JPH0128437B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a money control device which is a control circuit for a money processing mechanism, so-called coinmec, which performs money-related processing such as money sorting, amount calculation, and change dispensing.

(b) Conventional technology As shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. 56-35232, vending machines in recent years, as long as the remaining amount after selling the product is still above the product selling price and further products can be purchased, It has become common to have a continuous sales function that allows products to be sold continuously each time the product selection switch is pressed. However, there are a considerable number of older type single vending machines in operation in the market that do not have this function, and it is desired that these vending machines be also equipped with a serial vending function.

By the way, in general, vending machines are manufactured under the special public license number 54-44239.
As per the publication, there is a cash processing mechanism that performs money-related processing such as money sorting, amount calculation, sales price setting, and change dispensing, and a vending machine main body (vendor section) that stores products and sends out products during sales operation. It is broadly divided into The basic control to achieve continuous sales is carried out by the money control device in the cash processing system, but the vendor control circuit for single-sale vending machines currently on the market is a money control unit with a continuous vending function. The configuration is different from that of current vending machine vendor control circuits that incorporate

FIG. 1 is a timing chart showing the operation of a vending machine equipped with a continuous vending function. In the figure, the money control device first calculates the input amount, and if the input amount is greater than the product selling price, it outputs a sales signal VND to the vendor control circuit, and the selection switch of the vendor control circuit is energized based on this sales signal, and the customer The selection operation becomes possible. When the selection switch is operated, the vendor control circuit operates and performs a product sales operation, and outputs a sales start signal VS to the money control device during this period. However, when the money control device receives the sales start signal VS, it stops outputting the sales signal VND and subtracts the product sales price from the input amount, and when the remaining amount is less than the product sales price, it starts to pay out change, but the remaining amount is still If the price is higher than the product selling price, the sales signal will be sent again.
Continuous sales are achieved by outputting VND.

On the other hand, FIG. 2 is a timing chart showing the operation of a single vending machine. In this case, the money control device outputs a pulse as a sales signal VND to the vendor control circuit when the input amount exceeds the product selling price. At this time, since the sales signal VND is a pulse, the vendor control circuit immediately operates to energize the selection switch and output a reject signal CREM indicating prohibition of accepting money to the money control device. When selected by the customer, the vendor control circuit performs a product sales operation and outputs a reject signal CREM until the sales operation is completed. Further, the money control device outputs the sales signal VND and at the same time subtracts the product selling price from the input amount, and performs a change dispensing operation when change is required. Furthermore, during the input period of the reject signal CREM, the money control device projects a pin attached to the input coin passage of the money processing mechanism to return the input coins.

(c) Problems to be solved by the invention Comparing the above timing charts, the following two points are clear differences between single vending machines and multi vending machines.

(i) The vendor control circuit of a serial vending machine is activated by a selection operation, whereas the vendor control circuit of a single vending machine is activated by the input of a vending signal.

(ii) The vendor control circuit of a serial vending machine outputs a sales start signal VS, whereas the vendor control circuit of a single vending machine outputs a reject signal CREM.

Therefore, in order to change a single vending machine to a serial vending machine, it is not enough to simply convert it into a cash processing mechanism equipped with a serial vending function; it is also necessary to change the vendor control circuit. The work was so complicated that it was practically impossible.

In view of the above points, the present invention provides a money control device that can add a continuous vending function to a single vending machine without changing the vendor control circuit.

Further, if the conventional vendor control circuit is used as is and a continuous sales function is added, there is a problem related to the above-mentioned difference (i). In other words, in a serial vending machine, even if the amount input by the customer reaches the product selling price and the sales signal VND is output, the vendor control circuit remains inactive until the selection operation is performed, so the customer cannot press the return switch. When you operate the , the deposited amount return function of the money control device operates and the money can be returned. However, in a single vending machine, the vendor control circuit is activated immediately when the input amount reaches the product selling price, so the return of the input amount must be prohibited when the product sales price is reached. This is because even if the money control device performs the operation to return the input amount, the vendor control circuit is already in operation, so there is a problem in that when a selection operation is performed, the product is also sold. Therefore, in order to add a continuous sales function using the conventional vendor control circuit, it is a necessary condition to prohibit the return of the input amount that has reached the product selling price.
This brings about the above-mentioned problem. In other words, assuming that the product is sold out in the first sale in a continuous sale, even if the sales signal VND is output again with the remaining amount exceeding the product selling price in the continuous sale vending machine, the vendor control circuit will not operate. Therefore, if the customer confirms that the item is sold out and operates the return switch, the remaining amount will be returned. On the other hand, if a continuous vending machine is configured using a conventional vendor circuit, the vendor control circuit will be activated at the same time as the sales signal VND is output again due to the remaining amount exceeding the product selling price, and even if the product is sold out, the vendor control circuit will be activated. will be forced to sell regardless. Moreover, in this case, since the remaining amount is greater than the product selling price, the return operation is prohibited.

The present invention takes such drawbacks into consideration and provides a money control device that can stop outputting the sales signal again and return the remaining amount if the product is sold out even if the remaining amount is greater than the product price. .

(d) Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the control device for a vending machine according to the present invention determines the amount of money inserted when coins are inserted and the amount of money that has been sold after the sale when the money acceptance prohibition signal is generated. a calculation device that calculates the remaining amount of the item; a comparison device that detects whether the amount calculated by the calculation device is equal to or higher than the product sales price; a vending control relay that generates the vending signal to the vendor control circuit when no output is output from the circuit;
a memory circuit that is set based on the stoppage of the money acceptance prohibition signal and reset based on the generation of the sale signal; and a change that controls the payment of the remaining amount by the arithmetic unit when the money acceptance prohibition signal is generated while the memory circuit is in the set state. It is equipped with a dispensing section.

(E) Effect When money is inserted into the vending machine, the money control device calculates the amount of money inserted using the calculation device, and when the comparison device detects that the amount of money inserted is greater than the product selling price, The sales control relay is driven on the condition that the money acceptance prohibition signal is not output from the vendor control circuit. As a result, a sales signal is introduced into the vendor control circuit, and the vendor control circuit starts conducting sales operations. Since the vendor control circuit outputs a money acceptance prohibition signal from the start of operation until at least the product selection switch is operated, the arithmetic unit of the money control device responds to this money acceptance prohibition signal and calculates the remaining amount after the sale. calculate. If this remaining amount is still higher than the product selling price, the sales control relay will output the sales signal again when the vendor control circuit outputs the currency acceptance prohibition signal, so the vendor control circuit will not be able to continue selling. can.

In this way, as long as the remaining amount after the sale is still above the product selling price, the vendor control circuit performs the sales operation continuously, and for each sales operation, the vendor control circuit continues from the start of operation until at least the product selection switch is operated. During this period, a money acceptance prohibition signal is output, and when this period has elapsed, the money acceptance prohibition signal is released.
At this time, the memory circuit of the money control device is set when the vendor control circuit releases the money acceptance prohibition signal.
It is possible to continue selling the product with the remaining amount and it is reset when a sales signal is generated. The vendor control circuit cancels the output of the money acceptance prohibition signal when a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the start of the sales operation, but outputs the money acceptance prohibition signal again when the product is sold out due to the sales operation. Therefore, when a product is sold out during continuous sales, the vendor control circuit outputs the currency acceptance prohibition signal once again, and since the memory circuit is set at this time, the change dispensing unit controls the dispensing of the remaining amount. Do this.

(F) Embodiment Figure 3 is a block diagram showing a money control device according to the present invention, where 8, 9, and 10 are currency switches corresponding to 100 yen, 50 yen, and 10 yen, and 11 is a setting for the product selling price. 12 is a change dispensing unit, 2 is a reject unit, 3 is an arithmetic unit that calculates the input amount and the change amount, 4 is a comparison device that determines whether or not the product can be sold by comparing the input amount TC and the selling price of the product, 13 teeth
This is a comparison device that detects whether TC is 0 yen.
The comparator 4 is connected to a one-shot circuit 15 through an AND gate 14, and a sales control relay is energized by the one-shot pulse, and the contacts 16 of this relay are connected to terminals . Further, 17 is a photocoupler connected to the terminal, 6 and 7 are flip-flop circuits that are reset when the output of the photocoupler 17 changes from "H" level to "L" level, 18 is an inverter, 19 is a delay circuit, 20 and 21 are AND gates that output control signals to the change payout unit 12 through OR gates 22, and 23 output control signals to the reject signal 13 through OR gates 24.
It is an AND gate.

When money is inserted into the vending machine with the above configuration,
Currency switch 8, 9, 10 depending on the type of coin inserted
A money signal is output to the calculation device 3 and the input amount is
TC is calculated. When the input amount TC exceeds the product selling price preset in the setting device 11, a signal is output from the comparison device 4. As will become clear later, at this time the delay circuit 19 is outputting a high level signal "H", so an output is obtained from the AND gate 14, and the one shot circuit 15 outputs a 200ms pulse as shown in FIG. The sales control relay 5 is energized during this time.

Figure 4 shows the vendor control circuit of a vending machine that does not have a continuous vending function, and Figure 3 shows how the vending machine is connected to the money control device through terminals, and the power output from the terminals is stopped during the sales period. (that is, a reject signal).
Then, when the sales control relay 5 of the money control device is energized and the contact 16 is switched and the terminals are short-circuited,
Relays R ₁ and R ₂ are connected between AC power lines l ₁ and l ₂ and are excited by supplying power (ie, sales signal VND). Even after the sales control relay 5 returns (that is, the sales signal stops), the relay contacts R _1-2 and the carrier switches of the bend motors VM ₁ , VM ₂ , and VM ₃ remain in operation.
CRS ₁ , CRS ₂ , CRS ₃ / Relay contact R _2-1 and sell-out switch provided for each product type SSA ₁ , SSA ₂ ,
It forms a self-holding circuit through SSA ₃ and becomes ready for sale. Also, when relay R ₂ is energized, the contact
R _2-2 is open, l ₂ , terminal, terminal, contact
The power supply to the photocoupler 17 by the _R2-2 /sold-out switches _SSA1 , _SSA2 , _SSA3 , and _l1 is cut off, and the output switches from the "L" level to the "H" level as shown in FIG. In other words, the reject signal is supplied from the vendor control circuit to the money control device.

However, for example, when the selection switch 1A is operated, the bend motor VM ₁ switches between l ₁ and l ₂ the sold-out switch SSB ₁ , selection switch 1A, relay contact R _1-1 ,
It is connected via terminals and rotates to eject the product. However, the sell-out switch SSB ₁ , SSB ₂ ,
SSB ₃ corresponds to sold-out switches SSA ₁ , SSA ₂ , and SSA _3, respectively, and if the product related to selection switch 1A is sold out, bend motor VM ₁ will not be energized.
At this time, since SSA ₁ and SSB ₁ are being switched, the sold-out lamp L ₁ is lit. Furthermore, when the carrier switch CRS ₁ attached to the cam mechanism is switched by the rotation of the bend motor VM ₁ , the relay R ₁ ,
Although R ₂ is deenergized, relay R ₂ is delayed by capacitor C and does not demagnetize immediately. Therefore, bend motor VM ₁ is energized for a while through sold-out switch SSB ₁ , the make contact of carrier switch CRS ₁ , contact R _2-1 , and sold-out switch SSA ₁ , and then contact R _2-1 is turned off by demagnetization of relay R ₂ . However, when the full cycle switch FSS ₁ attached to the cam mechanism is turned on, it is energized, so it continues to rotate and ejects the product to the sales outlet, and after rotating to the position where the next sale can be made, the full cycle switch is turned on.
Stops when FSS ₁ returns. In addition, sold out lamp L ₁
also serves as a sales lamp, which lights up when carrier switch CRS 1 is switched while relay R ₂ is energized and contact R _{2-1 is} ON.

However, contact R _2-2 turns ON due to demagnetization of relay R ₂ .
When it returns to , power is supplied to the terminal again, and the photocoupler 17 is switched from "H" to "L" as shown in FIG. 5, and the reject signal is stopped. When the reject signal stops, the flip-flop circuit 7 is set, and the arithmetic unit 3 calculates the input amount.
Subtract the product selling price from the TC. If the remaining amount TC after the subtraction is still greater than the product selling price SP, the comparator 4 outputs a control signal. On the other hand, when the output of the photocoupler 17 becomes "L" and the inverted output from the inverter 18 is inputted to the delay circuit 19 which normally outputs "H", the delay circuit 19 outputs "L" and the product is ejected by the bend motor VM. When a predetermined period of time has elapsed during which the remaining amount calculation by the calculation device 3 is completed, "H" is outputted again. Therefore, when the delay circuit 19 outputs "H", the AND gate 14
An output is obtained with the control signal of the comparator 4, and the one-shot circuit 15 outputs a pulse to energize the sales control relay 5 for 200 ms as shown in Fig. 5, and the sales signal causes the vendor control circuit to Repeat the sales action.

Furthermore, when the remaining amount TC calculated by the calculation device 3 becomes less than the product selling price SP, the comparison device 4 does not generate a control signal, so the output of the delay circuit 19 becomes "L".
Even if the signal is switched from "H" to "H", no output is obtained from the AND gate 14 and no sales operation is performed. However, since the inverter 25 connected to the comparator 4 outputs "H" and the flip-flop circuit 7 is set to produce a Q output, the AND gate 20 produces an output, and the change dispensing unit 12 outputs "H". The remaining TC will be paid out. And change dispensing section 12
outputs a signal to subtract the paid coins to the calculation device 3 every time change is paid out, so TC becomes 0 at the end of change paid out.
When the comparator 13 detects a circle, the flip-flop circuit 7 is reset.

In this way, continuous sales are possible as long as the remaining amount TC is equal to or higher than the product selling price SP, but the operation when the product is sold out in the middle of continuous sales will be explained. In this operation, the flip-flop circuit 6 plays an important function, and normally the flip-flop circuit 6 is set together with the flip-flop circuit 7 at the fall of the output of the photocoupler 17 from "H" to "L", and the control signal of the comparator 13 or It is reset by the output of the OR gate 26 based on the output of the one shot circuit 15 which commands the next sale. However, the remaining amount TC
If all the products are sold out during continuous sales where the product sales price SP is higher than SP, even if power is supplied between the terminals by turning on contact R _2-2 due to demagnetization of relay R ₂ , the sell-out switch SSA ₁ , SSA ₂ and SSA ₃ detect that the product is out of stock and switch to the NO side, so power supply is stopped. Therefore, after the output of the photocoupler 17 is inverted from "H" to "L", it immediately becomes "H" as shown by the dotted line in FIG. Therefore, the delay circuit 19 is connected to the inverter 18 by the output "L" of the photocoupler 17.
Even if an "H" output is input from the output, the output of the photocoupler 17 becomes "H" within the delay time, so the delay circuit 19 does not produce an output, and the AND gate 14 does not receive an output, so the one-shot circuit 15 No more pulses are generated. Therefore, sales control relay 5
remains de-energized and does not perform the next selling operation, and an output is obtained from the AND gate 21 by the Q output of the flip-flop circuit 6 and the "H" output of the photocoupler 17. Therefore, the change dispensing unit 12 performs the operation of dispensing the remaining amount TC using the output of the AND gate 21 introduced through the OR gate 22, and the flip-flop circuit 6 is reset by the control signal from the comparator 13 when the disbursing of the remaining amount is completed. . On the other hand, the reject section 2 operates with the output obtained from the AND gate 23 by the "H" output of the photocoupler 17 and the control signal of the comparator 13, and prohibits the subsequent insertion of coins.

In addition, the reject section 2 is a flip-flop circuit 7.
It is configured to prohibit the acceptance of money at the Q output of , but in this case, once the input amount reaches the product selling price, the input of money is prohibited. Therefore, this configuration is not necessary in a system that accepts money even when a sales operation is started. In addition, when the input amount reaches a predetermined amount that greatly exceeds the product selling price, or when the change payout amount and the product selling price are being subtracted, the arithmetic unit 3 outputs a reject signal to the reject unit 2 through the OR gate 24 to accept the money. is configured to prohibit. In this way, the money control device according to the present invention does not operate the reject section 2 directly by the reject signal from the vendor control circuit.

(g) Effects of the Invention The money control device according to the present invention described in detail above can achieve continuous vending operation in coordination with the vendor control circuit of an existing single vending machine. Then, it starts operating with a sales signal, and outputs a money acceptance prohibition signal from the start of operation until at least the product selection switch is operated, and when it detects that the product is sold out, it outputs the currency acceptance prohibition signal that was once released again. Regarding vending machines equipped with a vendor control circuit that prevents the vending machine from accepting money, a memory circuit that is set based on the stoppage of the currency acceptance prohibition signal and reset at the sales signal caused by continuous sales is installed, and the memory circuit is set to prohibit the acceptance of currency when the product is sold out. When the signal is generated, the remaining amount of the processing device is controlled to be paid out, so that it is possible to reliably deal with a situation where the product is out of stock in the middle of continuous sales.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a timing chart showing the operation of a vending machine equipped with a continuous vending function, and FIG. 2 is a timing chart showing the operation of a single vending machine.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a money control device according to the present invention, FIG. 4 is a configuration of a vendor control circuit, and FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing the operation according to the present invention. 3... Arithmetic device, 4... Comparison device, 5... Sales control relay, 6... Flip-flop circuit (memory circuit), 12... Change dispensing unit.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1 The operation is started in response to a sales signal, and after the start of the operation, a currency acceptance prohibition signal is output at least until the product selection switch is operated, and once the product is sold out, the signal is released. In the money control device of a vending machine, which constitutes the control circuit of the vending machine together with the vending machine control circuit that outputs the money acceptance prohibition signal again, the amount of money inserted is determined by the input of money, and the amount after the sale is determined by the generation of the money acceptance prohibition signal. a calculation device that calculates the remaining amount; a comparison device that detects whether the amount calculated by the calculation device is equal to or higher than the product sales price; and the vendor control circuit when the calculated amount is equal to or higher than the product sales price and the money acceptance prohibition signal is output from the vendor control circuit. a sales control relay that generates the sales signal to the vendor control circuit when the money is not output from the vendor control circuit; a storage circuit that is set based on the termination of the money acceptance prohibition signal and reset based on the generation of the sales signal; 1. A money control device for a vending machine, comprising: a change payout unit that controls the payout of the remaining amount by the arithmetic unit when the money acceptance prohibition signal is generated when the circuit is in a set state.