JPH08287356A - Paper cup detecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To securely detect whether or not there is a paper cup without malfunction by giving a detection mark at the outer periphery of the paper cup in ink and providing a proximity switch which detects the detection mark. CONSTITUTION: Plural paper cups 1 are stocked at a stockyard 3 and when the bottom paper cup 1 reaches a specific position, the electrostatic capacity between the electrostatic capacity type proximity switch 5 and a ground electrode 6 increases through the detection mark 2 of conductive ink of the paper cup 1. Then the electrostatic capacity type proximity switch 5 outputs an ON signal by the increase to detect the presence of the paper cup 1. Then when the paper cups 1 are taken out of a takeout opening 4 one after another and no paper cup 1 is left at the stockyard 3, the electrostatic capacity between the electrostatic capacity type proximity switch 5 and ground electrode 6 does not increase and the electrostatic capacity type proximity switch 5 outputs an OFF signal to detect the absence of a paper cup 1 and turn on, for example, a paper cup replenishment lamp provided for an automatic vending machine.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a paper cup detecting device, and more particularly to a paper cup detecting device for detecting the presence or absence of paper cups stocked in an automatic vending machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the construction of a conventional paper cup detection device. In the figure, 11 is a paper cup used in a vending machine such as popcorn or juice,
A plurality of paper cups 11 are stacked and stocked in a stockyard 12 of a vending machine, and most of the paper cups 11 at the bottom of the vending machine project from an outlet 13 at the bottom of the stockyard 12. 14 is, for example, a transmissive photoelectric switch,
The light emitting side switch 14a is located near the outlet 13 of the stockyard 12 and at a position where the lowermost paper cup 11 is sandwiched.
And a light-receiving side switch 14b is provided.

If the light-receiving side switch 14b does not detect the light output from the light-emitting side switch 14a, it means that the paper cup 11 stocked in the stockyard 12 blocks the light. Cup 11
Is detected. Further, the light emitting side switch 14a
When the light receiving side switch 14b detects the light from the light source, nothing is present between the light projecting side switch 14a and the light receiving side switch 14b, and the absence of the paper cup 11 is detected.

FIG. 4 (a) is a block diagram of another conventional paper cup detection device, and FIG. 4 (b) is an explanatory view of its operation.
In the figure, 15 is a proximity switch provided near the take-out port 13 of the stockyard 12, and 16 is a metal weight installed at the top of the paper cup 11 and inside the stockyard 12.

When the paper cups 11 are stocked in the stockyard 12, the proximity switch 15 does not react to the paper cups 11 made of paper, and detects that there is the paper cup 11 based on the result. . Further, as the paper cup 11 is taken out, the weight 16 is lowered accordingly, and
As shown in (b), when the weight 16 reaches the lowermost stage, the proximity switch 15 reacts with the metal weight 16 and detects the absence of the paper cup 11 based on the result.

[0006]

In the paper cup detecting device using the conventional photoelectric switch 14 as described above, when powder raw materials are used in the vending machine, for example, when the powder is the photoelectric switch 14, especially the light receiving device is used. If the switch 14b is attached to the side switch 14b, the photoelectric switch 14 does not operate normally, and the attachment may cause the light receiving side switch 14b to always detect that the paper cup 11 is present. As a result, the paper cup 11 cannot be detected accurately, and there is a problem that the vending machine malfunctions and annoy the user.

Further, in the paper cup detecting device using the weight 16, when the paper cup 11 is replenished in the stock yard 12, the weight 16 is removed by hand once, so that the work is troublesome and especially the weight is great. The upper part of the paper cup 11, which the 16 contacts, was also unsanitary.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and provides a paper cup detecting device capable of keeping the paper cup hygienic and detecting the presence or absence of the paper cup without malfunction. It is intended to be provided.

[0009]

A paper cup detecting device according to the present invention provides a detection mark with an ink containing a conductive material or metal powder on the outer periphery of a paper cup stocked in a stockyard of a vending machine, A proximity switch for detecting this detection mark is provided.

[0010]

[Operation] Paper cups are stocked in the stockyard of the vending machine, and when the bottom paper cup reaches the specified position,
The capacitance, the inductance, the loss, or the like changes depending on the detection mark, and the proximity switch detects the change and detects that the paper cup is in the stockyard.

[0011]

【Example】

Example 1. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a paper cup used for vending machines for juices, for example, and as shown in FIG. 2, a detection mark 2 printed with conductive ink is provided on the outer periphery thereof. A plurality of paper cups 1 are stacked and stocked in a cylindrical stockyard 3 provided in a vending machine, and most of the paper cups 1 at the bottom of the paper cup 1 are located below the stockyard 3. It projects from the outlet 4.

Reference numeral 5 has a conductor electrode in the detection portion, and another conductor or dielectric (here, the paper cup 1 and the detection mark 2 provided therein) approaches or exists between the electrode and the ground. An electrostatic capacitance type proximity switch that changes the electrostatic capacitance between the conductor electrode and the ground and generates an output signal by detecting the amount of change, 6 is a ground electrode, 7 is a power supply, and 8 is a load. The capacitance type proximity switch 5 and the ground electrode 6 are connected to the outlet 4 of the stockyard 3.
Is installed near the bottom of the paper cup 1 and sandwiches the lowermost paper cup 1, and when the capacitance between the detection surface 5a of the capacitance type proximity switch 5 and the ground electrode 6 increases, an ON signal is output and the paper is output. Detects that cup 1 is in stockyard 3,
If the electrostatic capacitance does not increase, an OFF signal is output to detect that the paper cup 1 is not in the stockyard 3.

At this time, since the electrostatic capacity cannot be sufficiently increased only by the paper cup 1, the detection surface 2 of the electrostatic capacitance type proximity switch 5 is provided by providing the paper ink 1 with the detection mark 2 of the conductive ink. The spatial distance d2 between the detection surface 5a and the detection mark 2 and the spatial distance d3 between the detection mark 2 and the ground electrode 6 are made shorter than the spatial distance d1 between 5a and the ground electrode 6 (d1> (d2 + d3)), It is configured to enhance conductivity and sufficiently increase capacitance. In the embodiment, the width of the detection mark 2 is about 10 mm. Further, the detection mark 2 may be provided at any position in the height direction as long as it is provided on the outer periphery of the paper cup 1, and further, the conductivity of the conductive ink is different from that of the detection mark 2 and the capacitance. When the distance from the proximity switch 5 is set to 10 mm, the resistance value needs to be about 40 K ohms or less.

In this embodiment constructed as described above, first, when a plurality of paper cups 1 are stocked in the stockyard 3 and the lowermost paper cup 1 reaches a predetermined position,
The capacitance between the capacitance type proximity switch 5 and the ground electrode 6 increases via the detection mark 2 of the paper cup 1. The capacitance type proximity switch 5 is turned on by this increase.
It outputs a signal and detects that the paper cup 1 is present. Then, when the paper cups 1 are taken out one after another from the take-out port 4 and the paper cups 1 are lost in the stockyard 3, the capacitances of the capacitance type proximity switch 5 and the earth electrode 6 do not increase, and the capacitance type proximity switch 5 does not increase. The switch 5 outputs an OFF signal and the paper cup 1
It is detected that there is no paper, and, for example, a paper cup refill lamp (not shown) provided in the vending machine is turned on. And
When the paper cup 1 is replenished in the stockyard 3, the electrostatic capacity increases, the electrostatic capacity type proximity switch 5 outputs the ON signal again, and the paper cup replenishing lamp is turned off.

Thus, the conductive ink detection mark 2
Is provided in the paper cup 1, and by using the paper cup 1, the electrostatic capacitance between the capacitance type proximity switch 5 and the ground electrode 6 can be sufficiently increased to detect the presence or absence of the paper cup 1, and thus stable And reliable detection can be performed. Further, the refilling work of the paper cup 1 is easy, and the paper cup is also hygienic.

Example 2. In the second embodiment, instead of the capacitance type proximity switch 5 of the first embodiment, a detection coil is provided inside the detection surface, and a metal body (ink of an ink containing metal powder described later) is provided near the detection coil. When a detection mark) approaches or exists, an induction current flows in the proximity metal body due to the electromagnetic induction action, the inductance and loss of the detection coil change, and a high-frequency oscillation type proximity switch that detects the change and generates an output signal. Provided and paper cup 1
In place of the conductive ink detection mark 2, an ink detection mark containing metal powder is provided. The ground electrode 6 is omitted in this embodiment.

With this configuration, the first embodiment
The same action and effect as in
The presence or absence of can be detected.

In the above embodiment, the capacitance type proximity switch 5 and the earth electrode 6 and the high frequency oscillation type proximity switch 9 are provided in the vicinity of the outlet 4 of the stockyard 3. The present invention is not limited to this, and can be changed as appropriate as long as it can detect a paper cup.

Further, although the case where the detection mark 2 of the ink containing the conductive material or the metal powder is separately provided on the outer periphery of the paper cup 1 is shown, the detection mark 2 is provided with a picture or a character by the normal ink. You may overprint. In this case, there is no possibility that the detection of the paper cup 1 will be hindered.

Further, in the first embodiment, the case where the detection is performed by the change of the electrostatic capacitance between the electrostatic capacitance type proximity switch 5 and the earth electrode 6 has been shown. You may use your body. Also in this case, the same effect is obtained.

[0021]

As described above, the paper cup detection device according to the present invention provides the detection mark with the ink containing the conductive material or the metal powder on the outer periphery of the paper cup stocked in the stock yard of the vending machine, Since the proximity switch for detecting this detection mark is provided, it is possible to reliably detect the presence or absence of a paper cup, and to obtain a paper cup detection device that can keep the paper cup hygienic and easily perform refilling work. it can.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the paper cup according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration of a conventional paper cup detection device.

FIG. 4A is a configuration diagram of another conventional paper cup detection device. FIG. 4B is an operation explanatory view of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Paper cup 2 Detection mark 3 Stockyard 5 Capacitance type proximity switch

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A detection mark is provided on the outer periphery of a paper cup stocked in a stockyard of a vending machine with ink containing a conductive material or metal powder, and a proximity switch for detecting the detection mark is provided. A paper cup detector.