JPH0962913A - Automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce time and labor for key operation at the time of execution and to efficiently register the order of key operation in addition by registering the order of key operation concerning a processing of high execution frequency. SOLUTION: The input device 1 of an automatic vending machine is provided with free keys F1, F2,... in addition to various kinds of input keys for data input of various kinds of functions in the automatic vending machine. On the other hand, the key operation order for the various kinds of input keys necessary for executing a specified function is stored in a storage device in the input device 1 through the use of a code showing each input key to assign the free keys F1 , F2,... corresponding to each stored function. Then when one of the free keys are pressurized, the key operation order of the function corresponding to the free key is read out of the storage device and executed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vending machine capable of performing various data settings / confirmations, various inspections / tests, etc. necessary for operating the vending machine by operating an input device. It is a thing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the functions of vending machines have become more and more complicated, and the operation items of the input device for instructing various data settings / checks, various inspections / tests, etc., necessary for operating it. As the number of input operations increases, the number of input operations has become complicated.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a conventional input device.
In FIG. 5, 1 is an input device, 2 is a display, and 3 is a keyboard. In a conventional vending machine equipped with such an input device, for example, when performing a cup test,
Perform the following key operations. That is, first, after pressing the [TEST] key, from among various test items, an item number for designating the cup test, for example, "02"

After pressing the [0] and [2] keys in order, press the [SET] key.

When the cup test is designated in this way, the display 2 displays a menu for designating which cup to carry out, as shown in FIG. 6, for example. In that state, for example, when executing the carry-out test of the cup 2, the cursor key [→] is pressed once to move the cursor C to the cup 2, and then the [setting] key is pressed. As a result, the cup 2 is unloaded.

That is, the cup test of cup 2 is
[Test] →

Key operations are executed in the order of [0] → [2] → [setting] → [→] → [setting]. Instead of pressing the cursor key [→], press the numeric keypad [2]
You can specify cup 2 by pressing.

[0006]

However, the above-mentioned conventional technique has a problem that it is very troublesome to press a key many times each time one process is executed. . The present invention solves such problems,
By registering a key operation procedure for a process that is frequently executed, it is possible to reduce the time and effort required to perform the key operation, and to efficiently register the key operation procedure. It is a thing.

[0007]

In order to solve the above problems, in the vending machine of the present invention, various input keys for inputting data of various functions of the vending machine and an instruction to execute a specific function are provided. Input means having a free key of
A storage unit that stores a key operation procedure of the input key necessary to execute a specific function corresponding to the free key; and a key operation procedure corresponding to the free key when the free key is pressed. The control means is to be read out from the storage means and executed. Further, the storage means stores a key operation procedure using a code indicating each of the input keys. In addition, the storage means,
The delimiter code is stored in the key operation procedure, and when the delimiter code is present in the key operation procedure, the control means temporarily stops the execution of the key operation procedure, and the same free key as before is pressed again. Then, it was decided to execute the stored key operation procedure after that.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a connection relationship between the main control unit of the vending machine and the input device. Code 1
3 corresponds to that of FIG. 5, 4 is a main controller of the vending machine, 5 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and 6 is an RO.
M (Read Only Memory), 7 is RAM (Random Access Mem)
ory) and 8 are terminal control units such as a coin processing mechanism control unit and a product unloading mechanism control unit.

The key operation procedure is registered in the RAM 7 of the main control section 4. As a key operation procedure registration method,
Operate the keys on the keyboard 3 and use the RAM as it is
7, or the keys of the keyboard 3 may be encoded and registered by writing them in the RAM 7 in a predetermined order.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an input device according to the present invention. The reference numerals correspond to those in FIG. In the keyboard 3 of the input device 1, free keys [F1] to [F] for registration and assignment are added to the conventional keyboard shown in FIG.
5] and [Register] key are added.

According to the present invention, key operation procedures for frequently executed processes are registered in a memory and are stored in each free key [F].
1], [F2], ... When any one of them is executed, the processing can be executed only by pressing the free key assigned to it.

The key operation procedure can be registered by operating the keyboard 3. That is, the [Registration] key is pressed first, and then the free key to be assigned, for example, [F1] is pressed. After that, when the keys are pressed in a predetermined order and finally the [Register] key is pressed, the key operation procedure is stored in the RAM 7 in association with the free key [F1].

In this way, the key operation procedure can be registered. However, it is inefficient to register with such a method at the factory shipping stage, and if you want to change only a part of the registered content, you have to start over from the beginning, and in that respect also It is efficient. Therefore, each key of the keyboard 3 can be coded to register the key operation procedure, which makes it possible to freely register or edit the key operation procedure using a personal computer or the like.

FIG. 3 is a list of codes assigned to each key of the input device. For example, on the numeric keypad

[0] ~

[9]
Are assigned codes 10 to 19, and the code 20 is assigned to the [price] key for setting the price. Hereinafter, as shown in FIG. 3, [selection], [timer], ...
The codes 21, 22, ... Are assigned to the respective keys.
In addition to the code corresponding to each key, an end code 00 and a delimiter code 01 are prepared. Exit code 00
Means to end the process, and the delimiter code 01
Means that the processing is temporarily stopped.

In this method, the key operation procedure is designated by using such a code and stored in the RAM 7. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of registration of a key operation procedure. In this example, a case of registering the key operation procedure when performing the cup test of the cups 2 and 3 is shown. The codes assigned to the keys are written in the RAM 7 in order.

That is, first, the code 23 of the [test] key is written, and then, the item number "02" which means the cup test is designated.

[0],
The codes 10 and 12 of the key [2] are written, and then the code 30 of the [Setting] key is written. Subsequently, the cursor key [→] code 36, the [Set] key code 30 and the division code 01 are written. further,
A cursor key [→] code 36, a [Setting] key code 30 and an end code 00 are written.

A large number of such basic patterns of code strings are prepared in accordance with each processing, and each vending machine is suitable for its user at the stage of shipping the vending machine in the factory. RAM of the vending machine
Load to 7. At that time, a part of the code in the basic pattern of the code string can be deleted, or the code can be added, and the editing can be added according to the request of a specific user. By doing so, when it is desired to change only a part of the registered content, it can be easily changed. The respective code strings stored in the RAM 7 in this way are stored in the free keys [F1], [F2],
Correspond to.

Then, these processes are executed by pressing the corresponding free key. For example, FIG.
In the case of the cup test shown in, when the corresponding free key, for example, the [F2] key is pressed, 23,1
Like the case where the key indicated by the code is pressed while the code is sequentially read, such as 0, 12, ..., The cup test process proceeds. And the first code 36 ([→] key), 30 ([Set] key)
Then, the cursor (see FIG. 6) moves to the cup 2 and the cup 2 is unloaded. Then, with the division code 01, the processing is temporarily stopped. After that, if you press the [F2] key again, the continuation is executed and the next code 36 ([→]
Key), 30 ([setting] key), the cursor (see FIG. 6) moves to the cup 3, and the cup 3 is unloaded. Then, with the end code 00, the processing ends.

When two or more types of processes are registered as in the cup test of cup 2 and cup 3 in the above example, each process may be assigned to a different free key, but that requires two free keys. Will be. Therefore, as in the above example, by putting the delimiter code 01 at the break of one process, two or more types of related processes such as the cup test of the cup 2 and the cup 3 are assigned to one free key and executed. be able to. In that case, 1
If it is not necessary to perform the next process at the stage when one process is completed, the next key can be terminated without executing the next process by pressing the end key at that point.

Incidentally, it seems that it is possible to assign two or more types of processes to one free key by continuously writing the key operation procedure of two or more types of processes without using a delimiter code. But if you do that,
For example, in the case of the cup test of the cup 2 and the cup 3 in the above example, normal processing cannot be performed such that the cup test of the cup 3 is performed before the first cup 2 is carried out. The delimiter code makes it possible to assign two or more types of processing to one free key while eliminating such inconvenience.

[0021]

As described above, according to the vending machine of the present invention, by registering the key operation procedure for the frequently executed processes such as cup test, price setting, and product selection button-column correspondence setting. , It is possible to reduce the trouble of key operation when executing. Further, by registering a unique code corresponding to each input key such as a numeric keypad, a price key, and a setting key, and registering a key operation procedure using the code, the key operation procedure can be registered efficiently. it can.
Moreover, when changing the type of cup to be used for the cup test, you can change, add, or remove some of the key operations by changing or adding codes.
Editing such as deletion can be easily performed.

Furthermore, if a delimiter code is inserted at a break between one process and another process in the key operation procedure such as the cup test and the price setting, the execution of the process is temporarily stopped there. When the same free key as before is pressed again, the next process stored thereafter can be executed. In that way, by inserting the key operation procedure of separate processing before and after sandwiching the delimiter code,
It is possible to assign a plurality of processes to one free key.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an input device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a connection relationship between a main control unit of an automatic vending machine and an input device.

[Figure 3] List of codes assigned to each key of the input device

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a registration example of a key operation procedure.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a conventional input device.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display example of a display device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Input device 2 Display device 3 Keyboard 4 Main control unit 5 CPU 6 ROM 7 RAM 8 Terminal control unit

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An input unit having various input keys for inputting data of various functions of a vending machine and a free key for instructing execution of a specific function, and a specific function corresponding to the free key. Storage means for storing a key operation procedure of the input key necessary for execution, and control means for reading out and executing a key operation procedure corresponding to the free key when the free key is pressed. A vending machine characterized by including. 2. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the storage means stores a key operation procedure using a code indicating each of the input keys. 3. The storage means stores the delimiter code in the key operation procedure, and the control means temporarily stops the execution of the key operation procedure when the delimiter code is present in the key operation procedure. 3. The vending machine according to claim 2, wherein when the same free key as before is pressed again, the key operation procedure stored thereafter is executed.