JPH06333142A - Residual amount notice method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To display (notice) a replacement period with high accuracy in less residual a mount by sensing the discharge of contents by a predetermined quan tity from the sensing by a separate means from the sensor and informing of less residual amount by lamp or a buzzer through the sensing. CONSTITUTION:In the residual amount notice method, a sensor 4 indicates a comparatively stable operation and the error is small even when the residual amount is comparatively much (e.g. about 300g), while the error is suddenly increased when the residual amount reaches less. A stable replacement instruction display (notice) is indicated even at less residual amount (e.g. about 100g) by avoiding a sudden increased error. That is, the sensor 4 is operated at a range where the residual amount is comparatively much (e.g. about 300g) and a predetermined quantity (e.g. about 200g) is discharged after sensing of the signal by the sensor 4 to inform of a replacement period of a dispenser pack 2 by indication of a lamp or a buzzer after the discharged amount 300g-200g=100g).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a residual quantity notifying method used for, for example, notifying the replacement time of a dispenser pack loaded in a vending machine for soft drinks such as cola and juice and coffee.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in dispenser packs and the like of vending machines, when the content (for example, concentrated juice, coffee, etc.) is running low, a display (notice) by a lamp or the like is used for measuring instruments (for example, lever type). , Roverval type,
A spring, electric, or sound wave type) system was used to directly sense the light and turn on the buzzer.

[0003]

The system described in the above-mentioned prior art is used when the remaining amount is small (for example, 1
I would like to give a display (notice) by a lamp, a buzzer, etc. at 00g etc.). However, when the display is set to be displayed when the remaining amount is low, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, when the remaining amount is extremely biased toward the front, the sensor cannot detect the remaining amount, or erroneous detection is performed. Since this often happens, the sensing point of the sensor becomes unstable, which causes inconvenience such as difficulty in obtaining accuracy.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new remaining amount notifying method devised so as to accurately display (notify) the replacement time with a smaller remaining amount.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the remaining amount notification method according to the present invention detects the remaining amount with a sensor in a range where the error rate is small, and then detects the content from the detection to a certain amount. The discharge of is detected by a means different from the above sensor, and the lamp, buzzer or the like notifies that the remaining amount is small by the detection.

[0006]

1 to 3 show an embodiment of a remaining amount notification method according to the present invention, which is a vending machine provided with a loading section 3 of a dispenser pack 2 having an outlet 1 for contents on the front lower surface. In the above, when the remaining amount sensor 4 is provided on the bottom surface of the loading section 3, the following notification circuit (see FIG. 2) 5 that operates according to the detection signal of the remaining amount sensor 4 is provided on the bottom surface.

Next, the notification circuit will be described. This notification circuit is activated when the remaining amount sensor 4 detects that the remaining amount in the dispenser pack 2 has reached 300 g and the motor 6 for taking out the content outputs 200 g, that is, 30
When the remaining amount of 0 g-200 g = 100 g is reached, the replacement instruction display lamp (LED) 7 is turned on. The basic pulse oscillating unit 8, the remaining amount sensor 4, and the level shift 9 AND circuit 10 that receives signals
A NOT circuit 11 which receives a signal from the remaining amount sensor 4, a motor circuit 13 which starts and stops the motor 6 by an internal switch 12, and the AND circuits 10 and N.
A counter circuit 14 that receives a signal from the OT circuit 11 and performs counter check and counter reset.
And a comparison circuit 15 which compares the signals from the counter circuit 14 and issues a lighting instruction to the replacement instruction display lamp 7.

According to the present invention, as a means for detecting the discharge of the contents up to a certain amount after the detection by the sensor, the time when the contents are discharged after the sensor detects, or the operation time of the motor for discharging the contents. It is possible to adopt, for example, the number of times of use.

[0009]

According to the conventional method, as can be seen from FIG. 4, when the remaining amount is relatively large (for example, about 300 g), the sensor shows a relatively stable operation and the error is small. The error increases sharply as it decreases. The present invention avoids the above-mentioned portion where the error sharply increases, and outputs a stable replacement instruction display (notification) even with a smaller remaining amount (for example, 100 g). That is, the remaining amount is relatively large (eg 300
Operate the sensor in the range of (g), and output a certain amount (for example, 200 g) after detecting the signal of this sensor, and after this (300 g-200 g = 100 g), replace the dispenser pack with a display (notification) means such as a lamp and buzzer. It informs the time and enables the above avoidance.

[0010]

According to the remaining amount notification method according to the present invention, even if the remaining amount is smaller (for example, about 100 g), the container such as the dispenser pack can be replaced with stable and high accuracy, and the contents are wasted (discarded). It is possible to eliminate.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a main part of an automatic vending machine that implements a remaining amount notification method according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a notification circuit showing the same circuit.

FIG. 3 is a time chart of the circuit.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing a degree of error occurrence by a sensor in a conventional method.

[Explanation of reference symbols] 1 outlet 2 dispenser pack 3 loading section 4 remaining amount sensor 5 notification circuit 6 motor 7 display lamp 8 basic pulse oscillation section 9 level shift 10 AND circuit 11 NOT circuit 12 internal switch 13 motor circuit 14 counter circuit 15 comparison circuit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. After detecting the remaining amount with a sensor in a range where the error rate is small, the sensor detects that the content has been discharged up to a certain amount by a means different from the above sensor, and by the detection. A remaining amount notification method characterized by notifying that the remaining amount is low with a lamp, a buzzer, etc.