JPH08263732A - Column setting device for automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To automatically execute correspondence between a merchandise sample, i.e., a merchandise selecting button, and a storing column by reading out a bar code from each merchandise sample in a merchandise display part and reading out bar codes from merchandises stored in each storing column. CONSTITUTION: Bar code reading and storing processing for merchandise samples (t) displayed on a merchandise sample display part 21 is executed and bar code reading and storing processing for merchandises stored in a storing column is also executed. When a combination having a coincident merchandise code exists, a button number and a column number are stored in a storage part correspondingly to the merchandise code in each merchandise code and price corresponding to the merchandise code is correspondingly stored. The bar code of each merchandise sample (t) in the merchandise display art 21 is read out and the bar codes fo merchandises stored in each storing column are also read out, so that correspondence between the merchandise sample, i.e., the merchandise selection button 28, and the storing column can be automatically executed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic vending machine for selling products with a bar code, in which the product samples displayed in the product sample display section are associated with the storage columns for storing the products. Column setting device in a machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, various products have been bar coded, and products such as cigarettes and canned drinks have also been bar coded. This bar code is a product code generally called a JAN code, and some vending machines that sell products with this bar code use the bar code to make various settings.

For example, as described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-95192, there is a column setting device for reading a barcode of a product and storing it in association with a storage column.
With this column setting device, when initially storing products,
Read the barcode of the product with a barcode reader,
In addition, the barcode attached to the storage column for storing the product and the barcode indicating the button number of the product selection button are read, and the product, the storage column, and the product selection button are stored in association with each other.

[0004]

However, in the column setting device of the vending machine as described in the above publication, the product, the storage column, and the product selection button can be associated with each other. There is a problem that the operation is very troublesome because the settings must be made one by one.

Further, if another product sample is mistakenly placed in the product sample display section for displaying the product sample, or if another product is mistakenly stored in the storage column for storing the product,
There is also a problem that the correspondence with the sold products becomes strange.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points,
An object of the present invention is to provide a column setting device in a vending machine that can automatically associate the product samples displayed in the product sample display section with the storage columns in which the products are stored for each type of product. .

[0007]

A column setting device in a vending machine according to the present invention stores a bar coded product in a plurality of storage columns for each type, and corresponds to a product selection button in a product sample display section. In a vending machine that displays a plurality of product samples and sells the products, the product sample reading means for reading the bar code of the product sample displayed in the product sample display section, and the product stored in each storage column The stored product reading means for reading the barcode of the product, the barcode read by the product sample reading means and the barcode read by the stored product reading means, and the product sample displayed in the product sample display section and the storage Judgment means for judging the correspondence relationship with the products stored in the column, and product samples and storage columns for each bar code product judged to match by this judgment means Is obtained and a storage means for storing in association with.

[0008]

In the column setting device of the vending machine according to the present invention, the bar code of each product sample in the product display section is read, and the bar code of the product stored in each storage column is read to select the product sample, that is, the product selection. Automatically associate buttons with storage columns.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The construction of an automatic vending machine for selling products such as cigarettes will be described below with reference to the drawings as an embodiment of the present invention. The cigarette has a barcode on one side.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the vending machine. The vending machine includes a vending machine body 1 and a door body 2, and the door body 2 is attached to the front surface of the vending machine body 1 so as to be openable and closable.

The vending machine main body 1 is formed in a box shape having an opening on the front side, and a plurality of storage columns 11 for storing rectangular products such as cigarettes arranged side by side are arranged in parallel vertically and horizontally. .

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the structure of the storage column 11. A plurality of shelves 14 having a back plate 13 are mounted between the side plates 12 arranged on the left and right inner sides of the vending machine body 1, and a plurality of column bodies 15 are mounted on the shelves 14 at the respective stages. . Shelf 14
Is inclined so that the back side is slightly lower than horizontal, and the back plate 13
Is provided perpendicular to the shelf plate 14. Column body 15
Is formed into a rectangular parallelepiped box excluding the top surface and the front surface, that is, the bottom surface portion 15a, the rear surface portion 15b, and the side surface portions 15c. As shown in FIG. Has a magnet 16 attached. And
When the column body 15 is placed on the shelf plate 14, the magnets 16 are magnetically attracted and held by the shelf plate 14 and the back plate 13. When the column body 15 is placed, the product T is lowered, so that the product T is stored at a position close to the rear surface portion 15b as a fixed position.

A serial number is assigned to each storage column 11 arranged in the vending machine body 1.
This column number is, for example, 1, 2, 3, ... N from left to right of the uppermost storage column 11, and the second storage column 11 from the top.
From left to right of n + 1, n + 2, n + 3 ...
It is assigned to all storage columns 11.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the door body 2. On the front of the door body 2, a product sample display section 21, a coin slot 22, a banknote slot
23, a return lever 24, and an outlet 25 that also serves as a product outlet and a change outlet.

The sample display section 21 has a transparent cover 26 on the front side.
A plurality of horizontal shelf frames 27 are vertically arranged inside the transparent cover 26, and a plurality of product selection buttons 28 penetrate the transparent cover 26 on the front surface of each shelf frame 27. Commodity samples t and price display stickers 29 are arranged on the upper side of each shelf plate 27 so as to correspond to the upper position of each commodity selection button 28. Each of the product samples t displayed in the product sample display unit 21 is diagonally arranged by a holder 30 arranged on each shelf frame 27, as shown in FIG. Also,
The product selection button 28 incorporates a sold-out lamp that lights up the sold-out condition of the product.

A serial button number is assigned to each product selection button 28 arranged in the product sample display section 21. This button number is, for example, 1, 2, 3 ... m from left to right of the uppermost product selection button 28, or the second product selection button 28 from the top.
From left to right of m + 1, m + 2, m + 3 ...
It is assigned to all the product selection buttons 28.

In FIG. 3, on the rear surface of the door body 2, a product take-out unit 31 for taking out the product T from the storage column 11, a drive mechanism 32 of the product take-out unit 31, a pump 33 for the product take-out unit 31, and a product T are thrown. A product ejecting section 34 to be ejected, a money processing section 35 for processing the inserted coins, and a product sample reading means 13
1 etc. are provided.

The product take-out unit 31 is attached to the horizontal guide member 36 and can move horizontally along the horizontal guide member 36. The horizontal guide member 36 is a vertical guide member 37 which is fixed to the left and right inner sides of the door body 2, respectively.
It is possible to move up and down along. Due to the combination of these two movements, the product take-out unit 31 becomes the storage column 11.
You can move the whole area in front of.

6 and 7 are side views of the product take-out unit 31. The commodity take-out unit 31 includes a support body 41 supported by the horizontal guide member 36, an extendable body 42 that can extend rearward with respect to the support body 41, and a drive unit 43 that extends and retracts the extendable body 42. It comprises a take-out section 44 which is attached to the tip of the extendable body 42 and enters the storage column 11 to take out the product T, and is provided with a stored product reading means 115 which will be described later.

The support body 41 is provided with a substantially U-shaped holder portion 46 that fits outside the upper and lower substantially L-shaped guide piece portions 36a formed along the rear surface of the horizontal guide member 36. Department
A roller 47 rotatably supported on the upper and lower inner walls of 46 is fitted inside the guide piece portion 36a, and a roller 48 rotatably supported on the front wall of the holder portion 46 is an upper guide piece. Department
The rollers 47 and 48 are fitted to the lower side of the 36a, and can be horizontally moved along the horizontal guide member 36 by rolling. Also,
On the front wall of the holder portion 46, a horizontal movement wire 98 described later is provided.
A connecting portion 49 to which is connected is projected. Further, a support plate 50 that supports the telescopic body 42 and the drive portion 43 from the one end of the holder portion 46 is provided so as to project rearward.

The expandable / contractible body 42 is configured to be expandable / contractible by rotatably connecting a central portion and end portions of a plurality of links 52, which are alternately combined with each other, with a connecting shaft 53.
The end of the link 52 projecting downward from the front end of the elastic body 42 is a support body.
An end portion of a link 52, which is rotatably supported by a mounting shaft 55 on a guide member 54 mounted on 41, and projects upward from the front end, is guided along a guide groove 56 provided in the guide member 54 along the vertical direction. It is mounted so as to be movable up and down by a moving sliding shaft 57.

The drive unit 43 comprises a motor 58 attached to the support plate 50 and a link mechanism 59 for converting the rotational movement of the motor 58 into reciprocating movement. The link mechanism 59 is a motor 58.
Link 61 fixed to rotating shaft 60 driven by
And a link 63 rotatably connected to one end of the link 61 by a connecting shaft 62, and an end portion of the link 63 is rotatably connected to a sliding shaft 57 of the link 52. And the motor 58
By rotating the rotating shaft 60 in the direction of the solid line arrow in FIG. 6, the sliding shaft 57 is moved downward and the telescopic body 42 is extended rearward, while rotating in the direction of the broken line arrow in FIG. The sliding shaft 57 is moved upward by the
Contract forward. Also, when the elastic body 42 contracts, the link
By detecting the end portion of 61 by the sensor 64, the motor 58 is stopped and the telescopic body 42 is stopped and held at the contracted position.

The take-out section 44 is a suction pad for adsorbing the product T.
A tube 66 having a suction port 65 and extending from the suction pad 65 is connected to the pump 33 arranged at the lower portion of the door body 2, and a negative pressure is guided to the suction pad 65. The suction pad 65 is rotatably supported by a support member 67 attached to the rear end of the telescopic body 42. An end of a link 52 projecting downward of the rear end of the expandable body 42 is rotatably attached to the support member 67 by a mounting shaft 68, and an upper end of the link 52 projecting upward of the rear end is supported by the support member 67.
A sliding shaft 70 that moves along a guide groove 69 provided along the vertical direction is attached so as to be vertically movable. Then, the take-out portion 44 moves substantially parallel to the front-back direction as the extendable body 42 expands and contracts.

FIG. 9 (a) shows a vertical moving mechanism 71 of a drive mechanism 32 for vertically moving the product take-out unit 31. The vertical movement mechanism 71 includes a vertical movement motor 72 attached to a lower portion of the door body 2, and an endless drive pulley 74 and a driven pulley 75 fixed to a drive shaft 73 of the vertical movement motor 72. The drive transmission belt 76 is stretched, and as shown in FIG. 10, the drive force is transmitted to the two vertical movement pulleys 77 and 78 fixed to the side surface of the driven pulley 75. Each pulley 74, 7
5, 77, 78 are mounting brackets 7 mounted on the lower part of the door body 2.
It is rotatably attached to a support shaft 80 supported by 9. Two vertical movement wires 81 and 82 are wound around the vertical movement pulleys 77 and 78, respectively, and one vertical movement wire 81 is located directly above the vertical movement pulley 77. It is laid around the vertical movement pulley 83 attached to
Both ends thereof are connected to one end of the horizontal guide member 36, and the other vertical movement wire 82 is attached to the door body 2 at a position surrounding the movement region of the horizontal guide member 36. , 84, 85, 86, and both ends thereof are connected to the other end of the horizontal guide member 36. Then, when the vertical movement motor 72 is rotated in the forward or reverse direction, the horizontal guide member 36 moves up or down in parallel depending on the rotation direction.

The rollers 87 attached to both ends of the horizontal guide member 36 are engaged with the vertical guide member 37, and the movement of the horizontal guide member 36 is restricted only in the vertical direction.

FIG. 9B shows a horizontal movement mechanism 91 of the drive mechanism 32 for moving the commodity take-out unit 31 in the horizontal direction. This horizontal movement mechanism 91 is provided with a vertical movement motor 72 at the bottom of the door body 2.
10 includes a horizontal movement motor 92 mounted side by side, and an endless drive transmission belt 96 is stretched between a drive pulley 94 and a driven pulley 95 fixed to a drive shaft 93 of the horizontal movement motor 92. As shown in, the driving force is transmitted to the horizontal movement pulley 97 fixed to the side surface of the driven pulley 95. The horizontal movement pulley 97 is rotatably attached to the support shaft 80 together with the pulleys 74, 75, 77 and 78. A horizontal movement wire 98 is wound around the horizontal movement pulley 97, and the horizontal movement wire 98 is attached to the horizontal movement pulley 99 to which the door body 2 located right above is attached and the horizontal guide member 36. Three attached pulleys for horizontal movement 100, 101, 10
It is laid around 2, and both ends of the horizontal movement pulleys 100 and 101 are connected to the product take-out unit 31.
Then, when the horizontal movement motor 92 is rotated in the forward and reverse directions, the product take-out unit 31 moves left and right depending on the rotation direction.

The commodity take-out unit 31 has, for example, a reference position detected by a sensor (not shown) at a position corresponding to the storage column 11 at the upper left, and the amount of movement moved from the reference position by driving the motors 72 and 92. Based on the above, the position of the product take-out unit 31 is detected by the function of the column position detecting means of the control unit 151 described later. Therefore, the positions of the product take-out unit 31 and the storage columns 11 can be associated with each other.

Further, the product taking-out unit 31 is provided with a stored product reading means 115 for reading a bar code b attached to one side surface of the product T stored in each storage column 11. The stored product reading means 115 includes a bar code reader 116 for reading the bar code b of the product T, and the bar code reader 116 is attached to the support plate 50 with its reading surface facing downward. Its barcode reader 11
As shown in FIG. 7, the mounting position of 6 is a position facing the upper surface (side surface) of the product T sucked by the suction pad 65 substantially in parallel with the expandable body 42 in a contracted state. Further, a motor 117 for rotating the suction pad 65 by 90 ° in both forward and reverse directions is provided.

Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the stored product reading means 115 makes the upper surface of the product T adsorbed by the adsorbing pad 65 face the bar code reader 116, and then, as shown in FIG. To rotate the suction pad 65 to one side,
The side surface of the product T is opposed to the barcode reader 116. At this time, if the bar code b is attached to one side surface of the product T facing the bar code reader 116, the bar code b is read by the bar code reader 116. Further, when the bar code b is attached to the other side surface of the product T, even if one side surface of the product T is opposed, it cannot be read by the bar code reader 116, so the motor 117 moves the suction pad 65 to the other side. It is rotated 180 °, and the other side of the product T is made to face the bar code reader 116 and is read.

FIG. 7 shows a side view of the product dispensing unit 34. The product dispensing unit 34 includes a box-shaped frame body 111.
A product outlet 112 that opens to the front surface of the door body 2 is formed on the front surface of the door, and a rotating door 114 that is rotatable rearward about a lower rotating shaft 113 is provided on the rear surface.

A rotating mechanism 121 for rotating the rotating door 114 is provided on one side of the frame 111. This rotation mechanism 12
1 has one end of the lever 122 fixed to the rotating shaft 113, and the spring 124 is stretched between the other end of the lever 122 and the lower protruding piece 123 of the frame 111. The revolving door 114 is held in a normally closed state by.
A solenoid 125 is attached to the side surface of the frame 111, and a link 127 is attached to the plunger 126 of the solenoid 125.
One end of the link is rotatably connected and the link 12
The other end of 7 is rotatably connected to the vicinity of the middle of the lever 122, and when the solenoid 125 is excited, the link 127 and the lever 122 are pulled up and the rotary door 114 is opened. Then, the product ejection unit 34 is usually provided with a horizontal guide member 36.
Although it does not overlap the orbit of the revolving door 11
The tip of 4 projects to the rear of the product take-out unit 31.

FIG. 11 is a rear view of the product sample display section 21, FIG.
2 shows a cross-sectional view of the product sample display section 21, the product sample display section
A product sample reading means 131 for reading the bar code b of the product sample t displayed in the product sample display section 21 is arranged on the back surface of the product 21. The product sample reading means 131 includes a reading unit 132, and the reading unit 132 is a driving mechanism 133.
It is possible to move up and down, right and left, and to the entire rear surface of the product sample display section 21.

The reading unit 132 includes a product sample display section 21.
A chute 134 for guiding the product sample t is formed at each display position. The chute 134 is formed in an inclined shape from the rear upper side to the front lower side according to the inclination of the holder 30 on which the product sample t is placed, and is formed in a shape and dimension that allows all the product sample t to be handled to pass through. . A bar code b attached to the side of the product sample t (the same bar code b as the product T of the same type) is attached to the side surface facing the inside of the chute 134.
A bar code reader 135 (shown in the block diagram of FIG. 2) for reading is read. Then, with the reading unit 132 positioned corresponding to one of the display positions of the product sample display section 21, the product sample t is loaded on the upper part of the chute 134, so that the product sample t is shot.
In the process of passing through the inside of 134, the bar code reader 135 reads the bar code b attached to the side surface of the product sample t.

The drive mechanism 133 has horizontal rails 136 arranged along the upper and lower edges of the rear surface of the product sample display section 21, and the vertical rails are provided between the upper and lower horizontal rails 136. It has a vertical rail 137 arranged substantially vertically. The vertical rail 137 is supported so as to be movable left and right via rollers 138 that are rollably engaged with the upper and lower horizontal rails 136. This vertical rail 137 has a reading unit
131 is supported by a plurality of rollers 139 so as to be vertically movable.

Pulleys are provided near both ends of the lower horizontal rail 136.
140 is provided, and the wire 141 is provided across both pulleys 140.
And a vertical rail 137 is connected to the wire 141. Then, one pulley 140 is driven to rotate in the forward and reverse directions by the motor 142, so that the vertical rail 137, that is, the reading unit 131 moves left and right.

Pulleys 143 are attached near the upper and lower ends of the vertical rail 137, and a wire 144 is stretched between the pulleys 143, and the reading unit 131 is attached to the wire 144.
Are connected. And the lower pulley 143 is the motor
The reading unit 13 is driven by the forward and reverse rotation of the 145.
1 moves up and down.

The reading unit 132 has a reference position detected by a sensor (not shown) at a position corresponding to, for example, the display position at the upper left (viewed from the front).
The position of the reading unit 132 is detected by the function of the product sample position detecting means (button position detecting means) of the control unit 151, which will be described later, based on the amount of movement of the 141, 145 from the reference position. Therefore, the reading unit 132 can be associated with each display position of the product sample t, that is, each product selection button 28.

FIG. 2 shows a control unit 151 of the column setting device, and this control unit 151 has a storage unit 152 as a storage means.
The operation unit 153, the stored product reading unit 115, and the product sample reading unit 131 are connected.

In the storage section 152, the correspondence between the product code of each product T, the product name and the price is registered. The input of the correspondence relation is performed by a ROM or an IC card in which the correspondence relation data of all commodities handled by the vending machine are stored. Therefore, the control unit 151 can read the product name and price from the product code read by the barcode reader 132.

The operation unit 153 is provided on the back surface of the door body 2 or is a handy remote controller connected to the connection portion on the back surface side of the door body 2 via a cord, and various settings such as modes can be made. .

The control section 151 is a means for reading stored products.
From the bar code (product code) read by 115 and the bar code (product code) read by the product sample reading means 131, the product sample t displayed in the product sample display section 21 and the storage column 11 are stored. A bar code (product code) that has a function of a determination unit that determines the correspondence relationship with the product T and is determined to match by the function of the determination unit
For each product T, the product sample t and the storage column 11, that is, the button number of the product selection button 28 and the column number of the storage column 11 are stored in the storage unit 152 in association with the product code.

The control unit 151 has a function of empty detection means for detecting the empty of the product T in the storage column 11. With this empty detection function,
Even if the advancing amount of the suction pad 65 is maximized and the air pressure is reduced by the pump 33, if the separately provided pressure detection means cannot detect the decrease in pressure, it is determined that the product T has become empty.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

First, the initial setting for associating the product sample t displayed in the product sample display section 21 with the storage column 11 for storing the product T will be described.

By opening the door body 2 and setting the allocation mode with the operation unit 153 arranged inside the door body 2,
The flowchart of FIG. 1 is started.

The bar code reading and storing process of the product sample t displayed on the product sample displaying section 21 is performed (step 1), and the bar code reading and storing process of the product T stored in the storage column 11 is performed (step 2). ).

The bar code reading / storing process of the product sample t will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
It is assumed that no product sample t has been displayed in the product sample display section 21.

In the allocation mode, the reading unit 132 moves to the reference position, that is, the display position at the upper left (viewed from the front) (step 11).

After moving the reading unit 132, the product sample t is put into the chute 134 of the reading unit 132, and the product sample t guided by the chute 134 is displayed and arranged on the holder 30. At this time, the bar code reader 135 reads the bar code b attached to the side surface of the product sample t passing through the chute 134 (step 12), and outputs the product code read from the bar code b to the control unit 151. (Step 13).

The control unit 151 searches for whether the same product code setting as the input product code (setting associated with the button number) is stored in the storage unit 152 (step 1
Four).

When a product sample t of a type that is not displayed on the product sample display section 21 is displayed, the product code is not set, so the product selection corresponding to the display position where the product code and the product sample t are displayed. The button number of the button 28 is associated and stored in the storage unit 152 (step 15).

When a plurality of product samples t of the same type are displayed, if the product samples t of the same type are already displayed, the product code is set in association with another button number. The button number of this time is additionally stored in the storage unit 152 in association with the already stored product code (step
16).

When the setting for one button number is completed,
The reading unit 132 moves to the display position corresponding to the next button number (step 18), and the product code and the button number are associated with each other and stored in the storage unit 152 in accordance with the operation of displaying the product sample t as described above. I will do it.

When the product samples t are displayed at all the display positions and the setting of all the button numbers is completed (step 17), the bar code reading and storing process of the product samples t is completed.

When changing the display of the product sample t, the product sample t to be changed is taken out from the product sample display unit 21, and then the product selection corresponding to the display position where the product sample t is changed by the operation unit 153. By entering the button number of button 28,
The reading unit 132 moves to the display position corresponding to the button number, and the changed product sample t is displayed through the reading unit 132. As a result, the previous product code associated with the corresponding button number is rewritten to the current product code.

Next, the bar code reading and storing process of the products T stored in the storage column 11 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the following description, the movement of the product take-out unit 31 and the product T by the product take-out unit 31 are performed.
The taking-out operation will be briefly described, and will be described in detail in the selling operation of the product T described later.

Each type of product T is stored in each storage column 11 side by side in the front-rear direction. At this time, the products T that sell well may be stored in a plurality of storage columns 11. The product T stored in the storage column 11 is the bottom portion of the column body 15.
Due to the inclination of 15a, the position closer to the rear surface portion 15b is stored as a fixed position.

When the door 2 is closed in the allocation mode, the product take-out unit 31 moves to the reference position, that is, the storage column 11 at the upper left.
Move to the position of (step 21).

After the product take-out unit 31 is moved, the suction pad 65 advances into the storage column 11 as shown in FIG.
7, the suction pad 65 moves to the front of the storage column 11 as shown in FIG. 7, and the product T is taken out to the front of the storage column 11 to the position where the upper surface of the product T faces the barcode reader 116. Step 22).

The product 117 is rotated 90 ° to one side together with the suction pad 65 by the motor 117 (step 23), and the bar code is read by the bar code reader 116 (step).
twenty four).

At this time, if the side surface of the product T opposite to the side surface having the bar code b attached thereto faces the bar code reader 116, the bar code reader 116 cannot read the bar code (step twenty five). In this case, the product T is rotated 180 ° to the other side together with the suction pad 65 by the motor 117, the side surface of the product T having the bar code b is opposed to the bar code reader 116, and the bar code b is read by the bar code reader 116. Read. Then, the product code read from the bar code b is output to the control unit 151.

The control unit 151 searches the storage unit 152 for the setting of the same product code as the input product code (setting for associating with the column number) (step 26).

Among the products T stored in the storage column 11, when the product T of the type for which the barcode is read for the first time, since the product code is not set, the storage in which the product code and the product T are stored. The column number of column 11 is associated and stored in the storage unit 152 (step 2
7).

When the same type of product T is stored in a plurality of storage columns 11, if the bar code b of the same type of product T is already read, the product code is associated with another column number. The column number of this time is additionally stored in the storage unit 152 in association with the already stored product code (step 28).

After reading the bar code b, the product T is returned to the original rotation position together with the suction pad 65 by the motor 117 (step 29), and the product T is moved into the storage column 11 and stored in the original storage position. (Step 30).

When the setting for one column number is completed, the product take-out unit 31 moves to the storage column 11 corresponding to the next column number (step 32), the product T is taken out and the bar code b is read as described above. Is read and stored in the storage unit 152 in association with the product code and the column number.

When the setting of the column numbers of all the storage columns 11 is completed (step 31), the storage columns
The barcode reading and storing process of the product T stored in 11 is completed.

As described above, in steps 1 and 2 shown in FIG. 1, the bar code reading and storing process of the product sample t displayed in the product sample display section 21 is performed and the storage column
The bar code reading and storing process of the products T stored in 11 is performed.

Then, by the function of the judging means of the control section 151, the product code of the product sample t read by the stored product reading means 115 and the product code of the product T read by the product sample reading means 131 are matched. It is judged whether there is any (step 3).

When there is a combination of matching product codes, the button number and the column number for each product code are stored in the storage unit 152 in association with the product code (step 4), and the price corresponding to the product code is set. Are stored in the storage unit 152 in association with each other (step 5). When there are a plurality of button numbers and column numbers for one product code, all of them are stored in association with each other.

When the association of one product code is completed, the combination having the same product code is searched for and stored in the same manner.

Then, when there is no combination of matching product codes, it is judged whether all button numbers and column numbers are stored in association with each other (step 6), and all the button numbers and column numbers are stored in association with each other. If so, the allocation mode ends. If there is a button number or a column number that is not associated, an error is displayed on the display unit or the like provided in the operation unit 153 (step 7).

When the allocation is normally completed, the door body 2 may be automatically locked and the sales mode (normal sales procedure state) may be continued.

In this way, each product sample t of the product display section 21
By reading the barcode b of the product T and the barcode b of the product T stored in each storage column 11, the product sample t, that is, the product selection button 28 and the storage column 11 can be automatically associated with each other. It is possible, and the correspondence can be made accurate without the trouble of setting.

Next, the operation of selling the product T will be described.

In the standby state, the expansion / contraction body 42 of the product taking-out unit 31 is in the housed (contracted) state, the take-out section 54 is in the product taking-out unit 31, and the rotary door of the product taking-out section 34 is in the retracted state. 114 is closed.

Then, money is thrown in by the user,
When the product selection button is pressed, the vertical movement motor 72 is driven, and the vertical movement pulleys 77 and 78 are rotated via the drive transmission belt 76. By the rotation of the vertical movement pulleys 77 and 78, the horizontal guide member 36 moves vertically along the vertical guide member 37 via the vertical movement wires 81 and 82. In addition, the horizontal movement motor 92 is driven, and the horizontal movement pulley 97 is rotated via the drive transmission belt 96. By the rotation of the horizontal movement pulley 97, the commodity take-out unit 31 moves in the left-right direction along the horizontal guide member 36 via the horizontal movement wire 98. The combination of these movements moves the product take-out unit 31 to the front of the corresponding storage column 11.

After the product take-out unit 31 is moved, the motor 58 of the product take-out unit 31 is rotated to extend the telescopic body 42, the take-out section 44 is advanced into the storage column 11, and the suction pad 65 is moved to the product T.
To contact. The air pressure inside the suction pad 65 is lowered by the pump 33, and the product T is sucked. Further, the motor 58 rotates in the reverse direction and the telescopic body 42 contracts, and the product T in the storage column 11 is retracted.
The frontmost product T is taken out and the product take-out unit
It is held on the 31st side.

After that, the vertical movement motor 72 and the horizontal movement motor 92 are driven again, and the product take-out unit 31
Moves to a position above the product dispensing unit 34. After the solenoid 125 of the product ejection unit 34 is excited and the rotary door 114 is opened, the air pressure in the suction pad 65 is relieved and the product T falls. The falling product T enters the product dispensing unit 34 along the swing door 114. After that, when the excitation of the solenoid 125 is released, the rotary door 114 is closed by the spring bias and the selling operation is completed.

When replenishing the product T, the column body
After removing 15 and loading the product T, it may be placed on the shelf plate 14.

It should be noted that a storage column of the type using the removable column body 15 may be adopted as all the storage columns in the vending machine body 1, and a position where the fixed type storage column is difficult to refill, For example, this type is only for high positions that are higher than the operator's eyes and it is difficult to check the loading state, low positions where you have to bend over to replenish, and the rest are fixed storage columns. Good. Further, fixed storage columns may be used for all of them.

Next, another embodiment of the commodity take-out unit 31 will be described with reference to FIGS.

In this embodiment, the wires are attached to pulleys 161, 162 which are rotatably supported on the upper and lower parts of the support 41, respectively.
The gear 164 fixed to the rotary shaft 60, to which the driving force from the motor 58 disposed in the lower part of the support 41 is transmitted, is fixed coaxially with the lower pulley 162 (not shown). It is meshed with the gear.

The lower end of the link 52 projecting downward of the front end of the telescopic body 42 is rotatably supported by a mounting shaft 55 at a fixed position on the support 41 side, and the upper end of the link 52 projecting upward of the front end is a wire. It is connected to the 163 at the connecting portion 165. The lower end of the link 52 projecting downward from the rear end of the expandable body 42 is attached to the support member 67 by a mounting shaft.
The upper end of the link 52, which is rotatably attached at 68 and projects upward from the rear end, can be moved up and down by a slide shaft 70 that moves along a guide groove 69 provided in the support member 67 along the vertical direction. It is installed.

The suction pad 65 and the motor 117 are attached to the sliding shaft 70.
It is attached to the support bracket 166 attached to the.

A bar code reader 116 is arranged above the support frame 41 with the reading surface facing downward.

Then, as shown in FIG. 15, the wire 163 is rotated by the motor 58 to move the connecting portion 165 of the telescopic body 42 downward, whereby the telescopic body 165 is extended backward and the suction pad 65 is moved. Move into the storage column 11. At this time, the sliding shaft 70 of the expandable / contractible body 42 is moving to the lower region of the guide groove 69 of the supporting member 67, and the suction pad 65 integrated with the sliding shaft 70 is also moving downward.

Further, as shown in FIG. 16, the wire 163 is rotated in the reverse direction by the reverse rotation of the motor 58 so that the connecting portion 16 of the expandable / contracting body 42 is connected.
By moving 5 upwards, the elastic body 165 contracts forward, and the product T adsorbed to the adsorption pad 65 is stored in the storage column 11.
Take out from inside. At this time, the sliding shaft 70 of the telescopic body 42 moves to the upper region of the guide groove 69 of the support member 67, and the suction pad 65 and the product T integrated with the sliding shaft 70 also move upward.

Therefore, the upper surface of the product T closely faces the reading surface of the bar code reader 116, and in this state, the motor 11
The product T can be rotated by 7, and the bar code b attached to the side surface of the product T can be read by the bar code reader 116.

In the above embodiment, the price setting is read out from the ROM or IC card in which each bar code b of the product T is stored in advance, and is associated therewith. However, a price list separately represented by a bar code is used. Good.

[0091]

According to the column setting device in the vending machine of the present invention, the bar code of each product sample in the product display section is read, and the bar code of the product stored in each storage column is also read. Correspondence between the sample, that is, the product selection button and the storage column can be automatically performed, and the correspondence can be made accurate without the need for setting.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a setting operation showing an embodiment of a column setting device in a vending machine of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a column setting device according to the above embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the vending machine of the above embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a part of the storage column of the above embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a side view in which a part of a product take-out unit and a storage column of the above embodiment is cut away.

FIG. 7 is a side view of a product take-out unit and a product throw-out section according to the above embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of part of the barcode reading operation of the above embodiment.

9A and 9B show a drive mechanism of the product take-out unit of the above-described embodiment, FIG. 9A is an explanatory diagram of a vertical movement mechanism, and FIG.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a part of the vertical movement mechanism and the horizontal movement mechanism of the above embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a rear view of the product sample display section and the product sample reading means of the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a product sample display unit and product sample reading means of the above-described embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a bar code reading / storing process of a product sample according to the embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a barcode reading / storing process of a product stored in a storage column of the same embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a side view showing a stretchable body of a product taking-out unit according to another embodiment of the present invention in an extended state.

FIG. 16 is a side view showing the retractable state of the expansion / contraction body of the product taking-out unit according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Storage column 21 Product sample display section 28 Product selection button 115 Stored product reading means 131 Product sample reading means 151 Control section as judging means 152 Storage section as storing means T product t Product sample

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An automatic vending system in which a product with a bar code is stored in a plurality of storage columns for each type, and a plurality of product samples are displayed in a product sample display section in correspondence with a product selection button to sell the product. In the machine, a product sample reading unit that reads a bar code of a product sample displayed in the product sample display unit, a stored product reading unit that reads a bar code of a product stored in each storage column, and the product sample reading unit Determination means for determining the correspondence relationship between the product sample displayed in the product sample display section and the product stored in the storage column from the bar code read by the storage device and the bar code read by the storage product reading device. And a storage means for storing a product sample and a storage column in association with each other for each product of the bar code determined to match by the determination means. Column setting device in the dynamic vending machine.