WO2024071647A1

WO2024071647A1 - Vending machine and operating method therefor

Info

Publication number: WO2024071647A1
Application number: PCT/KR2023/011549
Authority: WO
Inventors: 최승영
Original assignee: 주식회사 빨간화덕푸드
Priority date: 2022-09-26
Filing date: 2023-08-07
Publication date: 2024-04-04
Also published as: KR20240042932A; CN118103888A

Abstract

A vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention may comprise: a rotation loading unit rotatably mounted in one space within a device housing and having a plurality of loading members each forming a loading space in which products are loaded in the height direction thereof; and a product holding unit for holding a second product located on an upper portion of a first product discharged from a first loading member among the plurality of loading members, wherein the first product is discharged through an outlet located below the first loading member.

Description

Vending machine and how it works

The present invention relates to a method of operating a vending machine, and more specifically, to a space in which the goods are stored while cooking and quickly providing a desired type of goods among a plurality of types, such as frozen pizza, according to the user's wishes. This relates to an automatic vending machine that can secure the durability of the driving part by having a driving motor for driving the rotating loading part on the outside rather than on the inside.

Recently, as lifestyle habits are rapidly accelerating, the demand for ready-to-eat instant food is increasing.

However, even in the case of instant foods such as pizza or hamburgers, it takes some time to order and wait at a fast food restaurant, so to shorten that time, frozen pizza or hamburgers are sold at stores such as convenience stores. , for example, a buyer can purchase a frozen pizza and eat it right away by cooking it in a microwave.

However, even in this case, some inconvenience may occur because you have to go to the convenience store, select the item directly from the shelf for sale, pay for it, and cook it by putting it in the microwave.

In order to solve this inconvenience, a pizza bending device that instantly heats frozen pizza in a microwave and sells it has been developed and is in use.

However, in a conventional pizza bending device, a driving unit may be used in the process of dispensing a pizza selected from among several types of pizza, but since the driving unit is installed in a freezer such as a frozen pizza, normal operation is difficult due to sub-zero temperatures. There was a limit to the low durability of the driving part.

Accordingly, there is a need for the development of a new configuration of an automatic vending machine that can quickly provide the desired type of product among a large number of types by cooking it according to the user's request, while also ensuring the durability of the driving part.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a rotating plate-type vending machine that can provide a desired type of product, for example, frozen pizza, among a plurality of types according to the user's request, and a method of operating the same.

Another embodiment of the present invention can lower the temperature in a short period of time, providing optimal conditions for food storage, while also enabling real-time temperature check and automatic adjustment. Additionally, real-time automatic control is possible, preventing frost from occurring. An automatic vending device equipped with a refrigeration and air conditioning system capable of defrosting is provided.

Another embodiment of the present invention aims to provide a method for controlling the operation of a pizza vending machine that maintains a uniform cooking state, and a pizza vending machine using the method.

A vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a rotating loading unit that is rotatably mounted in a space within the device housing and includes a plurality of loading members each forming a loading space in which goods are loaded in the height direction, and the plurality of loading members. Among the loading members, it includes a product holding unit that holds a second product located on top of a first product discharged from the first loading member, and the first product can be discharged through an outlet located below the first loading member. there is.

An automatic frozen food vending device according to another embodiment of the present invention is rotatably mounted in a space within the device housing and includes a plurality of loading members each forming a loading space in which frozen food is loaded in the height direction. A refrigeration air conditioner unit, which is mounted on a work space within the device housing and another work space partitioned off, and maintains the work space at a set temperature using a refrigerant, and operates the refrigeration air conditioner unit by measuring the temperature of the work space in real time. It includes a temperature control unit that controls, and when frost occurs in the work space, defrosting can be performed in real time by automatic control of the temperature control unit.

A pizza vending machine according to another embodiment of the present invention is loaded with one or more packaged frozen pizzas, cooks and provides the loaded frozen pizza using a microwave, and measures the temperature of the frozen pizza to be cooked. wealth; and a control unit that controls the operation time of the microwave oven according to the measured temperature of the frozen pizza.

A method for controlling the operation of a pizza vending machine according to another embodiment of the present invention is to control the operation of a vending machine that is loaded with one or more packaged frozen pizzas, cooks the frozen pizza using a microwave, and then dispenses the frozen pizza. measuring temperature; and controlling the operation time of the microwave oven according to the measured temperature of the frozen pizza.

Meanwhile, at least some steps of the method for controlling the operation of the pizza vending machine may be implemented as a computer-readable recording medium that records a program for execution on a computer, or may be provided as the program itself.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a rotating plate type vending machine can be provided that can provide a desired type of product, for example, frozen pizza, among a plurality of types according to the user's desire.

In addition, the vending machine is provided with a product holding unit so that only the desired quantity of products is dispensed, but the drive motor for driving the product holding unit is provided outside rather than within the space where the products are stored, thereby affecting the temperature in the space where the products are stored. It is possible to drive the driving part normally without receiving any signal.

In addition, by providing a sub-frame adjacent to the surface of the loading frame, the product can be discharged smoothly without being caught on the edge of the discharge port when discharging the product.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the temperature can be lowered in a short period of time, providing optimal conditions for food storage, and real-time temperature check and automatic adjustment are possible. In addition, real-time automatic control is possible, preventing frost. Even if occurs, defrosting can occur.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, in a pizza vending machine that is loaded with one or more packaged frozen pizzas and cooks and serves the loaded frozen pizza using a microwave, the microwave oven is operated according to the temperature of the frozen pizza to be cooked. By controlling the time, the cooking state of frozen pizza can be maintained uniformly.

1 is a perspective view of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the vending machine with the door of Figure 1 opened.

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing the rotating loading unit shown in FIG. 2 and its internal structure.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the operation process of the product holding unit provided in the product vending machine of FIG. 2.

Figure 5 is a view from the top of the operation process of the product holding unit described in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing an automatic vending device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7 is a combined perspective view of Figure 6 excluding the opening and closing door.

Figure 8 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration and principle of a refrigeration and air conditioning unit provided in an automatic vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically showing the condenser shown in FIG. 8.

Figure 10 is a flowchart showing a method for controlling the operation of a pizza vending machine according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 11 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of a pizza vending machine according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 12 is a diagram for explaining one embodiment of the configuration of the temperature measuring unit.

Figure 13 is a diagram for explaining one embodiment of the configuration of a pressing part provided in a pizza vending machine.

Figure 14 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of a pizza vending machine according to another embodiment of the present invention.

The advantages and/or features of the present invention and methods for achieving them will become clear by referring to the embodiments described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below and will be implemented in various different forms, but the present embodiments only serve to ensure that the disclosure of the present invention is complete and are within the scope of common knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains. It is provided to fully inform those who have the scope of the invention, and the present invention is only defined by the scope of the claims. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the specification.

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

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an automatic goods vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view with the opening and closing door of FIG. 1 opened, and FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the rotating loading unit shown in FIG. 2 and its internal structure. It is a drawing, and FIG. 4 is a view for explaining the operation process of the product holding unit for the product provided in the rotating loading unit provided in the product vending machine of FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 is a view of the process of FIG. 4 viewed from the top. am.

As shown in these drawings, the automatic product vending machine 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is a vending machine 100 that instantly cooks and provides, for example, frozen pizza 101, and includes a device housing 110. and a plurality of loading members 135 that are rotatably mounted in one space S1 within the device housing 110 and each form a loading space in which an article, for example, frozen pizza 101, is loaded in the height direction. a rotating loading unit 130, a product holding unit 150 that discharges a predetermined number of frozen pizzas 101 selected by the user from a loading member 135 selected among a plurality of loading members 135, and a work space. An outlet (not shown) is formed through the bottom wall of (S1) to allow the discharged frozen pizza 101 to move to the next space (S2), and heat is applied to the frozen pizza 101 by the user's operation. It may include a microwave oven 170 that cooks the frozen pizza 101, a transport unit 160 that transports the frozen pizza 101 discharged through the discharge port, and a touch screen 121 that provides a user interface. there is.

With this configuration, when the user selects the desired frozen pizza 101 through the touch screen 121, the rotating loading unit 130 rotates to place the loading member loaded with the selected frozen pizza 101 on the upper part of the outlet. Other frozen pizzas (hereinafter referred to as second products) located on top of the frozen pizza (hereinafter referred to as first products) to be ejected from the product holding unit 150 so that only a predetermined number of frozen pizzas 101 are aligned and ejected. When held, the first article is ejected through the discharge port and delivered to the user by the transport unit 160. The user can take out the delivered first article and heat and cook it using the microwave oven 170, and the microwave oven 170 may be preset to heat the first article for a predetermined period of time.

Below, each configuration described above will be explained in more detail.

First, referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the device housing 110 of this embodiment provides the outer shape and structural frame of the vending machine 100, and has a plurality of partitioned spaces (S1 and S2) within the device housing 110. , S3) is provided, and an opening and closing door 120 that opens on both sides is provided to protect the frozen pizza 101, which is installed inside and is an item for sale.

In addition, the opening/closing door 120 is equipped with a touch screen 121, a credit card terminal 122, and a product provision door 125 on the front, which will be described later.

Referring to FIG. 1, a rotating loading unit 130 on which frozen pizza 101 is loaded may be rotatably mounted in the first space S1 located at the upper left of the plurality of spaces of the device housing 110. . Since the frozen pizza 101 is stored in the first space (S1) of this embodiment, the first space (S1) may be a freezer space where the internal temperature is maintained below zero.

If the first space (S1) is a freezer, the inner wall of the first space (S1) may be provided with, for example, 60 mm of insulation, and the front of the first space (S1) may be made of separate double glass for cold insulation. A door 140 may be installed. In addition, when the door 140 is closed and the first space S1 is sealed, a cold insulation packing may be provided on the edge of the first space S1 to more reliably maintain the cold insulation of the first space S1.

Additionally, a drive motor 151 for driving the product holding unit 150 may be installed in the second space S2 located below the first space S1. As will be described later, some components of the product holding unit 150 may be mounted in the first space (S1), and other components may be installed in the second space (S2). A partition wall is provided between the first space S1 and the second space S2, and an outlet penetrating through the partition wall is formed in the partition wall. A transport unit 130 is provided in the second space S2, and the frozen pizza 101 discharged through the outlet is placed on the transport unit 130 and can be transported to the user by the transport unit 130. there is.

In addition, a microwave oven 170 and a frozen pizza serving unit 175 may be provided in the third space S3 located at the upper right and center of the device housing 110.

In this way, the device housing 110 of this embodiment forms a plurality of spaces (S1, S2, and S3) that are distinct from each other, and each component is effectively arranged within each space (S1, S2, and S3), allowing the user to select A series of operation processes, such as rotation of the rotary loading unit 130, discharging of goods by the goods holding unit 150, and transport of goods by the transport unit 130, may be organically interconnected.

Meanwhile, the rotating loading unit 130 of the present embodiment may include a plurality of loading members 135, each forming a loading space in which the frozen pizza 101 is loaded in the height direction, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The plurality of loading members 135 may be arranged in a circumferential direction with respect to the central axis 131.

Therefore, the rotating loading unit 130 as a whole has a cylindrical structure, and rotates about its center to align the loading member 135 loaded with the frozen pizza 101 selected by the user on the outlet. Thereafter, when the discharge port is opened, the selected frozen pizza 101 is discharged in a free fall manner by gravity and can be provided to the user.

Different types of frozen pizza 101 may be loaded on the plurality of loading members 135 . For example, among the plurality of loading members 135, a first type of frozen pizza 101 may be loaded on the first loading member 135, and a second type of frozen pizza 101 may be loaded on the second loading member 135. 101) can be loaded. That is, several types of frozen pizza 101 corresponding to the number of the plurality of loading members 135 can be loaded simultaneously.

However, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, one type of frozen pizza 101 may be loaded on multiple loading members 135 depending on sales volume. Alternatively, instead of loading one type of frozen pizza 101 on one loading member 135, several types of frozen pizza 101 may be mixed and loaded on one loading member 135.

For example, in order for the frozen pizza 101 to come out of the selected loading member 135 among these loading members 135, the first loading member 135 is first aligned at the position of the outlet. After this, the frozen pizza 101 is ejected in the direction of the outlet.

As an example, a wing member 139 may be provided at the lower end of each loading member 135. As shown in FIG. 3, the wing member 139 is a member that is bent and extended at a predetermined angle from the frame of the loading member 135, and the predetermined angle may be greater than 90 degrees and less than 180 degrees.

This wing member 139 can prevent the frozen pizza 101 or the packaging portion of the frozen pizza 101 from protruding out of the loading space of the loading member 135.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, a loading frame 136 is provided on the inner surface of the loading member 135 to form a space in which the packaged frozen pizza 101 is loaded in the height direction, and the surface of the loading frame 136 may be provided with a subframe 137 that is movable in the vertical direction.

Here, a pushing member 138 may be mounted to push the sub-frame 137 so that the sub-frame 137 can move in the vertical direction with respect to the loading frame 136 in a fixed state.

Through this, it is possible to prevent the packaging portion from being caught on the loading frame 136 when the frozen pizza 101 is dispensed. In other words, the sub-frame 137 is moved up and down by the driving force provided from the pushing member 138, and the frozen pizza 101 is also slightly lifted and ejected, so the packaging portion of the frozen pizza 101 is loaded. It can be prevented from being caught on the frame 136, etc.

Meanwhile, as described above, only the predetermined number of frozen pizzas 101 selected by the user are ejected, and in this embodiment, in order to prevent other frozen pizzas 101 located at the top from being ejected, the product holding unit 150 ) may be provided. The product holding unit 150 may interact with the rotating loading unit 130 to hold the frozen pizza 101b on its upper portion so that only the selected frozen pizza 101a is ejected. This will be further explained in detail with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 5.

The article holding unit 150 of this embodiment includes a drive motor 151 disposed in the above-described second space S2 within the device housing 110 and an upper portion of the drive motor 151 within the first space. A guide member 154 is mounted, one end is movably coupled to the drive motor 151, and the other end is mounted on a connection member 155 movably mounted on the guide member 154, a moving member 153; , It may include a holding plate 157 that mutually operates with the moving member 153 to move forward or backward in the direction of the loading member 135 on which the frozen pizza 101 is loaded to hold the product.

In addition, the article holding unit 150 includes a guide bracket 158 that is mounted on the bottom of the first space S1 and guides the linear movement of the holding plate 157 in the horizontal direction, and one end is connected to a connecting member. And the other end may include a conversion member 156 that is connected to the holding plate 157 and converts the lifting and lowering of the moving member 153 into the forward and backward movement of the holding plate 157.

With this configuration, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, when the drive motor 151 is driven, the moving member 153 is moved by circulation of the circulation member 152 provided in the drive motor 151. It can be lowered from the upper state in Figure 5 to the lower state. Then, the connecting member 155 coupled to the upper end of the moving member 153 is lowered along the guide member 154 and rotates the conversion member 156 connected thereto in a counterclockwise direction.

Then, as the conversion member 156 rotates counterclockwise, the holding plate 157 connected to the other end of the conversion member 156 moves horizontally in the direction of the loading member 135 along the path of the guide bracket 158. I do it.

Therefore, as shown in the lower drawings of FIGS. 4 and 5, the holding plate 157 holds not the lowest frozen pizza 101a among the frozen pizzas 101 loaded in the loading space of the loading member 135, but the frozen pizza above (101a). 101b) is held, and through this, the lowest frozen pizza 101a can be discharged through the discharge port.

In other words, the product holding unit 150 can selectively hold the frozen pizzas 101b loaded on the rotating loading unit 130 so that only the selected individual frozen pizzas 101a can be ejected.

At this time, the outlet can be selectively opened by the rotation of the rotary loading unit 130, and when the outlet is opened, the frozen pizza 101 ejected from the loading space of the loading member 135 flows down through the outlet. It can be moved to the transport unit 130.

As an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, a hook-shaped article support member 10 is provided inside the first frame 135-1 located in the central axis direction of the rotary loading unit 130 of the loading member 135. is provided, and the article support member 10 can support the article 11 held by the holding plate 157 on the first frame 135-1 side. Through this, the article 11 can be better held and prevented from being ejected together with the article located below the article 11. At this time, the product support member 10 may be movable up and down while adjacent to the surface or corner of the first frame 135-1. For example, when the article located below the article 11 is ejected and the article 11 is scheduled to be ejected in the next order, the article support member 10 is lowered so that the article 11 is at the top of the loading member 135. It is seated at the bottom, and when the article 11 is seated at the bottom of the loading member 135, the article support member 10 can rise to another article located on top of the article 11 and support the other article. .

Meanwhile, looking at FIG. 4, as described above, some components of the article holding unit 150, for example, the holding plate 157, are provided in the first space S1, but some other components, for example, a drive motor ( It can be seen that 151) is provided in the second space (S2) rather than the first space (S1), that is, the freezer.

Generally, the inside of a freezer is maintained at a low temperature below zero, and the drive motor 151 cannot operate normally if it is located inside the freezer. Accordingly, the drive motor 151 of the product holding unit 150 is provided in the second space S2, not in the freezer, so that the driving force of the drive motor 151 can be transmitted to the holding plate 157 in the freezer, as shown in FIG. 4 and the mechanical drive mechanism described in FIG. 5 is proposed.

According to this, since the drive motor 151 is provided in the second space S2 rather than the freezer, the operation of the product holding unit 150 can be performed smoothly, and the durability of the drive motor 151 can be maintained for a long period of time. .

By this configuration, for example, when the first type of frozen pizza 101 loaded on the first loading member 135 among the plurality of loading members 135 is selected, the rotating loading unit 130 rotates to 1 The loading member 135 can be aligned at the position of the discharge port, and then the frozen pizza 101b directly above the lowest frozen pizza 101a is held by the product holding unit 150 and the discharge port is opened. is opened to a predetermined number. Here, only one frozen pizza 101 can be discharged through the discharge port.

The frozen pizza 101 discharged in this way can be moved to the next location, for example, the frozen pizza providing unit 175, by the transport unit 130 provided in the second space S2. As shown in FIG. 2, the transport unit 130 is mounted to be movable in the left and right directions in the second space S2 and is provided with a shelf or gripping part that can accommodate the frozen pizza 101, and a link forming this. The frozen pizza 101 can be transported to the frozen pizza providing unit 175 by manipulating them.

The user can receive the frozen pizza 101 of his or her choice by opening the product provision door 125 provided to be openable on the opening/closing door 120. The user can use the microwave oven 170 provided in the vending machine 100 to heat and cook the frozen pizza 101.

The microwave oven 170 of this embodiment is disposed in the third space S3, as shown in FIG. 2, and can apply heat to the frozen pizza 101 transported by the transport unit 130. A touch screen 121 that provides a user interface may be provided on the outer surface of the device housing 110. By touching the touch screen 121, the user can select the pizza they want and also use the microwave oven 170. You can adjust the cooking time, etc. Alternatively, the cooking time of the microwave oven 170 may not be determined by user selection, but may be preset to operate for a predetermined amount of time.

Meanwhile, the opening/closing door 120 of this embodiment is equipped with a number of components for using the device of this embodiment. As described above, a touch screen 121 may be installed, and a credit card for calculating the cost of goods may be installed. A card terminal 122, etc. may be provided.

In addition, a lamp 123 indicating the microwave oven 170 time may be provided, a speaker 124 notifying the completion of cooking may be installed, and a setting LED window 127 and a router 128 may be installed. and a locking device 126 may be installed.

As such, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the vending machine 100 is equipped with a plurality of types of goods, for example, frozen pizza 101, and when the user selects a specific frozen pizza 101 among them, the vending machine 100 rotates. The loading unit 130 is rotated to allow the selected frozen pizza 101 to be ejected, but the product holding unit 150 holds the upper frozen pizza 101 so that only a predetermined number of frozen pizzas 101 are ejected. do. At this time, the drive motor 151 for driving the product holding unit 150 is provided in a separate space outside the freezer where the products are loaded, thereby preventing the drive motor 151 from being placed in a low-temperature environment and the drive motor ( 151) operability and durability can be secured.

Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing an automatic vending device according to another embodiment of the present invention, Figure 7 is a combined perspective view excluding the opening and closing door in Figure 6, and Figure 8 is an automatic vending device according to an embodiment of the present invention. This is a diagram schematically showing the configuration and principle of the refrigeration and air conditioning unit provided in the device, and FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically showing the condenser shown in FIG. 8.

As shown in these drawings, the frozen food automatic vending device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, for example, a frozen pizza bending device 100 that automatically sells frozen pizza as a frozen food, includes a device housing ( 110), a rotating loading unit 120 having a plurality of loading members 121 that are rotatably mounted in the work space 111S of the device housing 110 and loading frozen pizza, and another device housing 110 A refrigeration and air conditioning unit 150 that is installed in the work space and maintains the work space 111S at a set temperature so that the frozen pizza is stored in an optimal condition in the work space 111S, and the temperature of the work space 111S. It may include a temperature control unit (not shown) that controls the operation of the refrigeration and air conditioning unit 150 by measuring in real time.

To elaborate, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the device housing 110 of the present embodiment is divided into two spaces, and one space 111S is a freezer 111S in which the rotary loading unit 120 can rotate. It is a space in which the refrigeration and air conditioning unit 150 is mounted, and another space below it may be a space in which the refrigeration and air conditioning unit 150 is mounted, for example.

With this configuration, the freezer 111S, which is the work space 111S where the frozen pizza is stored, can be maintained in an optimal condition by the freezer air conditioner 150, so the user can receive high-quality frozen pizza.

In addition, as will be described later, since it has an automatic control structure by the temperature control unit, frost can be prevented from being generated inside the freezer 111S, and thus the performance of the freezer 111S can be prevented from being deteriorated.

In other words, the most important thing in the freezer 111S is to lower the temperature to approximately minus 20°C in the minimum amount of time. In the case of this embodiment, the above-mentioned temperature can be lowered in the minimum amount of time by the refrigeration air conditioning unit 150. , Real-time defrosting is performed using an automatic control method to set the optimal temperature of frozen pizza.

When explaining each configuration, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the device housing 110 of this embodiment includes an upper housing member 111 consisting of one space 111S and a lower housing consisting of another space. It may include a member 115, and a glass-type opening/closing door 113 may be mounted on the front of the upper housing member 111 so that the inside can be seen.

As described above, the upper housing member 111 constituting the work space 111S may be provided as a freezer 111S, and the lower housing member 115 placed below it may have a refrigeration and air conditioning unit 150 built in. .

In this way, since the refrigeration air conditioner 150 is provided in a space separated from the freezer 111S, it may not be affected by temperature. Through this, the durability of each component forming the refrigeration and air conditioning unit 150 can be secured.

For example, in the past, the refrigeration air conditioner 150 was installed in the freezer 111S or was located in an area affected by the temperature of the freezer 111S, so normal operation was difficult due to the temperature reaching -20°C, which resulted in poor durability. Although there was a concern that this may be deteriorated, in the present embodiment, by placing the refrigeration air conditioner 150 in the space provided by the lower housing member 115, the refrigeration air conditioner 150 not only operates smoothly but also ensures durability. You can.

In addition, the upper housing member 111 has an insulating structure. For this purpose, the inner wall of the upper housing member 111 may be provided with, for example, an insulating material with a thickness of 60 mm, and the opening and closing door 113 is made of double glass. It can be. In addition, in order to ensure more reliable cold storage when the work space 111S is closed with the opening/closing door 113, a cold insulating packing may be installed on the front edge of the upper housing member 111.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the rotating loading unit 120 of the present embodiment includes a plurality of loading members 121 each forming a loading space in which frozen food, for example, frozen pizza, is loaded in the height direction. may include. The plurality of loading members 121 may be arranged in a circumferential direction with respect to the central axis.

Accordingly, the rotating loading unit 120 has an overall cylindrical structure and can provide the selected frozen pizza through the outlet 112 while rotating about its center.

Different types of frozen pizza may be loaded on the plurality of loading members 121. For example, a first type of frozen pizza may be loaded on one loading member 121, and a second type of frozen pizza may be loaded on another loading member 121. Another type of frozen pizza can be loaded. In other words, various types of frozen pizza can be selectively loaded on the loading members 121 according to the seller's wishes.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the bottom surface of the upper housing member 111 may be provided with an outlet 112 through which frozen pizza is discharged. Although not shown, the outlet 112 may be provided with an opening and closing member for opening and closing.

When the user selects the frozen pizza they want to purchase through a display window, etc., the rotary loading part 120 can be rotated so that the loading member 121 with the frozen pizza and the outlet 112 are aligned, and the loading member ( By dropping the frozen pizza from 121 and simultaneously opening the opening and closing member of the outlet 112, the user can receive the frozen pizza of his or her choice.

Although not shown, the work space 111S may be provided with a product holding unit, and the product holding unit holds the frozen pizza immediately above rather than the lowest frozen pizza among the frozen pizzas loaded in the loading space of the loading member 121. The frozen pizza below can be discharged through the discharge port 112.

Meanwhile, as mentioned above, the most important thing in the frozen food automatic vending machine 100 is to store the frozen food in the best condition. For this, it is necessary to maintain the temperature and environment of the freezer 111S optimally. do. For this purpose, in this embodiment, a refrigeration air conditioner 150 is provided.

As shown in FIG. 8, the refrigeration air conditioner 150 of this embodiment includes a compressor 151 and a condenser 155 to lower the temperature of the freezer 111S and maintain the temperature through a low-temperature, low-pressure gaseous refrigerant. It may include a dryer 160, an expansion valve 165, and an evaporator 170.

With this configuration, the temperature of the freezer (111S) can be maintained through a low-temperature, low-pressure gas refrigerant, allowing frozen pizza to be stored in optimal conditions. In addition, the temperature is accurately controlled by the temperature control unit to prevent frost from forming. Even if frost occurs, defrosting can be done in real time through automatic control.

First, as shown in FIG. 8, the compressor 151 of this embodiment compresses the low-temperature, low-pressure gaseous refrigerant introduced from the evaporator 170 due to the circulation structure into high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant, and the refrigerant used here is It may be R404a. However, the type of refrigerant is not limited to this.

One end of the compressor 151 is connected to the evaporator 170. The low-temperature, low-pressure gas refrigerant evaporated by absorbing heat from the object to be cooled in the evaporator 170 is sucked into the compressor 151 and compressed to form the gas refrigerant. By increasing the pressure, high temperature and high pressure gaseous refrigerant can be generated.

The condenser 155 of this embodiment is connected to the compressor 151, as shown in FIG. 8, and can condense the high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant delivered from the compressor 151 into high-temperature, high-pressure liquid refrigerant.

As schematically shown in FIG. 9, this condenser 155 includes a zigzag type condensing coil 158, one end of which is provided as an inlet 156 and the other end of which is provided with an outlet 157, and the condensation coil 158. It is provided in multiple layers so as to penetrate and may include multi-layer continuous fins 159 through which air moves.

When the high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant moved from the compressor 151 circulates through the condensation coil 158, the surrounding air flows between the multi-layer continuous fins 159 and heat can be released into the atmosphere, through which the condensation coil (159) The high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant flowing through 158) may be condensed into high-temperature, high-pressure liquid refrigerant. In other words, gaseous refrigerant can be converted into liquid refrigerant through heat exchange.

Therefore, the high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant flowing in through the inlet 156 of the condensation coil 158 becomes a high-temperature, high-pressure liquid refrigerant as it passes through the condensation coil 158, and is discharged through the outlet 157, moving to the next configuration. It can be.

Meanwhile, the dryer 160 of this embodiment is provided between the condenser 155 and the expansion valve 165, as shown in FIG. 8, and removes moisture that can be contained in the high-temperature, high-pressure liquid refrigerant condensed in the condenser 155. It can be removed by drying.

This dryer 160 may be provided as a filter dryer type, for example. Dryer 160 may include a core mixture consisting of 70 to 90% molecular core and 10 to 30% activated aluminum. Preferably, it includes a core mixture consisting of 80% molecular core and 20% activated aluminum, and using this, moisture that can be contained in the high-temperature, high-pressure liquid refrigerant can be removed by drying. The core mixture used in dryer 160 has strong drying requirements and can operate at low temperatures.

To elaborate, as the temperature of the refrigerant decreases, the solubility of water in the refrigerant decreases. As a result, a small amount of moisture may be dissolved in the high-temperature, high-pressure liquid refrigerant, and the moisture in the refrigerant may freeze in the expansion valve 165, etc., deteriorating the function of the expansion valve 165.

However, in this embodiment, the dryer 160 not only removes moisture that may be contained in the high-temperature, high-pressure liquid refrigerant by drying it, but also acts as a filter.

Meanwhile, the expansion valve 165 of this embodiment is provided between the dryer 160 and the evaporator 170, as shown in FIG. 8, and expands the high-temperature, high-pressure liquid refrigerant condensed in the condenser 155 to produce low-temperature, low-pressure liquid refrigerant. can be converted into liquid refrigerant.

For this purpose, the expansion valve 165 of this embodiment may be provided as a capillary type expansion valve 165. Through this, the high-temperature, high-pressure liquid refrigerant condensed in the condenser 155 is converted into a low-temperature, low-pressure liquid refrigerant so that it can be easily evaporated in the evaporator 170, and an appropriate amount of refrigerant can be supplied to the evaporator 170 according to load changes. .

Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 8, the evaporator 170 of this embodiment evaporates the low-temperature, low-pressure liquid refrigerant expanded in the expansion valve 165 and converts it into a low-temperature, low-pressure gaseous refrigerant. Due to this evaporator 170, The freezer 111S where frozen pizza is stored can maintain a set low temperature. In other words, in the evaporator 170, evaporation occurs while absorbing latent heat of evaporation, thereby providing a cooling effect.

In addition, the low-temperature, low-pressure gaseous refrigerant evaporated in the evaporator 170 is sucked back into the compressor 151 through a circulation structure. Referring to FIG. 8, it is delivered to the compressor 151 through the expansion valve 165. The low-temperature, low-pressure gas refrigerant delivered to the compressor 151 through the expansion valve 165 can be converted into high-temperature, high-pressure liquid refrigerant by compression.

To elaborate, the heating device of the evaporator 170 may have various forms depending on the material phenomenon or installation conditions of the article to be cooled or frozen.

Meanwhile, the temperature control unit of this embodiment, although not shown, compares the actual temperature to the set temperature of the evaporator 170, determines whether the temperature is maintained, operation time, and abnormal signals, and determines the state of the freezer 111S based on the identified information. And the state of the refrigeration and air conditioning unit 150 can be optimally controlled.

The temperature control unit can set temperature, temperature change, operation time of the compressor 151, etc., cumulative time, etc. In addition, if the actual temperature exceeds the set temperature of the evaporator 170 or if an error occurs in maintaining the temperature, an abnormal signal or alarm may be generated by the temperature control unit.

To this end, the refrigeration air conditioning unit 150 may be further equipped with an air circulation fan 180 for air circulation. For example, if frost occurs in the evaporator 170, the temperature control unit and the air circulation fan 180 By linking, defrosting to remove frost can be performed, and when defrosting is completed, defrosting can be canceled.

As such, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the temperature can be lowered in a short period of time, providing an optimal condition for food storage, and real-time temperature check and automatic adjustment are possible. In addition, automatic control is possible. Even if frost occurs, defrosting can be done in real time.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, in a pizza vending machine that is loaded with one or more packaged frozen pizzas as described above and cooks and serves the loaded frozen pizza using a microwave, the temperature of the frozen pizza to be cooked is adjusted to the temperature of the frozen pizza to be cooked. By controlling the operating time of the microwave oven accordingly, the cooking state of the frozen pizza can be maintained uniformly.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the pizza vending machine and its operation control method according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 10 to 14.

Meanwhile, since the pizza vending machine according to another embodiment of the present invention may have the same configuration as described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, its description will be omitted below.

Figure 10 is a flowchart showing a method for controlling the operation of a pizza vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Figure 10, the pizza vending machine measures the temperature of the frozen pizza to be cooked (step S300).

In step S300, a further step may be performed by applying pressure to the frozen pizza from the top so that the package of the frozen pizza comes into contact with the frozen pizza inside.

Afterwards, the pizza vending machine controls the operation time of the microwave oven according to the temperature of the frozen pizza measured in step S300 (step S310).

In step S310, the lower the temperature of the measured frozen pizza, the longer the operation time of the microwave oven can be. The operation time of the microwave oven has a lower limit and an upper limit, and can be divided into a plurality of sections between the lower limit and the upper limit and controlled. .

Figure 11 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of a pizza vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. The pizza vending machine 100 may include a temperature measurement unit 180 and a control unit 190.

Referring to FIG. 11, the temperature measuring unit 180 measures the temperature of the frozen pizza to be cooked, and the control unit 190 operates the microwave oven 170 according to the temperature of the frozen pizza measured by the temperature measuring unit 180. Control the operation time.

For example, as described above, the pizza vending machine 100 may be provided with a transport unit 160 for transporting the frozen pizza discharged from the loading space where the frozen pizzas are loaded and delivering it to the user. In this case, the temperature may be measured. Unit 180 may be disposed between the transport unit 160 and the loading space.

Specifically, in the internal configuration of the vending machine 100 shown in FIG. 2, the temperature measuring unit 180 is attached to the lower side of the loading box in which the rotating loading unit 130 is installed, and the temperature measuring unit 180 is attached to the While the frozen pizza is being transported by the transport unit 160, the temperature of the frozen pizza can be measured.

Meanwhile, the temperature measuring unit 180 includes a position sensor unit equipped with one or more position detection sensors to detect the position of the frozen pizza, and a temperature sensor unit equipped with one or more temperature detection sensors to detect the temperature of the frozen pizza. can do.

Referring to FIG. 12, the temperature measurement unit 180 may include a position sensor unit 181 to check whether the frozen pizza is placed in an appropriate location where the temperature can be measured.

The position sensor unit 181 may be provided with a plurality of laser sensors 186, each capable of detecting objects existing in a straight direction, and the number and location of the laser sensors may be changed depending on the shape of the packaged frozen pizza. there is.

For example, when the front shape of a packaged frozen pizza is similar to a triangle, the position sensor unit 181 may include three laser sensors located at three corners, as shown in FIG. 12.

The temperature sensor unit 185 is provided with a plurality of temperature detection sensors 187 and can detect the temperature of the frozen pizza at a plurality of points.

For example, when the front shape of a packaged frozen pizza is similar to a triangle, the temperature sensor unit 185 may include six non-contact temperature detection sensors arranged in a triangular shape at the center, as shown in FIG. 12. there is.

However, the number and location of non-contact temperature detection sensors provided in the temperature sensor unit 185 may be changed.

When the temperature sensor unit 185 is equipped with a plurality of temperature detection sensors and the temperature of the frozen pizza is detected at a plurality of points, the control unit 190 uses the temperature of the frozen pizza detected at a plurality of points to determine the temperature of the frozen pizza. You can decide.

For example, when the temperature of a frozen pizza is detected using six non-contact temperature sensors, the maximum and minimum values among the six temperature values are excluded, and the average value of the remaining four temperature values is calculated to determine the temperature of the frozen pizza. can be decided.

Meanwhile, if the frozen pizza is packaged with a synthetic resin material, when measuring the temperature using a non-contact temperature sensor, the temperature of the frozen pizza and the temperature of the packaging area where there is an error may be measured.

The error in measuring the temperature of the frozen pizza as described above occurs because the frozen pizza and the packaging are not in contact with each other and there is a space between them. The pizza vending machine 100 applies pressure to the frozen pizza from the top to pack the frozen pizza. It may further include a pressing portion 600 that allows contact with the frozen pizza inside.

Figure 13 shows the pressing unit 600 and a portion of the frozen pizza whose temperature is measured. The pressing unit 600 may include

pressing bars

601 and 602 that can move up and down.

Referring to FIG. 13, the frozen pizza 101 and the packaging (P) may not be in contact and an air layer may exist between them. In this case, the temperature of the packaging (P) measured by the non-contact temperature detection sensor is the frozen pizza ( 101) may be different from the actual temperature.

Accordingly, before measuring the temperature, the

pressing bars

601 and 602 provided in the pressing unit 600 move downward and press the packaging of the frozen pizza 101 so that it comes into contact with the frozen pizza inside, and this state is maintained for a certain period of time. After maintaining the temperature of the package (P) within the same range as the temperature of the frozen pizza 101, the temperature measurement unit 180 can be used to control the temperature of the frozen pizza.

The control unit 190 may control the operation of the pizza vending machine 100 in such a way that the operating time of the microwave oven 170 increases as the temperature of the frozen pizza measured by the temperature measuring unit 180 decreases.

Here, the operation time of the microwave oven 170 controlled by the control unit 190 has a lower limit and an upper limit, and the operation time of the microwave oven 170 can be controlled by dividing it into a plurality of sections between the lower limit and the upper limit.

For example, the operation time of the microwave oven 170 is adjusted between 60 and 75 seconds, and can be set in 2-second or 5-second increments depending on the temperature of the frozen pizza being measured, but the present invention is not limited to this. No.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 190 may analyze an image of a frozen pizza being cooked inside a microwave oven and control the operation time of the microwave oven according to the image analysis results.

Figure 14 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a pizza vending machine according to another embodiment of the present invention. The pizza vending machine 100 includes a temperature measuring unit 180, a control unit 190, and a camera 700. It can be included.

Among the configurations of the pizza vending machine 100 shown in FIG. 14, the configuration and operation of the temperature measurement unit 180 and the control unit 190 may be the same as those described with reference to FIGS. 11 to 13, so the description thereof is Decided to omit it.

Referring to FIG. 14, the camera 700 is used to photograph the state of frozen pizza being cooked inside the microwave oven 170, and may be installed on the external front portion of the microwave oven 170.

The control unit 190 can analyze the image captured by the camera 700 and control the operation time of the microwave oven 170 according to the degree of expansion of the packaging of the frozen pizza.

For example, the control unit 190 analyzes the image input from the camera 700 to measure the height at which the frozen pizza package is expanded, and when the expanded height of the package reaches a preset standard value, the microwave oven 170 ) operation can be terminated.

More specifically, as described with reference to FIGS. 11 to 13, the operation time of the microwave oven 170 is first set according to the temperature of the frozen pizza, and while the microwave oven 170 is operating, the packaging is adjusted according to image analysis. When the expansion height reaches the reference value, the operation of the microwave oven 170 can be controlled to end even before the set operation time.

The methods according to an embodiment of the present invention described above can be produced as a program to be executed on a computer. Additionally, the program may be stored in a computer-readable recording medium. Examples of computer-readable recording media include ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, floppy disk, and optical data storage devices.

The computer-readable recording medium is distributed in a computer system connected to a network, so that computer-readable code can be stored and executed in a distributed manner. And, functional programs, codes, and code segments for implementing the method can be easily deduced by programmers in the technical field to which the present invention pertains.

In addition, although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described above, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, and the technical field to which the invention pertains without departing from the gist of the present invention as claimed in the claims. Of course, various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art, and these modifications should not be understood individually from the technical idea or perspective of the present invention.

Claims

a rotating loading unit rotatably mounted in a space within the device housing and including a plurality of loading members each forming a loading space in which items are loaded in a height direction; and

It includes a product holding unit that holds a second product located on top of a first product discharged from a first loading member among the plurality of loading members,

A vending machine, characterized in that the first article is discharged through an outlet located below the first loading member.
According to claim 1,

A vending machine, wherein the plurality of loading members of the rotating loading unit are arranged in a circumferential direction with respect to the center.
According to claim 1,

The dispensing port is selectively opened by rotation of the rotary loading unit, and when the discharging port is opened, the first article is ejected through the discharging port.
According to paragraph 1,

A first type of article is loaded on the first loading member,

When the first type of article is selected by the user, the rotating loading portion is rotated to align the first loading member with the position of the outlet,

A vending machine, wherein the discharge port is opened while the second article is held by the article holding unit, and the first article is discharged through the discharge port.
The method of claim 1, wherein the product holding unit

a drive motor disposed in an external space of the work space within the device housing;

a guide member mounted to be positioned above the drive motor within the work space;

One end is movably coupled to the drive motor and the other end is mounted on a connection member movably mounted on the guide member, and when the drive motor is driven, the connection member is linearly moved along the height direction of the guide member. moving member; and

A vending machine comprising a holding plate that moves forward or backward in the direction of the loading member in conjunction with the lifting and lowering of the moving member to hold the product.
The method of claim 5, wherein the product holding unit

a guide bracket mounted on the bottom of the work space and guiding linear movement of the holding plate in the horizontal direction; and

The automatic vending machine further includes a conversion member whose one end is connected to the connecting member and the other end is connected to the holding plate to convert the lifting and lowering of the moving member into forward and backward movement of the holding plate.
According to clause 5,

The work space is a freezer,

A vending machine, wherein the drive motor is mounted outside the freezer within the device housing.
The method of claim 1, wherein the loading member is

A loading frame formed in the height direction to form a space in which goods are loaded;

a sub-frame provided to be movable in an upward and downward direction on the surface of the loading frame; and

A vending machine comprising a pushing member that moves the sub-frame in a vertical direction with respect to the loading frame.
The method of claim 8, wherein the loading member is

The vending machine further includes a wing member extending from the loading frame in the opening direction to prevent the product or its packaging from being arbitrarily separated from the loading frame.
The method of claim 1, wherein the loading member is

a first frame located in the direction of the central axis of the rotating loading unit; and

A vending machine comprising a product support member provided inside the first frame and supporting the second product on the first frame side.