JPH07110878A - Setting device for automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a device capable of expecting stable operation even when the maintenance of a power supply to a keyboard unit is not executed over a long period by wirelessly constituting the keyboard unit and improving the operability of setting of an automatic vending machine. CONSTITUTION:A solar battery 8 for the keyboard unit 3 stored in the automatic vending machine' is irradiated with light A through a window 12 formed in a sample display room 6 and the electromotive force of the battery 8 is accumulated in an accumulator 9, so that even when the unit 3 is detached, power can be supplied to the unit 3. Since the unit 3 can be used in its separated state from a controller body 2, the operability of the unit 3 can be improved and the unit 3 can be used in a maintenance free state for a long period.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a setting device used for inputting / outputting data required for operating a vending machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to operate an automatic vending machine, the selling price of each column is set, the storage position of the product storage section stocking the products for sale and the correspondence information between the product selection switches, and the setting of the internal temperature. Etc. are at least necessary. These setting operations are input by an operator operating the setting device 1 mounted in the refrigerator as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The setting device 1 includes a controller main body 2 which controls data required for driving and instructs various devices in the vending machine to operate, and a keyboard unit 3 into which data input to the controller main body 2 is keyed in. It is composed of. The keyboard unit 3 is provided with a value number key and an indicator for displaying the content of the value number, and the keyboard unit 3 is connected to the controller body 2 by a multi-core electric cord 4.

When a staff member performs a setting operation, the keyboard unit 3 is removed from the rear surface of the front door 5 and the contents to be input are input from the keyboard of the keyboard unit 3, and the input data is input via the electric cord 4 to the controller. It is transmitted to the main body 2. Electric power required for operating the keyboard unit 3 is supplied from the controller body 2 via the electric cord 4.

Reference numeral 6 is a sample exhibition room, and 7 is an illumination lamp built in the sample exhibition room 6.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION With such a configuration,
Since the keyboard unit 3 is separated from the controller body 2, the operability is better than when the keyboard is directly attached to the controller body 2. However, when the keyboard unit 3 is used, the distance between the keyboard unit 3 and the controller body 2 depends on the electric cord 4.
There is a problem that the length is specified.

Therefore, the exchange of data between the controller body 2 and the keyboard unit 3 is connected by wireless communication using radio frequency radio waves or infrared rays as a medium,
It is conceivable to eliminate the electric cord 4, but in this case, it is necessary to incorporate a secondary battery in the keyboard unit 3.

However, when the keyboard unit 3 is made wireless and has a built-in secondary battery, it is necessary to regularly check whether the secondary battery of the keyboard unit 3 has a voltage drop or not. Another problem occurs that the setting operation cannot be expected.

According to the present invention, even when the operability of setting is improved by making the keyboard unit 3 wireless, stable operation can be expected without requiring maintenance of the power supply of the keyboard unit 3 for a long period of time. It is intended to provide a setting device for a machine.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a setting device for a vending machine, wherein data is wirelessly transmitted from a keyboard unit to a controller body, and a solar cell is provided on the exterior of the keyboard unit. A window through which the illumination light of the sample exhibition room leaks is provided corresponding to the storage location of the keyboard unit.

A vending machine setting device according to a second aspect of the present invention is
It is characterized in that data is transmitted from the keyboard unit to the controller body by wireless communication, a solar cell is provided on the exterior of the keyboard unit, and an auxiliary light source is provided corresponding to the storage location of the keyboard unit.

[0012]

According to the first aspect of the invention, the solar cell of the stored keyboard unit is irradiated with light through the window provided in the sample exhibition room. Therefore, an electromotive force is generated in the solar cell. By storing this electromotive force, the power can be supplied even when the keyboard unit is removed.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the solar cell of the stored keyboard unit is irradiated with light from the auxiliary light source. Therefore, an electromotive force is generated in the solar cell. By storing this electromotive force, the power can be supplied even when the keyboard unit is removed.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. It should be noted that components having the same operation as that of the conventional example will be described with the same reference numerals.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment. Data is configured to be wirelessly transmitted from the keyboard unit 3 to the controller body 2 by using infrared light as a transmission medium, and in this embodiment, the electric cord 4 as seen in the conventional example does not exist. . A solar cell 8 is attached to the exterior of the keyboard unit 3. The output of the solar cell 8 is connected to the power supply line of the electric circuit of the keyboard unit 3. Also, this keyboard unit 3
In the power line of the electric circuit of
The storage battery 9 is connected so that it can be charged by the electromotive force of the solar cell 8.

A pocket 10 for accommodating the keyboard unit 3 is provided on the back surface of the front door 5, and the sample display room 6 of the sample exhibition room 6 is provided corresponding to the position of the solar cell 8 of the keyboard unit 3 stored in the pocket 10. In the partition wall 11,
The window 12 is perforated.

Due to this construction, the keyboard unit 3 removed from the pocket 10 has the infrared emitting portion 13 as shown by the phantom line and the light receiving portion 1 of the controller body 2.
Data is transmitted from the keyboard unit 3 to the controller body 2 by holding and transmitting the data toward the keyboard unit 4.

When the keyboard unit 3 is stored in the pocket 10, the storage battery 9 is charged as follows. When the installation place of the vending machine becomes dark and the illumination lamp 7 of the sample exhibition room 6 is turned on, a part of the illumination light leaks from the window 12 and is stored in the pocket 10 as indicated by an arrow A. The light receiving surface of the solar cell 8 is irradiated. As a result, an electromotive force is generated in the output of the solar cell 8 and the storage battery 9 is charged up.

As described above, since the storage battery 9 of the keyboard unit 3 is charged while being stored in the regular position, when the keyboard unit 3 is used, the electric power required for operation is in an optimum state. Power is supplied from the storage battery 9, and stable operation can be expected for a long period of time without worrying about voltage drop.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment. In this embodiment, the partition wall 11 of the sample exhibition room 6 is not provided with the window 12 as seen in the first embodiment, but an auxiliary light source 15 is attached instead. This auxiliary light source 1
Reference numeral 5 is turned on and off together with the illumination lamp 7 built in the sample exhibition room 6.

With this structure, as in the first embodiment, the light receiving surface of the solar cell 8 of the keyboard unit 3 is irradiated with light from the auxiliary light source 15 as shown by the arrow B,
The storage battery 9 is charged up by the electromotive force of the solar cell 8, and when the keyboard unit 3 is used, the power required for operation is supplied from the storage battery 9 in an optimal state, without worrying about the voltage drop. You can expect stable operation over a long period of time.

In the second embodiment, the auxiliary light source 15 is switched between the lighting state and the non-lighting state together with the illumination lamp 7 built in the sample exhibition room 6, but it is continuously energized or the illumination lamp 7 is lit. Can also be configured to be turned off.

In the second embodiment, the window 12 is not formed in the partition wall 11 of the sample exhibition room 6, but the auxiliary light source 1 is used.
5 is provided and a window 12 is provided in the partition wall 11 of the sample exhibition room 6, and the auxiliary light source 1 is simultaneously provided on the light receiving surface of the solar cell 8.
It is also possible to increase the charging current of the storage battery 9 by increasing the electromotive force of the solar cell 8 by making the light from 5 and the light leaking from the window 12 incident.

In each of the above embodiments, the keyboard unit 3 is provided with the rechargeable battery 9 and the built-in electric circuit is supplied with power from the rechargeable battery 9, but a large capacity capacitor may be used in place of the rechargeable battery 9.

[0025]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the solar battery of the keyboard unit housed in the vending machine compartment is irradiated with light through the window provided in the sample exhibition room, so that the solar light is emitted. By storing the electromotive force of the battery, the power can be supplied even when the keyboard unit is removed, and because the keyboard unit can be used separately from the controller body, the operability is good, and the keyboard is maintenance-free for a long period of time. Units can be used.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the solar battery of the keyboard unit stored in the vending machine compartment is irradiated with light from the auxiliary light source, and the electromotive force of the solar battery is stored to store the keyboard unit. Even when the keyboard unit is removed, the power can be supplied, and the keyboard unit can be used separately from the controller body, so that the operability is excellent and the keyboard unit can be used for a long period without maintenance.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway view of an inside of a vending machine store according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway view of an inside of a vending machine store according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the interior of the conventional vending machine with the front door opened.

FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway view of the conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Controller main body 3 Keyboard unit 5 Front door 6 Sample exhibition room 7 Lighting lamp 8 Solar cell 9 Storage battery 10 Pocket 11 Sample exhibition room partition wall 12 Window 15 Auxiliary light source

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A setting device having a controller body installed in a vending machine compartment for controlling data required for operation, and a keyboard unit for operating the controller body, wherein data is wirelessly communicated from the keyboard unit to the controller body. Configured to transmit at
A solar cell was installed on the exterior of the keyboard unit, and a window through which the illumination light of the sample exhibition room leaked was provided corresponding to the storage location of the keyboard unit, and the solar cell of the stored keyboard unit leaked through the window. A setting device for a vending machine that emits illumination light to supply at least a part of electric power required for operating the keyboard unit. 2. In a setting device having a controller body installed in a vending machine compartment for controlling data required for operation, and a keyboard unit for operating the controller body, data is wirelessly communicated from the keyboard unit to the controller body. Configured to transmit at
A solar cell is provided on the exterior of the keyboard unit, an auxiliary light source is provided corresponding to the storage location of the keyboard unit, and the solar cell of the stored keyboard unit is irradiated with light from the auxiliary light source and is necessary for the operation of the keyboard unit. A vending machine setting device that supplies at least a portion of electric power.