KR19990004478A - Product sales apparatus and method of vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for selling a product of a vending machine. After a predetermined amount is input into the vending machine, when a product is selected, the paper cup is discharged from the cup column to the discharge port, and then hot water and raw material are supplied through the hot water supply unit. In the product sales method of a vending machine for mixing the raw material supplied through the portion through the beverage mixing unit to discharge the selected product into the paper cup discharged to the discharge port, it is determined whether the personal cup is seated in the discharge port through the cup detecting means. And if it is determined that the personal cup is seated in the outlet at the check step, the product selected by the user is ejected from the cup column without ejecting the paper cup, and the personal cup is not seated at the outlet. When judged, the paper cup is dispensed from the cup column and then the product selected by the user is dispensed. The step consists of a step, since the disposable paper cup is selectively discharged from the cup column according to the presence of the personal cup that is seated in the discharge port during the product discharge, it is possible to prevent the increase in the amount of waste due to the use of the disposable paper cup, resulting in natural damage It can prevent and save material.

Description

Product sales apparatus and method of vending machine

The present invention relates to an automatic vending machine, and more particularly, to an apparatus and a method for selling a product of a vending machine that enables a user to purchase a product using a personal cup.

In general, a vending machine is an unmanned vending machine. If a product such as coffee, tobacco, sweets, books, etc. is provided in the ward, the user inputs an amount corresponding to the product to be purchased, and then selects a desired product In other words, it refers to a vending machine in which a selected product is discharged to an outlet.

Conventional coffee vending machines, as shown in Figure 1, the main body 1 forming the appearance of the coffee vending machine, the front side of the main body 1 and the hinge is coupled through the body (1) It consists of a door (2) to open and close the.

Outside the door 2, there is a door handle 3 for opening and closing the door 2, a coin inlet 4 for inserting coins, and a plurality of selection keys for selecting the coffee desired by the user. Is provided with a beverage selection unit 5, the discharge port (6) for the selected coffee is discharged and the coin return hole (7) is discharged the change change remaining after the coffee is formed.

In addition, the internal structure of a conventional conventional vending machine, as shown in Figure 2, the main body (1) to store a cup column (8) in which a plurality of cups are loaded, and each raw material for producing several types of coffee ), The raw material container 9 mounted inside the raw material container, a raw material supply part 10 for supplying raw materials stored in the raw material container 9, and a raw material supply part 10 to guide the movement of the raw material supplied from the raw material supply part 10. The raw material chute 11 installed at the bottom of the), the hot water supply unit 12 for supplying hot water, the raw material guided through the raw material chute 11 and hot water supplied from the hot water supply unit 12 is mixed through a nozzle It consists of a beverage mixing part 13 to be discharged to the beverage discharge port (6).

An operation process of selecting and purchasing a product using a conventional coffee vending machine configured as described above will be described.

First, the user inputs a certain amount of coins through the coin inlet (4) of the coffee vending machine, and then selects the desired coffee through the product selection unit 5, the cup column (8) by the control signal of the controller The cup is dispensed from the cup and placed in the beverage dispensing opening 6, and each raw material corresponding to the coffee selected from the raw material container 9 is discharged, and each of the discharged raw materials is guided through the raw material chute 11 and the beverage mixing unit ( 13) is provided.

At this time, hot water from the hot water supply unit 12 is provided to the beverage mixing unit 13 according to a control signal of the controller, and then each raw material and hot water are mixed through the beverage mixing unit 13, and the mixed beverage is supplied through a nozzle. By being dispensed to the beverage dispensing port 6, the user can purchase the desired coffee.

However, the product selected by the user at the time of merchandise sales is discharged into a paper cup dispensed from the cup column 8. Such a paper cup is a disposable consumable, which is mostly discarded after the merchandise is sold. If it does, it can be a source of environmental damage.

Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the problems described above, by allowing the user to purchase the product using a personal cup carried by the user, to avoid the use of disposable paper cups to reduce the amount of waste as well as the environment It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for selling a product of a vending machine that can be preserved.

In order to achieve the above object, the merchandise selling apparatus of the vending machine according to the present invention, after a predetermined amount is input into the vending machine, when a product is selected, the paper cup is ejected from the cup column to the outlet, and the hot water supplied through the hot water supply unit. And a product selling device of a vending machine for mixing a raw material supplied through a raw material supply unit through a beverage mixing unit and discharging the selected product into a paper cup discharged to the discharge port, wherein the presence or absence of a personal cup seated at the discharge port is determined. And a control unit for generating a control signal for selectively discharging the paper cup in the cup column according to the sensing means for sensing and the sensing signal from the cup sensing means.

In order to achieve the above object, the product selling method of the vending machine according to the present invention, after a predetermined amount is input into the vending machine, and when the product is selected, the paper cup is discharged from the cup column to the outlet, and the hot water supplied through the hot water supply unit And a product selling method of a vending machine for mixing a raw material supplied through a raw material supply unit through a beverage mixing unit and discharging the selected product into a paper cup discharged to the discharge port, wherein a personal cup is connected to the discharge port through a cup detecting means. A step of checking whether it is seated, and if it is determined in the check step that the personal cup is seated in the outlet, the product selected by the user is dispensed without ejecting the paper cup from the cup column, and the personal cup is seated in the outlet. If it is determined that it is not, the paper cup is dispensed from the cup column and then selected by the user. To-shipment items, is characterized by being a step.

1 is a view showing the exterior of a conventional conventional vending machine,

2 is a view showing the internal structure of a conventional conventional vending machine,

Figure 3 is a schematic block diagram of a merchandise sales device of a vending machine according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 4 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of selling the product of the vending machine according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings

5: Product Selection 8: Cup Column

10: raw material supply unit 12: hot water supply unit

13: drink mixing unit 15: coin mechanism

20: control unit 25: cup detection unit

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail a preferred embodiment of the present invention. On the other hand, the same parts as in the conventional configuration will be referred to by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted to avoid duplicate description.

3 is a schematic block diagram of a merchandise selling apparatus of a vending machine according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, which includes a merchandise selection unit 5, a coin mechanism 15, a cup detecting unit 25, a control unit 20, The cup column 8, the raw material supply unit 10, the hot water supply unit 12 and the beverage mixing unit 13 is composed.

In FIG. 3, the product selection unit 5 includes a plurality of keys for product selection, and when a corresponding key is pressed by a user's operation, a corresponding key signal is generated to the control unit 20, and the coin mechanism ( 15) detects whether or not the coin is injected through the coin input 4 and the amount of money input to the control unit 20, while returning the change by the return control signal from the control unit (20).

In addition, the cup detecting unit 25 detects the presence of a personal cup seated on the outlet 6 of the vending machine and generates a corresponding detection signal to the control unit 20, and the control unit 20 is a coin When the input signal provided from the mechanism 15 is equal to or greater than the selling price of the product, when a key signal is input from the product selection unit 5, each control signal for outputting the product corresponding to the input key signal is generated. A control signal for discharging the cup from the cup column 8 is generated according to the detection signal from the cup detecting unit 25, and a control signal for returning the change change remaining after the product sale.

In addition, the cup column 8 ejects the cup by the control signal from the control unit 20, the raw material supply unit 10 is a raw material corresponding to the product selected by the user by the control signal from the control unit 20 Supply to the beverage mixing unit 13, the hot water supply unit 12 supplies hot water to the beverage mixing unit 13 in accordance with a control signal from the control unit 20, the beverage mixing unit 13 is a control unit ( The hot water supplied from the hot water supply unit 12 and the raw material supplied from the raw material supply unit 10 are mixed by the control signal from 20 and discharged into a personal cup or paper cup seated on the discharge port 6.

With reference to Figures 3 to 4 will be described in more detail with respect to the operation of the product sales apparatus and method of the vending machine according to the present invention configured as described above.

First, when the AC power is supplied to the vending machine from the outside, the vending machine is initialized by the control signal of the control unit 20 (step 410), and then the state is switched to the product sale standby state (step 412).

On the other hand, when the user inserts a coin into the coin input 4 (step 414), the input amount is detected through the coin mechanism 15 is provided to the control unit 20, the control unit 20 from the coin mechanism 15 By comparing the amount of input provided with the amount of sale of the product (step 416), if the amount of input is equal to or greater than the amount of sale of the product, the controller 20 checks whether the product is selected through the product selection unit 5 (step 418). .

As a result of the check in step 418, when the product is selected through the product selection unit 5, the control unit 20 has a personal cup is seated in the discharge port 6 by the detection signal from the cup detection unit 25 Judge it.

That is, when the user seats the personal cup on the outlet 6, the personal cup is detected through the cup detecting unit 25, and a corresponding detection signal is provided to the control unit 20, and the user is provided to the outlet 6. If the personal cup is not seated, the corresponding detection signal is provided to the control unit 20 through the cup detecting unit 25, so that the control unit 20 determines whether or not the personal cup is seated at the discharge port 6 (step). 420, 422).

Next, if it is determined that the personal cup is seated in the discharge opening 6 as a result of the determination in the steps 420 and 422, the control unit 20 controls each control for dispensing the product selected by the user without dispensing the cup. Generate a signal.

Accordingly, hot water is supplied from the hot water supply unit 12 to the beverage mixing unit 13 in a state where the cup is not discharged from the cup column 8 by the control signal from the control unit 20 (step 426), and the raw material supply unit ( The raw material of the product selected from 10) is supplied to the beverage mixing unit 13 (step 428), the hot water and the raw material are mixed through the beverage mixing unit 13, and then placed into a personal cup seated at the discharge opening 6. It is discharged (step 430).

On the other hand, if it is determined in the steps 420 and 422 that the personal cup is not seated in the discharge opening 6, the control unit 20 generates a control signal for dispensing the cup and is selected by the user. Each control signal for discharging goods is generated.

Therefore, the cup is ejected from the cup column 8 by the control signal from the control unit 20 (step 424), and the hot water is supplied from the hot water supply unit 12 to the beverage mixing unit 13 (step 426). The raw material of the product selected from the supply unit 10 is supplied to the beverage mixing unit 13 (step 428), the hot water and the raw material are mixed through the beverage mixing unit 13, and then placed on the discharge port 6 for personal use. It is ejected into the cup (step 430).

Therefore, by using the present invention, since the disposable paper cup is selectively discharged from the cup column according to the presence or absence of a personal cup seated at the discharge port during the product discharge, it is possible to prevent the amount of garbage from increasing due to the use of the disposable paper cup. It can prevent the natural damage caused by, and save the material.

Claims (2)

After a certain amount is put into the vending machine, the product is discharged from the selection drawing cup column to the discharge port, and then the hot water supplied through the hot water supply unit and the raw material supplied through the raw material supply unit are mixed through the beverage mixing unit. A merchandise selling device for a vending machine for dispensing a selected product into a paper cup discharged to an outlet, the product selling apparatus comprising: cup detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of a personal cup seated on the discharge port; And a control unit for generating a control signal for selectively discharging the paper cup in the cup column according to the detection signal from the cup detecting means. After a certain amount is put into the vending machine, when a product is selected, the paper cup is discharged from the cup column to the discharge port, and then the hot water supplied through the hot water supply unit and the raw material supplied through the raw material supply unit are mixed through the beverage mixing unit. A product selling method of a vending machine for dispensing a selected product into a paper cup dispensed to the product, the method comprising: checking whether a personal cup is seated at the dispensing port through a cup detecting means; If it is determined in the check step that the personal cup is seated at the discharge port, the product selected by the user is discharged without dispensing a paper cup from the cup column, and if it is determined that the personal cup is not seated at the discharge column, the cup column And discharging the paper cup from the product and then discharging the product selected by the user.