JPH0731332Y2 - Raw material sold-out detection device for cup type beverage vending machines - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial field of application] The present invention relates to a cup-type beverage vending machine for mixing a raw material of powder and granules stored in a raw material box with cold water or hot water to sell a desired beverage. In the above, it relates to a raw material sold-out detection device for detecting the sold-out of the raw material in the raw material box.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, as a device for detecting the sold-out of the granular material in the raw material box, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 57-88287 (photoconductive element method), Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 57-92285 (piezoelectric element method) and Kaisho 59-1
It is already known from Japanese Patent No. 73896 (ultrasonic element system).

The raw material sold-out detection device as described above will be described with reference to the example of FIG. 4. 1 (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d) is a plurality of raw material boxes, 2 (2
a, 2b, 2c, 2d) are various raw materials stored in the raw material box 1.
3 (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d) is a sensor for detecting the sold-out of raw material, which is attached to each raw material box 1, and 4 is a receiving unit (ch1, ch2, ch3) for receiving a raw material sold-out signal from the sensor 3. , ch4), 5 is composed of a CPU, etc., and is a control unit for performing various controls of the vending machine in addition to the raw material sold-out control, 6 is a raw material discharge motor, 7 is a common power supply for each sensor 3, The power source 7 constantly energizes the sensor 3.

In this configuration, when there is raw material in the raw material box, the sensor 3 is in a loaded state, and when there is no raw material, the sensor 3 is in a non-loaded state, and the receiving unit 4 receives this state to detect the sold-out of raw material. And when the sensor 3 is in an unloaded state,
A sold-out signal of the raw material is transmitted to the receiving unit 4 of any of ch1 to ch4 provided for each raw material box 1, and the receiving unit that receives the sold-out signal transmits the sold-out signal to the control unit 5. And the control unit 5
Then, sold-out control is performed for each beverage (sold-out lamp lights, sales stopped, etc.).

[Problems to be solved by the device]

In the above-mentioned conventional device, the sensor 3 is always energized, so that the sensor is severely deteriorated and the period for maintaining the initial sensitivity, that is, the life is shortened (usually less than 1 to 2 years). Especially in the case of an element of a vibration system, there are many cases in which there is a problem.

Further, when the life of the sensor is shortened, the number of times the parts are replaced increases, the cost increases, and the troublesome replacement work increases.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a raw material sold-out detection device for a cup-type beverage vending machine, which can extend the life of the sensor while detecting the sold-out raw material. And

[Means for Solving the Problems]

As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention is a cup-type beverage vending machine that mixes powdered and granular raw materials stored in a raw material box A with cold water or hot water to sell a desired beverage. Detection means B for detecting the presence or absence of the raw material stored in the storage device, counting means C for counting at least one of the number of times the raw material is discharged from each raw material box A and the number of times the beverage is sold, and the count value of the counting means C. Is stored for each raw material box A, determination means E for determining that the value of the storage means D has reached a predetermined value, and if the determination result of the determination means E has reached a predetermined value, And the control means F for driving the detection means B.

[Action]

According to the present invention, the detection means is continuously operated by driving the detection means for sold-out detection every time the number of times of discharging the raw material in the raw material box reaches a predetermined number to detect the sold-out of raw material in the raw material box. Eliminates the need to energize.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

2, the same parts as those in FIG. 4 are designated by the same reference numerals.

8 is a memory (counter) such as RAM as a storage means for storing the number of raw material discharges for each raw material box or the number of sales for each beverage, and 9 (ch1, ch2, ch3, ch4) is a sensor based on a detection signal from the control unit 5. A reference numeral 3 denotes a power source switch for transmitting a raw material presence / absence detection command to 3 (detection means).

The control unit 5, the receiving unit 3, and the transmitting unit 9 have functions as a control unit, a counting unit, and a determination unit.

Further, the mounting position of the sensor 3 must be mounted at a position where the raw material remains more than the predetermined number of times.

The operation of this configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, in step S1, when the power switch 10 is turned on,
Go to step S2. In step S2, the stored value in the memory 8 is reset, and the process proceeds to step S3. In step S3, it is determined whether or not the drink is sold. If the drink is not sold (branch N), the process returns to step S1, and if the well-known drink is sold (branch Y), the process proceeds to step S4. In step S4, the stored value of the number of sold beverages in the sold memory 8 is incremented by 1, and the process proceeds to step S5. In step S5, it is determined whether or not the number of sales of any beverage has reached, for example, "5" times, and if not (branch N), the process returns to step S1 and the number of sales reaches 5 times ( Branch Y), and proceed to step S6. Step S6
Then, the stored value of the beverage which has been sold 5 times is cleared, and the process proceeds to step S7. In step S7, the control unit 5 outputs a detection signal to the transmitting unit 9, and the transmitting unit 9 energizes the sensor 3 of the raw material box of the beverage (raw material) that has reached 5 times, and then the step S8
Go to. In step S8, the sensor 3 detects whether or not the raw material 3 is sold out. If the raw material 3 is not sold out (branch N), the process returns to step S1. If the raw material 3 is sold out, the process proceeds to step S9. . In step S9, the stock-out signal of the raw material is transmitted to the receiving unit 4 provided for each raw material box 1 as in the conventional case, and the receiving unit 4 receiving the sell-out signal transmits the sell-out signal to the control unit 5. . Then, the control unit 5 performs sold-out control (light-out of sold-out lamp, stop selling, etc.) for each beverage.

In this way, when the number of times the raw material is discharged from each raw material box or the number of times each beverage is sold reaches a predetermined number, the sold-out detection of the raw material is performed as described above.

The raw material sold-out detection signal may be set so that the sensor 3 can sufficiently detect the presence or absence of the raw material, and the raw material sold-out signal may be automatically extinguished.

[Effect of device]

According to the present invention, by driving the sensor for detecting the sold-out of the raw material each time the number of times the raw material is discharged or the number of times the beverage is sold reaches a predetermined number, the power supply energization time can be significantly shortened compared to when the sensor is continuously energized. It is possible to obtain the effect that the life of the can be greatly extended.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 is a block diagram showing the constitution of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the constitution of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
Flowchart for explaining the operation in the figure, the fourth
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the prior art of the present invention. 1 ... Raw material box, 2 ... Raw material, 3 ... Sensor, 4 ... Reception unit, 5 ... Control unit, 8 ... Memory (counter), 9 ...
Transmitter, 10 ... Power switch.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A cup-type beverage vending machine that mixes powdered and granular raw materials stored in a raw material box with cold water or hot water to sell a desired beverage, and the presence or absence of the raw material stored in the raw material box. Detecting means for detecting the, the counting means for counting at least one of the number of times the raw material is discharged or the number of beverages sold for each raw material box, and a storage means for storing the count value of the counting means for each raw material box A determination unit that determines whether the value of the storage unit has reached a predetermined value, and a control unit that drives the detection unit if the determination result of the determination unit reaches a predetermined value. Characteristic sold-out detection device for cup-type beverage vending machines.