JPS61250796A - Simultaneous carry-out controller for vending machine or thelike - Google Patents

Abstract

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

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Technical field to which the invention pertains]

The present invention is installed in pachinko parlors, etc., and is used to exchange pachinko balls for prizes, such as prize exchange machines and vending machines (also referred to as vending machines), which require simultaneous delivery of multiple products of the same type at high speed. It relates to a control device for carrying out things. Generally speaking, this type of equipment cannot simultaneously deliver more than a predetermined number of products due to power supply capacity constraints, but it is possible to reduce the product delivery time as much as possible in order to process a large number of premium redemption requests from a large number of customers in a short time. It is an effective means. By the way, when carrying out such simultaneous delivery, in vending machines with a large width dimension (the width dimension of the customer service side of the vending machine itself), the product delivery area should be concentrated as much as possible without expanding in the width direction. This makes it easier to take out the products, but on the other hand, if you try to concentrate like this, there is a risk that the products will get jammed due to the structure of the machine. Therefore, there is a need for a simultaneous unloading control device that does not cause product jams and allows easy removal of products.

[Prior art and its problems]

In the following description of each figure, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts. FIGS. 4 to 8 are diagrams showing configuration examples of a vending machine according to the present invention, and the prior art and its problems will be explained using these diagrams. Figure 4 is the same as Figure 11, which includes a partial oblique side view of the vending machine according to the present invention, and Figure 5 is the same (horizontal sectional view of the vending machine,
FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of the same vending machine, and FIG. 7 is a front view of a parent-child vending machine with a column configuration similar to that in FIG. , FIG. 8 is a horizontal sectional view of the vending machine. In Figure 4, 1 is the vending machine itself (also simply called the vending machine)
, 2 is a product takeout port, and 6 is a keyboard provided on the console C, which inputs the data necessary to control the vending machine (for example, the number of pachinko balls to be exchanged for a prize, the product code and number of prizes to be exchanged), etc. This is for inputting settings to the control CPU. 8 is a cable for connecting the keyboard 6 to the vending machine 1. Further, 1a is the customer service side of the vending machine 1. In Fig. 5, 3 (i.e., the square section with column numbers in the order of 1-16) is a product column (also simply referred to as a column) in which the same type of product is stored and the product is selected for exchange. In this case, each column 3 is moved in the horizontal direction (in the direction of column numbers 1 to 4). Column, depth direction (
Column numbers 1, 5, 9, 13 directions) are arranged in four rows. In FIG. 6, 7 (shaded area) is the product in the column 3, and 0M, which is stacked vertically, is the unloading motor. Reference numeral 5 denotes a shaker for guiding the product 7 carried out from each carry-out motor M toward the product outlet 2. In addition, in FIG. 8, three vending machines 1 (IM, 131, 132) having the same column configuration as in FIG. 4 are connected, so column numbers 1 to 48 are assigned. However, the control device 9 (FIG. 2), which will be described later, is installed, for example, in the master unit IM corresponding to column numbers 1 to 16, and is installed in the other two slave units 131.
It is assumed that IS2 does not have a control device, and the unloading motor of its column is controlled by the control device of the parent device. By the way, in the case of the arrangement of product columns 3 as shown in Fig. 5, conventionally, a product selection switch corresponding to each column 3 is provided in the front customer section of the vending machine, and control for discharging multiple products at the same time is not possible. It wasn't. However, recently there has been a demand for the development of a vending machine that connects to a host computer (not shown) and allows the user to specify the product type and number of items to be delivered using the keyboard 6, thereby simultaneously discharging the specified products and shortening the sales time. It's here. In that case, the method of transporting the product is as follows:
An easy way to think of this is, for example, to first focus on selling the left column, and once that sells out, sell the right column. In this case, it is good in terms of ease of taking out products because the delivery locations are concentrated, but due to the structure of the machine, a large number of products are delivered to the same location, which causes product jams. As a countermeasure, a method of discharging from both the left and right columns at the same time could be considered, but this is a vending machine with a wide width dimension. Alternatively, when a plurality of vending machines, such as a parent-child vending machine, are lined up as shown in FIG. 7 and take out products at the same time, the places where the products are taken out are dispersed, making it difficult to collect the products. In addition, normally, the sales of products vary depending on the column, so when replenishing products, it is necessary to check the presence or absence of products in all columns, and replenishment also has to be performed for all columns. The disadvantages are that maintenance is time-consuming and the operating rate of the vending machine is low.

[Purpose of the invention]

This invention eliminates the above-mentioned drawbacks in this type of vending machine, etc., and provides simultaneous product delivery control that takes less time to deliver products, prevents product jams during delivery, and facilitates product replenishment. The purpose is to provide equipment.

[Key points of the invention]

The main point of this invention is that the type of product, the number of products to be delivered, etc. are entered via a keyboard, etc., and when dispensing a large number of products of the same type, it is necessary to input the product type and the number of products to be delivered from the vending machine. Out of a predetermined number (multiple) sets of columns in the same row lined up (direction parallel to the customer service surface), simultaneous unloading is performed using the group closest to the customer service surface, making it easy to know the amount of replenishment when replenishing products. The point is that if even one column in a group is sold out, the items will be moved to the back group and similar products will be delivered at the same time. In other words, the main point of the present invention is to carry out the same type of products by arranging them in a plurality of columns (in the form of product columns, etc.) that are parallel to the customer service surface and at different distances measured in the depth direction from the customer service surface. It is equipped with a plurality of means for discharging products (such as a discharging motor), a means (such as a keyboard) for specifying and inputting the type of product to be carried out (such as a one-item code) and the number of products (such as a keyboard), as well as a means for inputting in advance the type of product to be carried out (such as a one-item code) and the number of products. , the specified number of products, and the maximum number of products of the same type to be delivered at the same time (for example, 4
a means (keyboard, etc.) for setting the number of items (such as a keyboard) according to the type of product, and a means (keyboard, etc.) for setting the number of items of the item specified in advance, minus the number of items of the item that has been carried out, and the remaining number is the maximum number of items for the item. , out of the sets of product delivery means equal to the maximum number that are arranged on the same row and capable of delivering the products (products are not sold out), the number of product delivery means used for customer service is Select the closest one, drive this set of product carrying means simultaneously, and repeat the operation of carrying out the products at the same time, and if some of the product carrying means of the group have sold out of the goods to be carried out, Of the remaining said sets,
Selecting the item on the column of the product carrying means of the group or the item on the next column closest to the column, repeating the same simultaneous carrying out operation of the product as described above, and then sequentially, The present invention is characterized in that it is provided with means (CPU, ROM, etc.) for repeating the same selection and simultaneous unloading operations as described above for the remaining sets.

[Embodiments of the invention]

The present invention will be described in detail below mainly based on FIGS. 1 to 3. FIGS. 1(A) and 1(B) are flowcharts explaining the operation of a control device as an embodiment of the present invention, and the flowchart in FIG. 1(B) is different from that in FIG. It is connected by Figures 2 and 3
The figure is also a block diagram showing the main parts of the circuit configuration of the control device. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 9 denotes a control device within the vending machine 1, which includes a CPU 9a, a ROM 9b, a RAM 9c, and the like. This CPU 9a controls each part of the vending machine 1 based on data set by the keyboard 6, etc., and causes the product delivery operation to be performed. X (XI to X5. X5 to X8) is a relay energized by the CPU 9a. Moreover, in FIG. 3, Xa (Xla-X4a, X5a-
X8a) are the a contacts of the relays x1 to x8, respectively, and M
(Ml~M4゜M5~M8) are the motors in the column 3 that are driven by this a contact Xa, and the respective numbers of these relays X, a contact Xa, and motor M are the fifth
It is equal to the number (column number) of column 3 in the figure, that is, relays It corresponds to the column on the depth side column (second column) adjacent to the column. These 2&u relays X1 to X4. X5～
8x is selected as shown in FIG. 2 on the one hand by the selection line 12.13 common to each set of relays and on the other hand by the relay-specific selection &111. In this example, as will be described later, the four relays x1 to x4 or X5 to x8 in each column are normally arranged to operate simultaneously in pairs. For simplicity, in this embodiment, it is assumed that the same type of products are stored in each column 3 numbered 1 to 16 in FIG. Next, the operation of the CPU 9a will be explained according to FIG. Now, when a customer inserts pachinko balls to be exchanged for prizes into a ball counter (not shown), the number of balls is transmitted to the CPU 9a via a host computer (not shown), and the CPU 9a enters the sales mode.Next, step 101 When the customer uses the keyboard 6 to key in the product code and number of prizes (commodities) that he/she wishes to exchange, the RAM 9c is referred to in step 102 and it is determined whether all the products corresponding to the code are sold out. If YES here, that is, all the products are sold out, return to step 101 and wait for the key-in again for a different product.If NO5, that is, all the products are not sold out, in step 102, the product corresponding to the product code in question is returned to step 103. The column number in which is stored is searched in the RAM 9c, and this column number and the number of items to be carried out are set in the RAM 9c. By the way, in the case of this embodiment, the columns that are a set of four columns in which the products are usually stored are selected in order from the front row side, and the products are carried out at the same time for each set. Therefore, in the next step 104, the four column numbers are arranged in order and set in the RAM 9c again. In the next step 105, the one with the smallest column number (column numbers 1 to 4 in the example of FIG. 5) is selected from the set of columns, and relays X (Xi to X4) are energized.
4 through the corresponding motor M (Ml~M4)
At step 106, the number of products carried out is subtracted from the number data regarding the product in RAMQc, and the number data is updated. In the next step 107, it is determined whether or not the entire number of items to be transported has been completed, and the answer is YES. That is, if all the unloading is completed, the unloading operation is ended in step 109. If No here, that is, all the unloading has not been completed, in step 10B, it is determined whether or not it is still possible to unload in units of 4 columns in the relevant set of columns, that is, if all the columns in the relevant column are sold out. Determine whether something is missing or not. Here YE
S, that is, if 4 columns can be unloaded at the same time, step 10
Return to step 5 and repeat the above operation. By the way, if the number of key-in items carried out in step 101 is less than 4, the number of columns that form the above-mentioned 1 unit group on the same column row is set as the number of key-in items instead of 4, and the same procedure as above is performed. shall perform the following actions. Also, if the number of items that have not yet been delivered (also referred to as the remaining number), which has been subtracted and updated in step 106, is less than 4, the corresponding item will be placed on the front row or the same row closest to it using a procedure not shown. Select the number of columns equal to the number of remaining items and proceed to step 1
At step 05, the selected columns are simultaneously carried out to complete the carrying out of the products. Next, in the step 108, No, that is, a sold-out column occurs in the column of the relevant set (any of column numbers 1 to 4);
When it becomes impossible to carry out the products in units of 4 columns, the process moves to step 110, and it is determined whether there are any remaining sets in units of 4 columns. If YES here, that is, if there is such a set of columns, then in step 112, the set closest to the front row is selected from among the remaining sets, and the number of the column to be carried out simultaneously is updated to the column number of the set. 0 For example, in Figure 5, if the remaining groups are 3 groups with column numbers 5-8.9-12°13-16, then the group closest to the front row is column number 5-16.
Store column 6 as the next column to be simultaneously exported 6
Next, the process returns to step 105, and the relays X (X5 to X8) corresponding to this new set of columns are simultaneously energized to perform the simultaneous unloading. If there are no remaining sets of NO1, that is, 4 column units, in step 110, the sold-out columns are removed and the front row or the closest group among the 3 column units on the same column is removed in step 111. Write the column number to RAM9c as the one to be exported at the same time, and proceed to step 1.
Returning to step 05, the columns of the group are simultaneously unloaded in the same manner as above. Note that in step 111, if it is not possible to form a set of 3 columns due to an increase in the number of sold-out columns, then if it is not possible to form a set of 2 columns, or even a set of 2 columns, 1.
The columns are set as a set, and the column number of the front row or the one closest to the front row among these sets is set as the one to be carried out simultaneously. Also in this case step 11
Discrimination of 0 is replaced by 4 columns, and each column is 3 or 1.
This replaces the determination of whether there are any remaining sets of columns. In addition, if column 3 of the parent-child vending machine in Figure 8 stores all the same type of products, and these are to be carried out simultaneously in groups of four, the parent and child machines will be treated as one vending machine and each group will be The column number to which it belongs is 1~4゜17~20.33~36
．． 5-8.21-24.37-40. ~. 13-16, 29-32, 45-48, etc., select a group in priority order, and simultaneously carry out 4 vending machines.In order to replenish products, the main machine and child machine should be separate vending machines. The column numbers belonging to each group are numbered from 1 to
4.5-8. ~． 13~16.17~20°21~24
．． ~． 29-32.33-36.37-40. ~. 45-48. There is a case where the groups are allocated as follows and the groups are selected in the order of priority of the groups, and both are included in the present invention.

【Effect of the invention】

As is clear from the above explanation, according to the present invention, in principle, products are carried out simultaneously in units of four, for example, and the columns forming a set of four are first placed on the same column row closest to the customer service area. If you select from , repeat the simultaneous delivery, and if a sold-out column occurs in the group and it is no longer possible to configure a unit of 4 items, select the group of columns on the column closest to the example in question and repeat the same process. Since we decided to carry out simultaneous carry-out by selecting columns like this one after another, the number of products will always decrease from the previous column, making it easier to check replenishment. Since four items are transported in one direction at the same time, no product jams occur and the sales time can be shortened.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIGS. 1A and 1B are flowcharts explaining the operation of an embodiment of the device of the present invention, FIGS. 2 and 3 are block diagrams showing the main parts of the circuit configuration, and FIG. Similarly, FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view of the vending machine shown in FIG. 4, and FIG.
7 is a front view of the parent-child type vending machine, and FIG. 8 is a horizontal sectional view of the vending machine shown in FIG. 7. l: vending machine, 2: product outlet, 3: column, C: console, 5 nigiator, 6: keyboard, 7: product, 8:
Cable, 9: Control device, 9a: CPU, 9b+R
OM, 9c: RAM. X (XI ~ X5. X5 ~ x8): Relay, Xa (Xl
a ””'X4a+χ5a-X8a): A contact, M
'(Ml~M4. M5~M8): Unloading motor, 11
(Iruni), 12.13: Selection line. 11: Selection Line O, 3 figures, 6 figures

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1) A plurality of product carrying means arranged in a plurality of rows parallel to the customer service surface and at different distances measured in the depth direction from the customer service surface, and for carrying out the same type of products; A device is provided with means for specifying and inputting the type and number of products in advance, and is configured to carry out the specified number of products of the specified type and number through the product delivery means, in which identical products to be delivered simultaneously means for setting the maximum number of products of a type according to the type of product, and the remaining number obtained by subtracting the number of products carried out from the number of products specified and input in advance is the maximum number of products for the product; , the one closest to the customer service area is selected from among the sets of product carrying means arranged in the same row and whose number is equal to the maximum number and which can carry out the said products. When the product carrying out means of the group is driven simultaneously and the product is carried out at the same time, and when some of the goods to be carried out are sold out in the product carrying out means of the group, the corresponding group of the remaining Select the item on the row of the set of products carrying out means or the item on the next closest column to this column, repeat the same simultaneous carrying out operation of the products as described above, and then select the remaining items in sequence. A simultaneous discharge control device for a vending machine or the like, comprising means for repeating the same selection and simultaneous discharge operation as described above for the set.