JPS6357834B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] <Industrial Application Field> The present invention provides a setting button that is operated to set the purchase data such as the quantity and type when purchasing a product, and the operation of this setting button. Later, the present invention relates to a vending machine equipped with an execution button that is operated to execute a product purchase, and particularly to a vending machine that has a correcting function in the event that a setting button is erroneously operated.

<Prior art> Conventional vending machines of this type have, in addition to a group of buttons operated for purchasing products, a separate correction button ( , cancel button, return button).

This correction button is used after the customer inserts a coin into the coin slot, but before or during the button operation to select and purchase a product.
This is to be used when you notice an error.
When this correction button is operated, all coins etc. inserted are returned from the change slot.

On the other hand, automatic ticket vending machines that require multiple selections such as connection lines and number of tickets have settings that set the number and type of purchased products as buttons that must be operated to purchase products. Some vending machines are equipped with a button and an execution button (which usually also serves as the final selection button) for purchasing the product. After setting the number and type of products, you can finally purchase the product by operating the execution button while checking the settings. In this vending machine as well, when the correction button is operated, all the inserted coins are removed and returned from the cash slot, and the settings are returned to their initial state.

<Problems to be solved by the invention> As mentioned above, in conventional vending machines, when the correction button is operated, the inserted coins, etc. are returned.
The customer has to insert coins, etc. again and press the buttons correctly.

In particular, in a vending machine that has a setting button for setting the number and type of purchased products and an execution button for finally purchasing the product, only one of the setting button operations is required. Even if there is an error in operating the setting button, after the correction button is operated, in addition to reinserting coins, etc., it is necessary to repeat the entire series of operations of the setting button from the beginning. For this reason, the number of operations required for correction is large, causing great inconvenience and annoyance to customers.

The present invention provides a vending machine having a set button and an execution button as buttons to be operated when purchasing a product.
To eliminate the need for re-inserting coins, etc. when a setting button is operated incorrectly, and to reduce the number of times the setting button is operated, thereby eliminating inconvenience and trouble for users.

<Means for solving the problems> In order to achieve such an object, the present invention has the following features:
As shown in the claims correspondence diagram in Figure 8, there are a plurality of setting buttons for setting the purchase data of the purchased product through multi-step push button operations, and the ability to purchase according to the amount invested. It is equipped with a display that displays the product range and an execution button for executing the purchase of the product, and when purchasing the product, the execution button is operated in accordance with the display on the display after operating the setting button. In a vending machine that has been installed, there is a memory that stores the input amount, the unit price of the product, and the purchase data of the product entered by the setting button, and the range of products that can be purchased is calculated based on the data from this memory. an arithmetic control unit that controls the display on the display based on the result, and the arithmetic control unit includes a number of times determining means that determines whether or not the same setting button has been operated for a second time; a clearing means for clearing the product purchase data stored in the memory by the first setting operation of the setting button to an initial state in response to an output signal from the number-of-times determining means indicating that the setting button is operated for the first time; did.

<Function> According to the above configuration, when the customer operates the setting button, the set purchase data is stored in the memory. Here, if the customer notices that he or she has made a mistake in operating the setting button before operating the execution button and operates the same setting button again, this will be detected by the number of times judgment means of the arithmetic control section. , In response to this detection, the setting data set by the setting button in the memory is cleared to the initial state. By clearing the setting data in the memory, it becomes possible to redo the setting operation from the stage of operating the setting button.

<Example> Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Although this embodiment will be described as applied to a vending machine, it goes without saying that it can also be applied to other vending machines.

FIG. 1 is a front view of an automatic ticket vending machine to which this embodiment is applied. This automatic ticket vending machine 1 has a coin slot 2, a bill slot 3, an inserted amount display 4, an account button group 5 as a product purchase execution button, and the type and number of purchased products on the customer service panel surface. A group of ticket type/number setting buttons 6 and a contact company line selection button group 7 are provided as setting buttons for selecting the ticket type and number of tickets.

The account button group 5 has a built-in display of the amount corresponding to each train section based on the train station where the automatic ticket vending machine 1 is installed, for example, and the button whose amount display is lit is operated. This allows the ticket to be purchased. That is, the display device built into each button of the account button group 5 serves as a "display device that displays products that can be purchased according to the amount of money inserted" in the scope of the claims.

As shown in FIG. 2, the ticket type/number setting button group 6 includes buttons 6a to 6h for adult tickets 1, 2, etc., and child tickets 1, 2, etc. Become.

As shown in FIG. 3, the contact line selection button group 7 is as follows:
It consists of selection buttons 7a to 7f such as to Kyushu, to China, etc.

An automatic ticket vending machine 1 to which this embodiment is applied sells multiple tickets to Kyushu, for example, 2 adult tickets.
In order to purchase two child tickets, the passenger should have operated the setting buttons 6b, 6f and selection button 7a, but the passenger mistakenly pressed the setting buttons 6a, 6f and selection button 7a. Suppose you operate it. In the correction operation in this case, since operating only the setting button 6a is an error, it is sufficient to operate only this setting button 6a again and then operating the setting button 6b.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of a main part of an embodiment for enabling such a correction operation. For convenience of explanation, the values selected by operating the adult ticket side setting button groups 6a to 6d of the ticket type/number setting button group 6 are shown below.
m ₁ , and set button group 6e to 6h on the child ticket side.
Let m ₂ be the value selected by operating the communication line selection button group 7, m ₃ be the value selected by operating the communication line selection button group 7, and let m ₄ be the total value of the input amount.

In FIG. 3, 8 is an arithmetic control unit (hereinafter referred to as CPU) that arithmetic controls the operation of the entire circuit;
is the CPU8 control program, fare table, and initial values.
This is a program/data memory in which data m ₀₁ to _{m 04} are stored in advance. Each initial value m ₀₁ to _{m 04} is
Each shows ``0'' tickets for adults, ``0'' tickets for children, the company's line name, and the amount invested ``0'' yen.
This program/data memory 9 is comprised of a read-only memory. Reference numeral 10 indicates a setting in which the initial values m _{01 to 04} from the program/data memory 9 or the selected values m ₁ to m ₃ by the setting button 6 and the contact company line selection button 7 and the data of the total input amount m ₄ are stored. It is a data memory and consists of memory (random access memory) that can be written to and read from at any time.
11 is a coin processing device that determines the denomination of a coin inserted through the coin insertion slot 2 and outputs amount data corresponding to the amount; A bill processing device 13 that discriminates the amount and outputs amount data corresponding to the amount, sends button operation signals to the calculation control unit 8 when the setting button 6, contact line selection button 7, and account button 5 are operated. The button operation input control circuit 14 receives a lighting control command signal from the arithmetic control section 8 to control the lighting of the display 15 based on the operation of each button group 5, 6 and the insertion of money. When the account button group 5 is operated, the display control circuit 16 receives a print/issuance command signal from the arithmetic control section 8 and prints it on the ticket paper. This is a printing/issuance device that issues tickets as tickets.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the storage state of the data storage area of each memory 9, 10. FIG. 5a shows the storage area of the program/data memory 9, and FIG. 5b shows the storage area of the program/data memory 9.
indicate storage areas of the setting data memory 10, respectively.

In the program/data memory 9 of FIG. 5a, im ₁ is the initial value m ₀₁ for the number of adult tickets,
In other words, im 2 is a storage area for a code indicating "0" tickets for adults, and im ₂ is a storage area for a code indicating "0" tickets for children, im 2 is the initial value m ₀₂ for the number of tickets for children. ₃ is the initial value m ₀₃ for the contact company line, that is, the storage area for the code indicating the company line, im ₄ is the initial value m ₀₄ for the input amount data,
In other words, the storage area for the code indicating "0" yen, im ₅
is the storage area for each fare unit price for adult tickets and child tickets, and _im6 is the storage area for the fares for each connecting company line.

In the setting data memory 10 of FIG. 5b,
Sm ₁ is the initial value m ₀₁ of the adult ticket or the selected value m ₁
storage area, Sm ₂ is the initial value of the child ticket m ₀₂
Or storage area for selected value m ₀₂ , Sm ₃ is storage area for initial value m ₀₃ of contact line or selection value m ₃ , Sm ₄
is the storage area for the initial value _m04 of the input amount or the selected value _m4 , _Sm5 is the storage area for the counter i, which will be described later.
Sm ₆ is a storage area for flags corresponding to setting buttons operated as described later.

Next, the control operation of the CPU 8, which is the arithmetic control section, will be explained with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the main program, and FIG. 7 is a subroutine for button operation input determination processing. By operating the programs shown in these flowcharts, the CPU 8, in particular, goes through steps SST3 and SST7 of the button operation input determination processing subroutine.
It functions as a number-of-times determining means and a clearing means as shown in the claims.

In Figure 6a, when the automatic ticket vending machine is powered on,
Or, when ticket sales are finished, the CPU 8 stores initial values in the initial value storage areas im ₁ - _{im 4} of the program/data memory 9 in each storage area Sm ₁ - Sm ₄ shown in FIG. 5b of the setting data memory 10. Write m ₀₁ to _{m 04} and reset the flags of operation buttons 5, 6, and 7 input to a state in which each button is not operated (step
_ST1 ). Regarding button operation input, as will be described later, when a customer operates a button, a corresponding switch is activated, and this operation signal is latched by a relay or an IC flip-flop. CPU 8 detects this and sets the corresponding flag. In step ST ₂ , money is introduced. When money is inserted, data indicating the amount of money inserted is sent from the coin processing device 11 or the banknote processing device 12. CPU8 stores this data and storage area.
The data of _Sm4 is added and stored in the storage area _Sm4 (step _ST3 ). Each step ST ₆ , which will be described later,
By returning to step ST ₃ through ST ₁₁ to ST ₁₄ and repeating the above operation, the total value of the input amount will be calculated.
m ₄ will be written to the storage area Sm ₄ of the setting data memory 10. In step _ST4 , the total input amount _m4 is given to the display control circuit 14. The display control circuit 14 displays the total value from the CPU 8.
m ₄ is displayed on the display 15. At step ST ₅
The CPU 8 sets the count value of the counter i in the storage area _Sm5 to "1". The count value of this counter i is from "1" to "4", and "1"
is the operation of the adult ticket purchase setting buttons 6a to 6d,
"2" corresponds to the operation of the setting buttons 6e to 6h for purchasing tickets for children, "3" corresponds to the operation of the contact line selection button 7, and "4" corresponds to the end of the investigation by inputting all buttons 6 and 7. do.

Next, in step ST ₆ , the count value of counter i is checked, and if the count value is 4, it is determined as Yes and jumps to step ST ₁₁ , and if the count value is not 4, it is determined as No. Proceed to step ST ₇ . In this way, it is determined whether the processing for the operations of all the button groups has been completed.

In step ST ₇ , if the count value of counter i is "1" among buttons 5, 6, and 7, set buttons 6a to 6
d, each input of the setting buttons 6e to 6h when the input is "2", and the selection button 7 when the input is "3" is checked, and when an input is detected, the corresponding flag is set. That is, a flag corresponding to the operated button is set. In step ST ₈ , it is checked by checking the flag whether the button has been operated or not. If the button has not been operated, it is judged as No and jumps to step ST ₁₀ , where the count value of counter i is set to "1". Add. If the button is not operated, step _ST8
Determine Yes and proceed to step _ST9 . and,
In this step _ST9 , a subroutine for analyzing the contents of the operated button is called.

Now, a description of the subroutine shown in FIG. 7 will be given.
At step _SST1 , the content of the button corresponding to the set flag among the flags corresponding to the plurality of buttons corresponding to the count value of counter i, that is, the selected value is obtained. When obtaining the selection value, a flag selection value table may be provided to obtain the selection value from the flag, or data corresponding to the button being operated may be obtained from the button operation input control circuit 13. .

This selection value is read into the CPU 8 and stored. For example, when button 6c is operated, i=
1, the flag _F3 in the storage area _Sm6 is set, and the data corresponding to the button 6c is read into the CPU8. Setting data memory 1 in step SST ₂
The content of the data written in any one of the storage areas Sm ₁ to Sm ₃ of 0 is read into the CPU 8. One of the storage areas Sm ₁ to _{Sm 3} at this time is determined by the value of the counter i. Next, in step _SST3 , it is determined whether the contents obtained in both steps _SST1 to _{SST2 match} . Here, if the button is operated for the first time, the initial values m ₀₁ to _{m 03} are stored in the storage areas Sm ₁ to Sm ₃ of the setting data memory 10, and the selected values m ₁ to m 03 are stored in the button contents.
m ₃ , so the two do not match, so No.
It is determined that this is the case and the process proceeds to step SST ₄ .

If the same button is operated for the second time, as will be described later, the memory area Smi of the setting data memory 10 (i = one of 1 to 3 according to the value of counter i) will contain the information for the first time. Since the selected value mi of the button operated in (i=1 to 3 depending on the value of counter i) is written, both steps are
The contents obtained from SST ₁ and SST ₂ agree with each other,
Determine Yes and proceed to step SST ₇ . and,
At step _SST7 , the storage area Smi of the setting data memory 10 is rewritten from the selected value mi to the initial value _m0i , and the process proceeds to step _SST8 .

On the other hand, when proceeding from step SST ₃ to step SST ₄ , step SST ₄ is used to determine whether the setting button 6 or contact line selection button 7 was operated for the first time, or whether it was operated again for correction. , storage area imi (i=1
The initial value m 0 i (one value depending on the value of counter i out of i=1 to 3) written in the initial value m ₀ i (one value depending on the value of counter i out of i=1 to 3) is read out. Then,
In step SST ₅ , the initial value m ₀ i or selected value mi written in the storage area Smi of the setting data memory 10 and the initial value indicated by the counter i in the storage area imi of the program data memory 9
Determine whether or not m ₀ i matches, and if it is operated for any other purpose other than correction or re-operation, it will not match, so it will be determined No and the input of the button operated for other purposes will be determined. Ignore and jump to step SST ₈ .

If the button input is operated for the first time, the storage area Sm ₁ ~ of the setting data memory 10
Since the initial values m ₀₁ to _{m 03} are written in Sm ₃ , it is judged as Yes in step SST ₅ , and the selected value corresponding to the button operation is set in the next step SST ₆ .
Write mi in the storage area Smi of the setting data memory 10 and proceed to step SST ₈ .

In this step SST ₈ , all the flags of each input of buttons 6a to 6d are reset when the count value of counter i is "1", 6e to 6h when it is "2", and of selection button 7 when it is "3". to return to the state where the button is not operated. Now return to step ST ₁₀ of the main program.

At step _ST10 , the count value of counter i is incremented by 1, and the process returns to step _ST6 in FIG. 6a. By repeating each of these steps, the count value of counter i will reach 4 when the contents of all the buttons including setting button 6 and contact line button 7 have been checked.
A determination of Yes is made in step _ST6 , and the process proceeds to step _ST11 in FIG. 6b. In step _ST11 , various indicators are lit to display the contents of the data in accordance with the write data in the storage areas _Sm1 to _Sm4 of the setting data memory 10. In step ST ₁₂ , the program/data memory 9 is written based on the write data in the storage areas Sm ₁ to _{Sm 4} of the setting data memory 10.
The determination of purchasable tickets is calculated from the fare data in the storage areas im ₅ and im ₆ , and in step ST ₁₃ , the account where the tickets can be purchased is displayed. The customer operates the account button 5 corresponding to the usage status among the displayed purchaseable accounts (step _ST14 ). If the displayed purchaseable account does not meet the usage conditions, additional money is added without operating the account button. In this case, the main program returns to step _ST3 .

If the customer realizes that he or she made a mistake in operating the setting button 6 or selection button 7 before operating the account button 5,
Instead of operating the account button 5, the user operates the incorrect setting button 6 or selection button 7 again to cancel. In this case, the process proceeds to the aforementioned subroutine, and the incorrect button settings are temporarily returned to their initial values. Therefore,
The customer can then perform a corrective action by simply operating the correct button. After operating the correct button,
During the explanation of the above subroutine, it is necessary to proceed to step SST ₆ , so press the account button 5 that the customer intended.
The corresponding indicator lights up. As a result, when the customer operates the account button 5, the CPU 8 determines in step _ST15 whether or not the account button 5 can be purchased. If the determination is No because the purchase is not possible, it is determined that the operation of the account button 5 is invalid, and the process returns to step _ST3 , and waits for another account button 5 to be operated again. By being available for purchase
If it is determined Yes, the process proceeds to step _ST16 , where a ticket issuing command for printing and issuing is given to the printing/issuing device 16. This step ST ₁₅
This can be omitted if the CPU 8 masks in advance the account button 5 that cannot be purchased at step _ST13 . Next, step
Wait for the end of the ticket issuing process in ST ₁₇ , wait for the end of the change dispensing process in step ST ₁₈ , and when the change dispensing process is finished, turn off all displays in step ST ₂₀ , return to step ST ₁ , and discard the money again. The system is now waiting for input.

<Effects of the Invention> As detailed above, the present invention is such that when the same setting button is operated twice, the setting data of the setting button is cleared in the memory, so that the user can If you notice that you made a mistake in operating a button, simply operate the same setting button again to return to the state before operating that setting button, so you can continue operating from the stage where you operated the setting button. By doing so, you can make the correct settings, and when correcting settings, there is no need to re-insert coins, etc., and there is no need to restart the series of setting button operations from the beginning. This can eliminate the inconvenience and hassle of

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a front view of an automatic ticket vending machine to which this embodiment is applied, and FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a group of ticket type and number setting buttons of this automatic ticket vending machine.
Fig. 3 is a configuration diagram of the contact line selection button group of this automatic ticket vending machine, Fig. 4 is a circuit diagram of the automatic ticket vending machine, and Fig. 5 a is a diagram showing the storage state in the data area of the program/data memory. FIG. 5b is a diagram showing the storage state of the data area of the setting data memory, FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the main program to explain the operation, and FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the subroutine to explain the process of determining button operation contents. , FIG. 8 is a diagram corresponding to the claims. 1... Automatic ticket vending machine, 2... Coin slot, 3...
Bill slot, 4... Input amount display, 5... Account button group, 6... Bill type/number setting button group, 7... Contact company line selection button group, 8... CPU, 9... Program/
Data memory, 10...Setting data memory.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A plurality of setting buttons for setting purchase data of purchased products through multi-step button press operations, and a display that displays the range of products that can be purchased according to the amount of money invested. and an execution button for executing the purchase of the product, and when purchasing the product, the execution button is operated in accordance with the display on the display after operating the setting button. , a memory for storing the unit price of the product, and purchase data of the product entered through the setting button;
an arithmetic control section that calculates a range of purchasable products based on the data from the memory and controls the display of the display based on the result of this calculation, and the arithmetic control section that controls the display of the same setting button. A number of times determining means for determining whether or not the second operation has been performed, and a first time of the setting button stored in the memory in response to an output signal from the number of times determining means indicating that the second operation has been performed. A vending machine characterized by comprising: a clearing means for clearing product purchase data to an initial state by a setting operation.