JPS6362034B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Industrial Field of Application The present invention is characterized in that a plurality of product storage shelves are attached to a circulating moving body such as a chain or a belt, and arbitrary types of products are stored on each product shelf. This invention relates to a conveyor-type vending machine in which a predetermined product storage shelf is moved around to a product exit to carry out the product when selling the product.

Conventional technology and its problems Conventionally, this type of vending machine
It is disclosed in Publication No. 103777 and Publication No. 55-131587. This publication discloses a device in which a plurality of L-shaped shelf boards are attached to an endless chain mechanism, and the endless chain mechanism is rotated to carry out products placed on the shelf boards. However, in the conventional product storage mechanism using an endless chain mechanism, even if different types of products are placed on each shelf, it is not possible to identify the product type.
Therefore, it has been impossible to sell multiple types of products using one endless chain product storage mechanism. Therefore, in order to handle many types of products in one vending machine, it was necessary to provide an independent endless chain product storage mechanism for each product type.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention This invention eliminates the disadvantage of conventional vending machines in that an independent endless chain product storage mechanism must be provided for each product type in order to handle multiple types of products, and eliminates the drawback that a single endless chain ( Another object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine that can store a plurality of types of products using a product storage mechanism (or a belt) and automatically sell desired products.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention installs a plurality of product storage shelves on a traveling mobile body, and stores arbitrary types of products on each product shelf.
In a conveyor-type vending machine, in which a predetermined product storage shelf is moved around to a product exit to carry out the product when selling the product, a device is provided corresponding to each product storage shelf, and the product is stored in the product storage shelf. selectively selecting a predetermined product storage shelf according to the discrimination result of the discriminating means; and a carrying-out means for carrying out the goods.

Function: Each shelf of the traveling vehicle stores products, and each shelf is provided with an identification means for identifying the stored products. At the time of product sale, the discriminating means discriminates the discriminating means provided on each shelf, and selectively takes out desired products according to the discrimination results. By doing so, it becomes possible to store and sell a plurality of types of products in one traveling mobile product storage mechanism, and therefore, it is possible to increase the number of product types that can be handled.

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

Figure 1 is a front view showing the main parts of a conveyor-type vending machine, in which a chain 3 is stretched between sprockets 1 and 2, which are vertically separated and rotatably supported on an appropriate frame. The chain 3 is provided with shelves 4 for storing multiple products at appropriate intervals.
1, 4-2,...4-10 are fixed.

Each shelf 4 is formed in the shape of a rectangular case with an open front 4a (Fig. 2) and one outer side 4b, and one product is stored in the space inside each shelf 4 from the front 4a. It is configured so that it can be taken in and taken out.

One sprocket 1 is connected to a motor (not shown), and the chain 3 is rotated by the rotation of the motor.
The shelf 4 is circulated by traveling in either the left or right direction.

Below the shelf transport mechanism 5 configured as described above, a semicircular guide plate 6 is provided along a trajectory drawn by the outer periphery of the shelf to be transported.
A product receiver 7 is provided at the lower center of the container 7 and has a rectangular front view and an opening 7a at the top.

The upper opening 7a of the product receiver 7 is supported by a fulcrum 10 so that a flat opening/closing plate 8 is tilted to be located at a lower position on the product outlet 9 (FIG. 2) side.

If the opening/closing plate 8 is kept in a horizontal state while the shelf 4 is being transported around with the above configuration, even when the shelf 4 reaches the lowest position (the position indicated by 4-2), the products will not be stored. It continues to circulate along the guide plate 6 without being ejected from the shelf 4, and when the opening/closing plate 8 is tilted as shown by the dashed line in FIG. 2, the shelf is moved to 4-2. The product is configured to fall into the product receptacle 7 along the opening/closing plate 8 upon reaching the position shown.

A code plate 11 for identification is attached to the chain-side surface of each shelf 4, and has a protrusion corresponding to a multi-bit code indicating the type of product to be stored. Each code plate 11 is provided with protrusions 11X according to whether each 4-bit digit is 1 or 0, as shown in FIG. A code discriminator 12 as discriminating means is provided near the lower sprocket 2. In addition, in FIG. 3, the left end protrusion 11Z is a protrusion for detecting a shelf. As shown in detail in FIG.
Install shelf 4 so that 1X and 11Z protrude toward the chain side.
Fixed. The attachment position of this cord plate is arbitrary; for example, it may be fixed to the chain 3 in correspondence with each shelf.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the code discriminator 12 has a fan-shaped first cam plate 2 mounted on a fixed frame 20.
1 and a second cam plate 22 having arcuate edges are rotatably mounted on fulcrums 23 and 24, respectively, so that the arcuate surfaces of each cam plate 21 and 22 can come into contact with the protrusion of the code plate 11. At the same time, the free end 21a of the first cam plate 21 is connected to the operating piece 26 of the micro switch 25.
It is provided so that it can be pressed in such a way that it can be freely approached and separated.
Furthermore, a long hole 27 is formed in the first cam plate 21, and a projection 2 protruding from the second cam plate 22 is inserted into this long hole 27.
8 are slidably engaged to transmit rotation of the second cam plate 22 to the first cam plate 21.

Note that the first cam plate 21 is biased toward the micro switch 25 by a spring 29, and when the protrusion 11X of the code plate 11 is not in contact with the first cam plate, the first cam plate 21 is biased toward the micro switch 25. It is configured to press the operating piece 26 of the switch 25.

The code discriminator 12 uses the code discriminator 12 as shown in FIG.
They are arranged in five rows as shown in the figure.

By providing the first cam plate 21 and the second cam plate 22, the shelf 4 can be engaged with the protrusion of the code plate 11 both clockwise and counterclockwise to operate the micro switch 25. .

Again in FIGS. 1 and 2, the product detection plate 30
is provided rotatably about a fulcrum 31 within the housing of the shelf 4, and a connecting arm 32 is attached to the product detection plate 30 with a fulcrum 33 as the fulcrum. The connecting arm 32 passes through a long groove 34 formed on the side surface of the shelf 4 on the chain side, projects outside the shelf 4, and connects to a sliding plate 35 provided so as to be able to come into sliding contact with the side surface of the shelf 4 on the chain side. 36 as a fulcrum. A cam 37 is provided protruding from the sliding plate 35, and a limit switch 38 is fixed to the frame in correspondence with the cam 37.

A spring 39 is engaged with the sliding plate 35, urging the sliding plate 35 toward the exit 9a, and when there is no product on the shelf, the product detection plate 30 is activated as shown in the figure. It is in an upright position within the shelf, and the cam 37 is disengaged from the limit switch 38. On the other hand, when a product is pushed into a predetermined position within the shelf through the opening in the front face 4a, the product detection plate 30 rotates in the direction of arrow K.
The sliding plate 35 is connected to the spring 39 via the connecting plate 32.
The cam 37 moves toward the limit switch 38 against the tensile force of the limit switch 38, and comes into contact with the operating piece 38a of the limit switch 38, turning on the limit switch 38.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a control device, in which 50 is a CPU (central processing unit) using a microcomputer, 51a to 51n are product selection switches,
52 is a sold-out detection switch, and 25 is the above-mentioned shelf code detection microswitch. Although four switches are provided in parallel, only one is shown in the figure.

Reference numeral 53 denotes a shelf detection switch composed of one switch of the code discriminator 12, and each time the shelf 4 passes the position of the code discriminator 12, the protrusion 11Z of the code plate 11 activates the shelf detection switch 53. Turn on.

54 is a double-selling prevention switch; 55 is a set switch that instructs the clerk to go around the shelves 4 in order to register the product type in the memory of the CPU 50 after storing the product on each shelf; 56 is a switch for the vending machine; A door switch 57 detects the opening/closing of the door, a loading switch 57 is used during a loading operation in which an attendant stores products one by one on each shelf 4, and a mode setting switch 58.

On the other hand, 60 rotates sprocket 1 to move shelf 4
61 is a motor or solenoid that operates the opening/closing plate 8; 62 is a sold-out lamp;
3a to 63n are the sales availability display lamps installed on the front of the vending machine corresponding to each product, and 64 is the shelf 4.
This is a patrol indicator lamp that indicates that the station is patrolling. The traveling indicator lamps 64 are provided in correspondence with the number of shelves, and are configured so that one lamp lights up each time each shelf passes over a specific position, for example, over the product receiver 7.

Note that this vending machine is provided with a coin processing unit (not shown) for counting inserted coins, similar to known vending machines.

The CPU 50 stores control programs necessary for product sales such as a coin processing program, as well as programs shown in FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 for driving and controlling the moving mechanism 5.
0 is written with various data shown in FIG.

Further, each shelf may display characters or symbols indicating the product.

Next, the operation will be explained.

Product Loading Now, let's take a look at the operation when, for example, the first type of product is stored on shelves 4-1 to 4-5, and the second type of product is stored on shelves 4-6 to 4-10 for sale. explain.

The shelves 4-1 to 4-5 are provided with holes as shown in FIG. 2 for the code plates 11 carrying the code "1101" as shown in FIG. 3, corresponding to the first type of product. 13, and is attached to the chain-side side surface of the shelves 4-1 to 4-5 with screws or the like. Code plates carrying other code information are attached to the shelves 4-6 to 4-10. If the product is different, a code board having code information corresponding to the product may be attached to the shelf.

Now, when loading products to each shelf 4,
When the loading switch 57 is turned on, the motor 60 rotates, and each shelf begins to circulate until, for example, the shelf 4-3 shown in FIG. 1 reaches the product receiver 7. As a result, the protrusion 11Z of the code board 11 attached to the shelf 4-3 turns on the corresponding micro switch (indicated by 25Z) of the code discriminator 12, and when the shelf is detected in step S12, the process proceeds to step S13. Then, the motor 60 is stopped. After loading the product onto the shelf 4-3 through the front opening 4a, the loading switch 57 is turned on again, the process returns to steps S10 and S11, the motor 60 is started, and the product is cycled through one more shelf. Hey, shelf 4-
4 arrives on the product receiver 7.

By repeating the above operation 10 times, each shelf 4-1 to 4-10 can be loaded with products.

When a predetermined product is loaded into each shelf through the opening in the front face 4a of each shelf, the product detection plate 30 is pushed in the K direction, causing the sliding plate 35 to slide to the right in FIG. 2.

Loading the product Next, close the door, turn on the door switch 56, and then turn on the set switch 55.
The program in steps S1 to S8 in FIG. 7 is executed to write a code indicating the type of product on each shelf into the area 70a of the memory 70.

That is, when the motor 60 rotates and circulates the shelves,
When the code plate 11 on each shelf passes through the code discriminator 12, a 4-bit code signal is output, which becomes 1 or 0 depending on whether the protrusion 11X of the code plate 11 is present or not.

This code output is written to the memory 70a for each shelf as information indicating the product type.

The operation of the code discriminator 12 is as follows.

Now, when the shelf 4 circulates and reaches the product receiver 7, when the code plate 11 having the protrusions 11X and 11Z reaches the position of the code discriminator 12 as shown in FIG. When moving from left to right in the figure, the protrusion 11X contacts the second cam plate 22, rotates the second cam plate 22 in the direction of arrow R, and the protrusion 28 pushes the first cam plate 21. , the first cam plate 21 is rotated in the S direction. Microswitch 25 is therefore turned off and outputs signal 1.

The product type discriminator for digits that do not have protrusions 11X is the fourth
The state shown by the one-dot chain line in the figure is maintained, and the microswitch is in the on state and outputs a signal 0.

By the above operation, a predetermined code signal is obtained from the code discriminator 12.

In the program shown in FIG.
When the shelf detection switch 53 is turned on, the motor 60 is stopped and the process proceeds to step S7, where the maximum number of shelves is determined.
If the condition is 10 times or earlier corresponding to 10, the process returns to step S1, reads the product code just read out, detects whether the product is sold out in step S3, and turns on the motor 60 in step S4.
Go around the shelves again.

After repeating the above operation 10 times and registering the products on each shelf, the motor will stop.

In the above operation, the number of product types and the number of products for each product type are stored in the counter 70e based on the output of the code discriminator 12.

In order not to forget the above reading operation, the sold out lamp 62 is lit until the set switch 55 is operated.

In addition, the presence or absence of the product on the corresponding shelf is stored for the product code, and as described later, the product code is synchronized with the shelf and circulated in memory, and the information indicating the presence or absence of the product is also synchronized with the product code. to cycle through memory.

At the same time as writing the product code, the price of each product is also written in the area 70d by operating the numeric keypad or the like.

Selling operation When a predetermined amount of coins is inserted, it is determined in step S21 whether the coin is sold out, and information is input from the coin processing device (not shown) to the CPU 50.
The sellable lamp 63 of the product that can be sold is turned on.
In Figure 8, the sellable lamp is marked as Api.

When the customer presses the product selection switch corresponding to the desired product, the process proceeds to step S24, where the product code of the shelf in question and the product specified by the product selection switch are read from the output of the micro switch 25 of the code discriminator 12. Compare the code with CPU50.

If the product code on the shelf and the code of the product specified by the product selection switch do not match, the process proceeds to step S32, where the motor is started and the shelf 4 is circulated. Then, in step S26, the shelf detection switch 53 is determined and each shelf passes through the code discriminator 12, so that the shelf detection switch 53, that is, the micro switch 25 of the code discriminator corresponding to the protrusion 11Z of the code plate 11 is activated. When it is turned on, the process proceeds to step S27, where it is determined how many times the shelf has passed, and
If it is less than 10 times, the process returns to step S24, repeats the above operation, and continues scanning the shelves until a shelf with a predetermined product code is placed on the product receiver 7.

In this case, the motor 61 is not turned on. Therefore, the opening/closing plate 8 remains raised, and the products on the shelf move along the opening/closing plate 8 and the guide plate 6, and continue to circulate.

If the code on the code board 11 matches the code of the product specified by the product selection switch in step S24, the process proceeds to step S30, and if the motor 60 is rotating, it is stopped and the process proceeds to step S31.
Area 7 determines whether there is a product on the lowest shelf.
It is determined whether the item is sold out depending on whether the data of 0c is 0 or not, and if the item is not sold out, steps S32 and S
33, turn on the motor 61, and turn on the opening/closing plate 8.
is tilted as shown in the dashed line in FIG.
The product can be taken out from the product takeout port 9. As described above, the CPU 50, the motor 61, and the opening/closing plate 8 constitute the unloading means.

When the product falls from the shelf 4 into the product receiver 7,
The sliding plate 35 is pulled by the tensile force of the spring 39, and the cam 37 returns to the position shown by hatching in FIG. And the product detection plate 30 is K
Rotate in the opposite direction and stand up.

On the other hand, when the product is taken out from the product outlet 9, the motor 61 is turned off by a signal from a self-propelled cam or a timer, etc., which works with the motor 61 to detect whether or not the product has been taken out, and the opening/closing plate 8 rises and returns to its original position.

Next, in step S34, the count value of the transported product is subtracted by one from the storage number of the product in the area 70c and the counter 70e. Then, in step S36, it is determined whether or not the value of the counter 70e is 0. If it is 0, it is determined that the item is sold out, and if it is not 0, it is prepared for the next sale. When the counter 70e is 0, the sold out lamp 62 is displayed.

Further, when the item is sold out, the sale ready lamps 63a to 63n do not light up even if coins are inserted.

If it is determined in step S31 that there is no product on the shelf, the process returns to step S25 and the shelves are visited until another shelf is placed on the product receiver 7.

In addition, during the above-described operation, when the shelves are being patrolled, the patrol display lamps 64 are sequentially lit one by one to inform the customer that the shelf is being patrolled.

Further, after the sale of one product is completed, if the balance of the input amount is equal to or higher than the set price, the corresponding sales availability indicator lamp is lit again.

Furthermore, during the patrol operation, the operating period of the shelf detection switch is determined, and if it is longer than the set time, it is determined that there is a failure. In this invention, the information indicating the product type may be provided in any format corresponding to each shelf.

Furthermore, instead of moving the shelves, the means for detecting product information may be visited.

By installing the code discriminator 12 and the switch 38 for detecting the presence or absence of a product near the sprocket 2, as shown in the above embodiment, vibrations of the code plate 11 and the cam 37 are reduced. Therefore, it is possible to reduce fluctuations in the distance between the code discriminator and the limit switch, thereby reducing malfunctions.

Effects of the Invention As described above, this invention provides a plurality of shelves in one product storage mechanism, stores products on each shelf, and attaches information representing the stored products to each shelf, so that when the product is sold, Since the above information is discriminated by the discriminating means and the desired product is selectively taken out, it is now possible to store and sell multiple types of products in one product storage mechanism. The number of product types that can be handled by a vending machine can be increased, and in other words, a vending machine that sells multiple types of products can be made smaller.

Furthermore, the types of products stored can be easily changed by simply exchanging the information attached to each shelf.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line - - in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of a code plate, and Fig. 4 is an example of a code discriminator. 5 is a front view of the code discriminator shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of a control device used in the present invention, FIGS. 7, 8, and 9. The figure is a flowchart showing the operation. 1, 2...Sprocket, 3...Chain, 4
...Shelf, 7...Product receiver, 8...Opening/closing board, 9...
...Product outlet, 11...Code plate, 12...Code discriminator, 30...Product detection plate, 37...Cam,
38...Limit switch.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of product storage shelves are attached to a traveling moving body, each product shelf stores any type of product, and when a product is sold, a designated product storage shelf is circulated and moved to a product delivery port. In a conveyor-type vending machine that carries out products, an identification means is provided corresponding to each product storage shelf and has information indicating the type of product stored in the product storage shelf, and when the product is sold, an identification means is provided corresponding to each product storage shelf. A discriminating means for discriminating the information of the discriminating means, and a carrying-out means for selectively selecting a predetermined product storage shelf and carrying out the merchandise according to the discrimination result obtained by the discriminating means. A vending machine with special features.