JPH08101960A - Automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To arbitrarily set a threshold value for performing comparison with output signals from a light receiving circuit for detecting lightness around an automatic vending machine and controlling an illuminating lamp by a remote controller. CONSTITUTION: In a storage means inside a microcomputer 1 which is the control means of this automatic vending machine, the threshold value to be compared with the output voltage Vs of the light receiving circuit 2 for detecting the surrounding lightness is set corresponding to the conditions of an installation place by the remote controller 5 disposed on the back side of a main door. The microcomputer 1 controls the lighting and turning off of a first fluorescent lamp 6, a second fluorescent lamp 7 and a third fluorescent lamp 8 which are illumination for back light by referring to the output voltage Vs and comparing it with the threshold value stored in the storage means.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vending machine which controls an illuminating lamp according to the brightness of the surroundings.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a vending machine, sample products (display cans) and the like are illuminated at night by fluorescent lamps, which are convenient for customers to select. In this case, since it is not necessary to turn on the fluorescent lamp in the daytime, a light receiving circuit equipped with an optical sensor for detecting the ambient brightness, for example, CdS (photoconductive cell), is provided, and the output (voltage) signal of this light receiving circuit causes fluorescence. The light is turned on and off.

By the way, vending machines are installed in various places such as stores, indoors, streets, and parks, and the brightness around them is various. Therefore, conventionally, a variable resistor is provided in the light receiving circuit. The fluorescent lamp is provided to adjust the output signal from the light receiving circuit, so that the fluorescent lamp is turned on and off when the darkness and brightness are suitable for the installation place.

[0004]

In the conventional configuration, since the light receiving circuit is provided with the variable resistor, the number of parts is increased accordingly, and the operation of the variable resistor is likely to vary from person to person. Is troublesome. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to arbitrarily set a threshold value to be compared with an output signal from a light receiving circuit,
It is possible to reduce the number of parts without providing a variable resistor,
It is to provide a vending machine in which the threshold value can be easily set.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, an automatic vending machine according to claim 1 has an illumination lamp, a light receiving means for detecting ambient brightness, and an output signal from the light receiving means in advance. It comprises a control means for controlling the illuminating lamp according to the comparison with the stored threshold value, and a remote controller for arbitrarily setting the threshold value stored in the control means.

In this case, the control means may be configured to control the brightness of the illumination lamp according to the magnitude of the output signal from the light receiving means (claim 2).

Further, the control means turns on the illumination lamp when the output signal from the light receiving means reaches the lighting threshold value,
The illumination lamp may be controlled to be extinguished when the output signal reaches the extinction threshold in the direction in which the brightness becomes higher than the illumination threshold (claim 3).

Further, the illuminating lamp is an inside lamp, and the control means controls when the door is opened and the output signal from the light receiving means is at a predetermined threshold value or in a direction in which the brightness becomes smaller than that. The internal light may be controlled to be turned on when the value is reached (claim 4).

In addition, the control means may be configured to control to turn on the illuminating lamp only when the lighting condition of the illuminating lamp is satisfied in the saleable state (claim 5). .

[0010]

According to the automatic vending machine of the first aspect, the control means controls the illuminating lamp according to the comparison between the threshold value arbitrarily set by the remote controller and the output signal from the light receiving means. The threshold value for controlling the illumination lamp can be set easily and accurately.

According to another aspect of the vending machine of the present invention, the control means controls the brightness of the illuminating lamp according to the magnitude of the output signal from the light receiving means which is output according to the change in the ambient brightness. Control to be appropriate.

According to another aspect of the vending machine of the present invention, the control means turns on the illumination lamp when the surroundings become dark and the output signal from the light receiving means reaches the lighting threshold value. When it becomes bright and the output signal reaches the turn-off threshold value in the direction in which the brightness becomes larger than the lighting threshold value, the illumination lamp is controlled to be turned off.

According to another aspect of the vending machine of the present invention, the control means controls the output signal from the light receiving means to fall below a predetermined threshold when the door is opened and the surroundings are dark. In this case, the internal light is controlled to be turned on.

According to another aspect of the vending machine of the present invention, the control means turns on the illumination lamp only when it is in a saleable state and the surroundings are dark and the illumination condition of the illumination lamp is satisfied. Control.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. Vending machines, as is well known,
By looking at the sample product displayed by the customer and inserting money corresponding to the amount of the selected product into the money insertion port and then pressing the selection button for that product, the product stocked in the internal column is sold By dropping it on, the customer obtains the desired product.

FIG. 1 shows an electrical structure of a portion according to the present invention. That is, an output signal of a light receiving circuit 2 which is a light receiving means for detecting the illuminance (brightness) around the vending machine is sent to a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a microcomputer) 1 which is a control means via an A / D converter 3. Further, the output signals of the door switch 4 and the remote controller (hereinafter referred to as a remote controller) 5 are given. Then, the first fluorescent lamp 6, the second fluorescent lamp 7, the third fluorescent lamp 8 and the inside lamp 9 which are referred to as a backlight for illuminating the background of the sample product as an illuminating lamp are connected to the microcomputer via the drive circuit 10. It is driven by 1.

In FIG. 2 showing the structure of the light receiving circuit 2, one terminal of the optical sensor 2a made of, for example, CdS (photoconductive cell) is connected to the power supply terminal 11 to which the DC voltage Vcc is applied, and the other terminal is connected to the other terminal. , The resistor 2b is connected to the ground, and the common connection point of the optical sensor 2a and the resistor 2b is
It is connected to the output terminal 2c. And the output terminal 2c
, An output voltage Vs as an output signal appears, and the output voltage Vs is given to the input terminal of the A / D converter 3. FIG. 3 shows the relationship between the output voltage Vs and the illuminance.
The resistance value of the optical sensor 2a decreases as the ambient illuminance increases, and therefore the output voltage Vs increases.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. The remote controller 5 is normally arranged behind the main door when the main door of the vending machine is opened, and reads out various sales information such as the sales of the vending machine and the number of remaining products stored in the microcomputer 1. It is used for, and is equipped with a numeric keypad. Then, the remote controller 5 can arbitrarily set a threshold value X for the microcomputer 1 to compare with the output voltage Vs of the light receiving circuit 2 by using the ten keys or the like (see FIG. 3). Therefore, when the vending machine is installed, the operator operates the ten keys or the like of the remote controller 5 to set the optimum threshold value X according to the circumstances around the installation location. The value X is stored in the storage means in the microcomputer 1.

However, the microcomputer 1 lights the first to third fluorescent lamps 6 to 8 when the output voltage Vs of the light receiving circuit 2 becomes equal to or lower than the threshold value X (when the surroundings become dark). Give a signal to light them. After that, microcomputer 1
Is the first voltage when the output voltage Vs of the light receiving circuit 2 exceeds the threshold value X (when the surroundings become bright).
Further, a turn-off signal is given to the third fluorescent lamps 6 to 8 to turn them off.

The door switch 4 is adapted to be turned on when the inner door of the vending machine is opened, and the interior lamp 9 is arranged above the inner door. And
When the door switch 4 is turned on, the microcomputer 1 gives a lighting signal to the interior lamp 9 to light it.
The internal light 9 comes to illuminate the product supply port above the column 9 that appears when the inner door is opened.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the remote controller 5 originally provided in the vending machine is used to perform the first to third operations.
The threshold value X for controlling the fluorescent lamps 6 to 8 is optimally set in accordance with the ambient conditions, and the microcomputer 1 compares the output voltage Vs of the light receiving circuit 2 with the threshold value X to cause the fluorescent lamps 6 to 8 to operate. I turned on and off.

Therefore, unlike the prior art, the first to third fluorescent lamps 6 to 8 can be adjusted according to the surrounding conditions by merely setting the threshold value X without adjusting the output voltage Vs of the light receiving circuit 2. It can be turned on and off optimally, the conventional variable resistor is unnecessary, the number of parts can be reduced accordingly, and the threshold value X can be set by operating the numeric keypad of the remote controller 5 or the like. Unlike the variable resistor, there is no individual difference in the operation, and the threshold value X can be set easily.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a second embodiment of the present invention, which will be described below with reference to FIG. In the second embodiment, the operator operates the ten-key pad or the like of the remote controller 5 to set and store three-step threshold values A, B and C in the storage means of the microcomputer 1 as shown in FIG. Has been done.

In FIG. 5 showing a flowchart of a part for performing lighting control of the fluorescent lamp in the main routine of the vending machine, first, as an initial state, the illuminance of the surrounding environment where the vending machine is placed is sufficiently high and It is assumed that the output voltage Vs of the circuit 2 exceeds the threshold value C.

The microcomputer 1 refers to the output voltage Vs of the light receiving circuit 2 in the judgment step S1 of "Vs≤C?", And the output voltage Vs is set and stored in the internal storage means as described above. It is compared with the threshold value C, and it is determined whether or not it is less than this. When the illuminance of the surrounding environment where the vending machine is placed is sufficiently high as in the initial state, it is determined to be "NO" in the determination step S1 and "first to third fluorescent lamps are turned off".
The processing step S7 is performed, and the first to third fluorescent lamps 6 to 8 are turned off. Then, since the illuminance of the surrounding environment has decreased from the initial state, the determination step S1
If it is determined to be "YES", the process proceeds to the determination step S2 of "Vs≤B?".

In the judgment step S2, the light receiving circuit 2
Of the output voltage Vs is less than or equal to the threshold value B. If it is determined to be "NO" in the determination step S2, the process proceeds to the "first fluorescent lamp lighting" processing step S3. Here, since the output voltage Vs is in the level range of B <Vs ≦ C, the microcomputer 1 controls the first fluorescent lamp 6 via the drive circuit 10.
Is lit, and the process proceeds to the next main routine step (not shown). Further, if it is determined "YES" in the determination step S2, the process proceeds to the determination step S4 of "Vs≤A?".

In the judgment step S4, the light receiving circuit 2
Of the output voltage Vs is less than or equal to the threshold value A. If "NO" is determined in this determination step S4,
The process proceeds to the processing step S5 of "lighting up the first and second fluorescent lamps". Here, since the output voltage Vs is in the level range of A <Vs ≦ B, the microcomputer 1 turns on the first fluorescent lamp 6 and the second fluorescent lamp 7 via the drive circuit 10, and the next main routine (not shown). Go to step. In addition, if it is determined to be "YES" in the determination step S4, the process proceeds to the processing step S6 of "lighting of first to third fluorescent lamps".

In the processing step S6, the output voltage V
Since s is in the level range of Vs ≦ A, the microcomputer 1
When the first to third fluorescent lamps 6 to 8 are turned on via the drive circuit 10, the process proceeds to the next main routine step (not shown).

After that, if the illuminance of the surrounding environment increases and it is judged "NO" in the judgment step S1,
After shifting to the processing step S7 for "turning off the first to third fluorescent lamps", the microcomputer 1 turns off all the fluorescent lamps which are turned on at that time via the drive circuit 10, and then, Go to main routine step.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, the microcomputer 1 uses the light receiving circuit 2 for detecting the illuminance around the vending machine.
Of the first fluorescent lamp 6, the second fluorescent lamp 7, and the third fluorescent lamp 8 by comparing the output voltage Vs of the first fluorescent lamp 6 with the three-step threshold values A, B, and C set by the remote controller 5.
Since the book is controlled to be selectively turned on, the illuminance for illuminating the sample product is automatically changed according to the illuminance (brightness) of the environment in which the vending machine is installed and the change in the illuminance. It can be changed optimally.

In the second embodiment, there are three threshold values A,
Although B and C are set individually, for example, when one threshold value A is set by the numeric keypad of the remote controller 5, the remaining threshold values B and C are automatically calculated in the microcomputer 1 by calculation. The threshold value may be set more or less than three steps.

In the second embodiment, the number of the first to third fluorescent lamps 6 to 8 to be turned on is increased as the illuminance (brightness) of the surrounding environment becomes smaller. On the contrary, it is also possible to reduce the number of the first to third fluorescent lamps 6 to 8 to be turned on as the illuminance decreases.

FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment of the present invention.
Hereinafter, this will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 4. In the third embodiment, it is assumed that the vending machine is installed indoors. FIG. 6 showing a flowchart of control contents
First, when the power is turned on, the microcomputer 1
In step R1 of "starting sales," the vending machine is started to be sold, and necessary processing is performed while the vending machine is on sale. In addition, at the start of sale, all the first fluorescent lamp 6, the second fluorescent lamp 7, and the third fluorescent lamp 8 are turned on. Then, the process shifts to the next judgment step R2 of "whether Vs≤C since C <Vs?".

In the decision step R2, the microcomputer 1 detects the output of the output voltage Vs of the light receiving circuit 2 in order to detect that the illumination around the vending machine, that is, the interior lighting is turned off.
Value is successively compared with the threshold value C (light-off threshold value),
From the state where the output voltage Vs exceeds the threshold value C, it is determined whether or not the output voltage Vs has changed to the threshold value C or less. While the judgment step R2 is "NO", the step R
The process proceeds to 1 and the process during sale is repeated. Judgment step R2
If it is determined to be "YES" in step S3, the process proceeds to the next "sales stop" processing step R3.

In processing step R3, step R
It is considered that the lighting in the room is turned off in 2 and it is judged that the customer has all exited from the room, so the vending machine is put into the sale stop state and all the first to third fluorescent lamps 6 to 8 are stopped. Turn off the light. Then, the following “Vs <B to B ≦ Vs
Did it become? The determination step R4 of "."

In the decision step R4, the output voltage Vs of the light receiving circuit 2 is successively compared with the threshold value B (lighting threshold value) in order to detect that the indoor lighting is turned on. From the state where Vs is less than the threshold value B, it is determined whether or not the threshold voltage has changed to the threshold value B or more. While "NO" is determined in the determination step R4, the process proceeds to step R3 and the sales stop process is repeated. Judgment step R
If it is determined to be "YES" in step 4, it is considered that the indoor lighting has been turned on, and it is determined that the customer has entered the room. Therefore, the process proceeds to the processing step R1 of "start of sales", and the vending machine is operated. And the first fluorescent lamp 6, the second fluorescent lamp 7, and the third fluorescent lamp 8 are all turned on again.

As described above, according to the third embodiment, the microcomputer 1 sells when the lighting in the room where the vending machine is installed is turned off and the output voltage Vs of the light receiving circuit 2 becomes equal to or lower than the threshold value C. The first to third fluorescent lamps 6 as well as the stop state
To 8 are turned off, the interior lighting is turned on, and when the output voltage Vs of the light receiving circuit 2 becomes equal to or higher than the threshold value B, the sale is started and all the first to third fluorescent lamps 6 to 8 are turned on. As a result, the sale is automatically started and stopped depending on whether the room is bright or dark, which is extremely convenient.

Moreover, the first to third fluorescent lamps 6 to 8 are
When sales are stopped, the output voltage Vs is turned off when the output voltage Vs becomes lower than the threshold value C (when changing from light to dark), and when the output voltage Vs becomes higher than the threshold value B (when switching from dark to light) at the time of sale. The first to the third fluorescent lamps 6 to 8 are turned off and turned on in a short time by a slight change in the lighting in the room. Can be prevented from being repeated.

FIG. 7 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
Hereinafter, this will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 4. In FIG. 7 showing a flowchart of a part of detecting the opening / closing of the door switch 4 of the control content, first, in a processing step T1 of “door switch on?”, The main door of the vending machine and the column containing the product are Whether or not the inner doors (doors) that are separated from each other are opened is determined by turning on / off the output signal of the door switch 4. When the inner door is opened and it is determined to be "YES" in processing step T1, the process proceeds to the next "Vs≤A?" Determination step T2.

In the judgment step T2, it is judged whether or not the output voltage Vs of the light receiving circuit 2 at that time is equal to or lower than the threshold value A (predetermined threshold value). When the illuminance around the vending machine is low and it is determined to be "YES" in the determination step T2, the internal lamp 9 is turned on in the next "Turning on internal lamp" processing step T3. If "NO" is determined in the determination step T2, the process goes to the process step T4 of "extinguishing the interior light", so that the interior light 9 is not turned on. Further, even when it is determined to be "NO" in the processing step T1, since the inner door is not opened, the process similarly shifts to the processing step T4.

As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, the microcomputer 1 does not determine that the output voltage Vs of the light receiving circuit 2 is equal to or lower than the threshold value A even when the inner door is opened for replenishment of goods. Since the internal light 9 is controlled so as not to be turned on, even if the inner door is opened, the internal light 9 is turned on only when it is actually necessary to turn on the internal light 9 and wastes power. There is no.

FIG. 8 shows a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
Hereinafter, this will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 8 showing a part of the flow chart of the control contents, first, in the judgment step P1 of “is it in a saleable state?”, Is there any failure or the like in the vending machine and it is in a saleable state? It is determined whether or not. Judgment step P
When it is determined to be "NO" in step 1, the process goes to the process step P2 of "turning off the fluorescent lamp", all the first to third fluorescent lamps 6 to 8 are turned off, and the process goes to the next step (not shown). If "YES" is determined in the determination step P1, the process proceeds to the determination step P3 of "Is the fluorescent lamp lighting condition satisfied?".

In the judgment step P3, the microcomputer 1
Refers to the output voltage Vs of the light receiving circuit 2 and determines whether or not the lighting condition of the fluorescent lamp is satisfied. Here, as the lighting condition, for example, in FIG. 4, the output voltage Vs is equal to or lower than the threshold value C. In the judgment step P3, "Y
If it is judged as "ES", the processing step P of "lighting of the fluorescent lamp"
4, the first to third fluorescent lamps 6 to 8 are all turned on, and the process proceeds to the next step (not shown). If it is determined to be "NO" in the determination step P3, the process proceeds to the "fluorescent lamp extinguishing" processing step P2, all the first to third fluorescent lamps 6 to 8 are extinguished, and the process proceeds to the next step not shown.

As described above, according to the fifth embodiment, the microcomputer 1 operates the first to third fluorescent lamps 6 only when the vending machine is in a sellable state and the lighting conditions of the fluorescent lamps are satisfied. Since all of the first to third fluorescent lamps 6 to 8 are turned on, even if the fluorescent lamp lighting conditions are satisfied, when the vending machine cannot be sold due to a failure or the like, the first to third fluorescent lamps 6 to 8 are not turned on and the customer can It is possible to recognize that a person cannot sell even from a distance.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings, but the following modifications are possible. Although CdS is used as the optical sensor 2a, CdSe (photoconductive cell) or the like may be used as long as it reacts in the visible light region.

Although the illumination lamp is used as a backlight for illuminating the background of the sample product, it may be used as an underlight for directly illuminating the sample product from below. Further, although the number of fluorescent lamps as the illuminating lamps is three, the number may be more or less than that. Further, it is possible to use one fluorescent lamp with variable brightness and control the brightness to change the overall brightness.

Although the processing of the second, third and fifth embodiments is performed in the main routine, an interrupt is input to the microcomputer at regular intervals, for example, during interrupt processing such as a timer interrupt processing routine by the system timer. You may process with.

[0048]

Since the present invention is as described above,
The following effects are obtained. According to the automatic vending machine of claim 1, the control means controls the illuminating lamp in accordance with the comparison between the threshold value arbitrarily set by the remote controller and the output signal from the light receiving means. Such a variable resistor is unnecessary, the number of parts can be reduced, and the threshold value for controlling the illumination lamp can be easily and accurately set.

According to another aspect of the vending machine of the present invention, the control means controls the brightness of the illuminating lamp in accordance with the magnitude of the output signal from the light receiving means which is output according to the change in the ambient brightness. Since the vending machine is appropriately controlled, the vending machine can always illuminate the sample of the product so that the customer can easily recognize the sample according to the illuminance of the installed environment.

According to another aspect of the vending machine of the present invention, the control means turns on the illumination lamp when the surroundings become dark and the output signal from the light receiving means reaches the lighting threshold value. When the light becomes bright and the output signal reaches the threshold for turning off in the direction in which the brightness is higher than the threshold for lighting, the lighting lamp is controlled to be turned off. Can have

According to another aspect of the vending machine of the present invention, the control means is when the door is opened and the surroundings are dark, and the output signal from the light receiving means falls below a predetermined threshold value. The internal light is controlled to turn on when it is turned off, so even if the door is opened for replenishment of products etc. Since the light is turned on, no unnecessary power is consumed.

According to the automatic vending machine of the fifth aspect, the control means turns on the illumination lamp only when it is in a saleable state and the surroundings are dark and the illumination condition of the illumination lamp is satisfied. Since it is controlled as described above, it is possible to recognize that the customer cannot sell even from a distance.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a connection diagram showing an electrical configuration of a light receiving circuit.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a relationship between an output voltage of a light receiving circuit and illuminance.

FIG. 4 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3 showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing control contents.

FIG. 6 is a view corresponding to FIG. 5 showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a view corresponding to FIG. 5 showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a view corresponding to FIG. 5 showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 is a microcomputer (control means), 2 is a light receiving circuit (light receiving means), 4 is a door switch, 5 is a remote controller, 6 is a first fluorescent lamp (illuminating lamp), 7 is a second fluorescent lamp (illuminating lamp), Reference numeral 8 indicates a third fluorescent lamp (illuminating lamp), and 9 indicates an interior lamp (illuminating lamp).

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An illuminating lamp, a light receiving means for detecting ambient brightness, and a control means for controlling the illuminating light according to a comparison between an output signal from the light receiving means and a threshold value stored in advance. A vending machine comprising a remote controller for arbitrarily setting a threshold value stored in the control means. 2. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the control means is configured to control the brightness of the illumination lamp according to the magnitude of the output signal from the light receiving means. 3. The control means turns on the illumination lamp when the output signal from the light receiving means reaches the lighting threshold value, and the output signal is in a direction in which the brightness is higher than the lighting threshold value. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the vending machine is configured to control to turn off the illumination lamp when a threshold value for turning off is reached. 4. The illuminating lamp is an interior lamp, and the control means controls when the door is opened and the output signal from the light receiving means has a predetermined threshold value or a direction in which the brightness is smaller than the predetermined threshold value. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the vending machine is configured to control to turn on the internal light when the value becomes a value. 5. The control means is configured to control to turn on the illuminating lamp only when the lighting condition of the illuminating lamp is satisfied in a salable state. Vending machine.