JPS6345695A - Tester for vending machine - 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 relates to a device for testing the quality of product delivery and money dispensing functions of a vending machine (also abbreviated as vending machine) prior to actual vending operation. Note that in the following figures, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts. [Prior art and its problems]

FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are a block circuit diagram and a principle structural diagram showing the main part configuration of a conventional test device for a vending machine. In FIG. 4, 1 is a main body control unit that controls the main body of the vending machine, and 2 is a test vending switch (also abbreviated as SW) 2a for testing the vending operation function of the main body.
is the test given from this switch 2 to the main body control section 1)
IIJt sell signal, 5S (SSl, SS2 ・-SS
n (however, SSn is not shown)) is the product selection switch, L
(Ll, L2 - Ln (however, l and n are not shown)) are sales ready lamps provided corresponding to each of the switches SS (that is, the switch SS, and therefore the product, can be selected based on the insertion of money). (lamp indicating that the
VMs (VM 1 , VM 2 --- VMn (however, VM n is not shown)) are product delivery mechanisms provided corresponding to each of the product selection switches. FIG. 5(B) is a block circuit diagram showing the main part configuration of a circuit for testing the coin dispensing function of a coin sorting mechanism (coin knock) not shown, and FIG. It is a principle structural diagram of a dispensing tube. In Figure 5 (8), 15, 16, and 17 are each 10
circle. These are dispensing tubes priced at 50 yen and 100 yen. Each dispensing tube 15, 16, 17 contains 10 yen, 50 yen,
Coins of 100 yen are stored in a stack, and a coin dispensing mechanism PMI, which will be described later, corresponds to each dispensing tube. PM2. PM3 pays out each stored coin. Next, in FIG. 5(B), reference numeral 11 denotes a coin sorting mechanism control section that controls the entire coin sorting mechanism;
It is a coin dispensing mechanism for 0 yen and 100 yen. Also 12, 13
．． 14 are inventory switches for 10 yen, 50 yen, and 100 yen, respectively, and the coin dispensing mechanism PMI
, PM2. This is a switch for driving PM3 to perform a corresponding coin dispensing operation. Note that 12a, 13a, and 14a are inventory signals given to the coin sorting mechanism control section 11 from each inventory switch 12, 13, and 14, respectively. Next, the product delivery test operation shown in FIG. 4 will be explained. First, by pressing the test sales switch 2, a test sales signal 2a is input to the main body control section l. Then, the control unit 1 turns on all the sellable lamps L1 to Ln. Next, when one of the product selection switches SSI to SSn is pressed, the product delivery mechanism VM corresponding to the selection switch SS takes out the product. In this way, it is possible to confirm the correspondence between the product selection switch SS and the delivered product. Depending on the model of the vending machine, when you press the product selection switch SS, the sales ready lamp L corresponding to this switch may be displayed.
In some cases, the correspondence between the product selection switch SS and the sellable lamp L can be established by turning off the other lamps and keeping the corresponding lit lamp L lit until the product removal is completed. Next, the change payout test operation in FIG. 5 will be explained. 1
When the 0 yen inventory switch 12 is pressed, the 10 yen inventory signal 12a is input to the coin sorting mechanism control section 11. The same applies to 50 yen and 100 yen. Next, this control unit II drives the corresponding one of the coin sorting mechanisms PMI to PM3 in accordance with the denomination of the input inventory signal, and dispenses coins of the relevant denomination from the dispensing tubes 15 to 17. . For example, a 10 yen coin is dispensed from the 10 yen dispensing tube 15 in response to the lO yen inventory signal 12a. However, the above test equipment has the following problems. ■Test sales switch 2 and inventory switch 1
The operation of the two types of switches No. 2 to No. 14 is complicated, and the operation of the two types of switches is usually separated, which makes the operation even more troublesome. ■Even if this test result is normal, it may malfunction during actual sales operation. That is, considering the case of the change dispensing test described above, this test is performed by inputting a manual signal to the coin sorting mechanism control section 1 of each of the 10 yen, 50 yen, and 100 yen coin sorting mechanisms 12 to 14, and this control section 11. Since this is a test to see if the correspondence between each input/output circuit and the output signal from each coin 1 general output mechanism PMI-PM3 is correct, there is a wiring error in both the input signal and output signal circuits. If the two happen to correspond, for example, there is a misconnection such that the inventory signal 13a of the 50 yen inventory switch 13 is input to the manual port of the control unit 11 where the 10 yen inventory signal 12a should be input, Katsu1
If the output signal port of the control unit 11 that should be connected to the 0 yen coin dispensing mechanism PMI is mistakenly connected to the 50 yen coin dispensing mechanism PM2, 50 yen change is dispensed by operating the 50 yen inventory switch 13. Although it looks normal, in actual sales operation, the change is erroneously paid out as 50 yen when it should be 10 yen.

[Purpose of the invention]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a test device that solves the above-mentioned problems and can easily and accurately test the operation of a vending machine before selling it.

[Key points of the invention]

The key point of the present invention is that two functions, product delivery operation and change dispensing operation, are continuously tested by operating only one switch for the purpose of checking the operation of the vending machine before sales. . In other words, the main points of the present invention are a plurality of product selection means (product selection switches, etc.) for operating and inputting product selection signals, and a selection device provided corresponding to each of the means to display whether or not the product can be selected. Display means (sold lamp, sold out lamp, etc.), product delivery means (product delivery mechanism, etc.) which is provided corresponding to each of the product selection means and carries out the product, and each denomination of coins to be dispensed. A test device for a vending machine, comprising a coin dispensing means (coin dispensing mechanism, etc.) provided in the machine, and a control means (control unit, etc.) for controlling each of the above-mentioned means, wherein the control means among the above-mentioned means In a device for pre-testing whether the input/output signal circuit between each means other than the control means is normal or not, the test command input means ( a test switch, etc.), means (control unit, etc.) for causing the selection possibility display means corresponding to one of the product selection means to display based on the input of the command, and the product selection means related to this display. and, based on this selection operation, cause the corresponding product carrying out means to carry out a carrying out operation, or, based on this selection operation, cause the corresponding said product carrying out means to carry out a carrying out operation without a selection operation of the product selecting means. means (control unit, etc.) for causing the display operation of the selection possibility display means and the carry-out operation of the product carry-out means to be performed for each of the product selection means based on the command input of the test command input means; A means for sequentially repeating the test (such as a control unit), and also based on command input from the test command input means,
The present invention further includes means (such as a control unit) for causing the money dispensing means to sequentially perform a dispensing operation for each denomination.

[Embodiments of the invention]

The present invention will be described in detail below based on FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram showing the main part configuration as an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the display of the numeric display in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the operation shown in the figure. In FIG. 1, 01 is a new control unit, 02 is one new test switch, and 03 is a numeric display. This control unit 01 includes a sellable lamp L (Ll to Ln), a product selection switch 5S (S81 to 5sn), and a product delivery mechanism VM (
VMI ~ VMn), and 10 yen, 50 yen, 100 yen
In addition to controlling each of the yen coin dispensing mechanisms PMI to P M 3, it is possible to continuously test the product carrying-out operation and the coin dispensing operation based on the operation signal 02a of the test switch 02. The control unit 01 also displays information on the numeric display 03 as described later depending on the content of the test. Next, the operation of the control unit 01 shown in FIG. 1 will be explained based on FIG. 3 while referring to FIGS. 1 and 2. First step 10
In step 1, it is determined whether or not the money has been inserted into a currency identification device (not shown), and if the money has been inserted (branch Y),
The process goes to step 102 and normal sales operations are performed. but,
If no money has been inserted in step 101 (branch N), the process proceeds to step 103 and detects whether or not the test switch 02 is input. In this step 103, if there is no human power for the test match 02, branch N), the process returns to step 101, but if there is an input to the test switch 020 (branch Y), the process proceeds to step 104, and a test operation begins. In step 104, the product number (therefore, the number of the product selection switch SS) X is set to 1 cent. Next step 105
, the sellable lamp L corresponding to product number X is lit, prompting the user to press the selection switch 7 SS for that product number. If it is determined in step 106 that the selection switch SS for product number
is pressed or the selection switch SS is not pressed at all (branch N), the process returns to step 106. Step 107
Now, the Xth product delivery mechanism VM is driven. Step 1
During the operation of 07, the number display 03 is shown in Figure 2 (A).
Displays the price of the selected product as shown below. By displaying the selected product price in this way,
It is easy to match product numbers and product prices. Next, the process proceeds to step 108, where it is compared whether the product number X is smaller than the maximum value n. If X is smaller than n, proceed to step 109 and add "l" to X (increment)
Then, the process returns to step 105 and the above-mentioned operation is repeated.
If X is equal to n, it means that the operation confirmation of the product selection switch SS and the corresponding product delivery mechanism has been completed, and the process proceeds to step 110. Steps 110, 111, and 112 are steps for testing the drive of the coin dispensing mechanism. Step 110 is an operation test of the 10 yen coin dispensing mechanism PMI, and step 111 is a 50 yen coin dispensing mechanism PMI operation test.
This is an operation test of the yen coin dispensing mechanism PM2, and step 1
12 is an operation test of the 100 yen coin dispensing mechanism P M 3. In addition, in this coin dispensing operation, in order to match the dispensed coin with the coin intended to be dispensed, the selected product price is displayed on the numerical display 03 as shown in FIG. 8) Provide a different display than the above. In this example, the value of the denomination of the coin to be paid out is displayed. In order to indicate such different display contents, for example, a character different from the number, such as a hyphen, may be displayed at the beginning of the number display. By comparing the coins dispensed in this way with the coins to be dispensed, steps 110 and 111 are performed.
, 112 may be arranged in a different order. When step 112 is completed in this way, the test before the actual sale of the vending machine is completed and the process returns to step 101. In addition, in the present invention, the following other embodiments may be used instead of the above embodiments. ■ Detecting the input of the product selection switch SS in FIG. 1, that is, step 106 in FIG. They are operated in sequence. This can further facilitate test operations. (2) At step 105 in FIG. 3, the sellable lamp is turned on, and at this time, the (Xth) sold-out lamp (not shown) corresponding to the same product is turned on or blinks. In addition to the above-mentioned test, this makes it possible to further test the response to the sold-out lamp. ◎At step 106 in FIG. 3, if no input is made to the product selection switch SS for a certain period of time or more, the test operation is stopped. This allows the test operation to be shortened.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, the product delivery operation test and the coin dispensing operation test are performed consecutively by inputting one test switch, so that the operation test before the actual sale of the vending machine can be performed. It can be done with easy operation. At the same time, the test of the coin dispensing operation can be confirmed at the same level as the actual selling operation, resulting in the effect that a more reliable test can be performed.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram showing the main part configuration as an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the display of the numeric display in FIG. 1, and FIG. Figure 1 is a flowchart for explaining the operation, Figure 4 is a block circuit diagram showing the main part configuration of a conventional product delivery test device, and Figure 5 (A
) and (B) are a principle structural diagram and a block circuit diagram showing the main part configuration of a conventional change dispensing test device. 01: Control unit, 02: Test switch, 03: Numerical display, L (Ll~Ln): Sales ready lamp, SS (33
1-3Sn): Product selection switch, VM (VM 1
~VMn): Product delivery mechanism, PMI: 10 yen coin dispensing mechanism, PX3: 50 yen coin dispensing 81! ! ,PX
3: 100 yen coin dispensing mechanism. Ptvl+ PX3 PM3 Figure 1 14-choice bar item A 1 kidney 64 BO
B) Fang 2PJ Figure 3

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) A plurality of product selection means for operating and inputting product selection signals, a selection possibility display means provided corresponding to each of the means and displaying whether or not the product can be selected, and also the product selection device. An automatic vending machine equipped with a product discharging means provided corresponding to each of the means and for discharging the product, a money dispensing means provided for each denomination of coins to be dispensed, and a control means for controlling each of the above means. A test device for a machine, which tests in advance whether the input/output signal circuit between each of the above-mentioned means except for the control means and the control means is normal or not, the operation of the test device is a test command input means for inputting a command to start the test; a means for causing the selection possibility display means corresponding to one of the product selection means to display a message based on the input of the command; It enables the selection operation of the related product selection means, and causes the corresponding product carrying out means to carry out a carrying out operation based on this selection operation, or the corresponding product carrying out operation is performed without selecting the corresponding product selection means. means for causing the means to carry out an unloading operation; and a means for causing the display operation of the set of selection possibility display means and the unloading operation of the product unloading means to be performed for each of the above-mentioned product selection means based on the command input of the test command input means. means for sequentially repeating the test; and also based on the command input from the test command input means,
A test device for a vending machine, comprising means for causing the money dispensing means to sequentially perform a dispensing operation for each denomination.