JPH10105812A - Money amount display unit of automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the cost of an automatic vending machine and to execute an efficient maintenance. SOLUTION: Since an LED dot matrix 22 is constituted of plural LED dots arranged in a matrix form, maintenance information can be displayed by character information. Thus, a code dictionary becomes unnecessary and efficient maintenance can be executed. Various information on advertisement, an amount and a game can be displayed by a single LED dot matrix 22 and the cost of the automatic vending machine can be reduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an amount display device for a vending machine which displays amount information such as an input amount received from a controller of the vending machine and maintenance information such as a stock quantity for each sales target.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 shows a conventional vending machine, for example. The vending machine 50 includes a main door 52 on the front surface of a vending machine main body 51, and a message board 53 including an LED dot matrix (for example, 16 × 64) for displaying an advertisement or the like on the front side of the main door 52; A product display space 54 for displaying a sample, a fluorescent lamp (not shown) for brightly illuminating the product display space 54, a selection button 55 for selecting a product, a bill insertion slot 56 for inserting bills, and coins for inserting coins. An insertion slot 57, a roulette display 58 comprising a plurality of LEDs 58a, a return lever 59 for returning inserted bills and inserted coins, a commodity outlet 60 for releasing commodities, and a change for releasing change. A return port 61 and an amount indicator 70 described below for displaying the amount of money to be inserted and the like are provided. A simple keyboard 62 is detachably provided on the back side of the main door 52.

FIG. 5A is a front view of a money amount indicator 70, and FIG.
FIG. 5B is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. The money amount display 70 includes a 7-segment digital display 72 on the front surface of a case 71 for displaying the amount of money to be inserted and the stock quantity for each product type, and a change-out LED lamp 73A for 10 yen and 100 yen. , 73B, a daylighting window 74, and a light detection device that is disposed behind the daylighting window 74 and detects ambient brightness to control the irradiation time of a fluorescent lamp (not shown) that illuminates the product display space 54 brightly. Circuit (not shown)
, Infrared transmission filter 75, infrared transmission filter 7
The backs 5 are provided with backs mounting ports 76 in which the backs 63 for performing optical communication with an operation keyboard (not shown) can be mounted.

In the vending machine 50, when a purchaser inserts cash necessary for purchasing a commodity from the bill insertion slot 56 and the coin insertion slot 57, a controller (not shown) of the vending machine 50 Is calculated, and the input amount is displayed on the amount display 70. At this time, the roulette game starts under the control of the controller, and the LEDs 58a of the roulette display 58 are sequentially turned on. When the purchaser presses the select button 55, the corresponding product is released to the product outlet 60, and the purchaser receives the product from the product outlet 60. When the selection button 55 is pressed, the LE of the roulette display 58 is controlled by the controller.
If the sequential lighting of the D58a is stopped and a hit occurs depending on the lighting position of the LED 58a, the purchaser can press the selection button 55 once more to receive the product.

At the time of maintenance, a digital display 7 is operated by a serviceman operating the simple keyboard 62.
In 2, maintenance information such as stock quantity and error information for each product type is displayed by code.

[0006]

However, according to the conventional vending machine 50, a dedicated message board 53, a money amount display 70, and a roulette display 58 are used to display the contents of advertisement, money, and game. However, there is a problem that the number of parts increases and the cost increases. In addition, maintenance information required for service staff maintenance, such as inventory quantity and error information for each product type,
Since the seven segments of the digital display 72 of the money amount display 70 are used, they can be displayed only by codes, and a code dictionary is required, so that there is a problem that efficient maintenance cannot be performed. It is also conceivable to display the maintenance information in text information using the message board 53. However, since the message board 53 is expensive and is added as an option to the vending machine main body 51, the message board 53 is used. 53 is provided with a memory in which the contents of the advertisement are stored, and the contents stored in the memory are exclusively displayed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine price indicator capable of reducing the cost of a vending machine and performing efficient maintenance.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a display case which displays information on the amount of money, such as the amount of money, received from a controller of a vending machine, and maintenance information, such as the quantity of stock for each sales target. In the amount display of a vending machine displayed on the front of the display case, the front of the display case is composed of a plurality of light emitting dots arranged in a matrix, and has a light emitting dot matrix for displaying the amount information and the maintenance information. The present invention provides a vending machine amount indicator. According to the above configuration, since the light emitting dot matrix is composed of a plurality of light emitting dots arranged in a matrix, it is possible to display maintenance information as character information, so that a code dictionary is not required, Efficient maintenance can be performed. In addition, it is possible to display various types of information such as advertisements, amounts, games, and the like with a single light emitting dot matrix.

Further, according to the present invention, an amount display of a vending machine for displaying amount information such as an input amount received from a controller of the vending machine and maintenance information such as a stock quantity for each sales target on a front surface of a display case. A storage means for storing display information different from the price information and the maintenance information; a light emitting dot matrix provided on a front surface of the display case and comprising a plurality of light emitting dots arranged in a matrix; When the information and the maintenance information are received, the received money amount information and the maintenance information are displayed on the light emitting dot matrix, and the display information is read from the storage means at a predetermined timing and displayed on the light emitting dot matrix. Means for displaying the value of a vending machine Subjected to. According to the above configuration, the light emitting dot matrix displays not only information transmitted from the controller but also display information stored in the storage unit. By displaying the display information under the control of the control means,
The burden on the controller is reduced.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. This vending machine 1
Is provided with a main door 3 on the front of the vending machine main body 2, and on the front side of the main door 3, a product display space 4 for displaying a product sample, and a fluorescent lamp (not shown) for brightly illuminating the product display space 4. A selection button 5 for selecting a commodity, a bill insertion slot 6 for inserting a bill, a coin insertion slot 7 for inserting a coin, a return lever 8 for returning the inserted bill and the inserted coin, and releasing the commodity. A changer outlet 9 through which a change is released, a change return port 10 through which change is released, and an amount indicator 20 for displaying an inserted amount and the like, which will be described below, are provided. A simple keyboard 11 is detachably provided on the back side of the main door 3.

FIG. 2A is a front view of the money amount indicator 20, and FIG.
(b) is a plan view thereof. The money amount indicator 20 has a substantially box-shaped case 21, and an LED dot matrix 22 on the front surface of the case 21, change-out LED lamps 23 A and 23 B for 10 yen and 100 yen, and an A switch 2.
4A and B switch 24B, daylighting window 25, and photodetector circuit (see FIG. 3) 3 arranged behind this daylighting window 25
4, an infrared transmission filter 26, and a backs mounting port 27 on the back of the infrared transmission filter 26, into which a backs 14 for performing optical communication with an operation keyboard (not shown) can be mounted.

The LED dot matrix 22 includes a plurality of L
ED dots are arranged in a matrix on a substrate, and one LED dot is composed of a red LED and a green LED. The LED dot lighting modes include a single color display mode in which one of the red LED and the green LED is lit, and a mixed color (orange) display mode in which both the red LED and the green LED are lit.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram mainly showing a control system of the money amount display 20. As shown in FIG. The vending machine main body 2 has a controller 12 that controls each part of the vending machine main body 2. The controller 12 has a power supply unit 13 that supplies power to each unit including the price indicator 20 of the vending machine main body 2, , And the simple keyboard 11 are connected to each other.

The money amount display 20 has a CPU 30 for controlling the entire money amount display 20.
LED dot matrix drive circuit 31 for driving D dot matrix 22, change-out LED lamp 23
LED lamp drive circuit 32 for driving (23A, 23B), A switch 24A and B switch 24
B, a thermistor circuit 33, a light detection circuit 34 for detecting the amount of external light via the lighting window 25, a memory card interface 36 for reading information from a memory card 35,
A memory 37 for storing information read by the memory card interface 36 and a program for the CPU 30;
RAM 38 for storing various information necessary for controlling U30
And an internal power supply unit 39 that generates a low-voltage power supply based on the power supply supplied from the power supply unit 12 of the vending machine main body 2 and supplies the low-voltage power supply to the CPU 30 and the like.

The CPU 30 controls each section of the money amount display 20 under the control of the controller 12.

The thermistor circuit 33 detects the temperature of the LED dot matrix 22. This temperature detection signal is transmitted to the controller 12 via the CPU 30, and is used for display control of the controller 12. For example,
The controller 12 detects the L detected by the thermistor circuit 33.
When the temperature of the ED dot matrix 22 becomes higher than a predetermined temperature, control is performed to lower the temperature of the LED dot matrix 22. That is, the red LE forming one dot
The mixed color display mode in which both the D and green LEDs are turned on is switched to the single color display mode in which only the red LED or the green LED is used.

The light detection circuit 34 controls the irradiation time of a fluorescent lamp (not shown) for brightly illuminating the commodity display space 4 by means of a photoconductive element, for example, a CdS cell through the lighting window 25. To detect the
This temperature detection signal is transmitted to the controller 12 via the CPU 30, and is used for lighting control of a fluorescent lamp for brightly illuminating the inside of the product exhibition space 4 of the controller 12. That is, the controller 12 turns on the fluorescent lamp when the surroundings are dark, and turns off the fluorescent lamp when the surroundings are bright.

The memory card 35 stores advertising information such as regular holidays, shop names, business hours, and the like, and display information such as roulette game information as games.

The RAM 38 stores various information necessary for controlling the CPU 30, such as a conversion table for converting code information sent from the controller 12 into character information.

Next, the main operation of the money amount indicator 20 will be described. (1) Reading Information from Memory Card 35 When the memory card 35 is connected to the memory card interface 36, the CPU 30 stores information stored in the memory card 35 in the memory 37.

(2) Display of Advertisement For example, when the business start time stored in the memory (not shown) comes, an advertisement display command is sent from the controller 12 to the CP.
Arriving at U30, the CPU 30 reads the advertisement information from the memory 37, and controls the LED dot matrix drive circuit 31 to read the advertisement information, thereby controlling the LED dot matrix 2
2 is displayed.

(3) Display of Change Out When a change out signal arrives from the controller 12 to the CPU 30, the CPU 30 changes the corresponding change out LED 23A for 10 yen or the change out LED 23 for 100 yen.
B is turned on by controlling the LED lamp drive circuit 32.

(4) Display of inserted amount and game The cash necessary for the purchaser to purchase the commodity is inserted into the bill insertion slot 6.
When the coin is inserted from the coin insertion slot 7, the controller 12 of the vending machine 1 obtains the inserted amount, and sends the game start permission signal together with the information on the inserted amount to the amount indicator 20.
Send to When the CPU 30 receives the information on the inserted amount from the controller 12, the CPU 30 controls the LED dot matrix drive circuit 31 to stop the display of the advertisement information by the LED dot matrix 22, and displays the inserted amount. When the purchaser presses the select button 55, the corresponding product is released to the product exit 60, and the purchaser enters the product exit 6
Receive goods from 0. Subsequently, when the purchaser presses the A switch 24A, the CPU 30 reads out information on the roulette game from the memory 37 and stores the game content in L.
By controlling the ED dot matrix drive circuit 31, LE
This is displayed on the D dot matrix 22. For example, the state in which the ball circulates is displayed on the LED dot matrix 22.
When the purchaser presses the B switch 24B during this display, the CPU 30 stops the ball circulation and determines whether or not a hit has occurred, and if a hit has occurred, sends a signal to that effect to the controller. 12 is transmitted. The controller 12 permits the purchaser to sell another product for free.

(5) Display of maintenance information At the time of maintenance, a service person opens the main door 3, takes out the simple keyboard 11, takes out the LED dot matrix 2
The user operates the simple keyboard 11 while looking at 2. For example, when the simple keyboard 11 is operated to request the display of the stock quantity for each product type, the controller 12 sends the maintenance information to the CPU 30 as code information. CP
The U30 converts the code information into character information with reference to the conversion table of the RAM 38, controls the LED dot matrix drive circuit 31, and displays the maintenance information in the LED dot matrix 22 with the character information. In the LED dot matrix 22, the stock quantity for each product type such as "10 coffee" is displayed by character information.

According to the money amount indicator 20 of the vending machine 1 configured as described above, the following effects can be obtained. (1) Since the LED dot matrix 22 is composed of a plurality of LED dots arranged in a matrix,
Since the maintenance information can be displayed as character information, a code dictionary is not required, and efficient maintenance can be performed. (2) Advertising, amount,
Various information such as games can be displayed, and the cost of the vending machine 1 can be reduced. (3) By displaying the display information stored in the memory 37 under the control of the controller 12, the load on the controller 12 is reduced. Therefore, the controller 12 can quickly control the sale of the product. (4) Since the backs 14 can be mounted, sales information and the like can be easily sent to the sales management terminal by optical communication.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but various embodiments are possible. For example, in the above embodiment, the display information is supplied from the memory card, but the optical disk, the magnetic disk, the CD-RO
The data may be supplied from another storage medium such as a magnetic tape or a magnetic tape. Further, in the above embodiment, one LED dot is constituted by a red LED and a green LED, but may be constituted by a single-color LED.

[0027]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the light emitting dot matrix is composed of a plurality of light emitting dots arranged in a matrix, it is possible to display maintenance information as character information. Therefore, a code dictionary is not required, and efficient maintenance can be performed. In addition, it becomes possible to display various kinds of information such as advertisements, amounts, games, and the like with a single light emitting dot matrix, so that the cost of a vending machine can be reduced. In addition, by displaying the display information stored in the storage unit under the control of the control unit, the load on the controller is reduced, and the control relating to the sale of the product can be quickly performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vending machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 (a) is a front view of a money indicator according to the present invention,
Fig. 2 (b) is the plan view

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control system of the money amount indicator according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a conventional vending machine.

FIG. 5 (a) is a front view of a conventional money display, and FIG.
(b) is a sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 5 (a).

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vending machine 2 Vending machine main body 3 Main door 11 Simple keyboard 12 Controller 20 Money display 21 Case 22 LED dot matrix 23A 10-yen change-out LED lamp 23B 100-yen change-out LED lamp 24A A switch 24B B switch 25 Lighting Window 26 Infrared transmission filter 27 Backs mounting port 30 CPU 30 31 LED dot matrix drive circuit 32 LED lamp drive circuit 33 Thermistor circuit 34 Light detection circuit 35 Memory card 36 Memory card interface 37 Memory 38 RAM

Claims (4)

[Claims] An amount display device for a vending machine for displaying price information such as an input amount received from a controller of the vending machine and maintenance information such as a stock quantity for each sales object on a front surface of a display case. A front face of the display case is composed of a plurality of light emitting dots arranged in a matrix, and has a light emitting dot matrix for displaying the money information and the maintenance information. 2. An amount display device for a vending machine for displaying price information such as an input amount received from a controller of the vending machine and maintenance information such as a stock quantity for each sales target on a front surface of a display case. Storage means for storing display information different from the money amount information and the maintenance information; a light emitting dot matrix provided on the front surface of the display case and comprising a plurality of light emitting dots arranged in a matrix; and the money amount information from the control. And control means for displaying the received money amount information and maintenance information on the light emitting dot matrix when receiving the maintenance information and reading the display information from the storage means at a predetermined timing and displaying the display information on the light emitting dot matrix. A vending machine price table characterized by having Vessel. 3. The display according to claim 2, wherein the display information includes at least information on an advertisement or a game. 4. The amount display device for a vending machine according to claim 3, wherein a front surface of said display case is provided with an operation switch relating to said game.