JPH08263733A - Storing merchandise setting device for automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To apply the degree of freedom to correspondence between storing columns and merchandise selecting buttons by optionally combining and setting up the numbers of storing columns and merchandise selecting buttons and their positions in respective kinds of merchandises and storing the combinations. CONSTITUTION: A control part 151 allocates a group number to each sort of merchandises at the rate of 1 to 1 and optionally combines and sets up the numbers of storing columns and merchandise selecting buttons 28 and their positions in each group number by a remote controller 130. For instance, group numbers 1, 2, 3,... are allocated to respective merchandise sorts, storing columns with column numbers 1 to 3 and merchandise selecting buttons 28 with button numbers 1, 2 are combined in a group number 1, column numbers 4, 5 and a button number 3 are combined in a group number 2 and column numbers 6 to 9 and button numbers 4, 5 are combined and set up in a group number 3. The combination of column numbers and button numbers set up in each group number is stored in a storage part 152.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a storage product setting device for a vending machine, which sets which storage column should be stored and which product selection button should be associated with when setting a storage product in a vending machine. Regarding

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a vending machine that sells various kinds of products such as cigarettes, the correspondence between the product selection buttons and the storage columns must be set in advance. Generally,
Although one storage column corresponds to one product selection button, two storage columns may be preset for one specific product selection button provided for a product that sells well.

It is possible to freely set which storage column a certain product selection button is associated with, but the setting is only one-to-one.

[0004]

However, in the conventional vending machine, it is mainly considered which storage column is to be allocated to one product selection button, and one storage product is assigned to a plurality of product selection buttons. To allocate storage columns,
It was not possible to assign multiple storage columns to multiple product selection buttons.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a stored product setting device for a vending machine that can set the number and positions of the storage column and the product selection button for one type of product in any combination.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage product setting device for a vending machine, the storage product setting device having a plurality of storage columns for storing products by type and a plurality of product selection buttons for selecting a product. In the vending machine, setting means for setting the number and position of the storage column and the product selection button for each type of product in an arbitrary combination, and the storage column for the product of each type set by this setting means And a storage means for storing a combination of the product selection button and the product selection button.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage product setting device for a vending machine, wherein the storage product setting device has a plurality of storage columns for storing products by type and a plurality of product selection buttons for selecting products. Setting means for assigning a group number to each type and setting the number and position of storage columns and product selection buttons for each group number, and storage column for each group number set by this setting means And a storage means for storing a combination of the product selection button and the product selection button.

[0008]

According to another aspect of the present invention, in the storage product setting device for a vending machine, for one type of product, the number and position of storage columns for storing the product, the number of product selection buttons for selecting the product, and The position and the position can be set in any combination.

According to another aspect of the present invention, in the storage product setting device for a vending machine, for a group number assigned to one type of product, the number and position of storage columns storing the product of the group number, and the group number. It is possible to arbitrarily combine and set the number and position of the product selection buttons for selecting the product.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The construction of an automatic vending machine for selling products such as cigarettes will be described below with reference to the drawings as an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the vending machine. The vending machine includes a vending machine body 1 and a door body 2, and the door body 2 is attached to the front surface of the vending machine body 1 so as to be openable and closable.

The vending machine main body 1 is formed in a box shape having an opening on the front side, and a plurality of storage columns 11 for storing rectangular products such as cigarettes arranged side by side are arranged in parallel vertically and horizontally. .

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the structure of the storage column 11. A plurality of shelves 14 having a back plate 13 are mounted between the side plates 12 arranged on the left and right inner sides of the vending machine body 1, and a plurality of column bodies 15 are mounted on the shelves 14 at the respective stages. . Shelf 14
Is inclined so that the back side is slightly lower than horizontal, and the back plate 13
Is provided perpendicular to the shelf plate 14. Column body 15
Is a rectangular parallelepiped box with the top surface and the front surface removed, that is, a bottom surface portion 15a, a rear surface portion 15b, and both side surface portions 15c. As shown in FIG. 5, the bottom surface portion 15a and the rear surface portion 15b are Has a magnet 16 attached. And
When the column body 15 is placed on the shelf plate 14, the magnets 16 are magnetically attracted and held by the shelf plate 14 and the back plate 13. When the column body 15 is placed, the product T is lowered, so that the product T is stored at a position close to the rear surface portion 15b as a fixed position.

A serial number is assigned to each storage column 11 arranged in the vending machine body 1.
This column number is, for example, 1, 2, 3, ... N from left to right of the uppermost storage column 11, and the second storage column 11 from the top.
From left to right of n + 1, n + 2, n + 3 ...
It is assigned to all storage columns 11.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the door body 2. On the front of the door body 2, a product sample display section 21, a coin slot 22, a banknote slot
23, a return lever 24, and an outlet 25 that also serves as a product outlet and a change outlet.

The sample display section 21 has a transparent cover 26 on the front side.
A plurality of horizontal shelf frames 27 are vertically arranged inside the transparent cover 26, and a plurality of product selection buttons 28 penetrate the transparent cover 26 on the front surface of each shelf frame 27. Commodity samples t and price display stickers 29 are arranged on the upper side of each shelf plate 27 so as to correspond to the upper position of each commodity selection button 28. The product selection button 28 has a built-in sold-out lamp that lights up the sold-out condition of the product T.

A serial button number is assigned to each product selection button 28 arranged in the product sample display section 21. This button number is, for example, 1, 2, 3 ... m from left to right of the uppermost product selection button 28, or the second product selection button 28 from the top.
From left to right of m + 1, m + 2, m + 3 ...
It is assigned to all the product selection buttons 28.

In FIG. 2, on the rear surface of the door body 2, a product take-out unit 31 for taking out the product T from the storage column 11, a drive mechanism 32 of the product take-out unit 31, a pump 33 for the product take-out unit 31, and a product T are thrown. There are provided a product dispensing unit 34 for dispensing, a currency processing unit 35 for processing the deposited coins, a remote controller 130 as setting means, and the like.

The product take-out unit 31 is attached to the horizontal guide member 36 and can move horizontally along the horizontal guide member 36. The horizontal guide member 36 is a vertical guide member 37 which is fixed to the left and right inner sides of the door body 2, respectively.
It is possible to move up and down along. Due to the combination of these two movements, the product take-out unit 31 becomes the storage column 11.
You can move the whole area in front of.

FIG. 5 shows a side view of the product take-out unit 31. The commodity take-out unit 31 includes a support body 41 supported by the horizontal guide member 36, an extendable body 42 that can extend rearward with respect to the support body 41, and a drive unit 43 that extends and retracts the extendable body 42. It is composed of a take-out section 44 which is attached to the tip of the elastic body 42 and enters the storage column 11 to take out the product T.

The support body 41 is provided with a substantially U-shaped holder portion 46 which fits outside the upper and lower substantially L-shaped guide piece portions 36a formed along the rear surface of the horizontal guide member 36. Department
A roller 47 rotatably supported on the upper and lower inner walls of 46 is fitted inside the guide piece portion 36a, and a roller 48 rotatably supported on the front wall of the holder portion 46 is an upper guide piece. Department
The rollers 47 and 48 are fitted to the lower side of the 36a, and can be horizontally moved along the horizontal guide member 36 by rolling. Also,
On the front wall of the holder portion 46, a horizontal movement wire 98 described later is provided.
A connecting portion 49 to which is connected is projected. Further, a support plate 50 that supports the telescopic body 42 and the drive portion 43 from the one end of the holder portion 46 is provided so as to project rearward.

The expandable / contractible body 42 is configured to be expandable / contractible by rotatably connecting a central portion and end portions of a plurality of links 52 which are alternately combined with each other with a connecting shaft 53.
The end of the link 52 projecting downward from the front end of the elastic body 42 is a support body.
An end portion of a link 52, which is rotatably supported by a mounting shaft 55 on a guide member 54 mounted on 41, and projects upward from the front end, is guided along a guide groove 56 provided in the guide member 54 along the vertical direction. It is mounted so as to be movable up and down by a moving sliding shaft 57.

The drive unit 43 comprises a motor 58 attached to the support plate 50 and a link mechanism 59 for converting the rotational movement of the motor 58 into reciprocating movement. The link mechanism 59 is a motor 58.
Link 61 fixed to rotating shaft 60 driven by
And a link 63 rotatably connected to one end of the link 61 by a connecting shaft 62, and an end portion of the link 63 is rotatably connected to a sliding shaft 57 of the link 52. And the motor 58
By rotating the rotary shaft 60 in the direction of the solid line arrow in FIG. 5 to move the sliding shaft 57 downward and extend the telescopic body 42 rearward, while rotating in the direction of the broken line arrow in FIG. The sliding shaft 57 is moved upward by the
Contract forward. Also, when the elastic body 42 contracts, the link
By detecting the end portion of 61 by the sensor 64, the motor 58 is stopped and the telescopic body 42 is stopped and held at the contracted position.

The take-out section 44 is a suction pad for sucking the product T.
A tube 66 having a suction port 65 and extending from the suction pad 65 is connected to the pump 33 arranged at the lower portion of the door body 2, and a negative pressure is guided to the suction pad 65. The suction pad 65 is supported by a support member 67 attached to the rear end of the telescopic body 42. The support member 67 includes a link protruding downward from the rear end of the expandable body 42.
The end portion of 52 is rotatably attached by a mounting shaft 68, and the upper end portion of the link 52 projecting upward from the rear end moves along a guide groove 69 provided in the support member 67 along the vertical direction. axis
It is mounted so that it can move up and down at 70. And take-out part
The reference numeral 44 moves substantially parallel to the front-rear direction as the extendable body 42 expands and contracts.

FIG. 6 (a) shows a vertical moving mechanism 71 of the drive mechanism 32 for moving the product take-out unit 31 in the vertical direction. The vertical movement mechanism 71 includes a vertical movement motor 72 attached to a lower portion of the door body 2, and an endless drive pulley 74 and a driven pulley 75 fixed to a drive shaft 73 of the vertical movement motor 72. The drive transmission belt 76 is stretched, and as shown in FIG. 7, the drive force is transmitted to the two vertical movement pulleys 77 and 78 fixed to the side surface of the driven pulley 75. Each pulley 74, 75,
77 and 78 are rotatably attached to a support shaft 80 supported by a mounting bracket 79 attached to the lower portion of the door body 2. The vertical movement pulleys 77 and 78 have two vertical movement wires 81,
There are 82 windings each, and one wire for vertical movement
81 is laid around a vertical movement pulley 83 attached to the door body 2 located right above the vertical movement pulley 77, both ends of which are connected to one end of the horizontal guide member 36, and the other vertical The moving wire 82 is wound around four vertical moving pulleys 78, 84, 85, 86 attached to the door body 2 at a position surrounding the moving area of the horizontal guide member 36, and both ends thereof are horizontal guide members 36. Is connected to the other end. Then, when the vertical movement motor 72 is rotated in the forward or reverse direction, the horizontal guide member 36 moves up or down in parallel depending on the rotation direction.

The rollers 87 attached to both ends of the horizontal guide member 36 are engaged with the vertical guide member 37, and the movement of the horizontal guide member 36 is restricted only in the vertical direction.

FIG. 6 (b) shows a horizontal movement mechanism 91 of the drive mechanism 32 for moving the commodity take-out unit 31 in the horizontal direction. This horizontal movement mechanism 91 is provided with a vertical movement motor 72 at the bottom of the door body 2.
7 is provided side by side with a horizontal movement motor 92, and an endless drive transmission belt 96 is stretched around a drive pulley 94 and a driven pulley 95 fixed to a drive shaft 93 of the horizontal movement motor 92. As shown in, the driving force is transmitted to the horizontal movement pulley 97 fixed to the side surface of the driven pulley 95.
The horizontal movement pulley 97 is rotatably attached to the support shaft 80 together with the pulleys 74, 75, 77 and 78. A horizontal movement wire 98 is wound around the horizontal movement pulley 97, and the horizontal movement wire 98 is attached to the horizontal movement pulley 99 to which the door body 2 located right above is attached and the horizontal guide member 36. It is wound around the three horizontally moving pulleys 100, 101, and 102, and both ends of the horizontally moving pulleys 100, 101 are connected to the product take-out unit 31. Then, when the horizontal movement motor 92 is rotated in the forward and reverse directions, the product take-out unit 31 moves left and right depending on the rotation direction.

FIG. 8 shows a side view of the product dispensing unit 34. The product dispensing unit 34 includes a box-shaped frame body 111.
A product outlet 112 that opens to the front surface of the door body 2 is formed on the front surface of the door, and a rotating door 114 that is rotatable rearward about a lower rotating shaft 113 is provided on the rear surface.

A rotating mechanism 121 for rotating the rotating door 114 is provided on one side of the frame 111. This rotation mechanism 12
1 has one end of the lever 122 fixed to the rotating shaft 113, and the spring 124 is stretched between the other end of the lever 122 and the lower protruding piece 123 of the frame 111. The revolving door 114 is held in a normally closed state by.
A solenoid 125 is attached to the side surface of the frame 111, and a link 127 is attached to the plunger 126 of the solenoid 125.
One end of the link is rotatably connected and the link 12
The other end of 7 is rotatably connected to the vicinity of the middle of the lever 122, and when the solenoid 125 is excited, the link 127 and the lever 122 are pulled up and the rotary door 114 is opened. Then, the product ejection unit 34 is usually provided with a horizontal guide member 36.
Although it does not overlap the orbit of the revolving door 11
The tip of 4 projects to the rear of the product take-out unit 31.

FIG. 9 shows a front view of the remote controller 130. The remote controller 130 is connected via a cord 131 to a connecting portion provided inside the door body 2 and can be carried within the length range of the cord 131. It is formed as a handy type.
On the surface of the remote controller 130, a bar code reader 132 as a bar code reading means and a display unit 133 which also serves as an operation unit are provided.

The bar code reader 132 exposes the bar code reading surface 132a to the surface of the remote controller 130, reads the bar code displayed on the product T such as a cigarette pressed against the bar code reading surface 132a, and reads the bar code. The product code corresponding to is output.

The display unit 133 is composed of a liquid crystal display, and its surface is a touch panel on which touch switches are formed. And the display section
In 133, the column layout display section 134, the group number display section 135, the column number display section 136, and the product name display section 137.
, A mode display section 138, a cursor key 139 consisting of four keys of up, down, left and right, a mode key 140, a forward key 141,
The reverse key 142, setting key 143, clear key 144, and end key 145 can be displayed.

In the column layout display section 134, each storage column 11 is displayed by a rectangular column display frame 134a, and the overall position of each storage column 11 is graphically displayed in correspondence with the overall arrangement. Then, as shown in FIG. 10, when the position of the storage column 11 which will be described later is displayed, the column position a is displayed by lighting the entire one column display frame 134a. The cursor b is displayed by blinking a little. Therefore,
As shown in 0 (b), even if the cursor b moves to the lit and displayed column position a, the cursor b in the central portion of the column position a blinks so that both can be distinguished.

FIG. 11 shows a control unit 151 of the storage product setting device, and the control unit 151 includes a storage unit 15 as storage means.
2, the product selection button 28 and the remote control 130 are connected. It should be noted that in the storage unit 152, the correspondence relationship between the product code of each product T, the product name, and the price is set. The input of the correspondence relation is performed by a ROM or an IC card in which the correspondence relation data of all commodities handled by the vending machine are stored. Therefore, the control unit 151 is a barcode reader.
The product name and price can be read from the product code read in 132.

Then, the control unit 151 assigns a group number for each type of the product T in a one-to-one correspondence, and the remote controller 130 controls the storage column 11 and the product selection button for each group number.
It is possible to set any number and position of 28 and each. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, group numbers 1, 2, 3 ... Are assigned to each type of product T, and the storage column 11 of the column numbers 1, 2, 3 and the button numbers 1, 2 are assigned to the group number 1. Combining product selection button 28, group number 2 with column numbers 4, 5 and button number 3 with group number 3, column numbers 6, 7, 8,
9 and button numbers 4 and 5 are combined and set. The combination of the column number and the button number for each group number set in this way is stored in the storage unit 152.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

First, a storage column for a product T of each type
An allocation mode in which 11 and the product selection button 28 are associated with each other will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 12 and 13.

It is assumed that the correspondence between the product T and the group number is preset and set in the storage unit 152.
To set this correspondence, the barcode of the product T to be set is read by the barcode reader 132 of the remote controller 130, and the read product code (or the product name corresponding to the product code) is associated with the group number. Storage unit 152
To memorize.

Then, the door 2 is opened and the remote controller 130 is taken out. At this time, by detecting the opening of the door body 2 by a switch (not shown), the key portion for operation is displayed on the display section 133 of the remote controller 130 which was not displayed. Then, the mode key 140 of the remote controller 130 is operated to display the allocation mode on the mode display portion 138, and the allocation mode is set.

In the allocation mode, the column layout display section 134 of the remote controller 130 is displayed (step 1), the group number such as No. 1 is displayed on the group number display section 135, and the product name is displayed on the product name display section 137. Display (step 2). When the column layout display section 134 is displayed, the cursor b indicates, for example, the position of the upper left storage column 11, and the column number corresponding to the column position is displayed on the column number display section 136.

Then, the column position a of the column number set in the group number is displayed in the column layout display section 134.
And the sold-out lamp of the product selection button 28 of the button number is turned on (steps 3 and 4). If they are not set, they are not displayed.

If the forward feed key 141 is turned on, the setting data of the next group number is displayed (step 6), and if the reverse feed key 142 is turned on, the setting data of the previous group number is displayed (step 6). 7).

Then, in the state where the setting data of one group number is displayed, the setting of the product selection button 28 for selecting the product T and the storage of the product T are performed for one product T. The setting of the storage column 11 can be set in parallel.

To set the product selection button 28, the product selection button 28 at a desired position among the plurality of product selection buttons 28 on the front surface of the door body 2 is turned on (step 8), and the product selection button 28 is pressed. If the number has not been set (step 9), the button number of the product selection button 28 is associated with the group number and stored in the storage unit 15.
2 is stored (step 10), and the sold-out lamp of the product selection button 28 is turned on (step 11). When setting a plurality of product selection buttons 28 for one group number, successively turn on the product selection buttons 28 at desired positions, and similarly
Store in 152.

Further, when it is desired to delete the setting of a product selection button 28 from a group which is being set by changing the setting, etc., by turning on the product selection button 28 whose sold-out lamp is lit, the product is selected. Stores the button number of the selection button 28
It is deleted from 152 (step 12), and the sold-out lamp of the product selection button 28 is turned off (step 13).

On the other hand, in order to set the storage column 11, the cursor key 139 is operated (step 14) and the cursor is moved to the position of the storage column 11 in which the product T is desired to be stored, or the desired position of the storage column 11 is set. The column number of is displayed on the column number display unit 136.

When the setting key 143 is turned on after moving the cursor b (step 15), the cursor b
If the storage column 11 at the position is not yet set (step
16), the column number of the storage column 11 is stored in the storage section 152 (step 17), and the corresponding column position a of the column layout display section 134 is lit and displayed (step 18). If the setting has been completed, an error display indicating that the setting is completed is displayed on the mode display unit 138, for example (step 19).

Further, when it is desired to delete the setting of the storage column 11 from the group which is being set by changing the setting, the cursor b is moved to the column position a which is lit and displayed in the column layout display section 134. After (Fig. 1
Then, the clear key 144 is turned on (step 20). As a result, if the storage column 11 is stored in association with the group currently set (step 21), the column number of the storage column 11 is deleted from the storage unit 152 (step 22), and the column number is deleted. The corresponding column position a of the layout display section 134 is hidden (step 23). If the storage column 11 is not stored in association with the group currently set, an error display to that effect is displayed on the mode display unit 138, for example (step 24).

When the setting for one group number is completed, the forward feed key 141 or the reverse feed key 142 is operated to successively set the other group numbers.

In this way, 1 for each group number
For one product T, the number and position of the product selection buttons 28 and the number and position of the storage columns 11 can be arbitrarily combined and set in the storage unit 152.

Then, in the storage unit 152, as shown in Table 1 below, a product name (product code), a column number and a button number are stored for each group number.

[0052]

[Table 1] In addition, by operating the end key 145 after completing all settings (steps 2, 25), the column layout display section
When 134 is turned off, the sold-out lamp of the product selection button 28 that has been turned on is turned off (step 26), and the allocation mode is ended.

Next, the storage (replenishment) of the product T will be described.

Each storage column 11 has a corresponding type of product T
Store them side by side in the front-back direction. At this time, the column body 15 may be removed and loaded with the product T, and then placed on the shelf plate 14. The products T stored in the storage column 11 are stored with the position close to the rear surface portion 15b as a fixed position due to the inclination of the bottom surface portion 15a of the column body 15.

When the product T is stored, the bar code of the product T is read by the bar code reader 132 of the remote controller 130.
Scan the group number corresponding to the product code of the bar code by scanning with, and the column layout of the remote controller 130 is used to determine the position of the storage column 11 that stores the product T from the column number set for this group number. By displaying it on the display unit 134, it is possible to easily know where the storage column 11 for storing the product T is located and to easily store the product T.

Next, the operation of selling the product T will be described.

In the standby state, the expansion / contraction body 42 of the product take-out unit 31 is in the stored (shrinked) state, the take-out section 54 is in the product take-out unit 31, and the swing door of the product take-out section 34 is in the retracted state. 114 is closed.

Then, money is thrown in by the user,
When the product selection button 28 is pressed, the group number in which the button number of the product selection button 28 is set is searched, and the corresponding product T is ejected from the storage column 11 set to that group number. At this time, when a plurality of storage columns 11 are set, the storage columns 11 are sequentially ejected from the storage column 11 in a predetermined ejection order.

When the ejection operation of the product T is started, the vertical movement motor 72 is driven to drive the drive transmission belt 76.
The vertical movement pulleys 77, 78 are rotated via the. By the rotation of the vertical movement pulleys 77 and 78, the horizontal guide member 36 is moved through the vertical movement wires 81 and 82.
Move up and down along 37. In addition, the horizontal movement motor 92 is driven, and the horizontal movement pulley 97 is rotated via the drive transmission belt 96. This horizontal movement pulley 97
The rotation causes the commodity take-out unit 31 to move in the left-right direction along the horizontal guide member 36 via the horizontal movement wire 98. The combination of these movements moves the product take-out unit 31 to the front of the corresponding storage column 11.

After the product take-out unit 31 is moved, the motor 58 of the product take-out unit 31 is rotated to extend the telescopic body 42, the take-out section 44 advances into the storage column 11, and the suction pad 65 is moved to the product T.
To contact. The air pressure inside the suction pad 65 is lowered by the pump 33, and the product T is sucked. Further, the motor 58 rotates in the reverse direction and the telescopic body 42 contracts, and the product T in the storage column 11 is retracted.
The frontmost product T is taken out and the product take-out unit
It is held on the 31st side.

After that, the vertical movement motor 72 and the horizontal movement motor 92 are driven again, and the product take-out unit 31
Moves to a position above the product dispensing unit 34. After the solenoid 125 of the product ejection unit 34 is excited and the rotary door 114 is opened, the air pressure in the suction pad 65 is relieved and the product T falls. The falling product T enters the product dispensing unit 34 along the swing door 114. After that, when the excitation of the solenoid 125 is released, the rotary door 114 is closed by the spring bias and the selling operation is completed.

When the product T is stored, the column body
After removing 15 and loading the product T, it may be placed on the shelf plate 14.

It should be noted that the storage column 11 of the type using the removable column body 15 may be adopted as all the storage columns in the vending machine body 1, and the storage work is difficult at a fixed storage column. For example, this type is used only at a high position where it is higher than the operator's eyes and it is difficult to check the loading status, and at a low position where you have to bend over to store the product, and the rest are fixed storage columns. May be. Further, fixed storage columns may be used for all of them.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which a group is formed for each type of each product T has been described, but the product code may be directly associated.

In the above embodiment, the vending machine of the type in which one product take-out unit 31 moves vertically and horizontally to throw out the product T has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and each storage column 11 can be provided. It may be a vending machine equipped with a dispensing unit.

[0066]

According to the storage product setting device for a vending machine according to the first aspect of the present invention, the number and position of the storage column and the product selection button can be arbitrarily combined and set for one type of product. That is, by focusing on products, a degree of freedom is created in associating the storage column with the product selection button, and the combination of settings can be freely performed for convenience.

According to the storage product setting device of the automatic vending machine of the second aspect, the number and position of the storage column and the product selection button are arbitrarily combined with the group number assigned to one type of product. Can be set. That is,
By focusing on products, there is more freedom in associating the storage column with the product selection buttons, and it is convenient to freely combine settings.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a combination of a storage column and a product selection button with respect to a group number, showing an embodiment of a stored product setting device in an automatic vending machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an internal structure of an automatic vending machine to which the storage setting device of the above embodiment is applied.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a part of the storage column of the above embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a side view in which a part of a product taking-out unit and a storage column of the same embodiment is cut away.

6A and 6B show a drive mechanism of the product take-out unit according to the above embodiment, FIG. 6A is an explanatory view of a vertical movement mechanism, and FIG. 6B is an explanatory view of a horizontal movement mechanism.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a part of the vertical movement mechanism and the horizontal movement mechanism of the above embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a side view of a product dispensing unit and a product dispensing unit according to the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a front view of the remote controller according to the embodiment.

FIG. 10 shows a part of a column layout display section of the remote controller of the above-mentioned embodiment, (a) is an explanatory view of a state where the column display position a and the cursor b are at different positions, and (b) is a column display position a. The explanatory view of the state where the cursor b is at the same position is shown.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a control system of the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of allocation setting according to the embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of allocation setting following FIG. 12 of the above embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Storage column 28 Product selection button 130 Remote control as setting means 152 Storage section as storage means

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A vending machine having a plurality of storage columns for storing products by type and a plurality of product selection buttons for selecting products, wherein a storage column and a product selection button are provided for each type of product. And a storage means for storing a combination of a storage column for each type of product and a product selection button which are set by the setting device. Storage product setting device for vending machines. 2. In a vending machine having a plurality of storage columns for storing products by type and a plurality of product selection buttons for selecting products, a group number is assigned to each product type, and each group number is assigned to each group number. Setting means for setting the numbers and positions of the storage columns and the product selection buttons in an arbitrary combination, and storage means for storing the combination of the storage columns and the product selection buttons of each group number set by the setting means. A storage product setting device for a vending machine, characterized by comprising: