JPH10302130A - Automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the working efficiency of price changing operation by securing the changed price data which are all equal to each other when the prices of all columns belonging to the same group are changed at a time due to the change of price data on plural columns. SOLUTION: A worker who changes the price data opens the front door of an automatic vending machine and operates a mode changeover switch 17 of an internal control panel 16 to switch the vending machine to a commodity price data changing mode from a sales operation mode and also to set the vending machine in a time designation mode. Then the price data are inputted to every column 12 belonging to a prescribed group by means of the ten keys 28, etc., of the panel 16. Even if the price data on one of grouped columns 12 are rewritten under such conditions, a control part 11 never invalidates true setting or the group to which the relevant column 12 belongs. In other words, the input of price data can be carried on with no new setting request given for the group data even when the price data on a single column 12 are changed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vending machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the following description, a vending machine for selling various products such as tobacco and soft drinks will be described.
In such a vending machine, products to be sold are stacked and stored in a plurality of columns provided in the vending machine. A plurality of selection buttons arranged on the front of the vending machine and associated with a plurality of product samples on a one-to-one basis have the same number as the columns. When a desired one of the selection buttons is pressed, a control device such as a microcomputer provided in the vending machine scans a switch matrix including the selection buttons and detects the operated selection button. Next, the product stored in the column associated with the operated selection button is transported to the exit.

[0003] Here, in the case of a hot selling product, for example, the same product may be stored in a plurality of columns such as two. In such a case, parallel sales are performed. Parallel selling means that products are delivered in order from multiple columns that contain the same product, or if one column is sold out, but the same product remains in other columns, The selling method is such that the corresponding sold-out lamp is not turned on but the corresponding sold-out lamp is turned on only when all the columns storing the same product are sold out. In order to perform such parallel sales, the price data of the product stored in each column is stored in the memory of a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a microcomputer) built in the vending machine in the same manner as the price data of the product stored in each column. The same group data is set for each of a plurality of column groups storing products. The microcomputer detects the selection button operated by the user, and performs the parallel selling process on a plurality of columns belonging to the same group as the column associated with the selection button.

In such a vending machine, when the price fluctuates, such as a rise in the price of a commodity due to a rise in consumption tax or a rise in raw material costs, it is necessary to change the commodity price set for each column. . When making such a price change, the operator opens the front door of the vending machine and operates an internal operation panel to switch the vending machine from the vending operation mode to the price change power mode. Thereafter, a price change operation is performed for each column. This is the same for a plurality of columns belonging to the same group.

Here, when a price change operation is performed on a plurality of columns belonging to the same group (hereinafter, referred to as a grouping column), in a conventional vending machine, the price change operation is performed on one of the grouping columns. Was performed, the grouping was disabled. This generally means that such a price change operation is performed because one of the grouping columns is set to a different product, or the price is changed for all of the grouping columns. This is a process that is set because it is unknown whether the operation is part of an operation for changing all at once.

Therefore, in a conventional vending machine, an operator performs a price change operation on all of the grouping columns and newly sets group data on all of the same grouping columns.

[0007]

In the case of such a conventional vending machine, the price change of the grouping column does not cause any problem in the above case, but the reason for the price change is the above case. If so, it is necessary to perform a new setting operation even for the group data that does not need to be changed, and there is a problem that a great deal of labor is required and work efficiency is reduced. In addition, when the price changes at the same time at midnight on a predetermined date, such as price fluctuations when the consumption tax is raised, the selling price is automatically switched to the predetermined date and time at the specified time. In addition, in the above-mentioned conventional technology, the problem that the work efficiency is reduced becomes more remarkable.

[0008] The invention of claim 1 has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the invention is to provide a vending machine capable of significantly improving the work efficiency with respect to a price change operation. .

[0009]

In the vending machine according to the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of commodities are stored in a plurality of columns, respectively. When the price data of the product is changed using the input unit for each of the columns in which the same group data is set, the control unit ends the input of the price data for each column in the same group. The determination of whether or not the group data needs to be changed is suspended until the determination.
At the end of the input of the price data, the control means scans the storage means and checks whether the price data of each column in which the same group data is set is the same. If the price data is the same, the same group data over a plurality of columns where the price data has been changed is held. If the price data is not the same, a new input of group data is requested for the plurality of columns. In this case, different commodities are stored in a part of the plurality of columns which have been the same group, and the operator inputs group data by new grouping.

As described above, in the vending machine of the present invention,
When changing the price data of a plurality of columns belonging to the same group is an operation for simultaneously changing the price of all the columns belonging to the group, all the price data after the change is the same. The group data for each column belonging to the group is retained, and no input of new group data is required. Therefore, when the price data for each column in the same group is changed, the work efficiency is further improved.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to embodiments.

1 to 4 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a vending machine 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the contents stored in a memory provided in the vending machine 1, and FIG. Machine 1
FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of this embodiment.

Hereinafter, the structure of the vending machine 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

The vending machine 1 according to the present embodiment sells products such as drinking water and cigarettes, for example, and is provided with a product display section 3 having a plurality of stages on the front of the front door 2.

On the front face of the front door 2, a button 4 for selecting a product, an insertion slot 5 for bills, an insertion slot 6 for coins, an amount indicator 7 for displaying the inserted amount, and a return lever operated at the time of refund of change. 8, a return port 9 for returning change, and a product outlet 10 are provided. The selection button 4 includes a sold-out lamp 26 for displaying a sold-out state, and a sellable lamp 27 for identifying whether or not the product selected according to the inserted amount can be sold.

Hereinafter, the electrical configuration of the vending machine 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. The vending machine 1 is, for example, a control unit 1 realized by a microcomputer or the like.
1, a plurality of columns 12 arranged inside the front door 2 are connected to the control unit 11, and the presence or absence of stored products and the removal of products from each column 12 are performed. In the column 12, commodities such as cigarettes are stacked and stored, for example, and column numbers 1 to n are set for each column 12. The selection button 4 on the front surface of the front door 2 is also connected to the control unit 11. Each selection button 4 is arranged at a position corresponding to each product sample on the front surface of the front door 2 of the vending machine 1, and each column 12 and 1
One-to-one correspondence. The sold-out lamp 26 and the sellable lamp 27 built in each selection button 4 as described above are also connected to the control unit 11, respectively.

The control section 11 includes a transport mechanism 13 for transporting the products taken out of each column 12 to the take-out opening 10, a bill burr 14 for receiving inserted bills, and a receiving process for inserted coins. The operation panel 16 used for inputting the coin display 15, the price indicator 7, and a commodity code, which will be described later, to the control unit 11 is connected. The operation panel 16 includes the vending machine 1
Mode changeover switch 17 for setting the operation mode from the sales mode to the commodity price change mode described later, and the input end switch 1 operated at the end of the input of the commodity price data, etc.
8 and a numeric keypad 28 for inputting price data and the like. The control unit 11 is provided with a CPU (central control unit) 19 and I / Os for inputting and outputting data and signals with the outside.
A port 20, a timer 21, and a memory 22 are provided.

The data shown in FIG. 2 is stored in the memory 22 in a freely writable / readable manner. That is, memory 2
2 is a column number area 23 in which the column numbers 1 to n set as described above are sequentially stored for each column 12, and product price data of a product stored in the column 12 for each column number, for example, " 230 "," 250 "and the like are written in the commodity price area 24, and when the commodities stored in the plurality of columns 12 are the same, the plurality of columns 12
Are set as the same group, and a group data area 25 storing, for example, "G1", "G2", etc., which is set for each column in order to be subjected to the above-mentioned parallel sales, is set. A plurality of columns 12 in which the same group data is set are subjected to the parallel sales processing as the above-described grouping columns.

Hereinafter, the operation of the vending machine 1 will be described with reference to FIG. Here, when a price change operation is performed on the plurality of grouping columns 12 belonging to the same group, as described above, a different product is set in one of the grouping columns 12. Or a part of the operation for changing the prices of all of the grouping columns 12 at the same time. In the following, a case will be described in which the vending machine 1 of this embodiment is used to change the price of the grouping column 12 at the specified time. An operator who wants to change the price data opens the front door 2 of the vending machine 1, operates the mode changeover switch 17 of the internal operation panel 16 in step a1, and sets the vending machine 1 to the vending operation mode. To the product price data change mode and set to the time specification mode. In step a2, all columns 1 belonging to a predetermined group
Regarding item 2, price data is input for each column 12 using the ten keys 28 of the operation panel 16 or the like. The input price data is written in a price data area 24 corresponding to a predetermined column number in a column number area 23 in the memory 22.

At this time, in this embodiment, even when the price data of one column 12 of the grouping columns is rewritten, the control unit 11 does not invalidate the setting of the group to which this column 12 belongs. That is, even if the price data of one column 12 is changed, in the vending machine 1 of the present embodiment, the control unit 11 does not request new setting of the group data in the group data area 25 each time, and Can be continued. When the input of the price data for all the columns 12 belonging to the predetermined group is completed, the operator operates the input end switch 1 of the operation panel 16.
8 to instruct the control unit 11 that the input of the price data has been completed.

Thus, in step a3, the control unit 11 scans the memory 22 and reads the price data in the price data area 24 corresponding to the plurality of columns 12 in which the same group data is set in the group data area 25. Read. In step a4, the control unit 1
1 determines whether all the read price data are the same. If this determination is negative, the price change operation performed is as described above, and the control unit 11 determines in step a
In step 5, the group data stored in the group data area 25 of the memory 22 is erased, or a new group data setting is requested for each column 12 belonging to the operation target group without erasing. On the other hand, if the determination in the step a4 is affirmative, the price change operation performed is the case of the above 〓, and the control unit 11
The processing shifts to the price change operation, the normal sales operation, and the like for the column 12 of the next group without performing the processing of step 5.

As described above, in the vending machine 1 of this embodiment, when the price is changed in the above case, the necessity of setting new group data for group data that does not need to be changed is eliminated. The labor of the price change operation can be remarkably reduced, and the work efficiency can be improved. In particular, when an operation of automatically changing the selling price at a predetermined date and time by specifying a time, such as a price change when the consumption tax is raised, since the group relationship in the column 12 is unchanged and only the price is changed, The more the groups are set for all the columns 12, the more the work efficiency can be improved.

The above-described embodiment shows one example of the present invention, and does not limit the present invention. The present invention
The present invention has a wide variety of modifications without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0024]

According to the vending machine of the present invention, for a plurality of columns in which the same group data is set,
When the price data of the product is changed for each column using the input means, the control means suspends the determination of whether or not the group data needs to be changed until the input of the price data is completed for each column in the same group. When the input of the price data is completed, the storage means is scanned to check whether the price data of each column in which the same group data is set is the same. If the price data is the same, the same group data over a plurality of columns where the price data has been changed is held, and if the price data is not the same, new input of group data is requested for the plurality of columns. In this case, different commodities are stored in a part of the plurality of columns which have been the same group, and the operator inputs group data by new grouping.

As described above, in the vending machine of the present invention,
When changing the price data of a plurality of columns belonging to the same group is an operation for simultaneously changing the price of all the columns belonging to the group, all the price data after the change is the same. The group data for each column belonging to the group is retained, and no input of new group data is required. Therefore, when the price data for each column in the same group is changed, the work efficiency is further improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a vending machine 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing storage contents of a memory 22;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the vending machine 1. FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vending machine 4 Selection button 11 Control part 12 Column 16 Operation panel 17 Mode change switch 18 Input end switch 22 Memory 23 Column number area 24 Commodity price area 25 Group data area

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of columns in which a plurality of products are stored, input means for setting data related to the products in each column, price data of the stored products in each column, Storage means for storing the same group data set over a plurality of columns in which the same product is stored; and storage means when the price data change operation using the input means is completed. Is scanned to check whether the price data for each column in which the same group data is set is the same. If the price data is the same, the same group data over the plurality of columns is held. If not, control means for requesting a new input of the group data for the plurality of columns.