JPS6230678B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application This invention relates to a vending machine that sells a variety of products by combining and blending a plurality of raw materials.

Prior Art In a vending machine that selects and sells black coffee, coffee with sugar, and coffee with sugar cream using a selection switch, once the selected coffee is replaced with another type of coffee due to a customer's erroneous operation, etc. There may be times when you want to change it.

However, in conventional relay-controlled vending machines, when the selection switch for one product A is turned on after inserting a predetermined amount of money, the relay XA associated with that product A is held by itself; Automatic vending operations such as transporting raw materials for product A are performed by the contact signal, and once product A is selected, the corresponding relay XA continues to hold itself, so once the product Once selected, it was not possible to change to another product.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention This invention has been made to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a vending machine that is easy to use for customers and allows for changes.

Means for Solving the Problems The vending machine of the present invention is a vending machine that sells a wide variety of products by combining and blending a plurality of raw materials, and includes a product selection switch that arbitrarily selects the type of product, and a product selection switch that selects the type of product at will. A storage means for storing products, a raw material discharge means for discharging the raw materials of the products stored in the storage means, and a timer means for measuring a predetermined time from when the product selection switch is input until the raw materials are discharged. The present invention is characterized in that the timer means is provided with re-input permission means for allowing input to the product selection switch again while the timer means is counting time.

Operation In the above configuration, when a product is selected by the product selection switch, a signal generated by the selection switch is applied to the storage means, and the selected product is stored in the storage means.

When predetermined sales conditions are met, the raw materials for the product stored in the storage means are discharged to the raw material discharge means. On the other hand, the timer means measures a predetermined time from when the product selection switch is input until the raw material is discharged, and while the timer means is measuring time, it is possible to input the product selection switch again.

Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a CPU (central processing unit) of a vending machine, and for example, a microcomputer is used. Reference numeral 2 denotes a hardening detection mechanism for detecting coins inserted into the vending machine, and outputs a signal to an output terminal corresponding to the amount of money inserted.
The output terminal of the coin detection mechanism 2 is connected to the CPU 1.

Reference numerals 3a, 3b, . For example, push button switch 3a is for coffee, 3b is for cream,
3c indicates sugar.

The CPU 1 is equipped with a register as a storage device, and the register 1a in the CPU 1 is provided with an area for storing the product specified by the push button switch, and the register 1X for output during sales operation.
A signal indicating the product is written in the corresponding stage.

Furthermore, it takes about 2.5 seconds to 3 seconds for the CPU 1 to discharge the coffee raw materials from the raw material tank after the first product selection is made, and a timer T1 is used as a timer means to measure this time.
is provided. That is, the timer T1 measures the time during which the selected product can be changed from when the product selection switch is pressed until the product is discharged.

4a, 4b, ......, 4n are relays that drive motors serving as raw material discharge means for discharging raw materials for products to be sold; for example, 4a is for coffee, 4b is for cream, and 4c is for sugar. .

Figure 2 shows an example of a program that controls the vending machine shown in Figure 1.
Stored in CPU1. Note that the CPU 1 has control functions required to sell various designated products, such as comparing the input amount with the product price set on a price board (not shown), similar to a known vending machine. , a function that generates a signal indicating that the product is ready for sale (sale-ready signal), a lamp that indicates that the product is ready for sale, a function that sets the discharge time of raw materials for a specified product, and discharges a predetermined amount of raw materials. However, since it is the same as a known one, the explanation will be omitted.

In the above vending machine, at step S1
The CPU is initialized and various input data are read in step S2. Then, in step S3, it is determined whether the product to be sold is sold out, and if it is not sold out, the process proceeds to step S4 to determine whether there is a sales permission signal, and if there is a sales permission signal, the process proceeds to step S5 to sell the product. Turn on the sales lamp (not shown). Then, in step S6, it is determined whether or not there is a product selection command from the push-button switch, and if so, the process advances to step S7 to start the sales operation. If the product is sold out in step S3, it is displayed as sold out in step S7'. If there is no sales permission in step S4, the sales lamp (not shown) is turned off in step S8'. Such operation is similar to that of a known vending machine.

Next, the input is read in step S8, and timer T1 is activated in S9. In step S10, it is determined whether or not the set time of T1 has elapsed, and if it has not elapsed,
That is, if the raw material has not been discharged yet, the process proceeds to step S11, where it is determined whether or not an input has been made from the product selection push button.If the signal from the selection push button has been input, the process proceeds to step S12. Proceed to step S13 to determine whether the input amount is valid, and if it is valid, proceed to step S13 and register 1X.
It is rewritten to the product corresponding to the selection pushbutton read out as described above. In addition, the lighting of the sales lamp is also changed in step S14 accordingly.

The rewritten products are then sold.

Step S11 or above in CPU1
S14 constitutes a re-input permission means.

Next, the operation will be explained.

For example, when a predetermined amount of money is inserted and black coffee (coffee without sugar or cream) is designated by the pushbutton switch 3a, a signal "1" is set at the position indicating black coffee in register 1X. is written. Then, the indicator lamp indicating black coffee lights up.

On the other hand, the timer T1 is activated and sales operations such as discharging the cup and calculating change are started. During this time, steps S2 to S16 are repeated.

If the push button switch 2a for cream is turned on to change from black coffee to coffee with cream before the set time limit of timer T1 elapses, a signal indicating the selection of cream is written to the corresponding position of register 1R. . Then, in step S11, it is determined that the selection input is valid, and in step S12, it is determined whether correction of change etc. is necessary. If correction is not necessary, the process advances to step S13.
Signal “1” at the position indicating cream in register 1X
is written. Also, the cream sales lamp lights up.

After that, if the product selection is not changed and time T1 has elapsed, a negative determination is made in step S10, the process proceeds to step S15, sales processing is performed, and register 1 is
According to the contents of X, relay 4a for coffee,
The cream relay 4b is turned on as appropriate, coffee and cream are discharged, and coffee with cream is sold.

If, for example, the push button switch 3c for sugar is turned on after the above-mentioned time T1 has elapsed, the product will not be changed and coffee with cream and no sugar will be sold.

Furthermore, even if the push button switch is turned on to change the type of product before time T1 has elapsed, if the price of the product is different from the price of the previously specified product, the product cannot be changed.

Effects of the Invention As detailed above, the present invention provides a vending machine that can select and sell multiple types of products. Since the vending machine can be changed, it is possible to provide a vending machine that is easy for customers to use.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a program used in the embodiment of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a diagram corresponding to claims. 1...CPU, 2...Coin detection mechanism, 3a, 3
b, 3c...Push button switch, 4a, 4b...
Relay, 1X...Register, T1...Timer.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A vending machine that sells a wide variety of products by combining and blending a plurality of raw materials, including a product selection switch that arbitrarily selects the type of product, a storage device that stores the selected product, and the storage device. a raw material discharging means for discharging the raw material of the product stored in the
A timer means for counting a predetermined time from when the product selection switch is input until the raw material is discharged, and a re-input permission means for allowing the product selection switch to be input again while the timer means is counting time. A vending machine characterized by: