JP3514918B2 - Vending machine cash processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a money processing apparatus for an automatic vending machine (hereinafter referred to as a vending machine) which controls a banknote processing apparatus and a coin processing apparatus by a master / slave system by a main control unit to dispense change.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional vending machines that accept coins and banknotes,
A so-called master / slave system is mainly used in which the main control unit collectively controls the coin processing device and the bill processing device.
The configuration and monetary processing operation of each device according to this method are as follows. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a master-slave system of a vending machine. Reference numeral 1 denotes a main control unit of the vending machine as a master, which serves as a slave via a serial communication line 4.
The coin processing device 2, the bill processing device 3, and the other device 5 are collectively controlled. Each device has a built-in control microcomputer.

FIG. 5 shows a communication interface section between each of the above devices and the main control section. The main control unit 1 includes a pair of transmission / reception lines, that is, a main control unit reception line 55 and a main control unit transmission line 56.
The transmission / reception lines of slaves such as the coin processing device 2 and the bill processing device 3 are connected to this communication line. Information between each device and the main control unit is the main control unit 1 and the coin processing device 2.
Or between the main control unit 1 and the bill processing device 3 respectively. For example, from the coin processing device 2, information indicating the number of change is periodically transmitted to the main control unit 1 via the coin processing device transmission line 51.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing an operation of setting transmission information of the number of change coins transmitted from the coin processing device 2 to the main control unit 1 in the storage unit of the coin processing device. This operation is as follows. The coins are stored in the coin storage portion of the coin processing device 2 according to types such as 10 yen and 50 yen.
The number of pieces of change held in the storage unit is detected by a sensor such as a proximity switch, and normally, if the number of pieces of change held is 10 or more, 10 pieces (with change) are set, and if less than 0 pieces (no change).

In a coin insertion waiting state, that is, when waiting for customers (step S61, branch N), a change set loop (from step S62 to step S66) is entered. In this loop, if the sensor detects the change (step S63, branch Y), the transmission information is set to 10 pieces of change (step S64), and if the change is detected, the change is detected (step S63, branch N). ) The change number is set to 0 (step S65). When this change setting operation is performed for all types of coins, the change setting loop is exited and the process proceeds to step S67. By the above operation, the number of change sets is changed by replenishing or collecting the coins in the coin storage unit while the coins are in the standby state.

On the other hand, when a coin is inserted in step S61 (branch Y), the main control unit 1 on the vending machine side determines whether or not the product can be sold.
It proceeds to step S67. In other words, the change in the number of change sets is prohibited. In step S67, input /
The process of adding / subtracting the number of change coins by the payout coin is performed, and the process ends.

By the above operation, the number of change sets does not change when coins are inserted, so that there is no inconvenience that the change cannot be paid out after the products are provided.

[0008]

The conventional vending machine change processing has the following problems. When using a vending machine that uses both coins and banknotes as described above, if the banknotes are inserted into the banknote processing device before the coins are inserted, the change cannot be refunded properly, such as the change cannot be refunded after the product is provided. Sometimes. The reason is as follows.

For example, it is assumed that there are 10 100-yen coins in the coin processing device 2 when selling a product of 100-yen price. At this time, as described above, the change information transmitted from the coin processing device 2 to the main control unit 1 is set to 10 change numbers. Here, when one 1000-yen banknote is inserted into the banknote processing device 3, the main control unit 1 determines that the product can be sold based on the transmission information of the coin processing device 2, and provides the product.

However, when the change of 900 yen is returned and the change state of the change amount sensor of the coin processing device 2 changes and the change 0 is detected, the coin processing device 2 mainly detects the change amount 0 by the above operation. It is transmitted to the control unit. For this reason,
The change may not be returned normally. That is,
When a coin is first inserted into the coin processing device 2, the change change is prohibited even if the detection state of the sensor changes, so that the normal change process is performed. However, when a bill is first inserted into the bill processing device 3, the bill processing device transmission line 52 is connected to the main control unit reception line 55 as shown in FIG. Processor line 53)
Then, this bill insertion cannot be detected. Therefore, on the coin processing device 2 side, step S61 in the flowchart of FIG.
Since it is determined that there is no coin insertion (branch N), and the change set loop is entered, the change in the detection state of the sensor is set in the change information (in the above case, the change number is 0) and is transmitted to the main control unit 1. Is.

The change in the sensor detection state described above occurs, for example, in the following cases. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state in which coins 73 are stored in the coin storage portion (change tube) 71 of the coin processing device 2. The number of coins is detected by an empty sensor 72 such as a proximity switch. Normally, since there is a gap 74 between the coin 73 and the change tube 71, depending on whether the coin is located near the sensor or at a position away from the sensor,
The output of the empty sensor 72 changes. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing this state. For example, when 13 coins are actually stored in the change tube 71, it is output that there is change when the sensor is close to the sensor (the left figure in FIG. 8), but there is no change when the change tube is located away from the sensor. Is output (right figure in FIG. 8).

An object of the present invention is a vending machine which uses both bills and coins, and when bills are first inserted into the bill processing device,
The change in the number of change coins transmitted from the coin processing device to the main control unit is prohibited.

[0013]

A money processing apparatus for a vending machine according to the present invention is a money processing apparatus for a vending machine in which a banknote processing apparatus and a coin processing apparatus are controlled by a master / slave system by a main control unit. A bill detecting means for detecting that a bill is inserted into the processing device, a number detecting means for detecting the number of change coins stored in the coin processing device, and a number setting means for setting and storing the number of coins by the number detecting means. A monitoring means for monitoring transmission information with the insertion of a bill from the bill processing device to the main control unit based on the bill detection means, and when the monitoring means detects that a bill has been inserted into the bill processing device, The change in the number of change due to the number setting means is prohibited.

As a result, when the bill is inserted into the bill processing device first, the change in the number of change is prohibited based on the information of the monitoring means. Further, if the monitoring means monitors the signal from the bill processing device to the main control unit and the signal from the main control unit to the coin processing device on the transmission path by logical sum, the bill processing can be performed with a simple circuit configuration. Banknote insertion into the device is monitored.

Further, if the signal from the bill processing device to the main control unit and the signal from the main control unit to the coin processing device have identification codes for identifying each other, the signal from the bill processing device. Are easily identified.

[0016]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. The vending machine according to the present invention is controlled by a master / slave system. Reference numeral 1 denotes a main control unit of a vending machine as a master, which collectively controls a coin processing device 2, a banknote processing device 3, and other devices 5 as slaves via a serial communication line 4. Each device has a built-in control microcomputer.

FIG. 2 shows a communication interface section between each of the above devices and the main control section 1. The difference between this interface unit and the above-mentioned conventional interface unit (FIG. 5) is that the transmission line common to the slaves and the input line of the coin processing device 2 are connected by a logical sum (OR) as in the range shown by the dotted line. Connection)
Is what you are doing. Therefore, the data transmitted from the bill processing device 3 to the main control unit 1 can be monitored on the coin processing device 2 side. That is, the conventional interface unit (FIG. 5) cannot recognize the insertion of the bill into the bill processing device 3 on the coin processing device 2 side, but the interface unit according to the present invention (FIG. 2) can recognize it. In addition, the bill processing device 3 is provided on the reception line 23 of the coin processing device 2.
From the main control unit 1 and the transmission data from the main control unit 1 to the coin processing device 2 are input,
The two can be identified by a code such as a header of each signal.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are flowcharts showing the operation of the main part of the money processing by the interface section according to the present invention. First, FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of monitoring whether or not a bill has been inserted into the bill processing device 3 on the coin processing device 2 side. If there is no data request from the banknote processing device 3 (step S31, branch N), the process ends. If there is a request (branch Y), the data of the bill processing device 3 is received, and after the transmission is completed (step S32, branch Y), when a bill is inserted (step S33, branch Y), the coin handling device 2 A bill insertion flag is set in a storage unit or the like in the microcomputer (step S34), and if there is no bill insertion (step S33, branch N), the bill insertion flag is cleared (step S35), and the process ends.

Next, FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the operation of setting the change number information from the coin processing device 2 to the main control section 1. This flowchart has a configuration in which a step of determining whether or not a bill has been inserted in the bill processing apparatus 3 is added between steps S61 and S62 of the above-described flowchart (FIG. 6) showing the conventional operation.

That is, in FIG. 4, when no coin is inserted into the coin processing device 2 (step S41, branch N), it is determined whether or not the above-mentioned bill insertion flag is ON (step S42). When it is ON (branch Y), the process proceeds to step S48 in order to prohibit the change of change information. When it is not on, that is, when there is no bill inserted (branch N), the change change loop (from step S43 to step S47) is entered, as in the conventional change number setting operation. That is, for each coin type, if the sensor detects that there is change (step S44, branch Y), 10 coins are set (step S45), and if no change is detected (step S44, branch). N) The change number 0 is set (step S46), and the change number adding / subtracting process is performed in step S48 (step S48).

According to the above operation, conventionally, when a bill is inserted into the bill processing device 3 before the coin is inserted into the coin processing device 2, it cannot be recognized by the coin processing device 2 side. Although the number of coins to be changed was set according to the change in the number of coins to be changed, in the present invention, since the insertion of a banknote can be recognized by the state of the flag for inserting a banknote, the change processing is performed without entering the change set loop and therefore the change is performed. Change can be prohibited.

As a result, even if a bill is inserted into the bill processing device first, change of change is prohibited and change processing can be properly performed.

[0023]

According to the present invention, the insertion of bills into the bill processing device is monitored on the coin processing device side, and the change in the number of change due to the coin detecting means is prohibited. Therefore, even if a banknote is inserted into the banknote processing device before the coin is inserted into the coin processing device and the change detection state changes thereafter, the problem that the product is sold but the change is not refunded is prevented. It is possible to improve the reliability of the change dispensing operation.

Further, as the monitoring means, if a signal on the communication line from the bill processing device to the main control unit and a signal on the communication line from the main control unit to the coin processing device are monitored by a logical sum, a simple circuit structure is obtained. You can monitor the insertion of bills into the bill processor. Furthermore, if an identification code is added to each of the signal on the communication line from the bill processing device to the main control unit and the signal on the communication line from the main control unit to the coin processing device, the bill insertion signal to the bill processing device can be easily performed. Can be identified.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an interface unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a bill insertion monitor operation of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a change setting operation of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a conventional interface unit.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a conventional change setting operation.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state where coins are stored.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a relationship between a coin storage state and a sensor output.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Main control part, 2 ... Coin processing device, 3 ... Banknote processing device,
4 ... Serial communication line, 5 ... Other devices, 21, 51 ...
Coin processing device transmission line, 22, 52 ... Banknote processing device transmission line, 23, 53 ... Coin processing device reception line, 24, 54 ... Banknote processing device reception line, 25, 55 ... Main control unit reception line, 2
6, 56 ... Main control unit transmission line, 71 ... Change tube, 72
… Empty sensor, 73… Coins, 74… Gap.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-5-12549 (JP, A) JP-A-52-49894 (JP, A) Actually open 59-58879 (JP, U) Actual-open Sho 57- 202185 (JP, U) Actual development Sho 59-53482 (JP, U) Actual development Sho 51-156897 (JP, U) Actual development Sho 58-10174 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G07F 5 / 24,9 / 00

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A money processing apparatus for a vending machine, wherein a banknote processing apparatus and a coin processing apparatus are controlled by a main control unit in a master-slave system, and a banknote detection for detecting that a banknote has been inserted into the banknote processing apparatus. Means, a number detecting means for detecting the number of change coins stored in the coin processing device, a number setting means for setting and storing the number of coins by the number detecting means, and a bill processing device based on the bill detecting means to a main control unit And a monitoring unit for monitoring transmission information indicating that a banknote has been inserted into the banknote processing unit. When the monitoring unit detects that a banknote has been inserted into the banknote processing apparatus, the change of the number of change due to the number setting unit is prohibited. Cash processing device for vending machines. 2. The money processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring means monitors a signal from the banknote processing apparatus to the main control section and a signal from the main control section to the coin processing apparatus by a logical sum on the transmission path. A cash processing device for a vending machine, which is characterized by: 3. The money processing device according to claim 2, wherein the signal from the banknote processing device to the main control unit and the signal from the main control unit to the coin processing device each have an identification code for identifying themselves. A cash processing device for a vending machine.