KR20030071165A - Automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A vending machine is provided to improve reliability by confirming a discharging state of a selected product. CONSTITUTION: A vending machine includes a money insertion/process portion, a product selection portion, a product discharge portion, and a control portion. The money is inserted into the money insertion/process portion. The product selection portion outputs a product selection signal. The discharge portion discharges products of a product storage portion(231) to a discharge hole(235). The control portion controls each element of the vending machine. The vending machine further includes a discharge path(237) and a discharge sensor(265). The discharge path(237) is used for connecting the product storage portion(231) to the discharge hole(235). The discharge sensor(265) is used for outputting a signal to the control portion by sensing a discharging state of the product.

Description

Vending Machine {Automatic vending machine}

The present invention relates to a vending machine that can sell goods corresponding to the amount of money input by the user.

A typical vending machine 100, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the money input / processing unit 110, the product selection unit 120, the product discharge unit 130, the display unit 140 and And a control unit 150 for controlling these components.

The money input / processing unit 110 is provided with money, and has a money input device 111 to settle the input money. Further, the apparatus further includes a currency return device 113 for processing the returned money when the user selects or abnormally drives the vending machine 100.

The product selection unit 120 includes a plurality of operation keys 122 to allow a user to select a product. When the user selects a product by operating the operation key 122, the product selection signal is controlled by the controller 150. )

The product dispensing unit 130 stores a product storing unit (not shown) for storing a product and a product discharging the product from the product storing unit to the product dispensing port 136 when a product selection signal is input to the control unit 150. And a dispensing device (not shown).

The display unit 140 receives a predetermined control signal from the control unit 150 to help the product selection operation of the vending machine 100 or the buyer to easily know information such as an operation error of the vending machine 100. Display on the outside of the vending machine (100). The display unit 140 is integrally installed on the operation key 122 of the product selection unit 120 to display whether or not the product can be sold or a message for displaying information on various errors and an image message for an operation guide. It may be configured in the form of a window 145, or the installation thereof may be omitted.

The operation of the conventional vending machine 100 configured as described above is as follows.

First, when the user inputs money into the money input device 111 by the amount corresponding to the amount of the desired product, and operates the product selection unit 120, a product selection signal from the product selection unit 120 is controlled by the controller 150. Is entered. The controller 150 inputs the product selection signal to output the driving signal to the product dispensing apparatus to drive the product dispensing apparatus. Accordingly, the product selected by the user is transferred from the product storage unit to the product discharge port 135 to complete the sale of the product.

By the way, in the conventional vending machine 100 that operates as described above, when the buyer operates the product selection unit 120 after the money is input, the money input / processing unit 110 is immediately inserted after the product dispensing apparatus is driven. Settle the processing.

Accordingly, even though the product dispensing device is operated due to a problem such as an internal device error of the vending machine 100, even if the corresponding product is not discharged to the product discharge port 135, the inputted currency is often settled. Occurs. If the product is not discharged despite the money input, the buyer should reduce the inconvenience, such as abandoning the product has not been discharged, or calling the manager to be refunded the amount put into the vending machine (100). If this problem occurs frequently, buyers usually distrust the purchase of the product through the vending machine 100 and do not want to purchase the product through the vending machine 100, thus selling the product through the vending machine 100. Chances are lost. Therefore, there is a problem that the sales of goods through the vending machine 100 is lowered.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a vending machine that improves the reliability by checking the input amount after checking that the product selected by the buyer is discharged.

1 is a perspective view schematically showing the appearance of a general vending machine,

Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the structure of a conventional vending machine,

3 is a block diagram showing the structure of a vending machine according to the present invention;

Figure 4 is a side cross-sectional view schematically showing the interior of the vending machine according to the invention,

5 is a partial cross-sectional view schematically showing the main part of the vending machine according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a working flowchart of the control unit shown in FIG. 3. FIG.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

200: vending machine 210: currency input / processing unit

111: money input device 113: money return device

220: product selection unit 122: operation keys

230: product discharge unit 231: product storage unit

233: product discharge device 235: product discharge port

236: door 237: product delivery route

240: display unit 145: display window

250: control unit 260: product release confirmation unit

265: Product release sensor

Vending machine according to the present invention for achieving the above object, a currency input / processing unit into which money is put, a product selection unit for outputting a product selection signal according to the user's operation, and a product storage unit in accordance with the product selection signal The product discharge port of the product discharge path for connecting the product discharge port for discharging the selected product among the stored goods to the product discharge port, the control unit for controlling the operation of the components, and the product discharge port from the product storage unit It is installed upstream of the product, characterized in that it comprises a product discharge detection sensor for outputting a product discharge confirmation signal to the controller by detecting that the product is normally discharged to the product discharge port.

According to this, after confirming that the product selected by the buyer has been discharged, it is possible to settle the amount of money input by the buyer, thereby preventing the buyer from losing money and improving the product sales of the vending machine.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the control unit outputs a settlement processing signal to the money input / processing unit when the product discharge confirmation signal is input within a predetermined reference time after the product selection signal is input, and confirms the product discharge. If no signal is input, it is preferable to output a currency return signal to the currency input / processing unit.

The vending machine may further include a display unit configured to receive an error determination signal applied from the control unit and display a predetermined error message if the product discharge confirmation signal is not input to the control unit within the reference time.

In addition, the control unit outputs a control signal to the display unit to display a product reselection message if the product discharge confirmation signal is not input, and the product discharge confirmation signal continues after the reoperation of the product selection unit is repeated a predetermined number of times. If not input, the error determination signal is output.

On the other hand, the product discharge unit is preferably driven after the product selection signal is input to the control unit after the normal operation signal is input to the control unit from the product discharge detection sensor.

Here, the product release detection sensor is preferably an optical sensor having a light receiving portion and a light emitting portion.

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

3 and 4, the vending machine 200 according to the present invention includes a money input / processing unit 210, a product selection unit 220, a product discharge unit 230, a display unit 240, The product discharge confirmation unit 260 and a control unit 250 for controlling the driving of these components.

The money input / processing unit 210 includes a money input device 111 (see FIG. 1) and a currency return device 113 (see FIG. 1). The money input through the money input device 111 is processed when the goods are discharged, and is returned through the money return device 113 when the currency return signal of the controller is output. The return of the input currency can be freely selected by the user operating the return lever 124.

The product selection unit 220 has an operation key 122 (see FIG. 1) installed to be exposed to the outside of the vending machine 200 for the buyer to select a product. The product selection unit 220 outputs a product selection signal to the control unit 250 when a purchaser inputs a predetermined amount of money through the money input device 111 and then operates a manipulation key 122 to select a desired product. . Here, the operation key 122 may be integrally provided with a light emitting device such as an LED to perform the function of the display unit 240 in order to display the product selectable, or sold out. Of course, the display unit 240 may be installed at a predetermined position outside the vending machine 200 in the form of a display window 145 for displaying a separate image message, in this case, product information, operation guide of the vending machine, etc. It can be displayed as an image message.

On the other hand, depending on the type of vending machine 200, product selection and currency input may be different order. That is, the buyer can first select the desired product, the product can be sold in such a way that the amount of money corresponding to the corresponding product through the money input device 111.

The product dispensing unit 230 is a product storage unit 231 for storing a plurality of products in the vending machine 200, and a product dispensing device 233 for discharging a product selected by the buyer among the stored products by a selected quantity ), And a product discharge port 235 through which the product is discharged. In addition, the product storage unit 231 further comprises a product discharge path 237 for connecting the product discharge port 235. The product outlet 235 is provided with a door 236 to be opened and closed to prevent foreign matters, etc. from penetrating into the vending machine 200.

Here, the product storage unit 231 may be configured in various ways depending on the type of goods to be sold to the vending machine 200. That is, the product storage unit 231 in the present embodiment, as shown in Figure 4, for the purpose of storing canned beverages as an example, but in the case of a cup beverage vending machine 200, such as coffee, The product storage unit 231 may be configured in the form of a raw material container for storing the raw material of the cup beverage, and may be provided with a refrigerating device or a heating device when the stored product is required to be stored in a refrigerated or heated state. . In this case, of course, the product dispensing apparatus 233 may be variously modified to correspond to the type of the product stored in the product storage unit 231. The product dispensing device 233 in the present embodiment has a configuration including a solenoid opening and closing device installed to automatically open and close the lower end of the product storage unit 231.

The vending machine 200 according to the present invention configured as described above further includes a product discharge confirmation unit 260. As shown in FIG. 4, the product release confirmation unit 260 includes a product release detection sensor 265. The product discharge detection sensor 265 is installed upstream of the product discharge port 235 of the product discharge path 237. In addition, the device is generally configured in the form of a general optical sensor having a light emitting unit (not shown) and a light receiving unit (not shown), and any device capable of detecting a product transferred through the product discharge path 237. Can be used.

On the other hand, the product release detection sensor 265 may be installed in a variety of positions if the product discharge path 237. That is, if the product discharge path 237 is changed according to the type of goods to be sold, it can be installed anywhere. This means that the product release detection sensor 265 can be directly installed in the product discharge port 235, but as shown in Figure 5, the product selection unit 220 so that the buyer is continuously discharged a plurality of products When operating the product, not only the product 10 'which was previously ejected into the product outlet 235 may be disturbed by the detection, but also entered into the product outlet 235 to hold the product. Malfunctions are also caused by the purchaser's hand. That is, in order to solve such a problem, the product release sensor 265 is preferably installed upstream of the product discharge port 235, the hand of the buyer for holding the discharged product, or the product ( It is more preferable to install in front of the product outlet 235 unless the detection is prevented by the 10 '). As such, when installed just before the product outlet 235, in the case of the vending machine 200 in which the product storage unit 231 is installed in plural, the product is finally discharged even if the product is started in several places. ) Are directed to the product outlet 235 can accurately detect the transfer of the product (10). In addition, even when the product dispensing apparatus 233 is normally operated, even if the product 10 stored in the product storage unit is not ejected by the jam (jam), etc. effect that can accurately detect the discharge of the product 10 There is also.

Referring to Figure 6 describes the operation of the vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention configured as described above.

First, after the purchaser puts a predetermined amount of money into the money input device (S10), and selects the desired product by operating the product selection unit (S20), it is determined whether the product output detection sensor is normally operated (S30). The step 30 is a step of determining whether the light emitted from the light emitter is immediately incident on the light receiving unit immediately before the selected product is discharged. If the product release sensor is not normally operated, the normal operation signal is inputted from the product release sensor. The control unit that has not received outputs an error determination signal to display an error message on the display unit (S80), and outputs a currency return signal to the currency return unit to return the input money (S90). On the other hand, as described above, the order of the money input step (S10) and the product selection step (S20) may be changed.

If the product discharge detection sensor is operating normally counts the waiting time immediately (S40). When the goods release confirmation signal is output from the goods release detection sensor within the preset reference time (S50, S60), the settlement processing signal is output from the control unit so that the money input / processing unit can settle the amount of money input for the corresponding product. (S100). In this case, although not shown, when the amount of money inputted is greater than the goods sent out, the remaining amount of money is returned through the currency return device, or a product reselection message is displayed through the display unit so that the product can be selected again.

If the product release confirmation signal is not input to the control unit within the reference time, the buyer returns to step 20 so that the buyer can select the product again and performs the previous step again. Thus, returning to the product selection step (S20) may be arbitrarily set by the administrator. In this embodiment, after repeating the product selection step once, it is possible to check the number of repetitions so that money can be returned immediately (S70). Of course, if necessary, the control unit outputs an error determination signal so that the display unit immediately displays an error message without repeating the product selection (S80) and outputs a currency return signal to the currency input / processing unit to process the returned money (S90). May be set.

According to the present invention configured as described above, it is possible to solve the problem of the buyer, such as a financial loss as the money put into the money input / processing unit is settled after it is confirmed that the goods selected by the buyer is discharged. Accordingly, the reliability of the vending machine is improved to increase the sales of the product through the vending machine.

In addition, since the product discharge detection sensor is installed close to the product discharge port on the product discharge path upstream of the product discharge port, as a plurality of products are continuously discharged, the product discharged or the user's hand to hold the discharged product As a result, it is possible to prevent the product release detection from being made incorrectly.

While the invention has been shown and described with respect to preferred embodiments for illustrating the principles of the invention, the invention is not limited to the construction and operation as shown and described. Rather, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various changes and modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Accordingly, all such appropriate changes, modifications, and equivalents should be considered to be within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (6)

A coin input / processing unit into which money is input, a product selection unit for outputting a product selection signal according to a user's operation, and a product selected from among the products stored in the product storage unit according to the product selection signal to the product outlet In the vending machine including a product discharge unit and a control unit for controlling the driving of the components, It is installed on the upstream side of the product discharge port of the product discharge path connecting the product discharge port from the product storage unit, detects that the product is normally discharged to the product discharge port and sends a product discharge confirmation signal to the control unit Vending machine comprising a product output detection sensor for outputting. The method of claim 1, wherein the control unit, If the goods release confirmation signal is input within a predetermined reference time after the goods selection signal is input, the settlement processing signal is output to the money input / processing unit. If the goods release confirmation signal is not input, a currency return signal is inputted to the money input / A vending machine, characterized in that output to the processing unit. The method of claim 2, And a display unit configured to receive an error determination signal applied from the control unit and display a predetermined error message if the product release confirmation signal is not input to the control unit within the reference time. The method of claim 3, wherein the control unit, If the product release confirmation signal is not input, a control signal is output to the display unit so that a product reselection message is displayed, and if the product release confirmation signal is not continuously input even after the reoperation of the product selection unit is repeated a predetermined number of times, the error determination is made. A vending machine for outputting a signal. According to claim 1, wherein the product discharge unit, And after the product selection signal is input to the control unit, a normal operation signal is input from the product output detection sensor to the control unit. The method of claim 1, The product release detection sensor is a vending machine, characterized in that the light sensor having a light receiving unit and a light emitting unit.