JPH06251228A - Power supplying method for automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To protect the battery of an uninterruptive power unit (UPS) by preventing the battery from being discharged completely as to the automatic vending machine equipped with the UPS. CONSTITUTION:An automatic vending machine controller 1 monitors the state of power supply to the automatic vending machine, switches the power source from a commercial power source to the UPS 2 through contacts x1-x4 once detecting a power failure, and also switches the power supply to the automatic vending machine to the commercial power supply side unless vending operation is performed a certain time after the power failure, thereby preventing the battery in the UPS2 from being discharged completely.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a power supply for a vending machine which is used by being installed in a vehicle such as a bullet train in an environment where momentary power interruptions (instantaneous power interruptions) occur regularly. Regarding the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Normally, a vending machine is manufactured on the assumption that a commercial power source is used and operates normally up to a momentary power failure of about 20 to 30 mS, but a momentary power failure for a longer time occurs. Then, the function of the microcomputer, which is the main body of control, may stop, or the solenoid that carries out the product may not function normally.

Particularly, in a vending machine which is used by being mounted on a vehicle such as a Shinkansen, where relatively long instantaneous blackouts exceeding 20 to 30 mS occur regularly, the merchandise is inserted even if money is thrown in. Accidents that make normal (normal) operations such as carrying out goods and returning money are impossible occur frequently. Therefore, conventionally, an uninterruptible power supply device (also abbreviated as UPS) equipped with a battery is used, and at the time of a momentary power failure for a relatively long time as described above, the battery is used as an auxiliary power supply for UP.
An AC power supply is generated by an inverter inside the S to ensure normal operation even for a momentary blackout for a relatively long period of time.

[0004]

However, when such a UPS is used, the battery inside the UPS will be completely discharged if the power failure time becomes longer. When the battery is completely discharged, it takes a long time to charge the battery, and there is a problem that the vending machine cannot be used during that time. Therefore, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to prevent the battery of a vending machine using UPS from being completely discharged.

[0005]

In order to solve such a problem, according to the present invention, the power supply state to a vending machine having an uninterruptible power supply is monitored, and when a power failure is detected, the power is supplied from the commercial power supply side to the uninterruptible power supply. While switching to the power supply side, start counting the time from the power failure and judge the state of the vending machine after a certain period of time, and change the power supply from the uninterruptible power supply side to the commercial power supply side only when it is not in the selling state By switching, it is characterized in that discharge in the uninterruptible power supply is prevented.

[0006]

[Operation] After a lapse of a certain time after the occurrence of a power failure, the uninterruptible power supply is not connected to the vending machine to suppress wasteful power consumption and protect the uninterruptible power supply.

[0007]

1 is a flow chart showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a power supply system of a vending machine to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 3 is a vending machine control device (also called a vending machine control device). 3) is a block diagram showing the details of FIG. First,
It demonstrates from FIG. In the figure, 1 is a vending machine control device, 2 is a UPS, and x1, x2, x3 and x4 are relay (X) contacts. That is, the vending machine control device 1 uses the commercial contacts (AC) via the relay contacts x1, x2, x3, x4.
100V) and UPS2. The contacts x1 and x2 are contacts (make contacts) that are closed when the relay X is on (ON), and the contacts x3 and x4 are contacts (break contacts) that are closed when the relay X is off (OFF).

The details of the vending machine controller 1 are as shown in FIG.
Control unit 11 including control power supply unit 11A, central processing unit (CPU) 11B, storage unit 11C, timer unit 11D, driver unit 11E, relay 11F (X), power supply BOX 12, power supply OFF detection unit 13, load 14, etc. Composed of. That is, the control unit 11 controls the control power supply unit 11
Power is supplied from A, and a predetermined control operation including taking in an output from the power OFF detection unit 13 and the like is performed. The power supply BOX 12 has functions such as setting commercial 100V to 24V suitable for a vending machine, securing a power supply for a certain period of time when a power failure occurs, and supplying this to the control power supply unit 11A to enable the relay X to operate. . Note that the load 14 includes, for example, a solenoid that carries out a product.

In such a configuration, the power-off detection unit 1
When the power-off is detected in step 3 (step S1), this is given to the CPU 11B, so that the CPU 11B drives the relay 11F (X) via the driver unit 11E. As a result, the contacts x1 and x2 are turned on, and the contacts x3 and x2 are turned on.
Since 4 is turned off and is in a state opposite to that shown in the figure, the power source is switched from the commercial power source side to the UPS 2 side (step S2). Further, the CPU 11B gives a count instruction to the timer unit 11D to start the count operation (step S3).

Thereafter, while monitoring the output from the timer section 11D, it is judged whether or not a predetermined time has passed (step S4), and when the predetermined time has passed, coins are being deposited,
If it is determined that the vending machine is in the sale state such as in the bend (step S5) and it is determined that the vending machine is not in the sale state,
The relay 11F (X) is turned off via the driver unit 11E (step S6). This is because if the relay 11F (X) is turned off in the sale state, the power is cut off and the sale operation is hindered. Then, step S7
In step S1, it is determined whether the power is off. If the power is off, the operation is terminated.

[0011]

According to the present invention, the UPS of the vending machine
Since the inner battery is prevented from being completely discharged, the time required for charging can be shortened and the vending machine can be put into the sale state immediately.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a power supply system of an automatic vending machine to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing details of a vending machine control device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Vending machine control device, 2 ... Uninterruptible power supply (UPS),
11 ... Control unit, 12 ... Power supply BOX, 13 ... Power supply OFF detection unit, 14 ... Load (solenoid), 11A ... Control power supply unit, 11B ... Central processing unit (CPU), 11C ... Storage unit,
11D ... timer section, 11E ... driver section, 11F ...
Relay (X), x1, x2, x3, x4 ... Relay contacts.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A power supply state for a vending machine having an uninterruptible power supply is monitored, and when a power failure is detected, the power supply is switched from the commercial power supply side to the uninterruptible power supply side, and time counting is started from the time of power failure. After a certain period of time, the state of the vending machine is judged, and the power supply is switched from the uninterruptible power supply side to the commercial power supply side only when the vending machine is not in the sale state, thereby preventing discharge in the uninterruptible power supply. A method for supplying power to a vending machine, which is characterized in that