JPH08115468A - Lunch box heating system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a lunch box heating system capable of preventing a microwave oven from being used for another use by using the microwave oven only at the time of heating a lunch box sold from an automatic vending machine. CONSTITUTION: An automatic vending machine 1 housing plural lunch boxes and one or plural microwave ovens 3 to 5 arranged at the side of the automatic vending machine 1 are electrically connected to each other, and an article detection sensor 14 is arranged at a lunch box exhibiting shelf arranged inside of the automatic vending machine 1 and at a path to an article take-out port 12 installed to the automatic vending machine 1. Thus, the lunch box falling to the article take-out port 12 from the exhibiting shelf is detected by the detection sensor 14 and when the sensor 14 is actuated, the microwave ovens 3 to 5 can be actuated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bento box heating system, and more particularly to a bento box heating system that can be preferably used in expressway parking areas, stadium facilities, shops such as parks and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, bento boxes sold at recreation areas are
Face-to-face sales are common, and the lunch box purchaser buys the desired lunch box from the salesperson.

On the other hand, in recent years, bento boxes that can be stored for a long period of time have been developed and are on the market. These bento boxes are effectively used in various fields and are well received because the air inside is replaced with an inert gas to prevent spoilage.

By the way, since such bento can be stored for a long time, it may be sold from a vending machine installed in a stadium, a playground or a parking area of a highway. If you use a vending machine to sell bento boxes in such a place, you can sell these bento even during times when the salesperson cannot stand in the store or at locations where the salesperson does not stay at all times. It is possible and convenient for both sellers and buyers.

[0005]

However, even if a box lunch that can be stored for a long period of time is sold in a vending machine, the box lunch is set in the vending machine because it is managed in a cold state in the vending machine. Therefore, the temperature of the bento is low and it is not suitable to eat as it is.

[0006] In order to improve such inconvenience, for example, even when a bento is sold from an automatic vending machine, a service for heating the bento in a microwave oven is provided during a time when there is a salesperson. There is.

However, even when a service for heating in a microwave oven is provided, if a lunch box is purchased from these vending machines during the time period after the salesperson returns home, the lunch box cannot be heated. Therefore, in order to warm the bento after the salesperson returns home, the microwave oven must be installed near the vending machine and the purchaser must warm the bento by himself.

However, if the microwave oven can be used by each person, the microwave oven may be used without permission. If the microwave oven is used by an unspecified number of people without permission, not only the amount of electricity used increases but also the microwave oven deteriorates.

In view of the above situation, the present invention can use a microwave oven only when warming a lunch box sold from a vending machine, and can add a lunch box which can be prevented from being used for other purposes. Intended to provide a heating system.

[0010]

In a bento box heating system according to the present invention for achieving the above object, an automatic vending machine accommodating a plurality of bento boxes and a side view of the automatic vending machine. One or a plurality of microwave ovens are electrically connected to each other, and an article detection sensor is provided in a passage leading to a display shelf for lunch boxes arranged in the vending machine and an article outlet provided in the vending machine. And a switching means for enabling the microwave oven to be connected to the detection sensor, and the detection sensor detects a lunch box conveyed from the display shelf to the outlet of the article. When activated, the microwave oven can be activated based on the output signal from the switching means.

Further, according to the present invention for achieving the above-mentioned object, an automatic vending machine accommodating a plurality of bento boxes and one or a plurality of microwave ovens arranged laterally of the automatic vending machine are electrically connected. In addition to the connection, the push button which is provided in the vending machine and which selects a desired lunch box is connected with a switching means that enables the microwave oven when pressed with a predetermined charge being applied. The microwave oven can be operated based on the output signal from the switching means.

[0012]

According to the present invention having the above-mentioned first structure, the detection sensor is actuated by the passage of the box lunch after purchase on the way to the article take-out port, whereby the switching means is actuated, and the output signal of the switching means is actuated. The microwave oven becomes operable based on the. Therefore, the person who purchased the bento can use the microwave to warm the bento.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the output signal is taken out from the push operation of the push button switch after the amount of money more than the predetermined charge for purchasing the bento has been put in. Since the switching means is operated by the output signal to enable the microwave oven, the person who purchased the bento can use the microwave oven.

Therefore, even if the microwave oven is placed unattended in the vicinity of the vending machine, a third party who has not purchased the bento cannot use the microwave oven and must use the microwave oven without permission. Can be prevented.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a lunch box vending machine having a lunch box heating system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

In this bent vending machine 1, racks 2 having the same height as the vending machine 1 are arranged side by side. And three microwave ovens 3 at the height of the rack 2 which is easy to use,
4 and 5 are stored, and these microwave ovens 3, 4, and 5 are
It is electrically connected to the vending machine 1.

The vending machine 1 is provided with a display section 1a on the upper stage, and has a photo of a simulated lunch box or a sample. Further, push buttons 6, 7, and 8 corresponding to the push buttons 6, 7 and 8 are installed on the lower portion of the display unit 1a. In addition, display lamps 6a, 7a, 8a indicating that the corresponding bento boxes have been sold out are provided on the sides of the push buttons 6, 7, 8. A coin insertion slot 9 and a return lever 10 are arranged below such a button operation section, and a coin return slot 11 is installed below them. Further, at the bottom of the vending machine 1, a takeout opening 12 for a bento box is installed.

In this bento vending machine 1, when a desired bento is designated from among three types of push buttons 6, 7, and 8, the designated bento will be displayed on the display shelf in the vending machine 1. , Is conveyed through a passage (not shown) formed in a section up to the outlet 12. Then, the transported bento falls from the final part of the passage into the take-out port 12 and is taken out by the purchaser there.

On the other hand, in the microwave ovens 3, 4 and 5, the doors 3a, 4a and 5a for opening and closing the inner article storage chamber are provided with locking means, and these doors are provided with predetermined members as will be described later. It can be selectively opened and closed when a signal is issued.

Further, the microwave ovens 3, 4, and 5 are connected to a control panel 13 for controlling the driving of these microwave ovens. Further, the vending machine 1 is provided with an article detection sensor 14 in a passage from a display shelf (not shown) in which a large number of bento boxes are stored to an article outlet 12. The detection sensor 14 is an optical detection unit including, for example, a light receiving element and a light emitting element, and outputs a detection signal when an article passes through the detection area. When the detection sensor 14 detects the passage of the article, the detection signal is transmitted to the control panel 13 described above.
Is output to

When the first output signal from the detection sensor 14 is applied to the control panel 13, the first microwave oven 3 becomes usable first based on this output signal. Then, the indicator lamp 3b which has been turned off until now is turned on. Indicator lamp 3b
Indicates that the microwave oven 3 is in a usable state until the set time of the timer provided in the control panel 13 is expired. Thereby, the lunch box purchaser visually confirms that the microwave oven 3 is usable, opens the door 3a by hand, and
You can warm up your purchased lunch.

On the other hand, when a further bento is purchased and the second detection signal from the detection sensor 14 is applied to the control panel 13, the microwave oven 4 in the middle stage can be used, and the corresponding indicator lamp 4b. Lights up.

Therefore, the purchaser of this bento can visually confirm that the microwave oven 4 is usable and can warm the purchased bento in the microwave oven 4. Further, when the third bento is purchased and a detection signal is applied from the detection sensor 14 to the control panel 13, the lower microwave oven 5 can be used based on the detection signal, and the corresponding indicator lamp 5b is used.
Lights up.

Therefore, the purchaser of this bento can confirm that the microwave oven 5 is usable, and can open the door 5a by hand to warm the purchased bento. The control panel 13 is
For example, it has the following structure.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the control panel 13 includes the earth leakage breaker 15 and the magnet switch 1.
Circuit protector 1 having 6, 17 and 18
9, a snap switch 20, and a programmable controller 21.

The operation by the control panel 13 is as shown in FIG. 3, for example. That is, when a detection signal is generated by the detection sensor 14 in the vending machine 1, the main power supply 25 of the microwave ovens 3, 4, 5 is closed by the detection signal. Further, the signal output from the detection sensor 14 shown in FIG. 1 is supplied to the control panel 13, and the programmable control device 21 of the control panel 13 causes the microwave ovens 3, 4 in the order of use,
Power supply circuits 22a, 23a, 24a for driving
And the power supply circuits 22b, 23b, 24b for causing the corresponding indicator lights 3a, 4a, 5a to emit light are closed.

The heating system for the bento according to the embodiment of the present invention is constructed as described above, and its operation will be described below. For example, a vending machine 1 to buy bento
The purchaser standing in front of, selects a desired bento while looking at the display unit 1a and inserts a predetermined charge from the coin slot 9 or the like. And, when the charge that can be purchased is put in,
It is confirmed that the product can be purchased by the irradiation light or the like emitted from the inside of the push buttons 6, 7, and 8. And
The purchaser selects the number corresponding to the desired bento from the push buttons 6, 7, 8 and presses the push button 7, for example.

When the push button 7 is pressed, the locking means (not shown) holding the gate of the display rack in the vending machine 1 is released based on the output signal, and the designated lunch box is sent into the passage. And guided down.

When the purchased bento, for example, travels in a spiral passage for a predetermined distance and passes the detection area of the detection sensor 14, a detection signal is output from the detection sensor 14 to the control panel 13, and based on this detection signal, first. When the microwave oven 3 becomes usable, the indicator lamp 3b lights up.

On the other hand, in the automatic vending machine 1, the specified lunch box has fallen into the lunch box take-out port 12, so that the purchaser can take out the desired lunch box from the take-out port 12.

When the purchaser heats the bento on the spot, the purchaser operates the microwave oven 3 by himself. At that time, the user can check the usable microwave oven 3 among the three microwave ovens 3, 4, and 5 by visually checking the lit indicator light 3b, and open the door 3a of the microwave oven 3 for the taken lunch. And set it inside. From this state, a predetermined heating time is set and heating is performed. Door 3 after the set time has passed
If you open a, you can take out the warmed lunch and eat the warm lunch.

After that, when a predetermined time set by a timer (not shown) has elapsed, the indicator lamp 3b is turned off. In addition,
In the bento provided by such a heating system,
When food that does not require partial heating, such as fruits, is placed inside the container, a part of this container should be formed so that it can be separated from the container body. Good to do. In order to form a part of the container in a separable manner, perforations or the like may be formed in advance in the portion to be separated, and then the container may be separated from the perforations. As a result, only the portion suitable for heating can be heated, and foods such as fruits that are not suitable for heating can be eaten in a cold state without being heated.

FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, and the same elements as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals. Also in the second embodiment, the control panel 13 is connected to the microwave ovens 3, 4, 5 as in the above embodiment.

In this embodiment, the detection sensor 14 of the above embodiment is not provided. Instead, the push buttons 6, 7, 8 are electrically connected to the control panel 13.
In this embodiment, when any one of the push buttons 6, 7, and 8 is pressed in a state in which an amount equal to or more than a predetermined charge for purchasing a bento has been put in, a signal thereof is supplied to the control panel 13, and FIG.
The main power supply 25 shown in FIG. When a signal from this push button is supplied to the control panel 13, the programmable control circuit 21 of the control panel 13 supplies a power supply circuit 22a for driving the microwave ovens 3, 4, 5 in the order of use.
23a, 24a and the corresponding indicator lights 3b, 4b,
Power supply circuits 22b, 23b, 24 for making 5b emit light
b and are closed.

With the heating system for the bento box having such a structure, it is possible to prevent the microwave oven from being used for any purpose other than heating the purchased bento box, as in the above embodiment. That is, the purchaser of the bento puts in an amount more than a predetermined fee,
When a purchase lunch is designated from the push buttons 6, 7, and 8 after this state, a detection signal is output from the push button to the control panel 13.

When the first output signal from the push button is applied to the control panel 13, the first microwave oven 3 becomes usable first based on this output signal, and the indicator lamp 3b which has been turned off until now is turned on. To do. The indicator lamp 3b is the control panel 1
It is displayed that the microwave oven 3 is in a usable state until the set time of the timer provided in 3 has expired. Thereby, the lunch box purchaser can visually confirm that the microwave oven 3 is usable, open the door 3a by hand, and warm the purchased lunch box.

On the other hand, when a further bento is purchased and its push button is turned on, the microwave oven 4 in the middle stage can be used and the corresponding indicator light 4b is turned on. Therefore, the purchaser of this lunch box can visually confirm that the microwave oven 4 is usable and can warm the lunch box in the microwave oven 4.

Even when the third bento is purchased, the microwave oven 5 can be used and the corresponding indicator light 5b is turned on as in the above case. Therefore, outside of this time, any one of these microwave ovens 3,
It is not possible to use 4,5. Thereby, unauthorized use of the microwave oven can be prevented.

When a plurality of bento boxes are purchased at one time, two or three microwave ovens may be used at one time. By applying such a lunch box heating system, the microwave oven cannot be used unless the person who purchased the lunch box uses the microwave oven within a predetermined time, and the microwave oven cannot be used without permission. .

In addition, such a lunch box heating system can be preferably used particularly when selling a long-term storage box lunch in an automatic vending machine, but in the case of selling an ordinary bento in an automatic vending machine. It goes without saying that it is also applicable.

Further, such a vending machine can be preferably used for parking areas on expressways, various stadium facilities, shops in parks and the like.

[0042]

As described above, in the bento box heating system according to the present invention, the microwave oven can be used for a predetermined time only when the lunch box is purchased. There is no danger of being used.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a vending machine equipped with a lunch box heating system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a control panel adopted in the same embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of the control panel shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a vending machine equipped with a lunch box heating system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Vending machine 3, 4, 5 Microwave oven 6, 7, 8 Push button 12 Ejection port 13 Control panel 14 Detection sensor

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A vending machine accommodating a plurality of bento boxes and one or a plurality of microwave ovens arranged on the side of the vending machine are electrically connected to each other and are arranged in the vending machine. An article detection sensor is arranged in a passage leading to a lunch box display shelf and an article outlet provided in the vending machine, and a switching means for enabling the microwave oven is connected to the detection sensor. The detection sensor detects a lunch box conveyed from the display shelf to the outlet of the article, and when the detection sensor operates, enables the microwave oven based on an output signal from the switching means. A bento heating system characterized by the above. 2. A vending machine accommodating a plurality of bento boxes and one or a plurality of microwave ovens arranged laterally of the vending machine are electrically connected to each other, and the vending machine is provided with the vending machine. The push button for selecting a desired bento box is connected to a switching means that enables the microwave oven when pressed with a predetermined charge applied, and the electronic means is operated based on an output signal from the switching means. Bento heating system characterized by enabling the range.