JPS6013227B2 - Sales quantity limiting device in continuous purchase vending machines - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a continuous purchase vending machine, and particularly to a device that automatically controls the number of products sold in bulk purchases.

Continuous purchase vending machines allow the continuous purchase of multiple products within a range that does not exceed the input amount.

For this reason, when purchasing in bulk, the number of products sold may be quite large. By the way, since the product outlet of a vending machine is generally installed in a limited space, the capacity of the outlet is limited.

Therefore, if the purchaser does not take out the items that have already been sold and the number of items exceeds the storage capacity limit, it will not only be impossible to take out the items, but the items will be damaged, or the items will be damaged. It may get stuck in the wrong position, impairing the product dispensing function. This makes it impossible to continue normal sales and service. Therefore, in conventional vending machines of this type, there is a means for limiting the products sold to relatively small items, a means for restricting the total amount of money that can be inserted at once, or a warning for handling on the vending operation panel, such as " Please limit the number of items purchased to 4 when purchasing in bulk.'' or ``
Measures are taken to warn customers by posting messages such as "Please take out the product from the takeout section (exit) before purchasing the next product."

However, all of these measures significantly reduce the operability and reliability of the vending machine. Another possibility is to limit the number of products sold by detecting the number of products placed in the kamamono outlet, but this method is suitable for vending machines that sell products of different shapes and/or volumes. The measures were not effective. The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and its first purpose is to enable the maximum permissible number of consecutive sales units to be set arbitrarily for each product group, and to provide products with different shapes and/or volumes. The aim is to make it possible to impose restrictions on products.

In addition, the second purpose is to express the shape and volume of a certain product as one unit and determine the maximum allowable number of continuous sales of this product, and also to express that of other products in units and to determine the total number of units. To make it possible to rationally perform limited sales of products having different shapes and/or volumes by prohibiting the sale of products after that when the amount reaches the maximum allowable amount.

Next, the continuous purchase system vending machine of the present invention will be specifically explained based on the drawings.

FIGS. 1A and 1B schematically show the general structure of the continuous purchase type automatic vending machine of the present invention, and the reference numerals in the figures indicate the following.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a money sorting/counting unit which has a money insertion slot into which money such as coins or banknotes is inserted, and which discriminates the denomination of the money inserted for purchasing a product and outputs the quantity thereof.

2 is a coin return unit that returns the defective coins when the coins inserted through the coin insertion slot are damaged or vaguely counterfeit coins, and also dispenses change coins issued by the change dispensing section 4 described later. Department.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a gold box, which is used to store coins taken in through sales operations.

4 is a change dispenser equipped with a change dispenser for each denomination, which sequentially counts and dispenses change coins by rotating a dispenser board provided at the bottom of the coin storage tube. .

Reference numeral 5 denotes a product storage section, in which the product 6 to be sold is stored in a product storage frame 10 consisting of five separate frames for each type or shape.
'I'll store this.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a product winning portion that selectively dispenses the products stored in the product storage portion 5 using a link mechanism or the like.

The lost products 6 are thrown out via a product delivery passage 8 to a product takeout port 9 where these winning products are temporarily reserved. In addition, in the product storage section 5 shown in Figure 1, relatively large products are stored in the first frame, products of the next largest type are stored in the second frame, and relatively smaller products are stored in the second frame. has been done. Here, it is assumed that the products 6 in the No. 2 frame are of the same shape, the product 6 in the No. 2 frame has twice the volume of the product in the No. ■It shall have approximately twice the volume of the product in the frame. Next, FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of a continuous purchase type automatic vending machine according to the present invention.

The name of each code and its function are as follows. Reference numeral 11 denotes a money detection means provided in the money sorting and counting section 1, which detects the inserted money by denomination and outputs pulse signals of the number of denominations.

12 counts the total amount of money inserted into the vending machine based on the signal detected and output by the money detection means 11, and performs subtraction counting based on a subtraction signal obtained from the subtraction control unit 16, which will be described later. Further, when the counted value becomes zero, the money counting section is composed of an up/down counter that detects this and outputs a zero signal.

13 determines the products that can be sold at the relevant amount based on the counting information output by the money counting section 12, outputs a price signal, and sets the selling price of the product to the storage frame ■■...
■It is a price setting unit that can be set separately, and the determination of the price of the product that can be sold is determined by the price of the product that can be sold at all prices within the range that does not exceed the monetary value counted and output by the money counting unit 12. It will be output as .

Reference numeral 14 denotes a selection command section for selectively specifying a product to be purchased by the purchaser, and has five designation money slots corresponding to each of the product storage frames 10, and also includes the price setting section 13.
The product storage frames 10 in which products with prices that can be sold are stored are displayed by lighting up with sale lamps provided corresponding to each of these storage frames based on a signal determined and outputted by the storage unit.

15 is based on a command signal inputted through the selection command unit 14, and when a plurality of products are specified at the same time, only one product is to be selectively sold based on a certain priority order. This is a product selection section that outputs an exit signal.

The product selection unit 15 also outputs a price signal corresponding to the price of the selected product, that is, the price of the product to be sold, as a subtraction signal to the money counting unit 12 via the subtraction control unit 16. A dispensing signal is output to the product dispensing control section 18 that drives and controls the dispensing operation of the product in the dispensing section 7, and further, based on the selection signal, the dispensing operation of the product is determined in relation to the volume of the product outlet 9. A number signal for counting the number of products delivered is output to the product data counting section 17. Here, the number of pulses of the number signal is only one for each product if all products or products of the same shape are used, but if the external shape of the product is 4 (■ frame): 2 (■ frame) as shown in Figure 1 A. If there is a ratio relationship of :1 (■■■ frame), Z will be emitted in the number corresponding to that ratio. 1
Reference numeral 9 denotes an upper limit setting section for an administrator or the like to set the permissible number determined by the volume of the product outlet 9 of the vending machine and input it to the product counting section 17 described later.

The product counting section 17 counts the number signal output by the product Z selection section 15, and detects when the counted value exceeds the allowable number output from the upper limit setting section 19. An alarm is issued via the alarm unit 21. In addition, the product counting section 17 outputs a settlement request signal for prohibiting future product sales operations in a state where the number of products sold exceeds the allowed number of customers as described above. In the case of the illustrated embodiment, the settlement request signal is transmitted to the price setting unit 13.
is input as a prohibition command 2 that prohibits the determination and output operation of the price range of the product that can be sold.
2, the change issuing command is given to the money counter 12.
The change dispensing operation is performed via the change dispensing section 4 until the contents of the change dispensing section 4 become zero. The change control section 322
As described above, the money counter 1 is sent to the money counter 1 via the change dispenser 4.
Change coins are thrown out until the contents of 2 become zero, and the skill output signal of the change coin is input as a subtraction signal to the money counting unit 12 via the subtraction control unit 16, and the change output signal is The operation is started by a payment request signal output by the product counting section 17 or by a payment command from the payment command section 23, which is provided in the operation command section of the vending machine and instructs the start of the counting operation. The alarm section 21 and the fishing control section 2 are installed here.
2 and the price setting section 13 are also used as a prohibition control section for restricting subsequent sales operations. Reference numeral 20 denotes a product detecting means that is provided near the product outlet 9 and detects that the product extracted from the cocoon product outlet 9 has been extracted from the product outlet 9. When it is extracted, the count contents of the counting section 17 are cleared.

Further, when the contents of the money counting section 12 become zero, the commodity counting section 17 is also cleared by this zero signal.

Now, FIGS. 3 and 4 show a specific circuit configuration of the product selection section 15. As shown in FIG.

In the output section of the price setting section 13 shown in FIG. 3, price setting terminals (P,) (P2)...(P
5) are installed, and they are connected to a predetermined price terminal (Lo) (T6) corresponding to the price of the product stored in the product storage frame 10.
o)...(T2oo) is selectively connected. In the example shown, the price is 100 yen for the 1st frame and the 1st frame, and 15 yen for the 1st frame
The q, No. 2 and No. 2 slots are set for 20q editions.
The selection command unit 14 shown in FIG. 3 corresponds to each of the product storage frames 10, and includes a lamp that can light up to indicate when the product in the storage frame becomes available for sale, and a lamp for displaying the product in the storage frame when it becomes available for sale. Similarly, it has selection means (LS, ) (B2), .

(G.) (G2)...(G5) is the above price setting section 13
This is a verification circuit that detects and outputs products to be sold by comparing the output signal of the selection command section 14 with the output signal of the selection command section 14. The detection output signals of these verification verification circuits (G,) (G2)... (G5) are led to the subsequent encoder (ENCI). The encoder (ENCI) receives 5 lines of parallel information as an input signal and outputs only a single piece of information from these input signals based on a predetermined priority order. This is a circuit that detects this and outputs a sales request signal.

Its circuit configuration is illustrated in FIG. 7, and its truth table is:
It is shown in the table below. Encoder (8NOI) truth table H = high level L three ports - level × = irrelevant From the truth table shown above, "LJ signal is input to either input 1, 2...5 by the selection signal. Then, an "L" signal is output to the GS terminal as a sales request signal.

In addition, the priority order in this truth table is that if input 5 is "L", a unique encoded output corresponding to input 5 will be output regardless of other inputs 1, 2, 3, and 4. →4→3→2
→The order is 1. The encoded information that specifies the product to be sold and is selectively output by the encoder 5 (NCI) is sent to the sequence controller (SCO) that comprehensively controls the vending machine based on the entrusted IJ quest signal, as shown in Figure 6. The latch circuit (LAC) in the subsequent stage is activated by the output load signal.
bits are stored in parallel. (DEC) is a decoder, which uses the strobe signal next outputted by the sequence controller (SCO) to transfer the stored information in the latch circuit (LAC) to a signal line (
1,)02)...(15), and outputs a signal only to the corresponding line (1,)02)...(15).
12)...05) correspond to each of the product storage frames 10, and are led to the product dispensing control section 18 as a dispensing (frame selection) signal.

A detailed circuit example of the above decoder (DEC) is shown in FIG. 8. The truth table thereof is as shown in the table below. Note that the input and output logic levels in the table are reversed, so in the decoder (DEC) of FIG. 3, inverters are added to the input and output signal lines of FIG. 8, respectively. Echo evening (
The truth table of the gate (G
6) Number signal generation circuit 24 via (G7)...(G9)
guided by.

The encoder (ENC2) is connected to the above gates (G8) (G7
)...(G9) inputs the output signals in parallel and converts and outputs these input information to BCD code, and also detects when any signal is input and uploads it.
It outputs a request signal, and its detailed circuit configuration is almost the same as that of the encoder (ENCI) and is similar to that shown in FIG.

In this embodiment, the product in the #■■ frame of the product storage frame 10 is connected to the first input terminal of the encoder (ENC2) via the gate (G6), and the product in the #■ frame is connected to the second input terminal;
A frame is attached to the fourth input terminal. And these gates (G6) (G7)...(G9) and signal lines (1,)
02)...(15) is connected to the encoder (E
NC2) to the subsequent preset counter (RCI)
Determine the preset value of. (PSCI) is a preset counter, and the load signal obtained from the sequence controller (SCO) based on the up request signal output from the encoder (ENC2)
Numerical information corresponding to the sales product outputted by the encoder (ENC2), that is, the preset value, is preset in parallel bits, and then a subtraction operation is performed using a pulse signal as a number signal obtained from the CK terminal, and the counted value (preset value) is calculated. When becomes zero, a zero signal is output.

The gate (G, o) receives a separately input clock pulse signal (C
K) drives the flip-flop circuit (FF, ) at the subsequent stage, and this flip-flop circuit (FF,
F, ) is then reset when the counting contents of the preset counter (PSCI) are reset to zero, and the flip
The gate (G,.), which operates with the storage output signal of the flip-flop circuit (FF,) as one input condition, outputs a signal to the preset counter (PSCI) based on the flip-flop circuit (FF,) being set. A preset number of clock pulses (CK) is outputted to the product counting section 17 as a number signal, and the gate (
G. ) is fed back to the CK terminal of the preset counter (PSCI) as a subtraction input.

Further, the zero signal output when the preset counter (MCI) is reset to zero by the pulse signal input to the CK terminal is sent to the gate (G, 2) is guided to one input terminal of (G, 3) and is also guided to the sequence controller (SCO) via the buffer circuit (B).

The gate (G, 2) operates the flip-flop circuit (FF,
), and the other gate (G, 3) outputs the above flip-flop circuit in synchronization with the next clock pulse CK after the preset counter (PSCI) returns to zero. At the timing obtained before (FF,) is cleared, an up request signal is generated and output to the sequence controller (SCO) to inform that the counting operation of the number signal in the relevant sales operation has been completed. It is something to do. Also (DLY
) is a delay circuit consisting of a capacitor, a resistor, etc., and by delaying the clock pulse signal input to the gate (C, .) by a predetermined time, the gate (G
, 2), the flip-flop circuit (FF,)
This prevents a noise signal from being output to the gate (G, .) when cleared. The output information of the above decoder (DEC) is the gate (G, 4) (C, 5)...(G2
3) and gates (G24) (G25)...(G33)
The price signal generating circuits 25, 26' are also guided through the circuit.

In the figure, a price signal generation circuit 26 has the same configuration as the circuit 25, and these circuits operate in the same manner as the quantity signal generation circuit 24 shown in FIG. 3 above. The subtraction signal output by the upper circuit 25 has a weight of 10 q, and the subtraction signal output from the lower circuit 26 has a weight of 1 q.
It has a weight of yen. In other words, for example, if the product in the ■th frame, which is 15qq, is sold, the gate (G, 4) and the gate (
028), one price (subtraction) signal is output from the circuit 25, and five price (subtraction) signals are output from the other circuit 26, and the product is sold for 100 yen in the No. In this case, only the circuit 25 sends one subtraction signal through the gate (G, 4), and if the 200 yen product in the 2nd frame or the 2nd frame is sold, the circuit 25 sends a one-shot subtraction signal through the gate (0, 5). via circuit 2
Only No. 5 will output two subtraction signals. Next, FIG. 5 mainly shows the specific configuration of the money counting section 12 and the fishing control section 22. The subtraction signal enters the gates (G34) (G35) (G36) of the subtraction control section 16, and then enters the up/down counter (UD) of the money counting section 12.
CI) (UDC2) (UDC3) respectively, and subtracts the counter contents. Also, these counters (UDCI) (UDC2) (UDC3) are
The sum is sequentially accumulated by the up signal corresponding to the denomination from the currency detection means 11 to the K input terminal.

And each counter (UDCI) (UDC2) (UDC3
The output (content) of the zero output terminal of ) is the corresponding flip-flop (FF7) (FF8) (FF9) of the fishing control section 22.
This is the R terminal input for the IJ set. Now, when the settlement signal or settlement request signal is input, the gate (G
Flip-flop (FF6) is set 3 via 4o)
Then, based on the output signal of this flip-flop (FF6), a value flip-flop (FF7) (FF8
) (FF9) is also set. The Q output of each flip-flop (FF7), (FF8), and (FF9) drives the fishing and sinking section 4. At this time, this fishing winning combination output unit 4 outputs a subtraction 4 signal, and the counter (UDCI) (UDC2) is subtracted. When the counter content reaches zero, the flip-flop (F
Since a reset signal is input to the R terminals of F7), FF8, and FF9, the fishing technique is immediately stopped. When all the counters (UDCI) (UDC2) (UDC3) become zero, the gate (G39) (G foundation) outputs a fishing end signal. As described above, the present invention, in a continuous purchase type vending machine, counts the number of products each time it is sold using a number signal, and prohibits the sales operation when the counted value reaches the maximum allowable value. At the point.

This inventive concept also includes the following embodiments. ○} The quantity signal generation circuit 24 is used to generate 0 products for a single type.
If the vending machine or many types of products have the same appearance (volume, shape, etc.), one piece is sufficient. However, when many types of products have different appearances, the same circuit is sorted for each type of product. 2) The illustrated number signal generation circuit 24 is commonly used for a large number of products because one unit outputs a number signal with a unique number of pulses for each product type.

Therefore, it is considered that the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 has practical utility. A sales prohibition means, that is, a prohibition control unit, may be provided for each different product group.

This embodiment may be effective in cases where different types of products have different types of products. According to the present invention, in a continuous buying vending machine, the maximum permissible number of consecutive sales can be set individually for each group of products with different shapes and/or volumes. It is possible to reliably limit the number of consecutive sales of each product, ensure the productivity, reliability and reliability of the vending machine, and ensure normal sales at all times without damaging the products or hindering the ejection operation. Operation can be ensured.

In addition, by setting a unique number of quantity signals in advance for each product according to its shape and/or volume, the maximum allowable number of consecutive sales for each product only needs to be set to one, which simplifies the configuration of the device. This makes it possible to rationally limit the number of consecutive sales of each product all at once.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figures 1A and B are explanatory diagrams of the loom device part of the vending machine, Figure 2 is a functional block diagram of the vending machine, and Figure 3 is a functional block diagram of the vending machine.
Figure 4 is a circuit diagram of the product selection section, Figure 4 is a circuit diagram of the subtraction signal generation circuit, Figure 5 is a circuit diagram of counting, etc., Figure 6 is a block diagram of the sequence controller, Figure 7 is a circuit diagram of the encoder, FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram of the decoder. 17... Product counting section, 19... Upper limit setting section, 24... Number signal generation circuit. Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 6 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 7 Figure 8

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In a vending machine with a continuous purchase system that allows multiple products to be sold consecutively within a range that does not exceed the amount of money inserted, each time the product is sold, a number signal generation circuit that generates a number signal for each product group; an upper limit setting unit that sets the maximum permissible number of consecutive sales for each group of products with different shapes and/or volumes; Limiting the number of sold items in a continuous buying type vending machine characterized by comprising a product counting section that counts the number signal and outputs a signal for prohibiting the selling operation when the number signal reaches the value of the upper limit setting section. Device. 2. In a vending machine with a continuous purchase method, where multiple products can be sold in succession within the range that does not exceed the total value of the inserted money, each time a certain type of product is sold, A number signal generation circuit that generates a number signal unique to the product predetermined in accordance with the shape and/or volume; and an upper limit setting unit that sets one maximum allowable number for continuous sales;
Limiting the number of sold items in a continuous buying vending machine characterized by comprising a product counting section that counts the number signal and outputs a signal for prohibiting the selling operation when the number signal reaches the value of the upper limit setting section. Device. 3. Restriction on the number of products sold in a continuous purchase type vending machine as set forth in claim 2, characterized in that a plurality of number signal generating circuits are individually arranged in parallel for each product group having different product shapes and/or volumes. Device.