embodiment of the invention relating to claims 1 to 4. In the figure, 00 is a sold-out display device as a lamp for displaying sold-out by product. 01 is a product selection button as a switch for selecting the product to be purchased, 02 is a cooling / heating display device as a lamp for indicating that the replenished product is in the process of cooling or heating, and 06 is for each product Inventory detecting device as a switch for detecting the stock (in other words, sold out), 07 is a time measuring means for measuring the elapsed time after the product replenishment, 08 is a temperature detecting device for detecting the temperature of the replenished product, and 03 is Input of sold-out signal 05a, sold-out display device 00, product selection button 01, cooling / heating display device 0
2 is a sold-out determination means, and 04 is a time-measuring time of the time-measuring means 07 from the time of replenishing the product or a temperature detection device
The temperature determination means or the time determination means for determining the detected temperature of 8 to turn the cooling / heating during signal 04a on and off, 05 is the inventory detection signal from the inventory detection device 06, and the temperature determination means or the time determination means 04. Cooling / heating signal 04a
It is a supplemental product cooling / heating determination means for inputting and inputting and outputting the sold-out signal 05a. In this example 03,0
Each of the units 4, 05, 07 is a part of the function of a microcomputer (not shown) that controls the vending machine.

In the following embodiments, a vending machine for selling beverages such as cans will be described as an example. When one type of product stored in the product storage is sold, the above-mentioned inventory detection device (for example, a contact-type micro switch) is attached to the product outlet at the bottom of the product storage so as to contact the beverage can. ) 06 detects that there is no stock of beverage cans in the merchandise store, and inventory detection device 06 signals off. When a service person who maintains the vending machine replenishes the sold-out product, the inventory detection device 06 detects that there is inventory and outputs an ON signal. When the goods have not been replenished for a long time, the goods in the goods storage are not cooled or heated to a temperature suitable for human consumption as a drink.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of FIG. 1 as an embodiment of the invention according to claim 1. Next in FIG.
2 will be described with reference to FIG. The following 101-112
Reference symbols indicate steps in the figure. That is, the temperature of the product is detected by a temperature detection device (for example, a temperature sensor such as a thermocouple) 08 attached so as to contact the product to be sold. The temperature determination means 04 compares the proper temperature range of the beverage stored in the detected temperature memory (101), and if the temperature is out of the proper temperature (branch N), the cooling / heating provided to the supplemented product cooling / heating determination means 05. Medium signal 04a is turned on (actually, the flag assigned to the memory corresponding to the cooling / heating during signal is turned on)
(102) If it is within the proper temperature (101, branch Y), the cooling / heating in-progress signal 04a output to the supplemented product cooling / heating determination means 05 is turned off (actually, it is assigned to the memory corresponding to the cooling / heating in progress signal). (Turn off the flag) (103).

When the signal 06a of the inventory detection device 06 is changed from OFF to ON (104, branch Y), the replenished product cooling / heating determination means 05 determines that the product has been replenished, and inspects the cooling / heating in-process signal 04a. (105) If the cooling / heating signal is ON (branch “ON”), it can be determined that cooling / heating is in progress, so the sold-out signal 05a to be sent to the sold-out determination means 03 is turned ON (actually, in the memory corresponding to the sold-out signal). Turn on assigned flag) (107), cool
If the in-heating signal 04a is off (105, branch "off"), it can be determined that cooling or heating is completed, so the sold-out signal 05a output to the sold-out determination means 03 is turned off (actually, it is assigned to the memory corresponding to the sold-out signal). The flag is turned off) (106).

The sold-out determination means 03 uses the sold-out signal 05.
If a is on (108, branch "on"),
Do not use the product selection button 01 of the corresponding beverage (1
12) The sold-out lamp of the sold-out display device 00 of the corresponding beverage is turned on (111), and the corresponding beverage is sold out. Or conversely, if the sold-out signal 05a is off (108, branch “off”), the product selection button 01 of the corresponding beverage is activated (110), and the sold-out lamp of the sold-out display device 00 of the corresponding beverage is turned on. Turns off (10
9) Make the relevant beverage available for sale.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the operation of FIG. 1 as an embodiment of the invention according to claim 2. 3 differs from FIG. 2 in that steps 201 and 202 are added to the head portion and step 101 is replaced with step 203. Next, FIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIG. The replenishment product cooling / heating determination means 05 is an inventory detection device 0.
When the signal 06a of 6 changes from off to on (201,
Branch Y), it is judged that a new beverage can has been replenished, and a time measuring means (actually, a storage area for counting the time taken in a certain memory and data in the storage area by interruption at regular intervals). 07, which is an interrupt process for subtraction, is initialized by the cooling or heating time of the beverage stored in the memory (the heating time is stored in the storage area for measuring the time) (202). Then, the data of the time measuring means 07 is subtracted until it becomes 0 in the interrupt processing at regular intervals.

The time determination means 04 determines whether or not the data of the time measurement means 07 becomes 0 (203), and if it becomes 0 (branch "0"), the cooling / heating to be supplied to the supplemented product cooling / heating determination means 05. Turn off the signal 04a during heating (actually, cooling /
The flag assigned to the memory corresponding to the heating signal 04a is turned off). The time required for cooling / heating to be set in the time measuring means 07 in step 202 changes depending on the number of replenished products and the temperature control ability of the vending machine.
For this reason, the time measuring means 07 has various methods such as a refiller setting a time value, a rough uniform setting, a vending machine side counting the replenishment number and automatically setting the same. In the embodiment of (1), a method for uniformly setting the above is described.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of FIG. 1 as an embodiment of the invention according to claim 3. In FIG. 4, in contrast to FIG. 2, steps 101 to 104 are replaced with steps 301 to 304, and step 1
The steps after 08 are replaced with 311 to 318. Next, FIG. 4 will be described with reference to FIG. The temperature determination means 04 compares the temperature detected via the temperature detection device 08 with the proper temperature range of the beverage stored in the memory (1
01), if the temperature is lower than the appropriate temperature (branch “low”), the heating signal is turned on (actually, the flag of the memory corresponding to the heating signal is set) (301), and if it is higher than the proper temperature (101, branch “high”). )), Turn on the cooling signal (Actually, the memory flag corresponding to the cooling signal is set)
(303) As a result, the cooling / heating signal 04a, which is the logical sum of the cooling signal and the heating signal, is turned on (302). On the other hand, if the temperature is within an appropriate temperature in step 101 (branch Y), the heating signal and the cooling signal are turned off (the flag is lowered), and the cooling or cooling result as a result of taking the logical sum of the cooling signal and the heating signal. The heating signal 04a is turned off) (304).

In the sold-out determination means 03, when the sold-out signal 05a from the supplemented product cooling / heating determination means 05 is turned on (1
08, branch “ON”), and if the heating signal is ON (313, branch “ON”), the heating lamp of the cooling / heating display device 02 of the beverage is turned on (the beverage is sold out). Do not disable the product selection button 01) (3
17) If the sold-out signal 05a from the supplemental product cooling / heating determination means 05 is on and the cooling signal is on (3)
14, branch "ON"), and turns on the cooling lamp of the cooling / heating display device 02 for the beverage (the beverage is not sold out and the product selection button 01 is not disabled) (31)
8). If the sold-out signal 05a is on and the heating signal and the cooling signal are off (313, branch “off” →
314, branch “OFF”), the sold-out lamp 00 of the corresponding beverage is turned on (315), and the product selection button 01 is invalidated. On the other hand, if the sold-out signal 05a is off in step 108, the cooling lamp and the heating lamp of the corresponding beverage cooling / heating display device 02 are turned off (311, 31).
2).

[0021]

According to the present invention, in a vending machine that cools or heats a stored product and stores it for sale, the temperature of the replenished product is cooled or heated to a predetermined temperature from the time when the product replenishment is detected by the sold-out switch. The product is sold out for a period of time until a predetermined time elapses from the time when the product replenishment is detected (claim 1,
2) Or, since the product selection button is not disabled and the cooling / heating display lamp is turned on instead of the sold-out lamp lighting (claims 3 and 4), in the case of claims 1 and 2, as a product of a vending machine. At an improper temperature, the product is sold out without being sold, and it is possible to always sell the product at an appropriate temperature. In addition, in the case of claims 2 and 3, when the beverage is being cooled or heated when it is desired to sell (when purchasing a product) even if the temperature is not appropriate, it is necessary to confirm that the temperature is inappropriate as a product. The effect is that the user can be notified.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional configuration diagram of a vending machine as an embodiment of the invention according to claims 1 to 4.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of FIG. 1 as an embodiment of the invention related to claim 1.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of FIG. 1 as an embodiment of the invention related to claim 2;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of FIG. 1 as an embodiment of the invention related to claim 3;

[Explanation of symbols]

 00 sold-out display device 01 product selection button 02 cooling / heating display device 03 sold-out determination means 04 temperature determination means or time determination means 05 supplemented product cooling / heating determination means 06 inventory detection device 07 time measurement means 08 temperature detection device

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An automatic vending machine for cooling and heating the stored products and storing them for sale, the product selection means for selecting a product to be purchased, a sold-out detection means for detecting a sold-out of the product, In a vending machine having a sold-out display means for displaying sold-out, a temperature measuring means for measuring the temperature of the stored product, and from the time when the sold-out detection means detects a switch from the sold-out state of the product to the stored state, During the period until the temperature of the stored product measured through the temperature measuring unit reaches a predetermined temperature, the sold-out display unit displays the sold-out condition of the product, and the product selection unit that selects the product is disabled. A vending machine sales control device, comprising: 2. An automatic vending machine which cools or heats a stored product and stores it for sale, the product selection means for selecting a product to be purchased, a sold-out detection means for detecting a sold-out of the product, In a vending machine equipped with a sold-out display means for displaying sold-out, the sold-out display means for a period from the time when the sold-out detection means detects the switching of the product from the sold-out state to the stored state until a predetermined time elapses. A vending machine sales control device comprising: means for displaying the sold-out of the product via, and for invalidating the product selecting means for selecting the product. 3. An automatic vending machine which cools or heats a stored product and stores it for sale, the product including a product selection unit for selecting a product to be purchased and a sold-out detection unit for detecting a product sold-out condition. In the vending machine, the cooling / heating display means for displaying that the stored product is in the middle of cooling or heating, the temperature measuring means for measuring the temperature of the stored product, and the sold-out detection means From the time when the switch from the sold-out state to the stored state is detected until the temperature of the stored product measured via the temperature measuring means reaches a predetermined temperature, the product selection means for selecting the product is selected. A vending machine sales control device comprising: means for displaying the cooling / heating display means while keeping the effect. 4. An automatic vending machine which cools or heats a stored product and stores it for sale, the product being provided with a product selection means for selecting a product to be purchased and a sold-out detection means for detecting when the product is sold out. In the vending machine, the cooling / heating display means for displaying that the stored product is in the process of being cooled or heated, and the sold-out detection means have detected the switching from the sold-out state of the product to the stored state. From the time point until a predetermined time elapses, means for displaying the cooling / heating during display means while the product selection means for selecting the product is valid is provided. Machine sales control device.