JPH0580039B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to an improvement in a vending machine that sells beverages such as coffee in cups.

(Prior art) In this type of vending machine, for example, when selling coffee in cups, auxiliary raw materials such as sugar and cream are added to the coffee liquid obtained by injecting hot water into the coffee raw material, which is the main raw material. It is commonly seasoned.

By the way, among conventional vending machines, the following vending modes have been developed in order to satisfy the preferences of users.

One is that when coffee without auxiliary materials and coffee with at least one auxiliary material are selected using a selection switch, when an increase switch for specifying auxiliary materials that is associated with the selection switch in advance is operated, normal addition is made. When a larger amount of specified auxiliary raw materials can be added than the specified amount, or when an increase switch for specifying auxiliary materials that is not linearly related to the selection switch, that is, cannot be specified, is operated, the amount is less than the normal addition amount. There is a method in which it is possible to add a certain amount of auxiliary raw materials (Japanese Patent Publication No. 60-29155).

The other is a vending machine that mixes and dispenses syrup, carbonated water, and diluted water. Specifically, it has a program that presets the timer operation time, and the microprocessor controls the beverage brand selection switch. In addition to detecting the brand and whether or not ice is required based on whether or not the ice switch is operated, the amount of carbon dioxide required for the brand is detected from the setting device that sets the amount of carbon dioxide, and based on these sales conditions, syrup and carbonated There is a system in which the amounts of water and diluted water to be extracted are determined, and each valve is opened for the timer operation time to extract syrup, carbonated water, and diluted water (Japanese Patent Publication No. 58-9995).

On the other hand, there are vending machines that mix beverages of different strengths, such as standard coffee and American coffee, from the same coffee raw material. for example,
The vending machine described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 57-69390 is provided with a standard coffee setting means for setting the supply times of coffee ingredients, cream, and sugar, respectively, and is also provided with a light coffee button. When operated, the supply time set for standard coffee is shortened by a predetermined ratio, and light coffee is prepared using the shortened supply time.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) However, the vending machine explained first
60-29155) is a uniform method that only increases or decreases the amount of auxiliary ingredients such as sugar and cream.
It is not possible to make adjustments to bring out subtle differences in taste according to customer preferences.

On the other hand, the second vending machine explained
9995) is a technique for adjusting the degree of blending of multiple raw materials, but it does not take into account, for example, the type of coffee raw materials or the taste of completely different types of beverage liquids such as coffee and black tea. In particular, the tastes of coffee, tea, and other liquid beverages vary considerably depending on the customer, and although many customers prefer subtle differences in taste, it is difficult to bring out such subtle differences in taste.

Also, the third vending machine explained
69390) is a technology that adjusts the strength of the beverage sold, but since the strength of the beverage is adjusted by adjusting the amount of coffee ingredients, the cost per cup is lower than that of light coffee. The problem is that even though coffee is cheaper, customers are forced to pay the same price as standard coffee.

Since the difference in cost between standard coffee and light coffee is less than 10 yen per cup, it has been difficult to account for the difference in sales prices between the two. On the other hand, in coffee shops and the like, each cup of light coffee such as American coffee is generally served in a larger cup than standard coffee. From the customer's perspective, it is desirable that such a customary sales method be applied to vending machines as well.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and allows subtle differences in taste to be brought out through adjustment.
It is possible to sell beverages under optimal conditions to customers, and when changing the concentration of beverages, it is possible to supply beverages mixed to the desired concentration using uniform raw materials.Meeting the needs of customers. The purpose is to provide a vending machine that allows you to get.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a plurality of selection switches for inputting money into a coin mechanism and selecting the type of beverage liquid to be sold. In response to the selection operation of a plurality of function switches that select an increase or decrease of auxiliary raw materials to be mixed with the raw material according to preference, a hot water tank is added to the main raw material discharged from a selected one of the plurality of main raw material canisters. In the beverage liquid that is sold by the cup by pouring hot water into a main raw material liquid and further mixing the main raw material liquid with an auxiliary raw material released from a selected one of a plurality of auxiliary raw material canisters, the hot water tank , hot water and raw material discharge means provided in each main raw material canister and each auxiliary raw material canister, a hot water increase/decrease selection switch for selecting an increase or decrease of hot water to be poured into the main raw material, the selection switch, and the fan. an operation time setting memory in which each operation time of the hot water and each raw material discharging means is set by determining an address in a memory area determined according to the selection result of the hot water increase/decrease selection switch and the hot water increase/decrease selection switch; To increase or decrease the operation time of each of the auxiliary raw material discharge means set in the operation time setting memory in accordance with the increase or decrease of hot water by the hot water increase/decrease selection switch and the increase or decrease of the auxiliary raw material by the function switch. A proportional constant is set in a proportional constant setting memory set corresponding to the operating time of each memory area of the operating time setting memory, each memory area of the operating time setting memory, and each memory area of the proportional constant setting memory. an addressing switch which is provided correspondingly and which specifies an address of a corresponding memory area in response to a selection operation of the selection switch, the function switch, and the hot water increase/decrease selection switch; and the hot water increase/decrease selection switch. an operation of reading out the proportional constant data and the operating time data of the auxiliary raw material from each address of the proportional constant setting memory and the operating time setting memory designated by the address designation switch in response to the selection operation of and performing a multiplication operation; and the operation of the corresponding auxiliary raw material discharge means based on the calculated value obtained by the calculation means, and an operation time read from the operation time setting memory in response to the selection of the hot water increase/decrease selection switch. and a control means for controlling the operation of the hot water discharge means.

(Function) Therefore, by taking the above measures, the present invention can increase or decrease the concentration of the main raw material liquid without changing the supply amount of the main raw material when increasing or decreasing hot water is selected with the hot water increase/decrease selection switch. The beverage liquid sold by the cup is adjusted to the strength selected by the customer using the hot water increase/decrease selection switch.

In addition, a predetermined address on the operation time setting memory is specified according to the increase or decrease of the auxiliary raw material by the function switch and the increase or decrease of hot water by the hot water increase/decrease selection switch, and the proportional constant data and the operation time data of the auxiliary raw material are specified from that address. is read out,
A multiplication operation is performed by the calculation means. The operation of the auxiliary raw material discharge means is controlled based on the calculated value obtained by the calculation means, and the hot water discharge means is controlled based on the operation time read from the operation time setting memory in response to the selection of the hot water increase/decrease selection switch. is controlled.
As a result, the supply amount of the auxiliary raw material is corrected in accordance with the increase or decrease in the hot water in addition to the increase or decrease in the auxiliary raw material specified by the function switch.

Auxiliary raw materials such as sugar and cream have a greater effect on the taste depending on the increase or decrease in hot water compared to the main raw materials, so by adjusting the supply amount of auxiliary raw materials according to the increase or decrease in hot water, it is possible to adjust the amount of supply of auxiliary raw materials according to the increase or decrease in hot water to ensure that the taste is satisfied. By dealing with it, you can bring out subtle differences in taste.

(Example) An embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

Figure 1 is an external view, 1 is an advertising signboard, 2, 2
... is a selection switch, 3, 3... is a function switch, 4 is a sales lamp, 5 is a preparation, process display lamp, 6 is a change lamp, 7 is a digital display, 8 is a money return lever, 9 is the coin slot, 10 is the coin return slot, 1
1 is a sales port for drinking liquid. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing internally stored articles, and 12, 13, and 14 indicate main raw material canisters, 12 is A coffee raw material canister, 13 is B coffee raw material canister, and 14 is C coffee raw material canister. Also 15,
16 is an auxiliary raw material canister, 15 is a sugar canister, and 16 is a cream canister.
Each of the raw material canisters 12, 13, and 14 is provided with a raw material discharge motor, and the operation of the raw material discharge motor causes the coffee raw material to be delivered to the shooter 1.
7 to the brewer 18. Also, the sugar and cream canister 1
5 and 16 are also provided with raw material discharge motors, and sugar and cream are supplied to the mixer 20 via the shooter 19 by the operation of the raw material discharge motors. 21 is a hot water tank with a built-in heater, and hot water is poured into the coffee raw material supply section of the brewer 18 through a pipe 23 by operation of a pump 22. The brewer 18 is provided with a roll-shaped paper filter, and the coffee raw material liquid is extracted by this paper filter. This coffee raw material liquid is temporarily stored in the stock chamber 24. The coffee raw material liquid stored in the stock chamber 24 is supplied to the mixer 20 all at once at the timing when sugar and cream are supplied to the mixer 20. The mixer 2
A cup station 25 is provided below the outlet 11 and above the outlet 11, and sets cups discharged from a cup holder (not shown). Reference numeral 26 denotes a drainage bucket, and the coffee liquid leaking into the outlet 11 is collected in this bucket 26. Inside this bucket 26 is a drainage float 2.
7 is provided, and when this float 27 rises to a position where a certain amount of liquid has accumulated, a drain switch 28 is operated to detect a full state. A paper filter winding roller 29 winds up the paper filter used by the brewer 18. Also, when this paper filter is wound up by the winding roller 29, coffee grounds are passed through the chute 30 to the grounds bucket 31.
are collected in.

Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration, and 41 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration.
It is a CPU (Central Processing Unit). Said CPU41
controls the ROM (read-only memory) 42 and uses the RAM (random access memory) 4 based on the program data in the ROM 42.
3 and I/O ports. 45 is the above
This is a clock oscillator that generates a clock signal that determines the speed at which CPU 41 operates. The I/O port 44 includes a coin mechanism 46, the selection switch 2 and the function switch 3, and a digit switch 4 for specifying addresses of a time setting memory and a proportional constant setting memory, which will be described later.
7. A valve drive circuit 49 that drives the hot water solenoid valve 48 provided in the hot water tank 21, a motor drive circuit 55, 5 that drives the raw material discharge motors 50 to 52, the cream discharge motor 53, and the sugar discharge motor 54.
6, 57, 58, 59, the display section drive circuit 61 that drives the display section 60 consisting of the on-sale lamp 4, in preparation, the process display lamp 5, the out-of-change lamp 6, and the digital display 7; the cup holder hold; cup release solenoid 6
2 etc. are connected to each other. Said RAM4
3 has a hot water timer area 6 as shown in Figure 4.
3. A coffee timer area 64, a cream timer area 65, a sugar timer area 66, etc. are formed. As shown in FIG. 5, the digital switch 47 has three digital switches 401, 402, and 40 for standard hot water flow setting, hot water volume increase setting, and hot water volume decreasing setting, as shown in FIG.
3. A coffee raw material setting, B coffee raw material setting,
C coffee raw material setting switch 404,
405, 406, sugar standard setting, sugar increase setting,
Each day switch 407, 40 with sugar reduction setting
8,409, each day switch 410, 411, 412, 413, 41 for sugar increase ratio setting, hot water reduction ratio setting, A coffee raw material proportional setting, B coffee raw material proportional setting, C coffee raw material proportional setting
4.Digi switches 415 and 41 for cream standard setting, cream increase setting, and creamy decrease setting
6,417, Daisy switches 418, 419, 420, 421 for hot water increase proportional setting, hot water decreasing proportional setting, A coffee raw material proportional setting, B coffee raw material proportional setting, C coffee raw material proportional setting for cream,
422.

Next, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the memory contents of the ROM 42, in which 22 digital switches 401 to 42 are stored.
It has an operation time setting memory 71 and a proportional constant setting memory 72 that can be selectively specified and read by 22 Y addresses corresponding to 2 and 10 X addresses obtained by switching each digital switch. are doing. In other words, X in the memories 71 and 72
The address is each digit switch 401 to 422.
is specified by a setting number of 0 to 9, and in the case of Y address,
03 is Y address 14-16, digital switch 4
04 to 422 correspond to Y addresses 00 to 13, respectively, and form a memory area.

Next, program control in the vending machine configured as described above will be explained according to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, the power is turned on,
When in the sales standby state, the sales lamp 4 is lit to display the sales status, and the coin mechanism 46
Wait for coin signal input from . When the coin signal is input, it next waits for the input of the function signal from the function switch 3 and the input of the selection signal from the selection switch 2.
If a function signal is input, it is stored in the RAM 43. Furthermore, if a selection signal is input, the coin mechanism 46
control, output process display signals, and
Sequential control is performed by ROM42.
That is, the coin mechanism 46 is caused to perform the process of returning change, etc., the process of sales processing is displayed on the process display lamp 5 during preparation, and control is performed based on the program in the ROM 42. In sequential control, first, it is determined whether the sugar content is standard, increased, or decreased. If the sugar is standard, that is, if only "selection switch 2" is operated, data specifying the X address and Y address of the operation time setting memory 71 is input by the sugar standard setting switch 407.
Store in RAM43. For example, Digi Switch 4
If 07 is set to "4", this switch is 40.
7 corresponds to the Y address "03", so
Stores the specified data of address "04" and Y address "03". In the case of increasing the amount of sugar, the function switch 3 determines that an increase in sugar amount has been selected, and the sugar increase setting switch 408 sets the X address "04" in the operation time setting memory 71 and the Y address
Data specifying address "04" is stored in RAM 43. Similarly, when reducing the amount of sugar, data specifying the X address "04" and Y address "05" of the operation time setting memory 71 is stored in the RAM 43 by the sugar reduction setting digit switch 409.

Next, determine whether the amount of hot water is standard, the amount of hot water is increased, or the amount of hot water is decreased. Then, when the amount of hot water is standard, that is, only the selection switch 2 is operated, the process directly proceeds to the next process. To increase or decrease the amount of hot water, press function switch 3.
It is determined that a specification has been made, and processing is performed based on that specification. That is, when the amount of hot water increases, the designated data of the X address "04" and Y address "06" of the proportional constant setting memory 72 is stored in the RAM 43 by the sugar water increase proportional setting switch 410, and when the amount of hot water decreases, the sugar Hot water reduction ratio setting switch 41
1 to specify the X address “04” and Y address “07” of the proportional constant setting memory 72.
Store in RAM43. At the end of this sugar state determination, the corresponding operating time data and proportional constant data are transferred to the operating time setting memory 71 and proportional constant setting memory 7 of the ROM 42 according to the designated addresses of each X address and Y address stored in the RAM 43.
, perform a multiplication operation to obtain the final operation time of the sugar discharge motor 68, and use the result as
Store in RAM43.

When this sugar state determination processing is completed, it is then determined whether the cream is standard, increased, or reduced. And if cream is standard,
That is, if only the selection switch is operated, the X address and Y address of the operation time setting memory 71 are set by the cream standard setting digital switch 415.
Data specifying the address is stored in the RAM 43. For example, if the digital switch 415 is set to "4", this switch 415 corresponds to the Y address "OC", so the X address "04",
Stores the specified data of Y address "OC". If the amount is increased, the function switch 3 determines that cream amount increase has been selected, and the cream amount increase setting switch 416 uses data to specify the X address "04" and Y address "OD" of the operation time setting memory 63. is stored in RAM43. Similarly, when reducing weight, the operation time setting memory 63 is set by the cream weight reduction setting switch 417.
Data specifying the X address "04" and the Y address "OE" of the memory is stored in the RAM 43.

Next, determine whether the amount of hot water is standard, increased amount of hot water, or decreased amount of hot water. If the amount of hot water is standard, that is, only the selection switch 2 is operated, the process directly proceeds to the next process. When the amount of hot water increases or decreases, it is determined that a designation has been made by the function switch 3, and processing is performed based on the designation.
That is, when the amount of hot water increases, the cream hot water increase proportion setting digit switch 418 stores the designated data of the X address "04" and Y address "OF" of the proportional constant setting memory 72 in the RAM 43, and when the amount of hot water decreases, the cream hot water decreases. The X address “04” of the proportional constant setting memory 72 is set by the proportional setting digit switch 419.
Data specifying Y address "10" is stored in RAM43.
Store in. At the end of this cream state determination, the corresponding operating time data and proportional constant data are transferred to the operating time setting memory 71 and proportional constant setting memory 72 of the ROM 42 according to the designated addresses of each X address and Y address stored in the RAM 43.
, and performs a multiplication operation to obtain the final operating time of the cream discharge motor 67, and stores the result in the RAM 43.

According to the operating times of the sugar discharge motor 68 and cream discharge motor 67 determined in this manner, desired amounts of sugar and cream are mixed from the sugar canister 15 and cream canister 16 via the shooter 19 through subsequent sequential processing. It will be supplied to the container 20. In this sequential process, the coffee raw material is discharged from the coffee raw material canister, and the hot water tank 2
Hot water is discharged from 1. Finally, during preparation, the process display of the sales processing by the process display lamp 5 is stopped. In this way, the amount of sugar and the amount of cream to be mixed into the coffee raw material liquid extracted from the brewer 18 are determined depending on the type of coffee raw material and the amount of hot water.

Note that, although the above embodiments have been described with respect to coffee beverage liquids, the present invention can be similarly applied to beverage liquids other than coffee.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, an operating time setting memory and a proportional constant setting memory are provided in the ROM, and the Y addresses of these memories are made to correspond one-to-one with each digit switch. Since the X address is specified by a value between ``0'' and ``9'', depending on the increase or decrease in the amount of hot water, you can specify the address with the digital switch, read out the proportionality constant, and multiply it by the standard operating time. The amount of various auxiliary raw materials mixed can be adjusted. Therefore, it is possible to provide a vending machine that allows a customer to bring out subtle flavors by changing the amount of auxiliary raw materials to be mixed with the main raw material liquid according to his/her preference. Furthermore, adjusting the concentration of the beverage liquid by adjusting the amount of hot water supplied has the advantage that higher accuracy can be easily achieved than by adjusting the main raw material. Furthermore, since the main raw material is more expensive than hot water, adjusting the concentration of drinking water by increasing or decreasing the amount of hot water has the advantage of keeping the range of fluctuation in cost per cup small. Furthermore, customers can choose the strength of their beverage by increasing or decreasing hot water according to their preference.
For example, in the case of coffee raw materials, it is possible to provide more light coffee and less strong coffee than standard coffee of standard strength at the same cost.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figures 1 to 7 are shown to explain one embodiment of the vending machine according to the present invention.
Figure 2 is an external view of the vending machine, Figure 2 is a diagram showing the items stored inside the vending machine, Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of the vending machine, and Figure 4 is shown in Figure 3.
FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of the RAM, FIG. 5 is an example of the arrangement of the daisy switches, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a memory map of the time setting memory and proportional constant memory in the ROM, and FIG. 7 is a flowchart. 2... Selection switch, 3... Function switch, 12-14... Main raw material canister, 15, 16... Auxiliary raw material canister, 1
8...Brewer, 20...Mixer, 21...Hot water tank, 22...Pump, 23...Pipe, 24
... stock chamber, 25 ... cup station, 26 ... drain bucket, 27 ... drain float, 28 ... drain switch, 29 ... take-up roller, 30 ... chute, 31 ... waste bucket,
41...CPU (central processing unit), 42...
ROM, 43...RAM, 44...I/O port,
45...Clock oscillator, 46...Coin mechanism,
47...Digi switch, 48...Hot water solenoid valve,
49... Valve drive circuit, 50-52... Raw material discharge motor, 53... Cream discharge motor, 54... Sugar discharge motor, 55-59... Motor drive circuit,
63...Hot water timer area, 64...Coffee timer area, 65...Cream timer area, 6
6...Sugar timer area, 71...Operating time setting memory, 72...Proportional constant setting memory, 401~
422...Digi switch.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of selection switches for inputting money into a coin mechanism and selecting the type of beverage liquid to be sold, and a plurality of selection switches for selecting an increase or decrease of auxiliary raw materials to be mixed with the main raw material according to preference. In response to the selection operation of the function switch, hot water is poured from the hot water tank onto the main material discharged from the selected one of the plurality of main material canisters to create a main material liquid, and then multiple main material liquids are added to the main material liquid. In a vending machine that sells drinks by mixing auxiliary raw materials discharged from a selected one of the auxiliary raw material canisters, the hot water tank, each main raw material canister, and each auxiliary raw material canister are provided with hot water, respectively. and a raw material discharging means; a hot water increase/decrease selection switch for selecting an increase or decrease of hot water to be poured into the main raw material; and a memory area determined according to selections of the selection switch, the function, and the hot water increase/decrease selection switch. , an operation time setting memory in which each operating time of the hot water and each raw material discharging means is set by determining an address, respectively; and an operating time of each of the auxiliary raw material discharging means set in the operating time setting memory. A proportional constant is set corresponding to each operation time in the operation time setting memory to increase or decrease the amount of hot water according to the increase or decrease of hot water by the hot water increase/decrease selection switch and the increase or decrease of auxiliary raw materials by the function switch. a proportional constant setting memory provided corresponding to each memory area of the operation time setting memory and each memory area of the proportional constant setting memory, and the selection switch;
an address designation switch that specifies the address of a corresponding memory area in response to a selection operation of the function switch and the hot water increase/decrease selection switch; a calculation means for reading out the proportional constant data and the operation time data of the auxiliary raw material from specified addresses of the proportional constant setting memory and the operation time setting memory, and performing a multiplication operation; and a calculation obtained by the calculation means. control means for controlling the operation of the corresponding auxiliary raw material discharge means based on the value, and controlling the operation of the hot water discharge means according to the operation time read from the operation time setting memory in response to the selection of the hot water increase/decrease selection switch; ,
A vending machine characterized by being equipped with.