Vending-machine function expansion device and method

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of vending machines, and provides a vending-machine function expansion device and method. The vending-machine function expansion device comprises a main controller, a touching-type display screen, a simulation-keyboard signal conversion module, a coupon/discount coupon data processing module, a MDB/VTS data processing module, a UART serial port and a wireless communication module. According to the vending-machine function expansion device, on the premise that existing vending-machine main controller software is not modified, commodity screen buying is achieved, the operation reliability of a vending machine is guaranteed, and a large quantity of software development and updating costs are saved; coupons/discount coupons are permitted to be used, paying can be carried out in a cash mode or a non-cash mode at the same time, and the service function of the vending machine is greatly expanded; the technology is reasonable and novel, and application prospects are broad.

Description

technical field [0001] The invention relates to the field of automatic vending machines, in particular to a function expansion device and method for automatic vending machines. Background technique [0002] Traditional vending machines have been using keyboards or buttons to purchase goods, while new vending machines can be purchased through screens. The transformation method of the traditional vending machine is to use the serial port to connect with the industrial computer with the screen to realize the purchase of goods on the screen. A special software protocol is used between VMC and industrial computer. [0003] In the existing transformation plan, if the screen purchase is realized by upgrading the existing main controller software, this will face the following problems in practical application: [0004] 1. Without a standard software protocol, it is difficult to achieve interconnection; [0005] 2. There are many manufacturers of the main controller, and the softw...

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Problems solved by technology

[0004] 1. Without a standard software protocol, it is difficult to achieve interconnection;

[0005] 2. There are many manufacturers of the main controller, and the software implementation of each company is different, so the software development is difficult;

[0006] 3. There is a large amount of traditional vending machines in the existing market, the old machines have been used for a long time, and the workload and difficulty of software upgrades are great;

[0007] 4. The purchase of the screen is a function upgrade, most of which are not covered by the warranty, and the cost of the upgrade is huge;

[0008] 5. Based on the rapid development of the current information network, the use of electronic coupons or discount coupons has a great role in promoting the sales of goods, but the old-fashioned vending machines cannot use electronic coupons or discount coupons for payment

[0013] 1. None of the above-mentioned publications realizes the function of selecting products on the touch-screen display. Since none of the modified terminals mentioned in the above-mentioned patent documents can take over the product selection buttons on the vending machine, it is impossible to Realize the selection of products on the new touch screen, and still rely on the original product selection buttons on the vending machine to select products

[0014] 2. Although the above-mentioned published documents provide non-cash transaction methods, they have limitations and cannot be implemented. For example, payment through coupons or discount coupons cannot be realized; the reason is that the keyboard code input to the main board VMC of the vending machine cannot be realized.

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