JP5740962B2 - vending machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vending machine.

Today, various types of vending machines are installed in various places, making everyday life convenient. Also, vending machine technology advances day by day, and vending machines with new functions are appearing one after another.
For example, a technology for controlling change of a vending machine has also been advanced (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP-A-9-147194

  A vending machine is configured with a plurality of electronic devices built in, and these electronic devices cooperate with each other and operate while exchanging control information. I will provide a. Each electronic device built in one vending machine is compliant with the same control specifications so that advanced control can be performed in close cooperation with each other.

  Thus, for example, when it becomes necessary to replace an electronic device in a vending machine with a new electronic device, and the control specifications to which the new electronic device conforms do not match the control specifications of the original electronic device. As a result, the electronic devices cannot be linked and the vending machine does not operate correctly.

  Therefore, in the field of vending machines where new functions appear one after another and improvements are progressing day by day, it is possible to determine whether or not the control specifications of the electronic devices in the vending machine comply with the predetermined control specifications. The technology to do is demanded.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a vending machine capable of determining whether or not the control specifications of the electronic device in the vending machine comply with a predetermined control specification. One purpose.

One of means for solving the above problem is a vending machine configured by communicably connecting a plurality of electronic devices compliant with at least one of the first control specification and the second control specification, A first electronic device compliant with both the first control specification and the second control specification transmits a command defined only in the first control specification to the second electronic device, and the first electronic device corresponding to the command According to a response result from two electronic devices, the vending machine determines whether or not the second electronic device complies with the first control specification.
In addition, the problems disclosed by the present application and the solutions thereof will be clarified by the description in the column of the embodiment for carrying out the invention and the description of the drawings.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it becomes possible to determine whether the control specification of the electronic device in a vending machine is based on a predetermined control specification.

It is a figure showing an example of composition of a vending machine concerning this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the electronic device in the vending machine which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart of the determination process which concerns on this embodiment.

=== External configuration example of vending machine ===
An external configuration example of the vending machine 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the vending machine 1 of the present embodiment includes a front door 2 having a customer service surface 10 on the front.
For example, when a predetermined amount of money is inserted from a user, the vending machine 1 according to the present embodiment pours beverages such as coffee into a built-in disposable cup and provides them to the user.

  The front door 2 is pivotally supported by a side end portion of a main body (not shown) that houses electronic devices such as a coin mech 300, a bill burr 400, and a vending control unit 501 described later, and opens and closes. The front door 2 is unlocked and opened when, for example, rootman replenishes or collects money, and is locked and closed when selling beverages.

  The customer service 10 serves as an interface between the user and the vending machine 1, and includes a product selection button 11, a sugar increase / decrease button 12, a cream increase / decrease button 13, increase / decrease display lamps 20 and 21, a display lamp 22, and a display 25. It has.

  The product selection button 11 is a button for the user to select a beverage. In the present embodiment, a sale-ready lamp (not shown) and a sold-out lamp (not shown) are built in, and a plurality of types are provided on the customer service surface 10. The drinks are arranged so as to correspond to the display of photographs, designs, characters, and the like.

The display lamp 22 is lit to display to the user that the disposable cup is paid out to a predetermined position of the product outlet 19 and the beverage is sold. The display 25 displays a predetermined message to the user.
The customer service surface 10 includes a coin insertion slot 15, a bill insertion slot 16, a return lever 17, a card reader / writer 14, a return slot 18, and a product outlet 19.

  The coin slot 15 is for the user to insert coins to pay for the beverage. Moreover, the banknote insertion port 16 is for a user to insert a banknote in order to pay the price of a drink.

  The return lever 17 is for returning the inserted coin or change to the return port 18. The card reader / writer 14 is used to read information about a sales history from the IC card and write the information to the IC card when the user holds the IC card over when selling beverages.

  The product outlet 19 has a space in which the dispensed disposable cup is placed, and also has a space in which the beverage is supplied to the disposable cup through the supply pipe 125. The user takes out the disposable cup supplied with the beverage through the entrance of the product outlet 19.

=== Vending machine electronics ===
The vending machine 1 includes a plurality of electronic devices. These electronic devices are communicably connected to each other, operate in cooperation with each other while receiving control information such as commands, and perform control for providing a user with a coffee drink, for example.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a plurality of electronic devices provided in the vending machine 1 according to the present embodiment. With reference to FIG. 2, an electronic apparatus provided in the vending machine 1 of the present embodiment will be described.

  The vending machine 1 according to the present embodiment includes a main control unit 200, a coin mech 300, a bill burr 400, a vending control unit 501, and a vending mechanism 502.

The main control unit 200 is communicably connected to the coin mech 300, the bill validator 400, and the vending control unit 501. The main control unit 200 performs overall control of the vending machine 1 while exchanging control information with the coin mech 300, the bill validator 400, and the vending control unit 501.
The main control unit 200 includes a CPU 201, a ROM 202, a RAM 203, a timer 204, and a counter 205.

  The CPU 201 controls the main control unit 200 by executing a predetermined program stored in the ROM 202. The RAM 203 stores various information such as control information acquired from the coin mech 300, the bill validator 400, the automatic sales control unit 501, and the like. The timer 204 measures the time of each operation in beverage sales. The counter 205 counts the number of times the sugar increase / decrease button 12 or the cream increase / decrease button 13 is pressed, for example.

  The coin mech 300 is an electronic device that accepts, sorts, and stores coins input to the user, and has a function of controlling the number of coins held in the vending machine 1 for change. The coin mech 300 corresponds to, for example, four denominations of 10 yen coin, 50 yen coin, 100 yen coin, and 500 yen coin. The coin mech 300 includes a coin processing control unit 301 and a coin insertion mechanism 302.

  The coin processing control unit 301 determines the authenticity of the inserted coins, controls for sorting coins by type into coin tubes (not shown) for storing the inserted coins, Control such as detection of the number of each coin is performed.

  The coin insertion mechanism 302 includes the above-described coin tube, a passage until the inserted coin falls to the coin tube, a passage from the coin tube to the return port 18, and the like.

  When the coin mech 300 detects the coin insertion from the coin insertion slot 15, the coin mech 300 calculates the amount to be inserted and transmits it to the main control unit 200. The coin mech 300 detects the number of coins stored in the coin tube according to the type in response to a request from the main control unit 200 and transmits the number of coins to the main control unit 200. In addition, when coin change is detected, the coin mech 300 transmits information to that effect to the main control unit 200.

The bill validator 400 is an electronic device that receives, sorts, and stores bills inserted by users. The bill burr 400 includes a bill processing control unit 401 and a bill insertion mechanism 402.
The banknote processing control unit 401 performs control such as authenticity determination of inserted banknotes, control for sorting inserted banknotes by type, and detection of the number of each banknote.
The bill insertion mechanism 402 is configured by a passage or the like until the inserted bill is stored.

  When the bill validator 400 detects the insertion of the bill from the bill insertion slot 16, the bill validator 400 calculates the amount of insertion and transmits it to the main control unit 200. Moreover, the bill validator 400 detects the number of banknotes stored in each type, and transmits the number of banknotes to the main control unit 200. Further, when the bill validator 400 detects a change of change, the bill validator 400 transmits information to that effect to the main control unit 200.

The automatic sales mechanism 502 includes a product selection button 11, a sugar increase / decrease button 12, a cream increase / decrease button 13, a card reader / writer 14, increase / decrease display lamps 20 and 21, a display lamp 22 and a display 25, as well as dispensing of disposable cups and beverages Includes mechanisms controlled to provide beverages to the user, such as cooking, dispensing beverages into disposable cups, etc.
The vending control unit 501 controls the vending mechanism 502 described above.

  For example, when the product selection button 11, the sugar increase / decrease button 12, the cream increase / decrease button 13, etc. are pressed, the vending control unit 501 generates a detection signal corresponding to each button and transmits it to the main control unit 200. The vending control unit 501 controls the vending mechanism 502 in response to a control signal from the main control unit 200, and controls beverage cooking, disposable cup dispensing, beverage pouring, and the like.

=== Electronic equipment control specifications ===
As described above, since the technology of the vending machine 1 is progressing one after another, each time a new technology is developed, a new electronic device to which a new function is added is commercialized.

  For example, the control specification of an electronic device equipped with the latest function is the first control specification, the control specification one generation before the first control specification is the second control specification, and the control specification one generation before the second control specification is The third control specification is assumed. In addition, a new function that is not in the third control specification is added to the second control specification, and a new function that is not in either the second control specification or the third control specification is added to the first control specification. Suppose that it has been added.

Each electronic device in the vending machine 1 operates in cooperation with each other while exchanging commands such as control information, and therefore conforms to any one of the same control specifications.
For example, it is assumed that the main control unit 200 and the coin mech 300 according to the present embodiment both conform to the first control specification.

  In this case, a command defined by the first control specification is exchanged between the main control unit 200 and the coin mech 300. That is, when a command defined in the first control specification is transmitted from the main control unit 200 to the coin mech 300, a normal response result defined in the first control specification is transmitted from the coin mech 300.

  In this case, even if the main control unit 200 transmits any command defined in the first control specification to the coin mech 300, the normal response result defined in the first control specification is received from the coin mech 300. Receive. Accordingly, even if the main control unit 200 transmits a command defined only in the first control specification (for example, an extended command not defined in the second control specification older than the first control specification), Receives a normal response result as defined in the first control specification.

In this way, the main control unit 200 according to the present embodiment transmits an extended command defined only in the first control specification to the coin mech 300, and displays a normal response result defined in the first control specification as a coin mech. By receiving from 300, it can be determined that the coin mech 300 conforms to the first control specification. The main control unit 200 can control the coin mech 300 using a command based on the first control specification.
Next, a case where the coin mech 300 is not compliant with the first control specification and is compliant with the second control specification one generation before the first control specification will be described.

  In this case, the main control unit 200 receives a normal response result as defined in the first control specification from the coin mech 300 even if the extended command defined only in the first control specification is transmitted to the coin mech 300. I can't do it. Therefore, the main control unit 200 can determine that the coin mech 300 does not comply with the first control specification.

  Since the main control unit 200 conforms to the first control specification, it conforms to the second control specification of the previous generation. Therefore, the main control unit 200 can determine whether or not the coin mech 300 conforms to the second control specification by transmitting a command defined only in the second control specification to the coin mech 300. . When the main control unit 200 receives a normal response result defined in the second control specification from the coin mech 300, the main control unit 200 can determine that the coin mech 300 conforms to the second control specification. The main control unit 200 can control the coin mech 300 using a command based on the second control specification.

  If the main control unit 200 fails to receive a normal response result defined in the second control specification from the coin mech 300, similarly, whether the coin mech 300 conforms to the third control specification. Can be determined.

  In addition, when the main control unit 200 transmits an extended command defined only in the first control specification to the coin mech 300, the main control unit 200 receives a normal response result as defined in the first control specification from the coin mech 300. Even if the failure cannot be made, the cause is, for example, a failure such as a poor communication path between the main control unit 200 and the coin mech 300, or an effect of transient noise from the external environment. It may be possible.

Therefore, the main control unit 200 receives the normal response result as defined in the first control specification from the coin mech 300 as a result of transmitting the extended command defined only in the first control specification to the coin mech 300. If not, the extended command may be retransmitted to the coin mech 300. If the main control unit 200 does not receive a normal response result from the coin mech 300 even if the extended command is transmitted a predetermined number of times, the main control unit 200 determines that the coin mech 300 does not comply with the first control specification. You may do it.
By doing in this way, it becomes possible to prevent misjudgment by a communication failure, a temporary malfunction, etc., and it becomes possible to improve the reliability of the vending machine 1.

  As described above, the main control unit 200 is a function that is not included in the control specification of the previous generation in order from a control specification in which more functions are determined for a plurality of control specifications to which the main control unit 200 complies. By transmitting a command related to the coin mech 300, it is possible to specify a control specification that the coin mech 300 complies with. Then, the main control unit 200 can control the coin mech 300 according to the specified control specification.

  Thereby, even if the control specifications of the electronic devices in the vending machine 1 do not match, the vending machine 1 can be controlled. Therefore, for example, when it becomes necessary to replace an electronic device in the vending machine 1 with a new electronic device, an electronic device having the same control specifications as the original electronic device is not readily available. Even in this case, it is possible to substitute a provisional product having a different control specification.

  In addition, since the range of control specifications of the electronic devices mounted on the vending machine 1 is widened, the degree of freedom of selection of the electronic devices is increased, and lower cost electronic devices are used according to the demand of the owner of the vending machine 1 and the like. Thus, the vending machine 1 can be configured.

The above processing flow will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
First, the main control unit 200 transmits an extension command to the coin mech 300 (S1000). Here, the extended command means a command defined only in a control specification that is a determination target of whether or not the coin mech 300 is compliant.

  In response to the transmission of the extension command from the main control unit 200 to the coin mech 300, the coin mech 300 transmits a response to the main control unit 200 (S1010). If the coin mech 300 conforms to the control specification corresponding to the extended command, the coin mech 300 transmits a normal response (ACK) defined in the control specification. On the other hand, if the coin mech 300 does not comply with the control specification, NACK is transmitted or no response is transmitted.

  Next, the main control unit 200 determines whether or not the number of transmissions of the extension command exceeds a predetermined number (S1020). If the number of expansion command transmissions does not exceed the predetermined number, the process proceeds to “NO”.

  The main control unit 200 determines whether or not the response from the coin mech 300 in S1010 is a normal response (S1030). If it is not a normal response or a normal response cannot be received within a predetermined time, the process proceeds to “NO”, and the main control unit 200 transmits the extended command to the coin mech 300 again (S1000).

  When the response from the coin mech 300 in S1010 is a normal response, the main control unit 200 proceeds to “YES” in S1030. The main control unit 200 determines that the coin mech 300 conforms to the control specification corresponding to the extended command (S1060). The main control unit 200 controls the coin mech 300 according to the control specifications.

  On the other hand, when the number of transmissions of the extended command exceeds the determination value in S1020, the main control unit 200 determines that the coin mech 300 does not comply with the control specification corresponding to the extended command (S1040). The main control unit 200 controls the coin mech 300 without using the extension command.

  As described above, the coin mech 300 is an electronic device that accepts, sorts, and stores coins input to the user. To do.

  The change setting function is a function of paying out coins stored in the coin tube to a preset number when the rootman collects change from the vending machine 1. If the set number is not reached at the time of change collection, the coin mech 300 transmits an insufficient number to the main control unit 200, and the main control unit 200 displays the insufficient number on the display 25.

  The remaining amount matching function is a function of dropping a predetermined number or more of coins into the cash box when a predetermined number or more of coins input from the user are stored in the coin tube.

  The main control unit 200 transmits a command used only for the change setting function and the remaining amount adjustment function to the coin mech 300, and determines whether the coin mech 300 returns a normal response or not. It can be determined whether or not 300 corresponds to the change setting function or the remaining amount adjustment function.

As described above, the coin mech 300 corresponds to four denominations of a 10 yen coin, a 50 yen coin, a 100 yen coin, and a 500 yen coin. However, when the main control unit 200 corresponds to, for example, six denominations of 1 yen coin, 5 yen coin, 10 yen coin, 50 yen coin, 100 yen coin, and 500 yen coin, The coin mech 300 corresponding to these six denominations can also be controlled.
Therefore, in this case, the main control unit 200 transmits a command used only for the coin mech 300 that can use 1 yen coins and 5 yen coins to the coin mech 300, and whether or not a normal response is returned from the coin mech 300. Accordingly, it can be determined whether or not the coin mech 300 is a coin mech 300 corresponding to a 1-yen coin and a 5-yen coin.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to determine whether or not the control specification of the electronic device in the vending machine 1 conforms to the predetermined control specification.
Further, the main control unit 200 coins commands related to functions not included in the control specification of the previous generation in order from a control specification in which more functions are determined for a plurality of control specifications to which the main control unit 200 complies. By transmitting to the mech 300, it is possible to specify the control specifications that the coin mech 300 complies with. Then, the main control unit 200 can control the coin mech 300 according to the specified control specification.

  Thereby, even if the control specifications of the electronic devices in the vending machine 1 do not match, the vending machine 1 can be controlled. Therefore, for example, when it becomes necessary to replace an electronic device in the vending machine 1 with a new electronic device, an electronic device having the same control specifications as the original electronic device is not readily available. Even in this case, it is possible to substitute a provisional product having a different control specification.

  In addition, since the range of control specifications of the electronic devices mounted on the vending machine 1 is widened, the degree of freedom of selection of the electronic devices is increased, and lower cost electronic devices are used according to the demand of the owner of the vending machine 1 and the like. Thus, the vending machine 1 can be configured.

  In the above embodiment, the first control specification has been described as having an additional function in addition to the function defined in the second control specification. However, the first control specification and the second control specification are compatible. There may be no mutually independent control specifications.

  In this case, if the main control unit 200 transmits a command conforming to the first control specification to the coin mech 300 and a normal response is obtained, the main control unit 200 can determine that the coin mech 300 conforms to the first control specification. If a command conforming to the second control specification is transmitted to the coin mech 300 and a normal response is obtained, it can be determined that the coin mech 300 conforms to the second control specification.

  As mentioned above, although the suitable Example of this invention was described, these are the illustrations for description of this invention, Comprising: It is not the meaning which limits the scope of the present invention only to an Example. The present invention can be implemented in various other forms.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vending machine 200 Main control part 210 Coin processing control part 211 Coin insertion mechanism 220 Banknote processing control part 221 Banknote insertion mechanism 300 Coin mech 301 Coin processing control part 302 Coin insertion mechanism 400 Bill burr 401 Banknote processing control part 402 Bill insertion mechanism 501 Vending control unit 502 Vending mechanism

Claims (7)

A vending machine configured by communicably connecting a plurality of electronic devices compliant with at least one of the first control specification and the second control specification,
A first electronic device compliant with both the first control specification and the second control specification transmits a command defined only in the first control specification to the second electronic device, and the first electronic device corresponding to the command 2. A vending machine that determines whether or not the second electronic device complies with the first control specification according to a response result from the two electronic devices. A vending machine according to claim 1,
When the first electronic device can receive a normal response result defined in the first control specification from the second electronic device, the second electronic device conforms to the first control specification. A vending machine characterized by being judged. A vending machine according to claim 2,
When the first electronic device determines that the second electronic device is compliant with the first control specification, the first electronic device controls the second electronic device using a command compliant with the first control specification. Vending machine characterized by that. A vending machine according to claim 1,
If the first electronic device fails to receive a normal response result defined in the first control specification from the second electronic device, the second electronic device conforms to the first control specification. A vending machine characterized by the fact that it is not. A vending machine according to claim 1,
If the first electronic device fails to receive a normal response result defined in the first control specification from the second electronic device, the first electronic device sends the command defined only in the first control specification to the first electronic device. When the second electronic device fails to receive a normal response result from the second electronic device continuously for a predetermined number of times, the second electronic device does not comply with the first control specification. A vending machine characterized by being judged. A vending machine according to claim 4 or 5,
If the first electronic device determines that the second electronic device does not conform to the first control specification, the first electronic device controls the second electronic device using a command conforming to the second control specification. Vending machine characterized by that. A vending machine according to claim 1,
The second electronic device is an electronic device that controls the number of coins held for change in the vending machine,
The first electronic device is an electronic device that controls the second electronic device to control the number of coins,
The first electronic device transmits a command for executing control of contents defined only in the first control specification to the second electronic device, and a response result from the second electronic device to the command Accordingly, it is determined whether or not the second electronic device complies with the first control specification.

Images