JPH0113157B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a cup dispensing device in a cup-type beverage vending machine.

(Prior Art) In a cup-type beverage vending machine, the cup must be carried out to a predetermined position before each beverage is dispensed.

Some conventional cup delivery devices for this purpose are constructed as follows. In other words, a cup stocker has a drum rotatably mounted on a bottom plate having two openings for dropping cups, and a cup group made up of a plurality of stacked cups is regarded as one column, and a plurality of columns are accommodated on the circumference. a cup separating mechanism section provided directly below the opening for receiving one column of cups stored in the cup stocker; a motor for driving the cup separating mechanism section driven based on a sales signal; and a cup separating mechanism section. a mechanism for detecting the remaining amount of the cup in the column; and a mechanism connected to the detection mechanism for rotating the cup stocker by a predetermined angle in the forward or reverse direction when the remaining amount of the cup in the column corresponding to at least one opening is below a certain level. It is equipped with a cup drum drive unit which is a feeding mechanism, and carries out one cup from the cup separation mechanism to the beverage supply position for each sale, and when the remaining amount of cups in the cup separation mechanism falls below a certain level, it removes the cup including the cup stocker. The cup drum is rotated by a predetermined angle in the forward or reverse direction to supply a new column of cups to the cup separating mechanism (for example, see Japanese Utility Model Application No. 138183/1983).

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) In such a cup dispensing device, when the dedicated cup corresponding to the selected product is sold out in the cup discharging device, another type of cup that can be used in the same way as the dedicated cup is still available. Even if the cup remained in the unloading device, sales would be discontinued if the cup ran out, resulting in a loss of opportunity to sell the product.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In the present invention, in a cup-type beverage vending machine, different types of cups are sold from a plurality of cup drums and a cup selection means corresponding to each product selected by a signal when a selection button is pressed. A means for alternately carrying out cups for each product, a means for specifying cups for each product, and a means for discharging the remaining cups by ignoring the designation when the specified cup is exhausted from multiple cup drums, and a means for carrying out cups for each product. The product has an alternative function setting means for operating one of the means for specifying a cup that is no longer sold out.
When the cups are carried out alternately, the device is characterized by having means for automatically carrying out only the remaining cup when one of the cups runs out.

(Function) Since a cup can be specified according to the product, a cup of good quality can be specified depending on the price difference of the product, and the value of the product can be increased.

Furthermore, even if the special cup corresponding to the selected product is sold out, by setting and using an alternative function, the loss of sales opportunities can be prevented and the number of products sold can be increased.

(Example) Examples of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cup delivery device according to the present invention.

In the drawing, 1 is a No. 1 cup drum having a cup stock housing a plurality of columns on the circumference;
Reference numeral 2 denotes a No. 2 cup drum having a cup stocker housing a plurality of columns on its circumference, and a cup separation mechanism section 3 and a cup drum drive section 4 are provided below the No. 1 cup drum 1 and No. 2 cup drum 2. A cup chute 5 extends downwardly at the bottom thereof, and the cup chute 5 guides a cup 6 to a cup outlet.

FIG. 2 is a control block diagram showing the circuit configuration of the cup unloading device according to the present invention.

First, after the customer inserts a coin into the coin slot, the customer presses the selection button to specify one of the multiple beverage products handled by this vending machine, and the signal from the selection switch 10 is accordingly activated. The beverage is delivered by being guided by the selection control unit 11 and actuating actuators such as motors and solenoids included in the delivery mechanism. At the same time, the cup sold-out sensor input control device 19 from the No. 1 cup drum control section 17 and the No. 2 cup drum control section 18
A signal indicating whether or not each corresponding cup of No. 2 cup drum 2 is sold out is input to the central control unit 12.
The central control unit 12 is provided with a cup data memory 13 for each product, and the contents of the cup data memory 13 are as follows.

(a) Specify cup types by product (drink).

(b) Deliver the cups alternately for each sale (for example, for the next sale of the cup in the No. 1 cup drum, the corresponding cup in the No. 2 cup drum is discharged).

(c) When specifying cups for each product If the specified cup runs out, the specification is ignored and another remaining cup is substituted.

(d) When specifying cups for each product Products for which missing cups are specified will be sold out.

(e) When carrying out cups alternately, if one of the cups runs out, only the remaining cup will be carried out automatically.

On the other hand, when the selection button is pressed and the signal from the selection switch 10 enters the central control section 12 through the selection control section 11, the product/alternate substitution function setting section 14 changes the contents (a) and (b) of the cup data memory 13. ),
Data for selecting one of (c), (d), and (e) is read out, and for example, if the operator of the vending machine sets the alternative function to be available using the alternative function setting section 14, then ( If c) is executed and no alternative function is set, (d) is executed. Also, data for selecting a cup is read out by the cup data setting section 15 according to the content (a) of the cup data memory 13, and by these signals from the central control section 12 and the signal from the cup drive control section 16, the No. 1 cup drum is selected. Control unit 17
or the No. 2 cup drum control unit 18 is selected to transport the cup.

Next, the control procedure of the cup discharging device according to the present invention will be explained using the flowchart shown in FIG.

During the standby state other than when selling products, if both the No. 1 cup and No. 2 cup are sold out, the sale will be discontinued. When there are both No. 1 cup and No. 2 cup (step 101), the cup is specified for each product (step 102), and if there is no alternative function setting, the specified cup is When the product is in the cup drum 1 (step 103), and the cup data of the product selected by pressing the selection button is, for example, No. 1 cup, the cup drum drive unit 4 of the No. 1 cup drum 1
The No. 1 cup is guided to the cup chute 5 by the operation of the cup separation mechanism 3, and is carried out onto the cup tray at the cup outlet (step 104). The beverage that has been selected and prepared will be poured into the cup.

Next, when the setting is not to specify cups for each product, but instead the cups are delivered alternately for each sale (step 105), if the No. 1 cup is not sold out (step 106), and the No. 2 cup is not sold out either. (Step 107), when No. 1 cup was used in the previous sale of this product, this time No. 2 cup was used.
Transfer the cup to the cup outlet (step 10)
8). Also, instead of specifying cups for each product,
When the cups are carried out alternately for each sale (step 105), when the No. 1 cup is sold out (step 109), the No. 2 cup is carried out to the cup outlet. If the No. 1 cup is not sold out (step 106), and if the No. 2 cup is sold out (step 110), the No. 1 cup is carried out to the cup outlet.

Furthermore, if neither the No. 1 cup nor the No. 2 cup is sold out (steps 106 and 107), and the No. 1 cup was not used in the previous sale of this product (step 111), the No. 1 cup is sold out (step 111). Carry out the cup to the cup outlet.

On the other hand, it is a setting to specify a cup for each product (step 102), and the specified cup is cup drum 1,
2, and the use of an alternative cup is set in the alternative function setting section 14 (step 112).
In addition, when the No. 1 cup is sold out (step 11)
3) Take out the No. 2 cup to the cup outlet. At this point, the No. 1 cup is not sold out (step 11).
4) If No. 2 cup is sold out (Step 1)
15), Take out the No. 1 cup to the cup outlet,
However, the No. 1 cup was not sold out (Step 1).
14) If the No. 2 cup is not sold out (step 116), and the cup data of the product selected by pressing the selection button is, for example, the No. 1 cup (step 104), the No. 1 cup is placed in the cup outlet. will be carried out. If the cup data of the product selected by pressing the selection button is not the No. 1 cup but the No. 2 cup (step 117), for example, if the No. 2 cup is not in the drum 1 but is set in the drum 2. If so, the cup drum drive 4 of the drum 2
The operation of the cup separation mechanism section 3 causes a predetermined No. 2 cup to be separated from the cup shoot 5.
The cup is guided to the cup tray at the cup outlet.

Although typical embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is characterized by not only simply controlling the delivery of different cups 6 according to certain predetermined specifications, but also controlling the delivery of cups 6 for each product. It has a switching memory for specifying whether to specify the cup 6 or to alternately carry out the cups 6 for each sale, and cup data for specifying the cup for each product.

Even when specifying cup 6 for each product, if one of the cups runs out, you can either ignore the specification and replace it with the remaining cup, or replace the missing cup. You can choose whether to make the specified item sold out.

When the cups are carried out alternately, when one of the cups runs out, only the remaining cup is automatically carried out.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, by using the cup dispensing function of the cup beverage vending machine according to the present invention, it is possible to specify the cup for each product, so even if the cups have the same shape, price differences between the products can be eliminated. Depending on the requirements, it is possible to specify cups of good quality or cups with different fashion properties, allowing for detailed responses.

Furthermore, even if the dedicated cup corresponding to the selected product is sold out, by setting and using an alternative function, the loss of sales opportunities can be prevented, and the number of products sold can be increased.

By making it possible to carry out cups alternately (alternately carrying out No. 1 cup and No. 2 cup), we have achieved No.1
If the same type of cups can be filled in the corresponding positions in cup drum 1 and No. 2 cup drum 2, the sales will not be uneven by alternately carrying out No. 1 cup drum 1 or No. 2 cup drum 2. Therefore, the cups can be placed first in and out first, and old cups will not be left behind.

By changing the design, it is possible to accommodate three or more types of cup drums.

Here, the cup separation mechanism 3 may be provided for each column of No. 1 cup drum 1 and No. 2 cup drum 2, or one cup separation mechanism section 3 may be provided for each column of No. 1 cup drum 1 and No. 2 cup drum 2.
One cup separation mechanism 3 may be provided for the No. 2 cup drum 2, and one cup drum drive section 4 may be provided for the No. 1 cup drum 1 and the No. 2 cup drum 2. Of course, it is also possible to provide one common one and use it selectively.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cup dispensing device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a control block diagram showing the circuit configuration of the cup dispensing device according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a control procedure for the cup dispensing device according to the present invention. Flowchart. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... No. 1 cup drum, 2... No. 2 cup drum, 3... Cup drum driving section, 4... Cup separation mechanism section, 5... Cup chute, 10... Selection switch, 11... Selection control section, 12... Central control section, 13
...Cup data memory, 14...Product/alternate substitution function setting section, 15...Cup data setting section, 16...
Cup drive control section, 17...No. 1 cup drum control section, 18... No. 2 cup drum control section, 19... Cup sold out sensor input control section.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a cup-type beverage vending machine, a cup selection means corresponding to each product selected by a signal when a selection button is pressed, a means for alternately discharging different types of cups from a plurality of cup drums for each sale, and A method for specifying a cup and removing the remaining cup from multiple cup drums by ignoring the specification when the specified cup runs out The apparatus has an alternative function setting means for operating one of the means for discharging cups alternately, and when one of the cups runs out, it is provided with a means for automatically discharging only the remaining cup. A cup discharging device characterized by: