JPH0639385Y2 - Vending machine controller - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the device] [Industrial applications]

The present invention sells a predetermined plurality (for example, two pieces, hereinafter, this number is referred to as a predetermined sale number) of the same type of products (dairy products, etc.) for each operation of the product selection means (product selection button, etc.). The present invention relates to a control device for a vending machine (abbreviated as a vending machine), and particularly relates to a control device capable of selling a number of products less than a predetermined sales number so that the product does not remain in the vending machine until the next time the product is carried in. . In the following drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

[Prior art]

As a vending machine of this type, for example, a vending machine that sells two products of the same type each time the product selection button is operated once,
A well-known method is to detect the sold-out of a product when the last two sets are exhausted.

[Problems to be solved by the device]

In the case of the vending machine of the above example, if the total number of products carried into the same product storage mechanism (that is, the product storage rack combined with the product export device) is an odd number, a predetermined sale will be made even if a product sell-out signal is output. The last one less than the number of products will remain, and if a product such as a dairy product remains in the vending machine for a long time, the shelf life will expire and this remaining product must be discarded. There was a problem that it disappeared. In order to prevent this, when replenishing products to the product storage mechanism, it is necessary to always store even numbers,
There was also a problem that it took time to replenish products. An object of the present invention is to send out a product sold-out signal after the last one in the product storage mechanism has been carried out, and when the number of sold products when the sold-out detection occurs does not reach the predetermined number of sold products. Aims to prevent the product from remaining in the vending machine for a long time by providing a vending machine control device that pays out the price of the shortaged product in addition to the change at the time of normal sale. It is in.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the control device of the present invention is "a single operation of the product selection means (product selection button 6 etc.) based on the insertion of money into the currency discrimination / dispensing means (coin sorting machine 3 etc.). For each item, a predetermined plurality (for example, two) of products (for example, two) from the product storing means (such as the product storing mechanism 01) corresponding to the product selecting means through the corresponding corresponding product discharging means (such as the product discharging mechanism 03). In an automatic vending machine that sells 02 etc., sold-out signal output means (sold-out signal) that outputs a sold-out signal by determining that all the products in the product storage means have been carried out (via actuator 04 etc.) Detection switch 05, etc.) and the balance calculation means for subtracting the selling unit price of the relevant product from the remaining amount of the input currency immediately before the delivery of the relevant product to obtain a new remaining amount each time the product is delivered by each of the products. 1B) and A sold-out signal presence / absence determining means (1C, etc.) for determining the presence / absence of the sold-out signal corresponding to each shipment of each item, and when the sold-out signal presence / absence determining means determines the sold-out signal And a balance withdrawing command output means (1A or the like) that causes the remaining amount at this point to be paid out through the currency discrimination / paying means ”.

[Action]

This invention detects, for example, when the last one product in the product storage mechanism is exhausted even when the products are sold as a set of two, and when the one product is sold, the presence or absence of a sold-out signal is detected. , If it is sold out, half the price (that is, the price for one set) of the set price (that is, the price for two sets) of the product
Only the last one product can be sold by subtracting only the amount from the deposit amount and returning the remaining amount as change.

【Example】

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram showing a configuration as an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a principle configuration of a product storing mechanism. Is. It is assumed that the vending machine of this embodiment has a predetermined number of sales of two (that is, one in which two (2) products are sold as a set by operating the product selection button once). In FIG. 3, reference numeral 01 denotes a product storage mechanism, and in this example, five rows are provided in the front (left side of the figure) and rear (right side of the figure) directions of the vending machine. A product 02 is carried in from the product carry-in port in the upper left part of the figure, and is stored in the product storage mechanism 01 in such a form that it falls while rolling due to gravity and is piled up in order. Reference numeral 03 denotes a product unloading mechanism, which is provided at the lower end of each product storage mechanism 01. Based on a command from the control unit 1 (not shown in FIG. 1), the product 02 in the product storage mechanism comes to the lower end. Drop the items one by one downward and carry them out of the vending machine. Reference numeral 05 denotes a sold-out detection switch, which is operated by the actuator 04 and is turned on when the last one product 02 in the product storage mechanism 01 concerned is exhausted to send a sold-out signal to the control unit 1 not shown. FIG. 1 shows the circuit configuration of the control device of the present invention, and 1 is a CPU
In the control unit consisting of, etc., the balance payout command output unit A1, the balance calculation unit 1B, and the sold-out signal presence / absence determination unit 1C in the control unit 1 equally share some of the functions of the control unit 1. It is a partial functional part that is considered to exist. Also 03 and 05
Are the product unloading mechanism and the sold-out detection switch described in FIG. A coin sorter 2 discriminates whether the inserted coin 3 is true or false, transmits a denomination signal of a true coin to the control unit 1, and pays out change based on a command from the control unit 1. Reference numeral 4 is a ten-key pad, which is used to set a commodity price or the like in the control unit 1. In the vending machine to which the present invention is applied, the product price of a predetermined number of sold products (two products in this example) is set corresponding to the product selection button 6. Reference numeral 5 is an amount display for displaying the amount of money input. 6 is a product selection button, which is provided on the front customer service section of the vending machine in a 1: 1 correspondence with each of the above-mentioned product storage mechanisms 01 (and hence each product delivery mechanism 03), and is a pushbutton switch for selecting the product. Is. A sold-out lamp 7 is provided in the front customer service section of the vending machine corresponding to each of the product selection buttons 6 and is turned on by the control section 1 based on the operation of the corresponding sold-out detection switch 05. Next, the operation of the control unit 1 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. In the following description, the second operation corresponding to the individual operation description
Step numbers in the figure are shown in parentheses. First, deposit coins 3 into coin sorter 2 (S1),
The control unit 1 adds the amount of money corresponding to the denomination signal of the inserted coin to a deposit counter (not shown) in the control unit 1 (S2), and the amount display 5 displays the amount of deposit at that time. When the deposit amount reaches the product setting amount (however, in this case, the sales amount for two products 02) (S3), the operation input of the product selection button 6 is awaited (S4). Turn on the refund switch (not shown) here
After that (S41), refund (S11) and the process is over. But,
When the product selection button 6 is pressed, the product unloading mechanism 03 (internal motor or solenoid) corresponding to the push button 6 is energized, and the unloading mechanism 03 is operated (S5) to carry out one product 02. Next, the balance calculation means 1B subtracts half of the set amount (that is, the sales amount for one product 02) from the deposit amount (or the balance amount at that time) to obtain a new balance amount (S6), and then the presence or absence of the sold-out signal The discrimination means 1C checks whether or not there is a sold-out signal from the sold-out detection step 9 corresponding to the pressed product selection button 6,
If sold out (S7, branch Y), the corresponding sold-out lamp 7
Lights up (S71). As a result, the balance payout command output means 1A causes the coin sorter 2 to refund the balance at that time (S11) and terminate the sale. In this way, the last one product in the product storage mechanism 01 of the vending machine, for which the sales amount for two sets has been set, can be sold for half the set price. On the other hand, if the product is sold out in step S5 but not sold out (S7, branch N), the product unloading mechanism 03 is operated again (S7).
8) Then, the half amount of the set amount is subtracted from the remaining amount at that time to obtain a new remaining amount (S9), which ends the sale of the two sets. Next, the presence or absence of the balance at that time is checked (S10), and if there is no balance, the sale ends. If there is a balance, the balance is refunded (S11) and the sale ends. By performing the operation as described above, it is possible to sell the product from the product storage mechanism to the last one without leaving the product.

[Effect of device]

According to the present invention, in a vending machine that sells a predetermined plurality of products as a set by one operation of the product selection button, a product sell-out signal is sent after the last one is carried out in the product storage mechanism, If the number of products sold when this sold-out detection occurs is less than the number of products that make up the above-mentioned group, the product price for the shortage is added to the change at the time of normal sale, so it is paid out. When replenishing merchandise to the merchandise storage mechanism, you can quickly replenish merchandise without worrying about the last remaining merchandise and sell all the merchandise reliably. It is possible to obtain the effect that it does not remain in the waste and is not disposed of.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram showing a configuration as an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a principle configuration of a product storing mechanism. Is. 01: Product storage mechanism, 02: Product, 03: Product discharge mechanism, 04: Actuator, 05: Sold-out detection switch, 1: Control unit, 1A: Balance payment command output means, 1B: Balance calculation means, 1C: Sold-out Signal presence / absence determining means, 2: coin sorter, 3: coin, 4: numeric keypad, 5: amount display, 6: product selection button, 7: sold-out lamp.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. Based on the insertion of money into the currency discriminating / delivering means, each time the product selecting means is operated, from the product storing means corresponding to the product selecting means via the corresponding product discharging means, In an automatic vending machine that sells a plurality of predetermined products, a sold-out signal output unit that outputs a sold-out signal by determining that all the products in the product storage unit have been carried out, and the product carrying-out unit Corresponding to each shipment of each product, the balance calculation means for subtracting the selling unit price of the product from the balance of the input money immediately before the shipment of the product to obtain a new balance, and the shipment of each product. A sold-out signal presence / absence determining means for determining the presence / absence of the sold-out signal, and when the sold-out signal presence / absence determining means determines the sold-out signal, the remaining amount at this point is paid out through the currency discrimination / dispensing means. Leave to do A controller for an automatic vending machine, comprising: an amount payout command output means.