KR19980082188A - Vending machine and its control method - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vending machine and a control method thereof, wherein the product detection unit detects whether the product selected by the user is discharged to the outside and generates a corresponding detection signal, and the control unit does not output the corresponding product according to the detection signal. If not, by controlling the cash processing unit to return the input principal to the outside, it is possible to prevent the disadvantage of the user and improve the use reliability to promote the sale of goods.

Description

Vending machine and its control method

The present invention relates to a vending machine, and more particularly, a vending machine and a control method of detecting a product dispensing state and returning an input amount when a product is not dispensed, thereby preventing a disadvantage of the user and giving confidence in the use. It is about.

In general, the beverage vending machine is coupled to the main body 1 forming the appearance of the vending machine and the front side of the main body 1 via a hinge as shown in FIG. 1 to open and close the main body 1. The door 2 is made to be made.

Outside the door 2, a door handle 3 used to open and close the door 2, a coin inlet 4 for inserting a coin for purchase of a drink, and a plurality of drinks for selecting a user's desired drink. The beverage selection unit 5 is provided with a selection key and a display means for displaying the types of beverages available for sale, a beverage outlet 6 through which the selected beverage is dispensed, and a coin return hole through which the change change remaining after the beverage is dispensed 7 ) Is formed.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 2, the inner side of the door 2 has a coin chute 8 mounted at a position opposite to the coin inlet 4 so as to guide the movement of the coin introduced through the coin inlet 4. In addition to identifying the type and defective coin guided through the coin chute (8), as well as when the user operates the return lever disposed in the front of the door (2), the coin introduced into the coin inlet (4) is a coin The first guide member 10 for guiding the return port 7 to be returned and the second guide for guiding the coin introduced into the coin inlet 4 to be loaded into the storage case 11 when the user selects a beverage. The coin mechanism 9 which consists of the members 12 is formed.

And, as shown in Figure 3, inside the main body 1, a raw material container 13 for storing raw materials such as coffee and tea, and a raw material supply unit 14 for supplying raw materials stored in the raw material container 13. To guide the movement of the raw material supplied from the raw material supply unit 14, the raw material chute 15 installed in the lower portion of the raw material supply unit 14, the hot water supply unit 16 for supplying hot water, and guides through the raw material chute 14 The raw materials and the hot water supplied from the hot water supply unit 15 and then drink the cups stored through the beverage mixing unit 17 and the cup discharge passage 18 which are discharged to the beverage discharge port 6 through the nozzle. It consists of the cup storage container 18 which discharges to the discharge opening 6.

The operation of the conventional vending machine made as described above will be described in detail.

First, when a user inputs a coin through the coin inlet 4, whether or not the coin is inputted through the coin mechanism 9 and whether the input amount is input is detected, and a corresponding detection signal is applied to the controller not shown.

The controller detects the amount of money input by the detection signal applied from the coin mechanism 9 and applies a display signal to the beverage selection unit 5 for displaying the type of beverage selectable according to the detected amount of money. The beverage selection unit 5 displays the kinds of beverages selectable according to the display signal.

At this time, when the user operates the selection key of the desired beverage among the beverages displayed as selectable on the beverage selection unit 5, a corresponding key signal is applied to the control unit, and the control unit together with the cup ejection control signal. Generates a beverage supply control signal for supplying raw materials and hot water corresponding to the selected beverage and a mixing control signal for mixing the corresponding raw materials and hot water.

Thus, the cup is discharged from the cup storage container 19 to the beverage dispensing opening 6 through the cup discharging passage 18 according to the cup dispensing control signal as described above, and the raw material container 13 according to the beverage supply control signal. From the raw material is supplied through the raw material supply unit 14, and then supplied to the beverage mixing unit 17 via the raw material chute 15, hot water from the hot water supply unit 16 is provided to the beverage mixing unit 17.

Then, the raw material and hot water provided to the beverage mixing unit 17 are mixed by the mixing control signal and dispensed into the cup of the beverage outlet 6 through the nozzle, and the user takes out the cup of the beverage outlet 6. By doing so, the desired beverage can be purchased.

However, in the conventional beverage vending machine, there is no cup loaded in the cup storage container 19 or the beverage mixing in the state in which the cup is not dispensed into the beverage discharge port 6 as the cup is caught in the cup discharge passage 18. Even when the beverage is dispensed from the unit 17 and the user can take out the beverage, the user does not return the input principal money, thereby causing damage to the user and distrusting the use of the vending machine, thereby lowering the sales volume of the beverage. there was.

Accordingly, the present invention is to solve the problems described above, and the vending machine that detects the state of the product's dispensing and if the product is not dispensed to return the input principal to prevent the disadvantage of the user and give confidence in the use and its The purpose is to provide a control method.

Vending machine according to the present invention for achieving the above object, when the money is input from the outside generates a corresponding input amount detection signal, when the money return signal is input from the outside money to return the corresponding amount to the outside A product input / return unit, a plurality of selection keys for selecting a product, a product selection unit for converting a user's key operation into a corresponding key signal, and a product input input from the outside A product discharge unit for discharging the corresponding product to the outside according to the discharge control signal, a discharge product detection unit for detecting a product when the product is discharged from the product discharge unit, and generating a discharge product detection signal, the input amount detection signal and A product release control signal for discharging the product selected by the user according to the key signal is generated and applied to the product discharge unit; If the product from the product-sensing unit tuchul detection signals are input, it characterized by comprising a principal control signal to the control returns to the application in the cash input / return unit.

In the control method of the vending machine according to the present invention for achieving the above object, the user inputs money through the cash inlet, and when the product is selected, the control unit to the product so that the corresponding product is discharged to the outside; A product detection step for detecting whether a product is discharged through the product detection unit, and an input amount return step for returning the inputted money to the outside and displaying a predetermined error message through the display unit when the corresponding product is not discharged. It is characterized by.

1 is an external perspective view of a conventional vending machine,

Figure 2 is an internal perspective view of the door shown in Figure 1,

3 is an internal structural diagram of the vending machine shown in FIG. 1;

4 is a schematic block diagram of a vending machine according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 5 is a view showing the mounting position of the discharge cup detection unit shown in Figure 4,

6 is an operation flowchart of the control unit shown in FIG. 4.

* Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings *

1 body 2 door

3: door handle 4: coin entrance

5: drink selector 6: drink outlet

7: coin return port 8: coin chute

9: coin mechanism 10: first guide member

11: storage container 12: second guide member

13: raw material container 14: raw material supply unit

15: raw material chute 16: hot water supply

17: beverage mixing unit 18: cup discharge passage

19: cup storage 110: drink selection unit

120: discharge cup detection unit 121: light emitting unit

122: light receiving unit 130: control unit

140: display unit 150: cup discharge unit

160: beverage dispenser

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the part same as the part shown in FIG. 1, and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

Figure 4 is a schematic block diagram of a vending machine according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as can be seen with reference to the same figure, the vending machine of the present invention, the beverage selection unit 110, the discharge cup detection unit 120 ), A control unit 130, a display unit 140, a cup dispensing unit 150, a beverage dispensing unit 160, and a coin mechanism 9.

Here, since the coin mechanism 9 performs substantially the same function as the coin mechanism 9 in the conventional vending machine as described above, a separate technique will be omitted in order to avoid duplicate descriptions.

In FIG. 4, the beverage selection unit 110 is a key for selecting a type of beverage desired by the user. When the user manipulates a corresponding key, the beverage selection unit 110 generates a corresponding key signal and applies it to the controller 130. The dispensing cup detecting unit 120 detects a cup discharged from the cup storage container (see 19 in FIG. 3) to the beverage dispensing port (see 6 in FIG. 3), generates a corresponding detection signal, and applies it to the controller 130. .

Here, as shown in Figure 5, the discharge cup detecting unit 120, the light emitting unit 121 and the light receiving unit 122 are respectively provided on both sides of the beverage discharge port 6, the light emitting unit 121 When the light emitted from the light receiver 122 is received by the light receiving unit 122, and the light emitted from the light emitting unit 121 to the light receiving unit 122 is blocked by the cup, the light receiving unit 122 generates a cup detection signal to control the controller 130. ) Is applied.

The controller 130 generates a cup dispensing control signal for dispensing the cup and a beverage dispensing control signal for dispensing the beverage selected by the user according to a key signal applied from the beverage selecting unit 110, while detecting the dispensing cup. In response to a detection signal applied from the unit 120, a control signal for returning the input principal and a display signal for displaying an error message are selectively generated.

In addition, the display unit 140 displays an error message informing the error of the product release and the principal return according to the display signal applied from the control unit 130, the cup discharge unit 150 is a cup reservoir (see 19 in Fig. 3) and the cup to It comprises an exit passage (see 18 of FIG. 3), the cup loaded into the cup storage container (see 19 of FIG. 3) according to the cup discharge control signal applied from the control unit 130, the cup discharge passage (18 of FIG. Discharging to the beverage dispensing outlet (6).

The beverage dispensing unit 160 includes a raw material container (see 13 in FIG. 3), a raw material supply unit (see 14 in FIG. 3), a raw material chute (see 15 in FIG. 3), and a hot water supply unit (see 16 in FIG. 3). And a beverage mixing unit (see 17 in FIG. 3), and mixes the beverage and hot water in accordance with the beverage dispensing control signal applied from the controller 130 and dispenses the beverage into the beverage outlet 6.

The operation of the vending machine of the present invention made as described above will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6.

First, when a user inserts a coin through the coin input hole (refer to 4 in FIG. 1) (step 210), the coin is guided to the coin mechanism 9, and whether the coin mechanism 9 is defective or not and the input amount The controller detects an input amount sensing signal corresponding to the input amount to the control unit 130, and the control unit 130 detects the input amount according to the input amount detecting signal (step 220).

Then, the controller 130 generates a display signal for displaying the type of beverage selectable according to the sensed input amount and applies it to the display unit 140 (step 230), and the display unit 140 selects the display signal according to the display signal. It will indicate the type of drink available.

Then, when the user selects the desired type of beverage in the beverage selection unit 110 and operates the corresponding selection key, a corresponding key signal is generated and applied to the controller 130 (step 240). The controller 130 generates a cup ejection control signal for ejecting the cup according to the key signal and applies it to the cup ejection unit 150 (step 250).

As a result, the cup dispensing unit 160 dispenses the cup loaded in the cup storage container (see 19 of FIG. 3) to the beverage dispensing opening 6 through the cup discharge passage (see 18 of FIG. 3), and at this time, the cup storage container (FIG. 3). When the cup is discharged from the beverage dispensing opening (6), the dispensing cup detection unit 120 detects this and applies the corresponding cup detection signal to the controller 130.

That is, when the cup is discharged from the cup storage container (see 19 in FIG. 3) to the beverage outlet 6, the light emitted from the light emitting unit 121 and received by the light receiving unit 122 is discharged to the beverage outlet 6. Since it is blocked by the cup, the light receiving unit 122 generates a cup detection signal and applies it to the controller 130.

At this time, the control unit 130 determines whether the cup is dispensed to the beverage dispensing opening 6 according to the cup detection signal applied from the dispensing cup detecting unit 120 (step 260), and the dispensing cup detecting unit 120. When the cup detection signal is applied from the step 240, a beverage dispensing control signal for discharging the beverage selected by the user is generated and applied to the beverage dispensing unit 1600 (step 270).

As a result, the beverage dispensing unit 160 supplies the corresponding raw material from the raw material container (see 13 of FIG. 3) through the raw material supply unit (see 14 of FIG. 3) according to the beverage dispensing control signal, and then the raw material chute (FIG. 3). 15) to the beverage mixing unit (see 17 of FIG. 3) and hot water from the hot water supply unit (see 16 of FIG. 3) to the beverage mixing unit (see 17 of FIG. 3) to supply the corresponding raw materials and hot water. After the appropriate mixing is to be discharged to the cup of the beverage outlet 6 through the nozzle not shown.

Then, the difference between the input amount detected in the step 220 and the corresponding amount of the beverage selected by the user in step 240 is calculated to calculate the return amount (step 280), and to output the calculated return amount A return control signal is generated and applied to the coin mechanism 9 (step 290).

Accordingly, the coin mechanism 9 discharges the amount of money corresponding to the return control signal to the outside through the coin return hole (see 7 in FIG. 1).

However, in step 260, there is no cup in the cup storage container (see 19 in FIG. 3), or the beverage outlet 6 through the cup discharge passage (see 19 in FIG. 3) from the cup storage container (see 18 in FIG. 3). When the cup is caught in the cup dispensing passage (see 18 in FIG. 3) while being dispensed into the cup, the cup does not reach the beverage dispensing opening 6, whereby a cup detecting signal is sent from the dispensing cup detecting unit 120. If it is not applied to the control unit 130, the control unit 130 generates a display signal for displaying an error message for guiding the error and the return of the principal and applies to the display unit 140 (step 300).

As a result, an error message for guiding an error and dispensing the principal is displayed on the display unit 140.

Then, the control unit 140 generates a return control signal for returning the principal input by the user in step 210 and applies it to the coin mechanism 9 (step 310), whereby the coin mechanism 9 The principal input by the user according to the return control signal is returned to the outside through the coin return hole (see 7 of FIG. 1).

As described above, in the present invention, the cup detecting unit 120 detects whether the cup is dispensed to the beverage outlet 6 and generates a corresponding cup detection signal, and the control unit 130 detects the cup detection signal. If the cup is not dispensed, the coin mechanism 9 is controlled to return the principal input by the user.

On the other hand, in the embodiment of the present invention as described above has been described by taking only the case of a beverage vending machine is to put only coins as an example, those skilled in the art is to put the coins, including bills, the present invention, It will be readily appreciated that it can be easily applied to all kinds of vending machines that sell products such as bottles or stacks.

Therefore, by using the present invention, if the product is not discharged by detecting the state of the product is returned, the input principal is returned, thereby preventing the user's disadvantages and improves the reliability of the use to promote the sale of the product has an effect have.

Claims (4)

A money input / return unit that generates a corresponding input amount detection signal when money is input from the outside, and returns a corresponding amount to the outside when a money return signal is input from the outside; A product selection unit provided with a plurality of selection keys for selecting a product, and converting a user's key operation into a corresponding key signal; A product ejection unit for embedding products to be sold and discharging the corresponding product to the outside according to a product emission control signal input from the outside; A product detection unit which detects the product when the product is discharged from the product discharge unit and generates a discharge product detection signal; In response to the input amount detection signal and the key signal, a product release control signal for discharging the product selected by the user is generated and applied to the product discharge unit, and then if the discharge product detection signal is not inputted from the discharge product detection unit. A vending machine comprising a control unit for applying a principal return control signal to the money input / return unit. The vending machine of claim 1, further comprising a display unit configured to display a predetermined error message according to a control signal applied from the control unit when the product selected by the user is not discharged to the outside. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the discharge goods detection unit, And an optical sensor positioned on a predetermined path from which the product is discharged from the product discharge unit. When the user inputs money through the cash inlet, and selects the product, the product discharge control step of controlling the product discharge unit so that the corresponding product is discharged to the outside, A discharge product detection step of detecting whether the product is discharged through the discharge product detection unit, The control method of the vending machine, characterized in that the input amount return step of returning the input money to the outside and displays a predetermined error message when the corresponding product is not discharged.