JPS59186084A - Price setting apparatus for vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (A) Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a price setting device for a vending machine using barcodes.

(o) Prior Art The price setting device of a vending machine has conventionally been comprised of a dip switch or a digital switch. However, in the case of a dip switch, the selling price must be converted into a binary code and set, and as the selling price becomes high, setting becomes difficult.

Further, in the case of a digital switch, although there is no need to convert into a binary code, there is a drawback that the larger the number of sales columns in a vending machine, the larger the price setting device becomes, and the cost becomes higher. There is also a method of inputting the selling price into the memory circuit of the vending machine using the keyboard, but inputting using the keyboard requires operating the function keys and numeric keypad in a specified order, which is extremely difficult for inexperienced users. becomes.

(c) Purpose In view of the above points, the present invention provides a price setting device for a vending machine which is small in size and allows easy setting of selling prices.

2) The selling price set in the configuration vending machine is represented by a bar code, and when setting the price, the vending machine is put into the price setting mode, and the detection device detects the bar code pattern representing the arbitrary selling price. The detection power is converted into sales price data and stored in the storage means.

(E) Embodiment Figure 1 shows a barcode input device for a vending machine, (1) is a bar sheet on which the selling price to be input into the vending machine is printed in barcode, This detection device consists of a code reader (3), an amplification circuit (4), and a waveform shaping circuit (5). A barcode is one in which black lines or spaces are arranged alternately in the longitudinal direction, and one barcode pattern in this example is as shown in Figure 2a: start character S - character space SP, data character D, character Space SP/Data Character D
Each data character is composed of nine bars (black stripes and spaces) of 3-out and 9-off codes, and one barcode pattern has the information amount of two characters. The 3-out/off-9 code always places three thick bars in one 9-bit character, and the thick bars indicate logic "1" and the thin bars indicate logic "0." Figure 3 shows a barcode reader (3), in which a light emitting diode α and a phototransistor Q31 are placed facing a through hole aυ formed at the tip. The light emitting diode (121) is moved in the longitudinal direction to sequentially irradiate each bar with light, and the phototransistor (
The output current is configured to detect a change in the output current.

The detection power by the barcode reader (3) is amplified by the amplification circuit (4) as shown in Figure 2, and then waveform-shaped by the waveform shaping circuit (5) (Figure 2C). Further, the pulse width determining section (6) determines the magnitude of the pulse width, and the first conversion device (7) digitally encodes the determination result, whereby one character is detected as a 9-bit code.

Even if the barcode is the same at this point, the waveform shaping circuit (5
) output pulse width can be determined by the operator using a barcode reader (3
) depends on the speed at which the pulse width is moved, so the determination data used by the pulse width determining section (6) to determine the magnitude of the pulse width must be set for each measurement. Therefore, the pulse width determination section (6) first sets determination data using the pulse output from the waveform shaping circuit (5) when the barcode reader (3) passes the start character.

The start character S consists of a first bar that is a thin black line, a first space that is a thin space, and a second bar that is a thick black line. 3) The operation starts upon detection of the first bar, and the pulse width of the waveform shaping circuit (5) generated by the first space and the second bar is adjusted according to the moving speed of the barcode reader (3) in the longitudinal direction. Each measurement is made by counting clock pulses, and judgment data is predicted when the barcode reader (3) detects a thick bar and a thin bar of a data character. When the barcode reader (3) reaches the data character, it determines whether the first bar of the data character is thick or thin based on this predicted determination data, and the first converter (the force is set to "1" according to the determination result). Or “
0" is output.

In this way, the pulse width determination section (6) determines the pulse width of the waveform shaping circuit (5) that indicates the thickness of each bar in the data character, but each time a pulse width measurement value is obtained, it is based on this measurement value. By sequentially correcting the judgment data,
Even if the moving speed of the barcode reader (3) changes midway, it can be handled.

However, since the first converter (7) indicates one character with a 9-bit code, if the control section of the vending machine is configured with 8-bit processing, it is easier to perform subsequent processing by converting the 9-bit code into an 8-bit code. becomes. Therefore, in this example, the 9-bit code is further converted into an 8-pit hex code by the second conversion device (8), and a contrast between the 9-bit code and the hex code is shown in FIG. In this example, one barcode pattern includes information of two characters, and the selling price is indicated by two hexacodes detected from one barcode pattern. Figure 5 shows the selling price indicated by two hex codes.
For example, the barcode pattern shown in Fig. 2 is a hex code according to the second conversion device (8), and the upper digit is 01 (8 bits, oooooooi), and the lower digit is 0 (s bit, ooo).
ooooo), which represents the selling price of 100 yen. However, the hexacode 01/Oo of the lever may be stored as selling price data in the storage means, but in actual arithmetic processing in automatic vending operations, the selling price data set by the hexacode is converted into decimal code before the arithmetic processing. need to be converted to .

Therefore, in this example, when setting the selling price, a third converter, which will be revealed later, converts the hexa code into a decimal code, and stores this as selling price data in the storage means. Therefore, the third converter is hexacode 01.
In the case of Oo, convert it to decimal code 10, and convert it to 1-byte binary code (o.

010000).

Another example of selling price is the price in 10 yen increments from 10 yen to 90 yen and the price in 10 yen increments from 100 yen to 900 yen.
Price per 00 yen and 10 from 1000 yen to 9000 yen
Prices per 00 yen are 0C1101~OC・09,QC
-0B-QC-13°OC・15 to QC-2D hexacodes, and the number of each digit of the selling price can be represented by two consecutive hexacodes. For example, sales price 1
120 yen is represented by QC@15 indicating 1000 yen, 0C=OB indicating 100 yen, and QC-02 indicating 20 yen. In this case, when the first converter (7) converts the 9-bit detection code by K into a hex code, OC and
There are three barcode patterns available: 15, QC-OB, and QC-02. The third conversion device at this time has two hex codes, QC-15 and 0.
Convert C-OB, 0C-02 to decimal coat 112 which is sales price data, 00000001-00010
It is designed to output 010 as a 2-byte binary code.

Furthermore, in this example, control commands to the vending machine at the time of price setting are also set using barcodes.

In Figure 5, the two hexacodes 0B-00 indicate to the vending machine that the price is set for sales column No. 1;
・2D indicates the price setting of sales columns No. 2 and No. 3 to No. 30, respectively, and a predetermined barcode pattern is prepared for each. In addition to specifying the sales column number using a barcode, it is also possible to specify it using the vending machine's product selection switch (not limited to the selection switch, any device that generates an output corresponding to the sales column) can also be used. In this case, the two hex codes 0A-01 indicate that the sales column number is designated by the selection switch.

Also, two hexacodes OA.00 indicate that all sales columns are set to the same sales price.

Below, some examples of price setting using barcodes will be described.

FIG. 6 is a bar sheet that includes a bar code specifying a sales column for price setting and a bar code indicating each sales price in 10 yen increments from 10 yen to 260 yen. Figure 7 shows the 6th
It is a control block diagram when storing a sales price in RAM00) using the bar sheet shown in the figure. For example, sales column N
To set the price of o5 at 220 yen, first bar coat a
4I Rub from left to right in the overcoat league (3).

Therefore, the detection force generated in the detection device (2) due to the movement of the barcode reader (3) is 9
is converted into a detection code of bits, followed by a second conversion device (
8), it is converted to 8-bit hex code. As described above, one barcode pattern includes information of two characters, and two types of hexacodes OB-04 are introduced into the instruction decoder (15). The instruction decoder (151) decodes that OB.04 is an instruction code for setting a price for sales column No. 5, and the control device (16) outputs a control signal to the address encoder αD and a write signal to the RAMQO, respectively. And the address encoder (17) is the sales column No. 5 based on the hexacode OB-04 from the second converter (8).
Specify the address of RAMGO that stores the sales price of. Next, when the barcode (Is) is rubbed from left to right with the barcode reader (3), the second conversion device (the force is divided into two types of hexacode 02-02) based on the detection force of the detection device (2).
Output. The instruction decoder a knows that this hex code 02.02 is data indicating the selling price.
9, the control device a0 outputs a control signal to the third conversion device (9). Therefore, the third converter (9) converts 02.02 into decimal code 22 and RAMQO
) is stored in 1 byte as 00100010. On the other hand, although it is not shown in the barcode, sales price data 1200
Hexa code 02/OA indicating a circle is the second conversion device (8)
, the third conversion device (9) converts it into a decimal code 120, and the RAMQOI is ooooo.

It is stored in 2 bytes as 01.00100000.

Figure 8 has a barcode that specifies the sales column for price setting, a barcode that shows the price in 100 yen increments from 100 yen to 900 yen, and a barcode that shows the price in 10 yen increments from 10 yen to 90 yen. It is a bar seat. The operation when setting the selling price using the bar sheet shown in FIG. 8 will be explained with reference to FIG. For example, to set the price of sales column No. 0 at 180 yen, first rub the barcode (11) from left to right with the barcode reader (3). Based on the detection force of the detection device (2), the second conversion device ( 8) outputs two hex codes 0B-09.Therefore, the instruction decoder α9 decodes the instruction code for setting the price to the sales column N010, and sends a control signal to the control device (le is a control signal to the address encoder αη, RAMQO ), and the address encoder η specifies the address of RAM (1, 0) that stores the sales price of sales column N010 based on the hexacode OB@09. ) bar, code reader (3)
When rubbed from left to right with
・Output OB. This hex code OC/OB is 10
This indicates that the content of the address that stores 10 yen data together with 0 yen data is to be cleared, and when decoded by the instruction decoder (151), the control device tte
A control signal is output to the conversion device (9). Therefore, the third
The conversion device (9) converts the QC-OB into a decimal code of 10 and outputs it, and the specified address of the RAM (10) is set to 00.
010000 is stored. And further barcode ψ
When υ is rubbed from left to right with a barcode reader (3), the second conversion device (8) outputs two hexacodes oc-os based on the detection power of the detection device (2). When this hex code OC-08 is decoded by the instruction decoder (151), it is determined that it indicates 80 yen.
6) outputs a control signal to the third conversion device (9). Therefore, in order to convert into decimal code 8, the third conversion device (9) adds 8 to the lower 4 bits of the designated address of RAM (1ω) and stores it as 00011000 in 1 byte.

Furthermore, the sales column for setting the sales price can be specified not only by barcodes but also by the product selection switch provided in the vending machine. In this case, a bar code (2) indicating that the price is set in the sales column specified by the selection switch is provided in the bar sheets shown in Figures 6 and 8. Figure 9 shows the price setting for the sales column specified by the selection switch. It is a control block diagram when specifying a sales column by operation and setting a sales price.

First, the barcode reader (3) reads the barcode (221
When rubbed from left to right, the second converter (8) generates two hexacodes based on the detection force of the detector (2).
Outputs 01. and instruction decoder 0
511 decodes that it is the price setting of the sales column designated by the selection switch, and the control device a0 outputs a control signal to the address encoder (17) and a write signal to the RAM α0). Therefore, any selection switch (81) (82) to (
Sfl) is operated and the selection switch input buffer (2
When selection switch data is generated in the selected switch, the address encoder (17) specifies the address of the RAM (I) that stores the sales price of the sales column corresponding to the operated selection switch. A barcode reader (3) is used to scan a barcode indicating an arbitrary selling price shown in Fig. 8, and a third conversion device (9) converts the two hexacodes output from a second conversion device (8) into a control device α6. ) is latched at the input of a control signal, converted to a decimal code, and introduced to RAMGO) for price setting.

Further, the bar sheets shown in FIGS. 6 and 8 are provided with bar codes (goods) indicating that all sales columns have the same sales price setting. FIG. 10 is a control block diagram when all sales columns are set to the same sales price. First, read the barcode using the barcode reader (3).
When rubbed from left to right, the second conversion device (8) generates two hex codes OA and 0 based on the detection force of the detection device (2).
Outputs 0. And instruction decoder α9
When deciphering that is the same sales price setting for all sales columns, the controller (lO) inputs the number of sales columns and outputs a write signal to the RAM (Iω. Also, the controller α6) transfers the control data to the address encoder. Based on the control data, the address encoder first specifies the address of RAM α0) that stores the sales price of the sales column No1. Then, scan the barcode showing the desired selling price shown in Figure 6 or Figure 8 using the barcode reader (3).
When the second converter (8) outputs two hex codes, the instruction decoder (151
In order to output a control signal, the third converter (9) converts the hexa code into a decimal code and introduces it into RAMCl2. Next, the control device α6) outputs the control data related to sales column No. 2 to the address encoder (17) to designate the next address of the RAM α0), and the third conversion device (9) outputs the control data related to sales column No. 2 to the RAM α0). The control device (16) repeats this operation according to the number of sales columns, and all sales columns are set at the same price.

FIG. 11 shows a control circuit of a vending machine equipped with a price setting device according to the present invention, (2FjJ is a microcomputer which is a control device, and (5) is a charge amount display and a control circuit provided corresponding to a sales product. A display device equipped with a sellable product display and a sold-out product display; (c) is a product selection section equipped with a product selection switch for each sale product; the display device (27) and the product selection section (c) are It is connected to the microcomputer (A) through an interface screen. (To) is a money data output unit that generates an input money signal and a change signal indicating the presence or absence of change coins, and OD is a money dispensing device that is a money data output unit ( ) with interface c3
It is connected to the micro converter (A) through the cable. The plane is a sales device that performs sales operations based on sales data introduced from a microcomputer (c) through Inkface (Inc.) and outputs a sold-out signal for each product. and a barcode reader (3
) is connected to the boat Po of the microcomputer jz (a) via the amplification circuit (4) and the waveform shaping circuit (5), and the pulse width determination section (6) and first conversion device in Fig. 1 (
7) The functions of the second conversion device (8) are achieved by the microcomputer (26)K. And micro combination =
-ta c26) performs the functions explained in FIGS. 7, 9, and 10 depending on the barcode pattern input first.

In addition, the microcomputer (4) enters the price setting mode by turning on the switch (to) connected to port P1, and the detection force generated in the waveform shaping circuit (5) by barcode detection by the barcode reader (3). A predetermined operation is performed based on the information.

FIG. 12 shows an outline of the operation flowchart of the microcombinator (E) that performs central control of the vending machine. When the microcomputer (26) completes predetermined initial settings after power is turned on, it inputs money data from the money data output section (to) from the interface 02. The money data consists of data on the number of coins inserted, out-of-change data, and return data for each denomination, and the microcomputer (c) sets the data on the number of coins inserted and data out of change for each denomination, and calculates the amount of money inserted based on the data on the number of coins inserted. Calculate and set. Then, based on the return data, it is detected whether the customer has operated the return switch, and if it has been operated, control of the money dispensing subroutine is executed on the money dispensing device OD, and the connector M
Return to However, if the return switch is not activated, display device C will be displayed through the interface screen.
After sequentially outputting input amount data, sellable product data, and sold-out product data to η, the selected product data from the product selection section (2) is inputted from the interface 7A (c). Therefore, the display device (5) is
6) The input amount display, the sellable product display, and the sold-out product display operate according to the input data. When it is detected that one of the product selection switches has been operated based on the selected product data, the micro converter (2
6) executes the control of the sales subroutine on the sales device (to) and returns to the connector M. However, if the product selection switch is not operated, the microcomputer (a) inputs the sold-out product data from the sales device from the interface chair. Then, products that can be sold are determined based on the micro sales price, out-of-change data, and sold-out product data. Next, the microcomputer (2e) checks whether automatic refund is necessary or not, and if automatic refund is necessary, it moves to the money payout subroutine.Automatic refund is the remaining amount after the sale and change when there are no products that can be sold. There are two methods: payout and return of the excess amount when the input amount exceeds the maximum input amount.The microcomputer (c) then uses switch C.
351 is detected, and if it is OFF, it returns to the connector M. However, if the switch (c) is turned on,
The micro combinator (c) is the first one from the connector M2.
The process moves to the price setting mode subroutine shown in FIG. In the price setting mode, the microcomputer 2 first lights up the LED (1B) of the barcode reader (3) and inputs the detection force generated in the detection device (2) upon barcode detection.Then, based on the detection force, Two hex codes are taken out and it is determined whether the hex code is related to sales column designation.

As mentioned above, the barcode for specifying the sales column is
There is a barcode that directly specifies the sales column number, a barcode that instructs to specify the sales column whose selection switch is operated, or a barcode that sets the same price for all sales columns, and this barcode indicates either of these. and microcomputer c according to its hex code
! e specifies a predetermined address of RAMQ@ and returns to connector M by the action explained in FIG. 7, FIG. 9, or FIG. 10. When the detection device (2) generates a detection force based on the next bar code, it determines whether the hex code based on this detection force is related to the sales column designation, and if it is the sales column designation, it sends the address again. Therefore, even if the barcode reader (3) is initially used to rub an incorrect barcode regarding sales column designation, it can be corrected by changing the input.Also, if this barcode is not related to sales column designation, it can be corrected by changing the input. If there is, it is determined whether it indicates a selling price, and if it does not indicate a selling price, it returns to connector M3.This means that if the hex code does not indicate either a sales column specification or a selling price, the bar It is assumed that the code reader (3) misreads the code and waits for input again. However, if the hex code indicates the sales price, the RAM ([0
) is specified, and if it is not specified, returns to connector M3. Therefore, if a barcode indicating a sales price is inputted before a barcode related to sales column designation is inputted, it will be considered an operational error and the system will wait for a correct operation to be input. However, RAM ([0
) has already been specified, the microcombinator (a) assumes that a normal price setting input has been made and sets the selling price by introducing the selling price data into the specified address of the RAM (26). will be accomplished. Then, it detects that the switch (C) is OFF, and if it is OFF, the price setting mode is terminated and the connector M in the flowchart of FIG.
When the switch (c) is turned on, the connector M
3 and waits for the sales price setting of the next sales column.

In the embodiment described in detail above, one barcode pattern has the information amount of two characters, but it can be made to have one character or more than three characters by increasing or decreasing the number of sales columns and the number of sales prices.

When setting one barcode pattern to one character, if the barcode is set so that the first conversion device (force detection code) directly indicates the decimal sales price data, the second conversion device (8) and Third conversion device (9)
step is omitted. Although such a method limits the range of sales prices to be set, it is possible to widen the range of sales prices by using it in combination with a switch. For example, the barcode is 10 FqA9?
If you set the rumors up to 0 yen and use switches other than the barcode to input the 10.00 yen signal, 2Q, 'OO yenshin simplex...', the sales price will be less than q90 yen. is set only with barcode and? ? Sales prices exceeding O yen are generated from barcodes, switches, etc.1
It is sufficient to set it as 0.00 single signal, 2o+O□ circle signal, etc. Furthermore, in this example, the control command to the vending machine when setting the selling price is also input using a barcode.
Control commands may be input using other input devices such as switches.

(f) Effects According to the present invention, the price setting device is miniaturized because the sales price input device is composed of a barcode representing the sales price and a detection device that converts the barcode pattern into an electrical signal. In addition, it is possible to greatly reduce the number of signal harnesses for inputting selling prices by simply connecting the lead wire of the barcode reader to the control circuit board of the vending machine. Moreover, you can set the sales price just by scanning the barcode with the barcode reader, which not only makes the operation easier.
When increasing or decreasing the types of sales prices to be set or changing prices, there is an effect that this can be handled simply by replacing the barcode sheet without changing the mechanism. Furthermore, since the price is set regardless of the number of sales columns of each vending machine, it is an excellent price setting device in terms of compatibility.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 shows a price setting device for a vending machine according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the operation, Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the main part of a barcode reader, and Fig. 4 shows a 9-bit code based on a barcode pattern. Figure 5 is a diagram showing the contents indicated by two types of hexa codes, Figure 6 is a diagram showing the bar sheet used for price setting, and Figure 7 is a diagram showing the sales price setting operation. FIG. 8 is a control block diagram showing a bar sheet used for price setting using other methods. FIG. 9 is a control block diagram showing the sales price setting operation of the sales column specified by the selection switch. FIG. 11 is a control block diagram showing the sales price setting operation when all sales columns are set to the same price, FIG. 11 is a control circuit diagram of the vending machine, FIG. 12 is a flowchart explaining the operation of the vending machine, and FIG. FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating the operation in price setting mode. - (1)... Barcode sea), (2)... Detection device, (7) (81 (9)... Conversion device, QG...
Memory means. Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 12 Figure 13

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A bar sheet with a printed sales price to be input into the vending machine using a barcode, a setting means for setting the vending machine to a price setting mode, a means for specifying a sales column for setting the price, and a pattern of the barcode. a detection device that converts the detected power into an electrical signal and outputs it, a conversion device that converts the detected force by the detection device into selling price data, and a converting device that converts the electrical power detected by the detection device into selling price data; A price setting device for a vending machine comprising a storage means for storing a set sales price in a sales column.