JPS6357836B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention is directed to a vending machine having a plurality of columns in which products to be sold are stored, in which the product discharging mechanism of each column malfunctions. The present invention relates to a failure recovery device for recovery.

[Conventional technology]

2. Description of the Related Art In a vending machine having a plurality of columns storing products to be sold, the products are delivered by operating the delivery mechanism of the corresponding column in response to a customer's request. A conventional device of this type of vending machine is shown in FIG. Figure 1 shows a case where there are three columns storing products to be sold, TR ₁ , TR ₂ and TR ₃ are transistors, respectively.
M ₁ , M ₂ , M ₃ are unloading motors arranged for each column storing products to be sold, SW ₁ , SW ₂ , SW ₃
is a cam switch whose ON/OFF state is controlled by a cam attached to the output shaft of each of the aforementioned carry-out motors M ₁ , M ₂ , M ₃ . Transistors TR ₁ , TR ₂ ,
Each emitter side of TR ₃ is connected to the positive power supply Vcc, and unloading motors M ₁ , M ₂ , M ₃ are connected in series with the emitter collectors of each transistor TR ₁ , TR ₂ , TR ₃ , and the transistor TR ₁ , TR ₂ , TR ₃
Switches SW ₁ , SW ₂ , and SW ₃ are connected in parallel to . At the base of each transistor TR ₁ , TR ₂ , TR ₃ , a carryout signal corresponding to the product to be sold, that is, a sellable signal for the product whose selling price is within the input amount is sent by a control calculation unit (not shown) to the customer. The output signals S ₁ , S ₂ , and S ₃ generated when the selection button is operated are applied. The operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 will be explained using the operation waveform diagram in FIG. 2. If _the output signal S ₁ is applied to the base _of the transistor TR ₁ as shown in FIG.
When turned on, the carry-out motor _M1 starts driving from time _t1 , as shown in FIG. 2c, and begins to carry out the goods. As the unloading motor _M1 is driven, a cam (not shown) attached to the output shaft of the unloading motor _M1 starts rotating.
As shown in Figure 2b, at time _t2 , switch _SW1 is
Turn on. When switch SW ₁ is ON, the unloading motor
M ₁ is connected to switches SW ₁ , SW ₂ ,
A self-holding circuit is formed via SW ₃ , which allows the unloading motor to operate even if the unloading signal S ₁ disappears at time t ₃ .
_M1 is switched at time _t4 when the product is finished being carried out.
It continues to be driven until SW ₁ is turned OFF, and when switch SW ₁ is turned OFF at time t ₄ , the unloading motor M ₁ stops driving. When unloading signals S ₂ and S ₃ similar to unloading signal S ₁ as shown in FIG. 2a are applied to transistors TR ₂ and TR ₃ , unloading motors M ₂ and M ₃ and switches
SW ₂ and SW ₃ operate in the same manner as the aforementioned carry-out motor M ₁ or switch SW ₁ , so their explanation will be omitted.

Figure 2 is an operation waveform diagram when the product is carried out normally.However, during the product delivery time from time _t1 to time _t4 , the product gets jammed and the product is not carried out. A malfunction may occur where the battery disappears. If this product malfunctions due to clogging,
Failure occurs when the product becomes jammed after the unloading signal is applied and before the switch turns ON (hereinafter referred to as failure A), and when the product jams after the unloading signal is applied and before the switch turns ON but before the switch turns OFF. There is a failure (hereinafter referred to as failure B) that occurs when the machine becomes clogged. In the case of failure A, when the unloading signals S ₁ to S ₃ are applied at time t ₁ as shown in FIG. 3 a, the unloading motors M ₁ to M 3 are activated at time t ₁ as shown in FIG _{. 3} c.
However, if a product jam occurs immediately after the unloading motors M ₁ to M ₃ are driven, the unloading motors M _{1 to} M 3 are activated.
M ₃ stops rotating. This allows the unloading motor M ₁
The switches _SW1 to _SW3 remain in the OFF state as shown in FIG. 3b until the cam attached to the output shaft of _M3 also stops rotating. Therefore the switch
A drive self-holding circuit for the unloading motors M ₁ ~ M ₃ by SW ₁ ~ _{SW 3} is not formed, and the unloading signals S ₁ ~ S ₃ are activated at time t _3.
When disappears, the drive of the carry-out motors M ₁ to _{M 3} is stopped. In the case of failure B, the unloading signals S ₁ to _{S 3} are as shown in Figure 4a.
When the voltage is applied as shown in FIG. 4c, the unloading motors _M1 to _M3 are driven as shown in _FIG .
SW ₁ to SW ₃ are turned on as shown in FIG. 4b. Switches SW ₁ to SW ₃ are turned on at time t ₂ and then at time t ₄
If the product becomes jammed during this time, the switch will be activated.
SW ₁ to _{SW 3} continue to be in the ON state, and unloading motor M ₁
~ _M3 continues to drive.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

In the case of failure B, as shown in Figure 4c, the unloading motor of the column in which failure B has occurred continues to drive, and if this condition continues for a long time, there is a risk that the unloading motor will overheat and burn out. be. Furthermore, when the unloading motor is being driven due to failure B, if the unloading signal is applied to another column, the unloading motor of that column will also be driven, so the two unloading motors will be driven at the same time, causing an overcurrent to flow and damage the circuit elements. There is a risk of damage. Therefore, in the case of failure B, it is necessary to immediately stop the operation of the vending machine and recover from the failure. On the other hand, in the case of failure A, since the switch is in the OFF state, the unloading motor of the column where the failure has occurred will not continue to drive, making it impossible to sell the column and selling other columns. However, it is difficult to distinguish between failure A and failure B from the outside.In other words, it is difficult to distinguish between failure A and failure B from the outside.In other words, it is difficult to distinguish between failure A and failure B from the outside. Since it is difficult to distinguish from the outside whether the product is jammed due to failure B or fault B, the automatic vending machine has the disadvantage that even in the case of failure A, the operation of the vending machine must be immediately stopped to recover from the failure.

Furthermore, recovery from failures A and B can theoretically be performed by the following operations. That is, in the case of failure A, after removing the jammed product, a test sale as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 54-48697 is performed to send out a simulated unloading signal to drive the unloading motor and control the switch. Return the cam to its normal position. In the case of failure B, when the jammed product is removed, the switch is turned on and the unloading motor is driven to return to the standby position. In this way, in the case of failure B, the failure can be recovered by removing the jammed product in response to failure A, but as mentioned above, it is necessary to determine from the outside whether the product is jammed in failure A or failure B. Therefore, in order to recover from failures A and B, it is necessary to remove the stuck product and then conduct test sales, which is very troublesome. Another drawback is that if one forgets which column has a failure, test sales must be conducted for all columns.

In view of the above-mentioned points, the present invention provides a fault recovery device for a vending machine, which stores the column in which a fault has occurred and allows the fault to be recovered by simply issuing a fault recovery command. With the goal.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned features, the present invention provides a carry-out mechanism that includes a carry-out motor for driving the carry-out of goods, and a position detection switch that is driven by the carry-out motor and detects the carry-out standby position of the goods. is provided for each of a plurality of columns, and detects a failure in which the carry-out motor does not return to the standby position within a predetermined time from the start of driving based on the output of the position detection switch, and stops driving the carry-out motor when a failure is detected. A vending machine comprising a failure detection means and a failure column storage means for storing a column in which a failure has been detected by the means, the vending machine continuing to sell columns other than the column in which the failure is stored in the means, a recovery command switch for instructing recovery from a failure; column number designation means for designating one of the plurality of columns by number; a setting means for setting a column number in the column number designation means; a failure determination means for determining whether a failure in a column designated by the column number designation means is stored in the failure column storage means; a driving means for driving the unloading motor of the column until a standby position is detected by the position detection switch based on a determination that the means has a failure memory; and a failure column storage means for the column driven to the standby position by the means. and updating the number of the column number designation means by one based on the failure memory determination by the failure determination means and the memory deletion by the deletion means, and updating the number of the column number designation means by one based on the failure memory determination by the failure determination means and the memory deletion by the deletion means. The present invention is characterized by comprising an updating means for determining whether or not the number of the last column has been reached, and if the number has not been reached, causing the failure determining means to perform determination again.

[Effect]

In the present invention, when a failure occurs in one column due to product jamming, etc., the failure of that column is stored and sales of other columns continue. Therefore, although failures in a plurality of columns may be stored at the same time, recovery from the failure is performed one column at a time. In other words, if you operate the recovery command switch after removing the cause of the failure such as product jamming,
Since the number of the first column is set in the column number designation means, it is first determined whether or not a failure of the column with this number is stored, and if a failure is stored, the unloading motor of this column is driven. When the column is returned to the standby position, the memory of the column's failure is erased, and the column is recovered from the failure. Then, the number in the column number designation means is updated by one by the updating means, and the same recovery operation is repeated until the number of the last column is reached. Therefore, failure recovery is performed for all columns one column at a time by operating the recovery command switch only once.

〔Example〕

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 5, 10 determines whether a product with a selling price within the input amount can be sold, and when a selection button (not shown) is pressed, output signals S ₁₀ , S are sent to columns 1, 2, and 3 containing products to be sold. ₁₁ , _S12 , a control calculation unit that sends out signals 11 and 12, respectively, are timers and 1
Reference numeral 3 denotes a failure column storage means consisting of a random access memory; 14 a recovery command switch for instructing recovery from failure; _M10 , _M11 , _M13 unloading motors provided for each column to be sold; _TR10 , TR ₁₁ ,
TR ₁₂ is a transistor connected in series to each unloading motor M ₁₀ , M ₁₁ , M ₁₂ , and SW ₁₀ , SW ₁₁ , SW ₁₂ is a transistor (not shown) attached to the output shaft of each unloading motor M ₁₀ , M ₁₁ , M ₁₂ . It is a cam switch controlled by a cam. One end of the unloading motors M ₁₀ , M ₁₁ , M ₁₂ is connected to the positive power supply Vcc, and these unloading motors M ₁₀ , M ₁₁ , M ₁₂ are connected to the transistors TR ₁₀ , TR ₁₁ by the unloading signals S ₁₀ , S ₁₁ , S ₁₂ . , TR ₁₂ is turned ON. Cam switch SW ₁₀ ,
SW ₁₁ and SW ₁₂ have one end connected to the positive power supply Vcc via resistors R ₁ , R ₂ , and R ₃ and the other end grounded.
Cam switches SW ₁₀ , SW ₁₁ , SW ₁₂ are unloading motors
When M ₁₀ , M ₁₁ , and M ₁₂ are stopped in a standby state, they are turned OFF and output a logic signal "1", that is, a signal of the first value, and the unloading motors M ₁₀ , M ₁₁ , and M ₁₂ start unloading. When driven and started to rotate by applying signals S ₁₀ , S ₁₁ , and S ₁₂ , it turns ON and outputs a logic signal “0”, that is, a signal of the second value. Cam switch SW ₁₀ ,
The outputs of SW ₁₁ and SW ₁₂ are unloading confirmation signals S ₂₀ , S ₂₁ , S ₂₂
The signal is applied to the control calculation unit 10 as a signal.

Next, the product carrying-out operation according to an embodiment of the present invention will be explained using the flowchart of FIG. 6 and the operation waveform diagrams of FIGS. 7 to 9. First, a case will be explained in which the goods are carried out normally.In steps 701 to 703 in FIG. 6, it is determined which column's selection button has been pressed. That is, in steps 701 to 703, it is determined whether the selection button corresponding to which column has been pressed. For example, if the selection button corresponding to column 1 is pressed, the process proceeds from step 701 to step 704, where the unloading signal _S10 is sent, and if the selection button corresponding to column 2 is pressed, the process proceeds from step 702 to step 705, where the unloading signal S10 is sent out. If the signal _S11 is sent out and the selection button corresponding to column 3 is pressed, the process proceeds from step 703 to step 706, where the unloading signal _S12 is sent out. The operating waveforms of the output signals S ₁₀ , S ₁₁ , and S ₁₂ sent out in steps 704 to 706 are shown in FIG. 7a. Now in step 704 the unloading signal S ₁₀
If this is the case, the process advances from step 704 to step 709, where the timer 11 starts a time-limiting operation. The time limit of the timer 11 is T ₁ from time t ₁ to time t ₃ as shown in FIG. 7a. When the unloading signal S ₁₀ is sent out, the transistor TR ₁ is turned on and the unloading motor M ₁₀ is driven, thereby turning on the switch.
SW ₁₀ is controlled by a cam (not shown). In step 710, it is determined whether the switch SW ₁₀ is turned on and the unloading confirmation signal _S20 as shown in FIG. 7B is applied. In Figure 7b, the unloading confirmation signal S ₂₀
The waveform shown is an inverted version of . Switch SW ₁₀
Before the time _t2 is turned on, the process proceeds from step 710 to step 711, where it is determined whether or not the timer 11 has turned on, that is, whether the time limit _T1 of the timer 11 has elapsed, and it is determined whether the time limit _T1 has not elapsed. Then, the process returns to step 710 again. When it is determined in step 710 that the switch SW ₁₀ is turned on and the unloading confirmation signal _S20 is applied, the process proceeds to step 712, where the timer 11 is reset and the timer 12 is started at the same time. The time limit of this timer 12 is T ₂ from time t ₂ to time t ₅ in FIG. 7b. When you proceed from step 712 to step 713, the switch
It is determined whether SW ₁₀ is turned off. switch
Before the time t ₄ when SW ₁₀ turns OFF, the unloading confirmation signal S ₂₀
is being applied, the process advances to step 714, where it is determined whether or not the timer 12 has turned on, that is, whether or not the time limit _T2 of the timer 12 has elapsed.
If _T2 has not elapsed, the process returns to step 713.
If it is determined in step 713 that the switch SW ₁₀ is turned OFF and the unloading confirmation signal S ₂₀ has disappeared, the process proceeds to step 71.
Proceed to step 5 to reset timer 12 and output signal S ₁₀
The delivery of the product is stopped to complete the product delivery operation, and the delivery motor M ₁₀ and switch SW ₁₀ enter a standby state. Therefore, no write signal is generated to the failure column storage means 13 as shown in FIG. 7c.

Next, the operation when failure A occurs will be explained. Assuming that the selection button corresponding to column 2 is now pressed, steps 702 to 70
After proceeding to step 5 and sending out the output signal _S11 as shown in FIG.
Start. The carry-out motor _M11 is driven by the carry-out signal _S11 , but if a product jam occurs before the switch SW11 is turned on, the switch _{SW11 is turned} on.
remains in the OFF state, and the unloading confirmation signal _S21 is not generated. Therefore, the process advances from step 710 to step 711, and in step 711, the timer 11 is started.
Step 710- until it is determined that it is ON.
Do not exit the closed circuit of step 711. When the time limit _T1 of the timer 11 has elapsed, step 71
1 to step 716. In step 716, the sending of the unloading signal _S11 is stopped at time _t3 shown in FIG.
A failure A due to a jammed product is stored in a predetermined address (N+1) of the failure column storage means 13 corresponding to column 2 by a write signal as shown in FIG. In addition, in the above explanation, we talked about the product becoming clogged while the product is being carried out from the column corresponding to the carry-out motor _M11 , but this also applies if the product becomes jammed while being carried out from the column corresponding to the carry-out motor _M10 . At step ₇₁₆ , the sending of the unloading signal _S10 is stopped at time _t3 shown in FIG. In step 716, if a product is jammed while being removed from the column corresponding to the unloading motor _M12 , an unloading signal is sent.
After S ₁₂ is stopped at time t ₃ as _shown in FIG.
(N+2) address.

Next, the operation when failure B occurs will be explained. Assuming that the selection button corresponding to column 3 is now pressed, steps 703 to 7
06 and output signal S ₁₂ as shown in Figure 9a.
Step 706 to Step 7
Proceed to step 09 and start timer 11. The unloading motor M ₁₂ is driven by the unloading signal S ₁₂ and the switch SW ₁₂ is activated before the time limit T ₁ of the timer 11 elapses.
If it turns on at time _t2 as shown in FIG. 9b, the process proceeds from step 710 to step 712, where timer 11 is reset and timer 12 is started at the same time. If, after the switch SW ₁₂ is turned ON, the product being transported by the transport motor M ₁₂ becomes jammed, the switch SW ₁₂ continues to be in the ON state. For this reason, the program proceeds from step 713 to step 714, and returns to step 713 from step 714 before the time limit _T2 of the timer 12 has elapsed, and does not exit from the closed circuit of steps 713-714. When the time limit _T2 of the timer 12 has elapsed, the process advances from step 714 to step 718. In step 719 _, the sending of the unloading signal _S12 is stopped at time _t5 as shown in FIG. Fault column storage means 1 corresponding to column 3 by the write signal shown in
3 to a predetermined address (N+2). Note that step 7 is also performed when a product jam occurs in the column corresponding to the unloading motor _M10 .
After proceeding from step 14 to step 718 and stopping the unloading signal, in step 719, the jammed product in column 1 corresponding to the transport motor _M10 is stored in address N of the failure column storage means 13, and the unloading motor is
When a product jam occurs in the column corresponding to _M11 , steps 714 to 718 are performed.
- Proceed to step 719 and store the jammed product in the column 2 corresponding to the unloading motor _M11 at address (N+1) of the failed column storage means 13.

In one embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 5, a carry-out motor M ₁₀ and a switch SW ₁₀ , a carry-out motor M ₁₁ and a switch SW ₁₁ , a carry-out motor M ₁₂ and a switch SW ₁₂ are arranged for each column storing products to be sold. By providing an independent column and immediately stopping sending out the unloading signal when a failure occurs, it is possible to continue selling products in other columns except for the column where the failure occurred.
It is possible to eliminate the complicated operation of having to stop the operation of the vending machine every time a failure occurs to recover from the failure.

Next, the automatic recovery operation of a failure by operating the recovery command switch 14 will be explained using the flowchart shown in FIG.

If the recovery command switch 14 is operated after first opening the door of the vending machine and removing the jammed product, the machine enters the failure recovery mode and goes to step 801.
Set n=1. Here, n is the number of the column containing the product to be sold. Step 801
When the process advances from step 802 to step 802, it is determined whether or not a failure in column 1 is stored at address N corresponding to column 1 of the failure column storage means 13. If a failure is stored, the process proceeds from step 802 to step 803.
The process proceeds to , and sends an unloading symbol to column 1 to execute an unloading operation. Step 804 to Step 81
3 is almost the same as the unloading operation in the flowchart shown in FIG. This is to determine whether or not the device has returned to the standby state. That is, when the failure in column 1 is failure A, the timer 11 is started in step 803, and then the timer 11 is started in step 805.
If the switch is not turned on before the time limit of the timer 11 elapses at 806, the product will be jammed again, so the process proceeds from step 806 to step 807, where the unloading signal is stopped, and then the process proceeds to step 814. If the switch is turned on before the expiration of the timer 11 in steps 805 and 806, the process advances from step 805 to step 808 and the timer 11 is turned on.
After resetting the timer 12 and starting the timer 12, if the switch is not turned off before the expiration of the timer 12 in steps 809 and 810, the process returns to step 8.
10, the process advances to step 811, the unloading signal is stopped, and the process advances to step 814. If the switch is turned off before the time limit of the timer 12 has elapsed, the process proceeds from step 810 to step 812, where the timer 12 is reset and the unloading signal is stopped, and then, at step 813, the memory of address N in the failure column storage means 13 is erased. The process then proceeds to step 814. Said column 1
If the failure is failure B, the switch is in the ON state and the failure occurs, so steps 805 to 8 are performed.
timer 1 in steps 809 and 810 via step 08.
It is determined whether or not the switch is turned off before the time limit of timer 12 has elapsed.
Step 813-Proceed to step 814. In this way, when the unloading motor and switch return to the predetermined standby state through the normal unloading operation through steps 804, 805, 808, 809, and 812, the memory of address N in the failure column storage means 13 is erased. Step 804-Step 8
05-Step 806-Step 807 or Step 804-Step 805-Step 8
If the unloading motor and switch do not return to the predetermined standby state due to an abnormal unloading operation that passes through steps 08--step 809--step 810--step 811, the process proceeds to step 814 without erasing the memory of the failure column storage means 13. In step 814, 1 is added to the column number n, and the process advances to step 815.
In step 815, it is determined whether the column number n is larger than the maximum column number (3 in the embodiment). If the column number n is smaller than the maximum column number, the process returns to step 802; ), it is determined whether or not a failure is stored in the storage address of the failure column storage means 13 corresponding to the failure column storage means 13.

In this way, failures in columns from column number 1 to the maximum column number are automatically recovered in sequence according to the stored contents of the failed column storage means 13. In addition, if a failure occurs again during the automatic recovery operation, the automatic recovery from the failure can be performed by operating the recovery command switch 14 after removing the jammed product.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, failure recovery is performed for all columns one column at a time by just one operation of the recovery command switch, so even if a failure occurs in multiple columns, In order to recover from a failure, multiple carry-out motors are not driven at the same time, and it is sufficient to have the power supply capacity to selectively drive the carry-out motors during normal sales operations. It has the advantage that there is no need to increase the capacity.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a circuit diagram of the main parts of a conventional device, Figs. 2 to 4 are respective operation waveform diagrams, Fig. 5 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing an unloading operation. 7 to 9 are operation waveform charts, and FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing the failure recovery operation. 10: Control calculation unit, 11, 12: Timer, 1
3: Failure column storage means, 14: Recovery command switch, _M10 , _M11 , _M12 : Unloading motor, _SW10 ,
SW ₁₁ , SW ₁₂ : Cam switch.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An unloading motor for driving the unloading of the product;
Each of the plurality of columns has an unloading mechanism that is driven by the unloading motor and includes a position detection switch for detecting the unloading standby position of the product, and the unloading motor does not return to the waiting position within a predetermined time from the start of driving. A failure detecting means for detecting a failure based on the output of the position detection switch and stopping driving of the unloading motor when the failure is detected; and a failure column storage means for storing a column in which a failure is detected by the means; The vending machine is configured to continue selling columns other than the column in which the malfunction is stored in the means, and a recovery command switch for instructing recovery from a malfunction, and one of the plurality of columns is designated by a number. a column number designation means to specify, a setting means for setting the number of the first column among the plurality of columns to the column number designation means based on the operation of the recovery command switch, and a column number designation means to specify the column number. a failure determination means for determining whether or not a failure of a column is stored in the failure column storage means; and a standby position of the unloading motor of the column is detected by the position detection switch based on the determination of whether the failure is stored by the means. a driving means for driving the column until the column has been driven to a standby position; an erasing means for erasing the memory of the failed column storage means of the column driven to the standby position by the means; The number of the column number designating means is updated by one based on the number, and it is determined whether the number has reached the number of the last column among the plurality of columns, and if it has not reached the number, the number of the column number specifying means is 1. A failure recovery device for a vending machine, comprising: updating means for performing determination again.