JPS5860275A - Forecasting of abnormality for vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To forecast abnormality of a sensor before it fails to perform intrinsic functions by lowering the priority in the selection of the specific reference level based on the judgement of the of the output level thereof while a sensor abnormality forecasting means is driven when it falls below the predetermined priority. CONSTITUTION:When a voltage between the collector and the emitter of a photo transistor 19 rises with a drop in the quantity of light received and the value of non-inversion input terminal voltage of a comparator 16 comes down below the value of an inversion input terminal value, detecting the generation of abnormality in a sensor, a signal for lowering the reference level of the comparator 16 is issued to bring down the value of the inversion input terminal voltage. When the value of the inversion input terminal voltage goes down below the value of the non- inversion input terminal voltage so that the sensor abnormality detection signal will fail to be outputted from the output terminal of the comparator 16, judging that the treatment of the sensor abnormality ends, the normal operation starts. But when the sensor abnormality detection signal continues to be outputted from the output terminal of the comparator 16, judging the treatment of the sensor abnormality does not end, the inversion input terminal voltage of the comparator 16 is lowered gradually to correct the abnormality of the sensor. When the voltage fed to the non-inversion input terminal of the comparator 16 falls down to the predetermined level, an abnormality forecasting lamp lights to prevent malfunctioning of the equipment.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention makes it possible to determine the output of a sensor installed in a vending machine even when the output level of the sensor is reduced due to dirt, dust, etc. attached to the sensor. The present invention relates to a sensor abnormality forecasting method in a vending machine that can notify an attendant of one sensor abnormality when the output of the sensor falls below a predetermined level.

Amount indicated by money etc. inserted by the customer (total amount)
A vending machine that determines whether or not the product selected by the same customer can be dispensed based on the above, as well as determines whether or not to dispense change, and discharges the product and dispenses change based on the results of these determinations. In this case, the vending machine is equipped with various sensors depending on its purpose, such as a proximity sensor and an optical sensor, and the timing and input are determined based on the outputs of these proximity sensors and optical sensors. The passage of coins, the passage of goods to be ejected, and the passage of change for dispensing change are detected, and each part of the device performs predetermined operations in accordance with the results of these detections.

By the way, when it comes to sensors installed in such vending machines, especially optical sensors, etc., dirt, dust, etc. adhere (or accumulate) on their light emitting or light receiving surfaces, reducing their output. However, other sensors may have a reduced output characteristic and no longer function as a sensor, and a vending machine that is in operation may malfunction or become inoperable due to the reduced output of these sensors. If it happens, I will criticize it.

In view of the above points, the present invention is capable of determining the output of the sensor even when the output of the sensor decreases, and is also capable of predicting sensor abnormality before the sensor ceases to perform its function. The present invention provides a method for predicting sensor abnormality in a vending machine, in which one of a plurality of reference levels is selected according to its priority level, and based on the specific reference level obtained as a result, a sensor abnormality prediction method is provided in the vending machine. Based on this determination result, the priority level for selecting the specific reference level is sequentially lowered, and when this priority level falls below a predetermined level, a sensor abnormality is detected. It is characterized by driving a forecasting means.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the ticket printing/discharging mechanism of an automatic ticket vending machine to which the Senna abnormality prediction method according to the present invention is applied. In this figure, 1 is a thermal printing head for printing the ticket 2. The ticket 2 is conveyed by the ticket drive roller 3 in the direction of the arrow, and the thermal printing head 1 prints a predetermined thermal print. The printed ticket 2 is then stretched between a belt 5 stretched between conveyance rollers 4a and nb, a belt 7 stretched between conveyance rollers 6m and 6b, and a belt stretched between conveyance rollers 4b and 4e. The light is further conveyed in the direction of arrow A by the belt 9 stretched between the conveyor belt 8 and the conveyor rollers 5b and $c, and is delivered to a light emitter 10a and a light receiver 10b that are disposed opposite to each other near the conveyor rollers 4e and 6e. After its passage is detected by a multi-component optical sensor, the ticket is discharged to a ticket discharge port 12 provided on the customer service surface 11.

In this way, in this automatic ticket vending machine, the ejection of printed and cut tickets 2 is checked using the light emitter 10a and the light receiver 10b. Generally, on the conveyance path after the ticket 2 is cut, the ticket 2
Since chips etc. generated when cutting are easily trapped,
Although an optical sensor is not originally suitable as a sensor to be installed on this conveyance route, it is difficult to implement it with anything other than an optical sensor since it is necessary to check the passage of the ticket.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the circuit configuration of the sensor section in the same embodiment. In this figure, 131 to 13n are each
These terminals are supplied with a σ signal for selecting a reference level, and each of these terminals 131 to 13n is connected to the input terminal of each of the Nantes gates 141 to 14n, and the output terminal of each of these Nantes gates 141 to 14n is Resistance 1 against each
51 (value R1) resistance 152 (value R2), ~ resistance 15
n (value RTI) to the inverting input of a comparator 16, which in turn is connected to a resistor 17 (value RO
) is connected to the positive output terminal of a power supply (not shown).

In this embodiment, the values R1 to Rn of the resistors 151 to 15n are set so that R1=R2=-.--=Rn. Further, 18 is a light emitting diode constituting the above-mentioned light emitter 10a;
Reference numeral 9 denotes a phototransistor constituting the above-mentioned light receiver 10b. The emitter of this phototransistor 19 is grounded, and the collector of the phototransistor 19 is connected to a resistor 20 whose one end is connected to the positive output terminal of the power supply.
The other end and the non-inverting input/output end of the differential input type amplifier 21 are connected to the non-inverting input end of the comparator 16 via a resistor 22, and the output end of the comparator 16 is connected to the sensor output end 23. has been done.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a circuit configuration of an automatic ticket vending machine using the circuit shown in FIG. 1. In this figure, reference numeral 24 denotes a customer service section consisting of a coin insertion slot, a bill insertion slot, an account (destination) selection button, various displays, etc. This customer service section 24 receives signals supplied from a customer service control circuit 25. Based on this, the total amount of money inserted is displayed on the display, and the account corresponding to the tickets that can be purchased is displayed. , the account code selected by the customer is supplied to the customer service control circuit 25.The customer service control circuit 25t'i controls the customer service section 24 and is connected to a central processing unit (hereinafter abbreviated as CPU) via the pass line 26. ) When the total amount data, etc. are supplied from the customer service department 27, the customer service department 24 is controlled based on this supplied data, and when the customer service department 24 supplies the amount data, account code, etc., the supplied amount 28 is an attendant operation unit consisting of a sensor abnormality forecast lamp, a date setting switch, various mode selection switches, and various display devices, and is supplied from the operation control circuit 29. It displays the operating status of each part of the circuit based on the signals, and also supplies the date setting data and mode selection data set by the staff to the operation control circuit 29.The operation control circuit 29tiCPU2
When monitor data etc. are supplied from 7, 1 controls the sensor abnormality forecast lamp and display of the staff operation section 28 based on the supplied data, and supplies date setting data, mode selection data, etc. from the staff operation section 28. When the CPU 27 receives the input data, the CPU 27 supplies the supplied data to the CPU 27. CPU2
Each part of the circuit is controlled according to a program stored in the 7-digit memory 30. This circuit is composed of 31 sensor circuits shown in FIG. 1, and when data is supplied from the CPU 27, it controls the printing section 32 based on the supplied data! I) - When print data is supplied from the CPU 27, the supplied print data is supplied to the printing section 32, which is composed of the thermal printing head 1 (see Fig. 1) and the ticket drive roller 3, and prints the ticket. 2 is printed, and when the printing of ticket 2 is completed and the printed ticket 2 is discharged to the ticket ejection port 12, a sensor composed of a light emitter 10m and a light receiver IOb detects this. A discharge detection signal is generated and supplied to the CPU 27. Further, 33 is a circuit for controlling the coin verification/change section 34. The coin verification/change section 34 determines the type and authenticity of coins and banknotes inserted into the customer service section 24, and records the denomination data, authenticity, etc. When the data is output, the denomination data, authenticity data, etc. are supplied to the CPU 27, and when change data, etc. are supplied from the CPU 27, the supplied change data, etc. are supplied to the coin verification/change section 34. and have them pay out the necessary change.

In the above configuration, when the staff turns on the power to the device and inputs the data necessary for the initial settings of the device via the staff operation section 28, coin validation/change control is performed accordingly. When the sensor circuit provided in the circuit 33 enters the operating state, each terminal iat to 13n
A K'L' level signal is supplied, and these 1L level signals are input to the corresponding current Nantes gates 141 to 14n, and each Nantes gate 141 to 14n outputs "'" from its output terminal.
Outputs H level signal. Accordingly, the output voltage of each of the Nant gates 141 to 14n is connected to the inverting input terminal of the comparator 16, the output voltage of the power supply to which one end of the resistor 17 is connected, each part R1 to Rn of the resistors 151 to 15n, and the resistor 17. The reference voltage Vo determined by the ratio to the value of (this reference voltage V
The priority of o is 1st) is supplied. Further, in parallel with the above-described operation, the light emitting diode 18 provided in the light emitter 10ILK becomes operational and generates light, which is transmitted to the light receiver 1 disposed opposite to it via the belt 8.9.
The signal is supplied to the phototransistor 19 of 0b. When the phototransistor 19 is supplied with light from the light emitting diode 18, its collector-emitter voltage decreases, and the voltage obtained at the collector of the phototransistor 19 is supplied to the amplifier 21, where it is amplified. and is supplied to the non-inverting input terminal of the comparator 16 via the resistor 22. The comparator 16 has the value of the reference voltage supplied to its inverting input (the value in this case is VO) and the value of the voltage supplied to its non-inverting input (the value in this case is VO). is the light emitter 10a.

Since the value of the reference voltage is smaller than the value of the voltage output from the amplifier 21, the voltage is high from the output terminal. It outputs a 'H level signal indicating that the passage of 2 is not detected, and supplies it to the CPU etc. via the sensor output terminal 23. In this state, when the customer inserts a coin into the coin slot provided in the customer service section 24 or inserts a bill into the bill slot, the coin verification/change section 34 detects the type of coin or bill inserted. , determine authenticity, etc.
This determination result is sent to the CPU via the coin verification/change control circuit 33.
At the same time, the customer service section 24 supplies the CPU 27 with an inserted money detection signal corresponding to the inserted coins and the inserted banknotes via the customer service control circuit 25. CPU27
calculates the total amount of money inserted based on the denomination data and authenticity data supplied via the check/change control circuit 33 and the input money detection signal supplied via the customer service control circuit 25, and calculates the total amount of money inserted. The total input amount data is supplied to the customer service section 24 via the customer service control circuit 25, and the total input amount is displayed and the accounts outside of which purchases can be made corresponding to the total input amount are displayed. Then, when the customer selects one of the account selection buttons provided in the customer service department 24 and performs a suppression operation, the customer service department 24 sends the account code corresponding to the pressed account selection button to the customer service control N path 25. It is supplied to the CPU 27 via. The CPU 27tf determines whether or not a ticket can be issued and whether or not change is to be paid out based on the stored total amount of money input and the supplied account code, and when it is possible to issue a ticket, the print control circuit 31 performs printing necessary for issuing ticket 2. In addition to supplying data, when it is necessary to pay out one change, change data indicating the amount of change to be paid out is supplied to the coin verification/change control circuit 33. Accordingly, the coin verification/change control circuit 33 controls the coin verification/change section 34 to dispense the necessary amount of change, and the print control circuit 31 controls the printing section 32 to control the thermal printing head l. Then, the ticket drive roller 3 is driven to print the ticket 2. The ticket 2 printed in this way is then held between the belts 5, 7 and 8.9, and
When it is transported in the direction of arrow A and passes the sensor position where the light emitter 10 and the light receiver 10b are provided, the light received by the phototransistor 19 is interrupted, and the light is transferred between the collector and emitter of the phototransistor 19. The voltage is increased, which causes the voltage at the non-inverting input of the amplifier 21 to rise, and the same amplifier 21 outputs a ticket detection signal from its output to the non-inverting input of the comparator 16.

The comparator 16 is supplied with the ticket detection signal from the amplifier 21, and as a result, the value of the voltage at its non-inverting input terminal becomes smaller than the value of the voltage at its inverting input terminal, lowering the voltage at its output terminal, and as a result. The obtained round roll discharge completion signal is supplied to the CPU 2'l via the sensor output terminal 23. Below, the customer is the customer service department 24
Each time a coin or a banknote is inserted into the coin slot or bill slot provided in the bank and the account selection button is depressed, the above-mentioned operations are repeated.

In this state, the characteristics of the light emitting diode 18 may deteriorate, the characteristics of the phototransistor 19 may deteriorate, or chips generated when cutting the ticket 2 may accumulate on the light-receiving surface of the phototransistor 19. The amount of light received by the transistor 19 decreases,
If the voltage between the collector and emitter of the phototransistor 19 is not high and the value of the non-inverting input terminal voltage of the comparator 16 is lower than the value of the inverting input terminal voltage, the comparator 16 will move from its output terminal to the sensor. The CPU 27 outputs an abnormality detection signal.
supply to. Accordingly, the CPU 27 detects that a sensor abnormality has occurred and sends a signal to lower the reference level of the comparator 16 (this signal is the 'H level signal).
is generated and supplied to the Nandts gate 141 via the terminal 131, lowering the output voltage of the Nandts gate 141, and changing the value of the inverting input terminal voltage of the comparator 16 to the value Vl (this value V1 is V1).
If l<VO, then the priority is lowered to 1). As a result, when the value of the voltage at the inverting input terminal of the comparator 16 becomes smaller than the value of the voltage at the non-inverting input terminal, the sensor abnormality detection signal is no longer output from the output terminal of the comparator 16. The CPU 27 determines that the processing of the sensor error has been completed and starts normal ticket selling operation.
When the sensor abnormality detection signal continues to be output from the output terminal of the comparator 16 even though the value of the inverting input terminal voltage of the comparator 16 has decreased by the value vtt, the CPU 27 determines that the sensor abnormality processing has not been completed. , generates a signal for further lowering the reference level of the comparator 16 (this signal is a 1H level signal), supplies it to the Nant gates 141 and 142 via the terminals 131 and 132, and inverts the comparator 16. The value of the input terminal voltage is V2 (this value v2 is V2<Vl
The priority level is lowered to 3rd place. As a result, when the sensor abnormality signal is no longer output from the output terminal of the comparator 16, the CPU 27 starts the normal ticket selling operation, and the value of the voltage at the inverted input terminal of the comparator 16 decreases to the value v2. However, if the senna abnormality detection signal continues to be output from the output terminal of the comparator 16,
The CPU 27 performs the same operation as described above, and operates Nantes gates 141 to 143, Nantes gates 141 to 144 .・・・
. . . The 'H level signal is sequentially supplied to the Nandt gates 141 to 14n, and the inverting input terminal voltage (reference level) of the comparator 16 is lowered step by step to perform sensor abnormality recovery processing.

In addition, in parallel with the above-mentioned operation, the CPU 27 detects that the characteristics of the light emitting diode 18 (or the phototransistor 19) have deteriorated, or that chips etc. generated when cutting the ticket 2 have accumulated on the light receiving surface of the phototransistor 19. 1 Nant gate 141 (or Nant gate 141 to
142, 141-143. ...) In parallel with the operation of supplying the 'H level signal to
The signal is supplied to the staff operating unit 28 via the staff operating unit 28, and a senna abnormality forecasting lamp provided in the staff operating unit 28 is lit to notify the staff that the output of the sensor has decreased.

In this way, sensor abnormalities caused by deterioration of the characteristics of the light-emitting diode 18 (It) or phototransistor 19) or chips accumulated on the light-receiving surface of the phototransistor 19 are predicted, and the sensor becomes completely inoperable. Please replace the sensor or phototransistor 19 before
It is possible to perform necessary processing such as cleaning the light receiving surface of the sensor, and to prevent the device from operating properly due to a decrease in the output of the sensor.

Furthermore, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the decrease in sensor output is compensated for by changing the reference level on the light receiving side, but it is possible to compensate for the decrease in sensor output by changing the light emission level on the light emitting side. Of course, compensation is also possible. Also,
In the embodiment described above, the values R1, R2° to Rn of each of the resistors 151 to 15n are R1=R2=...=Rn
However, this is R1<R2<...<Rn
And each resistor 151 is adjusted so that the ratio (or difference, etc.) of these parts R1, R2 to Rn of 4° is in a predetermined relationship.
By weighting the value of ~15n, each resistance value of 151. Resistance 152. Resistors 151 and 152° Resistor 153. It is of course possible to change the reference level supplied to the inverting input terminal of the comparator 16 by sequentially selecting .

As explained above, the invention selects one of a plurality of reference levels according to its priority, and based on the specific reference level obtained as a result, [15] Determine the output level, and sequentially lower the rounding priority for selecting the specific reference level based on the determination result, and drive the sensor abnormality forecasting means when this priority falls below a predetermined rank. This makes it possible to determine the output of the sensor even if the output of the sensor decreases, and also predicts sensor abnormalities before the sensor stops functioning and allows the staff to take necessary measures. be able to.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the automatic ticket vending machine's 0-ticket printing/discharging mechanism to which the sensor abnormality prediction method according to the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the circuit configuration of the sensor section in the same embodiment, and FIG.
This figure is a diagram showing an example of the circuit configuration of a nine automatic ticket vending machine using the circuit shown in FIG. 2. 2...Ticket (product), 10a...Emitter (sensor), 10b...Receiver (sensor), 1
51 to 15n...Resistance, 17...Resistance, 28...Attendant operation unit (sensor abnormality forecasting means)
. Figure 1 Figure 3

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a vending machine that performs processes such as discharging products and dispensing change based on the amount data obtained from the inserted money and the product code corresponding to the selected product, one of multiple standard levels is determined in order of priority. Select according to the results obtained based on specific reference levels,
The output level of the sensor provided in the automatic multiplexer is determined, and based on the result of this determination, the priority for selecting the specific reference level is sequentially lowered, and the priority is lower than or equal to a predetermined priority. 1. A sensor abnormality prediction method in a vending machine, characterized in that a sensor abnormality prediction means is activated when a sensor abnormality prediction means is activated.